New York,
2010: The UN meeting room is hushed. Leaders from dozens of nations
listen as the speaker describes the growing crisis in earthquake-damaged
Haiti…. Donors begin to respond: "More than a million people
have been left homeless," says Norway's State Secretary Ingrid
Fiskaa, announcing her country's pledge of $100 million. "We must
help the Haitians to build … [a] new society."
The pledge to help Haiti's people was not unusual for Norway, which ranks
first among nations in per-capita assistance to struggling societies.
Such aid takes many forms: improving farms, restoring forests, developing
alternative energy…. In fact, since Norway signed on to the UN's
Millennium Goals (2000), it has earmarked billions of dollars to help the
world reach such targets as universal education and an end to poverty. Add
in Norway's commitment to cope with climate change, and we have a
description of true generosity.
Generosity.
This tradition of lending a hand dates back to the time when early Norse
fishing crews looked out for one another at sea. It's also part of Norway's
Christian heritage. And its influence reaches far and wide. Norway donates
one percent of its gross national product to foreign aid. But Norwegians
"give" to the world in other ways, too. As head of a UN commission in 1980,
Norway's Gro Harlem Brundtland urged nations to balance their use of
resources against the needs of future generations. Her policy of
sustainable development is now a worldwide goal. Some Norwegians
work with small villages — in India, for example — to promote the
use of childbirth clinics. Others devote time to peacebuilding: From Sudan
to Sri Lanka, they've used diplomatic skills to help nations torn by strife
and/or poverty.
Foreign policy.
Norway has only 4.7 million people. So its effectiveness in such efforts
depends on having a strong foreign policy. Since World War II, that policy
has been committed to international cooperation. Norway co-founded the
UN and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, a mutual defense
pact). It worked hard at helping to build a peaceful, prosperous Europe.
And, as its economy expanded, its foreign-policy concerns grew, too. Norway
urges, for example, that international trade agreements — and the
binding rule of law — be respected globally. That goal, similar to
goals of the USA and the European Union, has guided Norway's foreign policy
for years. In today's world, it is constantly tested….
Trying Times.
Since 1945, international law has expanded through treaties and other
measures adopted by UN members. Treaty-making takes time. The UN's Climate
Control Conference has been trying for years to achieve a treaty to manage
the human impact on climate. Still, Norway supports the process, because it
gives each nation a voice in decisions that affect its future. Norway defends
this principle often. Recently, the world's biggest economies (the "G-20")
decided — on their own — to reform global banking. But Norway
objected to the group's "self-appointment" and urged the G-20 to include
other nations in its decision-making. Sometimes, upholding the rule of law
involves risks. Norway sends troops to conflict-torn Afghanistan — not to
win territory, but to help make Afghan society stable, and thus deny terrorism
a base.
Ask Now...
Such issues keep Norwegians deeply involved in the challenges of today's
world. But just glance at a polar map, and you'll see why they're looking
ahead, too: Norway's northern coast faces the Arctic Ocean. Aviation
routes between western Europe and Asian markets cross that Ocean. The
polar ice cap floating on top of it is important to scientists who study
Earth's warming. And the Ocean's depths hold valuable resources, waiting to be
explored. Are Norwegians ready for the opportunities emerging in this
polar world? If Norway's other global ventures count as clues, the answer
is Yes! To learn more about modern-day Norway, see Norway's official Web Site
in the United States: www.norway.org