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Showing posts with label country. Show all posts
Showing posts with label country. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Collapse and Cheating !!!

A University professor  wrote an expressive message to his students at the doctorate, masters and bachelors levels and placed it at the entrance in a university in South Africa.
And this is the message;



*"Collapsing any nation does not require use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles.*
*It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examinations by the students".*
The patient dies in the hands of the doctor who passed his exams through *cheating.*
And the buildings collapse in the hands of an engineer who passed his exams through *cheating.*
And the money is lost in the hands of an accountant who passed his exams through *cheating.*
And humanity dies in the hands of a religious scholar who passed his exams through *cheating.*
And justice is lost in the hands of a judge who passed his exams through *cheating.*
And ignorance is rampant in the minds of children who are under the care of a teacher who passed exams through *cheating.*
*"The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation"*

Friday, December 13, 2013

Friendliest Country in the World


The friendliest countries in the world toward foreign visitors are Iceland, New Zealand, and Morocco. 

From the World Economic Forum's (WEF) "Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013," we now have the raw data, assembled into convenient map format by Max Fischer of the Washington Post. Red countries are the least welcoming towards foreigners, while blue countries are the most friendly. Strewn throughout the data are some interesting surprises. 

The WEF assembled the raw data through extensive surveys in late 2011 to late 2012 with the question "How welcome are foreign visitors in your country?" The hopes are that the results help analysts "measure the extent to which a country and society are open to tourism and foreign visitors." 

The U.S., which as the Washington Post noted is supposedly the land of "give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," came in at 102nd place, "well below much of the Middle East." 



The friendliest countries are Iceland, New Zealand and Morocco. There's little correlation between the remaining high scorers, ranging from formerly conflict-ridden countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina (8) and our Sri Lanka (25), oil-rich nations with heavy foreign investment like the United Arab Emirates (15), tourist havens like Barbados (11) and Thailand (13), and many African nations — Morocco (3), Burkina Faso (10), Mali (14), Rwanda (21), and Mauritius (28). 

Least welcoming countries were Bolivia, Venezuela, and somewhat unsurprisingly, Russia. Other unfriendly places included China, Bulgaria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Romania. South Korea came in very low-ranked as well, at 129. 

One wonders how its cousins to the north feel. The catch? Don't let the map make you think the world is brimming with pitchforks. For one, the results of the survey were ranked on a scale of 1 (very unwelcome) to 7 (very welcome), with the top 138 countries all ranking at 5 or higher, with the top 125 scoring 5.7 or higher. 
Just Venezuela and Bolivia, coming in at 4.5 and 4.1 respectively, ranked lower than 5 on the scale. And depending on where you travel within a country, people are likely to be more or less welcoming depending on whether you're in an urban or rural area, the local economic conditions, and how stable the political environment is. 

Moreover, whether or not a visitor is generally welcome in a country probably depends as much on their nationality and the specific nation in question as much as the population's general attitude towards outsiders. Americans and Israelis, for example, might find themselves significantly more unwelcome in areas with a history of strained relations. 

via: policymic.com/ 

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The 10 safest countries in the world to visit



Do nightmares of instability or violent political upheaval keep you awake at night?
Do you shudder at the thought of having your wallet brutally taken from you in a seemingly quiet train station?
Do you yearn to travel, but fret over the possibility of a military invasion by a hostile neighbour, or a horrific terrorist attack running your well-laid plans?

Well fear not, worrywarts. Jittery travellers can use good old fashioned statistical analysis to determine the likelihood of such unpleasant occurrences taking place while abroad. Uneasy travellers can mitigate risk by consulting the Global Peace Index prior to choosing their next destination and select a country that can arguably be called one of the 10 safest places on Earth to visit.

Here are 2010's 10 safest countries to visit, displayed in order from safe to safest:

Slovenia

A surprise entry rounding out the top 10, this former Yugoslav republic has transitioned well into the world following the fall of Communism and the Yugoslav Civil War. Wedged between Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary, this tiny mountainous nation has experienced a history of dominance by foreign empires. Picturesque alpine villages and great skiing make this nation a hidden gem of European tourism, while boasting low levels of violent crime and being little risk from terrorist attacks.
Finland

The first Nordic nation on the list, Finland is considered one of the most stable countries in the world based on economic, political, social and military indicators. Much like neighbouring Sweden, the landscapes are pristine and forested and Finland's cities are modern and progressive. Here you can experience the nation's rich folk culture in a land where day lasts all night in the summer months. Finland actually boasts a slightly higher homicide rate per 100,000 people when compared with several other nations on this list; however a strong respect for civil liberties, the democratic process and human rights make Finland another safe bet for travellers.

Canada

Despite popular conceptions, the "Great White North" is actually an overwhelmingly urban nation with almost 80% of the population residing in cosmopolitan and diverse cities. As a nation of immigrants, the government pursues a policy of multiculturalism where citizens are encouraged to maintain their traditional values and ways of life. Canada scores well for its appreciation of human rights and tolerance. While Canada also scores high for its low levels of violent crime, it loses points for a perceived ease of " access to weapons of minor destruction". Canada is also considered a more probable target for a terrorist attack based on the nation's participation in the war in Afghanistan and strong ties with the United States and Great Britain.
Japan
Painfully polite Japan boasts ancient temples and futuristic, neon cities. A destination that this author would recommend to any traveller, Japan is at once both hectic and serene. A place where modern Western pop culture is adopted by local youth and made entirely unique, while their grandparents adhere to the ways of the past. Japan scores well on the GPI for extremely low levels of violent crime, and has very strict gun-laws in place. Robberies are almost non-existent when compared to figures from other Westernized, industrial nations - although these statistics have been criticized for being unreported by some watchdog groups.


Sweden
Not unlike the Volvos produced in this peace-loving country, Sweden is indeed very safe. Pristine lakes and forests, and trendy, attractive cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg help Sweden score big with tourists. Sweden also scores big across the board in a number of categories including respect for human rights, low levels of violent crime, political participation and civil liberties. As a major exporter of weapons, the Swedes lose major points on the Global Peace Index and thus falls to 6th place overall. It's still safe to conclude that Sweden is about as safe as it gets.


Austria

The hills are alive with the sound of safety. The land of music and Mozart scores highly for its low levels of violent crime and peaceful relations with neighbours. Austria loses points in the GPI as it is considered slightly less tolerant and respectful of human rights in comparison to the European nations at the top of the list. Visit elegant Vienna, Salzburg or chocolate box-perfect Hallstatt to enjoy the beauty of this touristic treasure. While Austria is considered one of the safest places to visit overall; the same can't be said for the death-defying ski runs at Kitzbühel in the Tyrolean Alps.


Iceland

Home of Björk, geothermal power, glaciers and hot spring, Iceland is another Nordic nation that is considered very safe to visit. This tiny volcanic nation in the North Atlantic Ocean was at one time the world's most developed country - according to the UN, and one of the world's wealthiest per capita. Renowned for its first-rate social welfare system, low levels of violent crime and high respect for human rights, Iceland was hit especially hard by the great recession of 2009 and fell in the rankings due to a higher likelihood of political instability in comparison to the other countries listed here.


Norway

Although a historical homeland of warlike Vikings who ravaged Europe 1000 years ago, today's Kingdom of Norway is a wealthy, prosperous and safe nation. Breathtaking mountain fjords and colorfully-painted fishing villages make Norway a beautiful place to visit. Norway embodies the same high respect for human rights and personal freedoms, religious and cultural tolerance and low crime rates as the other Scandinavian nations on this list. While a combatant in the US-led War in Afghanistan, Norway is considered a low risk for a terrorist attack.


Denmark

Another ancestral home of the Vikings, today Denmark is amongst the safest and most peaceful nations on Earth. Denmark is considered a greater threat for terrorist attacks when compared to New Zealand, thanks in part to the infamous Mohammad cartoons published in a Danish newspaper, and the country's role in the Iraq War. But despite the occasional riot in Copenhagen's slums, the nation remains overwhelmingly safe. A great respect for human rights, high levels of gender equality and low levels of homicide and violent crime make Denmark a very safe and exciting destination.


New Zealand

The "Land of the Long White Cloud" boasts rolling green hills, impressive mountains and icy glaciers. New Zealand is home to modern, multicultural cities such as Auckland and Wellington, and its thriving aboriginal Maori community is active in all facets of society. Flying somewhat under the radar of many travellers, little New Zealand is also a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies The nation is considered the world's safest thanks in part to Kiwi society's high respect for human rights and lack of hostility toward foreigners, along with the low risk of political instability and internal conflict.


Defining Safe

The Global Peace Index (GPI) moves beyond simple crime statistics alone, and looks at the actions of a government, the country's relationships with the world at large, and the attitudes and demographics of its population. 144 Nations are scored yearly using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators of peacefulness. The index includes the number of homicides per 100,000 people, the potential for being the target of a terrorist attack, level of hostility to foreigners, educational attainment and unemployment rates and several others indicators. While subjectively measuring the world's "most peaceful" nations, the Global Peace Index takes into account many factors associated with personal well-being and safety. The GPI does not factor in natural disasters or "Acts of God" into the equation however, so these must also be considered when debating overall personal safety as well.
Dealing with Risk

Of course nobody can predict the future, and by definition travel involves some inherent risk. These include both statistically improbable  occurrences like your plane going down in the Andes Mountains, to more likely events like being pick-pocketed on a crowded bus. Travelling to the world's safest nations does not guarantee an incident-free trip however. In travel as in life, there are no guarantees. A greater risk in this author's view is letting fear and doubt prevent you from experiencing the World and living your dreams. So travel without fear or impunity, for in all countries - be they considered safe or dangerous, there are adventures to be had, friends to be made, and great life-changing experiences to take advantage of.


Source - Toronto travel writer Jeremy Niester is forever resigned to roam the Earth in search of the inspiring, hilarious, and delicious slices of life that make us all universally similar, but excitingly different.







Saturday, December 26, 2009

World's Friendliest Countries


The Middle East has long had a reputation for being one of the world's perennial trouble spots. But for expatriates, the tiny Persian Gulf county Bahrain ranks as one of the most welcoming places to work.



That's the surprising result of a new survey of 3,100 expatriates conducted by HSBC Bank ( HBC - news - people ). Bahrain ranked first in one key measure of how easy it is for expatriates to set up a new life for their families. It received high marks from expats who like the country's easy access to modern health care, decent and affordable housing, and network of social groups that expatriates can join.

Canada, which ranked first in a similar survey last year, fell to second place on HSBC's integration score, which measures how easily foreigners and their families can settle into a new country. Australia, Thailand and Malaysia rounded out the top five. Foreign workers in these countries found it easy to make local friends and said they enjoyed a higher quality of life than in their native countries.



HSBC's Expat Explorer survey was conducted between February and April 2009. Survey respondents were from the U.S., Europe and elsewhere and lived in more than two dozen countries and on four continents. They ranked their new homes based on 23 factors, including food, entertainment, health care, commute and education. Of those measures, HSBC selected eight to create its so-called "integration score," a snapshot of which countries are most welcoming to expats.

Click here to see full list.
It is possible that Bahrain's first-place finish is a fluke. Only 31 expats working in Bahrain participated in the survey, vs. more than 450 respondents from the United Kingdom. Bahrain ranked as the best country to join local community groups and coordinate health care. Respondents found it less easy to make local friends and learn the languages (Arabic, Farsi and Urdu), but the country ranked in the top five when it came to finding a home, setting up finances, and finding good schools.


The United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom received some of the poorest scores on the integration scale. Expats in the Emirates reported finding it difficult to join local community groups; only 39% of respondents made local friends compared to 76% of respondents living in other countries. Foreign workers in England complained about the challenges of finding affordable housing.


RankCountryMaking FriendsMaking Local FriendsJoining Community GroupsOrganizing School For My ChildrenOrganizing My FinancesOrganizing My Health CareFinding Somewhere To LiveSetting Up Utilities
1Bahrain520153124
2Canada112367852
3Australia1069717115
4Thailand11618411219
5Malaysia41419133413
6South Africa6283146314
7Hong Kong31712172583
8Singapore718241364131
9Spain128131810978
10United States157412202410

Source - Forbes

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Strangest Flags - Part 2








Saturday, November 28, 2009

Strangest Flags



Isle of Man

Flag of region Emilia Romagna


Fryslan (Netherlands)

Guam


Benin


This was the flag of the Benin Empire, that was situated in modern Nigeria.


Flag of New Foundland & Labrador




Swaziland




Antwerp (Belgium)



Mozambique



Kyrgyzstan


Northern Marianas Islands


Central African Republic

Lombardy (Italy)


Libya


Libya's flag, consists of a simple green field with no other characteristics. It is the only national flag in the world with just one color and no design.



Maryland



Martinique Flag




Albania



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