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  • 8/14/2019 Bird Nest 2

    1/81 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    KEYNOTEBy Stephen Day, Chairman, British Tunisian Society

    In the course of a 32-year

    career with the British

    Government first in the

    Colonial Service and later with

    the Foreign Office my family

    travelled around the world, living

    in places as far apart as Western

    Canada and Hong Kong.

    Indeed, I had the opportunity to

    cross the Sahara (in mid-summer;not to be recommended), stay

    with my wife in the Empty

    Quarter, and sit in the midnight

    sun at Alert, the furthest point

    North on the

    globe. But the

    place that left

    the deepest

    m a r k w a s

    Tunisia.

    From my

    perspective, it

    was a lucky

    appointment .

    B y p u r e s t

    chance, I was

    the first new

    Ambassador to

    arrive after 7

    N o v e m b e r

    1987. During

    my first month

    in post I had

    visits from theChairman of

    t h e Br i t i sh

    Council and the

    then Home

    S e c r e t a r y ,

    Douglas now

    Lord Hurd; so there were three

    calls on the new President. We

    acknowledged frankly that the

    British connection with Tunisia

    amounted to a flourishing

    tourism sector and precious little

    else. The British Council

    operation was about to close and

    two of the four visible British

    investments in the country were

    on the point of leaving. The

    fact that there was no further way

    down was rather refreshing; we

    had nothing to lose and we had

    every encouragement to innovate.The new Government in

    Tunisia was open to radical new

    ideas. President Ben Ali was

    clear that the country had to

    open up to the English-speaking

    world, create conditions in which

    private capital could flow, and

    privatise public sector concerns.

    In the course of four active years

    we brought in new investments

    from the UK, including

    Gass commitment to d

    Tunisias substantial off-sho

    reserves. The British C

    decision to close its offic

    reversed and a major exp

    put in place, with E

    language teaching satelli

    Sfax and inside official ag

    such as the Central BanEnergy Ministry.

    At that time th

    League and PLO headq

    were in Tunis, both involvi

    small diplomatic tea

    exciting negotiations,

    late into the night.

    government establish

    formal dialogue with th

    and assisted the Americ

    follow suit. The M

    conference offered hope

    just settlement of thi

    dispute. It was a good

    be a diplomat, in a

    where important event

    happening. The Tu

    authorities deserve great

    for the role they play

    establishing the environm

    which diplomacy flourish

    But for my family, the

    legacy was the engagem

    a daughter to a bTunisian film director,

    Kamoun, who had

    Tunisian teams on Star

    and The English Patient

    returned to Tunis f

    unforgettable weddin

    Carthage, celebrated in

    Roman villa overlookin

    Mediterranean under a

    moonlit sky. No-one coul

    wished for a more lovely

    BIRDNESTThe Bimonthly Readers Digest of the Network ofEnglish-SpeakingTunisians

    Hi Again !

    Welcome to the second

    issue of the BIRD. We are

    delighted to see that the

    NEST membership is

    steadily increasing, and feel

    particularly grateful to those

    of you who offered to

    contribute to this issue. We

    would also like to give a

    particular word of thanks toZied Laaribi in Canada for

    all the effort he has put in

    the newsletters design.

    If you wish to become

    a regular BIRD columnist

    you are most welcome to do

    so. If you prefer to provide

    us with one-off input that is

    fine too; all you need to do

    is send us your contribution

    [email protected]

    a week before the

    publication date.

    In this issue we hear

    from people across four

    continents. Some of them

    tell us about their personal

    experiences of Tunisia and

    other countries, while others

    reflect on events theyattended or particular

    themes they wish to raise

    awareness about. We hope

    you will enjoy.

    BIRDNEST Team

    BIRDNESTBIMONTHLYMay20,

    2008

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    2/82 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    nor a happier, more cosmopolitan

    group of friends and relatives to join us

    in wishingthe couple well.

    So now we are anchored to Tunisia

    with close family bonds. Two

    remarkable grand-daughters give us a

    deep, long-term perspective. Our

    daughter and her husband built up a

    flourishing film production company,Sindbad, working with the BBC and US

    companies. Since 1987 we have seen the

    country develop steadily, the shops filling

    with goods, the infrastructure expanding,

    the educational and health facilities now

    of international quality. Yet it retains its

    beauty and a joy in the simple things in

    life.

    I am sometimes asked if I

    understand Tunisia and I have to

    admit I am still learning. It is a complex

    society, the product of thousands of yearsof history and countless invasions. To a

    British visitor, it falls into no category it

    is not just African, or Arab, or

    Mediterranean, but a mix of all three,

    and all the more interesting for that.

    Like a Swiss watch, its small size hides

    great complexity and intricate

    mechanisms that are not easily identified

    by the British visitor. (Maybe you

    Tunisians find us British just as strange?)

    So I welcome the emergence of new

    associations, both commercial and social,that bring our two peoples together. We

    have much to learn from each other, and

    much to enjoy in the others country.

    News from the UKTunisia Finance andInvestment Conferencein London

    By Tarek Cheniti (UK)

    The magnificent premises of

    Clifford Chance in Canary Wharf hosted

    a Tunisia trade conference on the 8th of

    May 2008. The conference was held by

    the Middle East Association in

    partnership with the Tunisian Embassy in

    London, FIPA Tunisia and Clifford

    Chance LLP. This is part of a three-

    m o n t h

    rebranding

    programme

    t h a t i sorganised by

    our embassy:

    T u n i s i a s

    Spring on the

    Thames. The

    c o n f e r e n c e

    was very well

    a t t e n d e d ,

    a t t r a c t i n g

    more than

    2 5 0

    representatives

    of Tunisian, UK and Gulf companies.Prominent figures from the government,

    the diplomatic corps and the private

    sector gave an overview of investment

    opportunities in our country, highlighting

    in particular the opportunities that will

    be available to UK firms as more gulf

    investments keep pouring in at an

    unprecedented pace.

    The overarching message is quite

    clear: Tunisia is now open for large-scale

    investment! With a sound middle class, aper capita GDP that is fast approaching

    the EU average, a diversified economy

    and a thriving private sector, the country

    has all what it takes to become a

    Mediterranean business platform.

    Representatives of mega development

    projects such as the Tunis Financial

    Harbour and Enfidha Industrial Park

    emphasised Tunisias key strengths: a

    tradition of openness to foreign exchange

    that dates back to Carthage; a deeply

    entrenched entrepreneurial culture; a

    highly-skilled local workforce, a business-

    friendly rule of law; a steady, crisis-free

    economic growth; geographic proximity

    to Europe, Africa, and the Middle-East

    and the longstanding history of British

    investment in Tunisia.

    The event was

    a success and I

    s e n s e dg e n u i n e

    interest in our

    country. We

    c e r t a i n l y

    ought to build

    on this with

    this success by

    look i n g a

    possible way

    of improving

    our marketing

    in the UK. For

    example, we should pay attention to thefact that government oversight, however

    benevolent it is, is not a selling point in a

    country like Britain where public

    intervention in the economy is

    traditionally kept to a minimum. A better

    approach would only emphasise those

    aspects of the Tunisian legislation which

    protect property rights, stimulate

    competition and foster market expansion

    Moreover, we must consider including

    presentations from the Tunisian

    community of financiers in London atfuture investment conferences. Indeed

    these individuals are now fully integrated

    in the city and their experience, insight

    and professional contacts can give a huge

    boost to our business relation with the

    UK.

    An overview of the programme

    available on the MEA website:

    http://www.the-mea.co.uk/

    BIRDNESTBIMON

    THLYMay20,

    2008

    Innovaxin International Ltd

    Innovaxin International Limited is a company based in Malta and is fostering a network of business development agents in Malta,

    Libya, Tunisia and Sicily. We strongly belief that the Central Mediterranean Area is full of potential for synergies in various fields

    such as Health, Tourism, Education, Retailing, Real Estate and Technology.

    We are seeking to establish contact with individuals, directors and companies in Tunisia specifically on behalf of our client who

    want to invest, import, export and do business with Tunisian companies.

    Contact us at [email protected]

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    3/83 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    Standing OutIn the footsteps ofMongi Slim & Hedi

    Annabi

    By Slim Menzli (USA)

    Although the concept is totally

    unknown in Tunisia, Model United

    Nations (MUN) would offer an excellenttraining platform for Tunisian

    youth. It is never late to jump

    on the bandwagon though and

    build on the experience of

    pioneering countries. Just like

    flight simulators for pilots in

    training, Model United Nations

    is a series of simulation exercises

    of actual United Nations

    sessions in different committees.

    Be it the General Assembly, the

    Se cur i t y Coun c i l , t h e

    UNESCO, The UNICEF toname just a few, young

    participants must employ a

    variety of communication and

    critical thinking skills in order to

    represent the policies of their different

    countries. These skills include for

    instance background research, public

    speaking, small group communications,

    policy analysis, active listening,

    negotiating, conflict resolution, note

    taking, and technical writing.

    Now what single course would offer

    a student such a cornucopia of skills?

    MUN trains high school and college

    students a good deal of discipline as well.

    Subject to strict and multiple procedural

    rules, the process is confusing at the start

    and participants are challenged to defend

    the interests of their nations in an

    atmosphere of respect while abiding by a

    set of well known procedures and

    motions. This practice of democracy

    through the Double R (Rules & Rhetoric)will train hordes of young people on

    working in an environment of logic (or

    lack thereof), will enable them to grasp

    the necessity of mutual respect even

    when the hierarchy of values is different

    and will pave the way towards a truly

    politics-literate society. Not only can

    those interested in pursuing a career in

    diplomacy find a large set of skills to

    acquire but also those aspiring to be

    leaders in all walks of life from

    prospective teachers to engineers,

    business people, journalists, etc.

    The concept is appealing in Tunisia

    in that it does not require substantial

    resourcesonly a nucleus of individuals

    who can launch a nationwide initiative in

    high schools and colleges. Such initiative

    would be ideally implemented in the

    form of local clubs in high schools and

    universities with students administering

    procedures form A to Z and meeting

    preferably on a weekly basis. Obviously

    there will be a strong need for

    supervisors, people with a solid

    background in International Relations,

    International Law, Political Sciences and

    Communication. Since the experience

    will be brand new, the Ministry ofExternal Affairs as well as the

    departments of international relations

    can team up to fund travel/

    accommodation expenses for selected

    teams to compete abroad in order to gain

    sharper skills and to train more people in

    their turn. Over 90,000 students take

    part in Model United Nations

    Conferences in the USA and more than

    400 MUN conferences are scheduled

    worldwide all year long.

    As the UN SG is a rotating positionbetween continents, Africa has to wait for

    a few more decades after having been

    represented by both Boutros Boutros

    Ghali and Kofi Anan. Plenty of time to

    harness this Model United Nations tool

    and train a generation or two of young

    aspiring and talented Tunisians out of

    which someone with the required traits,

    experience, a bit of luck and a lot of

    support from here and there can

    hopefully emerge and shake that house

    of glass again. What better way to raise

    the profile of the land of Hannibal (a

    second-to-none war general but also a

    savvy diplomat himself)? What better way

    to help bolster foreign investments in the

    land of Kairouan, an environment o

    peace and trust and an oasis o

    moderation and openness. Clearly

    diplomacy is more than just selecting the

    color of ones necktie in the morning.

    A Tunisian U

    Secretary General

    armed with at least three

    (Arabic, English and

    French) out of the six

    UN official languages

    (the three others being

    Spanish, Mandarin and

    Russian) will definitely

    be in a well-placed

    position when pushing

    negotiations on the WesSahara issue between

    Algeria and Moroc

    and even the thorny

    Middle Eastern peace

    process. Did Tunisia not host the

    Palestinian authority back in 1982 after

    Yasser Arafat was ousted from Beirut on

    the aftermath of the Israeli invasion o

    Lebanon while being at the same time

    home to several thousands of Tunisian

    Jews in the island of Djerba where th

    Synagogue of El-Ghriba is the secondholiest place of worship for Jews righ

    after Jerusalem? This land of co-

    existence has absolutely no conflicts or

    disputes with any other nation and boast

    a decent experience when it comes to

    organizing regional/International events

    Tunisia was home to the Arab league for

    over a decade and hosted the World

    Summit for Information Society in 2005

    under the auspices of the UN.

    Tunisian diplomats, already form a

    pool of fine diplomats to tap into for the

    ultimate UN post. They have beenproving themselves in very conundrum-

    like conflict negotiations in places like

    Cambodia, Haiti and Sudan.

    In the footsteps of Mongi Slim

    Kamel Marjane and Hdi Annabi, no

    person should be non grata and for this

    purpose Model United Nations seem to

    be the right starting pointso that there

    will always be a UN in T-UN-ISIA!

    BIRDNESTBIMONTHLYMay20,

    2008

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    4/84 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    Hello my name is Melanie and I am a British lady married

    to a Tunisian. I lived in Tunisia, on my own,with 5 of my 6children, for 2 years, between 2005 - 2007, whilst my husband

    remained in the UK, trying to sell our house. Having initiallybeen very enthusiastic about contributing an article to BirdNest, I had found that until yesterday, my mind had gone

    totally blank about what I wished to say! This is unusual for mebecause for the past 3 years I have been creating pieces for my

    website about expat life in Tunisia, which I began whilst living

    there, in the hope that there may be some fellow British

    expatswho would contact me, as surely I couldn't be the onlyBritish person out there....could I?! Discovering that a Tunisiancitizen had written into the guestbook

    on my website, urging us Brits not to

    be so stupid as to move to such a poor,

    third world and backward country

    such as Tunisia, unsurprisingly, gave

    me the 'food for thought' that I had

    been looking for!For years, I had watched avidly

    the programmes on the television

    about buying a place in the sun, how

    children who had previously not even

    heardof the country that their parentshad moved them to, suddenly became

    fluent in a foreign language in the

    space of a couple of months,

    communicating easily with their peers,

    as well as nearly all of the expatsdeclaring quite emphatically that

    "Britain was a place that they would

    never move back to...ever!"Would lifebe as easy for me? How would I copewith helping my children with their

    Arabic homework? How and wherewould I pay my bills and could I even

    read whatit said on them? Could Ireally stand in a corner shop and ask

    the shopkeeper for things that I needed, speaking no Tunisian

    and only a few words of schoolgirl French?To cut a long story short...I did it!And I am proud to say,

    I did it well!Why? Because Tunisia is not the poor, third worldand backward country, described by one of its citizens,

    believing that the 'grass is greener on the other side!' Sure, Imissed my family back home in the UK, my marmite, my

    porridge every morning, Red Leicester cheese, shopping in

    Tesco's, British fashions, understanding and being involved in

    my children's school life and a host of other things which I had

    always taken for granted! But I coped, because Tunisia, is apeaceful, friendly, hospitable and extremely well-educated

    country, which is going places and getting there fast! There wasnot even one place, amongst even the tiniest towns, where there

    would not be at least one person, who would pop up out of the

    woodwork and communicate to me in English, when my

    French or Tunisian words failed me! Could a Tunisiantravelling to Europe expect to find somebody speaking their

    language at the drop of a hat?My children attended a Tunisian school. I read and paid

    my bills where and when I needed to, doing this many times,

    on the fast and trouble-free broadband internet access. Ishopped in both the corner shops and the large supermarkets

    and travelled the length and breadth

    of the country on the cheap and

    reliable trains and louages, writing

    articles for my website and locating

    properties for sale and to rent on the

    second website thatI created. Britainis wonderful; I appreciate it much

    more now, but it is not the land of

    milk and honey, nor are its streets

    'paved with gold!' Most importantly,Tunisia has a much better'quality oflife,' and that is not just because it

    receives300 days more sun each year!The Tunisiancitizen received quite afewastonished replies! One of thebest stated that, the social fabric of the

    West is on the verge of collapse,having major problems with crime,

    mainly due to alcohol and drug abuse,

    but also organised crime, identity theft

    and fraud at the highest level. Many

    people seem to basetheir points onwage levels, but what about the quality

    of life? What isthe point of earningbig wages if you're scared to go out of

    your house after dark? You could sitinside your house and admire your material wealth, making

    sure that your kids have the latest mobile phones, but then

    despair that thereare security guards at every school gate, justin case there are nasty people about!

    Count on your fingers, the number of Tunisians who stay

    in Europe after working for a few years! Only when they cometo the conclusion that the grass is 'not greener' on the other

    side, do they begin to plan in earnest, their return to the 'real

    land of milk and honey!'

    http://www.nomarmiteintunisia.co.ukhttp://www.thetunisianhouse.co.uk

    ExpatVoicesThe grass is always greener.

    By Melanie Benna, UK/Tunisia

    BIRDNESTBIMONTHLYMay20,

    2008

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    5/85 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    Photo Quiz

    Thanks to all those who took part in our first photo quiz.

    An overwhelming majority thought the picture was that of

    Tunisian poet Abul-Qacem Shebby. The correct answer is:

    Ahmed Bey II, who ruled Tunisia from 1929 until his death

    in 1942. Sorry, there are no winners this time!

    The Ahmeds of Tunisia were skilled diplomats. Soon

    after Ahmed I took power (1837) he wrote a lengthy letter to

    Queen Victoria in which he expressed his profound admirationof her rule and desire to learn from the British way of

    organising domestic politics. Ahmed II exercised similar

    tactfulness and address at home. Even though he did not speak

    a word of French, his reign was characterised by a strategy of

    rapprochement with the protectorate which was designed to

    avoid upfront confrontation (whether this was a correct or a

    bad approach must of course be left to our individual

    judgement). Moncef Bey who took over him was less of an

    appeaser and distinguished himself with the outspoken

    commitment to end French interference in Tunisian affairs.

    Moncef s efforts accelerated our independence.

    And now an easier quiz! Can you guess who the man

    paying a courtesy visit to President Bourguiba is, when and

    where the picture was taken?

    AcademiaPioneers and missedopportunities

    By Tarek Cheniti (UK)

    You might know this already but

    until the late 1980s there used to be a

    high school in Tunisia which offered

    education in English: The EnglishPioneer School of Ariana. The

    superb scheme went on for several

    years until it was put off in 1989 for a

    reason which I personally ignore to

    date. I started my secondary education

    in that school in an atmosphere of

    restructuring and utter confusion, just

    a year after English was suppressed. In

    my early years, end-of-term transcripts

    were still drafted in English- a

    language which was also used to label

    offices, classrooms, laboratories and

    library shelves. But teachers wereasked to address us exclusively in

    French, a language they often

    struggled with having been trained on

    thinking about their subjects and

    teaching them in Shakespeares tongue.

    Former pupils of the school are now

    to be found in leading positions across

    the English-speaking world. Among them

    there are prominent businessmen,

    engineers, social scientists, academics,

    and artists. The only tie they still have

    with the school, and with the country

    more generally, is an alumni society

    called the PS3A (i.e. the Pioneer School

    of Ariana Alumni Association). Despite

    its noteworthy efforts to organise social

    and networking events in Tunisia, the

    PS3A has not been able to fulfil what I

    consider to be the most fundamental

    objectives of an alumni society: to

    support the school as a place of

    excellence and achievement; to raise

    funds in order to improve the facilities on

    offer at the school; to lobby for an

    English-based tuition in Tunisian schools;

    to implement mentoring schemesbetween present and former pupils; and

    to support those expatriate members who

    wish to start a venture in Tunisia.

    If you are a NEST member and/or

    were educated in Ariana, PS3A needs

    you! It is a society that must exist and

    thrive, because it is only through the

    voluntary cooperation of its member

    and their friends that your talent can be

    put at the service of the country.

    Let us hear from you and know how

    you can help by visiting http:

    www.ps3a.org/

    BIRDNESTBIMON

    THLYMay20,

    2008

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  • 8/14/2019 Bird Nest 2

    6/86 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    Before any of you start googling Palunis, save it, it doesn't

    exist! It did for me however, for 10 years in fact. Palunis was

    the heaven I grew up in for the most beautiful 10 years of my

    life!

    To put you out of your misery, Palunis was Palestine in

    Tunis from 1982 following the Israeli invasion of Beirut when7000 Palestinians along with the (PLO), the Palestinian

    Liberation Organisation fled to the seaside city of Tunis, and

    until 1993 after the Oslo agreement when Tunisia witnessed

    the departure of most of its Palestinian residents back to what

    then became the state of Palestine comprising of the West

    Bank and the Gaza Strip with Ramallah as its capital.

    This however is not intended to be a history lesson of

    Palestinian politics, but merely a small journey into the life of a

    Palestinian child who grew up believing that although Palestine

    was homeland, Tunisia was home. And as I'm sure you know,

    your childhood home always etches a very deep and special

    place in your heart, that no matter how far away you go and

    how many years you disappear from it, inside your heart, it will

    always home.

    That special home for me will always be Tunis where my

    first memories came to life. Not vital episodes from my life

    mind you, as my memories seem to revolve around those little

    incidents that most just skip over and forget. Memories like

    how my first impression of Tunisia quickly changed from beingscared and very unhappy with the new alien environment, to

    how I quickly grew to love my new home aided by the various

    incidents where I came across such amazing warmth and

    kindness from Tunisians whom to me still spoke a foreign

    language for at least the first year!

    In that respect, my family was luckier than most

    Palestinian families who never really interacted with Tunisians

    in all their year in Tunis. Instead of shying away and living our

    Palestinian life, my parents decided to knock on our

    neighbours homes with some Palestinian delicacies, and soon

    enough recipes were being exchanged, the dads enjoyed a few

    beers, and us kids were kicking a few balls and riding bikes. I

    fact, I still remember going out with my father to have som

    wooden sofas made, and ended up enjoying our first couscou

    experience at his house that same night. More than twent

    years later both our families are still best of friends!

    It is rather bizarre to think of someone living in a necountry yet never interacting with the local population, y

    unfortunately thats what most Palestinians did, and even mor

    unfortunately that some of those who did interact, did it badl

    and decided to kick a few jaws and elbows rather than balls i

    fights over football pitches or the like. Im still not entirely sur

    why, but looking back in history Palestinians have unfortunate

    alienated themselves more often than they should have don

    which is why memories of Jordan and Lebanon are not entire

    pleasant ones, not that I intent to blame this entirely o

    Palestinians but it is best to admit this than go on blaming th

    others.

    In Tunis however, the reaction was entirely differen

    Instead of growing to hate those newcomers, Tunisian

    embraced them with open arms. I still remember the man

    conversations that were sparked merely by my accent where th

    taxi driver or the shop keeper would say with a big smil

    Palestinian?, and from that I would end up listening to how

    much Tunisians loved us and how they supported our cause t

    such an extent where the person himself or close relative ha

    actually personally been involved in the Palestinian struggle.

    Fifteen years on, and nearly 3000 miles away, I still fin

    myself yearning for those good old days of walks up to th

    coffee shop high up on the most beautiful white and blue tow

    of Sidi bou Saeed, or watching an amazing show at the annu

    Carthage festival, or even just for a simple pleasure of bein

    home. Yet I still have one unanswered question; how di

    Tunisians ever put up with thousands of us fiery hot heade

    Palestinians? Well whatever the answer is, I guess now its tim

    to say thank you for the beautiful home of Paluni

    ExpatVoicesLiving in Palunis!

    By Lina Tiblisi Shiblak, UAE

    BIRDNESTBIMON

    THLYMay20,

    2008

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  • 8/14/2019 Bird Nest 2

    7/87 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    1)Tunisia mountian oasis (enhanced)http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrejstojs/1492321929/

    2) Untitled http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_dell/2383066760/

    Whether we live in Tunisia or abroad, I am sure that we all

    feel that the weather is dramatically changing. Planet Earth isgetting warmer and that is a scientifically proven fact. One of

    the major reasons for this are the Green House Gases (GHG)

    like methane and CO2 emitted by human activities (mainly

    industrial ones).

    Fortunately, there are some efforts to cut these emissions

    down, and a protocol was signed in Kyoto in 1997 by almost all

    the member countries members of the UN (except the USA) to

    stabilize GHG emissions.

    As you can expect, there are lots of boring details about

    this protocol, I will spare you the pain of analyzing each one of

    them, but will tell you about the most interesting part:

    From now on, there is a ceiling for GHG emissions for the

    developed countries who ratified the protocol. If they

    demonstrate a need to exceed this ceiling, they have to buy

    carbon emissions allowances, also called Certified Emission

    Reductions from developing countries. Developing countries

    have one certificate issued for each ton of CO2 (or equivalent

    for the other GHGs) they cut off.

    This created a new market for trading CERs, with

    considerable influx of money streaming from the rich countries

    to poorer ones, along with preserving the environment and

    improving the living conditions of people who love nearpolluting plants and factories. All very well!

    Tunisia hosts two CDM projects (mainly capturing

    methane from landfills and turning it into natural gas), but the

    potential is really bigger: Tunisia is ranked fourth in Africa in

    the CDM investment climate index, it is economically stable

    has good relations with most of the countries in the world

    especially in the West-, has a large desert (with enormous solar

    potential), not to mention the Algerian gas pipeline (with

    potential fuel switching to natural gas) and a well-developed ga

    distribution network.

    Making a greater effort to promote Clean DevelopmenMechanisms in Tunisia can only bring us benefits: reducing

    pollution, creating jobs, appealing wealth and foreign currency

    and promoting renewable energies (which will help us achieve

    self-sufficiency in energy).

    I am pretty much optimistic about the future of CDM in

    Tunisia, and I would urge our government to promote western

    investment in this field, rather than purchase nuclear power

    plants

    The Green Bit

    CDM: The way forwardBy Amin Zayani, Egypt

    BIRDNESTBIMON

    THLYMay20,

    2008

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  • 8/14/2019 Bird Nest 2

    8/88 Issue 2, May 20th, 2008 cauldron-tn.blogspot.com

    ADS

    TUNISIAN ANGLOPHONE SOCIETIES ELSEWHERE

    The IBN KHALDUN Foundation was founded in early 2008 by Tunisians and Japanese living in Japan who have a goodunderstanding of both countries culture. It is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious organization committed to strengthening

    and promoting cooperation and fellowship between Tunisia and Japan.

    The objectives of the Ibn Khaldun Foundation are:

    To strengthen friendship ties, bilateral cooperation (scientific, economic, cultural) and fruitful partnership between Tunisia and

    Japan;

    To provide assistance and support to Tunisians in Japan, and build up their mutual solidarity;

    To provide assistance and support to Japanese interested in cultural, academic and economic exchanges with Tunisia

    To promote the Tunisian identity and values of peace, tolerance and hospitality to the Japanese society;

    The originality of the Ibn Khaldun Foundation hosts three main departments: (1) Science and Technology, (2) Business and

    Investment Department and (3) Society and Culture.

    Contact us:

    Aymen Charef ([email protected])

    The main objective of the BTS is to foster good relationships between UK and Tunisia throughcultural and business activities. It aims to acts as a hub; to foster in a very informal way;

    The BTS is currently focusing on three strategic themes.1- Building relationship with the Tunisians Professionals in London and British Professionals2- Educational Cooperation between Tunisia and the UK3- Improvement of Business Trade between Tunisia and the UK

    Contact us: Noomane Fehri ([email protected])

    The London MagNet Society (LMS) is a private society that aimsto promote the Maghreb, its cultural heritage and its image inthe UK whilst facilitating professional networking amongst its Members.

    London MagNet Society or LMS stands for London Maghreb Network Society. It acts as a professional platform for enhancingand promoting Maghrebs culture, image and heritage while serving as a vehicle for charitable work linked to good causeschosen by its Membership.Participation inLMS Projects is open to non-members who have a genuine interest in promoting the Maghreb. We welcomepartnerships with Charitable Organisations in particular, which are actively involved in the Maghreb region.Contact us: Aous Labbane, [email protected]://www.londonmagnetsociety.co.uk/

    http://cauldron-tn.blogspot.com/http://www.londonmagnetsociety.co.uk/http://www.londonmagnetsociety.co.uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://cauldron-tn.blogspot.com/