Norway most peaceful in the world, Iraq least

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2007/May/theworld_May864.xml§ion=theworld

30 May 2007

LONDON - Norway is the most peaceful country in the world and Iraq the least, according to a study launched on Wednesday, which notably puts Japan near the top and Russia and Israel close to the bottom.

The Global Peace Index, published a week before a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Germany, rates 121 countries from Algeria to Zimbabwe on factors including levels of violence, organised crime and military expenditure.

While most European countries including Britain rank in the top, more peaceful, half of the league table, the United States is nearer the bottom in 96th place, while Russia is fifth from last on 118th.

TOP 10 -------- BOTTOM 10

1. Norway - 112. Angola

2. New Zealand - 113. Ivory Coast

3. Denmark - 114. Lebanon

4. Ireland - 115. Pakistan

5. Japan ---- 116. Colombia

6. Finland -- 117. Nigeria.

7. Sweden --- 118. Russia

8. Canada --- 119. Israel

9. Portugal - 120. Sudan

10. Austria - 121. Iraq

[mainegreen]

1. If Maine were a country though, I'd bet we'd be near the top though.

Often the top story state wide here is something like a church bakesale, or some especially big lobster some guy caught.

I'm sure some other US states are similar.