Canada among 10 most peaceful countries: report
Canada is among the 10 most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
The country jumped six spots from its rank last year in the Institute for Economics and Peace's annual report.
The 2011 Global Peace Index, which gauges domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society, and militarization in 153 countries, found that the world has become "slightly less peaceful" in the last year. The indicators of potential for terrorist acts and likelihood of violent demonstrations had the largest increases from the previous year.
Iceland, New Zealand and Japan topped the list, with Denmark and the Czech Republic rounding out the top five. The U.S. was decidedly less peaceful than Canada, coming in at No. 82.
North America is the second-most peaceful region after Europe, and Canada's improved score and ranking helped to give the region a slight increase in peacefulness from the year before.
Canada was deemed more peaceful in this year's index than in the previous year in part because of a "quieter" year on the Arctic front.
"In 2009 the (Stephen) Harper government had put a greater emphasis on defending its sovereign claims in the region, straining relations with Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia and the U.S.," the report says.
The Institute for Economics and Peace is an international research institute that aims to develop a better understanding of the relationships between business, peace and economics. The institute has offices in New York and Sydney, Australia.
Canada among 10 most peaceful countries: report | Canada | News | London Free Press
Canada is among the 10 most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
The country jumped six spots from its rank last year in the Institute for Economics and Peace's annual report.
The 2011 Global Peace Index, which gauges domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society, and militarization in 153 countries, found that the world has become "slightly less peaceful" in the last year. The indicators of potential for terrorist acts and likelihood of violent demonstrations had the largest increases from the previous year.
Iceland, New Zealand and Japan topped the list, with Denmark and the Czech Republic rounding out the top five. The U.S. was decidedly less peaceful than Canada, coming in at No. 82.
North America is the second-most peaceful region after Europe, and Canada's improved score and ranking helped to give the region a slight increase in peacefulness from the year before.
Canada was deemed more peaceful in this year's index than in the previous year in part because of a "quieter" year on the Arctic front.
"In 2009 the (Stephen) Harper government had put a greater emphasis on defending its sovereign claims in the region, straining relations with Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Russia and the U.S.," the report says.
The Institute for Economics and Peace is an international research institute that aims to develop a better understanding of the relationships between business, peace and economics. The institute has offices in New York and Sydney, Australia.
Canada among 10 most peaceful countries: report | Canada | News | London Free Press
