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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Jul 2008 : 21:47:31
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Danes are the happiest people in the world, according to World Values Survey carried out by American scientists.
Living in Sweden I am supposed to be a little less happy, even compared to Dutchmen or Irish, but still more happy than those in UK, USA, Belgium and Finland.
The most important crucial factor for happiness is if there is democracy and if people are free to make their own choices, the scientists say.
Accordingly, in Zimbabwe there is no happiness at all, it actually is below zero and claimed the bottom place.. Not surprising at all.
Whether Gambia was included in the survey was not mentioned in the article I read.
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kiwi |
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toubab1020
12312 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2008 : 22:03:34
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quote:
Whether Gambia was included in the survey was not mentioned in the article I read.
I wonder why  perhaps SHAKA can tell us he is a happy person  |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Edited by - toubab1020 on 03 Jul 2008 22:07:04 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2008 : 22:29:15
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Does that survey apply to nationals of the country or to anyone that lives there?
I am interested to know if there is some sort of national inherited temperament or if it is due to conditions of life.
As a sociology student I understood that northern european countries such as finland etc...had the highest suicide rates. This was put down to social isolation in the long dark winters....... Very short days.
Gambian sunshine seems to impact on happiness and the social cohesion in the village. Inspite of poverty and the dictator! We shall overcome!  
I am always at my happiest in the sunshine in Gambia....in the village with company.
When I first come home I feel so lonely and people in Uk think you are nuts if you say hello in the street!!!  
Well being is about being part of a social group, belonging and being wanted. It is also economic, having enough food and water, having a meaningful role (paid work, voluntary work or work in the household). It is also about needs being cared for, so a doctor and a health service that is open to ALL. A dentist service (In uK this is going backwards!)Being cared for in your old age.
It is also about feeling free: to be yourself (gay? left wing? etc)
Having an entitlement to a say: free vote.
To be able to live free from fear. Free of the fear of violence.
To be able to live in peace and be yourself.
In UK Economic materialism is seen as the main source of happiness. This is very shallow and short lived.
Many many people in Gambia disprove this theory.
I have seen many many families with very few possessions who are 'happy'. They have each other and they have love.
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Momodou
Denmark
11742 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2008 : 22:47:24
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The following is culled from The Copenhagen Post
Denmark happiest country in the world
Published 02.07.08 16:55
Denmark has always ranked high on world polls of happiness, but new data covering the past 26 years puts the Nordic country on top If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If that is the case then...
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If that is the case then there should be applause ringing out from Denmark today, as it is crowned the happiest country in the world.
The Danes often come out on top in happiness surveys, but the long-term data from this one proves that they are the most content nation without a doubt.
The data from the World Values Survey at the University of Michigan covers 97 countries and was collected over the last 17 years. Fifty-two countries on the list have happiness results from as far back as 1981, Denmark included.
The survey is an accumulation of surveys over the period, in which a total of 350,000 people were questioned. The survey will appear in the July 2008 issue of the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science. Researchers asked the same two questions over the years: "Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, or not at all happy?" And, "All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?
The old saying, 'Money can't buy happiness' is certainly true in this case. Researchers found that economic growth in a country did not automatically improve the mood of the people.
'If economic growth is not accompanied by social security and a healthy social environment where the citizen feel that they can trust the authorities, then the growth can be a stress factor,' Jan Dehley, a sociology professor with the project, told Politiken newspaper.
He said that Denmark was at the top of the table because it has combined social security with economic growth for a long time.
The study found that the level of happiness has increased in general around the world.
A happiness index created from the survey results found that 40 out of the 52 countries have seen an increase in happiness. Researchers think that this could be due to more peaceful, stabile societies over the years.
'I strongly suspect that there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness,' said Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, who directed the study. |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2008 : 23:09:50
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I love you too!!! quote:
Originally posted by toubab1020
quote:
Whether Gambia was included in the survey was not mentioned in the article I read.
I wonder why perhaps SHAKA can tell us he is a happy person
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 12:04:01
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
When I first come home I feel so lonely and people in Uk think you are nuts if you say hello in the street!!!
Come on, Bev, that must just be where you live then because it's certainly not the case here in Edinburgh, in fact I've never had a problem with being looked at as if I'm "nuts" for saying hello to bus drivers/shop assistants/people standing in the bus queue/whatever in Glasgow, Leeds, Crawley, Newcastle, York ... to name but a few places |
It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
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kaanibaa
United Kingdom
1169 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 14:37:41
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| Hello every one, I am not nuts ! It is true though that walking the streets of London in dreary cold wintry weather I hardly get a reply for my hellos people just walk pass me as if i was not there ;amazing that.Am I happy ? ,not every time my friend ,somethings I find myself boiling with anger unprovoked by any perceived thing or persons actions. I still insist I am not nuts ,am a happy person 100 %. happy.One cannot be happy all the time we most get angry at times too not so, as human beings this is normal. |
Edited by - kaanibaa on 04 Jul 2008 14:40:38 |
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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 15:42:00
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The graphs belonging to the survey show clear trends towards rising happiness (The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark. Finland, France, South Africa) for some countries very steeply rising (Ireland, Puerto Rico, South Korea), while Austria, Belgium, the U.K. and West Germany show downward trends. Why is that? Three countries (the U.S., Switzerland and Norway) show flat trends from the earliest to latest available survey. Happiness in China shows a quite steep constant downward trend since 1985 which is a little surprising. I think it is due the fact that China was (is) a totalitarian state where you were indoctrinated to believe that this is the best of societies, you wouldn´t dare to say “I am not happy”.
Here are the “points” for some of the countries: (In Swedish, I am sure you can read them)
Danmark 4.24
Puerto Rico 4.21
Colombia 4.18
Island 4.15
Nordirland 4.13
Irland 4.12
Schweiz 3.96
Holland 3.77
Kanada 3.76
Österrike 3.68
El Salvador 3.67
Malta 3.61
Luxemburg 3.61
Sverige 3.58
Nya Zeeland 3.57
U.S.A. 3.55
Guatemala 3.53
Mexiko 3.52
Norge 3.50
Belgien 3.40
Storbritannien 3.39
Australien 3.26
Venezuela 3.25
Trinidad 3.25
Finland 3.24
Saudiarabien 3.17
Thailand 3.02
Cypern 2.96
Nigeria 2.82
Brasilien 2.81
Singapore 2.72
Argentina 2.69
Andorra 2.64
Malaysien 2.61
Västtyskland (tidigare-) 2.60
Vietnam 2.52
Frankrike 2.50
Filippinerna 2.47
Uruguay 2.43
Indonesien 2.37
Chile 2.34
Dominikanska republiken 2.29
Japan 2.24
Spanien 2.16
Israel 2.08
Italien 2.06
Portugal 2.01
Taiwan 1.83
Östtyskland (tidigare-) 1.78
Slovenien 1.77
Ghana 1.73
Polen 1.66
Tjeckien 1.66
Kina 1.64
Mali 1.62
Kirgistan 1.59
Jordanien 1.46
Grekland 1.45
Sydafrika 1.39
Turkiet 1.27
Peru 1.24
Sydkorea 1.23
Hong Kong 1.16
Iran 1.12
Bangladesh 1.00
Bosnien 0.94
Kroatien 0.87
Marocko 0.87
Indien 0.85
Uganda 0.69
Zambia 0.68
Algeriet 0.60
Burkina Faso 0.60
Egypten 0.52
Slovakien 0.41
Ungern 0.36
Montenegro 0.19
Tanzania 0.13
Azerbajdzjan 0.13
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Makedonien -0.06
Rwanda -0.15
Pakistan -0.30
Etiopien -0.30
Estland -0.36
Serbiska Bosnien -0.45
Lettland -0.70
Litauen -0.75
Rumänien -0.88
Ryssland -1.01
Georgien -1.01
Bulgarien -1.09
Irak -1.36
Albanien -1.44
Ukraina -1.69
Vitryssland -1.74
Moldavien -1.74
Armenien -1.80
Zimbabwe -1.92
Average 1.57
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kiwi |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 19:13:06
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That is an interesting list, Kiwi - and an astonishing one, too. People in Colombia are among the happiest?? I thought it was a rather risky country to live in...
Where's 'Nordirland?? Is it Greenland perhaps (with all that ice and snow [xx]? I see they still make the distinction between West and East Germany. Are you sure it is recent list? Anyone any idea why people in Nigeria would be so much happier than in Tanzania (oh, beautiful country!)? Why are the people in the Baltic states so unhappy? They are democracies and i suppose people can make their own choices, furthermore they are prospering.
I am fond of lists, but this one presents one with rather a lot of questions...........(and that is what i am less fond of). |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 19:26:38
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Am i tired or just plain stupid ??
Nordirland = Northern Ireland, simple (and it's high time they are a bit happy there). Well, one question less! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 20:06:23
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Anna, this is the recent list. These surveys has been going on for a long time and started as early as in 1956 for some countries, for East and West Germany in the -70s I believe, thats why they still are separated.
Nordirland = Northern Irland.
It´s very surprising indeed that the Baltic states have so low rates, they should have a lot of self-confidence and therefore feel at least some happiness. It´s true that their economy has stagnated lately but that can´t be the reason.I wish I could answer the other questions... |
kiwi |
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Momodou
Denmark
11742 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2008 : 20:43:59
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Although the number has been declining the last 20 years, Denmark is among the nations with the highest number of suicides annually.
1652 Danes committed suicide in 1980, the number was 814 in 1997 and 467 in 2000.
This survey on happiness has not taken the number of suicides as a factor because the people who to take their own lives are definitely not happy. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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