One year I blogged about the Global Peace Index and since then I have received an update each year on the work of the organization called the Institute for Economics and Peace. http://www.visionofhumanity.org/ Apparently they know where I live! While the GPI will be launched on June 12th we get a "sneak preview." In the email I received this week they offer this description:
As you may recall, the GPI is the world’s leading measure of national peacefulness. Now in its 6th year, it ranks 158 nations according to their ‘absence of violence’. The GPI is developed by IEP under the guidance of an international panel of independent experts with data partly collated and calculated by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Index comprises both qualitative and quantitative factors on 23 separate indicators. These indicators range from a nation’s level of military expenditure to its political terror scale and the level of violent crime.
On a macro level, this year’s GPI will be particularly interesting as the Arab Spring continues to dominate the MENA region. What will the GPI tell us about the prospects for long-term peace and stability for the region? Has the European crisis been more detrimental to Greece, Italy or
Spain’s ranking? Has the threat of global terrorism increased, as it did last year, or has it been abridged?
This is interesting information and we can be grateful that Canada is number eight in the rankings, with Finland being numero uno. By comparision the United Kingdom comes in at 26 and the United States at 82. Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia are at the bottom of the list. No surprises there.
Every year I ask what our favouable ranking means for me as a follower of Christ, the Prince of Peace. What responsiblity do I have as a peacemaker living in this land of privilege and promise? Can I repeat the words of Jesus, "blessed are the peacemakers" without actively working toward that shalom, wholeness for the planet?
Take a look and share your thoughts.
2 comments:
I honestly thought we'd be higher, and I'm not surprised that Scandinavian countries rank so well. In terms of state spending, they really have their priorities in order (maternal health, child care options, education, etc.)
Cool.
I have to think that one of the reasons we are as low as eighth is because we are still at war in Afghanistan, albeit in a reduced role. The nations up the list aren't involved in conflicts.
Thanks Ian.
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