Cyprus-Forum.com

[Talisker]

Global peace index and sustainability

Peace and sustainability are the cornerstones of humanity’s survival in the 21st century. The major challenges facing humanity today are global – climate change, accessible fresh water, ever decreasing bio-diversity and over population. Problems that call for global solutions and these solutions will require co-operation on a global scale unparalleled in history. Peace is the essential prerequisite, for, without peace, how can the major nations of the world co-operate to solve these issues?

The Global Peace Index is a ground-breaking milestone in the study of peace. It is the first time that an Index has been created that ranks the nations of the world by their peacefulness and identified some of the drivers of that peace. 121 countries have been ranked by their ‘absence of violence’, using metrics that combine both internal and external factors. Most people understand the absence of violence as an indicator of peace. This definition also allows for the measuring of peacefulness within, as well as between, nations.

Peace is a powerful concept. However, the notion of peace, and its value in the world economy, is poorly understood. Historically, peace has been seen as something won in war, or else as an altruistic ideal. There are competing definitions of peace, and most research into peace is, in fact, the study of violent conflict.

Vision of Humanity contains the results from the Global Peace Index and other material of interest on peace. It also contains a section on institutions that need help to fund peace-related initiatives. Over time this source will be updated to combine more relevant material that will demonstrate the linkages between peace and sustainability.

From:
http://www.visionofhumanity.com/index.php

Rankings:
http://www.visionofhumanity.com/rankings/

[Sotos]

So if you are invaded and you are trying to protect your country it means you are not peaceful?

[IcyNoAngel]

It seems like that. that ranking is crap.

[Talisker]

So if you are invaded and you are trying to protect your country it means you are not peaceful?

I don't disagree with you on that point. However, the ranking table reflects the perceived current situation for all these countries for their current circumstances. If you have a threatening and aggressive neighbour then the opportunities for peace are limited, and possibly outside your control. Norway is probably no. 1 on the list because it has no naughty neighbours, has no aggressive intentions towards other countries in the world, and internally has low levels of violent crime. Interestingly Cyprus and the UK are ranked almost equally, but they would vary considerably in the contributions of the different considered factors to bring about the score given. Cyprus - internal political and military problem but relatively crime free; UK - aggressive enforcement of national interests on the international arena, but relatively stable internally (although, of course, internal terrorism problems will be considered).

Interesting to note how far down the rankings the USA and Russia (and Turkey) are listed.

[IcyNoAngel]

USA should probably be the last one, as they are constantly at war with someone for the last 60 years.

L.E. sorry, my fault, last 80 years.

[Get Real!]

Japan, ranking 5th on this table, is the world’s biggest manufacturer and exporter of nuclear firepower and ICBM technologies!

Methinks this organization should stick to charities and forget the stat tables...

[IcyNoAngel]

maybe it's a good idea to get a beer also, before starting charities... they need to relax a little

[Talisker]

USA should probably be the last one, as they are constantly at war with someone for the last 60 years.

L.E. sorry, my fault, last 80 years.

Yes, but I'll bet they're relieved to be one place above Iran! And Israel is only third bottom of the list, just above Sudan and Iraq. I notice Afghanistan isn't mentioned.

It's interesting to consider how countries change. 70 years ago neither Japan not Germany would have featured in the top 15. So, historically aggressive, war-like nations can become amongst the world's most 'peaceful' nations (admittedly in both these cases a harsh lesson had to be administered so they recognised the error of their ways!).

[Talisker]

Japan, ranking 5th on this table, is the world’s biggest manufacturer and exporter of nuclear firepower and ICBM technologies!

Methinks this organization should stick to charities and forget the stat tables...

I didn't know that about Japan! Are they really permitted to make nuclear weapons? Maybe if you only manufacture and sell, but don't use, then you're classed as peaceable. Bizarre.......

[Get Real!]

Japan, ranking 5th on this table, is the world’s biggest manufacturer and exporter of nuclear firepower and ICBM technologies!

Methinks this organization should stick to charities and forget the stat tables...

I didn't know that about Japan! Are they really permitted to make nuclear weapons? Maybe if you only manufacture and sell, but don't use, then you're classed as peaceable. Bizarre.......

Talisker, Japan has the most advanced mass producing nuclear weapons grade nuclear materials plants in the world and happily supplies the United States with all its needs, while all the time pretending to be “peaceful” and what have you.