New York, 2007: The world conference of leaders from business, philanthropy, the media, and other fields is underway…. Determined to find and fund solutions to global problems, they are inspired by the words of Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg: "Today, we launch a campaign to save millions of lives." Norway's pledge? One billion dollars in healthcare for needy mothers and infants….

Norway's pledge to help infants and mothers in countries where people can't afford antibiotics was welcome — but not unusual. For one thing, Norway ranks second worldwide in per-capita assistance to nations with less-developed economies. Also: Since 2000, when Norway signed the UN's Millennium Declaration, it has earmarked billions to help achieve the Declaration's goals. Among those goals: to ensure education for all children, to end world poverty, to protect the environment … and to eradicate diseases.

Generosity. This tradition of lending a helping 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 it influences foreign policy: What Norway donates to developing countries equals a big chunk of its gross national product. In fact, Norwegians "give" to the world in many ways. 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. Thanks largely to her, that policy of sustainable development has gone global. Other Norwegians give time to peacebuilding. From Sri Lanka, to Sudan, to Guatemala, they've used diplomatic and economic skills to help nations troubled by strife and/or poverty.

Foreign policy. Norway has only 4.6 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 is part of Norway's permanent foreign policy. But changing times also demand flexible policies. Two examples....  

Changing Times. During the Cold War between the Soviet bloc and Western nations, Norway was the only NATO member that shared both a land border and an ocean coastline with Russia (part of the Soviet Union). Its location often put Norway at the center of sensitive NATO-Soviet contacts — a role it filled well! But then Russians decided to form a democracy. So Norway now focuses on building ties with Russia in areas of common interest — environmental protection, for example. Recent changes in the Middle East have also challenged Norwegian policymakers. With its long history of peacemaking efforts in that region, Norway opposed the invasion of Iraq. But Norwegians also have a history of generosity toward distressed peoples around the world. And so Norway has pledged to help Iraqis rebuild their economy, once the conflict has ended.

Ask Now... Such policies keep Norwegians involved in current events. 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