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Ten Top PR Blunders
Mistakes can and will happen, and while they do, PR blunders will continue to haunt the people involved and tickle the people who weren’t.
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TEA BREAK
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In honour of the Olympics as the countdown to the London 2012 begin in earnest this week ... it might make you smile, its just a bit of fun and only the English.
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The World's 15 Best Places To live
Clean air, low rates of illness and access to food help make these the world's 15 best places to live. Ok the UK is not on the list but we can all dream.
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ARCHIVE
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Issue 54
August 20, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 28
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Issue 53
August 13, 2008
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Issue 52
August 6, 2008
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Issue 26
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Issue 51
July 30, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 25
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Issue 50
July 23, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 24
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Issue 49
July 16, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 23
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Issue 48
July 9, 2008
Vol. 1
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Issue 47
June 27, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 21
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Issue 46
June 25, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 24
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Issue 45
June 18, 2008
Vol. 1
Issue 23
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[MORE]
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The World's 15 Best Places To live
Clean air, low rates of illness and access to food help make these the world's 15 best places to live.
Methodology: To compile thest, It was attempted to gather health and environmental statistics for every nation. But due to incomplete data, only ranked 138 nations around the world. The statistics examined include estimated air pollution in world cities, the percentage of a country's population with access to improved drinking water and sanitation, infant mortality rates, the rate of prevalence of tuberculosis, the density of physicians--generalist and specialists--per 1,000 people, undernourishment rates, and healthy life expectancy for men at birth.
15. France
A stellar health care system and clean air landed France on the list. Working against it: the worst wastewater treatment standards of the top 15. Its tuberculosis rate--11 cases per 100,000 people, one of the highest on the list--also held it back. But there's good news for the country's chronically ill; France's high physician density measurement: 3.37 per 1,000 people.
 14. Spain
The country's tuberculosis rate is the highest of all 15 countries, at 21.7 for every 100,000 people. Spain also has one of the highest air pollution estimates on the list. Its physician density, healthy life expectancy and infant mortality rate are average when compared with other countries on the list.
13. Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has one of the list’s lowest healthy life expectancies--66 for men and 71 for women. The country’s less than stellar sanitation coverage and its TB prevalence rate, 10.8 per 100,000 people, prevented a higher ranking. Working in its favour? One of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates. In 1990, the number of deaths per 1,000 live births stood at 13. It's now 3.
12. Israel
Plagued by respiratory problems or concerned about clean air? Steer clear of Israel. It’s got one of the highest levels of air pollution of the countries on the list. You won’t be lacking vitamin D in this sunny country, however; it's one of the world's leaders in solar energy use. Also working for it: the list’s highest physician density rate, or 3.37 for every 1,000 people. Israel’s healthy life expectancy stood at 70 for males and 72 for females, average for the countries on the list.
11. United States
The U.S. spends over 15% of its gross domestic product on health care--with little to show for it. In 2006, almost 16% of the population lacked health insurance. Still, of the 15 countries on the list the U.S came out on top when measuring infant mortality rate. The country also has the second-highest healthy life expectancy. What's more, air pollution is relatively low, and the U.S. boasts one of the world's lowest TB rates.
10. Netherlands
Though the Netherlands is thought by many to offer one of the world's highest standards of living, the country failed to crack the list's top five. Its ranking was adversely affected by high pollution rates. The highly urbanized, densely populated nation suffers from water, air and soil contamination. Working in its favour, the country has a low TB rate, or 5.4 for every 100,000 people. The country’s healthy life expectancy, 70 for men and 73 for women, is average for the countries on the list.
9. Austria
Austria’s ranking was negatively affected by the fumes and smog polluting its air. The country’s TB prevalence, 8.8 per 100,000 people, also kept the country from scoring higher. Austria did have a good infant mortality rate (4 deaths per 1,000 live births) and physician density (3.38 per 1,000 people) solidifying its position in the top 10.
8. Canada
The Great White North has the list's lowest number of doctors per capita, or 2.1 for every 1,000. Still, Canadians enjoy one of the world's longest life expectancies and one of the lowest TB rates, or 3.6 per 100,000 people. A relatively high infant mortality rate, 5 deaths per 1,000 live births, also lands Canada in spot eight.
7. Denmark
Danes pay between 42% and 59% of their incomes in taxes; about 8% of taxes goes to pay for the country’s universal health care coverage. Sadly, the Danish health care system isn’t super efficient. Long waits to see a doctor are common. The country’s physician density, 2.93 per 1,000 people, is one of the lowest on the list. Preventing the country from ranking higher but solidly placing it in the top 10 is the country’s healthy life expectancy, or 69 for males and 71 for females.
6. Australia
Australia's health care system is one of the best in the world. Got a less than squeaky-clean medical history, numerous past claims or just plain old age? No worries, mate! Down under, insurance companies are required to charge policyholders the same premiums regardless of one's status or past. Australia also received high marks for its air, among the world’s cleanest. Keeping Australia from making into the top five is its TB prevalence: 5.9 per 100,000 people.
5. Switzerland
Switzerland spends over 11 % of its GDP on universal health coverage, the second-highest health spending per capita of all the countries considered. It has one of the world’s highest healthy life expectancies, or 71 for men and 75 for women. Its physician density, 3.61 per 1,000 members of the population, is also one of the highest on the list. Preventing the country from ranking higher is its air pollution estimate, the highest of the countries in the top five.
4. Germany
In Germany there is no waiting for appointments, no need for referrals to see a specialist and, until recently, you didn’t even pay for your taxi ride to the hospital. All this plus state of the art facilities come at a high price. The German health care system, one of the best in the world, is also one of the most expensive. The country’s total expenditure on health is 10.6 % of its GDP and pays for one of the highest physician densities on our list, 3.37 physicians per 1,000 people. Germany’s clean air solidified its position in the top five.
3. Finland
Thirty years ago, this low-polluting country had the highest death rate from heart disease for men (around five deaths per 1,000). This drove local governments to encourage healthy living. Fruit and vegetable intake more than doubled since then and the number of smokers has dwindled. The death rate from heart disease is now down to one, on average, for the region. The country also has one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates, or three deaths per 1,000 live births, and a low TB prevalence, or 4.8 per 100,000 people.
2. Sweden
Sweden's strong environmental policies helped it land the No. 2 spot on our list. Sweden's air is clean enough to place the country in the top three. Its infant mortality rate, three deaths per 1,000 live births, and TB prevalence, 4.6 per 100,000 people, are the lowest in the world. Keeping the country from first place is its physician density (3.28 physicians per 1,000 people), relatively high worldwide but lower than the top-spot country, Iceland.
1. Iceland
Icelanders enjoy one of the world's highest healthy life expectancies (72 for men and 74 for women), giving them plenty of time with the country's mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls and coastal lands. The country is also one of the world's least polluted. Ensuring Iceland’s top position is the country’s TB prevalence (2.2 per 100,000 people) and infant mortality rate (two deaths per 1,000 live births), both the world’s lowest. The country also has one of the highest physician densities, 3.62 per 1,000 people.
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