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HM Queen Noor’s interview with Mr. Ron Bel BrunoYahoo Internet Life. 25 August 1997
Q1. Has the Internet aided your work and studies in architecture and urban development. The Internet has aided my work by expanding my contacts with people around the world through e-mail and on-line discussions. Many Internet surfers have contacted me, after browsing through my Web site, with suggestions on how to improve or enhance certain projects. I remember one Jordanian, working on his Ph.D. in England, who sent me his booklet on a composting project that can be applied at home and in rural areas. We have incorporated this project in The Noor Al Hussein Foundation’s "Quality of Life" and "Women-in-Development" programs, both of which integrate environmental awareness in income-generating schemes based on self-employment and home production. I have utilized my architecture and urban studies background to develop and promote culturally and environmentally sensitive architectural design and conservation in Jordan. Since my work schedule does not allow me to attend eco-friendly architectural conferences around the world, I have tried to keep abreast of the latest developments via the Internet and introduce new concepts and ideas into our projects. The SOS Children’s Villages in Jordan, over which I preside, have won international recognition for their innovative designs, based on traditional methods that encourage energy and water conservation. We will ensure that the third SOS Village, which will be built in the north of Jordan, will be built along even more rigorous environmentally-friendly standards. I am also actively involved with U.N. and other international organizations working in the fields of architecture and nature conservation, education, women and children, community development and human rights. Since these organizations are spread out all over the world, we rely on FTP and e-mail attachments, particularly for documents and files that are too large to fax. The Noor Al Hussein Foundation, which supports national and regional comprehensive sustainable development projects, is also on-line and is working on its Web site, as are many other national institutions which serve the Jordanian community. The developing world needs cheap, efficient and quick communication methods such as the Internet, which is also an ideal way of providing updated information to our schools and universities.
Q2. How closely do you work on your Web site? Do you read all your mail? The Web site is fun and challenging, but one of them most gratifying aspects of it and one which has prompted my husband, King Hussein, to start working on his Web site is the feedback via e-mail I receive from Jordanians living and studying abroad, who consider the site a link with Jordan and a way to keep in touch with what’s going on back home. My site has added to my workload since I get daily questions from people around the world asking about education, children’s welfare, women’s rights, environmental conservation and what is being done to preserve the country’s architectural and archaeological heritage. Many of these inquiries have led to establishing direct contact with the numerous organizations featured in the site, such as the United Nations University’s International Leadership Academy in Jordan, the world’s first global leadership training facility (un2@ju.edu.jo), the National Task Force for Children (ntc@nets.com.jo) and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the first non-governmental organization of its kind in the Arab world (rscn@nets.com.jo). The Web site also has substantial links with other sites which provide additional information on Jordan, such as the home page of the National Information System of Jordan (http://www.nic.gov.jo), which includes updated statistics and data on topics that range from the country's investment climate and related laws to national scientific organizations and their research. Therefore, the Web site has not only connected me to old and new friends but has also connected Jordan and our national organizations with people around the world. |
