Time to say goodbye

at least for a while, I’m not going to be able to get online.

First of all, I’m moving to a new apartment this Sunday and I won’t be able to have internet so I’ll try to get online at least once every 2-3 days from university or any wi-fi spot till the end of march.

Second: I’m almost into a suicide zone, 16 credits/semester for a design student is a killer, for the Digital Photography course: I have to work on 6 photo-essays (Commercial, Story, Panorama, Flash techniques, Mosaic and Material) plus trips to different areas of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. For the Commercial Advertising & Marketing course: I have to work on promoting a product, and a research about a company’s advertising campaign since it first started till now (local preferred).

Third: Working on the university’s journal/magazine, as a design and an editor-in-chief.

Fourth: Working on Aziz Maraka’s official website and a website for a friend of mine (content, design and so on).

Fifth: Submitting my CV/Resumé to many companies and attending job interviews.

Sixth: Working on interviews with local artists to be published on Jorzine and maybe a local magazine (you heard it, you want it? contact me).

Seventh: Working on the first Jordanian and Arabic organized Punk rock band (maybe first unless Lebanon came out with something), PUNKester.

Eighth: Working out, I’ve put 10 Kgs down since November and I need to go down with 10-15 more, happily I eat one burger and a medium diet coke from Burger King now (I used to get a double whooper + large fries + large coke and 2 small cheeseburgers) and only one meal a day!

Ninth: Working on business, with 3 parters and doing a study upon it.

Tenth: I’m going to miss you guys much, and I’ll try to get back online a.s.a.p I promise.

Alternate location for Dibbeen tourism complex

Finally, we win.. and democracy finds its way

The Ministry of Environment on Wednesday proposed an alternate location for the construction of the JD100 million tourist complex in Dibbeen.

“The ministry suggested the new site due to many reasons, mainly because it believes that implementing the project in the new site will cause no environmental damage to Dibbeen Forest,” Minister of Environment Khalid Irani told The Jordan Times yesterday.

Environmentalists have expressed concern over the ecological ramifications of the proposed 500 dunum complex — a joint venture by Jordan Dubai Capital (JDC) and the Social Security Corporation.

They say the infrastructure for such a complex, including the construction of roads, water pipelines, sewage networks and parking lots, would harm the forest, the southern-most natural pine forest in the world.

Irani said the ministry suggested a new site on the outskirts of the forest as it had its own reservations on the original location.

Less than one per cent of the Kingdom’s total area is forested. The proposed project, lying adjacent to the Dibbeen reserve, would entail cutting down 160 trees out of a total 9,000, calculated after a topographic study was carried out by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature last year.

The minister said the new location was proposed as it is owned by the SSC and already contains infrastructure, “which means if the project goes through, no trees will be cut and the company can make use of the construction already present and build on it.”

Irani said the JDC and the SSC had agreed to carry out an environmental impact assessment, which would take from a 30 to 45 days, to determine if the project could be implemented in the new site.

“When the study is completed, and if it shows that there will be no damage to the environment, it will be referred to the Higher Regulation Council, which is the body to grant the go- ahead for the implementation of the project,” Irani said.

“I believe this is a win-win situation,” he added.

Besides convention halls, chalets, entertainment facilities and therapeutic clubs, the project comprises a 500-bed capacity five-star hotel.

It is estimated that the project will create 500-750 job opportunities in Dibbeen, which is among the least economically developed areas in the country.

+ Source.

SIGN THE PETITION NOW!!

Faith

Well, the story here is that ever since I came to the age where I could understand the meanings of faith and religion and the ideas behind them, I have been on a quest to find “the right religion” for me.

My family was raised as Muslim. They believe in God, Muhammed, and the prophets. I say they because I have yet to decide if I truly believe in God. I know it sounds terrible, how can one decide to believe in God. All I know is that from childhood I wasn’t really taught the teachings of Islam well and what was expected of me from the big guy upstairs.

As for the whole separation of Muslims, Christians and Jewish, it doesn’t make sense to me. Which really added to my list of reasons to flee from organized religion.

I search for answers in life. I need answers, and now. I know it will take time, and deep consideration.

I know I shouldn’t be placing my life in the hands of religion. I should be living it for me and myself. But in this world, religion is always a factor in life. I just don’t know what role it plays in mine. and I do not like people who follow religion in everything they do.

What drove me nuts and made me write this, is that during the visit of the Italian artist Colangelo (read the previous post), he asked us (students again) to spread everywhere randomly and hold each other’s hands, that was fine until a “muhajjaba” asked him not to do it because it’s Haram for Muslim females to touch males hands, my first response out loud was: what the fuck?, you do not want to do it then simply knock yourself out, do not force your lows and regulations on us! she acted so bitchy, religion is not about forcing others to obey your rules? or is it?

*for those who care, sorry guys.. I’ve been busy and out from 9am to 11:45pm.. classes, meetings, photo-essay sessions and so on.. and only had a crappy small sized pizza from Lebanani snack (sucks, don’t try it)*