Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 137

EUROPE

EAST EUROPE

Terrorists and Their Targets: Rating Of Russian Threats (Click for Details)

Memory of terrorist attacks in Moscow metro makes the Russians afraid of further attack. According to Russians, the most dangerous thing is transportation including avian transport, rail transport (69%) and public transport (50%) which can again be target of a terror attack. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM)

September 08, 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Terrorism

Russia`s Global Goals: Development Or Superpowerness? (Click for Details)

A majority of Russians think that achieving the status of economically developed and politically influential country should be the main goal for Russia in the XXI century. However, 33 % think that Russia should be a super power again. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM)

September 07, 2010

Domestic Politics » National Image/ Trust

WEST EUROPE

Britons, Cricket Fans Would Impose Lifetime Ban on Pakistani Bowlers (Click for Details)

People in Britain are paying attention to the recent allegations of spot-fixing in cricket, and two-thirds of respondents believe that any player involved in this practice should not be allowed to participate in international competitions again, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 14, 2010

Society » Morality, Values & Customs

Survey Suggests British Catholics Disagree With Pope's Teaching on Sexuality (Click for Details)

A survey has suggested that most British Catholics disagree with the Pope's teachings on homosexuality, abortion and contraception. According to an online YouGov poll of 1,636 Catholics for ITV's Tonight programme, only 11 % believed gay sex was morally wrong, while 41 % said that both straight and gay relationships should be celebrated.

September 13, 2010

Society » Religion

Society » Morality, Values & Customs

Few Britons Consider Anti-Social Behaviour Orders as a Success (Click for Details)

Three-in-four respondents believe anti-social behaviour (such as noise pollution, littering, shoplifting, drunken behaviour) has become frequent, normal and tolerated in the UK. People in Britain are not convinced that the controversial Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) are working, and more than half believe the Government's proposed course of action on this subject will be either unsuccessful or ineffectual, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 16, 2010

Society » Social Problems

AMERICAS

NORTH AMERICA

Anti-Muslim Sentiment Makes News (Click for Details)

In the US controversies related to Muslim Americans -- one sparked by a Florida pastor's plans to burn the Koran and another by a proposal to build an Islamic community center blocks from Ground Zero -- topped the news last week as the country marked the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Pew Research Center

September 14, 2010

Society » Religion

Public Focused on Tensions over Islam (Click for Details)

As the nation marked the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks last week, many in the public and the media focused more on current tensions over Islam in America -- most notably plans by a Florida pastor to burn copies of the Koran. Pew Research Center

September 15, 2010

Society » Religion

Democrats Re-Establish Narrow Edge in Party Affiliation (Click for Details)

Slightly more Americans identify as Democrats or lean Democratic (44%) than identify as or lean Republican (41%) in September to date, re-establishing a Democratic edge that disappeared in August, when the parties were even. The Democrats' current positioning remains much weaker than it was at the time President Barack Obama took office, when they enjoyed a 17-point edge in party affiliation. Gallup USA

September 15, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Obama's Weekly Job Approval Average Improves to 46% (Click for Details)

US President Barack Obama's job approval rating averaged 46% for the week ending Sept. 12, his highest weekly average since mid-July and up from the 43% low point recorded in late August. Gallup USA

September 14, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

U.S. Economic Confidence More Negative Than a Year Ago (Click for Details)

Despite the recent upturn in the nation's equity markets, Gallup's Economic Confidence Index, at -34 during the week ending Sept. 12, confirms a downward trend in US consumer confidence that started in mid-August.

September 14, 2010

Economy » Perceptions on Performance/ Well-Being

Simple Ads Prove Effective in Courting Independent Voters in U.S. (Click for Details)

With the mid-term congressional election less than two months away, Americans—and Independent voters in particular—are reacting very differently to two recent political advertisements, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 16, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

Americans Renew Call for Third Party (Click for Details)

Americans' desires for a third political party are as high as they have been in seven years. 58 % of Americans believe a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic Parties do a poor job of representing the American people. That is a significant increase from 2008 and ties the high Gallup has recorded for this measure since 2003.

September 17, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Obesity Linked to Lower Emotional Wellbeing (Click for Details)

Obese Americans, a group already grappling with many physical health problems, are also suffering in terms of their emotional wellbeing. The more than one in four American adults who are obese are significantly more likely than those who are normal weight or overweight to report having been diagnosed with depression and experiencing stress, worry, anger, and sadness. Gallup USA

September 17, 2010

Society » Health

Majority Thinks GOP Has Moved Right since Obama Took Office (Click for Details)

The prevailing view among Americans is that the Republican Party has become more conservative since Barack Obama took office, but not necessarily because of the Tea Party movement's influence. Among the 54% who say so, about a third -- representing 19% of all Americans -- think the Tea Party movement is the primary reason for this; the rest believe other factors are at work. Gallup USA

September 16, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Bush Still Takes Brunt of Blame for Economy vs. Obama (Click for Details)

Nearly two years into his presidency, 51% of Americans say President Barack Obama bears little to no blame for U.S. economic problems, while 48% assign him a great deal or moderate amount of blame. More Americans now blame Obama than did so a year ago, but a substantially higher %age, 71%, blame former President George W. Bush. Gallup USA

September 16, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Americans More Pessimistic About Emerging From Recession (Click for Details)

Most Americans see the U.S. economy as stuck in a recession and the majority doesn’t see or expect much improvement any time soon. A majority (54%) now expect the economy to be the same or worse in a year, up sharply from the 35% who expressed similar views a year ago. Americans are also now more likely to say the economy is staying the same or getting worse than to say it is getting better. Gallup USA

September 15, 2010

Economy » Perceptions on Performance/ Well-Being

Americans Spending More Time Following the News (Click for Details)

There are many more ways to get the news these days, and as a consequence Americans are spending more time with the news than over much of the past decade. Digital platforms are playing a larger role in news consumption, and they seem to be more than making up for modest declines in the audience for traditional platforms. As a result, the average time Americans spend with the news on a given day is as high as it was in the mid-1990s, when audiences for traditional news sources were much larger. Pew Research Center

September 12, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Mixed Views of GOP Proposals on Entitlements (Click for Details)

The American public has sharply different reactions to major changes in Social Security and Medicare programs being proposed by some leading Republicans. While a majority favors a proposal to allow some private investments in Social Security, there is considerably less support for the idea of ending Medicare and replacing it with a system of vouchers for purchasing private insurance. Pew Research Center

September 14, 2010

Domestic Politics » Governance

More Canadians Are Questioning the Benefits of Immigration (Click for Details)

More Canadians are questioning whether immigration is benefiting the country, with Albertans and Ontarians voicing concern over the role of illegal immigrants in Canadian society, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 14, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

GLOBAL/MULTI-COUNTRY POLLS

BBC International Trade Promoter Study (Click for Details)

A study of business influencers was conducted by GlobeScan on behalf of BBC World Service across five countries, a total of 265 individuals with an influence over international business decisions were interviewed in US, India, UAE, Turkey and Nigeria. Proportions saying they access the BBC most days (TV, radio or online) range from 22% (Turkey) to 70% (India).

September 17, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

CYBER WORLD

Rise of the 'Apps Culture' (Click for Details)

Cell phone use in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the past decade. Fully eight-in-10 adults today (82%) are cell phone users, and about one-quarter of adults (23%) now live in a household that has a cell phone but no landline phone. Pew Research Center

September 14, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees §

---------------The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani's Gallopedia website.

Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 136

EUROPE

WEST EUROPE

British Public Favours Cutting Government Debts (Click for Details)

A new BBC World Service poll revealed that six in ten (60%) people in Britain favour “taking steps to reduce the government’s budget deficit and debt.” However, when it comes to cutting spending on some of the largest government programs there is overwhelming opposition - 82 % oppose cutting spending on education and healthcare, 80 % oppose cutting spending on support for senior citizens, and 66 % oppose cuts to spending on the military.

September 09, 2010

Economy » Financial systems & Institutions

Papal Visit Poll (Click for Details)

The Pope, who was in Britain last week, is more widely recognized than the Archbishop of Canterbury. While one in four people (25%) British adults supported his visit, one in ten (11%) opposed it, according to an Ipsos MORI poll conducted exclusively for The Tablet.

September 07, 2010

Society » Religion

Britons Laud Trade Unions, But Ponder if Strikes Should be Limited (Click for Details)

Many people in Britain believe that trade unions are necessary and important, but a majority also questions whether they have become too involved in political activities, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found that 28 % of respondents think trade unions have too much influence in Britain, 22 % say they have too little influence, and 33 % claim they have about the right amount of influence.

September 07, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

Churchill as Best Prime Minister, Low Interest in Reading Tony Blair’s book (Click for Details)

A sizeable proportion of people in Britain maintain a positive opinion of Winston Churchill (79%) and two thirds believe that Gordon Brown has been the worst head of government since the end of the Second World War, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. Meanwhile supporters of Labour party are more interested in reading Tony Blair’s book than others.

September 09, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

AMERICAS

NORTH AMERICA

Nine Years After 9/11, Few See Terrorism as Top U.S. Problem (Click for Details)

Nine years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 1% of Americans mention terrorism as the most important problem facing the country, down from 46% just after the attacks. Gallup USA

September 10, 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Terrorism

Approval for President Obama Drops to New Low in United States (Click for Details)

The approval rating for U.S. President Barack Obama dropped this month, and half of Americans disapprove of his performance, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,007 American adults, 43 % of respondents (-2 since July) approve of Obama’s performance, while 51 % (+5) disapprove.

Aug. 31, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Americans OK Allowing Tax Cuts for Wealthy to Expire (Click for Details)

A majority of Americans favor letting the tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration expire for the wealthy. While 37% support keeping the tax cuts for all Americans, 44% want them extended only for those making less than $250,000 and 15% think they should expire for all taxpayers. Gallup USA

September 10, 2010

Economy » Financial systems & Institutions

Since the Start of the Great Recession, More Children Raised by Grandparents (Click for Details)

One child in 10 in the United States lives with a grandparent, a share that increased slowly and steadily over the past decade before rising sharply from 2007 to 2008, the first year of the Great Recession, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

September 9, 2010

Society » Family

A Third of Americans Regard Obama and Palin as Out of Touch (Click for Details)

More than half of Americans praise the intelligence of Barack Obama, but some cracks are appearing in the second year of his mandate, as a third of respondents believe that their president is out of touch, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 09, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Americans Support Federal Involvement in Education (Click for Details)

43 % of U.S. adults want the federal government to be more involved in education than it is currently and 20% want it to keep the same level of involvement, while 35% want it less involved. Parents of school-aged children are particularly supportive of expanding the government's role in education, with 56% favoring more involvement. Gallup USA

September 8, 2010

Society » Education

Americans Spending More Time Following the News (Click for Details)

There are many more ways to get the news these days, and as a consequence Americans are spending more time with the news than over much of the past decade. Digital platforms are playing a larger role in news consumption, and they seem to be more than making up for modest declines in the audience for traditional platforms. Pew Research Center

September 12, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Americans Support Push to Shut down Adult Services Section of Craigslist (Click for Details)

Many adults in the United States support a move to shut down the Adult Services section of the Craigslist classified advertisements website, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September, 02, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Parties Tied at 46% in Generic Ballot for Congress (Click for Details)

In America, Republicans and Democrats are tied at 46% among registered voters in Gallup's weekly tracking of congressional voting preferences, marking a shift after five consecutive weeks in which the Republicans held the advantage.

September 7, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Almost Half of Americans Voice Dissatisfaction with Health Care Reform (Click for Details)

Americans remain skeptical in their assessment of the health care legislation signed into law by U.S. President Barack Obama earlier this year, with a large proportion of Republican Party supporters expecting a decrease in the quality of medical services, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 07, 2010

Society » Health

British Columbians Clearly More Upset than Ontarians Over HST (Click for Details)

The recent implementation of a harmonized sales tax (HST) is affecting residents of two Canadian provinces in different ways, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. The online survey of representative provincial samples of 804 Ontarian and 803 British Columbian adults also finds that respondents question whether the promise of lower consumer prices down the road will actually materialize.

September 02, 2010

Economy » Consumer Confidence/Protection

More Canadians Are Questioning the Benefits of Immigration (Click for Details)

More Canadians are questioning whether immigration is benefiting the country, with Albertans and Ontarians voicing concern over the role of illegal immigrants in Canadian society, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. 46 % of respondents (+5 since August 2009) say immigration is having a negative effect in Canada, while 34 % (-3) believe it is having a positive effect.

September 09, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

GLOBAL/MULTI-COUNTRY POLLS

Employed or Not, Many Young People Desire to Migrate (Click for Details)

Millions of young people worldwide would move away from their countries permanently if they had the opportunity, regardless of whether they have jobs at home. In most places, except the Middle East and North Africa, Gallup finds adults younger than 30 who are employed, underemployed, or not in the workforce are equally likely to desire to migrate.

September 8, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

Australia’s Environment Admired by Americans, Britons and Canadians (Click for Details)

Australia is regarded by many people in Canada, the United States and Britain as an attractive destination due to its natural environment, but several misconceptions about life in the country persist, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

September 08, 2010

Society » Environment/ Disasters

CYBER WORLD

Bloggers Debate Growth of Government (Click for Details)

Several controversies -- including the growth of anti-poverty programs, what liberals think of conservatives and the nature of President Obama's opposition -- stirred up divisive online conversation. Heated commentary and even inflammatory accusations ensued from both sides of the political spectrum and often seemed to result in the ideological foes talking past each other. Pew Research Center

September 9, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media §

---------------The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani's Gallopedia website.

Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 135

EUROPE

EAST EUROPE

Russia: Abnormal Heat Or People? Who Is To Blame For Wildfires? (Click for Details)

Russians are divided over the reasons for wildfires this summer. A small majority of 43% say the main reason behind wildfires is natural disasters. While other 38% blame people who damage forests and only 11% put the blame on the authorities. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM)

August 30, 2010

Society » Environment/ Disasters

WEST EUROPE

Shift from New Labour 'backed by poll findings' (Click for Details)

A YouGov poll commissioned by Mr Miliband's campaign team in the UK found 72% of those considering voting Labour would be less likely to do so if the new leader adopted this position. But "moving on" from New Labour made 47% more likely to support the party.

September 04, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

United Kingdom: MediaCT Light Bites: More Good News For Digital Print (Click for Details)

The latest set of National Readership Survey (NRS) results in the UK published on 27 August shows that the nation is increasingly embracing technology and the digital world. Ipsos Mori

August 31, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Unemployment is Biggest Economic Concern for Britons (Click for Details)

The vast majority of people in Britain think the national economy is in poor shape and few expect a swift recovery, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found. In the online survey of a representative sample of 2,006 British adults, 86 per cent of respondents say the economy is in poor or very poor shape. Almost two thirds of respondents (63%) feel the same way about their own financial situation.

August 29, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

AMERICAS

NORTH AMERICA

Public Divided Over Tone of Mosque Fight (Click for Details)

No one story dominated the US public's news interest last week; about two-in-ten (19%) say they followed the debate over plans for an Islamic cultural center and mosque in downtown Manhattan more closely than other major stories. A comparable number (16%) say they followed the recall of more than half a billion eggs after an outbreak of salmonella most closely. Pew Research Center

September 1, 2010

Society » Religion

Americans Most Likely to Favor GOP Newcomers for Congress (Click for Details)

It appears that the best type of candidate to be this fall is a Republican challenger. Given a choice of four hypothetical candidates of differing party affiliations and experience, Americans are most likely to prefer "a Republican who has not served in Congress." Those who would prefer a Democratic candidate opt for an incumbent over a newcomer. Gallup USA

September 03, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

Blacks, Young Voters Not Poised for High Turnout on Nov. 2 (Click for Details)

In the US in contrast to 2008, when whites and blacks were about equally likely to say they were giving "quite a lot of" or "some" thought to the presidential election, whites are much more likely than blacks to be thinking about the 2010 elections: 42% vs. 25%, a gap exceeding those from recent midterm elections. Gallup USA

September 3, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

Anti-Democratic Sentiment Aids GOP Lead in 2010 Vote (Click for Details)

The Republicans' lead in the congressional generic ballot over the past month may be due as much to voters' rejecting the Democrats as embracing the Republicans. Among voters backing Republican candidates, 44% say their preference is "more a vote against the Democratic candidate," while 48% say it is "more a vote for the Republican candidate." Gallup USA

September 3, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

U.S. Unauthorized Immigration Flows Are Down Sharply Since Mid-Decade (Click for Details)

The annual inflow of unauthorized immigrants to the United States was nearly two-thirds smaller in the March 2007 to March 2009 period than it had been from March 2000 to March 2005, according to new estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.

September 1, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

Most 'Re-employed' Workers Say They're Overqualified for Their New Job (Click for Details)

US Workers who suffered a spell of unemployment during Great Recession are, on average, less satisfied with their new jobs than workers who didn't. They are more likely to consider themselves over-qualified for their current position. Six-in-ten say they changed careers or seriously thought about it while they were unemployed, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends project.

September 02, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

Republicans Hold Wide Lead in Key Voter Turnout Measure (Click for Details)

Two months before this year's midterm congressional elections, Gallup finds 54% of Republicans, compared with 30% of Democrats, already saying they have given "quite a lot of" or "some" thought to the contests.

September 2, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Republicans Remain Disproportionately White and Religious (Click for Details)

About 9 out of 10 Republicans are non-Hispanic whites, and more than half of these are highly religious. That compares with 62% of the Democratic rank-and-file that is white and largely less religious, with blacks and Hispanics making up a much more substantial part of that party's base. Gallup USA

September 1, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Americans Give GOP Edge on Most Election Issues (Click for Details)

A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds Americans saying the Republicans in Congress would do a better job than the Democrats in Congress of handling seven of nine key election issues. The parties are essentially tied on healthcare, with the environment being the lone Democratic strength.

September 1, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

British Columbians Troubled by Competing Pipeline Projects (Click for Details)

People in British Columbia are not currently embracing either of the two proposals to transport crude from Alberta to facilitate its export to China and other Asian destinations, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

August 30, 2010

Economy » Energy/Nuclear Issues

AUSTRALASIA

Unemployment on Decline in Australia (Click for Details)

Roy Morgan survey shows that Unemployment in Australia declined in the month of August. However there has been decrease in full time employment and increase in part time employment.

September 02, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

GLOBAL/MULTI-COUNTRY POLLS

Religiosity Highest in World's Poorest Nations (Click for Details)

Gallup surveys in 114 countries in 2009 show that religion continues to play an important role in many people's lives worldwide. The global median proportion of adults who say religion is an important part of their daily lives is 84%, unchanged from what Gallup has found in other years. The data shows a strong relationship between socio-economic conditions and religiosity in a country.

August 31, 2010

Society » Religion

Kosovo: Mixed views on the long-term impact of independence (Click for Details)

When, shortly after the declaration of independence, the Gallup Balkan Monitor asked people in Kosovo for their assessment of the territory’s secession from Serbia, the verdict of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians was clear: 93% said that independence had turned out to be a good thing. Not surprisingly, Kosovo Serbs did not agree: hardly any of them shared that view and three-quarters (74%) took a totally opposite view, seeing Kosovo’s independence as a bad thing. A year later, in 2009, the percentage of Kosovo Serbs giving such a negative assessment had risen by six percentage points to 80%. In parallel, fewer Kosovo Albanians now thought that independence had turned out well: down 18 percentage points to 75%.

July 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Regional Conflicts/ Issues

CYBER WORLD

Blogs Continue Islamic Center Debate (Click for Details)

To a degree not seen in the mainstream press, the controversy over the lower Manhattan Islamic center has touched a raw nerve in the social media. Indeed, Aug. 23-27 marked the third straight week that the intersection of politics, religion, terrorism and 9/11 memories has made the issue one of the top subjects in the blogosphere. Pew Research Center

September 2, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Adults, Cell Phones and Texting (Click for Details)

Texting by adults has increased over the past nine months from 65% of adults sending and receiving texts in September 2009 to 72% texting in May 2010. Still, adults do not send nearly the same number of texts per day as teens ages 12-17, who send and receive, on average, five times more texts per day than adult texters. Pew Research Center

September 2, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media §

---------------

The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani's Gallopedia website.