Center for Humans and Nature

Jordan Relato: environmental ethics alive in Jordan

Global Program, The Biosphere Ethics Initiative, Relatos: Giving Voice to Local Ethics around the World

May 23rd, 2011

The Jordan Relato of the Biosphere Ethics Initiative (BEI) took place 7-11 May 2011, launching an environmental ethics program in Jordan to help influence local, state and international law and policy. The Relato was hosted by the Amman-based World of Letters, with support from the Center for Humans and Nature and the Ethics Specialist Group of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, and under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Alia Al Hussein. The workshop could not have occurred without the generous support from the Greater Amman Municipality, the Talal Abu Gherzaleh Group, the Jordan Education Career Foundation and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.

The purpose of the Jordan Relato was to highlight ethical principles of biodiversity conservation in action, leading towards the creation of a Local Ethic of Jordan, while also informing the Evolving Global Ethic of the Biosphere Ethics Initiative. In Jordan, however, was also the formal launch of the BEI in Jordan: an active program that will continue the dialogue and action that took place during the Relato.

The Relato was a mix of presentations and site visits, with a formal wrap up session, including Jordan media, on the final day:

Day 1 – Environmental Ethics Initiatives in Jordan (see article from the Alghad news here)

Day 2 –Eco-Peace and Water Diversions: Wehdah Dam Visit and Sharharbil bin Hassneh EcoPark, hosted by Eco-Peace: Friends of the Earth Middle East; and visit to the Jordan River and the Dead Sea

Day 3 – History, Water and Community: Azraq Wetland Reserve, hosted by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature; and visit to Qasr Al-Harrana

Day 4 – Sustainable-living and Community Involvement: Feynan EcoPark, Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature

Day 5 – Wildlife Rescue, Child-Nature Rehabilitation, Botanic Preservation and Social Justice: Princess Alia Foundation with Princess Alia and Princess Sara; the Royal Stables and the Royal Botanic Garden with Princess Basma

Day 6 – Planning Session 1; and Zu-Mot Organic, Sustainable Winery

The first day of the event was the formal launch of the BEI Jordan program. Government, Royal Family and NGO leaders from around the country came together with BEI leaders to discuss particular environmental ethics initiatives in Jordan, and the work that is taking place abroad. The group first learned of initiatives in education (World of Letters), social marketing (USAID), religion and culture (IUCN), areas of conflict (Friends of the Earth) and social justice (Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature); then of the role of environmental ethics with municipalities, or local government (with the Royal Department for Environmental Protection, the Greater Amman Municipality and the Jordan Green Building Council), and finally the role of environmental ethics in the private sector (with the Talal Abu Gherzaleh Group, Aramex and the Jordan Career Education Foundation). The next five days of the event took the group to sites across the country, to see these ethical principles in practice.

A full report is underway, as well as the initial stages of development of the Local Ethic. Additional photos will also be made available on the CHN Global Program pages.

For further media coverage of the event, please see the additional article from Alghad news, خبراء يؤكدون ضرورة نشر الأخلاقيات البيئية لتعزيز التضامن مع الطبيعة or “Experts stress the need to disseminate environmental ethics to promote solidarity with nature.” and articles from Al Ra’i news, مؤتمر (أخلاقيات المحيط الحيوي) يؤكد دور الشريعة الإسلامية في حماية البيئة, or “Conference (Ethics of the biosphere) stresses the role of Islamic law in the protection of the environment” and مؤتمر ينتهي بإعلان وثيقة الأخلاقيات البيئية, or “Conference ends with Declaration and document environmental ethics”.