Yesterday, Lova Rakotomala from Madagascar sent an email to the internal Global Voices mailing list pointing out a new reader survey by The Economist to nominate the “best country in the world”. He suggested we (Global Voices bloggers and readers) should submit countries that are usually left out of this kind of ranking. While The Economist have already unilaterally decided that Somalia is “the worst country on Earth”, it seems they are still entertaining a conversation about who should be nominated as “the best”.
Then we thought: “The Economist doesn't know everything!” Few of us love countries based on stability, wealth, global fame or any of the metrics such a publication is fond of. So, dear readers: please nominate below who you think is the best country and why. Whoever offers the best reason (as unilaterally decided by our jury) will win a Putumayo CD of African Reggae. I will mail it myself!
57 comments
I vote for Italy. Sea, good weather, coffee, good wine, good people.
I’m Italian. I love Italy, but I would not vote for it. You should also take into account politics, and that is REALLY bad in Italy. They are trying to destroy the basis of democracy and they are ruining the justice system just to save the corrupted leader! It is a real shame!!
I vote for France : We invented French Kiss, French Fries, French wine . Sorry got carried away, wine, is , by definition French, isn’t it?
Oh well.
I think we’d better ask Phileas Fog: he has been everywhere in less than 80 days, so surely he can contribute in a good way, no?
I nominate Colombia for the best country: the people are warm and happy, the coffee tastes great and it has some of the best landscapes you can view.
I absolutely have to second this! Colombia is by far the best country I have visited (and I have visited a few).
Thumbs up for Colombia!
PERU. Don’t believe me? Just have a look at this video: http://media.peru.info/AudioVideo/Multimedia/video_peru.html
The thing is, it actually looks like that. They just filmed some stuff and put background music to it. It requires no effort nor ingenuity at all to prove that Peru is the best country in the world.
I nominate Syria as the best country with the worst reputation. I mean, of all countries with bad reps, Syria is the best!
Syriasly though, of all the places I’ve traveled, I’ve never felt so welcome. So, I nominate it based on hospitality.
Apologies to my runner-up, Morocco, but I figured it’s a more likely candidate ;)
I support the vote for Syria! Because it is truly beautiful and yet people overlook it. And because it has the best m’hammara in the world!
My nomination for “The best country in 2010” is Ghana. My reasons are:
. If you can drive in Ghana, you can drive and live anywhere else in the world.
. Ghanaians speaks the Queen’s language. The original ENGLISH.
. Ghanaians are very helpful, sociable and always hospitable people.
. They have a very unique cultural heritage.
. Tourism is very high in Ghana. The country earns a lot from it.
. Ghana is the gateway to Africa.
. Barack Obama choose Ghana over his dad’s country, Kenya. You should know better.
. Visit Ghana and taste Fufu and you’ll always be back asking for more.
What else do you want to know….???
In the spirit of fun and in spite of our “difficulties” :), I’d like to submit my beloved red island of Madagascar because:
1) Our spiders make the most beautiful silk
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/arts/design/23spiders.html?_r=1
2) we currently have 3 co-presidents but have yet to get a fully formed government. Still you bet that we are making it work (sort of).
3) We recently recruited a spice girl ( V. Beckham) and a transformer ( M. Fox) in “our” sequel Madagascar movie.
1) When you talk about gastronomy, people living in Antananarivo think “Gastro pizza” .. the most successful industrial pizza chain.
2) When you talk about Rosewood or Lemur, people living near the rainforest think firewood and lunch.
3) The real country of equal rights, where human life is worth no more than the life of a whale, baobab, rosewood, lemur and even pretty little flower.
Mac Jordan… are you sure Ghanians didn’t learn how to drive from Colombians? ;)
I second Jillian and root for Syria. Give it a visit and you’ll understand.
Best one: Mexico! Different amazing landscape, delicious food (love chilly), friendly and helpful people, an amazing variety of ethnic groups with ancient traditions as well as incredible syncretism. Nature, cities with cultural interest, archaeological site and magic and mystical locations! And Mexico city, Tehotihuacan, Palenque, San Cristobal, Tulum, Real de Catorce, Desierto de Sonora, all in one unique country…love it or hate it!