Comments on: What’s Blacker Than Black And Can Save The World? http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/ A Jordanian Blog Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:56:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sharon M http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112455 Sharon M Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:42:44 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112455 OK, slightly off topic, but what about wind power? Nas, I think another problem WAS solar power not being cost-efficient. It was soo expensive back in the 80s, but with rising fuel prices in the last few years and advances in solar technology, that's not an excuse anymore. There is going to come a time when Jordan is not going to be able to import oil b/c the prices will just be too damn high, and hopefully the government will come to its senses before then. OK, slightly off topic, but what about wind power? Nas, I think another problem WAS solar power not being cost-efficient. It was soo expensive back in the 80s, but with rising fuel prices in the last few years and advances in solar technology, that’s not an excuse anymore. There is going to come a time when Jordan is not going to be able to import oil b/c the prices will just be too damn high, and hopefully the government will come to its senses before then.

]]> By: Hareega http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112449 Hareega Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:10:34 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112449 When I read the title I made a guess you were gonna talk about Barak Obama When I read the title I made a guess you were gonna talk about Barak Obama

]]> By: alurdunialhurr http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112437 alurdunialhurr Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:22:13 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112437 I said before And i probably will keep saying it till the day I die,it is the lack of real participatory citizen power sharing coalition government,thats hindering us to solve our dire problems,we no longer can keep our head buried in the sand and thinking that everything will be dandy and rosey.If you come and think of it,weather it is foreign policy or domestic policies ,we will never be able to even to tackle any problem ,let alone energy problem.I have heard and read many articles how the government of Jordan is planing to build nuclear power plant to off set the usage of petroleum based energy ,it is not only a dream but it will be completed environmental disaster waiting to happen,if we decided to go that rout. What we need now is Jordanian environmental movement based on real participatory ,responsible parties that can galvanize and mobilize our potential to build a better future for our children .... I said before And i probably will keep saying it till the day I die,it is the lack of real participatory citizen power sharing coalition government,thats hindering us to solve our dire problems,we no longer can keep our head buried in the sand and thinking that everything will be dandy and rosey.If you come and think of it,weather it is foreign policy or domestic policies ,we will never be able to even to tackle any problem ,let alone energy problem.I have heard and read many articles how the government of Jordan is planing to build nuclear power plant to off set the usage of petroleum based energy ,it is not only a dream but it will be completed environmental disaster waiting to happen,if we decided to go that rout.
What we need now is Jordanian environmental movement based on real participatory ,responsible parties that can galvanize and mobilize our potential to build a better future for our children ….

]]> By: Ahmad Al-Sholi http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112436 Ahmad Al-Sholi Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:42:59 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112436 I would add that the high spending ratio of military to GDP is contributed by the fact that the public finance constructs 45% of the GDP, 55% of the governmental budget is salaries and retirement payments. i.e. 25% are salaries, and definately military, police, security agencies and their retired personnel are much much more than the civil work force. Though, leaping news about the military production are promising and do have a shot to generate earnings hopefully to contribute revenues to the state, or defense budgets atleast. Corruption has its toll. I bet many Jordanian students and engineering graduates have many ideas and basic inventions. Al-ghad posted an interview with a guy who transformed a disel heating system to operate by olive waste which two years ago was an environmental problem itself if it was consumed someway. A guy in Jenin as well had a similar product. But no governmental support is there to pick up a smart solution, Government is very focused on business infrastructure at the moment. Imagine if some Jordanian wanted to license such a product and go commercial given that some private sector giant was insightful enough to support the initiative from a profitable point of view if not from a patriotic angle for god sake (though practicaly impossible as those are either foriegn investors in Telecom, Banks generating hundreds of millions in profit but believe their staff doesn't deserve more than an average 6.5% salary increase, or the uglier of the beasts - constructors - where many are growing tumors in the first place as they still mix cement with water on public property and sells for 300% profit), how many agencies and commissions have to accept the new idea and how many fees and taxes will apply? Fundemental social change is needed for any progress to take place. I would add that the high spending ratio of military to GDP is contributed by the fact that the public finance constructs 45% of the GDP, 55% of the governmental budget is salaries and retirement payments. i.e. 25% are salaries, and definately military, police, security agencies and their retired personnel are much much more than the civil work force. Though, leaping news about the military production are promising and do have a shot to generate earnings hopefully to contribute revenues to the state, or defense budgets atleast.

Corruption has its toll. I bet many Jordanian students and engineering graduates have many ideas and basic inventions. Al-ghad posted an interview with a guy who transformed a disel heating system to operate by olive waste which two years ago was an environmental problem itself if it was consumed someway. A guy in Jenin as well had a similar product. But no governmental support is there to pick up a smart solution, Government is very focused on business infrastructure at the moment.

Imagine if some Jordanian wanted to license such a product and go commercial given that some private sector giant was insightful enough to support the initiative from a profitable point of view if not from a patriotic angle for god sake (though practicaly impossible as those are either foriegn investors in Telecom, Banks generating hundreds of millions in profit but believe their staff doesn’t deserve more than an average 6.5% salary increase, or the uglier of the beasts – constructors – where many are growing tumors in the first place as they still mix cement with water on public property and sells for 300% profit), how many agencies and commissions have to accept the new idea and how many fees and taxes will apply?

Fundemental social change is needed for any progress to take place.

]]> By: Ala'a Ibrahim http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112433 Ala'a Ibrahim Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:46:49 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112433 Military researches are usually the ones who provide technology to the whole world, and the reason is, they have money for R&D, and lot's of it. A lot of the researches that shaped the technology of the world nowadays were in WWII, and after that the cold war. The idea of power for the countries (power is represented by military) makes governments support their researches. In Jordan, a very big part of the short term thinking problem, returns to the lack of political parties involvement in shaping the government, every government thinks about saving it's own ass, so they only care about what is going on now, and they don't care about what would happen after 3 years, why do they have to do the job, while the next government will profit. In case of a government led by political parties, it has a better chance of having long term thinking (but it's not always this way), as the party members should act upon the parties interest, which is to be in the next government, and not suffer from their problem. So years and years of a government throwing it's problem to the next one, would get the country in the end to a big pile of problems. Military researches are usually the ones who provide technology to the whole world, and the reason is, they have money for R&D, and lot’s of it.
A lot of the researches that shaped the technology of the world nowadays were in WWII, and after that the cold war. The idea of power for the countries (power is represented by military) makes governments support their researches.
In Jordan, a very big part of the short term thinking problem, returns to the lack of political parties involvement in shaping the government, every government thinks about saving it’s own ass, so they only care about what is going on now, and they don’t care about what would happen after 3 years, why do they have to do the job, while the next government will profit.
In case of a government led by political parties, it has a better chance of having long term thinking (but it’s not always this way), as the party members should act upon the parties interest, which is to be in the next government, and not suffer from their problem.
So years and years of a government throwing it’s problem to the next one, would get the country in the end to a big pile of problems.

]]> By: abu daoud http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112431 abu daoud Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:32:39 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112431 I think that after Israel and North Korea, it is Jordan that spends the highest percentage of its GDP on security. I also think that solar energy is an obvious choice for a hot, mostly flat country like Jordan. I mean, what is between Amman and the Iraqi border? Mostly flat desert. They have recently started to build a HUGE solar energy plant in the deserts of Arizona in the US, and that is happening because of government tax breaks for companies that produce such energy. I don't see any reason why Jordan could not do something similar. Does anyone know why this is not a viable option for JO? I think that after Israel and North Korea, it is Jordan that spends the highest percentage of its GDP on security.

I also think that solar energy is an obvious choice for a hot, mostly flat country like Jordan. I mean, what is between Amman and the Iraqi border? Mostly flat desert.

They have recently started to build a HUGE solar energy plant in the deserts of Arizona in the US, and that is happening because of government tax breaks for companies that produce such energy. I don’t see any reason why Jordan could not do something similar. Does anyone know why this is not a viable option for JO?

]]> By: Hani Obaid http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112426 Hani Obaid Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:55:04 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112426 About military applications always coming first, sure that's where the majority of R&D money is spent. Even a small country like Jordan spends an obscene amount of its GNP on security. One of the theories as to why we haven't detected intelligent life in the universe is that most civilisations once they are advanced enough inevitably destroy themselves. We're well on our way. About military applications always coming first, sure that’s where the majority of R&D money is spent. Even a small country like Jordan spends an obscene amount of its GNP on security.

One of the theories as to why we haven’t detected intelligent life in the universe is that most civilisations once they are advanced enough inevitably destroy themselves. We’re well on our way.

]]> By: Jasim http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112425 Jasim Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:52:41 +0000 http://www.black-iris.com/2008/02/28/whats-blacker-than-black-and-can-save-the-world/#comment-112425 What ticks me the most, is where does the light go?! I mean okay 99.9% of the light is absourbed into this black material, but it turns into what after that? Heat?! What ticks me the most, is where does the light go?! I mean okay 99.9% of the light is absourbed into this black material, but it turns into what after that? Heat?!

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