As the Copenhagen conference heats up, a new proposal has been brought to the table: a planet-wide limit on the number of children people can have. The rather straightforward rationale, as explained by both a Chinese official and a Canadian journalist, is that smaller human population could significantly reduce greenhouse emissions. Needless to say, this has sparked considerable controversy.

In our work on socio-economic intutions, we have discovered that liberals and conservatives have a very different understanding of the role that rising population plays in wealth creation. Specifically, progressives and liberals are much more likely to endorse a Malthusian view that growing number of humans decreases  mankind’s wealth, while conservative and very conservative voters are much more likely to follow a Hayekian conclusion that increasing number of humans leads to greater wealth for all. Here are the results, based on a Zogby Interactive poll of almost 5,000 likely voters.

Zeljka economics, environment, future, global issues, ideology, international

Last week a number of sources have reported that thousands of emails as well as some computer codes from the Climate Research Unit at East Anglia University have been hacked and made public. The email correspondence among some of the leading climate scientists appears to show that they have tried to prevent dissenting opinions from appearing in peer-reviewed journals and prevent their data from becoming public.  The computer code used to analyze the data has also increasingly been subjected to scrutiny and some have raised doubts that data have been massaged to fit the preconceived message rather than assess the truth of the matter. Even a congressional investigation is not out of question.

However, some commentators have stressed that correspondence has been obtained illegally and argued that the thesis that global warming exists and is caused by human activity is not in danger. According to this view, the science in support of global warming is based on theoretical and empirical arguments that are broader and deeper than those of data and papers coming from CRU.

What is your view of the events surrounding revelation of emails and code at the CRU? Our March survey showed majority of Americans supporting the broad outline of the President’s environmental agenda. Do you think recent events will influence this support and did it influence your own? Do you believe that they will have a consequence for the climate science specifically and scientific research more generally?

Zeljka environment, future, global issues, international, science

We recently included several winning Top Question Tuesday selections on an interactive poll. Stay tuned to this blog as we’ll be releasing the results over the next several weeks! And don’t forget to submit your own nominations for Top Question Tuesday using the box on the right of this blog.

One question asked respondents if they couldn’t live in the US or US territories anymore, which area of the world would they choose for their new home. Overall, 24% of those surveyed selected Australia/New Zealand, 19% selected Canada, 17% said Western Europe, 16% were not sure, and 9% selected the Caribbean. All other options (Central America, Mexico, South America, North Africa, Southern Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Antarctica) received less than 3% of the total.

Age, race, gender, education and whether one lived in a large city, small city, suburb or rural area had minimal impact on the region or country selected. Progressives and liberals were more likely than average to favor Canada, with 36% of progressives and 33% of liberals selecting this country. Conservatives and very conservatives were more likely than average to favor Australia/New Zealand, with 38% of conservatives and 40% of very conservatives selecting this region. This pattern was also seen with Democrats and Republicans, with 30% of Democrats selecting Canada and 36% of Republicans selecting Australia/New Zealand.

If you could no longer live in the US, where would you move and why?

Katy global issues, international education, elections, global issues, lifestyles, middle east, race, Top Question Tuesday

During the past several months, the dollar has experienced renewed decline against other major currencies and there’s plenty of talk about it.

Some economists, such as Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman, have argued that the weak dollar is a net benefit that is necessary to put the economy on track by making American exports cheaper abroad. Others have argued that a weak dollar leads to a loss of capital resulting in a net job loss. In addition, the falling dollar raised fears of inflation and the loss of the dollar’s world prominence.

Are you worried about inflation? Have you personally taken any steps protect yourself from it? Do you think that the American dollar will remain the world’s most important currency?

Zeljka economics, employment, future, global issues, international economy

To the surprise of many, President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The reaction at home has been mixed, with criticisms being raised not only by conservative but also liberal writers. Reactions abroad appear to be following the same line, with some writers suggesting that the president should not have accepted the prize.

Why do you think the President was awarded the Prize? Do you believe that it enhances the prestige of the President and/or the prize? Do you think it helps sustain and enhance the world’s peace?

Zeljka future, global issues, international, peace, politics Obama, peace, war

With bailouts, stimulus and health care reform, one of the issues on the minds of the Americans is a proper role of government. The Europeans have been grappling with that issue for the past several years, as they have had difficulties ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon. In essence, this Treaty gives less power to national governments who will now be able to veto fewer decisions. It also gives more power to European institutions of presidency and parliament.

A few days ago, Irish voters have had their second referendum on the Lisbon treaty, which has resulted in its affirmation. Rather than slamming the door on the Treaty, however, this has created a great European political drama. The lead role belongs to British Tories, whose leader David Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on the Treaty, if the Treaty is, at that point, not ratified by all other countries.

Cameron is expected to be in power in about eight months. And, if this referendum is held it is widely expected that Lisbon Treaty would fail.

However, the Treaty is now almost ratified, with Poland and Czech Republic presidents’ signatures being the only thing missing. However, the president of Czech Republic is Vaclav Klaus – one of the most prominent and outspoken opponents of the Treaty.

In addition, 17 Czech senators have filed a motion with Czech constitutional court, in order to buy time. Not to be outdone, German pro-Lisbon officials have met with the president of the court in order to prevent the delay.

Would do you think the outcome will ultimately be? And, would you rather see EU more or less united (centralized)?

Zeljka future, global issues, international, politics health, international, politics

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has recently proposed that the current way of measuring economic output be replaced with one that includes measures of national happiness. According to the article, he complained that “Behind the cult of figures, behind all these statistical and accounting structures, there is also the cult of the market that is always right”.

Zogby International has a long standing interest in groups of people, such as Secular Spiritualists, who think that happiness rather than material abundance is what really matters. However, pursuing happiness and measuring it can be two different things. Some commentators have already observed that the very idea of measuring happiness defeats Sarkozy’s alleged goal of moving beyond “the cult of figures”.

What is your view of this new approach to measuring GDP? Do you think that happiness can be adequately measured? Would you support such change in the USA?

Zeljka consumption, economics, global issues, international international, zogby

Former National Basketball Association star Manute Bol is $10,529 closer to realizing his dream of constructing a school in his home village, following a fund-raising event hosted by pollster John Zogby. Zogby was moved to help Manute raise awareness and bring in funding for the project after learning earlier this year about his efforts to build a reconciliation school in Turalei, Sudan.

“I am ecstatic,” said Zogby. “Manute really connected with elementary school children in the Utica public schools with a message of discipline and self-determination. At the public discussion his message was one of reconciliation. What impresses me so much is that every penny raised goes directly to build classrooms, that this school project is a major act of reconciliation between Darfuri Muslims and southern Christians, and that this message is being delivered by someone so pure of heart. There are basketball heroes and there are real heroes – people who are doing big and little things to make the lives of others better. Manute is a real hero.”

The Zogby event was designed to raise funds to construct a school in Manute’s home village, which will be a key signal of reconciliation in this war–torn country, welcoming both Darfurian and Southern Sudanese children, both Muslim and Christian. Children at the school now meet outdoors and learn to write using sticks in the dirt. Manute Bol’s fund–raising efforts nationwide are part of his efforts in partnership with Sudan Sunrise, an organization that works to help Sudan heal after years of internal conflict.

At the local fundraiser hosted by Zogby, and his wife, Kathy, guests had an opportunity to meet Manute. Following a reception with Manute, guests heard the heard him recount his life story about growing up in a village in southern Sudan until he was discovered by an American basketball talent scout.

For more information on Sudan Sunrise or to contribute to this great cause and great man, please visit http://www.sudansunrise.org/donate.shtml. Credit cards accepted.

Katy John Zogby, culture, global issues global issues, John Zogby, polls, Sudan, war, work, zogby

If you’ve been reading our blog regularly, you’ll know that we frequently write about First Globals. We’ve discovered through our surveys and research that this generation of people between the ages of 18 and 30 are the most likely to have traveled or lived abroad, the most likely to keep in contact with friends and family living abroad, and hold political opinions that differ significantly from older Americans.

A new blog post in the Chronicle of Higher Education reports on a speech John Zogby gave at that organization’s Leadership Forum. Discussing First Globals, Zogby says that today’s college students are “the most diverse, multicultural generation yet produced” and that they are ” as likely to say they are citizens of the planet Earth as they are to say they are citizens of the United States.” Furthermore, these First Globals are more likely to seek a spiritually fulfilling life than a materialistic and status-driven life.

How do you think the global orientation of this younger generation will affect politics and life in this country in the future? If you are a First Global, does this description accurately represent you?

Katy John Zogby, first globals, global issues education, first globals, future, John Zogby, politics, polls, travel, war, zogby

This Thursday, President Obama will be in Cairo, Egypt to deliver what is being billed as his first  address to the Muslim world. Noting the challenges posed by  Obama’s speech and particularly the challenges posed by  the different audiences the speech will address, James Taub writes in the New York Times that:

You can demonstrate deep respect for both the state and its people in a democracy like the Czech Republic — but not in a place like Egypt, where the people feel crushed by the state. There you must make a choice. And if the state is a valued ally, it will be a very difficult choice. The dilemma is particularly acute for Mr. Obama, who is seen throughout the world as the incarnation of American democracy, and who well understands America’s power to inspire both hope and resentment. Does he want to be seen as the architect of a policy that gives a dictator free rein in exchange for strategic cooperation?

And our own James Zogby recently discussed the results of a  Zogby poll of attitudes in six Middle Eastern countries and what this might mean for Obama’s Cairo speech at the Huffington Post.  He notes that while Obama is viewed favorably in the UAE, Morocco, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, “deep skepticism” remains in Egypt and Jordan.  In fact, Zogby data shows that three fourths of Egyptians give President Obama a poor job rating for his first three months in office.  Summing up the challenges posed by delivering a speech in a relatively unfriendly environment, Dr. Zogby concludes that “his (Obama’s) speech must be more than banal clichés (”we are not at war with Muslims”) or a repetition of hollow visions. It must be bigger, more consequential and more substantial.”

What do you believe Obama will say in his upcoming Cairo speech? How important is this speech for America’s relationship to the rest of the world, and particularly the Arab and Muslim worlds?

Katy global issues, international, politics environment, international, middle east, Obama, politics, war, zogby