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| International-UN-NGOs |
| Happy International Anti-Corruption Day! |
| 2004-12-10 |
| From the Dept. of Stupid Americans Won't Sign The Treaty Again Political parties are the public institutions most marred by corruption, an international watchdog group said Thursday in a new global survey marking the United Nations' first International Anti-Corruption Day. Berlin-based Transparency International [released its] Global Corruption Barometer, which surveyed more than 50,000 people in 64 countries. TI chapters around the world were pressuring governments and parliaments Thursday to ratify the U.N. Convention against Corruption. The convention was signed in December 2003, but only 12 of the 30 nations required to ratify it before it can take effect have done so. The United States has not ratified the convention. "International Anti-Corruption Day is an excellent opportunity for governments all over the world to prove that they take the fight against corruption seriously," said Cobus de Swardt, head of international programs for TI. "We invite them all to sign and ratify the United Nations convention and to take into consideration the clear message sent by public opinion in the world: Corruption strongly affects the life of every person," he said. "It is time to act." |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #11 Phil-Makes sense for an overall take on corruption. I just wondered whether it would be as good a gauge for comparing the corruption of one country to that of another. The first item that made me pause was the one showing Estonia in the below 50 bracket and the US in the +50. I doubt it. And how about the amount of "corruption" a populace views as "normal"-it must vary by culture/government/history, right? Thanks all the same, though, for your answer-bit of a 'duh' moment there for me. ;) |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2004-12-10 3:48:35 PM |
| #10 Jules, official statistics on corruption for fairly obvious reasons are not reliable. So asking people if they have been exposed to corruption is generally accepted to be a more reliable (but not perfect) way of measuring it. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-12-10 3:35:48 PM |
| #9 The UN Anti-Corruption Day? Damn....this should have a food/drink alert on it! |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2004-12-10 2:17:43 PM |
| #8 I celebrated it. The cop next to me getting his free coffee and donut also was happy about it. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-12-10 10:52:48 AM |
| #7 Is this also UN Cafeteria Silverware Amnesty Day? Or is that in the spring? |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-12-10 10:49:42 AM |
| #6 On the run today-printed out the report. Thanks for the link. At first glance, this looks like a report on people's opinions on how bad corruption is in their countries. Is that right? |
| Posted by: Jules 187 2004-12-10 10:17:18 AM |
| #5 ah..nothing to start off the day like a good cup of coffee and something to laugh about. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-12-10 9:43:05 AM |
| #4 After sharing tips on high rates of return and anonymity of favorite Barbados bank accounts, the UN delegates adjourned to a five star lunch hosted by Kofi's son-in-law, insuring to double park their large limousines outside the resturant. As the lunchen wrapped, a ceremonial burning of employee harassment complaints was greeted by a round of civil applause. Delegates took a leisurely drive back to the conference to attend the next item on the agenda, Congo: Pediaphilia - not just for Priests. |
| Posted by: Don 2004-12-10 9:10:32 AM |
| #3 Ukraine would have to be among the top five. A complete gangsterocracy. |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-10 1:29:58 AM |
| #2 U.N. Convention against Corruption = Las Vegas Convention against Whoring |
| Posted by: lex 2004-12-10 1:28:41 AM |
| #1 TI does good work and as usual their survey makes interesting reading. Corruption get worse as you go south and east in Europe. In Western Europe, corruption is a particular problem in France and Portugal. Media seen as corrupt in many developed countries, especially anglophone. Large parts of Asia do well in the survey, Africa and Latin America are the worst for corruption. Brazil worst country. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-12-10 1:14:26 AM |