Spreading the word

New Zealand is the most peaceful country in the world and Americans might want to consider moving here suggests The Washington Post. According to the 2009 Global Peace Index released by an Australian-based research group which counts former President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner and the Dalai Lama among its endorsers, peace is described as “the absence of violence.” Professor  Kevin Clements, of Otago University in Dunedin, said: “The index is a pretty good reflection of countries people want to live in, because on bicultural issues and a variety of factors we are scoring well. If you look at the top 20, they are all small nations based on strong welfare principles, all with good and relatively uncorrupt governance.” Relative tranquility was rated in 144 nations according to 23 “indicators” — including gun sales, the number of homicides, the size of the military, the potential for terrorism and the number of people in jail.