Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 99

Dated Dec.20-26, 2009

EAST EUROPE

Former Soviet Nations Aren’t Banking on the Dollar
The dollar is not king in most former Soviet nations. In its place, Gallup surveys this year show residents in 12 of 15 countries are more likely to view their own local currency or the euro as the most profitable and safest to keep their money in.
December 22, 2009

New Year 2010: Is The Crisis Over?
Recent survey of the Russian public shows that Russians see the year 2009 as somehow positively. They have become more positive of the economic situation of the country and more today believe that the country is going in the right direction.
December 25, 2009

Cold War: Who Started It And Who Won It?
A survey of Russian public opinion shows that they have mixed views of ‘cold war’. They blame U.S. for starting cold war and majority of them are of the view that no one won it. A majority of them neglect the possibility of its restart.
December 08, 2009

WEST EUROPE

Britons Side with Banning Minarets in UK
People in Britain are open to the idea of banning minarets, according to a three-country poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 37 per cent of respondents in Britain would vote in favour of a ban, while 25 per cent would vote against it.
December 22, 2009

2009 'Worst Year For One In 20'
A recent YOUGOV survey shows that one in 20 people in Britain describe 2009 as their worst year ever and almost half say they are most worried about money or debt.
Dec 14, 2009

Two-in-Five Britons Would Vote Tory
The Conservative party remains ahead of all rivals in Britain, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 40 per cent of respondents would support the Tories in the next election to the House of Commons.
December 21, 2009

Sarkozy’s Disapproval Rating Soars in France
The proportion of people in France who express disappointment with Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance has risen sharply, according to a poll by Ifop published in Paris Match. 61 per cent of respondents disapprove of the president’s leadership, up six points since October.
December 23, 2009

French Praise the Debré Education Law
The vast majority of people in France still agree with a 50-year old law which allows private schools to enter into contracts with the state, according to a poll by CSA published in La Croix. 84 per cent of respondents think the Debré Law was a good thing.
December 22, 2009

Swedes Now More Receptive to Joining Euro
The proportion of people in Sweden open to adopting the common European currency has grown over the past five years, according to a poll by Statistics Sweden. 44 per cent of respondents would vote Yes in a referendum on adopting the euro, up seven points since November 2004.
December 26, 2009

Norwegians Condemn Obama’s Snubbing of King
Many people in Norway deem it unacceptable that United States president Barack Obama rejected an invitation to a state banquet hosted by King Harald V earlier this month, according to a poll by InFact published by Verdens Gang. 44 per cent of respondents share this opinion.
December 20, 2009

NORTH AMERICA

This Christmas, 78% of Americans Identify as Christian
This Christmas season, 78% of Americans identify with some form of Christian religion, a proportion that has been declining in recent decades. The major reason for this decline has been an increase in the percentage of Americans claiming no religious identity, now at 13% of all adults.
December 24, 2009

Public Looks Back at Worst Decade in 50 Years
As the current decade draws to a close, relatively few Americans have positive things to say about it. By roughly two-to-one, more say they have a generally negative (50%) rather than a generally positive (27%) impression of the past 10 years. This stands in stark contrast to the public's recollection of other decades in the past half-century. When asked to look back on the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, positive feelings outweigh negative in all cases.
December 21, 2009

The Decade in Review: Four Key Trends
A review of decade long Gallup data shows four major trends. Satisfaction with the direction of the country and approval ratings of Congress and president both declined as compared to a decade ago. In 2001 terrorism was the highest concern but soon after it economic concerns became the top problem and it dominated the decade.
December 23, 2009

Americans Agree with Obama on Wall Street
Many people in the United States believe Barack Obama was right when he referred to Wall Street bankers as "fat cats", according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 83 per cent of respondents agree with their president.
December 23, 2009

LATIN AMERICA

Chileans Doubt Peru’s Accusation of Spying
The large majority of Chileans grant no credibility to claims by the Peruvian government that Chile was spying on their military, according to a poll by CERC. 76 per cent of respondents share this opinion.
December 24, 2009

AUSTRALASIA

Climate Change Deal is Important for Australians
Three quarters of people in Australia think reaching a global agreement on climate change is the most important thing the country can do, according to a poll by Essential Research. 74 per cent of respondents share this point of view.
December 25, 2009

New Zealand’s National Ends Year on High Note
New Zealand’s governing National party ends 2009 with a solid support rate, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 54 per cent of respondents would vote for the conservative party in the next election to the House of Representatives.
December 23, 2009
---------------
The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani Research Foundation website.