80 DVDs in one second

This is the new world record for a speedy connection. Danish Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark have officially broken the high speed record for data transmission with the speed of 1.000 gigabits pr. second (1 Terabit/s). It’s a pretty abstract speed, but downloading 80 DVDs pr. second or all phone conversations in the EU on a given moment in time is what this speed can handle. The real significance is not the speed itself  but the fact that the researchers was able to separate and electronically manage the individual data streams within the bundle. Maybe time for an upgrade of our connections in Jordan? On the other hand I’ll settle for a more reliable connection with the present speed.

Scholarship in Denmark – Corporate Social Responsibility

Sometimes I get good positive mails from the Danish Foreign Ministry

This morning I found one that must qualify for the heading of good corporate social responsibility. The MFA together with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has decided to scrap all gifts that was supposed to be handed out to the 15.000 delegates at the global climate summit in Copenhagen this coming December.

The gifts would have had a value of around 700.000 USD and most probably have been bags or pins (or umbrellas since it is taking place in Denmark). Instead the 700.000 USD will be spend on 10-12 two year Master scholarships on Climate related issues. And – you can apply for the scholarships as of today – beware of the early deadline. It happens on this link: www.studyindenmark.dk/climate 

But there is a catch to it. It is 10 to 12 scholarships for applicants from around the globe. Unfortunately not just for Jordanians so no guarantee for success. But I certainly hope that one or more well qualified Jordanians will apply. After all Jordan has shown increasingly focus on energy and climate issues. But the competition will be tough.

So please spread the word.

You’ll find more info in the press release below.

UPDATE 18. October 2009: According to a news paper article 843 students applied for the 11 scholarships. The chosen candidates comes from Albania, Bangladesh, Brasil, China, Cameroun, Columbia, Ghana, India, Latvia, Nigeria and Pakistan. Unfortunately no one from Jordan – but I don’t know if any Jordanian actually applied. 

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ROYAL DANISH EMBASSY IN AMMAN

TEL: +065926620

MAIL: AMMAMB@UM.DK

The Government of Denmark announces COP15 Climate Conference Scholarships

The Danish Government has decided to establish a ‘COP15 Climate Scholarship’ for money saved pursuant to its policy of not giving gifts to participants at the Climate Conference in Copenhagen later this year. The Royal Danish Embassy in Amman encourages Jordanian candidates to apply for a scholarship in tough competition with candidates from all over the world.

At similar international conferences, participants usually receive gifts and so-called conference-kits with various items from the host country. At the COP15 in Copenhagen the number of participants is expected to reach 15.000. As part of its efforts to reduce the environmental and climate impact of the conference, the government has decided to discontinue the practice of giving gifts. The DKK 4 million (app. USD 700.000) hereby saved will instead be spent on climate scholarships allowing 10-12 candidates from all over the world to carry out 2-year climate related master’s programs at Danish universities.

“Our 0-gift policy and the COP15 Climate Scholarship are good signals to send at a conference which requires innovation in terms of the way we use our resources. Although there is no doubt as to the good intentions behind giving gifts, we have often experienced how conference kits end up in garbage bins at conference venues and hotels. We want break that habit in Copenhagen and spend the money in a constructive way”, says Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs.

“The COP15 Climate Scholarship puts a spotlight on Denmark’s strong position in climate related research and the good possibilities for qualifying yourself at Danish universities. Besides, the scholarship is in line with the Government’s goal to increase the exchange of students across borders. With this scholarship, we hope to welcome a group of clever young people from all over the world who will become highly motivated to make a difference, and furthermore will get an exhaustive knowledge about Danish technology and research”, says Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Helge Sander.

Interested Jordanian candidates are advised to consult www.studyindenmark.dk/climate for more information on the COP15 Climate Scholarship. Interested candidates should be the best students in their field and be fluent in English in both speaking and writing.

For further inquiries please contact

Royal Danish Embassy in Amman – Jens Ole Bach Hansen – jenhan@um.dk

Ahlan Wa Sahlan Ombudsman

This article was published in Al Rai and today’s Jordan Times.

The Ombudsman between Challenges and Success

Today the Jordanian Ombudsman Bureau (Diwan Al Mathalem) will officially open for business. The Ombudsman will be an important part of Jordan’s democratic development. As we all know every beginning is difficult – and the Ombudsman will be faced with some tough challenges. The first one will be to establish a relationship with its stakeholders – especially the citizens of Jordan, the Jordanian Parliament and the Jordanian Government.

Any citizen in Jordan will from today have a place to complain about decisions of the public administration that they believe are unwarranted or wrong. The independent Ombudsman will look into the matter without prejudice. Citizens will get a new instrument for interaction with a bureaucracy that by many is considered closed and difficult to access. The Ombudsman will help breaking the barrier between the public and the administration.

The Parliament will see its ability to scrutinize and control the government reinforced. The yearly Ombudsman report could provide a solid basis for a parliamentary debate about the public administration. Experience also shows that questioning individual ministers is a very efficient instrument in convincing the relevant public institutions to give careful consideration to the recommendations received from the Ombudsman. The Parliament and the Ombudsman are thus complementary partners in the development of an efficient public administration to the benefit of the citizen and the country as a whole.

The relationship between the Government and the Ombudsman is crucial. Apart from raising issues based on a petition, the Ombudsman is according to the Law entitled to take up any issue that he deems important. On a general level, the Ombudsman will be able to go into a dialogue with the concerned public institution and give advice on how to fulfil the criteria of a just, legal and transparent public administrative process. Based on his experience the Ombudsman will be able to assist the Government disseminate best practices throughout the public administration. Without doubt the Government will welcome the new Ombudsman in this positive cooperative spirit.

The challenges will be many. The new institution needs to be introduced to the Jordanians. If the citizens do not know about the Ombudsman, they will not be able to benefit from his services. This calls for a public awareness campaign. The recent agreement between the Jordan Post and the Ombudsman about using post offices for submitting petitions is a very good start. It is of equal importance that it is widely understood that filing a complaint does not necessarily mean that the public administration has committed a mistake. Experience from other countries shows that many complaints are unfounded and thus disregarded – and this is something that must be accepted by all. After all – the Ombudsman is no judicial court but looks into whether a decision has been correctly taken according to the regulations in force.  

It is important to stress that the Government is responsible for the public administration. If the Ombudsman according to the law asks for all files related to a specific decision the Government should make sure that the Ombudsman bureau receives the files – otherwise the system breaks down. The Ombudsman does not only have the right but also the duty to check administrative procedures in order to fulfil his tasks. This is one of the new democratic elements introduced with the Ombudsman law. No one likes to be scrutinized – in particular if a mistake has been committed -   but the clever institutions learn from their mistakes and evolve into something better.

The Ombudsman does not have any means to enforce his decisions. He can only give advice, issue statements and publish his findings. In the best of worlds the Ombudsman’s impartiality and integrity will ensure that no institution will disregard his findings. But any Ombudsman needs backing when the going gets though. The backing should come from the Parliament that if needed must insist that institutions in the public administration listen to and act on the findings of the Ombudsman. In the end, it is the Parliament that controls the Government and the public administration – not the Ombudsman. 

The biggest challenge in the near future lies on the shoulders of the Ombudsman himself. The Ombudsman Bureau must represent the highest level of administrative excellence in particular in transparency, impartiality and integrity. Recruiting the right people with the right competences will be crucial. Reaching out to partners is equally important. If the citizens do not find the institution meaningful, if the parliament does not go into partnership with him or if the Government does not respect the Ombudsman, the institution – despite all good intentions – will fail. This will not be the case I know. For all, the Government suggested the Ombudsman law to the Parliament which adopted it.  So, I feel confident that the Ombudsman bureau together with its partners in the Parliament and the Government will contribute another element to a democratic Jordan.

 Thomas Fouad Lund-Sørensen

 The author is the Ambassador of Denmark to Jordan, and the Danish Government and Ombudsman have assisted Jordan in establishing the Ombudsman Bureau through the last five years.