What Do You Think The World Needs More Of?

In celebration of today’s World Humanitarian Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon asked us to reflect on the following question: What do you think the world needs more of? Many people hoped that the end of the Cold War in 1991 would bring about global peace and prosperity. Yet the world does not look like a better and safer place today than it did twenty years ago. Looking at current events, naming one thing that the world needs more of appears easier … “What Do You Think The World Needs More Of?”

Freedom is in the Eye of the Beholder: Trust in National Governments is Associated with Perceived Freedom of Speech

In light of the recent global debate on the morality of mass surveillance programmes, GlobeScan has teamed up with the BBC World Service to ask over 17,000 people what their perspectives are on freedom and the right to privacy. In previous blog posts, we have used this data to show that Peru, Australia and Canada represent the freest democratic states (as indicated by our Perceived Freedom Index), and that an individual’s sense of freedom is not determined by socioeconomic or … “Freedom is in the Eye of the Beholder: Trust in National Governments is Associated with Perceived Freedom of Speech”

Attitudes to Torture: Amnesty International ‘Stop Torture’ Global Survey | Report

To help launch Amnesty International’s new Stop Torture campaign, GlobeScan conducted a survey of more than 21,000 people in 21 countries across every every continent which revealed:
– Nearly half (44%) of respondents fear torture if taken into custody.
– The vast majority (82%) believe there should be clear laws against torture.
– Over a third (36%) believe that torture can be justified in some cases to protect the public.

A Deeper Look at Freedom: How Perceptions Differ Across Countries and Groups

Our recent polling for the BBC World Service showed a very mixed picture of the state of freedoms today, especially in established democracies following Edward Snowden’s allegations of widespread surveillance by the US Government. In order to better understand how different nationalities and groups rate their freedom, GlobeScan’s Advanced Analytics Team applied some statistical techniques to reveal deeper insights into how perceptions differ across the 17 countries included in our latest poll of 17,000 people. The first analysis we performed … “A Deeper Look at Freedom: How Perceptions Differ Across Countries and Groups”

Democracy by the Numbers: How Personal Freedoms are Perceived in the Digital Age

A number of recent media reports, including in The Economist and Financial Times, have raised the subject of the declining state of our democracy. Some have likened recent actions by so-called “established democracies” as resembling those of autocratic states – such as the recent banning of social media in Turkey and the US government’s blanket on-line surveillance of citizens worldwide. How have all these news reports affected people’s sense of freedom and democracy in this post-Snowden age? Is there a … “Democracy by the Numbers: How Personal Freedoms are Perceived in the Digital Age”

Mining and Community Relations: Conflict and Resolution in South Africa

At the 2014 Mining Indaba Sustainable Development day, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane (Founder and Chair of the board for African Monitor and Former Archbishop of Cape Town) gave a keynote address setting the tone for a proceeding panel discussion on mining and community relations, stressing the need to bring morality into business decisions with the understanding that profitability needs not to be the only consideration. A common thread running through the discussion that followed was the need for effective, transparent and … “Mining and Community Relations: Conflict and Resolution in South Africa”

Life Is Better With Luci: How Solar Lanterns Help Keep Haitian Communities Safe and Healthy

More than 1.6 billion people around the world rely on kerosene lamps as a source of light. Kerosene is a toxic fuel oil that can irritate the skin and adversely affect the central nervous system, contributing to the nearly 2 million premature deaths caused by indoor pollution related illnesses. Kerosene fuel also adversely impacts the environment. A recent report shows that 7-9 percent of the kerosene used in lamps is converted into black carbon, a powerful climate change pollutant, and … “Life Is Better With Luci: How Solar Lanterns Help Keep Haitian Communities Safe and Healthy”

Labour Issues at Heart of Walmart’s Reputational Problems

Earlier this week, Dutch pension fund PGGM Vermogensbeheer B.V announced that they would cease investment in US retail giant Walmart, citing the company’s failure to engage with their concerns, particularly over labour issues. Two years ago, GlobeScan examined the public’s perceptions of Walmart and found that it was cited as socially irresponsible by many more than described it as responsible. In 2013, that trust deficit persists. When asked, unprompted, to name a socially responsible company, 2 percent cited Walmart, whereas … “Labour Issues at Heart of Walmart’s Reputational Problems”