Labels: Arabic, Jerash

This is the new Pepsi's Chinese commercial that was shot in Jordan. It is known that Pepsi always makes exciting ads, they spend a lot of money to get famous actors or footballers, and their ads often have special effects and a fine scenography, but this one is really amazing! Take a look..

Note that the Chinese "fighters" are well-known actors in China, by the way, I can't realize how the kid ran away from Jerash to reach Petra... yeah it's a long distance!

Labels: Jerash, Jordan

Labels: Arabic, Jerash, Politics

Do you remember the movie they shot in Jerash about war in Iraq? I've found its trailer and the behind the scenes on YouTube, both clearly shows the downtown, Jerash citizens in their daily activities and even the famous Mitsubishi pickups used in Jordan. All this makes the film's location more similar to Jordan than Iraq. (Yes, I know there's little difference, but it is so evident they are in Jerash!!)

This is the link to the trailer cut to run at Cannes Film Festival in May. Movie is supposed to premier at the end of the year.

The springy atmosphere and the green hills do contrast the tragic story, which reveals the massacre of 24 men, women and children in Haditha in Iraq, allegedly shot by 4 U.S. Marines in retaliation for the death of a U.S. Marine killed by a roadside bomb.

The movie follows the story of the Marines of Kilo Company, an Iraqi family, and the insurgents who plant the roadside bomb. New York Times asked if this film will be the Iraq's Apocalypse Now.

About the movie, its name is Battle For Haditha, it is written and directed by Nick Broomfield, and it's now in post-production.

Errata Corrige: I've mentioned before that the movie was Redacted, that is another movie shot in Jordan at the same time, I'm sorry but I've cited that citizens were not allowed to encounter the crew and ask about the film. And by the way, this morning I've read that DePalma's Redacted stuns Venice Film Festival!

Labels: Jerash, Movies

Many gossips and rumors are coming out about the presence of the Columbian singer Shakira (of Lebanese origins) at Jerash Festival, these voices appear stronger after her concert in Lebanon has been postponed (or even canceled) and by taking in consideration the fact she had previously two tour dates in Egypt and in Dubai.

Personally, I think it's not probable that Shakira will have a concert in Jerash as first reported by some websites, it's more credible to see Shakira as a guest of honor as she will help to add a brighter 'international image' for the festival. However, today's edition of Al-Ghad reported that, until now, organizers of the Jerash Festival neither affirmed nor denied the future presence of Shakira in this year's edition of the festival.

But a short visit to the official site makes it clear that the edited version of the program does not refer to Shakira at all, the day of the opening ceremony has been postponed (it was first announced as 19/7) and the first concert will be performed by Ozomatli on 26/7. Ozomatli is a band from Los Angeles, their music is a fusion of a wide variety of jazz, funk, hip-hop and Spanish rock. They're known for their political activism, their English-Spanish songs and for the different ethnic origins of the members.

Visit Ozomatli Official Site

Click here to have a look at the Jerash Festival Program.

Labels: Jerash, Music

Big explosions, large columns of smoke, closed military zones... if you've paid a visit to Jerash and you've noticed all this, don't worry, I can assure you that there are no terrorist attacks, no real blasts, and everyone is okay... well, it's all fiction! It seems that Jerash in the last two weeks attracted major Hollywood producers; in fact, the city is hosting cameras, actors and (perhaps) a popular awarded director…

Rumors say that a major production firm is filming here in Jerash, most Jerashis say that the movie is about the war in Iraq (I've heard more specifically about Fallujah), however the police and the authorities do not permit anyone to come near the set, so I haven't seen any concrete thing and unfortunately I can't take any picture for this blog :(

They are still shooting (they started April 14), making a big confusion in the city, until now we have roads closed and a lot of policemen in the zone (in addition to the explosions). Anyway, it's worth it if we can have Jerash featured on the silver screen... I mean implicitly featured since it's supposed to be in Iraq, I don't know...is Jerash so similar to Fallujah?!

A little search on the net reveals the only movie now being filmed in Jordan is Redacted, a mixture of war stories about U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq, focusing on the modern forms of media covering the conflict with particular attention on blogs and web reporting.

Movieweb says that "[the film is] based on the recent events surrounding the rape and murder of a 14-year old Iraqi girl, and the killing of three of her family members by four US soldiers. The soldiers were sleep-deprived and living on energy drinks and sleeping pills in a situation where anyone outside the fence was considered the enemy. The killings have been the most provocative in a series of war crimes that have tarnished the reputation of US armed forces in Iraq".?

The movie is directed by Brian De Palma (wow) and produced by HDNET films, will be shot on high definition and released simultaneously in cinemas, on DVD and on TV; the release is scheduled for fall 2008.

Brian DePalma is the director of Mission to Mars, Mission:Impossible, Scarface and Carlito's Way. The cast includes some not so-famous actors as Ty Jones (he is blogging about his experiences in Jordan), Patrick Caroll and Paul O'Brien.

Labels: Jerash, Jordan, Movies

When I first heard that Jordan will initialize a nuclear program for electricity production, I was afraid that all previous plans for clean electricity will be thrown out, but before three days I've opened the newspaper and I've found good news...

The Council of Ministers approved the establishment of a wind power plant in the Jerash governorate. Previous plans regarding wind power were put up, most of them unimportant such the turbines in Husn (Irbid), but this plant capacity is estimated to be 40 Megawatt as Ministry of Energy said. The plant will be set up in Kamshah hills and the ministry will also build similar plants in other parts of Jordan, including Tafeelah and Wadi Araba.

Renewable electricity represents less than 3% of the total electrical power produced in Jordan, so I wish this will be the first step to begin thinking seriously about clean energy.

Labels: Jerash, Jordan

Monastery of Our Lady the Virgin near Dibbin.

Centenary Pine Tree in Dibbin. The first Jordanian King, Abdallah I, took shade under this tree, and named it Al Hada'ah.

A Google Map showing the Dibbin National Park, also surrounding arid area is shown. Why not to build the project in this area?

As a Jerash blogger, I just wanted to have my say on Dibbin project. Personally, I have good memories of that park; school trips, picnics, passing the time under its trees with friends and family and other memories that are hard to forget. However in this post I will try to be rational as much as possible.

I'm happy that Jordanian blogosphere has different visions of Dibbin's project. The majority of bloggers invited to sign a petition against the project. However, I've read the Nasim's post two days ago, and he presented a different view of the situation and he demanded explicitly not to sign the petition.
I invite you to read his post.

Ok, let me present myself, I'm a Jerash citizen, or more accurately, I'm a "COOL" Jerash citizen, I've signed the petition and I still invite everybody to sign it. I know the petition is until now unclear; but personally, I will sign any petition that is in opposition to the current project and demands protection for our trees, even if I won't get knowledge of its secondary details. Another point is that the project itself is unclear, I'm sure you've noticed that different blogs, websites and newspapers have contradictory information on what will be built in Dibbin and how it will be built.

Anyway some intentions are evident; first of all, Jordan Dubai Capital is not a charity, so it's exaggerated to represent this project as a humanitarian action to solve all Jerash economic problems. The company tries to persuade poor people here that the project will have a key role in extremely decreasing poverty and unemployment rates. Unfortunately some of them believed in that, and found the Dibbin project as the unique way to exit from the current situation. In reality no one can bet on this, especially on the long term.

The company will also have a selective policy regarding entrances, for sure price of tickets to enter Dibbin will be high, very high. This discriminatory procedure will allow only privileged and elite class to visit the park.

INFRASTRUCTURES
Jordan Dubai Capital clearly expressed that one hotel and 200 chalets will be built, initially they aimed to construct three hotels and 600 chalets but this plan was downsized after several consultations with RSCN, which affirmed that 8% of the area covering the complex will be directly affected, and minimum 160 trees will be cut down. Imagine that… building such a complex is not so simple; electricity, water, roads and other several infrastructures will have a devastating effect on the surrounding zone.

LEGALITY
The most important matter is that the project is illegal, in fact the proposed project does not agree with the Environment Protection Law No.52 of 2006 (Articles 13,14,18) and Agriculture Law No.44 of 2002 (Read Articles 28,32,34,35). These laws prohibit the use of forests by private sector and determine the forests property as national and public, they also give Ministry of Environment more privileges in approving or refusing activities that could have any impact on environment.

SOLUTION
There's a solution for this problem and it's quite easy, I think that a good alternative is to make a tourist complex that:

• Is outside the boundaries of Dibbin park, and outside forests. There are so many empty spaces here in Jerash, it will cost a little more to plant new trees, but results are the same, in addition, we will gain a new green zone, even if it is privately owned.
  
• Protects environment. No trees should be cut down for the project, and if it will be set up in an arid or semi-arid zone, it will be good to help stop desertification. It should also encourage protection of wild fauna and flora.
  
• Meets local community needs. Since the project is in Jerash it must be addressed to Jerashis (or Jerashians, as you like). It should really help to produce new jobs, workplaces and it should be an important investment for city's development and economic growth.
  
• Does not monopolize forests in any way. Dibbin National Park is for all Jordanians; today we pay 1 JD as entrance fees, which 20% is directed to local people. Things should not change after the project.
  
• Has an environment friendly architecture, promotes tourism and does not make wasteful use of rare resources.

I think this is a good alternative to all the parts; investors, environmentalists and local community. Sorry to say, many persons who pretended park's protection were accused to be averse to any form of investment, we are not against any 'Dibbin project' we're only preoccupied of the proposed project, so a project that takes the above points in consideration will gain my support. And believe me, most of the people of Jerash have the same opinion.

Labels: Jerash, Jordan