This RSS feed should be viewed using an RSS Reader or RSS Aggregator. Firefox users click the Subscribe to feed icon. Feed URL: http://www.blatantworld.com/ http://www.blatantworld.com/ Includes all new content on BlatantWorld.com, except video additions en-us BlatantWorld.com http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/multilateral_arms_embargoes.html A list of the current global nations which have international arms embargoes in place. All current UN, EU, ECOWAS, OSCE bans are listed, with data sourced mostly from the UK Government... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/major_armed_conflicts.html During 2009, 17 major conflicts took place around the World, six of which were over territory, and the remaining 11 were over government... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/largest_arms_producing_corporations.html The 10 largest producers of arms in the World, with figures included for their overall company profit. All 10 are based in either the United States, or Europe, proving us westerners export war machinery, as effectively as our 'democracy'... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/largest_arms_supplying_countries.html The five largest arms-supplying nations make up a total of 76% of the global arms trade. This is a shocking indictment of the foreign policy of those listed, although many of their population would not be aware that they play such a big part in the global trade... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_expensive_militarys.html The United States has increased it's overall share of global military spending, from 41.5% to 43%, in just 12 months. In the same time, the SIPRI estimates that China's spending has gone from $63bn per year, to $100bn, a staggering rise of almost 60%... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/regional_military_expenditure.html The continuous rise in overall global war-related spending is very notable, with a way-above-inflation 4.5% rise in yearly military spending worldwide, even though we are in the midst of the worst worldwide financial recession in living memory... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/female_genital_mutilation.html We have updated this feature to include the latest available statistics from the United Nations. This data clearly shows that FGM is a massive problem, particularly in some parts of Africa... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_nuclear_power_reactors.html A list depicting the number of operational nuclear power plants, and their energy output. Features the latest available statistics from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/operational_global_nuclear_reactors_by_age.html The current total number of operational nuclear power plants, listed by the amount of years which they are in service. Many nations have cited financial reasons for not building new reactors, and are instead squeezing more years out of older reactors... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/least_free_national_press.html Global countries listed by the amount of Press Freedom in each nation - compiled by 'Reporters Without Borders' with the input of journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_newspaper_journalists_per_1_million_inhabitants.html Global countries listed by the amount of Newspaper Journalists which are based in each respective nation, per every 1 million inhabitants. Limited list of 70 nations available... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_overall_internet_users.html Countries, territories and dependencies, listed by overall numbers of internet users. This chart is entirely based on the latest available United Nations UNdata statistics... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/europe/european_union_facts_and_figures.html We have put together the exact same set of facts and figures which we feature in the World and continent profiles. Now you can compare what's happening in Europe, with what's going on in the European Union. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis, along with the World and continent profiles... http://www.blatantworld.com/info/creative_commons_articles.html As part of our spring clean, we have put together a full list of articles which are currently available for free re-publishing under a Creative Commons License. There are about 50 articles which are featured and we will be adding more... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_de_forested_countries.html UN statistics for countries which have seen deforestation between 1990 and 2007. Figures are included for percentage of deforestation over that period of time, and for total land area forested in both years... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_re_forested_countries.html List of countries which have shown any level of re-forestation between 1990 and 2007, with figures for percentage rise and total area forested... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/tectonic_plates.html A List of the major Tectonic Plates on Earth, What Are Tectonic Plates?, Map of major tectonic plates, Map of earthquake epicentres 1963-1998... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_forested_countries.html A list of the World's countries, dependencies, territories and island nations, with the percentage of land which remains forested - 227 nations listed... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/trans_continental_countries.html Some nations are situated geographically on two different continental plates, and others have economic, political, genetical and and historical links to close geographic neighbours on two separate continents... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/quick_list_of_world_nations.html If you are attempting to find out which continent a particular country is situated, this is your quick-find guide! This is a simplified list of current operational nations in our World, with only widely-used English-language country titles used throughout... http://www.blatantworld.com/video_clips/video_journalism_movement.html With a network of over 150 professional video journalists and editorial cartoonists, VJM brings real stories, from reporters on the ground, unseen anywhere else. We have added four of their most recent mini news reports - from Bosnia, Serbia, Uganda and Sri Lanka - with lots more to come... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/military_expenditure_as_percentage_of_gdp.html 172 countries are listed, with all figures coming from the 2009 CIA World Factbook. This is a basic guide as to which governments are spending too much on internal and external military interests... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/regional_military_expenditure.html A list of the total yearly military budget for the World's continents - current figures and percentage growth over the previous decade are also included... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_expensive_militarys.html Whilst it is no surprise to see that the United States makes up over 40 per cent of the overall global military spending (well, Rome cost quite a bit to keep going too!), it is quite sad to see the most 'friendly' western nations (Italy, Australia, Germany, Canada, Spain, France, UK) spending such massive amounts per citizen, on armies, bombs, etc... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/least_peaceful_countries.html Also known as the Global Peace Index (GPI), this list measures the level of internal and external peace for 144 nations, and it is endorsed by the likes of Kofi Annan, the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Martti Ahtisaari and Mary Robinson, amongst many others... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_populous_metropolitan_areas.html The 100 most heavily populated metropolitan areas globally, with lists included for each continent too. The sprawling Tokyo metropolis takes the overall top spot, with an incredible 37.7 million residents... http://www.blatantworld.com/web_directory/female_genital_mutilation.html Lots of useful weblinks relating to FGM, including activism websites, organisations, factsheets and publications. Links to some of those who are also actively pushing this cause on Facebook and Twitter are also included... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/female_genital_mutilation.html A list of the countries with the highest prevalence rates of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in girls and women aged 15-49. Plus info and images describing FGM, it's causes and beliefs attached to it's use... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/documentaries/activism_films_for_sharing.html View documentaries which have been released as non-profit films, by their producers. Subjects covered includes Politics, Civil Rights, Environment and Health... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/largest_lakes.html A list of the 20 largest lakes in the World, including both saltwater and freshwater lakes. Size comparison images for all lakes + total water volume statistics also included. There is a particular argument ongoing as to whether the Caspian Sea is the biggest lake in the World, or the smallest sea... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/largest_continents.html The World's continent's, listed by total area, in accordance with the popular 7-continent model (Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Antarctica) with figures for total percentage of World landmass also included... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/overseas_territories.html An alphabetical list of the widely-recognised overseas territories in the World. This list includes inhabited and uninhabited territories, some of which have broad-ranging self-governing powers, but many are also governed directly by their respective foreign administrating governments... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/disputed_territories.html A list of the World's countries and territories which have serious disputes, with other states, over large parts of their claimed land, or over their territory in full. This list includes recognised, partially-recognised and non-recognised states, along with exiled governments, independence-seeking nations... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/recognised_countries.html Alphabetical list of all 193 widely-recognised countries - 192 of which are United nations member states - plus the 10 partially-recognised nations... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/depleted_uranium_stockpiles.html Full list of countries with Depleted Uranium (DU) Stockpiles, with the latest available figures used. Plus description of Depleted Uranium, it's Human side-effects after exposure, and why it is used in bombs... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/nuclear_weapons_stockpiles.html A list of countries which currently have nuclear weapons stockpiles, with the latest figures. Plus a list of 'Nuclear Sharing' countries, numbers of global nuclear deployment sites, a global nuclear map and a list of previous nuclear powers... Features available for each Continent too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_populous_cities.html A list of the most heavily populated cities in the World, as opposed to the most populous metropolitan or urban areas. This list includes the estimated 2009 population figures for all of those who are defined as living within the 'city limits', or 'city boundary'... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/europe/uefa_team_of_the_year.html Chosen by football fans, through a public vote on the UEFA website, from a short-list of 60 players and coaches each year. Those voting choose their preferred team and coach selection, with a goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and strikers positions to be filled... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/europe/uefa_club_footballers_of_the_year.html Awarded by UEFA, the winners are chosen as the 'best performers' amongst the UEFA European competitions in a full league season. An overall winner is chosen, along with separate accolades for Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender, Best Midfielder and Best Forward... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/fifpro_world_players_of_the_year.html The FIFPro World Player Awards are held in high esteem because they are chosen by the professional footballers themselves. A 'World Player Of The Year' award is handed out, along with a 'Young Player Of The Year' award and a 'World XI' is also chosen... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/fifa_world_players_of_the_year.html The FIFA World Player Awards celebrate the best male and female players in World football, with the winners being chosen by coaches and captains of international teams, each of whom picks out their three choices in a particular order... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/ballon_d_or.html Awarded by France Football magazine, the Ballon d'Or (English translation: The Golden Ball) is often referred to as 'The European Footballer Of The Year' award, and it is chosen each year by football journalists. Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten have all won the award three times, but current UEFA President, Michel Platini, is the only one to have won it for three years in a row... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/full_list_of_nobel_peace_prize_laureates.html The Nobel Peace Prize is chosen in October of each year by the five-person Norwegian Nobel Committee. Get a full list of all past Peace Laureates, listed by year, with nationality and reason for award, and view a current member list for the Norwegian Nobel Committee too. Some people believe that Alfred Nobel created this Peace award to try and redress the destructive potential of his inventions of both dynamite and ballistite... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/europe/european_union_profile.html Quick run-down of the major political leaders within the EU, along with info about the 27 member states, including accession dates, population stats, EU parliament seats split, Eurozone participants, future candidate nations, facts and figures, and more... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/fifa_world_cup_2010_in_south_africa.html South Africa will become the first ever African nation to host the FIFA World Cup Finals in the summer of 2010, with the 64 game soccer bonanza taking place from June the 11th to July the 11th. Get a full list of teams, groups and fixtures... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/hiv_statistics.html It is estimated that over 33 million people were living with HIV/AIDS throughout the World in 2007, and that over 2 million died in that year, including over 300,000 children. Check out a full list of HIV-infected numbers in each region of the World, and in each country too... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/most_corrupt_countries.html Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has just been released. Check out a full list of all 180 countries which are evaluated by CPI, plus their final ratings too. There's not too many surprises, with nations torn apart by war taking most of the top spots... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/largest_oceans.html Get info about the World's major oceans, including a list of all countries, islands, dependancies and territories associated with each Ocean. View a full list of associated major seas, gulfs and bays for the planet's giant oceans too, along with the total area covered by them... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/tallest_buildings.html Nine out of the Top 10 tallest buildings on the planet are in Asia. Infact, apart from Asian countries, only the United States has buildings included in the current World Top 30. The current record holder is the 160 floor Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/highest_gdp_by_country.html The World has a total GDP of about 60 trillion US dollars, and 14 trillion of that is turned over by the United States of America alone. The top 10 countries have a combined GDP of 40 trillion dollars, which is a strong indicator of how unfair the global economy remains... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/largest_countries.html Covering over an eight of the Earth's land mass, Russia is the largest country in the World. Parts of it are considered to be in Europe, and actually make up 40% of that continent, but the majority of Russia is situated in Asia. It spans 11 time zones... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/highest_mountains.html All of the 100+ highest mountains in the World are in Asia, with the majority of them in amongst the various ranges of the Himalaya's. All of those top 109 peaks are higher than 23,600 feet above sea level, but Everest does slightly tower above the rest by a touch... http://www.blatantworld.com/feature/the_world/longest_rivers.html There has been a debate in recent times as to whether The Nile or The Amazon is the longest river system in the world, and this is due to different testing criteria by different people, and a difference of opinion as to where the mouth's of the rivers are and where the exact source's of the rivers originate from. Methods of measuring their length's and seasonal adjustments also call the figures into question too