Jordan Watch

The Rejuvination of Jordan Watch

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:24:00 GMT

It has been almost three months since my last update for this blog. Actually my last two entries in March were about the critical health condition that my baby boy Zaid was suffering from. He is recovering now, at home depending on doses of medication and hoping for the best options with time. I hope that the worst days of this turmoil are over now and I can start take control again of some main aspects... [read more]

Jordan's Nascent Environmental Market Takes Shape

Sat, 30 May 2009 22:32:00 GMT

Jordan has developed into a vibrant business market in the Middle East. The country is strategically located in the heart of the Middle East and has taken an early informed judgment to open up its economic policy and fully integrate within the global economic system. Between 1999 and 2003 Jordan has established three pillars of trade liberalization by joining the WTO, developing a bilateral FTA with... [read more]

Jordan and Climate Change

Sat, 30 May 2009 02:08:00 GMT

This article was originally published in Jordan Property Magazine issue of May 2009 The year 2009 will be exceptional for global climate change policies. Denmark will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in December. The meeting will hopefully mark the turning point in the world’s effort to effectively combat climate change and it will be the last chance for a new global... [read more]

Zaid is Back home, thanks for all your prayers

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:19:00 GMT

After two weeks of suffering and intense emotional distress for me and the family baby Zaid is back home and he is OK now. Thank you all for your prayers that have surely helped him. The two operations he was about to have are cancelled now since they are too risky and he is too young. We are now depending medically on Cortisone for reversing the growth of the haemangioma and it has been proven OK... [read more]

Please Pray for Zaid who is struggling for his life

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:14:00 GMT

Dear Readers of my blog; Please help me in praying for my two months old baby Zaid who is bravely struggling against a viscious haemangioma that is attacking his respiratory tract. Next 48 hours will be the most critical and every hope will be appreciated. God bless you all. [read more]

Give Women at Jordan Valley their right of expression

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:24:00 GMT

One of the most disappointing decisions taken by the previous government was its refusal to grant Radio Al Balad a license to open a community radio for women in Jordan Valley. The decision is totally against all values and principles of media freedom always promoted by the King and by the government itself sometimes. The community radio station was a symbol of a fantastic voluntary work by rural Jordanian... [read more]

More on Radioactivity in Disi Aquifer

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:27:00 GMT

To begin with, I am attaching at the end of this post the full manuscript of the paper that caused the controversy in Jordan regarding the findings of high concentrations of Radium in samples from the Disi aquifer. I have received the paper from my fellow blogger Mohannad Arabiyat only minutes after publishing my initial post. He accessed it through his University library. Few hours ago I received... [read more]

The Curious Case of Radioactivity in Disi Aquifer

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:18:00 GMT

High controversey has been generated in Jordan in the last couple of days after the biggest global news agency "Reuters" published a news item about a scientific study claiming high levels of radioactive isotopes found in Jordan major strategic water reservoir; the Disi Basin. The scientific study was conducted by a team of researchers composed of 9 researchers from the USA, Jordan, Israel and Palestine... [read more]

Tribes of Journalists in Jordan

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:22:00 GMT

I have been a silent follower of the media generated fiasco regarding the former head of the Royal Court Dr. Basem Awadallah which has ended with his resignation from the illustrious post. The campaign that has targeted Dr Awadallah was one of the most exposing elements of the reality of Jordanian media landscape that I have ever wittnessed. I think any researcher in Jordanian media dynamics should... [read more]

Passion and Profession

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:51:00 GMT

A few months ago, I started what I thought to be my dream job and the main development in my career. As I assumed my responsibility in a United Nations agency in Amman with a fixed term contract including the much sought after UN package of pension and insurance, I thought I have reached a stage of career maturity and that I will remain a UN staff until my retirement. I joined the UN not mainly due... [read more]

Being a parent of a twin

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:09:00 GMT

Some key events do define how life changes as it has never been before. In our lives, such events are usually sad but in some occasions they can be lovely and thrilling events but still pose a considerable challenge. On January 15th my life had more and more value after becoming the proud parent of a twin (Zeid and Yara) who have arrived to this world 8 years after my first and lovely child Suzan... [read more]

The Best Article about Gaza in Western Media

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:42:00 GMT

This is the best article I have read in western media about the current massacre in Gaza. It is by Prof. Avi Shalaim the renouned Israeli professor of International relations and lecturer at Oxford University and the author of the landmark book "Lion of Jordan: King Hussein's Life in War and Peace". http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-israel-palestine ... [read more]

The Photo of Israel's ultimate Crime

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:19:00 GMT

It does not depend on a certain political perspective, nationality, religion or race to feel so outraged by the barbaric crimes of Israel in Gaza, you needs only to be a human being with a functioning heart. This region has witnessed more than its fair share of atrocities against human dignity in the past few decades. We sadly confess that a portion of these atrocities were conducted by official... [read more]

The Principles of Arab Reform: Cultural Reform

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:13:00 GMT

A continuation of the Alexandria declaration. I think cultural reform is the most crucial, yet the most difficult aspect of anticipated reform in the Arab World Fourth: Cultural Reform 34- Participants in the conference took into consideration all local and regional cultural problems and challenges, addressing them from a perspective that asserts a set of indispensable cultural priorities... [read more]

The Principles of Arab Reform: Social Reform

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:05:00 GMT

A continuation of the Alexandria declaration in 2004. In my opinion, this section on social reform should be the biggest priority for any reform effort in the region Third: Social Reform 30- Recognizing that the Arab community as a whole possesses great social and cultural resources, it is time to make maximum use of these resources to establish a viable, cohesive Arab society that... [read more]

The principles of Arab Reform: Economic Reform

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:50:00 GMT

A continuation of the Alexandria declaration 2004 Secondly: Economic Reform 17- Economic reform includes all legislation, policies, and measures that would free the national economy and turn it efficiently in accordance with market mechanisms. This would be done in a manner that would ensure economic prosperity and facilitate integration with regional and global economies ... [read more]

The Principles of Arab Reform: Political Reform

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:41:00 GMT

No word has ever been more "exploited" in Jordan and the Arab World more than "reform" in the last few years. As if it has been magistically discovered in a deep cave in the Arabian political desert, reform has been the most welcomed guest in all political projects developed by the USA and EU for the Arab World after September 11th and has been the silver bullet for the political and socio-economic... [read more]

The Anatomy of the Middle Class in Jordan

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:50:00 GMT

For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of the so-called "economic reform" process based on structural adjustment on the middle class in Jordan has been conducted. The study conducted by Dr. Ibrahim Saif and Yasmin Tabba'a aims to explore the effects of structural adjustment and economic reform in Jordan through the lens of income distribution. The main objective of the paper is... [read more]

Paolo Coelho's Pencil

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:16:00 GMT

This is a very inspiring short stories that I have just read from paolo Coelho's book of essays and reflections "Like the Flowing River". I would like to share it with you as I am feeling that I am going through the same experience, and feel positive each person who contributes to the world of writing should do. The story of the pencil A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter... [read more]

Marwan Mouasher writing about the National Agenda

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:14:00 GMT

I am enjoying reading the fascinating book written by Jordan's former Minister of Foreign Affairs and deputy Prime Minister for reform Dr Marwan Mouasher entitled "The Arab Center: the Promise of Moderation". Although the main theme of this book is a sound description of the justification and potential of Arab moderation with a documented history of the betrayal of the Arab moderation vision by various... [read more]