Myanmar was for decades ruled by an oppressive military junta. However, since the country returned to democratic ways, things have changed. The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has just stated that Myanmar is home to the world's most generous people. It is the third successive year for the country to achieve this accolade. The CAF "World Giving Index" found that 91 per cent of Myanmar residents gave money to charity in the past year, 62 per cent helped a stranger, and 55 per cent claimed they had volunteered. An economic adviser to Myanmar's president said: "The results demonstrate very sharply how a 'poor' country can be a 'rich' one through its generosity, by focusing on giving rather than getting."
幾十年來,緬甸都由壓迫性的軍事集團統(tǒng)治。然而,自這個國家恢復民主制度以來,形勢發(fā)生了變化。英國慈善救助基金會(CAF)認為,緬甸人是世界上最慷慨的人。這是這個國家連續(xù)第三年獲得該榮譽。英國慈善救助基金會世界捐助指數(shù)發(fā)現(xiàn),過去一年,91%的緬甸居民曾向慈善機構捐款,62%的人曾幫助過陌生人,55%的人宣稱曾經(jīng)做過志愿者工作。緬甸總統(tǒng)一名經(jīng)濟顧問表示:“該結果非常明確地顯示,一個貧窮的國家變得富有是通過慷慨,通過捐贈,而不是通過索取達到的。”
The report also found that people in Iraq are the kindest to strangers. Eight in 10 Iraqis are reported to have helped someone they don't know in the past year. The BBC commented on how significant this statistic was, given the turmoil Iraq has been in for years because of war. It stated that: "It is the kindness of Iraqis…to complete strangers in the face of years of conflict and terrible violence which stands out in the list." John Low, CEO of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: "The generosity of people, even in countries suffering from disaster and turmoil, is truly humbling." He added: "Unconditional gifts of time and money are a life-changing force for good in the world."
該報告還發(fā)現(xiàn),伊拉克人民對陌生人是最友好的。過去的一年,八成的伊拉克人曾經(jīng)幫助過陌生人。BBC評論稱,考慮到過去幾年戰(zhàn)爭導致伊拉克一直處于動亂狀態(tài),該統(tǒng)計數(shù)據(jù)具有非常重要的意義。BBC稱:“面對過去多年的沖突和可怕的暴力仍然能夠幫助陌生人,因此伊拉克人的友善才如此突出。”英國慈善救助基金會執(zhí)行總裁約翰·盧(Dr John Low)表示:“即使在遭遇災難和動亂的國家,人們都如此慷慨,這讓人感到自慚形穢。”他補充說:“無條件地奉獻時間和金錢是讓世界變得更好的動力。”