Electricity demand to reach record levels
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — A huge increase in demand for electricity to power fans and air-conditioning systems is expected over the weekend as the Kingdom faces its first heatwave of the summer.
A hot mass coming from the Arabian Peninsula is expected to reach the country on Friday, raising temperatures in Amman to around 39ºC.
The heatwave, which is expected to last until the middle of next week, will peak on Sunday with temperatures soaring as high as 41ºC, said Abdul Halim Abu Hazim, acting director of the Jordan Meteorology Department.
The official denied media reports that it will be the hottest in 65 years, adding that the highest recorded June temperature in the capital was in 1942 at 42.8ºC.
The National Electric Power Company insisted yesterday that there was no risk of blackouts resulting from an upsurge in demand to power fans and air-conditioning systems.
Khaled Said, the company’s acting managing director, said: “We are well-prepared for events such as this and are not expecting any problems. Our generation units’ availability is very high and can be operated immediately if required.”
Power demand is expected to peak on Sunday as citizens return to their workplaces, many of which, unlike homes, are fitted with air-conditioning systems.
“We are expecting output to reach a record 1,900 megawatts,” said Said, adding that average is usually around 1,700 megawatts.
Supermarkets yesterday said they were prepared for any potential power failures and had stockpiled extra supplies of cold water and drinks.
“All our branches have diesel-powered generators so we are well-prepared for such conditions,” said Mohammad Shteiwi, manager of the Amman Mall branch of C-Town.
The general manager of Nestle Jordan, Rasem Dabbas, said the company had doubled its capacity of bottled water in preparation for the hot weather front.
“We are expecting a huge surge over the next week with our daily sales of bottles rising from 20,000 to 28,000,” he said.
Heatwaves claim thousands of lives each year, killing more people than floods, tornadoes and hurricanes combined.
The World Meteorological Organisation estimates that the number of heat-related deaths across the globe will double in the next 20 years, with the elderly most at risk.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Jordan River among world’s 100 most endangered sites
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — A lack of cooperation and political will among regional states is hampering efforts to address the worsening ecological condition of the Jordan River, environmentalists said on Sunday.
According to Friends of the Earth Middle East, a regional environmental organisation of Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians, poor regional water management has led to the complete demise of one of the world’s most famous rivers.
The comments came in response to the lower Jordan River’s inclusion last week in the top 100 most “Endangered Cultural Heritage Sites” by a leading international watchdog.
Announced every two years, the World Monuments Fund’s list aims to galvanise international public attention on threatened cultural sites across the globe.
“The watch list of the World Monuments Fund is now sounding the alarm bell loud and clear to all those who care about the River Jordan,” Mira Edelstein, the organisation’s Tel Aviv campaigner for the rehabilitation of the river said in a press statement.
According to the organisation, “90 per cent of the river’s natural flow has been diverted by Israel, Jordan and Syria for domestic and agricultural use, with sewage flowing in its place. The region’s current policies treat the river as a backyard dumping ground.”
Munqeth Mehyar, the organisation’s chairperson and Jordanian director, described the river’s inclusion in the list as “expected”.
“We have been campaigning for a long time now on this issue and we welcome this news. It is good publicity for our cause and may help us finally focus the attention of the world on the gravity of the situation.”
The activist said past efforts to lobby the respective governments had proved fruitless, despite the fact that both Israel and Jordan have signed agreements to preserve the environment along their shared border.
Under Article 18 of the Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty, both parties pledged to cooperate to conserve natural resources and protect biodiversity, including the “ecological rehabilitation of the Jordan River” and the environmental protection of water resources.
But Mehyar said the reality is that both governments are happy to shift the blame.
“When we talk to Jordanian officials they tell us if the Israeli side gives the go ahead, then we will follow suit and vice versa — meanwhile, nothing is done and the two countries continue to dump their waste into the river and divert water for agriculture.”
No one at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation was available to comment.
Mehyar said a comprehensive regional solution is now needed which encourages farmers to grow less water-intensive crops while focusing more efforts on exploiting the region’s tourism potential.
“The governments should have programmes in place to educate farmers on the benefits of growing drought-resistant crops like dates instead of continuing to use huge amounts of water growing citrus, tomatoes and bananas,” he said.
Despite the economic disadvantages, regional governments continue to subsidise farmers who grow water intensive crops.
Israel currently uses 65 per cent of its freshwater supplies for agriculture, which accounts for just 2 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, he said.
Similarly, Jordan’s agricultural sector contributes a mere 8 per cent to its GDP but uses 70 per cent of available water resources.
Mehyar said in cases where Jordanian farmers had diversified their crops, they had not only significantly reduced water usage but had increased revenues.
“We have a clear model to follow here, but sadly, officials have failed to convince other farmers to follow suit.”
After years of receiving no response from the concerned governments, two weeks ago the organisation sent a joint letter to the ministries of water and irrigation in both Jordan and Israel but have so far received no response.
The environmental organisation now hopes the inclusion of the river on the World Monuments Fund’s 100 most endangered sites will spur regional states into taking action.
“It is sad that only through international pressure will our governments act to rehabilitate this valley of cultural and natural heritage,” said Edelstein.
Political parties to fair badly in municipal elections
By Paul Tate
AMMAN — High voter turnout is expected in next month’s municipal elections with independent candidates winning out over political parties, according to a survey released on Sunday.
The poll, conducted by the Jordan Centre for Social Research, found that voter participation in some governorates will reach as high as 70 per cent.
It also revealed that almost two-thirds of respondents intend to vote for independent candidates as opposed to representatives of political parties, consistent with voting patterns in previous national elections.
The survey sampled a total of 1,500 individuals aged 18 years and above in the municipalities of Irbid, Karak and Zarqa. Questions ranged from the level of satisfaction with public services to the degree of interaction between constituents and their representatives.
According to pollster Musa Shteiwi, the renewed interest on the part of constituents in the July 31 elections is directly related to the recently approved Municipalities Law, which paved the way for the first fully elected councils in eight years.
The legislation, however, does not extend to Amman, which will continue to have an appointed mayor and half-appointed municipal council as was the case under the old law.
Shteiwi said this resulted in voter apathy, with participation in both Irbid and Zarqa falling below 50 per cent in 2003, while Karak recorded a 56 per cent turnout.
“The new law is a positive development. It restored the right of citizens to choose their representatives, lowered the voting age from 19 to 18 and provided a 20 per cent quota for women,” he said.
Voter turnout in Irbid is expected to reach 71 per cent next month, followed by Zarqa (68 per cent) and Karak (61 per cent), according to the poll.
However, despite renewed interest on the part of citizens, the survey revealed a general dissatisfaction about the performance of elected representatives and political parties.
Almost two-thirds of respondents in the three municipalities said they intend to vote for independent candidates, citing reasons relating to family and tribal affiliations.
Shteiwi said the findings do not bode well for the country’s transition to democracy.
“Citizens vote for independent candidates because the current political parties are weak and their ideologies are too narrow. Unless these parties merge and become more representative, the future doesn’t look good,” he said.
Less than 10 per cent of respondents said they would vote for a political party. Out of these, 64 per cent in Zarqa said they would vote for the Islamic Action Front (IAF), as compared to 45 per cent in Karak and 43 per cent in Irbid.
Most of the country’s 34 political parties, apart from IAF, which has 15 deputies in the Lower House, have less than 500 members.
The survey also revealed the absence of a general participatory culture resulting from a lack of accountability on the part of elected representatives.
More than 90 per cent of respondents in the three municipalities said they had never been contacted by a council member once elected.
“The level of contact and/or interaction between constituents and their representatives is generally low, with contacts being one way, i.e. constituents contacting their elected representatives,” said the survey, adding that once elected into office the representatives “neglect regular contact.”
The poll was carried out with the support of the International Republican Institute.
AMMAN — High voter turnout is expected in next month’s municipal elections with independent candidates winning out over political parties, according to a survey released on Sunday.
The poll, conducted by the Jordan Centre for Social Research, found that voter participation in some governorates will reach as high as 70 per cent.
It also revealed that almost two-thirds of respondents intend to vote for independent candidates as opposed to representatives of political parties, consistent with voting patterns in previous national elections.
The survey sampled a total of 1,500 individuals aged 18 years and above in the municipalities of Irbid, Karak and Zarqa. Questions ranged from the level of satisfaction with public services to the degree of interaction between constituents and their representatives.
According to pollster Musa Shteiwi, the renewed interest on the part of constituents in the July 31 elections is directly related to the recently approved Municipalities Law, which paved the way for the first fully elected councils in eight years.
The legislation, however, does not extend to Amman, which will continue to have an appointed mayor and half-appointed municipal council as was the case under the old law.
Shteiwi said this resulted in voter apathy, with participation in both Irbid and Zarqa falling below 50 per cent in 2003, while Karak recorded a 56 per cent turnout.
“The new law is a positive development. It restored the right of citizens to choose their representatives, lowered the voting age from 19 to 18 and provided a 20 per cent quota for women,” he said.
Voter turnout in Irbid is expected to reach 71 per cent next month, followed by Zarqa (68 per cent) and Karak (61 per cent), according to the poll.
However, despite renewed interest on the part of citizens, the survey revealed a general dissatisfaction about the performance of elected representatives and political parties.
Almost two-thirds of respondents in the three municipalities said they intend to vote for independent candidates, citing reasons relating to family and tribal affiliations.
Shteiwi said the findings do not bode well for the country’s transition to democracy.
“Citizens vote for independent candidates because the current political parties are weak and their ideologies are too narrow. Unless these parties merge and become more representative, the future doesn’t look good,” he said.
Less than 10 per cent of respondents said they would vote for a political party. Out of these, 64 per cent in Zarqa said they would vote for the Islamic Action Front (IAF), as compared to 45 per cent in Karak and 43 per cent in Irbid.
Most of the country’s 34 political parties, apart from IAF, which has 15 deputies in the Lower House, have less than 500 members.
The survey also revealed the absence of a general participatory culture resulting from a lack of accountability on the part of elected representatives.
More than 90 per cent of respondents in the three municipalities said they had never been contacted by a council member once elected.
“The level of contact and/or interaction between constituents and their representatives is generally low, with contacts being one way, i.e. constituents contacting their elected representatives,” said the survey, adding that once elected into office the representatives “neglect regular contact.”
The poll was carried out with the support of the International Republican Institute.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Organ traffickers prey on poor
By Paul Tate
AMMAN- An increasing number of Jordanians are being lured into selling their kidneys as part of the growing illegal international trade in human organs, a top health official revealed on Tuesday.
Doctor Moumen Hadidi, spokesperson for the recently established National Commission to Promote Organ Donation, said a total of 81 cases of trafficking have been uncovered by authorities over recent months.
The official said authorities are working hard to track down brokers who prey on poor people in some of the Kingdom’s impoverished governorates.
Last month police arrested several men for allegedly enticing citizens in Ajloun and Salt into selling their kidney’s to clients outside the country, said Hadidi, adding that all of those arrested were Jordanians.
"These people work on a commission basis and prey on poor people in order to convince them to sell their kidneys and then facilitate their travel to a second country where the operations are performed," he told The Jordan Times.
Hadidi denied the increase in cases was directly related to poverty, but admitted that the profile of the typical donor is poor, unemployed and unskilled.
"Most of the donors are between the ages of twenty and forty years and are lured by the chance of making quick money," he said, adding that the going rate for a kidney is around $3,000.
The donation or selling and trading of organs for profit is strictly banned in Jordan with traffickers and brokers facing up to five years in jail and a JD20,000 fine.
Hadidi said the surgery to remove donated organs is carried out in a second country, and that brokers arrange all travel details and expenses.
He would not specify which country, but both Egypt and Pakistan are known to be regional hubs for the illicit trade due to social inequality and high poverty rates.
According the World Health Organisation (WHO), the trade in human organs is increasing globally, fuelled by growing demand as well as unscrupulous traffickers.
In Europe alone, there are currently 120 000 patients on dialysis treatment and about 40,000 people waiting for a kidney, a report by the European Parliamentary Assembly stated.
“There are no reliable data on organ trafficking — or indeed transplantation activity in general — but brokers reportedly charge between US$100,000 and US$200,000 to organise a transplant for wealthy patients”, according to the WHO.
A Ministry of Health official told The Jordan Times that a growing awareness about the seriousness of the problem led to the setting up of the commission, which in addition to investigating suspected cases has also started an awareness campaign to encourage Jordanians to donate their organs after death.
“About eight hundred people die every year in Jordan in road accidents. We should be encouraging the relatives of these victims to donate the organs of their loves ones. This way we can begin to reduce the demand,” said Hadidi.
AMMAN- An increasing number of Jordanians are being lured into selling their kidneys as part of the growing illegal international trade in human organs, a top health official revealed on Tuesday.
Doctor Moumen Hadidi, spokesperson for the recently established National Commission to Promote Organ Donation, said a total of 81 cases of trafficking have been uncovered by authorities over recent months.
The official said authorities are working hard to track down brokers who prey on poor people in some of the Kingdom’s impoverished governorates.
Last month police arrested several men for allegedly enticing citizens in Ajloun and Salt into selling their kidney’s to clients outside the country, said Hadidi, adding that all of those arrested were Jordanians.
"These people work on a commission basis and prey on poor people in order to convince them to sell their kidneys and then facilitate their travel to a second country where the operations are performed," he told The Jordan Times.
Hadidi denied the increase in cases was directly related to poverty, but admitted that the profile of the typical donor is poor, unemployed and unskilled.
"Most of the donors are between the ages of twenty and forty years and are lured by the chance of making quick money," he said, adding that the going rate for a kidney is around $3,000.
The donation or selling and trading of organs for profit is strictly banned in Jordan with traffickers and brokers facing up to five years in jail and a JD20,000 fine.
Hadidi said the surgery to remove donated organs is carried out in a second country, and that brokers arrange all travel details and expenses.
He would not specify which country, but both Egypt and Pakistan are known to be regional hubs for the illicit trade due to social inequality and high poverty rates.
According the World Health Organisation (WHO), the trade in human organs is increasing globally, fuelled by growing demand as well as unscrupulous traffickers.
In Europe alone, there are currently 120 000 patients on dialysis treatment and about 40,000 people waiting for a kidney, a report by the European Parliamentary Assembly stated.
“There are no reliable data on organ trafficking — or indeed transplantation activity in general — but brokers reportedly charge between US$100,000 and US$200,000 to organise a transplant for wealthy patients”, according to the WHO.
A Ministry of Health official told The Jordan Times that a growing awareness about the seriousness of the problem led to the setting up of the commission, which in addition to investigating suspected cases has also started an awareness campaign to encourage Jordanians to donate their organs after death.
“About eight hundred people die every year in Jordan in road accidents. We should be encouraging the relatives of these victims to donate the organs of their loves ones. This way we can begin to reduce the demand,” said Hadidi.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)