Svotting Up On Svalbard

The Age and the BBC have held a 'What Does The Rest of the World Think About America'? Poll. Participants in the poll - the fair and unbiased sorts that you'd expect to be reading The Age and watching the BBC - have ranked America on their policy towards events such as 'The War in Iraq', 'Global Warming', 'Last Year's War in Lebanon', and 'Iran's Nuclear Program'. Caz writes: 'the results for things that America has done are much the same as for things that America hasn’t done. In the latter camp, we can lump climate change, the war in Lebanon last year, and the Korean and Iranian nuclear programs.'

In a similar spirit, this blog would like to offer up a survey for its own readership. It's the inaugural Svalbard Poll, in which the government of Svalbard will be ranked on its own participation in world affairs.

Of course, you might object that Svalbard is not a real nation at all, it is merely a principality of Norway. Well, that is no excuse for Svalbard to avoid its responsibilities! You might also object that Svalbard has an insiginificant population, with its two cities possessing an estimated population of one and two respectively, and it's entire population coming in at below 40. But we cannot allow them to shirk their duties! It is time for little Svalbard to hold their head high in the global community, in the full knowledge that they have acted responsibly on the world stage!

WHAT DOES THE REST OF THE WORLD THINK ABOUT SVALBARD?

1) The War in Iraq

What do you think about Svalbard's policy towards the war in Iraq?
	Strongly approve
	Approve somewhat
	Neither approve nor disapprove
	Disapprove somewhat
	Strongly disapprove
	Hey, up until today, I thought Svalbard was a city in Iraq!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

2) The Middle East Peace Process

How do you feel about Svalbard's participation in the Middle East peace process?
	Strongly approve
	Approve somewhat
	Neither approve nor disapprove
	Disapprove somewhat
	Strongly disapprove
	I'm not sure, wasn't there a Leunig cartoon about this?
Free polls from Pollhost.com

3) Global Warming

How do you rate the performance of Svalbard in regards to Climate Change?
	Strongly approve
	Approve somewhat
	Neither approve nor disapprove
	Disapprove somewhat
	Strongly disapprove
	What does Bob Brown say?
Free polls from Pollhost.com

4) The Arts

What do you think about Svalbard's contribution to the arts?
	Strongly approve
	Approve somewhat
	Neither approve nor disapprove
	Disapprove somewhat
	Strongly disapprove
	It is high time that the brutal Svalbard knitting industry, 'Knollywood', stopped monopolising the knitting scene. Give the little players a fair go!
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Thank you to all my readers for participating in this survey. I feel confident that we have all made a vital contribution to the betterment of our world and peace in our time.

And stop snickering in the corner, Lichtenstein! You're next!