by Natasha Tynes | May 9, 2006 | Jordan, my nation, Media watch, The Disturbing
The Jordan Times should be commended for Monday’s investigative report into the mistreatment of animals in Jordanian zoos. Here is an excerpt:
The inhumane treatment of animals in the country’s zoos is cause for concern, according to visitors’ complaints sent to the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Humane Center for Animal Welfare (HCAW). The complaints, seen by The Jordan Times, expressed anger about what one visitor referred to as "horrendous sights" at local zoos.
Among the complaints listed were poor feeding, physical abuse and a lack of proper medical supervision. "The animals in these zoos are in a miserable state," stated Walid Bakri. "Most are starving, some are severely wounded and everywhere we turned not one zookeeper showed the slightest bit of care," his letter continued.
I believe the mistreatment of animals in Jordan generally is a major problem that needs highlighting and immediate attention. I have witnessed many disturbing scenes of violence to animals on the streets of Amman. I recall seeing children torture stray cats that for some reason still fill the streets of the Jordanian capital [you’d think they’d know to hide by now]. I’ve seen children kick cats, pull their tails and throw soda cans at them.
Humane behavior towards animals should be instilled in children from an early age. The situation must not be allowed to continue as it is now. Organizations like Humane Center for Animal Welfare (HCAW) should be really given credit for their efforts to spread awareness amongst Jordanians about the humane treatment of animals. I attended a number of their workshops while working for The Jordan Times, as I was assigned to cover their activities back then. Their primary goal is to spread awareness. Kudos for their efforts.
One of the more horrible stories related to me by an HCAW official was that they saw kids trying to blow up a cat with a tire pump simply for the fun of it! Horrific! According to The Jordan Times, Jordanian zoos are in dire straits. That was news to me, although it is not that surprising. The pictures here were taken by the husband during his visit to one zoo in Amman as part of his work as an editor at The Star. The first picture was taken inside a lion’s cage. The man boxing the tiger in the picture is Imad Hammo, the head of the zoo mentioned in The Jordan Times report. The second image is of a tamed hyena, which Hammo claimed to be the only one in the world.
by Natasha Tynes | May 9, 2006 | The Mideast
Ala’ is another victim of the fight for freedom. He is an Egyptian blogger and activist who is currently being detained by the Egyptian police for taking part in a demonstration. I urge the Egyptian government to release him now and put an end to their continual violations of basic human rights. Make sure to check Sandmonkey’s blog for all the details. He, along with other Arab and Egyptian bloggers, should be commended for their relentless efforts to secure his release.
by Natasha Tynes | May 8, 2006 | Metro Daze, Shutterbug
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The other day I was invited to attend the naturalization ceremony of my Moroccan friend. The event took place on the national mall in Washington DC. The most fascinating aspect of the ceremony for me was the tremendous diversity of people becoming US citizens that day. They really came from all over the globe: from Asia to Latin America to the Middle East. I heard Costa Rica, Paraguay, Morocco and Pakistan, among others. This was my up-close and personal experience with the melting pot that makes the United States of America. Neat! [Image enlarges on click]
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by Natasha Tynes | May 7, 2006 | Jordan, my nation, Media watch
As expected, the story about Jordan’s sweatshop is being taken seriously by the Jordanian government.
AMMAN — Jordan vowed on Thursday to crack down on abuse of foreign workers in Jordan-based textile factories following what it called a "disturbing" US rights group report detailing alleged violations. "The National Labor Committee report actually gives us the added information to follow up on violators of workers’ rights in Jordan," labor minister Bassem Salem said in a statement.
He described the findings of the report, carried out by the New-York-based non-government rights task force between March 2005 and April 2006, as "disturbing but not surprising." The 168-page report "US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement Descends Into Human Trafficking and Involuntary Servitude" released this month gave a scathing account of the conditions of migrant workers employed in Jordanian textile factories that export garments to the United States exempted from tariffs. Source: [The Middle East Times]
It really is disappointing that a Western publication had to run this report before the government decides to intervene. I guess in the Middle East international pressure is the ultimate golden bullet! The husband got so annoyed he even weighed in a bit and Jordanian blogger Batir Wardam has also commented on the government’s intervention:
I do not know to how extent the NIC report was accurate, but it has been very useful in exposing this trend which will now be highly scrutinized. It is a shame why we always take moral responsibilities for our mistakes only after being exposed by an international report that threatens the credibility of the country. I think one of the main measures to be taken is to develop more stringent monitoring on the working conditions in the QIZs and not allow for another insult to the reputation of Jordan.
by Natasha Tynes | May 6, 2006 | The Mideast
My German-Jordanian friend and fellow blogger Euroarabe has a facinating post about the existence of the "Arab credit score." It is so worth a read I’ll highlight all of it:
When I came to the US, I found out (too late) about the credit report. If you are late paying any bills, it goes on a national record and affects your ability to take any loans out in the future, as well as sign up for credit cards, cell phones, rent an apartment, buy a house … even if you move across the country. We don’t have that in Jordan and other Arab countries as far as I knew. Then I realised we do. It’s called "your reputation" … and it something that comes along with being a girl. it’s just as important as your credit report in the US. One slip and everybody in the country finds out about it. Your reputation report is reviewed anytime you need to make important social and even career transactions just like in the US when you make financial contracts. The girls in my dorm were all intent on having hymen operations before marriage. Because losing that is equivilant of bankruptcy. Anyone living in the US knows what that will do to your credit report. It is obviously all a social construction and make-believe. The cult of virginity. The problem is, everyone is playing the game. I want to set up a online service where Arab girls can get their reputation report, instantly and for a small fee. Delivered online with personal analysis.
The Jordan Times should be commended for Monday’s investigative report into the mistreatment of animals in Jordanian zoos. Here is an excerpt:
Humane behavior towards animals should be instilled in children from an early age. The situation must not be allowed to continue as it is now. Organizations like Humane Center for Animal Welfare (HCAW) should be really given credit for their efforts to spread awareness amongst Jordanians about the humane treatment of animals. I attended a number of their workshops while working for The Jordan Times, as I was assigned to cover their activities back then. Their primary goal is to spread awareness. Kudos for their efforts. 
