On Wednesday, the Queen of Jordan inaugurated the third phase of her “Madrasati” (My School) initiative in Amman. Queen Rania’s campaign will renovate and pair up about 100 schools throughout the Hashemite Kingdom with corporations.
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In her speech, Rania urged communities to take responsibility in their youth’s education.
“Education is what our youth need to build their future. It will always be, as it has always been, a priority in Jordan.
“Lately, a lot of the problems in our education sector have made the headlines. Yes, we do face difficulties, particularly the lack of belief that we all have a part to play, and a joint responsibility to improve education in Jordan.
“Improving our education is a holistic and inter-linked process; it depends mainly on dialogue, transparency and trust between the Ministry of Education, teachers, students and parents.”
Dana Dajani, the director of Madrasati, also gave a speech. In it, she claimed the campaign has reduced the number of dropout levels and increased better success rates for schools.
Some of the students impacted by Madrasati told The Jordan Times that it helped them become better people.
“I used to be a heavy smoker. I was a troublemaker. I did not care about others and I was arrogant, but the moment I saw a group of classmates working to clean the school and refurbish it, I decided to become a better person,” said Anas Al Ajarmeh, a student at Al Hasan Ben Haitham School in Ruseifa.
“My grades were always ranging between 60-70 out of 100, but when I moved to this school, where teachers are like family members and there are all the required educational tools and proper studying environment, I became better in classes. Currently, I am the top student in the school,” said Mohammed Husni from Al Imam Malek School in Al Qusour area in Amman.
During the ceremony, Queen Rania met with teachers and students who are involved in Phase III, as well as volunteers and sponsors.
She also viewed a documentary about the schools that will be impacted by this initiative.
Princess Haya inaugurated the seventh annual Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development conference (DIHAD) on Sunday, which had this year’s theme as “Global Health Challenges of Tomorrow: Impact & Response.” Several international organizations gathered to discussed the recent humanitarian crisis in Haiti, food shortage and climate change.
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During DIHAD’s opening ceremony, Haya spoke of the need to bring changes to humanitarianism as its demand grows.
“The traditional solution to hunger is simply to produce more food – more wheat, maize or rice. It is not that simple. We need the right foods for the right people at the right times in their lives. To deal with hunger effectively, we need to target our interventions better,” she said. “Ultimately, we need to modify behaviors and encourage healthy lifestyles in order to reduce the soaring burden.”
The Princess also voiced her concern about the way aid money is raised and spent.
“Too often there is a humanitarian industry or a humanitarian bureaucracy that consumes too much of what is donated,” she said. “If we are to make progress on issues like hunger or the epidemic of obesity and cope with the massive humanitarian emergencies, the culture of aid must change.”
“The biggest global health challenges that we will face tomorrow are the ones we are creating today,” she continued. “Globalization, population growth, and climate change, all man-made, will have significant impacts on health.”
Haya also mentioned two major food problems: hunger and obesity, both of which are and will cause more health issues in the future.
“Despite a sharp rise in obesity rates, under-nutrition is still probably the greatest immediate threat to global health because it plays such a large role in deaths among young children,” she said. “But, the tsunami-like surge of overeating occurring worldwide is now creating a massive public health challenge in the form of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease.”
After DIHAD’s opening ceremony, Princess Haya was given a tour of the exhibits and stands set up for the conference. In this way, she met over 275 humanitarian and charity associations, relief agencies, NGOs, donors and procurers. Some of them included UNICEF, the World Food Program and the UAE Red Crescent Society.
This weekend, the King of Jordan was at the 22nd Arab Summit held in Sitre, Libya. It was there that King Abdullah II spoke of his commitment to the Mideast peace process, and reiterated his call for a Palestinian state.
“Israel must know that it will never have security unless the Palestinians also have their right to security, freedom and a state… and it must choose between remaining an isolated fortress or living in peace with its neighbors,” the King said in a speech.
Abdullah also said Israel was “playing with fire” by building settlements in East Jerusalem, which is where many Palestinians live. He urged the world to put pressure on Israel to stop the constructions.
But he also mentioned how the Arab world needs to stand together for the sake of the peace process and other plans.
“It is in this context that we support every effort that seeks to clear the Arab atmosphere, achieve Arab solidarity and overcome all differences that lead to external interference in our affairs… not for the sake of championing our just causes but to achieve ambitions of hegemony and influence,” King Abdullah said.
The King also discussed Iraq, and how fellow Arabs need to help the country secure itself.
“I must stress here that what we have done for Iraq is below our expectations… for Iraq needs more than moral support… Iraq needs effective assistance on the ground,” the King said.
Spain’s Crown Princess Letizia was on her first solo engagement aboard today. She was in Berlin to attend the third annual Eva Luise and Horst Koehler Foundation for Rare Diseases award ceremony. Since this is an issue close to the Princess of Asturias, it was natural for her to be there.
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Upon arriving in Berlin, the Princess met with German President Horst Koehler, First Lady Eva Luise Koehler and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit before heading over to the auditorium for the award ceremony.
At the opening of her speech, Letizia said a few words in German: “Good day, I am very happy to be here. Mrs. Koehler, many thanks for inviting me!”
She then continued in English.
“Those who have had the opportunity to approach people with these diseases, we know what their struggle is and what their families go through. We know well how they are suffering for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. And the difficulty of everyday life, a life project that they are entitled. In Spain there is a growing concern to these patients by the society and public administrations and institutions. A year and a half ago I met with executives and relatives of the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases, which brings together more than 150 associations, and a few months ago I went with them to the official ceremony that celebrated the Spanish Senate on the International Day dedicated to these pathologies.
“Talking with mothers and fathers whose children suffer from these diseases is to realize immediately the support and attention they deserve,” said Letizia. “And it is a priority in our society greater visibility, awareness and get us all to engage with their daily struggle.
“So research is vital. Vital in the most literal sense of the word. What you said two years ago, Mrs. Köhler: “the more one investigates, fastest growing life expectancy. This task requires specialized and often interdisciplinary teams that are able to share information and experiences, and therefore the benefits of international cooperation.”
With that, the Crown Princess congratulated the winners of this year’s award – Dr. Karin Jurkat-Rott and Dr Marc-André Weber. They have discovered a new treatment for a rare form of muscular dystrophy – the hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP). With the drug, the medical examiner was able to achieve that two young women who were already seated in a wheelchair, now can walk again.
The BAFTAs have a new president, and it is not a movie or television star. Instead, it is the young man who would one day be King of the United Kingdom, Prince William. The 27 year-old Prince made his debut as president of the Orange British Academy of Film Awards on Sunday at the Royal Opera House in London. William worked the red carpet, shaking hands with fans before giving a speech to open the ceremony.
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“I am so grateful to Lord [Richard] Attenborough for inviting me to take over from him,” the Prince said, referring to the actor who suffered from a serious head injury in 2009. William wished he was well enough to attend the BAFTAs.
“The visual arts are such a vital part of what makes up the fabric of this nation,” the Prince went on to say. “Britain has been a world leader in so many ways, not least in its cultural achievements. From the days of Shakespeare to our own Shakespeare in Love, British playwrights, script writers, actors, film makers and now video game designers have led the way globally, if not always in terms of resource then undoubtedly in talent and innovation.
“From what we are about to see tonight, it is quite clear that the same extraordinary cultural dynamism that so infused the first Elizabethan age still drives the beating heart of British visual arts in this second Elizabethan era.”
Prince William then went on to describe the royal family’s links to the BAFTAs, which goes back a ways.
“My grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, was there right at the start, presiding over that exciting time which saw the coming together of the British Film Academy and the Guild of Television Producers and Directors,” he said. “He was followed as president by Lord Mountbatten, who in turn handed over to my aunt, the Princess Royal.”
“So now perhaps you can see why I feel this is such a privilege for me – and I will do my level best to live up to my illustrious predecessors.”
William added: “Occasions such as tonight are obviously wonderful showcases for the British film industry, but I am also extremely excited about the prospect of working with Bafta on its myriad charitable endeavours.
“Because what is less known about this wonderful organisation is how much good it does for young people with its mentoring schemes, career starter initiatives and learning and events activity across the country.
“So, thank you for all you do to support the genius of film. Thank you for asking me to become your fifth president.
“It is a very great honour.”
With that, the Prince sat in the audience with the rest of the nominees and watched the ceremony.
One of the tasks he did as President of the BAFTAs was giving a lifetime achievement award to actress Vanessa Redgrave – who is a republican and a longtime critic of the royal family.
But Redgrave had nothing but kind words to say about William’s father, Prince Charles, saying “I would like to say, your Royal Highness, how much I admire your father for his intelligence, humility and kindness.”
She also mentioned having the pleasure of meeting his mother, the late Princess Diana.
On Monday, Dutch Crown Princess Maxima attended the microfinancing event, “Who Profits?” at the Peace Palace at The Hague. The meeting, organized by Radio Netherlands Worldwide, focused on how to help Third World nations receive proper finances, and Maxima asked for developed nations to allow poorer countries to get easier funding.
“What I would like to make clear here is that we are inclined to focus on loans, while other financial products like savings are possibly more important for poor people,” the former banker said in her opening speech.
Check out the video below about the “Who Profits?” event, which includes an excerpt of the Crown Princess’ speech (in English)
On Monday, royals from three countries were among the participants in the World Future Energy Summit, taking place in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Spain and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan took part in the event, which focuses on finding ways to create environmentally friendly products in an increasingly energy reliant world.
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Crown Prince Felipe of Spain gave a speech to open the summit. Before he went in depth on the event, he gave his condolences to the people of Haiti. “The sheer magnitude of tragic human loss and general devastation is very hard to conceive and makes for such a prompt and generous large scale multinational effort in emergency and humanitarian relief that is currently. We wish that this will be sustained in all fields to help Haitians regain hope and put their country back on its feet as soon as possible”
After paying homage to the founder of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, the Crown Prince then discussed the summit and how the world could benefit from it.
“In the energy sector, interdependence has become an even more pressing issue. Major energy sources are geographically concentrated. Transport and distribution infrastructures often require transnational agreements. Moreover, greenhouse gases, wherever their origin, affect the environmental balance all over the planet.
“Such growing interdependence explains why international cooperation and, especially, multilateralism are so important in the energy sector; hence the high value of jointly analysing the energy challenges of the future at this Summit. Although interdependence means sharing our problems, fortunately it also means working together on to solve them.
“Therefore I am very pleased to underline how the development of renewable energy is offering the international community a course of action able to reconcile the demands of future economic growth with the necessary respect of the environment,” Felipe said.
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Next, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark delivered his speech. He spoke out the environment and his account with climate change.
“The impact of climate change is global, but the signs are more evident in extreme climatic areas, for example, the Arctic,” he said. “Greenland holds a special place in my heart. From my first meeting with Greenland and the Greenlandic people to my 3 months expedition with dog sledges covering more than 2000 km along the northern and north-eastern coastline during spring. A grueling expedition that honored the way the Greenlandic people have always travelled and survived. Since then my visits have been regular, the last with my cousins and colleagues Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. A visit that again illustrated that Climate change is changing the way the Greenlandic people live. Hunting and Fishing are their primary sources of income and food and this is being threatened by rising temperatures. For me, this is a clear example of the necessity to adapt. How are we as a global community able to adapt in order to combat the negative impact of climate change? How can we adapt by rethinking our use and conservation of energy? Tough questions….questions that are to be addressed in the course of this Summit.”
Frederik than used his country as an example of how new forms of energy can be used.
“In Denmark the oil crisis of the ‘70s pushed us to search for alternative energy solutions. Over the last 30 years, we have had an economic growth of 78 %, but almost zero growth in energy consumption. And 28% of our electricity supply comes from renewable sources such as wind and biomass. It proves that economic prosperity and climate friendly solutions can co-exist.
“Denmark has shown that no country is too small to become a leader within green and clean technology and providing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”
The royals were then given a tour of the many vehicles, computers and other products on display.
The World Future Energy Summit ended today. The royals involved left Abu Dhabi the day the summit began.
In a radio address last night, Prince Albert II of Monaco wished his subjects a happy 2010, and discussed what the principality had been through in the past year.
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“The year 2009 has been marked by the global economic crisis with the many consequences that entails, especially in the social sphere, even if our country was less severely affected and sees taking shape in the last quarter, signs of recovery.
“I would like, once again, everyone, to Monaco, which measures the opportunity is his to live in a free and peaceful, enjoying security, comfort and facilities with little benefit through world.
“It is my hope that this crisis will lead us to recognize the need to adapt our development to environmental conservation,” the Prince said.
He then thanked the outgoing Monegasque prime minister and government for their work.
“Mr Jean-Paul Proust has implemented efficiently and the political authority which I have traced the contours in all important areas of life of the Principality. I want to remind everyone in his place, must play its full role, but only its role within the institutions of our country.”
Finally, to end off a short and simple speech, Albert said, “to all I ask solemnly beyond the divisions and move forward in a spirit of unity, not only in words but in deeds. I welcome and encourage all initiatives of actors in our economy who are keen to implement projects in the Principality and implement innovative achievements. Their dynamism and determination to succeed are the guarantee of social benefits to which I am very attached.”
While most of Europe’s monarchs give their annual speeches during Christmas, King Harald V of Norway and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark give theirs on New Year’s. Just like their European counterparts, the New Year’s speeches of these two monarchs are popular because they are written by them, not by any member of government.
The Norwegian King delivered his speech during the day, hours before midnight local time.
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King Harald discussed such issues as the environment. Norway itself is a very eco-conscious nation, and its monarch urged for the continuation of that mindset.
“Perhaps we have been better to count our money, than we have to count our days. Are we not to deal better with the imbalance in the planet’s climate, we will be faced with very serious consequences,” Harald said.
He also mentioned the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago, and how there are still many walls dividing people in the world, including Norway.
“We see increasing examples of intolerance, extreme views and violence that do not harmonize with the core elements of our heritage. Such things, we must not accept. Yet we must stick to that most are decent, honest people who will do their best to make our world a better place to be. It can cause us to lose footing and it is rootless. At the same time we must not reject the new as alien and hostile.”
Like all of other heads of state, the King talked about the economy, and how Norwegians could learn from it.
“The financial crisis has many causes, but on one level it seems to be related to a short-term rush for profits. In this sense, the crisis can perhaps serve as a useful reminder that the economy and society could not unilaterally based on material values,” he said.
With that, King Harald V wished his people a happy and healthy 2010.
Over in Copenhagen, when the clock struck midnight, Queen Margrethe welcomed the new year, and the new decade, with her annual speech.
“New Year’s Eve is the evening when we look back at the years passed and look forward to the new year, with what wonder will bring. We are hopeful, but anxious because we live in a world where everything that happens can be felt here in Denmark and has consequences for our country and for each of us,” she said.
The Queen talked also discussed how the economy affected young people’s dreams, and she talked about how adventurous youth can be.
“Young people want to address and explore new avenues. They educate themselves…They travel and get the impression back from distant countries worldwide. It gives them a broader horizon than perhaps my generation had when we grew up. We must show young people that need them. We must create space that they can make the experience needed to bring our society forward.
“For many it is getting older that is hard to accept. As a child, we have been scrambling to adulthood, as adults will like to continue to feel young, yes it is almost a requirement to keep not only youthful, but young in ten, twenty years longer than you really are . Our time has been fixated youth. It is both good and bad.
“While it is still to be nice to one another and overcome the other, but it can also be satisfying to sit down calmly and told that there is less to chase after, and that perfection is not always so important.”
Next, the Queen touched on the recent UN Climate Change summit which Copenhagen held in December.
“The Climate Summit in Copenhagen was the culmination of a long and busy process. Many have contributed in different ways. Diplomats and other officials have worked sober and committed to put everything to right. Skilled employees at all levels have tried everything could slip as much as possible for the thousands just incoming. Police have had the difficult task of ensuring security and order around the meeting, and have solved it responsibly and in good conditions,” Margrethe said.
The Queen’s speech also mentioned to troops serving in Afghanistan.
“Right now my thoughts go to all our broadcast and especially to our soldiers in Afghanistan. The Crown Princess has just visited them and meeting with the Danish soldiers and our allies made a deep impression on her. The problem they have is not easy, but they do it with determination and skill, and they show a courage that we must admire. They must know that they and their relatives often are in my thoughts and that their loss affects me deeply. Together with Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Couple, I send them all my warmest greetings and good wishes for the new year.”
In addition, the Danish Queen discussed Greenland’s autonomy which occurred this year. She also wished a happy new year to the Faroe Islands.
Finally, Queen Margrethe touched on some personal family moments she experienced for 2009.
“When I look back at what the year is now nearly over, has meant to me and my family, I primarily think of the great pleasure it was Prince Consort and me again to become grandparents. Together with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, we would like to thank you for the warm sympathetic heart of Little Prince Henrik’s birth in May and his baptism in the summer. The heater, as did the Prince Consort is touched by all the kindness expressed by his 75th birthday. To see his family grow and prosper is a great joy for him as for me. During our visit to Vietnam in November, he has further been pleased to show both me and the Crown Prince Couple the country where he experienced his earliest years, and where he spent some of his youth. It was as if a call was connected.”
The Queen then ended her speech with a “God Save Denmark.”
The world’s youngest monarch, Bhutan’s Jigme Khesar Wangchuk, recently spoke at India’s National Defense College during a state visit to the country. His speech covered the issues of an increasing globalized world, and how important it is for nations and people to depend on each other.
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“I truly believe that the only way to observe the most important things in life and in this world is by putting them through the lens of ‘Simplicity’. For in the end, no matter what country we may be from, we are human beings – no matter what our cultures and beliefs may be, we share the same needs and abide by the same fundamental values,” the King said.
“This is a world that is shared – not between governments and nations but among us, the people. It may sound idealistic – but this is a natural and practical way of approaching things that seem intractable and inflexible – no matter how big the problem. The image of a shared planet must always be present in our minds – and especially in the minds of those who are in positions of leadership.”
This is coming from a young man who’s Himalayan Kingdom has been emerging from centuries of isolation over the past decade. Bhutan only recently allowed television and the Internet into its borders, and is slowly opening itself to the rest of the world.
King Jigme went on to talk about the dependence of nations on one another.
“Individual or even national success is a ship that cannot carry everyone together to the same place at the same time”. Rich nations must stop to be mindful of the poorer ones left behind. Successful people must stop to remember those who didn’t make it. No nation today can stand alone in achievement. (…) The world must progress together or fail together,” he said.
The 29 year-old monarch then brought up what his father promoted during his days as King of Bhutan – GNH, or Gross National Happiness, over Gross National Product.
“Today, GNH has come to mean so many things to so many people but to me it signifies simply – Development with Values. I am confident that the noble goal of Gross National Happiness will be key to Bhutan’s success in maintaining our unity and harmony – indeed our character as a nation,” King Jigme said as he ended his speech.
The King was only crowned as King of Bhutan in November 2008.
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