The 10 big energy myths

The COP15 homepage has undergone an extensive remake – it will be THE webpage for climate related issues in 2009. Lots of prominent writers like Jeffery Sachs and Gro Harlem Brundtland will blog about climate change and a dedicated blog will look behind the scenes on how to organize a global conference with 12.000-15.000 participants.

For my part I am eagerly looking for Jordanian journalists/writers that work on climate change / energy / environment so any hints to such persons will be highly appreciated.

The COP15 site links to this little gemstone about 10 big energy myths. I certainly hope for Jordan that the myth about nuclear is true and not as told in this story.

Gaza

The Gaza tragedy continues despite the UN Security Council resolution. Now other proposals to stop the war are floated. A common element is enhancing control of the borders for smuggling of weapons. In this regard there have been some references in Jordanian media to a Dutch-Danish Rafah Border surveillance proposal which I for easy reference have reproduced below. Apart from the ongoing political discussions in parliament, Danish media and demonstrations the humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza and the attack on emergency aid has also lead to other official reactions.  

“Press release

Gaza: Denmark and the Netherlands offer police personnel to surveillance of the Gaza-Egyptian border

The Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Per Stig Møller, has today (the 7^th of January) along with his Dutch colleague proposed that the EU should contribute to control and monitoring of the border between Egypt and Gaza.

The Danish Foreign Minister has today along with his Dutch colleague, Mr. Maxime Verhagen proposed to the Czech EU-presidency and the other EU-countries that the EU offers the Egyptian and Palestinian authorities a significant contribution of police personnel to secure an efficient control and monitoring of the border between Egypt and Gaza. That would be one element in the international society’s diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict. Furthermore, it could help to create the conditions for a permanent and viable ceasefire in Gaza.

 The Danish Foreign Minister, Mr. Per Stig Møller, states in that regard:

“The need for a ceasefire is extremely urgent. The terrible suffering of the civilian population in Gaza must be stopped, and the diplomacy must find a solution.

It is crucial that a ceasefire is permanent and viable and that it provides both the Israeli and the Palestinian people with the necessary security.  We think that the Danish-Dutch proposal can contribute towards that. One of the main problems has been that Gaza has by and large been closed since the violent takeover of Hamas in 2007, and that weapons have been smuggled to Hamas. If we can effectively counter that and open the border, so humanitarian aid and goods can enter, much will be won for both Israel and the Palestinian people.

The EU has earlier with success contributed to a functional Rafah-border between Egypt and Gaza. The intention of our proposal today is to build upon that mission. Of course in cooperation with the parties in the region. Denmark stands ready to contribute to such a mission on the border between Egypt and Gaza”.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. January 7, 2009″

“Press Release

Denmark donates DKK 20 million to the victims of the hostilities in Gaza

Denmark is giving DKK 20 million to the victims of the hostilities in Gaza. The humanitarian situation in the region has worsened greatly as a result of the past 10 days of hostilities and there is an urgent need for aid.

The Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ms. Ulla Tørnæs, states:

“The dramatic escalation of the conflict in Gaza has seriously aggravated the already fragile humanitarian situation in the region. I have therefore decided that Denmark is to provide assistance amounting to DKK 20 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This contribution will help to cover the most urgent needs for food, shelter and financial help in the coming months.

“It is deeply worrying that the fighting in Gaza is affecting civilians to such a large extent when they have nowhere else to go. There are many women and children among the dead and wounded. That is totally unacceptable.

“The fighting has led to a serious lack of food, water, medicine and other health services and has delayed the distribution of emergency aid as well as making it more difficult. It is also difficult and dangerous for emergency aid workers to move around the region. It is therefore crucial that Israel helps to guarantee humanitarian access for the emergency aid.”

The UNRWA has been given a special mandate by the UN General Assembly to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees. The organisation was established in 1948 and its basic services are education, health and social services. In 2008 Denmark donated DKK 90 million to UNRWA, making it the organisation’s ninth largest donor. Denmark also provides humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees via the Danish Red Cross and DanChurchAid.

Since 1994 Denmark has provided substantial aid to Gaza and the West Bank with a view to establishing the foundations for a future Palestinian state. Each year Denmark contributes a total of some DKK 200 million in humanitarian and development aid to Gaza and the West Bank.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. January 5, 2009″

“Press Release

Danish Minister for Development: Unacceptable attacks on emergency aid workers

As a reaction to the attack on a UNRWA truck and the subsequent decision of UNRWA until further notice to cease the delivery of emergency aid to Gaza, the Danish Minister for Development, Mrs. Ulla Tørnæs has announced that:

“It is completely unacceptable to attack emergency aid, and I strongly condemn today’s assault on an aid worker from UNRWA. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical, and it is vital that emergency aid to the population of Gaza can get through and be distributed. Israel must do everything in its power to ensure that the emergency aid deliverances can be recommenced. This will be emphasised, when the Israeli Ambassador will meet in the Foreign Ministry tomorrow (Friday the 9th)”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen. January 8, 2009″

Ammonnews in English

Ammonnews.net has during the past year become the most read Arabic internet news provider in Jordan. It is probably due to a number of reasons – three of them being that they bring news stories that other Jordanian media not necessarily would publish, that they bring their stories almost in real time and that they allow their readers to comment directly on their news stories, which many do. Ammon is acting as an independent news institution but don’t expect to read stories that could be considered of being harmful to Jordan, the Palestinian cause or Islam.

It also seems that Ammon to a certain extend have been able to gain the confidence of potential sources – not least from officials – and thus broken one of the impediments to a lively press in Jordan which is the perceived general unwillingness to give access to information. This on the other hand requires Ammon to be extra careful in researching and checking facts before publishing their stories – an ability that at least in the beginning was lacking from time to time. It seems to me that as Ammon has gained in popularity they have been (forced to) focusing much more on this in order to increase credibility.

I have known for some time that Ammon News wanted to launch a parallel news website in English. I had expected that the founders Basil Okoor and Samir al-Hiyari would have done that with some publicity – and they might still do – but I have just discovered through a web banner that they opted for a soft launch. This is the URL for the English site: http://en.ammonnews.net/  

The English site is not yet fully up to the standard of its Arabic sister and it will of course be an inherent problem that the comments no longer will arrive from the same people or in the same quantity but it will be interesting to follow this latest development on the Jordanian media scene. I know that Okoor and al-Hiyari are very committed to making this a success and that they are trying to allocate the necessary resources to achieve their goal. Congratulation and good luck.

For a good background article on Ammonnews read this.