Cruising Security: Safest Countries

[MarkJ]

Hi Folks

There is an interesting list that appeared showing an organizations idea of the safes and least safe countries in the world.

I think it is interesting (not to start some political debate, mods.) to see how they relate to our cruising plans.

We have been criticized by some for not wanting to cruise the coast of Yemen, Sudan, and Ethiopia on our trip to the Med. For me, obviously, security things are important - I now have the money to cruise so why get myself killed instead of enjoying it?


There is a disclaimer for this list from moi... needless to say the USA comes very low on this list so our American friends should not worry that they are placed far below Rwanda and Lybia in terms of security!

http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi-data/#/2010/scor

New Zealand has been named the most peaceful nation for the second year running, smashing Australia which barely managed to scrape into the top 20.

Of course NZ is the most peaceful......



We are NOT going to sail into any of the bottom 50 countires! ---- Ooops! I should have looked at the last 50 - we have already been in a few! Theres a number of great cruising destinations.
Which countries would you go to in the bottom 50?

[Kit-renard]

The United States in number 85!!! I suppose I can't say I'm really surprised. Well at least that means I should be able to handle the threat level of of the upper 84 counties, take that Australia! Out of the bottom 50 I would probably go to the Russian Federation, I have a friend from Russia and I think he would probably be delighted if I could take him for a visit.

[GordMay]

Very interesting.
Click on a Country, and see it’s component indicators.
Click on an indicator for an explanation.

Of course, a country’s “peacefulness” (by this index) does not directly correlate to it’s safety for cruising.

See also the very interesting 2010 GPI Discussion Paper (long)
➥ http://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-c...on%20Paper.pdf

[Mariness]

Just some that require more planning than others. I think this depends partly on the traveler: there are few places that I would refuse outright to visit; but there are some, even in this country (actually even in this state!) that I would not wander without my husband visibly present all the time.

[Pete7]

How can the US be 85 all I read every day on here is peeps giving up there jobs and buying boat to get away from it all. Is this a repeat of those poor Veitnam people escaping in the 1970s must be terrible over there.

Pete

[Roaring Girl]

Fascinating!

You might also be interested inHome | Happy Planet Index which measure a whole bunch of things to assess sustainable life balance in differnet countries around the world. Some interesting insights there too!

[GordMay]

I think a perusal of the criteria might reveal why America might not fare so well on this “Peace Index”; whilst saying nothing about the country’s “safety”:
Peace Indicators
+ Perceived criminality in society
+ Security officers & police
+ Number of homicides
+ Jailed population
+ Access to weapons
+ Level of organized conflict
+ Violent demonstrations
+ Level of violent crime
+ Political instability
+ Respect for human rights
+ Weapons imports
+ Potential for terriorist acts
+ Deaths from conflict (internal)
+ Military expenditure
+ Armed services personnel
+ UN Peacekeeping funding
+ Number of heavy weapons
+ Weapons exports
+ Military capability/sophistication
+ Number of displaced people
+ Neighbouring country relations
+ Number of conflicts fought
+ Deaths from conflict (external)

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I think a perusal of the criteria might reveal why America might not fare so well on this “Peace Index”; whilst saying nothing about the country’s “safety”:

Yes, there's a fair bit there that can be manipulated by the writers.

But Gord, have a look at Wikipaedia too...

Global Peace Index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Among the statistically significant indicators that were not used in the analysis were the functionality of a country's government, regional integration, hostility to foreigners, importance of religion in national life, and GDP per capita

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yes, there's a fair bit there that can be manipulated by the writers...

No; I’m not suggesting manipulation. I am suggesting that a country’s “Peacefulness” (according to this index) does not necessarily relate to it’s safety.

Ie: I don’t imagine that the
“Military capability/sophistication*” really affects my personal safety whilst cruising the country.

* Qualitative assessment of the grade of military sophistication and the extent of military research and development. Ranked 1-5 (very low-very high) by EIU Analysts. Source: Economist Intelligence Unit.
USA = 5

[Dockhead]

I agree. It's ridiculous. Anyone can make up his own "index" and arrange countries however he likes. It doesn't necessarily mean squat.

America is not wilder than Libya. Nor is Russia. Moscow, in fact, other than its horrible traffic, is one of the safest and nicest cities in Europe. You can walk around there in the middle of the night and never feel the least bit unsafe. The crime rate is lower than New York.

[TrevC]

+ Jailed population
+ Respect for human rights
+ Military expenditure
+ Number of heavy weapons
+ Military capability/sophistication
+ Number of conflicts fought

Considering the above, I'm surprised the US even ranked that well!

Interesting website.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I agree. It's ridiculous. Anyone can make up his own "index" and arrange countries however he likes. It doesn't necessarily mean squat...

You really should find out what the Index is intended to measure, and what is it's underlying significance, before you deride & dismiss it entirely.

Here ➥ About the GPI « Vision of Humanity

[btrayfors]

The basic premise is deeply flawed. MarkJ: tell me how you're gonna sail in Rwanda??? Maybe a float-in evening with your kayak at the Hotel Source du Nile?

Just plain hogwash.

The U.S., by all accounts, is a violent place. I happen to be based in one of the most violent cities....the Capital. That DOES NOT MEAN that boaters are in any way affected. Over the past 27 years I've been actively boating in Washington, DC there have been VERY VERY FEW incidents involving boaters. And, believe it or not, we've got a pretty good sized boating population here, including hundreds of live-aboards.

I've lived most of my professional life overseas, in war-torn and very poor countries. Have traveled in many others, including 35 of subSaharan Africa's 48 countries. Somehow, I've come thru unscathed, as has my family.

The truth is that violence against boaters is relatively rare, and is confined to a few well-known places on the globe. Trying to rank threats to boaters by country is way too coarse a lens, is misleading, and is a good way to invoke meaningless stereotypes.

Bill

[Mambo]

Originally Posted by TrevC

Quote:
+ Jailed population
+ Respect for human rights
+ Military expenditure
+ Number of heavy weapons
+ Military capability/sophistication
+ Number of conflicts fought
Considering the above, I'm surprised the US even ranked that well!

Interesting website.

Watch it bucko -- we also have + access to weapons!

[gbanker]

Does anyone think those folks crossing our border from the south are really headed for Canada?