Recent Event Highlights: Dams are about people, not power: The trouble with Gilgel Gibe - East African, Guinea-Bissau PM resumes post after brief detention - Xinhua, From 'wasteland' to 'haste land' - Kuwait Times, On the ground in Haiti: Mending limbs in a shattered landscape - Seattle Times, Malawi Should Lift Power Supply to Spur Growth, World Bank Says - BusinessWeek, Afghan assembly ends Karzai bid to control elections - Business Day, and 71 more...
Created by dipity on Oct 5, 2009
Last updated: 12/12/12 at 02:13 PM
United Nations Human Development Index has no followers yet. Be the first one to follow.
Dams are about people, not power: The trouble with Gilgel GibeEast AfricanFor Ethiopia, ranked 171 out of 182 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's 2009 Human Development Index, and where 39 per cent of the ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theeastafrican.co.ke%2Fnews%2FDams%2520are%2520about%2520people%2520not%2520power%2520The%2520trouble%2520with%2520Gilgel%2520Gibe%2F-%2F2558%2F892578%2F-%2F128ytc8z%2F-%2F&usg=AFQjCNGjCBCDt6zxBBM6Q7Q2HIknKg6sXQ
ReutersGuinea-Bissau PM resumes post after brief detentionXinhuaBeing ranked the 175th out of 177 nations in the UN Development Program's Human Development Index, the country is one of the world's poorest country. ...GUINEA-BISSAU: Instability returns to capitalReliefWeb (press release)Soldiers detain head of Guinea-Bissau's armyThe Associated PressFACTBOX-Facts about Guinea-BissauReuters AlertNetCRIENGLISH.comall 784 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.xinhuanet.com%2Fenglish2010%2Fworld%2F2010-04%2F04%2Fc_13236878.htm&usg=AFQjCNHYnEXk2nkuCjW2UQeAObyFKkB3Vw
From 'wasteland' to 'haste land'Kuwait TimesConsidering the standard of living, life expectancy and literacy, Kuwait ranks 31st in the Human Development Index (HDI)," said Ganesh, referring to the ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kuwaittimes.net%2Fread_news.php%3Fnewsid%3DOTQ0NDMzNTI4&usg=AFQjCNGpwigmIouoiPj7ioprrHmfP0n2GA
Seattle TimesOn the ground in Haiti: Mending limbs in a shattered landscapeSeattle TimesThere's no hint of the nation's spiral to the near-bottom of the Human Development Index. There's no evidence of the 1.2 million people who are now out of ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseattletimes.nwsource.com%2Fhtml%2Fthebusinessofgiving%2F2011501770_on_the_ground_in_haiti.html&usg=AFQjCNEH04EG18bKkXHdfpkd-j72RG7HSw
Malawi Should Lift Power Supply to Spur Growth, World Bank SaysBusinessWeekThe country is one of the poorest in the world, ranked at 160 out of 182 countries on the United Nations' Human Development Index, and with 40 percent of ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessweek.com%2Fnews%2F2010-04-01%2Fmalawi-should-lift-power-supply-to-spur-growth-world-bank-says.html&usg=AFQjCNF5Tp5Lc0Gkk3cRJS1JpYkpfyCzuw
Afghan assembly ends Karzai bid to control electionsBusiness DayPreviously, the United Nations (UN) appointed the chairman and two other commissioners. The Afghan human rights commission and the Supreme Court named one ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessday.co.za%2Farticles%2FContent.aspx%3Fid%3D105156&usg=AFQjCNEIHwFxj-u0DT0ETAni_Y-_dArB-A
Humanitarian Need in Niger GrowingVoice of AmericaDespite Niger's mineral wealth, it remains near the bottom of the UN's human development index. Non-governmental organizations in Niger say the country's ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.voanews.com%2Fenglish%2Fnews%2Fafrica%2FHumanitarian-Need-in-Niger-Growing-89612882.html&usg=AFQjCNEB0U6QYTR9eK1Nq5NF84bKYCt7zQ
Afghanistan's Corruption Cripples Economy, UN SaysBusinessWeekOverall, the UN's key indicators of quality of life, including life expectancy, literacy and per capita income, have declined over the past three years, ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessweek.com%2Fnews%2F2010-03-30%2Fafghanistan-s-corruption-cripples-economy-un-says-update1-.html&usg=AFQjCNFZXVwQZMnXaTgvsI2622STVtbI8Q
Reuters South AfricaGaddafi's strange theoryThe PunchThe United Nation's Development Programme recently placed Nigeria on the lower rung of living standards scale. Under the Human Development Index, Nigeria, ...Gaddafi suggests Nigeria split along ethnic linesNEXTall 168 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.punchng.com%2FArticl.aspx%3Ftheartic%3DArt20100328126450&usg=AFQjCNEiNo1MGfEsNfY4B0qw6AeDstolsA
Togo Outlaws Protests Against Elections ResultsNew York TimesTogo is near the bottom of the United Nations human development index, and its economy relies heavily on production of phosphate, coffee, cocoa and cotton.and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Freuters%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fworld%2Finternational-uk-togo.html&usg=AFQjCNF15Z9Dk7kwdW5lt8Ic6gQ9Gkb9lg
myworldtravel.weebly.com Touring The Asia Middle East For more travel videos, photos, tips and more visit my website at myworldtravel.weebly.com Israel (Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el) officially the State of Israel (Hebrew: About this sound מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל (help·info), Medinat Yisra'el), is a country in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Also adjacent are the West Bank to the east and Gaza Strip to the southwest. Israel is the world's only predominantly Jewish state with a population of about 7.5 million people, of whom approximately 5.7 million are Jewish. The largest ethnic minority group is the segment denominated as Arab citizens of Israel, while minority religious groups include Muslims, Christians, Druze, Samaritans, most of whom are found within the Arab segment. The modern state of Israel has its historical and religious roots in the Biblical Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael), also known as Zion, a concept central to Judaism since ancient times, and the heartland of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Following the birth of political Zionism in 1897 and the Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations granted Great Britain the Mandate for Palestine after World War I, with responsibility for establishing such political, administrative ...
Center for Research on GlobalizationPreparations for a Hit against Iran: Stopping Israel's Next WarCenter for Research on GlobalizationEither such sanctions would be voted up in the UN Security Council, or, in the likely event that China refused, they would be imposed outside the UN ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalresearch.ca%2Findex.php%3Fcontext%3Dva%26aid%3D18235&usg=AFQjCNE_OCAwlS0XI_FBzs7r_056aUY8Dw
The Illusion of "Scientific Consensus" on Global WarmingRight Side NewsHulme prepared climate-change scenarios and reports for the British government, the European Commission, the United Nations Environment Program, the United ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rightsidenews.com%2F201003209145%2Fenergy-and-environment%2Fthe-illusion-of-qscientific-consensusq-on-global-warming.html&usg=AFQjCNF2tlJ2MnTJxRAzeIYFFLyjXOl68g
Low human development index reflects MDG failureManila TimesThe HDI is a figure calculated by research teams of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to help determine a particular nation's quality of life ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manilatimes.net%2Findex.php%2Fcomponent%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F86-special-reports%2F13791-low-human-development-index-reflects-mdg-failure&usg=AFQjCNF8dowNDIwwiOaCokskA8vhMNF_MA
Serbia is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central- and Southeastern Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and central part of the Balkans. Serbia has borders with 8 countries, Hungary to the north; Romania, Bulgaria to the east; Republic of Macedonia to the south; and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro to the west; its border with Albania is disputed. Although landlocked, the country has access to the Black Sea through the Danube river. Its capital city, Belgrade, is among the largest in Southeastern Europe. After their settlement in the Balkans, Serbs formed a medieval kingdom that evolved into a Serbian Empire, which reached its peak in the 14th century. By the 16th century Serbian lands were conquered and occupied by Ottomans. Serbia regained independence from the Ottoman Empire in a 19th century revolution and subsequently expanded its territory. Serbia was the second state in Europe that abolished feudalism and serfdom. The former Habsburg crownland of Vojvodina joined Serbia in 1918. Decimated as a result of World War I, the country united with other South Slavic peoples into a Yugoslav state which would exist in several formations up until 2006, when Serbia once again became independent. In February 2008, the parliament of Kosovo, Serbia's southern province with an ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence. The response from the international community has been mixed. Serbia regards Kosovo as its autonomous ...
Teaching human rights in AfricaGuardian WeeklyLast year it was ranked 179th out of 182 countries in the United Nations Human Development Index. Anna Husarska, senior policy adviser, ...
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardianweekly.co.uk%2F%3Fpage%3Deditorial%26id%3D1509%26catID%3D6&usg=AFQjCNF3C0nrOPFGN22_ZaXfz1bIJTcfqg
Health Care Reform: Myths and MisunderstandingsHuffington Post (blog)[HDI (Human Development Index) may be a better measure.] It says nothing about vibrancy, activity, mental health, social health, sexual health, ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fphilip-lee-miller%2Fhealth-care-reform-myths_b_503558.html&usg=AFQjCNEawSkuzMikXzibrT1ox2msthA1cw
Standard Times PressThe Sierra Leone Free Health Care DreamSierra Express Media (blog)... the other connected to the problem of poor health care which is why the United Nations Development Index for human development always puts the country ...Challenges remain for Sierra Leone, despite acknowledgement on corruption – BanUN News Centreall 38 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sierraexpressmedia.com%2Farchives%2F6586&usg=AFQjCNGXwNyP2eqXd8xYIRyMHQUvt4M3LA
Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica / Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.Costa Rica, which translates literally as "Rich Coast", constitutionally abolished its army permanently in 1949.It is the only Latin American country included in the list of the worlds 22 older democracies.Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in terms of the Human Development Index, and ranked 54th in the world in 2007.The country is ranked 3rd in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index.In 2007 the Costa Rican government announced plans for Costa Rica to become the first carbon neutral country by 2021.According to the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index and is the "greenest" country in the world.Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in 1821 in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. After a brief time in the Mexican Empire of Agustín de Iturbide Costa Rica became a state in the Federal Republic of Central America from 1823 to 1839. In 1824 the capital was moved to San José, but violence briefly ensued through an intense rivalry with Cartago. Although the newly independent provinces formed a Federation, border disputes broke out among them, adding to the region's ...
Emphasize basics to win the goldJacksonville Daily News“The 2010 Index provides strong evidence that economic freedom has farreaching positive impacts on various aspects of human development,” the editors ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jdnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fbasics-73927-emphasize-gold.html&usg=AFQjCNGE4rE1Hs_EBhtsYpaQxv0h95xGGw
Remix by Junior Vasquez - Think we can open our hearts and wallets once again for the people of Chile too. I pray the aftershocks stop for them, so they may find some peace. www.youtube.com Chile's unusual ribbon-like shape—4300 kilometres (2700 mi) long and on average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide—has given it a varied climate, ranging from the world's driest desert—the Atacama—in the north, through a Mediterranean climate in the centre, to a rainy temperate climate in the south.[5] The northern desert contains great mineral wealth, principally copper. The relatively small central area dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from which Chile expanded in the late 19th century, when it incorporated its northern and southern regions. Southern Chile is rich in forests and grazing lands and features a string of volcanoes and lakes. The southern coast is a labyrinth of fjords, inlets, canals, twisting peninsulas, and islands.[6] Prior to arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while the indigenous Araucanians inhabited central and southern Chile. Chile declared its independence on February 12, 1818. In the War of the Pacific (187983), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern regions. It was not until the 1880s that the Araucanians were completely subjugated.[4] Although relatively free of the coups and arbitrary governments that blighted South America, Chile ...
UN Force In Chad Gets 2 - Month Extension, Plans ExitNew York TimesChad, a former French colony, is near the bottom of the UN Human Development Index, a composite benchmark that includes literacy rates, life expectancy and ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2Freuters%2F2010%2F03%2F12%2Fworld%2Finternational-us-chad-un.html&usg=AFQjCNHt5BLM_z7tOATR-UmnsyNeHx1DPg
East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste (Tetum: Timor Lorosae; officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste) is a country in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor. The small country of 15410 km²(5400 sq mi) is located about 640 km (400 mi) northwest of Darwin, Australia. East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, and was known as Portuguese Timor until Portugal's decolonization of the country. In late 1975, East Timor declared its independence, but later that year was invaded and occupied by Indonesia and was declared Indonesia's 27th province the following year. In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory and East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002. East Timor is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being the Philippines. East Timor is a lower-middle-income economy.It continues to suffer the aftereffects of a decades-long independence struggle against Indonesia, which damaged infrastructure and displaced thousands of civilians. It is placed 158th by Human Development Index (HDI) among the world's states, the second lowest in Asia.
Excerpt
... Thursday, March 11, 2010 Myra Imran Islamabad Showing a slight improvement of 1.30 per cent annually, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)s 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report: Power Voice and Rights: A Turning Point for Gender Equality...
Source Info
The News
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=228397
Mainichi Daily NewsUNDP launches 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development ReportAssociated Press of PakistanISLAMABAD, Mar 10 (APP): The United Nations Development Programme Wednesday launched its '2010 Asia-Pacific Human Development Report: Power Voice and ...UN official praises China's achievements in promoting gender equalityPeople's Daily Online8th annual UN symposium commemorating Int'l Women's Day calls for greater progressMainichi Daily NewsWomen to the foreOtago Daily Timesall 42 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.app.com.pk%2Fen_%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D98186%26Itemid%3D2&usg=AFQjCNGXuZkcYN56txUdIdtWWVm54ALK3w
Pioneering permaculture designer, educator and sustainable systems consultant Robyn Francis offers first-hand observations from a 40-day visit to Cuba in 2008 sponsored by CAPE, the Cuba-Australia Permaculture Exchange. The World Wildlife Fund 2007 State Of The Planet Report identified Cuba as the only nation on earth living within its ecological resources and still achieving a high standard in the UN Human Development Index, a notable feat given the political conditions, and one that holds some sobering, inspiring and hopefully practical reflections for our own impending challenges.
RTE.ieAsia-Pacific women lack economic power, rights: UNMoneycontrol.comAccording to the UN Asia-Pacific Human Development Report to mark International Women's Day, the region ranks near the worst in the world on issues such as ...Gender inequality is barrier to progress in Asia, UN report saysArab NewsProgress is Slow but Sure on Long Road to Gender Equality in IndonesiaJakarta GlobeUnequal Health Care, Neglect, And Sex-Selective Infanticide, Abortion Lead To ...Kaiser Family FoundationToday's Zaman -Media Newswire (press release)all 587 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moneycontrol.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fasia-pacific-women-lack-economic-power-rights-un_445437.html&usg=AFQjCNFw77TYSstxdBKorg1rAN9FE2NceA
The World's Best Countries for WomenNew York Times (blog)In 1995, the United Nations Human Development report introduced two measures designed to facilitate cross-country comparisons of the status of women. ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Feconomix.blogs.nytimes.com%2F2010%2F03%2F08%2Fthe-worlds-best-countries-for-women%2F&usg=AFQjCNHoMg-1pmQ_8eoZKOAOD8dQc0K_wg
"A right-wing, anti-Islamic politician who hopes to become the next Dutch prime minister, creates a stir in London." CNN´s Atika Shubert reports. Would you like to know more? "Dutch anti-Islam politician creates stir in UK" www.ledger-enquirer.com "The Islamic Republic of Britain" mypetjawa.mu.nu Logical Argument? 2010 Quality of Life Index www1.internationalliving.com Statistics of the Human Development Report www.hdr.undp.org Press Freedom Index www.rsf.org Corruption Perception Index www.transparency.org Some of the Indicators used to assess and analyze scientific domains. www.scimagojr.com Global Prevalence of consanguinity www.consang.net Taliban bomb girls' school in Pakistan www.rnw.nl Welcome to Equity for Children! www.equityforchildren.org womenwatch www.un.org Attacks targeting teachers and students worldwide on the rise, says UNESCO report www.unesco.org Women's Empowerment www.undp.org "islamic cleric : Muslims are lazy, what?" www.youtube.com "Saudi Sheik: Women must submit to husband's sexual desires" www.youtube.com
Giving a false impression of Venezuela's recordWashington PostPoverty has dropped dramatically, moving Venezuela up 10 spots on the United Nations' Human Development Index. The writer is Venezuela's ambassador to the ...and more »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwp-dyn%2Fcontent%2Farticle%2F2010%2F03%2F05%2FAR2010030504241.html&usg=AFQjCNF6fKNOI5NxAqKRaHMlJ0c_Z4XbBg
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea / República de Guinea Ecuatorial/République de Guinée Équatoriale/ República da Guiné Equatorial is a country located in Central Africa. With an area of 28000 km2 it is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa. It is also the most prosperous, with gross per capita income on the level of some EU countries, ahead even of Libya and South Africa, two traditionally most developed African countries; this prosperity is recent, though. It has a population of 1014999. [5] It comprises two parts: a Continental Region (Río Muni), including several small offshore islands like Corisco, Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico; and an insular region containing Annobón island and Bioko island (formerly Fernando Po) where the capital Malabo is situated. Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the east is the mainland region. Equatorial Guinea is bordered by Cameroon on the north, Gabon on the south and east, and the Gulf of Guinea on the west, where the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe is located between Bioko and Annobón. Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name is suggestive of its location near both the equator and the Gulf of Guinea. It is one of the few territories in mainland Africa where Spanish is an official language, besides the ...
BBC NewsHow to save humanity from nature's whimsSpikedHaiti's per capita GDP is a measly $1340 per person per year, and it is ranked 149 out of 182 nations in the Human Development Index, alongside the likes of ...Chile Earthquake One of the Strongest on Record but Caused Less Damage Than ...MedscapeStatement: Chile EarthquakeReliefWeb (press release)all 5,612 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=R&sa=T&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spiked-online.com%2Findex.php%2Fsite%2Farticle%2F8265%2F&usg=AFQjCNGlTe1Wre99qCtwCZeqstQZrB11Yw
Pakistan fashion leaders parade in Lahore to show freedom of expression. cnn's Reza Sayah reports. Some general information: 2010 Quality of Life Index www1.internationalliving.com Statistics of the Human Development Report www.hdr.undp.org Press Freedom Index www.rsf.org Corruption Perception Index www.transparency.org Some of the Indicators used to assess and analyze scientific domains. www.scimagojr.com Global Prevalence of consanguinity www.consang.net Some specific information: Taliban bomb girls' school in Pakistan www.rnw.nl Welcome to Equity for Children! www.equityforchildren.org www.un.org Attacks targeting teachers and students worldwide on the rise, says UNESCO report www.unesco.org Women's Empowerment www.undp.org "islamic cleric : Muslims are lazy, what?" www.youtube.com "Saudi Sheik: Women must submit to husband's sexual desires" www.youtube.com
Thos Magnusson a very successful Icelandic Busiiness was a Prosdiental candiadte and Hazel henderson made some important observations" "Magnussons platform envisions Iceland leading the international community in promoting tested and viable dispute and conflict resolution mechanisms. Now that preemptive attacks, such as that of the US and Britain on Iraq have produced so many dangerous consequences unforeseen by proponents, the field is open for advancing many long-advocated alternatives. Thor Magnussons varied career includes founding Icelands first credit card company in 1979; founder and CEO of Goldfeder Group in 1984 an e-commerce pioneer and operating an air charter company, as a jet pilot with 2000 hours of flying experience. Magnusson founded the Peace 2000 Institute in 1996 (www.peace2000.org) and authored a book on a new era in international relations and global security. He received the Gandhi Humanitarian Award in 1996 and the Holy Gold Cross of the Greek Orthodox Church at the nomination of UNESCO in 1998. Magnusson endorses many common-security proposals for well-trained, standing peacekeeping and conflict-prevention contingents, which could operate under international supervision and agreements. Many proposals are based on the past successes of small states in breaking big-power logjams. Examples include, Finlands President Kekkonens 1978 Helsinki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which paved the way for the end of the Cold War. Also, Costa ...
The State of Kuwait / دولة الكويت, dawlat al-kuwayt is a sovereign Arab emirate situated in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and lies on the northwestern shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic "akwat", the plural of "kout", meaning fortress built near water. The emirate covers an area of 20000 square kilometres (6880 sq mi) and has a population of about 2.9 million. Historically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between India and Mesopotamia. The Bani Utbah tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region and laid the foundation of the modern emirate. By 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire and after the World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s. After it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961, the nation's oil industry saw unprecedented growth. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded and annexed by neighboring Iraq. The seven month-long Iraqi occupation came to an end after a direct military intervention by United States-led forces. Nearly 750 Kuwaiti oil wells were set ablaze by the retreating Iraqi army resulting in a major environmental and economic catastrophe.Kuwait's infrastructure was badly damaged during the war and had to be rebuilt. Kuwait is a ...
Iceland / officially the Republic of Iceland,Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland is a European island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean.It has a population of about 320000 and a total area of 103000 km2 (39769 sq mi).Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík, whose surrounding area is home to some two-thirds of the national population. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Iceland is volcanically and geologically active on a large scale; this defines the landscape. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterised by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many big glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Iceland has a temperate climate relative to its latitude and provides a habitable environment and nature. According to Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island.Others had visited the island earlier and stayed over winter. Over the next centuries, people of Norse and Celtic origin settled in Iceland. Until the 20th century, the Icelandic population relied largely on fisheries and agriculture, and was from 1262 to 1918 a part of the Norwegian, and later the Danish monarchies. In the 20th century, Iceland's economy and welfare system developed quickly, and in recent decades the nation has implemented free trade in the European Economic Area, diversifying from fishing to new economic fields in services, finance ...
Israel / יִשְׂרָאֵל / إِسْرَائِيلُ,officially the State of Israel - מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל - Arabic: دَوْلَةُ إِسْرَائِيلَ is a country in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area.Also adjacent are the West Bank to the east and Gaza Strip to the southwest. Israel is the world's only predominantly Jewish state with a population of about 7.5 million people, of whom approximately 5.7 million are Jewish.The largest ethnic minority group is the segment denominated as Arab citizens of Israel, while minority religious groups include Muslims, Christians, Druze, Samaritans, most of whom are found within the Arab segment. The modern state of Israel has its historical and religious roots in the Biblical Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael), also known as Zion, a concept central to Judaism since ancient times,and the heartland of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah.Following the birth of political Zionism in 1897 and the Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations granted Great Britain the Mandate for Palestine after World War I, with responsibility for establishing "...such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment of the Jewish national home, as laid down in the preamble, and the development of self-governing institutions ...
"Girls school opens Afghan hearts as well as minds" The military operation in Helmand is only part of the NATO campaign to help defeat the Taliban. As well as using force, troops are also trying to win the loyalty of the local people. ITV News' Geraint Vincent reports. Some general information: 2010 Quality of Life Index www1.internationalliving.com Statistics of the Human Development Report www.hdr.undp.org Press Freedom Index www.rsf.org scimago Journal & Country Rank www.scimagojr.com Global Prevalence of consanguinity www.consang.net Some specific information: Taliban bomb girls' school in Pakistan www.rnw.nl Welcome to Equity for Children! www.equityforchildren.org www.un.org Attacks targeting teachers and students worldwide on the rise, says UNESCO report www.unesco.org Women's Empowerment www.undp.org "islamic cleric : Muslims are lazy, what?" www.youtube.com "Saudi Sheik: Women must submit to husband's sexual desires" www.youtube.com
Haiti has long suffered from poverty, even before last month's devastating earthquake hit. The Caribbean island nation ranks 146th out of 177 nations on the un's Human Development Index, with an average salary of $70 a month. The majority of migrants head to the United States just 800 kilometres away - making it the preferred destination for most Haitians Todd Baer reports. Febraury 18 2010
Greece / Ελλάδα, Elláda , historically Ἑλλάς, also known as Hellas and officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía, is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has land borders with Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the east, totaling 1160 km (721 mi) in length. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of mainland Greece, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world at 14880 km (9246 mi) in length, featuring a vast number of islands (approximately 1400, 227 of which are inhabited), including Crete, the Dodecanese, the Cyclades, and the Ionian Islands among others. Eighty percent of Greece consists of mountains, of which Mount Olympus is the highest at 2917 m (9570 ft). Modern Greece traces its roots to the civilization of ancient Greece, generally considered to be the cradle of Western civilization. As such, it is the birthplace of democracy,Western philosophy,the Olympic Games, Western literature and historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama,including both tragedy and comedy. A developed country with a very high Human Development Index,Greece has been a member of what is now the European Union since 1981 and its Economic and Monetary Union since 2001,NATO since 1952,and the European Space Agency since 2005.It is also a ...
Sweden / Sverige, officially the Kingdom of Sweden / Konungariket Sverige is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the Öresund Bridge in the south. At 450295 km², Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union in terms of area, and it has a total population of about 9.2 million. Sweden has a low population density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre (54 /sq mi) but a considerably higher density in the southern half of the country. About 85% of the population live in urban areas, and it is expected that these numbers will gradually rise as a part of the ongoing urbanization.Sweden's capital is Stockholm, which is also the largest city in the country (population of 1.3 million in the urban area and with 2 million in the metropolitan area). Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and a highly developed economy. It ranks first in the world in The Economist's Democracy Index and seventh in the United Nations' Human Development Index. Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the OECD. Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and ...
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) / دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة, Dawlat al-Imārāt al-Arabīyah al-Muttaḥidah is a federation of seven emirates situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. The UAE consists of seven states, termed emirates, which are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah. The capital and second largest city of the United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi. It is also the country's center of political, industrial, and cultural activities. Before 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th-century truce between the United Kingdom and several Arab Sheikhs. The name Pirate Coast was also used in reference to the area's emirates in the 18th to early 20th century. The political system of the United Arab Emirates, based on the 1971 Constitution, comprises several intricately connected governing bodies. Islam is the official religion and Arabic is the official language. The United Arab Emirates has the world's sixth largest oil reserves and possesses one of the most developed economies in the Middle East. It is currently the thirty-sixth largest economy at market exchange rates, and has a high per capita gross domestic product, with a nominal per capita GDP of $46584 as per the IMF.The country is fourteenth largest in purchasing power per capita and has a relatively high Human Development Index for the Asian continent ...
With a territory of 110994 square kilometers, Bulgaria ranks as the third-largest country in Southeast Europe (after Romania and Greece). Several mountainous areas define the landscape, most notably the Stara Planina (Balkan) and Rodopi mountain ranges, as well as the Rila range, which includes the highest peak in the Balkan region, Musala. In contrast, the Danubian plain in the north and the Upper Thracian Plain in the south represent Bulgaria's lowest and most fertile regions. The 378-kilometer Black Sea coastline covers the entire eastern bound of the country. The emergence of a unified Bulgarian national identity and state dates back to the 7th century AD. All Bulgarian political entities that subsequently emerged preserved the traditions (in ethnic name, language and alphabet) of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/681 1018), which at times covered most of the Balkans and spread its alphabet, literature and culture among the Slavic and other peoples of Eastern Europe. Centuries later, with the decline of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 1396/1422), Bulgarian kingdoms came under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries. The Russo-Turkish War of 18771878 led to the re-establishment of a Bulgarian state as a constitutional monarchy in 1878, with the Treaty of San Stefano marking the birth of the Third Bulgarian State. In 1908, with social strife brewing at the core of the Ottoman Empire, the Alexander Malinov government and Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria formally proclaimed ...
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. With an area of 504030 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France. Since January 1, 2010, Spain has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since prehistoric times and through the dawn of Spain as a country. Conversely, the country itself has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the Modern Era, when it became a global empire that has left a legacy of over 400 million Spanish speakers today—making it the world's second most spoken language by native speakers. Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country with the ninth or tenth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and very high living standards (15th highest Human Development Index), including the tenth-highest quality of life index rating in the world.It is a member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD, and WTO.
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. With an area of 504030 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France. Since January 1, 2010, Spain has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since prehistoric times and through the dawn of Spain as a country. Conversely, the country itself has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the Modern Era, when it became a global empire that has left a legacy of over 400 million Spanish speakers today—making it the world's second most spoken language by native speakers. Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country with the ninth or tenth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and very high living standards (15th highest Human Development Index), including the tenth-highest quality of life index rating in the world.It is a member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD, and WTO.
www.becomedebtfreeonline.com The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia. It is variously described as being located within Central Asia,[5][6] South Asia,[7][8] or the Middle East.[9] It is bordered by Iran in the west, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast. The geographic entity now known as Afghanistan has a very long history, and has been an ancient focal point of the Silk Road and migration. It is an important geostrategic location, connecting East and West Asia or the Middle East. The land has been a target of various invaders, as well as a source from which local powers invaded neighboring regions to form their own empires. Ahmad Shah Durrani created the Durrani Empire in 1747, which is considered the beginning of modern Afghanistan.[10] Its capital was shifted later from Kandahar to Kabul and most of its territories ceded to neighboring empires. In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in "The Great Game" played between the British Empire and Russian Empire.[11] On August 19, 1919, following the third Anglo-Afghan war, the country regained independence from the United Kingdom over its foreign affairs. Since the late 1970s Afghanistan has experienced a continuous state of civil war punctuated by foreign occupations in the forms of the 1979 Soviet invasion and the 2001 US-led invasion that toppled the Taliban government. The United ...
Bulgaria (pronounced /bʌlˈɡɛəriə/ ( listen); Bulgarian: България, Bălgariya, pronounced [bəlˈɡarija]), officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe. Bulgaria borders five other countries: Romania to the north (mostly along the River Danube), Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south. The Black Sea defines the extent of the country to the east. With a territory of 110994 square kilometers, Bulgaria ranks as the third largest country in Southeast Europe. Its landscape is defined by several mountains and mountain ranges, most notably the Stara Planina (Balkan) and Rodopi mountain ranges, as well as Rila mountain, where the highest peak in the Balkan region, Musala, is located. In contrast, the Danubian plain in the north and the Upper Thracian Plain in the south represent Bulgaria's lowest and most fertile regions. The 378-kilometer Black Sea coastline covers the entire eastern bound of the country. The emergence of a unified Bulgarian national identity and state dates back to the 7th century AD. All Bulgarian political entities that subsequently emerged preserved the traditions (in ethnic name, language and alphabet) of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/681 1018), which at times covered most of the Balkans and spread its alphabet, literature and culture among the Slavic and other peoples of Eastern Europe. Centuries later, with the decline of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 1396/1422 ...
# Haiti is the third hungriest country in the world after Somalia and Afghanistan # The richest 1% of the population controls nearly half of all of Haitis wealth # The poorest country in the western hemisphere # The worlds fourth poorest country in the world # Ranks 146 out of 173 on the United Nations Human Development Index # Has a life expectancy of 52 years for women and 48 for men # Adult literacy is about 50% # Unemployment is 70% # 85% of Haitians live on less than $1 US per day. # Haiti ranks 38 out of 195 for under five mortality rate.
Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. With an area of 504030 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France. Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since prehistoric times and through the dawn of Spain as a country. Conversely, the country itself has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the Modern Era, when it became a global empire that has left a legacy of over 400 million Spanish speakers today—making it the world's second most spoken language by native speakers. Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country with the ninth or tenth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and very high living standards (15th highest Human Development Index), including the tenth-highest ...
Created by Andrés Tarté (tarte.andres@gmail.com) using Google Motion Chart, MS Power Point, and Camtasia Studio. Source: Tarté, Andrés. 2009. "Identifying Indicators of Sustainable Development Using the Global Sustainability Quadrant Approach." Michigan Technological University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Thesis (MS), Houghton, Michigan. EF data obtained from the Global Footprint Network, National Footprint Accounts. 2008 edition. (www.footprintnetwork.org.) HDI Time Series obtained from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Human Development Reports, 2008 (hdr.undp.org).

