Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address

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Queen Noor chairs annual meeting of Tamweelcom's Board of Directors

Amman, Dec 21 (Petra) -- The Board of Directors of Jordan Microcredit Company (Tamweelcom) of the King Hussein Foundation held its annual meeting on Saturday, 19th December, presided by Her Majesty Queen Noor, Chairperson of the Foundation.

The meeting reviewed strategic options and legal frameworks that enable Tamweelcom to expand its microcredit loans outreach, and transfer its expertise to neighboring countries, having been ranked this year by the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Global as the top performing microcredit company in the MENA region.

During the meeting, Queen Noor honored former Tamweelcom Chairman, His Highness Al-Sharif Shaker Bin Zaid, and former board members, Amer al-Salti and H.E.

Rateb Al-Wazani for their distinguished efforts and continued support to the company during the past years.

The board had earlier elected Imad Ayoub as the new chairman.

Queen Noor commended the company's success and achievements during the past year, saying that through its international recognition and outstanding performance in the area of microfinance, Tamweelcom comes to translate the late King Hussein's vision for Jordan as a center of innovation and model for best international practices in the region, as well as an exporter of expertise.

Tamweelcom Executive Director, Ziad Al-Rifai pointed out that the company's ability to provide marketing channels to its clients has greatly contributed to increasing sales for small enterprise owners, who previously suffered marketing setbacks and low revenue.

In addition to providing financial services, Tamweelcom offers non-financial services to its clients, such as building the capacity of small business owners by providing them with project management training and ensuring education loans for their children.

During the past year, Tamweelcom received three awards; the Middle East Regional Social Entrepreneurship Award from Schwab Foundation, the King Abdullah Award for Excellence, and the Performance Award from Sanabel Microfinance Network of Arab countries.

Established in 1999, Tamweelcom today stands as a leading regional microcredit company, and has so far disbursed over 37.

loans to the value of JD64 million, 95% of which benefited women in various sectors.

Queen Noor of Jordan

#716

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:49 pm
Subject: Expert Witness: Queen Noor

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Queen Noor of Jordan

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#715

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Thu Dec 17, 2009 4:52 pm
Subject: International Relief and Development Humanitarian Award

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March 18- International Relief and Development Humanitarian Award

I received a humanitarian award from International Relief and Development for my work with Iraqi women who have been displaced due to the war. Queen Noor of Jordan (below) also received this award for her Foundation's work with Iraqi refugees who have moved to Jordan.

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#714

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:03 pm
Subject: Queen Noor: Accsess to informaition linked to tranceparency Development

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Queen Noor: Accsess to informaition linked to tranceparency Development

MENAFN - Jordan Times) Countries with better access to information have less exposure to corruption, better living conditions and stronger public participation in the decision-making process, media experts said on Monday.

The experts convened in Amman yesterday at a conference on freedom of information in the region, where the debate centred on recent developments and the constraints imposed by content-based restrictions in media laws, including the censorship of Internet content, in light of international standards.

The two-day conference, "The Right to Know in Yemen and the MENA Region: Building an Agenda for a Culture of Transparency", includes the participation of 15 Arab and international media experts, researchers and activists working on freedom of expression.

During the event, organised by ARTICLE 19's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) office, the participants will explore channels to address identified issues through litigation and advocacy, and identify obstacles to and opportunities for reform.

During the first session, Jordanian journalist and media activist Yahia Shukkeir said Jordan is the only Arab country that has an Access to Information Law, yet it is not utilised by the public, stressing that the law is not only for journalists but the public as a whole.

"Public participation in the decision-making process is part of any development process, however this cannot be met without ensuring and facilitating access to information," he said.

Shukkeir noted that the current Access to Information Law has several loopholes, such as the 30-day period an applicant must wait before getting answers to his request.

Besides the Kingdom, countries like Lebanon, Kuwait, Yemen, Iraq, Morocco, Bahrain, Palestine and Algeria have drafted similar laws pertaining to access to information, which are still being discussed by their respective legislatures.

Hafez Mirazi, director of the Egyptian Kamal Adham Centre for Journalism Training and Research, pointed out that access to information is the public's right and not a privilege granted by the authorities.

"The media has always been perceived as a linking point between all parties interested in news, including governments, citizens and private sector institutions. Unfortunately the government is the only provider for information and gives news seekers what they want and only what is positive," he said.

A lack of objective sources for the media opens the way for journalists to look for alternative sources, thus making their news coverage less reliable, Yasser Abdel Gawad, an Egyptian legal expert on freedom of expression, noted.

Laws that grant freedom of access to information also provide journalists with protection and spare them the distress of being held accountable for their writings, he added.

During the second day of the conference, the participants will discuss the relationship between access to information, transparency and corruption, identify areas for collaboration and map an "agenda for action" in Yemen and in the region, drawing on experience from outside and within the area.

By Hani Hazaimeh
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?StoryId=1093288706

Queen Noor of Jordan

#713

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:40 pm
Subject: Queen Noor's interview with Jordan Business

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Excerpts of Her Majesty Queen Noor's interview with Jordan Business, published in the September Issue

Q: How has the Noor Hussein Foundation evolved over the years to achieve its initial goals?

A: When I founded the NHF in 1985 I wanted a body that combines a diverse range of my early development initiatives in the fields of integrated community development, micro-lending, women's empowerment, child and family health, as well as education and culture. NHF's initiatives have since contributed to modernizing the country's approach to social work by moving beyond traditional charity-oriented activities towards becoming an integral part of development strategies and national economic priorities.

We focused on improving the overall quality of life of Jordanian communities by introducing innovative, dynamic and sustainable development models, and setting national and regional standards of excellence.

For example, in 2000, the Quality of Life project developed the Capacity Building and Business Services Development Unit when it was becoming increasingly evident that access to funding by the poor would not be effective without business support and training. So we sought to encourage sustainable micro- and small-enterprises in disadvantaged communities by also providing training on how to start up a business, how to improve it, and how to carry out feasibility studies and cost accounting. The Unit also provides product development services, marketing links, and access to lending.

Another example goes back to the early 1980s, when we launched a National Handicrafts Development Project to revive and preserve a unique aspect of Jordan’s national heritage. In partnership with Save the Children (US), we established the Bani Hamida and Jordan River Design projects, which became successful community-development handicraft models that produce Bedouin rug weaving and traditional embroidery. The Jordan Design and Trade Center, the first of its kind in Jordan, later came to raise the standards of handicrafts production, create jobs, increase women’s productivity and set marketing strategies for the industry to renew and sustain itself. In 1990 several other handicraft centers were set up across Jordan and in 2004 all were turned over to women-led cooperatives.

Moreover, the Foundation’s long experience with integrated development has enabled us to offer psycho-social services to displaced Iraqi women and youth, interdisciplinary rehabilitation services to victims of trauma, as well as capacity-building for community-based organizations, micro-entrepreneurs and women councilors across Jordan.

Over the years, we were able to transfer our experience and institutional knowledge to assist in poverty alleviation and capacity building in more than 19 countries throughout the region.

In Yemen, for instance, we have designed and run training programs on community mobilization, and on credit schemes in distant areas and villages, while our staff has trained NGOs on Project Cycle Management. With Syria, we have on-going cooperation between sister Business Incubators for women in Irbid and in Lattakia. In Saudi Arabia, a self-learning manual on marketing skills was developed for a consultancy firm, and community workers from Iraq have been trained on identifying and developing community needs, as well as establishing revolving credit funds and providing business development services.

This year, we also celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Jordan Micro Credit Company (Tamweelcom), ranked in 2008 as the eighth best microfinance institution worldwide and the number one in the region. In 2007, it received the CGAP/World Bank – Pro-Poor Innovation Challenge Award, and was the first Arab Micro Finance Institution recognized for its best practices in microfinance among 200 international companies.

Q: A common issue that tends to arise within the Kingdom’s development field is the somewhat absence of private sector involvement when it comes to key issues that have been typically handled by government institutions and civil society. How has KHF worked with the local private sector to tackle common social issues, such as education, poverty eradication and even policy development?

A: Corporate Social Responsibility in Jordan is slowly growing, but unfortunately the number of private companies extending help to development initiatives is still limited. Concepts of philanthropy and endowments are not yet adequately understood and institutionalized in the private and public sectors.

We have managed, though, to attract generous contributions from Jordanian individuals and institutions as well as from other countries and international donors, who believed in our mission.

Where education is concerned, the Jubilee School Scholarship Fund for meritorious students supports youth from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds with special emphasis on students from less developed areas, and is one such program that largely depends on donors.

Since 1993, the Jubilee School has worked on developing thepotential of outstanding students by providing a unique educational environment that promotes critical thinking, leadership and conflict-resolution skills; enhances scientific and technological knowledge and encourages community service.

Elsewhere, we have successfully established a legacy of supporting income-generating projects, cooperatives, and community-based organizations by creating links with the private sector and donor agencies. Additionally, in partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, through national programs such as Qudorat and Local Development Program for Less Privileged Areas – we have helped build bridges of cooperation between the government and community-based organizations.

We have also been involved in areas where both the private and public sectors have collaborated, such as building bus-shelters in remote rural area, providing cribs, stoves and carpets to community nurseries, as well as potable water to schools.

Q: According to recent statements issued by the World Bank, the global financial crisis has had a severe impact on developing nations, specifically in the fields of poverty reduction, health and education, with some 90 million having been pushed in to poverty since the advent of the crisis. Given your extensive local and international experience in these specific fields, how do you feel Jordan is faring when it comes to tackling these key issues and what, in your opinion, are some of the steps that need to be taken in order to minimize the blow?

A: Although considered a small economy, Jordan has very much an open economy. We have a liberalized trade regime, and foreign direct investment (FDI) and other financial flows are free from restrictions; so we are very connected to global economic developments. Of course the global economic crisis affected Jordan just like other countries, but the government took rapid measures to counter the economic downturn. Price inflation has been controlled, interest rates are coming down, and budget allocations have been shifted to support the more vulnerable segments of our economy.

However, I would caution that we should never sacrifice long-term sustainability for short-term gains. We must continue to focus on structural reform rather than quick-fix stimulus. Efforts to improve healthcare, provide access to clean water, and ensure energy independence should continue to top our policy agenda.

It is our human potential, not global financial events that will ultimately determine the character and pace of our economic and social development. Improving education for all the population with an emphasis on creativity and innovation, where the best minds in Jordan are given the chance to implement new ideas, will allow us to compete internationally, and achieve our long-term growth.

By the same token, the economic slowdown has had a large effect on the microfinance industry, which had relatively no growth in loans disbursed in the first half of 2009 compared with an impressive 30% growth in 2008.

Additionally micro-loan repayment rates are down slightly, which is causing microfinance companies to tighten their credit-lending services similar to the practices taken by the banking industry. As a result, microfinance companies are giving more attention and higher priority to sustainability and client education than growth and outreach.

Q: To what extent has the financial crisis caused KHF to re-evaluate or re-focus some of its primary goals and/or resources when it comes to tackling poverty alleviation, education and health in Jordan?

A: We continue to receive assistance and support from donors, but in view of the current economic crunch, we have to ensure that the continuity of our programs is not jeopardized.

Hence, the KHF’s response to the economic downturn was to try and look at alternative means of funding for the various programs. We are seeking to establish an endowment fund to ensure a fixed source of financing, and we are looking at other possibilities that could guarantee a steady cash flow, such as provide consultancy services to other local and regional institutions, or rent out facilities such the Jubilee School's indoor Sports Complex and the newly built state-of-the-art theater, as well as the outdoor theater at the Performing Arts Center.

In the business sector, micro entrepreneurs, just like other businesses, have to find inventive ways to stay competitive and profitable. The NHF business incubators in Irbid and Aqaba are focusing on product development and market linkages as well as providing expert advice to help them meet these new challenges, while Tamweelcom is strengthening its Business-to-Business database. As part of Tamweelcom’s social responsibility, school scholarships are being granted to the children of Tamweelcom’s clients to help reduce the financial burden of education, and ensure poverty does not send the young out on the streets.

In the finance sector, we are engaged in an industry dialogue with peer microfinance companies and with the government to set a new legal framework to expand the client base served by the industry and to expand the microfinance services to include “savings” for the poor. We are also evaluating “profit” and “not-for-profit” options for microfinance companies to draw more investments to the field and help expand beneficiaries.

In the health sector, the Institute for Family Health (IFH) has maintained its patient charges at minimum, to make it more affordable to a larger number of people. However, this has increased the number of beneficiaries, and subsequently the financial burden on IFH, so the Institute is now focusing more on a preventive approach to family health than on a curative response. In parallel, the IFH continues to seek to enlarge its portfolio of donors.

Additionally the KHF is evaluating the best ways it can contribute to the new energy, water and environment (EWE) initiatives in the country, including supporting the establishment of a Green Park that aims to build a cluster of know-how enterprises, and the launch of a national recycling drive.

Q: This year also marks the ten-year anniversary of Tamweelcom – Jordan’s Micro-credit Company. Being at the forefront of micro-credit ventures in the Kingdom, what role has Tamweelcom played in helping to create small businesses in the country and what are some of the stories that have served as vital success indicators of Tamweelcom’s work in Jordan? What are the types of businesses that have sprung up through Tamweelcom’s financing?

A: Lack of access to capital has always been a major obstacle for low-income Jordanians, and the challenge is even more pertinent today in light of the global economic crisis. Without credit history or collateral, the less privileged are generally regarded as too “high-risk” by commercial banks, making it difficult for them to obtain loans to start up or expand their businesses.

Tamweelcom was established with the mission to improve the livelihoods of impoverished Jordanians through access to credit and non-financial services that are otherwise unavailable to this segment of society. It began its operations with $1.7 million of startup funding, and has since grown its lending portfolio to more than $13 million, serving in excess of 60,000 clients through disbursing over 120,000 loans.

The success stories are many, but beyond the classic stories of home-based projects that could grow into small, mainstream businesses, our biggest achievements translate into women empowerment, and opportunities for school and university education.

The stories that emerge are based on businesses within the trade and services sector, ranging from handicraft, production of dairy products, management of gyms, and agricultural nurseries, to grocery stores. All of these tend to be informal trades and services, or, home-based. Those are the types of businesses through which women can gain essential skills, and earn a fixed income while at home for their children, and eventually transfer those skills to other family members, friends and neighbors.

Q: Micro-credit is globally noted for its ability to both help alleviate poverty and empower women, with the majority of its beneficiaries being women. Have you seen similar patterns here in Jordan with regards to women empowerment? Moreover, what obstacles, if any, has Tamweelcom had to overcome in this field, specifically social and/or cultural stigmas regarding working women in the Kingdom?

A: We work with the firm belief that women are not a minority in the work force but rather the “marginalized majority”; and gender best practice should be an integral part of any initiative focused on poverty-alleviation, economic growth and the building of a strong civil society.

From over 30 years of personal experience in working with women in Jordan I have seen over and over again that when women are given access to capital, they have the potential to initiate a series of ‘virtuous spirals’ of economic and social empowerment; and enhance livelihoods for their families through increased savings and education.

Tamweelcom has capitalized on this notion, and women-led projects account for more than 90% of the Company's total portfolio. I can safely say that the flexibility and resilience of our lending strategy has given Tamweelcom a strong competitive edge in the market, and this is particularly true for women choosing to set up home-based businesses because they have employment constraints, whether due to lack to sufficient education or social restrictions.

Q: In a short amount of time, Tamweelcom has managed to become one of the top micro-credit companies in the world receiving a great number of global accolades for its work in the field. What are some of the best practices that have been applied and to what degree have such practices been derived from international experience, partnerships and cooperation?

A: Tamweelcom works within international best practice guidelines that include promoting transparency, operational and financial sustainability, product innovation and loan insurance, as well as women empowerment and impacting society and the environment.

However, one aspect that I feel is being relatively undermined here in Jordan is the transfer of MFI registration from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Ministry of Social Affairs. International best practices stipulate that MF is registered with, and operate under the Ministry of Finance or the Central Bank.

That being said, the organization’s accomplishments and international recognition has only been possible due to the visionary and pro-active leadership, hard work and commitment of its board of directors and staff.

Q: Tamweelcom works beyond the meager realms of basic micro-financing and has put a great deal of effort into providing complementary non-financial services, such as skills training and business development services. How do such services work in order to ensure that businesses receiving micro-credit are self-sustainable in the long run?

A: Access to credit is a main ingredient to a successful business, but more is needed for sustainable growth of any business. Non-financial services such as marketing, networking, training and business development are crucial for micro businesses, allowing micro entrepreneurs to enhance their business skills, increase their productivity, and enter into agreements with other businesses.

Q: How essential, in your opinion, is capacity-building on a grassroots level when it comes to the issue of sustainability?

A: Capacity building is crucial to small businesses. A large number of micro entrepreneurs have the capacity to produce, but very few have the skills to market and upgrade the quality of their products, which ultimately curtails productivity and puts businesses at risk of failure. Without capacity-building, sustainability may be jeopardized.

Q: Can you tell us a little about the concept behind Souk Ayyadi as part of Tamweelcom’s Marketing Gateway project? Are there any plans to create a virtual marketing arena for micro-financed projects?

A: Souk Ayyadi was created in mid-2007 as a pioneering marketing program. Essentially, the idea was to create a marketplace that supports micro-entrepreneurs and expand their client base.Tamweelcom threw in all its practical expertise and financial support, in order to stimulate the small and medium market in the Kingdom. Since its establishment, Souk Ayyadi has opened direct linkages between Tamweelcom clients and buyers, thus assisting clients in expanding their marketing capabilities, while benefiting from cash liquidity to further upgrade their products. Today, there are two permanent Souk Ayyadi showrooms, one in Mecca Mall, Amman and one in Aqaba.

During the 1990s, we developed e-marketing for some of our handicraft products, making handicrafts available online. However, the move did not have the impact we had hoped, so, the idea to allow customers to purchase Tamweelcom’s client products online was put on hold, and will now be further delayed due to the global financial crisis, but I hope it gets going again in the near future.

Q: With the global financial downturn continuing to evolve, many banks have scaled back on lending credit and providing loans. Has this situation caused an increase in interest for Tamweelcom’s services, and has the organization sought to fill the emerging absence of mainstream funding?

A: Micro-credit programs have generally proven to be unaffected by fluctuating market and economic conditions. Many of these programs service the informal “under-economy”, and this segment is generally considered to be the marginalized majority. Whereas the impact of the financial crisis has been limited in terms of horizontal market expansion, financial depth- in terms of increased loan sizes- has been curtailed as clients have been reluctant to take further risks in times of general uncertainty.

Tamweelcom did not raise its interest rates nor has it been affected by an absence in mainstream funding, rather, it has merely scaled back on dispersing loans to clients while intensifying loan officer support to its clients.

The effect of the global financial downturn on Tamweelcom was both positive and negative. In terms of positive effect, more businesses have sought to invest in the microfinance industry because it was one of the industries least affected by the global financial crisis and was gaining momentum due to a rise in unemployment. On the other hand, the crisis has also resulted in a decline in the living standards of Tamweelcom’s clients, and thus, limited their ability to repay loans. All considered, Tamweelcom was forced to put several of its services and projects on hold, and slow down on future plans.

Q: How does Tamweelcom’s Business-to-Business Linkage service operate in order to provide business-owners with cheaper resources?

A: Tamweelcom uses its client database to automatically link businesses that can benefit from a value chain approach. Loan officers duly hand out lists of clients that have products or services which other clients can use to benefit their own. However, this service is still underutilized as clients are not yet fully aware of how networking works.

Q: What are some of the future plans for Tamweelcom and KHF? Where do you hope to see these institutions evolving in five years times?

A: The last two decades have witnessed a powerful proliferation of the microfinance world. The notion of micro-credit developed into the concept of microfinance, which, in turn, broadened into more inclusive financial systems that integrated the poor into the mainstream economy and capital markets. At this point, the realm of this financial world has captured the attention of governments, investors, philanthropists and formal financial institutions alike.

The global evolution of successful microfinance institutions has led to a transition from non-governmental lending programs in the initial phase to more sophisticated financial institutions that operate on a commercial basis. This has forced us to adapt our strategies to encompass technology, alternative energy sources, market-driven financial products, and sound governance practices at all levels. Once we can accomplish that at the local level, and open a branch in every town and village across Jordan, we intend to reach out to regional markets. Tamweelcom’s expertise in financial analysis, marketing strategies and human resource is being exported to Yemen, Egypt and Sudan.

King Hussein always believed in the human element as the country's key asset, and I believe so too. All of our programs and projects would not have come to light, and our ambitious goals would not have been realized without the dynamic and dedicated teams and professionals whom I had the privilege to work with over the past 30 years.

Queen Noor of Jordan

#712

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm
Subject: The Queen Hits Dubai

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The Queen Hits Dubai

by Peter Knegt (Updated 5 hours, 4 minutes ago)

Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan arrived at the Madinat Arena in Dubai last night for the Cultural Bridge panel at Dubai’s 6th International Film Festival. “We can and will use film as a knife to break bread,” she said on stage, before introducing the panelists. indieWIRE sat down with Noor for an interview just prior to the event, and will have a full report tomorrow.

Queen Noor of Jordan

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#711

From: hanadihammouri@...
Date: Mon Dec 14, 2009 1:38 pm
Subject: Watch Queen Noor at DIFF

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Personal Message
Video Queen Noor at DIFF Queen Noor Al Hussain talks to tabloid!'s Kelly Crane about DIFF, movies, and how cinema can put a human face on conflict in the Middle East

Queen Noor at DIFF

Video:
Queen Noor talks to tabloid! about humanising struggle through cinema.
http://video.gulfnews.com/services/player/bcpid4267205001?bclid=0&bctid=57002689001

#710

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:02 pm
Subject: Queen Noor of Jordan attends the 'Budrus'

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Queen Noor of Jordan attends the 'Budrus' premiere during day five of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 13, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: Queen Noor of Jordan speaks prior to the Cultural Bridge Panel discussion during day five of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 13, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: Queen Noor of Jordan and Managing Director of DIFF Shivani Pandya during day five of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 13, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: Queen Noor of Jordan attends the 'Budrus' premiere during day five of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 13, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 13: Queen Noor of Jordan, producer Ronit Avni, director Julia Bacha and actor Ayed Morror attend the 'Budrus' premiere during day five of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 13, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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#709

From: lassaad ayari <lassaad_bb@...>
Date: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:06 pm
Subject: Re : Queen attend the Auction for Cinema Against Aids

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Queen Noor AL Hussein of Jordan, widow of late King Hussein, arrives to attend the Auction for Cinema Against Aids during the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) December 10, 2009.

...!

--- En date de : Jeu 10.12.09, Huda <jordan_nh@...> a �crit :

De: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Objet: [Queen_Noor_al_Hussein] Queen attend the Auction for Cinema Against Aids
�: "ladies arab" <ladies_of_the_crescent@yahoogroups.com>, "queen noor" <queen_noor_al_hussein@yahoogroups.com>, "queen rania" <magickal_rania@yahoogroups.com>, "queennooralhussein" <queennooralhussein@yahoogroups.com>, PrinceHamzah_PrinceHashem@yahoogroups.com, "FamousFemaleRoyalty" <FamousFemaleRoyalty@yahoogroups.com>, "Royalty" <royalty@yahoogroups.com>, "JRF" <JRF@yahoogroups.com>, "King Hussein" <kinghussein@yahoogroups.com>, "rainhase princesas" <rainhaseprincesas@...>, "royal_leg_glamour" <royal_leg_glamour@yahoogroups.com>, "reinas_y_princesas" <reinas_y_princesas@...>, "thejordanroyalfamilyclub" <thejordanroyalfamilyclub@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Jeudi 10 D�cembre 2009, 17h27

Queen Noor AL Hussein of Jordan, widow of late King Hussein, arrives to attend the Auction for Cinema Against Aids during the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) December 10, 2009

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#708

From: lassaad ayari <lassaad_bb@...>
Date: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:09 pm
Subject: Re : Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address

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--- En date de : Mar 8.12.09, hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...> a écrit :

De: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Objet: [Queen_Noor_al_Hussein] Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address
À: queennooralhussein@yahoogroups.com
Cc: "huda Queen_Noor_al_Hussein· Jordanian Royal Family group" <Queen_Noor_al_Hussein@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Mardi 8 Décembre 2009, 14h21

Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address

Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address
by Vijaya Cherian on Dec 8, 2009

Queen Noor of Jordan.

Queen Noor of Jordan will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival, and will be joined by Julia Bacha, director of the Cultural Bridge gala film Budrus, Hollywood producer Mike Medavoy and MIT professor Rebecca Saxe.

Shamil Idriss, CEO of Soliya, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young people to use new media tools to advance social change, will moderate the event, which will be held immediately after the screening of Budrus on December 13 at Madinat Arena.

DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma said the Cultural Bridge panel is “one of the festival’s principal highlights, providing thought-provoking subjects which strongly resonate with Dubai’s cosmopolitan, culturally-aware audience”.

Story continues below

“We are honoured to have Her Majesty Queen Noor with us this year, and we look forward to a ‘full house’, given her status as an inspirational role model across the Arab world. We are also grateful to the three industry representatives, who will also provide a forum for lively discussion.”
DIFF 2009 will screen 168 films from 55 countries between December 9 and 16, with particular emphasis on Arabia, Asia and Africa. The festival will also see representation from Sudan for the first time.

#707

From: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Date: Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:45 pm
Subject: Queen Noor says films can humanise conflict

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Queen Noor says films can humanise conflict

Praveen Menon

December 12. 2009 11:35PM UAE / December 12. 2009 7:35PM GMT

Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai last night. Paulo Vecina / The National

DUBAI // Films from the Middle East can bring about change and help humanise the Arab-Israeli conflict, Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan said yesterday at the Dubai International Film Festival.

Queen Noor will deliver the keynote speech tonight after the world premiere of Budrus, a highly anticipated documentary.

“We are trying to find films that help to humanise primarily the Arab-Israeli conflict,” Queen Noor said in an exclusive interview with The National. “It’s very hard to find film makers who find and produce stories that help you look at things from outside. I really think they can have impact.”

Queen Noor is known for her humanitarian work across the Arab world, focusing on education, conservation, sustainable development, human rights and cross-cultural understanding.

She will be accompanied in a panel discussion after the film by the Hollywood producer Mike Medavoy and Rebecca Saxe, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. The panel will put forward research to prove the impact of media and cinema in the conflict.

Queen Noor said Budrus was proof of the role that media can play. In the documentary, a Palestinian leader unites Fatah, Hamas and Israelis in an unarmed movement to save his village from destruction. Success eludes him until his 15-year-old daughter joins the fray.

The documentary was filmed over months of protests. It claims to have captured the efforts of individuals who take on rigid, violent, political, social divides to work collectively for peace.

“This film also provided us an opportunity to present some research that we have been undertaking, through an organisation of like-minded Muslim-Americans and others from the media,” Queen Noor said.

“We share a concern that not enough is done. This was causing us a lot of pain. Yet, there is a conviction that media can play a great role.”

Her foundation’s media and humanity programme attempts to bring to the fore films that talk about the conflict in the region with an open, outside perspective.

Queen Noor agreed that such films did not reach enough people and more needed to be done to help the films’ makers. “We will be discussing in our panel how we can take such films that tackle the most divisive problem of our times, the Israel-Palestine issue, beyond historical mindsets that exists in both these communities,” she said.

“We need to take that out of the theatre and extend it more broadly to the entire community.”

The panel discussion will be held tonight at 8.30pm at the Madinat Arena and is open to the public.

pmenon@...

#706

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:27 pm
Subject: Queen attend the Auction for Cinema Against Aids

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Queen Noor AL Hussein of Jordan, widow of late King Hussein, arrives to attend the Auction for Cinema Against Aids during the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) December 10, 2009

http://www.daylife.com/search?q=queen+noor

Queen Noor of Jordan

#705

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:48 pm
Subject: Queen Noor attends the Opening for International Film Festival

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Queen Noor of Jordan attends the Opening Night during day one of the 6th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 9, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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Queen Noor of Jordan

#704

From: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Date: Tue Dec 8, 2009 8:21 pm
Subject: Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address

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Queen Noor confirms DIFF keynote address

by Vijaya Cherian on Dec 8, 2009

Queen Noor of Jordan.

Queen Noor of Jordan will deliver the keynote speech at the sixth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival, and will be joined by Julia Bacha, director of the Cultural Bridge gala film Budrus, Hollywood producer Mike Medavoy and MIT professor Rebecca Saxe.

Shamil Idriss, CEO of Soliya, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young people to use new media tools to advance social change, will moderate the event, which will be held immediately after the screening of Budrus on December 13 at Madinat Arena.

DIFF chairman Abdulhamid Juma said the Cultural Bridge panel is “one of the festival’s principal highlights, providing thought-provoking subjects which strongly resonate with Dubai’s cosmopolitan, culturally-aware audience”.

Story continues below

“We are honoured to have Her Majesty Queen Noor with us this year, and we look forward to a ‘full house’, given her status as an inspirational role model across the Arab world. We are also grateful to the three industry representatives, who will also provide a forum for lively discussion.”

DIFF 2009 will screen 168 films from 55 countries between December 9 and 16, with particular emphasis on Arabia, Asia and Africa. The festival will also see representation from Sudan for the first time.

#703

From: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Date: Tue Dec 8, 2009 8:24 pm
Subject: Queen Noor is expected to attend the dinner at Dubai film festival

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Queen Noor is expected to attend the dinner at Dubai film festival

Dubai film festival oblivious to credit crisis

Tuesday, 08 Dec, 2009

Matt Dillon, Christopher Lambert, Mandy Moore, Christina Ricci and Omar Sharif will lead the parade of Hollywood actors at the opening of the Dubai International Film Festival —File Photo

/ strong> ~~DUBAI: Despite an alarming debt crisis, Dubai is rolling out the red carpet with its usual splendour for movie stars as the Gulf state’s sixth annual film festival kicks off on Wednesday.~~

Matt Dillon, Christopher Lambert, Mandy Moore, Christina Ricci and Omar Sharif will lead the parade of Hollywood actors at the opening of the Dubai International Film Festival, held at the pompous Madinat Arena, part of the luxurious Madinat Jumeirah resort.

The Dubai spectacle features 168 films from 55 countries, with some being shown for the first time worldwide.

Queen Noor of Jordan is expected to attend the dinner, during which a collection made by fashion designer and artist Karl Lagerfeld will be auctioned, along with jewellery from Cartier.

#702

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Fri Dec 4, 2009 9:44 pm
Subject: Queen Noor of Jordan: Obama's Opportunity to Lead a Landmine-Free World

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Obama�s Opportunity to Lead a Landmine-free World

For twelve years, the United States has refused to ban a weapon that kills and mutilates innocent women, men and children even in peacetime. The time has come for the world's most powerful high-tech military to give up its low-tech stockpile of ten million antipersonnel landmines.

Today there are millions of mines buried in over 80 countries, and over 160 million more stored in arsenals waiting to go in the ground. These indiscriminate devices lay dormant until detonated by something living -- a child walking to school, a farmer or grazing livestock. One victim at a time, these 'weapons of mass destruction in slow motion' have killed in total more people than nuclear, chemical and biological weapons combined. If they don't cause immediate death, they maim and blind their victims.

Perhaps cruelest of all, these hidden killers never acknowledge peace. Landmines continue to inflict health, economic and environmental damage long after conflicts end, treaties are signed, and soldiers go home.

For over thirty years, I have lived in the landmine heartland of the world. I have advocated with governments and visited with hundreds of wounded survivors in the Middle East, Central Asia and Latin America, from Cambodia and Vietnam to Pakistan, Bosnia and Colombia. In my work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Survivor Corps, I have personally witnessed the heartbreaking consequences for those striving to overcome the damage wrought on their bodies, their lives and their families.

Ten years ago today the Mine Ban Treaty entered into force, mandating a complete ban of the weapon, the destruction of stockpiles, clearing of minefields, and assistance to the victims. Most of the world -- 156 nations -- have signed. Over 44 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed, and casualty rates have plunged from roughly 25,000 to 5,000 per year. All NATO allies have abandoned this antiquated weapon, while the United States stands outside the treaty with countries such as Cuba, Pakistan, China, North Korea and Iran.

Why is the United States sitting on the sidelines clinging to this outdated weapon? Because the Pentagon says it might need to use them someday, even though U.S. forces haven't deployed mines in nearly twenty years. But even Iraq and Afghanistan have banned the use of landmines. Since the Mine Ban Treaty prohibits all its members from aiding and abetting the transfer or use of mines, the United States can't even discuss plans for their use with coalition allies, let alone with Baghdad or Kabul.

The greater irony is that mines do not even do the job. An International Red Cross-Red Crescent study endorsed by 50 high ranking military figures from 20 countries found that landmines played no significant role in the outcome of 26 conflicts examined. The appalling suffering and waste caused by landmines far outweigh their military utility.

In Jordan, my late husband King Hussein was the first Mideast leader to recognize that landmines do not provide security, but instead threaten innocent civilians and hinder development. In 1993 he called for a mine-free Jordan Valley by 2000. Sadly, he did not live to see this goal realized, but we successfully led Jordan to sign the Mine Ban Treaty in 1998 and completed the destruction of our stockpile of over 92,000 antipersonnel mines in 2003.

To its credit, the United States is the leading funder of mine clearance globally, spending nearly a billion dollars in over 47 countries, but it hasn't managed to destroy its own stash. Why not acknowledge that these tiny cheap explosives do not win wars? Technology has also advanced beyond minefields to protect borders or bases.

An Obama administration that seeks to reassert U.S. leadership on issues of humanitarian law and arms control should seize this opportunity to sign the Mine Ban Treaty and end the use of these insidious weapons for good. The world is waiting for decisive leadership from Washington.

The fight against landmines is an integral part of the fight for peace worldwide. War-torn societies can never be rebuilt if people continue to fear for their lives with every step they take. Just as President Woodrow Wilson, another Nobel laureate, decided to forever ban the use of poison gas in 1925, perhaps President Obama, as he heads to Oslo to accept his Nobel Prize for Peace, will commit the U.S. to join the global movement to ban landmines. I can think of no greater gift to future generations.

Her Majesty Queen Noor is an advisor to the International Campaign

to Ban Landmines and patron of Survivor Corps, helping war victims rebuild their lives.

Queen Noor of Jordan

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Queen_Noor_al_Hussein/join

#701

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Thu Nov 5, 2009 9:09 pm
Subject: Common Ground Awards 2009

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The Common Ground Awards are presented annually to honor outstanding accomplishments in conflict resolution, negotiation, mediation, diplomacy, community building and peacebuilding

Queen Noor of Jordan

#700

From: lassaad ayari <lassaad_bb@...>
Date: Wed Nov 4, 2009 3:47 pm
Subject: Pensiero stupendo...

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#699

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Tue Nov 3, 2009 8:03 pm
Subject: Queen Noor at the reception to honor Johnson & Johnson for it's work with SOS

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WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 02: Queen Noor of Jordan and Ambassador of Austria, Dr. Christian Prosl stand during a reception to honor Johnson & Johnson for it's work with SOS at the Austrian Embassy on November 2, 2009 in Washington DC.

Queen Noor of Jordan

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#698

From: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Date: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:08 am
Subject: Her Majesty Queen Noor Joins the 60th Anniversary Celebration of SOS

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[

Her Majesty Queen Noor Joins the 60th Anniversary Celebration of SOS
Children's Villages at the Embassy of Austria in Washington, D.C.


WHEN: Monday, November 2, 2009
6:00 p.m.  to 8:30 p.m.


WHO: Her Majesty Queen Noor  and His Excellency the Ambassador of Austria, Dr.
Christian Prosl.  Attendees also include executives from  Johnson & Johnson,
Cartier, Embassy representatives, Heather Paul, CEO of SOS Children's Villages
and others.

WHAT: His Excellency the Ambassador of Austria is hosting a reception in honor
of SOS Children's Villages,
 founded 60 years ago in Austria.  Program
includes:

    --  Her Majesty Queen Noor, Honorary Ambassador of SOS Jordan, will
present
        the SOS Anniversary Award to Johnson &  Johnson for its support of SOS
        Children's Villages in Africa.  She also will speak of her experiences
        with SOS Children's Villages in Jordan.
    --  Remarks from His Excellency the Ambassador of Austria, Dr. Christian
        Prosl, on the more than half century of growth that has built the
        largest charity in the world dedicated to orphaned and abandoned
        children.
    --  Mr. Yaw Sam, a graduate of the University of Maryland, will discuss
his
        experiences growing up in an SOS Children's Village in Ghana

    --  A representative from Johnson & Johnson will discuss corporate social
        responsibility (CSR) in Africa


WHERE: The Embassy of Austria -- 3524
 International Court, NW -- Washington,
D.C. 20008
 (valet parking available)

About SOS Children's Villages:
SOS Children's Villages is the world's largest charity dedicated to orphaned
and abandoned children.  With 500 villages in 132 countries, SOS offers a
family-based village model that provides for the holistic needs of a child --
family, community, education and support. Through SOS Villages, schools,
medical facilities, micro-lending, and family strengthening programs, SOS
Children's Villages impacts the lives of over 1 million people each year. In
2009, SOS Children's Villages was honored with the Save the World Award and
has also received such awards as the Mother Teresa Gold Medal, the Conrad N.
Hilton Humanitarian Prize and the Vietnam Friendship Medal.  For more
information, visit http://www.sos-usa.org.

Available for
 Interview:

Heather Paul, PhD: Heather is CEO the U.S. headquarters of SOS Children's
Villages.  Heather has a diverse background in children's issues, public
policy, communications and research.
Irene Bailey:   Irene and her sister N'Dine grew up in an SOS Children's
Village in Germany.  Irene resides in Atlanta and is Chair of the Atlanta
Committee of SOS.
Sandra Marbeth: Three of the 500 SOS Children's Villages are located in the
United States.  Sandra has been a dedicated mother to SOS children in
Lockport, Illinois for over twenty years. (Via telephone)
Yaw Sam:  Sam and his sister grew up in an SOS Children's Village in Ghana. 
Sam attended the University of Maryland and earned undergraduate and master's
degrees.
Margie Bruszer: Margie recently retired from her position as CEO of the SOS
Children's Village in Florida.  Margie is an expert on the U.S. foster care
system and on family-based care as an
 alternative.

For background information on SOS Children's Villages, images and videos,
visit:
http://www.sos-usa.org

Contact: Lisa Vogt, SOS Children's Villages - USA:  202-347-7924: 
lisa@...

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click
appropriate link.
Heather Paul
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=53513

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Oct. 28/

SOURCE  SOS Children's Villages - USA

#697

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:06 pm
Subject: Gotham Magazine Hosts Screening of "Motherhood"

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NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Erin Lanati, Queen Noor, Raiyah Hussein and Jana Edeleaum attend the screening of 'Motherhood' after party hosted by Gotham Magazine at the The Gates on October 15, 2009 in New York City.

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 15: (L-R) Anthony Edwards, Erin Lanuti and Queen Noor attend the screening of 'Motherhood' after party hosted by Gotham Magazine at the The Gates on October 15, 2009 in New York City.

Queen Noor of Jordan

#696

From: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Date: Sun Oct 4, 2009 5:39 pm
Subject: One on One with Queen Noor

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One on One with Queen Noor
Insight on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, with Her Majesty Queen Noor, King Hussein Foundation chair and CNBC's Erin Burnett.
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=a618c0d9-b10c-48a0-9fba-7c379752a040

#695

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Sat Oct 3, 2009 8:41 pm
Subject: Fw: Huda يقترح عليك قراءة هذا الموضوع من جريدة الشرق الاوسط

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Queen Noor of Jordan

--- On Sat, 10/3/09, ammhs1996@... <ammhs1996@...> wrote:

From: ammhs1996@... <ammhs1996@...>
Subject: Huda يقترح عليك قراءة هذا الموضوع من جريدة الشرق الاوسط
To: jordan_nh@...
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009, 1:31 PM

مرحبا Misa
يقترح عليكم Huda قراءة هذا الموضوع فى موقع جريدة الشرق الاوسط الالكترونى: http://www.asharqalawsat.com/details.asp?section=54&issueno=11267&article=538411&state=true

#694

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Thu Oct 1, 2009 9:14 pm
Subject: Queen Noor of Jordan address a conference on the media's roll in global diplomacy

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Queen Noor of Jordan address a conference on the media's roll in global diplomacy, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington

Queen Noor of Jordan walks offstage after delivering the keynote address at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) October 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. USIP sponsored a conference on the topic of 'Media as Global Diplomat II: New Findings on the Science of Media and Conflict.' (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=queen%20noor&assetType=image

Queen Noor of Jordan

#693

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:38 pm
Subject: Fw: A message from Queen Noor

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Queen Noor of Jordan

--- On Mon, 9/28/09, Galit Gun, Global Zero <globalzero@...> wrote:

From: Galit Gun, Global Zero <globalzero@...>
Subject: A message from Queen Noor
To: jordan_nh@...
Date: Monday, September 28, 2009, 7:44 AM

What an exciting week! Last Thursday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Her Majesty Queen Noor was at the meeting representing Global Zero and the millions around the world who believe that when it comes to nuclear weapons, one is one too many.

I had a chance to talk to Queen Noor as she left the special meeting. Her excitement was contagious. She told me we had to seize this historic moment while we have the momentum and get people around the world to join the movement for global zero. I captured the moment in a video message for you! To watch Queen Noor's video and invite your friends to join you in supporting Global Zero, click on the link below:

http://www.globalzero.org/en/qn-taf

Getting to zero will be a long process, but Presidents Obama and Medvedev have made it clear that they are really committed to it, and other leaders are joining their effort. To make sure these commitments turn into action, we must build an unprecedented global movement, and keep reminding our leaders, at every chance we get, that we expect them to stay strong and keep working towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

The Security Council's resolution means that leaders recognize that whatever stability nuclear arsenals may have provided during the Cold War is now outweighed by the growing risks of proliferation and nuclear terrorism, and the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat is to eliminate all nuclear weapons.

Those 15 votes cast yesterday could mean the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons. The movement we're building will be a strong base of support for the courageous leaders who take the bold actions needed to turn the vision of global zero into a reality. We cannot do it without you, so please invite everyone you know to join us.

http://www.globalzero.org/en/qn-taf

Thanks a lot!

Galit Gun
Global Zero Campaign Director

#692

From: hanadi hammouri <hanadihammouri@...>
Date: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:37 pm
Subject: Queen Noor : The Beginning of The End of Nuclear Weapons

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/her-majesty-queen-noor/the-beginning-of-the-end_b_300889.html

Your request is being processed...

Queen Noor of Jordan

International humanitarian activist

Posted: September 26, 2009 01:38 PM

The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons

It was my privilege to witness the United Nations Security Council Summit yesterday unanimously adopt a resolution calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons. It was the first Security Council Summit ever dedicated to nuclear proliferation and disarmament and the first chaired by a U.S. President.

In addressing the Security Council members, President Obama declared: "The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons."

Building on the extraordinary leadership of Presidents Obama and Medvedev, who in April committed to work together to eliminate all nuclear weapons, this resolution is a significant step toward an international consensus on this goal and a stirring moment for so many who have worked on this issue for so long. World leaders are recognizing that whatever stability nuclear arsenals may have provided during the Cold War is now outweighed by the growing risks of proliferation and nuclear terrorism, and the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. They have resolved to work together in the interests of our common security to achieve this goal.

As a leader of Global Zero -- an international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons, as a citizen of one of the most dangerous regions in the world, and as a deeply concerned parent, I believe that yesterday's action by the Security Council comes at a critical moment as the world approaches a nuclear tipping point when nuclear weapons spread beyond the capacity of any effort to rein them in. This resolution helps to set the course toward the only responsible path -- the path to global zero.

To help turn this vision into a practical goal, Global Zero has developed a step-by-step four-phased plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons over 20 years. Since the Cold War ended 20 years ago, the total number of nuclear weapons worldwide has been reduced by nearly 40,000 -- from approximately 60,000 to the 23,000 in existence today. Could we not aim over the next 20 years to eliminate the remaining 23,000 warheads and leave to our children and grandchildren a world without nuclear weapons?

What happened yesterday at the Security Council was an historic step -- but we still have a long way to go. Governments must take action, beginning with deep bilateral reductions in U.S. and Russian arsenals -- following the current negotiations on the START replacement accord -- as well as serious multilateral discussions about the phased elimination of all nuclear weapons, the establishment of a comprehensive verification and enforcement system, and strengthened safeguards on the civilian nuclear fuel cycle.

And the message to every country must be clear: the international community is resolved to join together in the interests of our common security to eliminate all nuclear weapons worldwide, and all nations must join in this pursuit with no exception.

Eliminating all nuclear weapons will require people from around the world to get involved. In fact, last night college students launched "Global Zero" chapters on dozens of campuses- a trend I hope we will see develop in every nuclear state. To join me and the citizens from every country around the world who are already part of this movement, go to globalzero.org and sign the declaration.

If yesterday's resolution is not followed up by action in the months and years ahead, it will fade into the history books as words on a piece of paper and nothing more. If, on the other hand, leaders and citizens seize this historic moment and act with determination and resolve, perhaps our children and grandchildren will look back on yesterday as the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/queennooralhussein/

#691

From: lassaad ayari <lassaad_bb@...>
Date: Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:31 pm
Subject: Re : Queen Noor Global Zero Appeal

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--- En date de : Ven 25.9.09, Huda <jordan_nh@...> a �crit :

Queen Noor Glamourrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7C543-o6t8

Queen Noor of Jordan

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#690

From: lassaad ayari <lassaad_bb@...>
Date: Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:36 pm
Subject: Re : Interview: Nuclear disarmament

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NOOOOOOOOR AAALA NOOOOOOOOR ...........NOOOOOOOOR ON NOOOOOOOOR

Nuclear proliferation is reaching a "tipping point", says Queen Noor of Jordan [EPA]

As Barack Obama, the US president, chaired an historic UN Security Council summit on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Al Jazeera discussed the issues with Queen Noor of Jordan, a founding leader of Global Zero, an international initiative working toward the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons.
Al Jazeera: Is nuclear disarmament a realistic prospect or a noble aspiration?
Queen Noor: I know that this has been debated since the 1940s, intensively by the original architects of the technology. I am encouraged, and others are, in ways that weren't really possible before because we now have US and Russian commitments ... to work together toward the elimination of nuclear weapons, and that is historic.
There is a consensus. Our polling has shown that 76 per cent of populations around the world, in a range of nuclear and non-nuclear countries, agree and support the elimination of nuclear weapons.
There is a consensus that has emerged among nuclear and non-nuclear former heads of state, security ministers, military commanders and others, often the architects of the original programmes in their countries, that proliferation has reached a point that if we don't pull back from the tipping point that we are very close to, we are increasing the possibility of nuclear terrorism and accidents occurring.
You mention a proliferation tipping point. How close do you think we are to that?
I believe that we are precariously close, if not at, a tipping point beyond which it will be virtually impossible to reign in the proliferation of these weapons.
I have children, I have grandchildren, we are all thinking about the world that our children are going to live in and it is very bleak indeed if we don't act now.
Does Global Zero have a plan to get back to a nuclear weapons free world?
The Global Zero commission has been meeting over the past year, and has just released a practical, step-by-step plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons over a 20-year period.
It's a four-phase strategy that could be possible, given the momentum I mentioned earlier. The United States and Russia are the first step in this process. And then the next step is creating a multi-lateral process that we hope may be initiated, or at least addressed, in this September 24 UN Security Council meeting by President Obama.
The final stage is to complete the phased and verified dismantlement of all remaining nuclear warheads by around 2030. These are numbers that are obviously not absolute, but it is a framework for a phased approach, an approach that will focus on verification and enforcement.
How does that plan account for states such as Iran and North Korea? Israel, for example, does not want to give up nuclear weapons while it believes Iran is developing its own. How do you deal with that dynamic?
We believe that beginning really serious discussions on the elimination of nuclear weapons, and expanding that beyond the US and Russia to include all the nuclear states and the non-nuclear or nuclear capable states, would really help to strengthen diplomatic efforts to fight proliferation in a variety of countries.
Coming from the Middle East and having watched the dynamics of the region for more than 30 years, I think it would go a long way to tackle regional insecurities which have been a driver of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region.
It's not going to come from the weapons systems, it's going to come from the feeling of security that the people have on the ground in these states.
So you see disarmament as a prerequisite for security, and not security as a prerequisite for disarmament?
No. When I talk about human security, I am talking about the need for every government to proportionately allocate resources for the fundamental needs of their people, as well as addressing any real security threats.
You can't expect any country to ignore those, but I think, when we are talking about nuclear weapons and you look at what has occurred in various regions, you can see understandable insecurities that I think we could go a long way to tackling in the types of discussions that would take place on this issue.
The proposals that we have made are ones where there are no exceptions, no double standards and everyone would be held accountable.
What is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of making progress on this issue?
Well, coming from the Middle East, I'm so conscious of the regional insecurities that drive weapons programmes.
The Middle East has the highest per capita expenditure on the military in the world, and we are probably the most insecure region in the world.
Those insecurities are not easy to deal with, and Global Zero recognises they have to be tackled politically. They have to be tackled socially.
If the population at the grass roots of these states are more aware of the lose-lose proposition of nuclear weapons technology, the more support there would be for leaders having to take what would be very difficult decisions.
When people become more aware of what is at stake, we have something to work with.
When you mention the security situation in the Middle East as being an obstacle, do you envisage a situation where a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians would be a prerequisite to having this debate?
The Israeli position is, as I understand it, that while the rest of the region, the Arab states, signed up to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty pretty much at the outset, Israel has made it a point to say that is a step it would take after achieving a peace agreement.
I would hope that the people of Israel could understand that, in fact, this process might build the trust and confidence needed to create a sustainable peace between Israel and her neighbours.
These types of negotiations, bringing their programme out into the open and being as transparent as possible in the context of multilateral negotiations, could actually be a step forward in reducing some of the tensions, the insecurities and the anger over double standards or exceptionalism in the region.
Andrew Wander, a media fellow with legal charity Reprieve, works on Al Jazeera's Public Liberties and Human Rights Desk.

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/2009923101820169486.html

Queen Noor of Jordan

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#689

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:40 pm
Subject: Interview: Nuclear disarmament

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http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/2009923101820169486.html

Interview: Nuclear disarmament

By Andrew Wander

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Nuclear proliferation is reaching a "tipping point", says Queen Noor of Jordan [EPA]

As Barack Obama, the US president, chaired an historic UN Security Council summit on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Al Jazeera discussed the issues with Queen Noor of Jordan, a founding leader of Global Zero, an international initiative working toward the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons.

Al Jazeera: Is nuclear disarmament a realistic prospect or a noble aspiration?

Queen Noor: I know that this has been debated since the 1940s, intensively by the original architects of the technology. I am encouraged, and others are, in ways that weren't really possible before because we now have US and Russian commitments ... to work together toward the elimination of nuclear weapons, and that is historic.

There is a consensus. Our polling has shown that 76 per cent of populations around the world, in a range of nuclear and non-nuclear countries, agree and support the elimination of nuclear weapons.

There is a consensus that has emerged among nuclear and non-nuclear former heads of state, security ministers, military commanders and others, often the architects of the original programmes in their countries, that proliferation has reached a point that if we don't pull back from the tipping point that we are very close to, we are increasing the possibility of nuclear terrorism and accidents occurring.

You mention a proliferation tipping point. How close do you think we are to that?

I believe that we are precariously close, if not at, a tipping point beyond which it will be virtually impossible to reign in the proliferation of these weapons.

I have children, I have grandchildren, we are all thinking about the world that our children are going to live in and it is very bleak indeed if we don't act now.

Does Global Zero have a plan to get back to a nuclear weapons free world?

The Global Zero commission has been meeting over the past year, and has just released a practical, step-by-step plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons over a 20-year period.

It's a four-phase strategy that could be possible, given the momentum I mentioned earlier. The United States and Russia are the first step in this process. And then the next step is creating a multi-lateral process that we hope may be initiated, or at least addressed, in this September 24 UN Security Council meeting by President Obama.

The final stage is to complete the phased and verified dismantlement of all remaining nuclear warheads by around 2030. These are numbers that are obviously not absolute, but it is a framework for a phased approach, an approach that will focus on verification and enforcement.

How does that plan account for states such as Iran and North Korea? Israel, for example, does not want to give up nuclear weapons while it believes Iran is developing its own. How do you deal with that dynamic?

We believe that beginning really serious discussions on the elimination of nuclear weapons, and expanding that beyond the US and Russia to include all the nuclear states and the non-nuclear or nuclear capable states, would really help to strengthen diplomatic efforts to fight proliferation in a variety of countries.

Coming from the Middle East and having watched the dynamics of the region for more than 30 years, I think it would go a long way to tackle regional insecurities which have been a driver of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region.

It's not going to come from the weapons systems, it's going to come from the feeling of security that the people have on the ground in these states.

So you see disarmament as a prerequisite for security, and not security as a prerequisite for disarmament?

No. When I talk about human security, I am talking about the need for every government to proportionately allocate resources for the fundamental needs of their people, as well as addressing any real security threats.

You can't expect any country to ignore those, but I think, when we are talking about nuclear weapons and you look at what has occurred in various regions, you can see understandable insecurities that I think we could go a long way to tackling in the types of discussions that would take place on this issue.

The proposals that we have made are ones where there are no exceptions, no double standards and everyone would be held accountable.

What is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of making progress on this issue?

Well, coming from the Middle East, I'm so conscious of the regional insecurities that drive weapons programmes.

The Middle East has the highest per capita expenditure on the military in the world, and we are probably the most insecure region in the world.

Those insecurities are not easy to deal with, and Global Zero recognises they have to be tackled politically. They have to be tackled socially.

If the population at the grass roots of these states are more aware of the lose-lose proposition of nuclear weapons technology, the more support there would be for leaders having to take what would be very difficult decisions.

When people become more aware of what is at stake, we have something to work with.

When you mention the security situation in the Middle East as being an obstacle, do you envisage a situation where a peace settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians would be a prerequisite to having this debate?

The Israeli position is, as I understand it, that while the rest of the region, the Arab states, signed up to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty pretty much at the outset, Israel has made it a point to say that is a step it would take after achieving a peace agreement.

I would hope that the people of Israel could understand that, in fact, this process might build the trust and confidence needed to create a sustainable peace between Israel and her neighbours.

These types of negotiations, bringing their programme out into the open and being as transparent as possible in the context of multilateral negotiations, could actually be a step forward in reducing some of the tensions, the insecurities and the anger over double standards or exceptionalism in the region.

Andrew Wander, a media fellow with legal charity Reprieve, works on Al Jazeera's Public Liberties and Human Rights Desk.

Queen Noor of Jordan

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#688

From: Huda <jordan_nh@...>
Date: Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:02 pm
Subject: Queen Noor Global Zero Appeal

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