Ian_Lee Posted June 4, 2007 at 08:57 PM Report Posted June 4, 2007 at 08:57 PM The Economist just compiled data from 121 countries/regions and released a report on May 30 which ranked the peacefulness of these 121 entities based on wide range of indicators - 24 in all - including ease of access to "weapons of minor destruction" (guns, small explosives), military expenditure, local corruption, and the level of respect for human rights: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-30-2007/0004598231&EDATE= The ranking is quite surprising: 1. Norway 5. Japan 23. Hong Kong 29. Singapore 36. Taiwan 49. UK 60. China 96. US 109. India 118. Russia 119. Israel 120. Sudan 121. Iraq So it seems that Beijing's allegation of rise of militarism in Japan is absolutely without ground. And even though China may score low in all the 4 important criteria, it is considered quite peaceful -- at least more peaceful than its counterparts -- US, India and Russia! US is understandably viewed as less peaceful owing to its involvement in Iraq and proliferation of guns within its border. But how come UK is ranked so low as compared with other European countries? Quote
bhchao Posted June 4, 2007 at 10:05 PM Report Posted June 4, 2007 at 10:05 PM I was thinking of posting this too. Surprising that China is substantially higher than US in the index. Here is a more detailed report on each country on the list. If you click on the country name, it will pull all the rankings for that country in a certain area; like level of violent crime, political instability, potential for terrorist acts, etc: http://www.visionofhumanity.com/rankings/ I would agree that acts of terrorism are far less likely to occur in China than it would in the US. The Four Dragons are very close to each other in the index: Hong Kong, 23; Singapore, 29; South Korea, 32; and Taiwan, 36. Violent crime in Japan is very low, partly because guns are banned in Japan. No one is allowed to carry them except for the police. And the number of deaths from handguns in China is far lower than in the US. If I could retire anywhere in the world, it would be New Zealand. But how come UK is ranked so low as compared with other European countries? UK seems like a hotbed for "underground" terrorist activities. It's easy for people to blend in there, act as innocent civilians, and then all of a sudden commit such activities. Also there are many Muslim extremists who live there who openly voice their support for these activities. Quote
Ian_Lee Posted June 4, 2007 at 11:37 PM Author Report Posted June 4, 2007 at 11:37 PM Actually there is another Asian country that ranks high -- lower than Japan but higher than the 4 Dragons. That is Bhutan (rank 19). Their king doesn't measure the success of his country by GDP but by GNH (Gross National Happiness). And surprisingly Israel almost ranks at the bottom of the ladder. But it fulfils at least some of the requirements (democracy, transparency of government and observation of human rights [at least to its citizens]). Quote
aeon Posted June 5, 2007 at 05:17 AM Report Posted June 5, 2007 at 05:17 AM Nice to see my newly adopted home coming in at number 2. Quite confirms the decision to leave the UK. Quote
ipsi() Posted June 9, 2007 at 01:05 AM Report Posted June 9, 2007 at 01:05 AM Wee. New Zealand! I'd rather live in China than the US, I think. China may be less free, but it seems safer, overall, than America. Quote
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