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Which Countries Are Most Corrupt? Not New Zealand, Denmark

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:59 -0700

Money could very well be the root of all evil — though in the latest study of corrupt countries, it's actually the lack of money that sparks trouble. The new report by Transparency International found that in two-fifths of the world's nations, corruption continues to intensify — a trend that can be traced to economic realities. In the countries found to be the most corrupt, 40 percent are classified by the World Bank as low income.

Transparency International's rankings range on a scale from 10 (on the up-and-up) to 1 (rampant corruption). How common is corruption? Of the 180 countries surveyed, 132 of them had scores below a 5. Other factors that contribute to a cloudy ethical picture are weak governments and conflict. The chairman of Transparency International says, "Countries torn apart by conflict pay a huge toll in their capacity to govern. With public institutions crippled or nonexistent, mercenary individuals help themselves to public resources, and corruption thrives."

Another troublesome mix? Weak government plus plentiful natural resources, like in Equatorial Guinea where 30 percent of the newly discovered oil profits go straight to government officials' wallets. To see which countries ranked where,

Treelord Treaty Makes Native New Zealanders Lords of Forests

LibertySugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:30:56 -0700

Under the Treelord Treaty signed today, seven of New Zealand's native tribes will now own huge areas of New Zealand forest land. Addressing past injustices with tangible penances, New Zealand has transfered 435,000 acres of land holding large commercial pine plantations in exchange for NZ $420 million (US $319 million). The current pine plantations generate NZ $13 million a year in rent. The settlement also grants the Maori rents collected since 1989.

The indigenous Maori people constitute 15 percent of the island's population, but experience extremely low quality of life compared to other residents of the island. This historic and unprecedentedly expansive agreement gives the indigenous people a chance to improve their economic situation.

Should other countries use physical reconciliation solutions to correct past injustices against native people? Would taxpayers in other countries be ready to give up lucrative land to native tribes, if it meant natives would see sustainable economic and social prosperity?

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Wolf Whistles Drive Woman to Protest — By Getting Naked?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:36 -0700

An Internet news rumor run amuck? Sites were reporting this shocking story as fact yesterday — do you believe it? Apparently, a road crew in the small town of Kerikeri, New Zealand, was repairing the main street when they decided to pay too much attention to one woman — who decided to let them know just what she thought about their behavior — by stripping.

According to the story, the woman (an Israeli tourist) took offense to their catcalls and planted herself firm, stripped bare, and used the ATM in the altogether. The clothes-free campaign brought a screeching halt to both the whistles and the road work. She then put her clothes back on and walked away.

The sergeant assigned to the case said the woman told police she didn't like the attention. "She said she had thought '... I'll show them what I've got,' " as the men whistled at her, he said. "She gave the explanation that she had been ... pestered by New Zealand men. She's not an unattractive-looking lady."

Her alleged punishment? "She was taken back to the police station and spoken to and told that was inappropriate (behavio[u]r) in New Zealand." Could this be true, or an Internet hoax masquerading as news?

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