40 Days and Counting

We have now only 40 days until the negotiations start in Copenhagen. It is not much, but if all make an effort we will be able to seal the climate deal in Copenhagen. Climate change is a fact. We cannot ignore that human activity and the burning of fossil fuels carries a major responsibility for this. We have to act through a firm global response.

Denmark is preparing itself to be the host of one of the biggest international government conferences in our country’s history. We expect about 15000 participants in the conference.

Our objective is to conclude a new, ambitious global agreement on climate change that includes all countries of the world and which includes ambitious targets for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

Global emissions need to be reduced by up to 50 % by the middle of this century – compared to 1990 CO2 emission levels – if dangerous consequences of climate change should be avoided.

The Copenhagen climate change agreement should deal with 4 elements:

• First, how much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gasses?
• Second, how much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to limit their growth of their emissions?
• Third, how is the help needed by developing countries in reducing and adapting to climate change going to be financed?
• Fourth, how is the money spend going to be accounted for and verified?

This is the challenge we are facing at Copenhagen. I know that Jordan is broadly on the same line as we are – so we are looking forward to hosting this very important meeting. I have noticed that also Jordanian press have intensified its coverage of Climate Change during recent months, and I guess the next 40 days until we open the negotiations in Copenhagen will see an even more intensified coverage of this topic. The conference on the 8^th of November at the Columbia University in Amman will be an occasion for the press to focus on the climate change issue.

Jordan Times article

Al Ghad article

Ramim showing

I have heard that Ramim should be showing on Sunday November 1st at 18.45 King Hussein Cultural Centre (Ras-al-Ain). It will be the unofficial opening film for the European Film week that starts on the same day. Go watch it before your neighbour…

LEGO donation to Jordan – part III

During the last six months the embassy has been engaged in a nationwide charity distribution of LEGO toys to underprivileged children. Two 40ft containers with in total 1000 big boxes of LEGO – about 12 tons – have (almost all) been handed over to institutions such as Madrasati schools, orphanages, community centres, refugee camps, nurseries and kindergartens, rehabilitation centres and other institutions for children.

Today it was my great pleasure to hand more than 60 boxes over to the Minister of Health. It is the intention to distribute these boxes to 24 Government hospitals with children’s wards or nurseries. If these toys can help children better endure their hospital stay we at the embassy and LEGO would be very happy.

The children at the nursery at Prince Hamzah hospital certainly looked like they knew what to do with their new toys. All were rather quiet when we entered the room with the boxes. That changed when the LEGO was unwrapped and the kids started to play loudly and cheerfully building houses or cars and playing with the small plastic animals.  

Of course wherever a minister or an ambassador is received there is some kind of small reception – the hardship of diplomacy – but I sneaked back to the children when they were just playing under the supervision of their nursery teachers. And – boy - were they enjoying themselves? The noise level was noticeable higher than before and they were one big smile. They really made my day.

Changing Diabetes

As part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities the insulin producer Novo Nordisk is conducting free testing for and advice on diabetes today and tomorrow in Amman and on the 21th in Irbid. In Amman the event takes place in front of Mecca Mall gate 3.

I took the test myself this morning – no apparent diabetes alhamduallah - and I strongly would encourage everyone to go to the Novo Bus and do the test. I was informed that many people – including young ones – actually have the illness without knowing. The reason is, that symptoms are only felt seriously, when it is to late to do much about it – eg. medication for the rest of your life. Whereas with early discovery and a change of lifestyle a person might push diabetes back or at least keeps it under control.

So go get a test, please.

Novo invitation (.pdf)

Ramim – The Last Breath

This week I had one of those experiences that will stay with me for a long time when remembering Jordan.

I really didn’t have the time to go, but a couple of days before I noticed that a new Jordanian short documentary was going to be aired at the Royal Film Commission. It was entitled “Ramim” which of course didn’t say anything to me at that time, but the subject was clear: Environmental degradation in Jordan.

It is not often topics like that are discussed in Jordan – and definitely not in a locally produced film – so I just had to go – despite other engagements. I came half an hour early – hoping that we might start on time we didn’t but the setting and the scenery is as you probably know great….

The film itself was so good and interesting that you actually forgot you were at the RFC. The documentary is done in a very low key fashion mixing what should be (but apparently isn’t – read: Zarqa River) huge political scandals with good hints about how to live in a more sustainable way. It is a film that speaks for itself – and I will absolutely encourage you to watch it if you get the chance.

I have asked for a copy – not received yet unfortunately – and I hope that the producers will upload it on YouTube or elsewhere – or at least make it sure that it is widely distributed in Jordan. If I get info on where it will be aired in the near future I’ll update this post.