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| By the Numbers:
Governmental corruption index
Source: SojoNet 2001 (c)
from SoJo, the web presence of Sojourners magazine
[7-25-01]
An annual survey by Transparency International features a worldwide
corruption crisis among governments.
This year's index, published by the world's leading non-governmental
organization fighting corruption, ranks 91 countries. Some of the
richest countries in the world - Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, Iceland,
Singapore, and Sweden - scored 9 or higher out of a clean score of 10 in
the new CPI, indicating very low levels of perceived corruption. But 55
countries scored less than 5 - many of which are among the world's
poorest - suggesting high levels of perceived corruption in government
and public administration.
"The new index illustrates once more the vicious circle of poverty
and corruption, where parents have to bribe underpaid teachers to secure
an education for their children and under-resourced health services
provide a breeding ground for corruption. The world's poorest are the
greatest victims of corruption," said Peter Eigen, chair of
Transparency International, at a press conference in Paris. "Vast
amounts of public funds are being wasted and stolen by corrupt
officials," he continued.
Selected Rankings:
1) Finland
2) Denmark
3) New Zealand
4) Iceland
5) Singapore
6) Sweden
7) Canada
8) Netherlands
9) Luxembourg
10) Norway
11) Australia
13) United Kingdom
16) Israel
17) United States
85) Bolivia
86) Cameroon
87) Kenya
88) Indonesia
89) Uganda
90) Nigeria
91) Bangladesh
To learn more about the study's methodology, and data, go to:
http://www.transparency.org/documents/cpi/2001/cpi2001.html
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
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Click here to send a
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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