Sustainable Development
Jordan, along with several other Arab nations, is increasingly weaving the tenets of sustainable practices into day-to-day business.
That means taking greater account of the economic, social, and environmental impact of our decisions. From farms in the Jordan Valley producing organic crops to Jordanian corporations publishing sustainability reports, step by step we are adopting a new outlook on life and a new approach to doing business.
In today’s tough economic times, these efforts are even more critical. Issues like unemployment, climate change, and access to education don’t vanish but are exacerbated during a downturn.
Meanwhile, our region faces substantial hurdles to development: chronic water shortages… the highest unemployment rate in the world… a burgeoning and youthful population… the untapped potential of women… and, a school system not attuned to the demands of today’s job market.
By addressing these issues now we can spur growth as well as tackle long-term challenges. That is a fundamental truth in an age where our economic, social, and environmental systems are so interconnected.
So we must abandon harmful and self-interested practices for business methods that maximize the bottom lines of both company and community. In other words, we need greater transparency, more accountability, and better governance.
That is why Jordan is embracing sustainability practices, because we believe we can create sustainable products and jobs without compromising the country’s prospects or profits.
For example, the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) was the first NGO in the region to issue a sustainability report. JRF strives to make all its projects community and climate conscious, partnering with villages like Rasoun to transform them into models of sustainable development. The tourism sector, exemplified by the award-winning Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), is on a track to transform itself into a sustainable industry, building eco-friendly accommodation, advising communities how to protect their resources, and establishing wildlife and nature sanctuaries.
We are also proud of the Arab Sustainability Leadership Group (ASLG), the foremost regional network of businesses, government agencies, and NGOs dedicated to this holistic and humane work ethic.
Formed in Jordan in 2008, ASLG is committed to the highest standards of sustainability practices and – encouragingly – growing in strength. As leading practitioners in sustainability, members are setting the pace of business and proving that the Arab world can respond to global challenges. When it comes to sustainability, ASLG is the regional standard bearer.
To encourage broader adoption of 21st Century business practices, ASLG launched in 2009 the first Arab Responsible Competitiveness Index (ARCI). ARCI is an invaluable indicator for the Middle East on the status of industries and services, guiding governments and CEOs alike on how they can successfully combine conscience and competitiveness.
Others are following as they recognize Responsible Competitiveness for its value. National level initiatives are sprouting in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. And, the Arab world can now look with pride to efforts, such as Masdar in Abu Dhabi, or Sekem Group in Egypt.
While other countries move into the field of sustainability, Jordan will continue to innovate, solidifying its position as a leading regional economy, society, and role model. Jordan’s first national responsible competitiveness report is part of this strategy, helping us recast Jordan businesses to compete.
Of course, we are all stakeholders in this process. The public, private, and non-profit sectors have their roles to play, as do communities locally and countries globally. If we each take on this new, sustainable outlook we can fashion a society that puts people above poverty and the planet under protection.
My name is Jenn. I am a single mom living in Southern California. I don't have much, but I want to help any way I can. I am a nurse and I work for a private practice medical group in Malibu. Just recently we donated some of our excess medications to an orphanage in Mexico. Many of our patients are financially secure and very kind, compassionate people. I will be sharing this web site with everyone, but that doesn't ease my concern nor does it change anything. I have been through some very profound/ life changing matters and if not for my education and a select few incredible people, I might not be here today.
I want to know how I can help. I don't have very much money, as I am raising 2 children on my own, but I can spare something. Plus, I can collect clothes, medical supplies, school supplies, etc....
Would any or all of these things be of help and, if so, how doI get in touch to discuss details?
Again, my name is Jennifer Rogers
My phone numbers are 310-774-1826 and 424-644-0458.
I live in Malibu, California of the United States and today is Sunday, July 18, 2010.
My email address is booooba@aol.com or jenniferpcbu@gmail.com
I hope to hear from someone soon.
Jenn
From the Desk of :
Raja Mukherjee
Business Head –India || MEENA Region || Rest of Asia
Cell :+91 98 04 32 01 92
India Office:
Knescopic Electronics Pvt. Ltd.
8/ 4 Rishi Bankim Chandra Road
Dum Dum Cantonment 4th Floor
Kolkata –700028
West Bengal , India
Tel:+91 33 25592014
Fax:+91 33 25298201[ Calcutta,India]
+88 62 66012059[ Taipei,Taiwan ]
+81 34 496472 7[ Tokyo,Japan ]
E-mail : kepl@cal3.vsnl.net.in
: Rajamukherje@gmail.com
Telecommunications–R&D-Design &Development|Hardware Components| Electronics Testing|
Energy Management Solutions–Solar Energy Management|
Rural Electrification|R&D
Global Alliance Partners|| HWT Hwuawang Tel, China| TTIC Elec,Taiwan
Dated:02-06-2010
Ref:HER MAJESTY RAINA ABDULLAH -QUEEN OF JORDAN/ KN-02-06-2010/01
To
Her Majesty
Queen Raina Al Abdullah
Queen of Jordan
__________________________________________________
Your Majesty,
I am Raja Mukherjee -Business Head –India ||MEENA Region || Rest of Asia for Knescopic Electronics Pvt.Ltd,an Indian company which has significantly expanded itself in Asia and Africa client base in the areas of:
[a] Energy Management Solutions –Solar Power Management :Urban& Rural Electrification Projects with complete expertise in cost -effective,non-hazardous solar grid management,solar lanterns and both rural & urban solar electrification solutions.
[b]Emergency Telecommunications systems– for Remote Access Areas
and emergency services,proven track record of Product Designing,Research & Development for GSM ,Fixed Line Telecommunications system.
I write this mail to you from India to convey my deepest regards to you for standing against the tides of time and face the biggest challenge that the human race is facing today -food,shelter,clothing,good health and education.
Knescopic was conceptualised by Mr.Subhash Ch Sarkar-Managing Director,who was born in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands-India an enginner and technologist by profession and has walked a long way to make a mark for indigneous Indian technology and research work across the face of Global competition.
I,Raja,by profession -a Private Banker and Corporate Banking specialist,with focus on alternative areas of investments and value creation;has been responsible for organic growth of Knescopic across the Globe and responsible for planning new initiatives.
I had gone through the entire work of Your Excellency and interested to Partner with Jordan River Foundation and your other initiatives to create a "Solar and Alternative Energy Foundation" wherein we plan to train and employ women from below poverty line in the region of Jordan and MEENA Region in the areas of Solar and Alternative energy management technology; and donate a min of 20% of our profits for further development of Primary Education and Nutrition for the poor in the region.
I request an appointment with Your Majesty, at Amman wherein my Managing Director and myself would like to call on you to discuss our initiatives with your foundation.
Look forward to your kind co-operation regarding this matter.
Thanking you.
Yours Sincerely,
Raja Mukherjee
Interesting facts to know:
*Global demand for solar PV Projected at over 11.3 GW in 2010.
*Photovoltaics [PV]:When electricity rather than heat is required,PV is a robust,flexible, scaleable technology which can provide energy for both houses and other buildings.
The typical sized household PV system for example will provide at least 2,000units of electricity per annum and save at least 1.14 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
PV has a proven working life of 45 years plus and modules typically come with a 25 year manufacturers warranty.
Your Majesty. I'd like to address one small measure of sustainability in government that just about all eGovernment Web sites worldwide fail in regards to sustainable measures. One of the most remarkable and least costly initiatives that a government can implement is in the area of online transactions processing via government forms.
Jordan like most countries throughout the world host online PDF forms. However the workflow is rooted in antiquated methods whereas a constituent needs to download the form, hand write data (most governments including Jordan don't host fillable forms), print the form, and deliver to a host government agency. The 21st century model is to host a fillable PDF form where constituents can populate the form with data and submit the form to a government server where the data are collected and routed electronically.
This is not a criticism of Jordan for all countries throughout the world use the same manual methods for processing government forms. In the USA, less than 5% of government forms are processed electronically.
What is needed in the world of government today is for one country to take a leadership role in automating government services —particularly in electronic processing of government forms. To date, a clear leader in this area is yet to be identified.
Benefits from embracing an automated workflow results in fewer costs for constituents and more revenue for government. Travel and waiting is eliminated from the process resulting in less cost and demand on constituent's time. Government realizes more revenue by assessing modest fees for transactions. The sustainable measure is obviously in reducing significant amount of paper, reduction in transportation to and from government offices, printing, and storage space.
What is needed today is for a country to take a leadership role in eGovernment and set a new standard to help engage constituents and businesses in government services. I have been working recently with countries in Southeast Asia. Progress is slow but some achievements have been made. I believe however, that Jordan, because of it's leadership and infrastructure is an ideal candidate to become a role model in eGovernment services for the benefit of the people of Jordan and a chance at achieving global recognition.
This is a 21st century best business practice and deserves some attention. Feel free to contact me if you would like any additional information.
Warmest Regards,
ted padova
Author: Adobe Acrobat PDF Bible
I am writing to you from Abkhazia. You know, there is a small but very beautiful country on the shores of the Black sea. In 1992-93 we had a war with Georgia, after which many victims were left.
My name is Victoria Dumava. During the war, I had a road accident, spinal fracture - since then I am in invalid’s wheelchair.
Such beauty as we have in Abkhazia one can hardly find anywhere else. We invite you and your wonderful children (you can rightly be proud of them) to visit us. We have the most beautiful mountains, rivers, waterfalls, beautiful sea, resort cities such as Gagra, Pitsunda, the most beautiful lake in the world Ritsa, and of course the best people in the world. We call ourselves Apsua or Abaza people and call our country ABKHAZIA.
Respected Majesty,
All your endeavours are very laudable as for a Queen, I do bow my head for finding the will, time, energy,...to helping others. I just came to know about your commitment from Face book and I am indeed very pleased to address you the present message, hoping it reaches you.
As for myself, I am a young Mauritian architect, trained in France and Germany. After having successful completed my studies with the most outstanding recognitions, I left Europe, though great job opportunities, to go to the African continent.
The last 5 years, I have been actively serving in several African countries developing humanitarian projects. Furthermore, in my motherland, Mauritius, I have also launched a series of sustainable development projects, all on purely voluntary basis. Over 60% of time is devoted to others as from my point of view, the knowledge I gained is to serve others, in practical ways, for the betterment of the community.
I do not know if you have a policy to implementing projects in African countries but if it so, I would be a great honour if you could have a short look to some of our endeavours, from one of the NGO where I am a pioneer member and today a leading NGO in Mauritius: www.associationciviquemidlands.org. I am also the national coordinator of the very first “Green Awards Mauritius” to recognising and rewards environmental stalwart ship in Mauritius. Again it is a challenging initiative; please follow: www.earthmauritius.org
Others projects are supported by “Vertecture Foundation for Sustainability”, which has been recently established by myself so as to lead my social activities with “professionalism”. Updates of ongoing activities will appear on www.vertectue.com (still under construction)
My major concern as a professional and social worker is to fight poverty and bring sustainable and affordable housing to the neediest ones. The main challenge remains financing and that is why, to be straight, I am addressing you the present message.
It is not only money that is important but also, the lobby of “powerful” or I prefer influential person like you who can help in realising some of our projects.
I do know and see the great number of messages you receive but I do hope to have a response from you.
With anticipated thanks and kindest regards from Mauritius
Vinesh
e: vineshz@hotmail.com
There is no doubt that Jordan and other Arab country locate in the heart of world resourse,so that ecery action made by these governments poses a grrat thret to the developing of the world.If the spirit of sustainability can be planted in the region,people there may change their kind of working instead of exporting resourse,scientists will have enough time to research new energy for production .
There has been a great deal of meetings in this topic,however,because of the different profit of different countries,this problem has not been solved.But nowadays,we will become the masters of our planet,new order will be built and sustainable avenue will become true.
My paintings are about the Celebration of Divinity of Nature: Inner Garden Gallery, www.laurieblum.com
I believe in nurturing ourselves by nurturing our Earth. Organic is best. Clean energy is best! Celebration of Nature- Nowruz! Lets have a race to see who can have cleaner energy not nuclear power which can destroy our world! I would like to collaborate with my art towards this end to bring awareness to be thankful for the beauty in Nature around us.
I have read this article and me she has seemed a lot interesting. Beginning to specify that I still never have unfortunately not visited her nation and never I have not been in Saint earth. But I hope in a future one close can come, because I have the great desire to see the places where Jesus has lived and carried out his life, but also Petra is a city that fascinates to me very.
Returning to the article me a lot is pleasure the fact that she from economist has found the antidote in order to let out to enough fast step from the crisis an entire region. Because as she has deciphered the problem prince who holds blocked many nations to not the improvement is to run after the interests of the little to demage of the majority of the people reducing the nations to the stasis of the society not becoming account that this way to make economy ago badly the entire economic apparatus. This problem does not regard only your region, but all the planet. Italy overhead! This state of the things is possible only because the petty politicians allow this situation. Task, but above all I hope with all the heart that succeeds to let out from this optical an entire region, but is much complicating. Also because of usual these situations have been come to create after years of compromises. But creed that her thought is the only way for giving a true one carried out to the entire planet! Also her to opt for the renewable energy with the use of solar paddles is a great step ahead for her nation or regarding the occupational levels and or like inner progress in order to depend less possible from other states to energy level. In Italy this experience with optimal result has been carried out in the Puglia region and has been happening!
Certainly this indeed gigantic crisis has uncovered the embrittlement or to financial economic level and or to level that every single state has in itself.
I use regarding it of the women in your culture effectively you have this deep problem. As the great feminine dowries they make the difference or in positive and or in negative. Because a woman can save the surrounding world, but at the same time it she can also destroy, according to as she uses own abilities!
Also from we the school is not apt to the working woven one indeed he was already completely insufficient, but after the “reform” that I conceive personally it only to modify a system in order to still more adapt it to of the cuts of the field rendering the institution lacking school. I do not want to prolonged exposing the failures to cultural and scholastic level of my nation!
Regarding the emergency water I could mention a road a lot important, that already you have even taken in consideration, but since I have not seen it mentioned I would want to put it in prominence. A solution in order to make to change the climate and to render it more rainy thus to render the stratums water-bearing consisting without a doubt still more most effective and helps the atmosphere is the reforestation of part of the zone removing land to the desert. Certainly without to eliminate completely those fantastic landscapes that only the desert can offer. Putting plants that little have water requirements like the Baobab, the Palms, but also domestic Pines or Ulivi (since also you in Jordan have the influence of the mild Mediterranean climate), but also the Cedar of the Lebanese and others. In short, in a word to aim in the reforestation forming personal in this field for the maintenance and the guard of atmospheres greens. Because the process chemical-physicist who puts into effect itself this is: the plants stretch to establish a more humid climate. As the plants they release or water that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere therefore an exchange from the low towards the high of the atmosphere and consequently in order to put into effect the cycle where there are trees the precipitations are more frequent as the humidity absorbed from the atmosphere come given back to the earth. From this a microclimate is become stabilized that stretches favorable to the formation of the clouds that other are not that a complex formation of condensation layers. Which composition still is disowned, but like always the formation process is known before and then its effective composition. Therefore to work today for being able to give a better future also to water-bearing level to the generations to follow.
Regarding the climatic changes us from we in Italy the winters they are more and more becoming cold and long. Tasks that are from little days that the spring has arrived and it has been ended to melt the snow on the Appennines. This year is snowed also to Rome! In Russia incredible temperatures have been caught up. -30 to Moscow and -46 degrees in the Siberia. In Italy in some you leave has caught up also the -24 degrees!
In order to conclude I would want to say that I have a great hope in your potentialities in order to exit the crisis and to reconstruct also a cultural within of excellence like in past. Remembering a conquest on that chemistry has been already come to deliver up itself in the 813 anticipating the West of approximately a millenium. In 935 or down you have already subdivided chemistry in various addresses there and this for chemistry has been of fundamental importance. While from ours you leave has caught up the separation between chemistry and the single alchemy in 1785. This is only an example. Then with justice it could make present many me other arguments in which you have anticipated to us, but I being a lover of chemistry have deepened and memory own this argument.
Observing all the initiatives from undertaken she and that door ahead. Creed indeed that the Jordan with the engagement been putting that us is the example that can haul to the modernization of the Middle East. Certainly there are still many problems to resolve to its inside, but how much job in ahead has been made! Indeed impressive. Thinking that independence has been only caught up around 1962. Like expressing my admiration towards of you as reigning family I will use a word that I hope it can understand my appreciation: CONGRATULATIONS!
With this the salute with all the heart hoping that her action in thus many fields of job you carry always great fruits in the surrounding world.
The heart salute!
Lorenza
I think, if we want to achieve sustainability we should embrace its ethics that is derived from sustainable development strategy, it was issued within the inter and intra generational principles of global Rio conference in 1992
I have been recently into a regional conference where an interesting point was raised about the failure rate (reportedly above 50%) of strategic plan execution worldwide.
The top key factor for this failure was "poor, missing, or ineffective communications between the top level of the hierarchy across the middle levels and down to the lower levels within the hierarchy", a topic worth investigating - on its own - to reach the bottom of it and come with truly effective communication schemes that supports the strategy execution and produces tangible, quantifiable and measurable results to prove its effectiveness.
The second key factor for these failures was "lack of motivation and incentives for the lower ranks" to ensure their buy-in and sincere contribution to the success of these initiatives. People can be motivated in a variety of ways and this should be taken into consideration when dealing with the key players who can be the "make-or-break" point in the whole plan. An effective "merit" system along with a full-fledged incentive/award program has proven value already in making this happen.
As a professional who has recently worked extensively on the subject of strategic planning, strategic plan implementation and aligning daily operations to the overall strategic direction, I thought it would be worth it to share this information/thoughts on how to contribute to the success of key/strategic initiatives in public/private sectors in Jordan and the region.
I hope our public/private sector entities pick the importance of this topic and take it in consideration for the success of their key/strategic initiatives now and in the future.