18th December 2013
Nelson Mandela once said: Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” An inspirational phrase. But how can people use this weapon? And what is the battle they are fighting? The enemy is unemployment. The way for the foot soldiers leaving education to sharpen their swords and be prepared for […]
4th December 2013
What does the star of a “posh soap” have to do with a refugee camp in Jordan? A lot. Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary in the popular British drama series Downton Abbey visited Za’atri last month. In the show she plays an aloof and disdainful aristocrat; in reality she is extremely sensitive and anxious […]
20th November 2013
Laws are good. They help to prevent murder, theft and violence. But sometimes they suffocate, stifle and smother growth. In these cases, governments need to get out of the way of business. The private sector is the main driver of economic growth. Jobs that are productive, encourage innovation and unleash creativity will only be generated […]
6th November 2013
At an exhibition in Jerusalem recently I saw a display of amusing but thought-provoking objects. One was a simple box of safety matches, the kind that you can flip open. The only difference was that the heads of the matches were shaped like the domes, spires and minarets of Jerusalem. The message was clear: this […]
23rd October 2013
A Malay proverb says “clapping with the right hand only, produces no noise.” When it comes to being effective in our day-today work, how can we make sure we make noise, ie produce effective results that make a difference? One way is by working together better. Team-building is an essential part of running any office. […]
2nd October 2013
Did you know that enough sunlight falls on the earth in 1 hour to meet the whole world’s energy demand for a year? Exploiting this source of clean and readily-available energy must surely be a no-brainer. Promoting renewable energy used to be seen as a fad for environmentalists. And there is no doubt that there […]
18th September 2013
Last week the Jordanian national football team “Nashama” beat Uzbekistan in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, inching closer to qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. It was a tremendous win and Amman erupted into celebrations as enthusiastic supporters drove round town honking their horns and waving flags. Unfortunately, some supporters also fired their guns […]
4th September 2013
The world’s media has been dominated by the politics of how to respond to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons against civilians on 21 August. As often happens, the facts are obscured by false claims and rumours. The main question is whether the United States will launch a military attack. The United Kingdom has […]
21st August 2013
Monday 19 August was World Humanitarian Day. Such days – which mark important international themes – occur regularly. But few can be as relevant and important this year given the severe refugee crisis caused by the tragic violence in Syria. There are now almost 2 million Syrians – 10% of the population – in neighbouring […]
7th August 2013
Travel broadens the mind. By visiting different countries you can make comparisons and learn about how those countries handle big issues. You can also start to appreciate and understand your own country better. One issue which hits visitors abroad is the way a country handles rubbish. I have just returned after two weeks on […]