New Zealand - peace capital of the world
03 Jun 2009
Looking for a peaceful life? Then New Zealand is the place to be - and that’s official.
New Zealand has just been ranked the most peaceful country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
The study looked at the impact the economic downturn has had in making the world more violent and unstable in the last year.
Out of 144 countries surveyed, New Zealand topped the table as the most peaceful country. Iraq was ranked the least peaceful.
Reasons for rise
New Zealand’s rise was partly due to increased political stability after the election of the new coalition government with a strong parliamentary majority in November 2008.
Trade agreements with Australia, the country’s low homicide rate and defence spending also increased New Zealand’s rating, the report said.
Denmark and Norway followed in second and third place, with former leader Iceland dropping to fourth place after violent protests over its economic meltdown.
Study indicators
The survey ranked countries on 23 indicators including political stability, warfare, human rights, murder rates, military spending, international relations and the risk of terrorism.
All the main Scandinavian countries were placed in the top ten with Austria in fifth place, Japan seventh and Canada eighth.
The authors of the study, now in its third year, said "small, stable and democratic countries", consistently ranked highest.
Erosion of peace
The impact of high food and fuel prices in early 2008 and the deepening recession later in the year had eroded peace, according to the Global Peace Index.
Economic weakening had increased political instability, demonstrations and crime in some countries, according to the study.
"Rapidly rising unemployment, pay freezes and falls in the value of house prices, savings and pensions is causing popular resentment in many countries, with political repercussions," the report says.
"There is a very, very strong correlation between peace and wealth," said Steve Killelea, founder of the Global Peace Index. "Peace is a leading indicator on economic prosperity."
World March for Peace
- October 2009
New Zealand’s reputation for peace and the country’s anti-nuclear stance will be further highlighted in October this year when the first 'World March for Peace and Non-violence' begins in Wellington.
The world march will last 90 days and travel through 90 countries over all six continents, and will be celebrated by activities and events involving millions of people along the route.
It is the first world march to circle the globe calling for the end of war and nuclear weapons and the elimination of violence of all kinds - physical, economic, racial, religious, cultural, sexual and psychological.
The march begins in Wellington, New Zealand, on 2 October 2009, and will end in Punta de Vacas, Argentina, on 2 January 2010.
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