Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 132

EUROPE

EAST EUROPE

Russians Still Smitten with Putin, Medvedev (Click for Details)

President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin remain highly popular in Russia, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 72 % of respondents approve of Medvedev’s performance, and 77 % endorse Putin’s.

August 11, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Poles Stand Behind Governing Civic Platform (Click for Details)

The popularity of Poland’s governing Civic Platform (PO) party is on the rise, according to a poll by GfK Polonia published in Rzeczpospolita. 48 % of respondents would vote for the PO in the next legislative election, up four points since mid-June.

August 09, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

WEST EUROPE

Nurses are Most Respected Professionals in Britain (Click for Details)

Most people in Britain hold nurses in a favourable light, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 94 % of respondents have a great deal or a fair amount of respect for nurses.

August 10, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

Britons Still Think the Economy is in Shambles (Click for Details)

The mood of people in Britain regarding the national economy remains sour, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 82 % of respondents say the economy is in poor or very poor shape, down six points since June.

August 08, 2010

Economy » Perceptions on Performance/ Well-Being

Support For Female And Gay Bishops (Click for Details)

British adults are supportive of the appointment of female Bishops. To a lesser extent they are also supportive of homosexual Bishops to the Church of England. YouGov survey

July 14, 2010

Society » Gender Issues

Society » Morality, Values & Customs

Few Italians Want Berlusconi to Finish his Term (Click for Details)

Few people in Italy want Silvio Berlusconi to finish his current term in office, according to a poll by Digis. Only 28 % of respondents want the prime minister’s government to stay in place until the end of the term.

August 08, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

AMERICAS

NORTH AMERICA

The Vote for Congress: GOP Fares Better with Whites, Men, Independents and Seniors (Click for Details)

In the US the Republican Party's prospects for the midterm elections look much better than they did four years ago at this time, while the Democrats' look much worse. Voter preferences for the upcoming congressional elections remain closely divided (45% support the Democratic candidate or lean Democratic, while 44% favor the Republican or lean Republican). In polling conducted in August-September 2006, the Democrats held an 11-point advantage (50% to 39%). Pew Research Center

August 10, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

On the Issues, Obama Finds Majority Approval Elusive (Click for Details)

US President Barack Obama's 52% approval rating for handling race relations is the only issue among 13 tested in two recent Gallup polls for which the president receives majority-level approval. In fact, a majority disapprove of the job the president is doing on eight of these issues, with his worst scores for his handling of immigration and the federal budget deficit.

August 11, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Low Approval of Congress Not Budging, Now 19% (Click for Details)

Congress' job rating from the American people in August remains near the historical lows seen in recent months. 19% of Americans now approve of the overall job Congress is doing, while 75% disapprove. Gallup USA

August 11, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

GOP Maintains Lead on Generic Ballot for Congress (Click for Details)

In America Republicans have a 49% to 43% lead over Democrats among registered voters in Gallup's generic ballot for Congress for the week of Aug. 2-8, the second straight week in which Republicans have held an edge in projected voting. Gallup USA

August 10, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

In U.S., Confidence in Newspapers, TV News Remains a Rarity (Click for Details)

Americans continue to express near-record-low confidence in newspapers and television news -- with no more than 25% of Americans saying they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in either. These views have hardly budged since falling more than 10 %age points from 2003-2007. Gallup USA

August 13, 2010

Domestic Politics » National Image/ Trust

Economy Remains Top Concern as Nov. Elections Draw Nearer (Click for Details)

Americans of all political persuasions say the economy and jobs are the most important problems facing the country today. These concerns easily outpace all others, thus providing politicians seeking office in this fall's midterm elections with clear marching orders from their constituents: Fix the economy. Gallup USA

August 13, 2010

Economy » Perceptions on Performance/ Well-Being

Economy » Employment Issues

U.S. Approval of Labor Unions Remains Near Record Low (Click for Details)

A slim majority of 52% of Americans say they approve of labor unions, the second lowest approval rating in Gallup's 70-year history of this trend, behind only last year's 48%.

August 12, 2010

Society » Civil Society

Student Poll: 34% in Grades 5-12 Hopeful, Engaged, Thriving (Click for Details)

As students nationwide prepare to return to the classroom, a national Gallup Student Poll classifies one-third of U.S. students in grades 5-12 as "hopeful," "engaged," and "thriving" -- three metrics that pave the way for future achievement. While 53% of students are hopeful, 63% are engaged, and 70% are thriving, many students fall short in at least one of these dimensions.

August 12, 2010

Society » Education

Spending Slumps Even With Back-to-School Underway (Click for Details)

Americans' self-reported spending in stores, restaurants, gas stations, and online averaged $62 per day during the week ending Aug. 8. Early August consumer spending trends trail 2009 and will need to surge to match last year's anemic back-to-school results. Gallup USA

August 12, 2010

Economy » Consumer Confidence/Protection

Unauthorized Immigrants and Their U.S.-Born Children (Click for Details)

An estimated 340,000 of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 were the offspring of unauthorized immigrants, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center.

August 11, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

Americans' Confidence in the Medical System on the Rebound (Click for Details)

Providing a benchmark as America's new healthcare reform law begins to take effect, 40% of Americans express "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the U.S. medical system, the highest percentage since 2005. Americans' confidence in the medical system hit a low of 31% in 2007, at a time when confidence across almost all institutions was down, but has been steadily rebounding in the years since. Gallup USA

August 9, 2010

Society » Health

Religion in the 2008 Presidential Election (Click for Details)

The Democratic Party made a concerted effort to court religious voters in the 2008 US presidential election that pitted Democrat Barack Obama against Republican John McCain. Led by Obama himself and aided by progressive religious activists, the Democrats reached out to numerous religious groups in hopes of narrowing the "God gap," a media catchphrase for a striking pattern in American politics: the more often Americans go to church or other worship services, the more likely they are to vote Republican. Pew Research Center

August 11, 2010

Society » Religion

Domestic Politics » Elections

Americans Want to Scrap Electoral College (Click for Details)

Most people in the United States would like to eliminate the Electoral College system to elect presidents, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 64 % of respondents share this view, and think that whoever gets the most votes should be elected president.

August 09, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

Americans Back Extending Jobless Benefits (Click for Details)

Most people in the United States want the government to extend jobless benefits for those who have been unable to find a position, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 71 % of respondents share this view.

August 12, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

Half of Canadians Oppose Mission in Afghanistan (Click for Details)

A majority of people in Canada reject their country’s participation in Afghanistan, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 53 % of respondents oppose the military operation involving Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

August 11, 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Afghanistan War

Canadian Tories Lose Steam, Liberals Gain Ground (Click for Details)

Canada’s governing Conservative Party has lost popularity and is seeing its main opponent get closer, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 33 % of respondents would support the Tories in the next election to the House of Commons, down three points since early July.

August 13, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

LATIN AMERICA

President Piñera Stumbles in Chile (Click for Details)

Fewer people in Chile are expressing support for Sebastián Piñera, according to a poll by Adimark Gfk. 46 % of respondents approve of their president’s performance, down six points since June.

August 13, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Brazilians Reject Lula’s Anti-Spanking Law (Click for Details)

Most people in Brazil disagree with a proposed law to ban spanking, pinching and other forms of physical punishment for children and teenagers, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 54 % of respondents are against the idea, sponsored by the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

August 08, 2010

Society » Family

AUSTRALASIA

Smoking continues to decline, but quitters in regional Australia lag behind (Click for Details)

According to the latest Roy Morgan Research Health Monitor, the four years to March 2010, have shown a 3% point reduction in the incidence of smoking (estimated as 260,000 fewer smokers aged 18 plus)in Australia down to a level of 17% of the overall population (an estimated 2,860,000 smokers).

August 09, 2010

Society » Health

GLOBAL/MULTI-COUNTRY POLLS

In the CIS, Desired Migration Destinations Depend on Motive (Click for Details)

35% of adults in 12 former Soviet nations say they would like to migrate to another country -- either permanently, for temporary work, or for study or work study -- if they had the opportunity. They express the most interest in moving to Russia, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom, but each nation's popularity depends on people's motives for migrating. Gallup USA

August 12, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

Many Africans Say Foreigners Traffic Drugs in Their Countries (Click for Details)

As the United Nations observes the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illegal Trafficking on June 26, Gallup surveys in eight sub-Saharan African countries in 2009 and 2010 show that a median of 54% of respondents say foreigners are using their country as a place to move illegal drugs and 66% say this increases corruption.

June 25, 2010

Society » Social Problems

CYBER WORLD

Broadband 2010: A Big Slowdown (Click for Details)

After several consecutive years of modest but consistent growth, broadband adoption slowed dramatically in 2010. Two-thirds of American adults (66%) currently use a high-speed internet connection at home, a figure that is not statistically different from what the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project found at a similar point in 2009, when 63% of Americans were broadband adopters.

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

Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 131

EUROPE

WEST EUROPE

French Distancing More from Sarkozy (Click for Details)

People in France are growing disappointed with Nicolas Sarkozy, according to a poll by CSA published in Le Parisien. 62 % of respondents have no confidence in their president, up three points since June.

August 07, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Merkel’s Parties Stuck in the Low 30s in Germany (Click for Details)

Germany’s governing conservative parties retain a third of the population’s following, according to a poll by FG Wahlen released by ZDF. 33 % of respondents would vote for the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) or its associate Bavarian Christian-Social Party (CSU) in the next election to the Federal Diet, unchanged since mid-June.

August 07, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Britons Decry Release of Convicted Bomber Megrahi (Click for Details)

Three quarters of people in Britain reject the Scottish government’s decision to release Libyan national Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi from prison on compassionate grounds, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 75 % of respondents share this view.

August 05, 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Terrorism

AMERICAS

NORTH AMERICA

Americans Divided on How Well Iraq War Is Going for U.S. (Click for Details)

Americans are about evenly divided as to whether things are going "well" or "badly" for the United States in Iraq. Since the fall of 2008, Americans have been a bit more positive than negative in their evaluations, after being largely negative for most of the period from September 2003 to August 2008. Gallup USA

August 5, 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Iraq War

Blacks and Whites Continue to Differ Sharply on Obama (Click for Details)

US President Obama's job approval rating averaged 88% among blacks and 38% among whites in July, a 50-percentage-point difference that has been consistent in recent months but is much larger than in the initial months of the Obama presidency. Obama's job approval ratings among blacks, whites, and Hispanics in July are all at their lowest levels to date, although the overwhelming majority of blacks still approve. Gallup USA

August 3, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

In U.S., New High of 43% Call Afghanistan War a "Mistake" (Click for Details)

After the Internet publication of tens of thousands of leaked classified documents on the war in Afghanistan, 43% of Americans now say the United States made a mistake in sending troops there, up slightly from just before the release (38%). While Americans are still more likely to support than oppose the war, the percentage who say it was a mistake to get involved is at a new high. Gallup USA

August 3, 2010

Foreign Affairs & Security » Afghanistan War

Americans Split on Obama’s Performance (Click for Details)

People in the United States are evenly split on their president’s performance, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 45 % of respondents approve of the way Barack Obama has handled his duties, whereas 46 % disapprove.

August 04, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

U.S. Congress Gets Slightly Better Marks (Click for Details)

A few more people in the United States are willing to grant Congress a good mark compared to last month, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 23 % of respondents approve of the performance of Congress, up five points since June.

August 01, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

Palin, Huckabee Top Choice for U.S. Republicans (Click for Details)

American supporters of the Republican Party pick former presidential hopefuls Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee as favourites to represent the GOP in the 2012 election, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 51 % of respondents say Palin would be a good president, up four points since November 2009.

August 06, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

Americans Want Smoking Off the Menu at Restaurants (Click for Details)

When it comes to smokers lighting up in public, Americans are most accepting of smoking in bars and least accepting of it in restaurants. 59 % this year say smoking should be banned in restaurants, up from 54% in 2007. Gallup USA

August 6, 2010

Earmarks Could Help Candidates in Midterms; Palin and Tea Party Connections Could Hurt (Click for Details)

A majority of Americans (53%) say they are more likely to vote for a candidate with a record of delivering earmarks for their districts; just 12% say they would be less likely to vote for such a candidate. A third of the public (33%) says this would make no difference in their vote either way. Pew Research Center

August 2, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

Mixed Public Reaction to WikiLeaks (Click for Details)

The disclosure of more than 75,000 classified documents about the war in Afghanistan by the website WikiLeaks garnered significant media coverage last week, and those familiar with the story were split over the effect of the leak: about equal percentages say the release harms the public interest as say it serves the public interest. Pew Research Center

August 3, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

WikiLeaks Puts Afghanistan Back on Media Agenda (Click for Details)

The war in Afghanistan-- a subject that has generated periodic spikes in media interest but not a high level of sustained coverage -- was back atop the mainstream news agenda last week. And this time, the catalyst was neither violence on the ground nor deliberations in Washington, but the leak of about 90,000 classified war reports by a whistleblower website. Pew Research Center

August 3, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Journalism Jobs Harder to Find (Click for Details)

The tight journalism job market in America is taking its toll on recent college graduates, according to a new report released today by the University of Georgia. The survey of more than 2,700 journalism and mass communication students who graduated in 2009 found the lowest level of full-time employment in the 24-year history of the study.

August 5, 2010

Economy » Employment Issues

Some Canadians Want Limits on Abortion Funding (Click for Details)

Two-in-five adults in Canada think the national health care system should only fund abortions in the case of medical emergencies, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 39 % of respondents share this view.

August 07, 2010

Society » Morality, Values & Customs

Society » Family

LATIN AMERICA

Serra, Rousseff Battle for Brazil’s Presidency (Click for Details)

The race to succeed Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva remains tight, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 37 % of respondents would vote for conservative candidate Jose Serra of the Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB) in this year’s election, down two points since June.

August 06, 2010

Domestic Politics » Elections

Lula Continues to Draw High Numbers in Brazil (Click for Details)

The popularity of Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remains sky-high, according to a poll by Datafolha published in Folha de Sao Paulo. 77 % of respondents say the president has done a good job, down one point since June.

August 01, 2010

Domestic Politics » Performance Ratings

AUSTRALASIA

Australians' Views Shift on Climate Change (Click for Details)

Australians' attitudes about global warming could be a factor later this month in the general election where climate change has emerged as an issue. The percentage of Australians who are aware of climate change and say it results from human activities fell from 52% in June 2008 to 44% in March 2010, while the number attributing it to natural causes increased 10 percentage points. Gallup USA

August 6, 2010

Society » Environment/ Disasters

Labor Leads Two-Party Vote in Australia (Click for Details)

Australia’s upcoming election looks tight but the governing Australian Labor Party (ALP) holds an advantage in the two-party preferred vote system, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 42 % of respondents would vote for the Coalition of Liberals and National in next month’s election to the House of Representatives, up four points since mid-July.

August 05, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

National Slips, Stays Ahead in New Zealand (Click for Details)

The popularity of New Zealand’s conservative government is shrinking but the National party remains the favourite, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 49 % of respondents would vote for National in the next election to the House of Representatives, down four points since early July.

August 06, 2010

Domestic Politics » Political Parties

GLOBAL/MULTI-COUNTRY POLLS

70 Million in CIS Would Migrate Temporarily for Work, Study (Click for Details)

Roughly one in four adults in 12 former Soviet nations say they would like to move to another country for temporary work (24%) or to study or take part in a work-study program (25%) if they had the opportunity to do so. Together, an estimated 70 million desire to migrate for either of these reasons or for both. Half has many -- approximately 30 million -- would like to leave their countries permanently. Gallup USA

August 4, 2010

Society » Immigration/Refugees

CYBER WORLD

"Cyberchondriacs" on the Rise? (Click for Details)

Number of Americans who look for health related information on the Internet is continuing to increase. Fully 32% of all adults who are online say they look for health information "often," compared to 22% last year. The Harris poll

August 4, 2010

Society » Media/ New Media

Society » Health §

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