Something is not always rotten in Denmark. I hope that as an ambassador I am excused for bragging about my country. This is among the things I get paid for doing – well actually maybe I should just say for promoting my country…
But here is something that Danes can be proud of.
First of all, Denmark is the least corrupt country in the World according to Transparency International’s latest survey focusing on water.
Secondly, Denmark is the most peaceful country in the World – right after Iceland - according to The Economist
And finally, Denmark is where you find the happiest people in the World.
I’ll quote CNN: “I strongly suspect there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness,” said Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. “There is also a correlation between democracy and peace. Democracies are less likely to fight each other than non-democracies.” The other good part is that the happiness index is rising all over the World.
I tend to think that the happiness index must be somewhat subjective in its measurement (check this article by Osama Al-Sharif), but I am really proud of the top position in the anti-corruption index. That is extremely important for business and our sense of justice. We must be doing something right…
UPDATE: I am not even good at bragging. Peter posted a comment, that Denmark also is the best country in the World for Business according to a recent Forbes survey. Thank you Peter 
UPDATE September 08. Denmark took pole position as the least corrupt country again in 2008. Read also my article on the Danish experience on 7iber.com or on worldfocus.org.
July 3, 2008 at 10:12
Hi Ambassador, I found your blog through the link for my blog in your favourites Jordanian blogs sections. I am honored that my blog is listed there.
I am happy to find this blog and your attempt to address the Jordanian people here. It is a very wise mean of comminication. I do really wish you the best luck in conveying the good intentions of the Denmark people and government towards us.
It has been a difficult period for us in Jordan lately. People seem to be easily flamed with rumors and false allegations and hard to calm down and convinced otherwise.
Hope this blog helps in a way or another. I will post about it on my blog so that to help giving you some more exposure.
I am sure you are proud of such world indexes. Hope one day we will make it that far in Jordan.
July 3, 2008 at 13:14
Your excellency, I salute such initiative, this is a real work of diplomacy. I like the idea of having a venue to discuss certain issues with Jordanians such as boycotting and to bring out the ideas of belives of your people.
Ali
July 3, 2008 at 17:02
I think since you came to the blogsphere we will drop the titles.
According to the same CNN source you quoted,… The happiest people in the Arab World are the Saudis!
Saudis have no democracy, no freedom, an oppressive regime, no women rights, no minority rights, no personal freedom, umm, anything else i missed. But they have money. Can you comment on that as an ambassador?
I’ll tell you something we Jordanians do. when we decide to blog, the first thing we think about is whether we want to make this anonymous or not. If you are anonymous, you can write anything you think you should without fear or self-censorship. On the other hands, if you really believe in something you should have the guts to say it without being worried about the consequences. It is always a very difficult question. I really do not mean to be negative here, it will be interesting to see how your experiment will go. But I thought that we locals had it difficult!
Cheerz
July 3, 2008 at 20:43
Thank you very much for the greetings – I totally agree with “whatever” let’s drop the titles – and go for substance.
As I said, happiness has to be something very individual so why not let the Saudis be happy for what they have and like. The Survey doesn’t say anything about not being able to become even happier than today and maybe our values for being happy are different depending on culture, tradition and – maybe – money….
My first thoughts about a blog was not whether or not to be anonymous – I just had to do it in my own name given my position – but whether this blog would be able to contribute with something substantial to the discussions going on – knowing that blogs has to be personal and substantive to be worth much in the eyes of other bloggers and readers. The question was if I could fulfil this criterion. I decided to give it a shot – and then let readers or the absence of readers be the judges.
As a diplomat navigating in what ultimately is political deep water sets of course limits to what I can write and say on a blog – there is also a diplomatic code that I have to respect, not least to my own country and my host country. And some things are better discussed between partners than in public if you want to achieve results and not become an issue yourself. But I try to push the envelope from time to time and some – critical – points of view will pass through my own filters.
I have deep respect for many of you Jordanian bloggers that deals with critical and sensitive issues and even more so when you do it under your own name. On the other hand I also respect the anonymous bloggers (some are the best) that often provides us readers with interesting insights – but there is a trade off between being anonymous, being critical and being credible. It’s for each of us to strike the right balance.
This got a little bit long but maybe that is a sign of me being hooked on blogging…
Thomas
July 4, 2008 at 02:22
Whatever, and I’m not sure if u r the same person that leave comments in my blog, I do agree with you that Saudi Arabia is the worst place to be in the Arab world, I never have doubts that the people there are so miserable for not having any way of freedom. When compared to Saudi Arabia, Jordan is a heavanly place, atleast we got some normal weather and some freedom of speech. Somehow as a blogger Im not concerned about what I write in my blog, though sometimes I might reconsider what Big Brother is watching behind my back, but hey maybe some day I will be famous if i was imprisioned;)
July 4, 2008 at 19:27
Hi,
You forgot this one:
According to Forbes Denmark tops the list of best countries for business followed by Eireland, Finland and USA. Worst are Syria, Zimbabwe and Chad.
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/06/26/denmark-ireland-finland-biz-cz_jg_bizcountries08_0626bizcountries_bestcountries.html
July 6, 2008 at 12:54
[...] their opinions without using aliases…..”, which can be perceived as an answer also to “whatever’s” dilemma about being anonymous. HM posted a similar but not identical statement on Ad-Dustours webpage and [...]
September 18, 2008 at 18:06
You should experience Copenhagen right now – MY GOD!