Norway rated world's most peaceful country
Quote:
Norway rated world's most peaceful country
Duncan Campbell
Wednesday May 30, 2007
Scandinavian countries are the most peaceful in the world and, perhaps not surprisingly, Iraq the most dangerous and violent, according to a new international league table published today. The UK is listed only 49th of the 121 countries surveyed, with the US at 96.
The Global Peace Index uses 24 different factors to assess a country's level of violence and danger. Apart from internal and external wars, it takes into consideration street violence, prison population and levels of organised crime. National spending on the military and numbers of police per capita also form part of the equation.
Norway comes top of the table with its near neighbours Denmark, Sweden and Finland all listed in the top seven. New Zealand is second and Ireland fourth, one place above Japan.
Just above Iraq at the bottom of the table are other troubled nations, such as Sudan. Israel is also listed in the bottom three of the index in light of the ongoing Middle East crisis and high levels of military spending. Lebanon is at 114, Pakistan 115 and Colombia 116.
The UK's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accounts mainly for the country's lowly standing among European nations. Washington's greater involvement in Iraq, vast military spending and widespread gun crime means that the US barely makes it into the top 100, one place above Iran.
Russia, currently embroiled in the Chechnyan conflict, is placed at 118.
The Economist Intelligence Unit compiled the index on behalf of the Australian IT entrepreneur and philanthropist, Steve Killelea, who said he hoped it would encourage nations to address the issue of peace. It has the support of the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the former US president Jimmy Carter.
The survey found that "small, stable countries which are part of regional blocs, such as the European Union, are most likely to get a higher ranking". The main determinants of internal peace were income, extent of schooling and the level of regional integration.
"This is a wake-up call for leaders around the globe," said Mr Killelea. "Countries need to become more peaceful to solve the major challenges that the world faces - from climate change to decreasing bio-diversity."
The Dalai Lama said that he hoped the index would encourage countries to strive for peace. "Compiling and maintaining an index of which countries are the most peaceful and publishing the results will undoubtedly make the factors and qualities that contribute to that status better known and will encourage people to foster them in their own countries," he said.
Paul Rogers, professor of peace studies at Bradford University, said that such surveys could be useful. "The key thing is to treat it as a trial run," he said. He hoped the team compiling the list would take on board suggestions from other analysts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...091513,00.html
Ranking http://www.visionofhumanity.com/rankings/
Quote:
Norway rated world's most peaceful country
Duncan Campbell
Wednesday May 30, 2007
Scandinavian countries are the most peaceful in the world and, perhaps not surprisingly, Iraq the most dangerous and violent, according to a new international league table published today. The UK is listed only 49th of the 121 countries surveyed, with the US at 96.
The Global Peace Index uses 24 different factors to assess a country's level of violence and danger. Apart from internal and external wars, it takes into consideration street violence, prison population and levels of organised crime. National spending on the military and numbers of police per capita also form part of the equation.
Norway comes top of the table with its near neighbours Denmark, Sweden and Finland all listed in the top seven. New Zealand is second and Ireland fourth, one place above Japan.
Just above Iraq at the bottom of the table are other troubled nations, such as Sudan. Israel is also listed in the bottom three of the index in light of the ongoing Middle East crisis and high levels of military spending. Lebanon is at 114, Pakistan 115 and Colombia 116.
The UK's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accounts mainly for the country's lowly standing among European nations. Washington's greater involvement in Iraq, vast military spending and widespread gun crime means that the US barely makes it into the top 100, one place above Iran.
Russia, currently embroiled in the Chechnyan conflict, is placed at 118.
The Economist Intelligence Unit compiled the index on behalf of the Australian IT entrepreneur and philanthropist, Steve Killelea, who said he hoped it would encourage nations to address the issue of peace. It has the support of the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the former US president Jimmy Carter.
The survey found that "small, stable countries which are part of regional blocs, such as the European Union, are most likely to get a higher ranking". The main determinants of internal peace were income, extent of schooling and the level of regional integration.
"This is a wake-up call for leaders around the globe," said Mr Killelea. "Countries need to become more peaceful to solve the major challenges that the world faces - from climate change to decreasing bio-diversity."
The Dalai Lama said that he hoped the index would encourage countries to strive for peace. "Compiling and maintaining an index of which countries are the most peaceful and publishing the results will undoubtedly make the factors and qualities that contribute to that status better known and will encourage people to foster them in their own countries," he said.
Paul Rogers, professor of peace studies at Bradford University, said that such surveys could be useful. "The key thing is to treat it as a trial run," he said. He hoped the team compiling the list would take on board suggestions from other analysts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/internatio...091513,00.html
Ranking http://www.visionofhumanity.com/rankings/
