The United States is a horrible, unpeaceful place. That's why no one tries to come here.
--- In [email protected], "claudiouk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/6704767.stm > > Norway rated most peaceful nation > > A study has ranked Norway as the most peaceful country and Iraq as > the least in a survey of 121 countries. > The Global Peace Index, compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, > looked at 24 factors to determine how peaceful each country was. > > It places the US at 96th on the list and the UK at 49th, while New > Zealand ranks second and Japan fifth. > > The authors say it is the first attempt to produce such a wide- > ranging league table of how peaceful countries are. > > Factors examined by the authors include levels of violence and > organised crime within the country and military expenditure. > > The survey has been backed by the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond > Tutu, former US President Jimmy Carter and US economist Joseph > Stiglitz, who are all Nobel prize laureates. > > It is also supported by Queen Noor of Jordan. > > 'Wake-up call' > > Scandinavian and other European countries generally performed well in > the survey. > > > TOP FIVE COUNTRIES > 1 Norway > 2 New Zealand > 3 Denmark > 4 Ireland > 5 Japan > > But Britain's ranking comes partly from its involvement in Iraq and > other conflicts. > > The United States is 96th - between Yemen and Iran - again because of > such things as its military spending, its involvement in Iraq, > violent crime at home, and a high prison population. > > The survey also places Russia and Israel at the wrong end of the > scale - 118th and 119th respectively. > > The brainchild of Steve Killelea, an Australian entrepreneur, the > survey is meant to inform governments, international organisations, > and campaign groups. > > Mr Killelea said: "This is a wake-up call for leaders around the > globe. Countries need to become more peaceful to solve the major > challenges that the world faces - from climate change to decreasing > biodiversity. > > > BOTTOM FIVE COUNTRIES > 117 Nigeria > 118 Russia > 119 Israel > 120 Sudan > 121 Iraq > > "There is also a strong case for the world becoming more peaceful and > it is now crucial for world leaders and business to take a lead," he > said. > > He added that the high positions of Germany, which ranked 12th, and > Japan revealed that "there can be light at the end of what may seem > at the moment like a very dark tunnel." > > The study is published just before the G8 summit of leading countries > next week. > > The authors say they are trying to supplant what they call > some "woolly" definitions of peace with a scientific approach, that > includes levels of violent crime, political instability, and a > country's relations with its neighbours. > > But questions have been raised over the way some of these factors are > brought together. > > The authors themselves acknowledge that there is a lack of data in > many countries. > > What impact the new survey will have is unclear. The authors also > argue that some countries - like Japan - may benefit from sheltering > under the US military umbrella. > > > > Story from BBC NEWS: > http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/6704767.stm > > Published: 2007/05/30 15:01:50 GMT > > © BBC MMVII >
