In late October, two explosive devices planted on cargo planes that were bound for the U.S. were intercepted after a tip-off from an al-Qaeda member in Saudi Arabia who turned himself in to authorities.

The online survey of representative national samples shows that three-in-four Britons (74%) believe that it is “very likely” or “moderately likely” that a terrorist attack will happen in the United Kingdom in the next year. Only 15 per cent of respondents think a terrorist attack is “not too likely” or “not likely at all.”

A majority of Americans (59%) also believe that the possibility of their country being affected by terrorism is “very likely” or “moderately likely”, while 29 per cent disagree.

In Canada, which has not faced a terrorist attack recently but experienced the trial of members of a home-grown terrorist cell (known as the Toronto 18), only 38 per cent of respondents expect to face terrorism in the next year. A majority of Canadians (54%) believe this is “not too likely” or “not at all likely.”

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From November 3 to November 5, 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,024 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, 2,129 American adults who are Springboard America panellists, and 2,001 British adults who are Springboard UK panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and 2.2% for the United States and Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The considerable level of uncertainty that Britons expressed earlier this year towards global warming has subsided, as more people in the country regard climate change as a fact, a new three-country Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of representative national samples also shows that Canadians continue to lead the way in the belief that global warming is caused by emissions, while Americans remain particularly doubtful.

Overall, three-in-five Canadians (60%, +2 since April) say that that global warming is a fact and is mostly caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities. This month, 47 per cent of Britons agree with this assessment, up nine points in six months. Americans are the most skeptical at 42 per cent (+1).

In the United States, a quarter of respondents (25%, unchanged) believe global warming is a theory that has not yet been proven, along with 18 per cent of Britons (-9) and 14 per cent of Canadians (-4).

Three-in-five Canadians (61%) think it is more important to protect the environment, even at the risk of hampering economic growth, while 18 per cent would prefer to foster economic growth, even at the risk of damaging the environment.

Half of Britons would rather protect the environment (51%) than foster economic growth (22%). The views of Americans are more nuanced on this issue (45% to 30%).

Analysis

Canadians went through a period of global warming disbelief at the end of 2009, when the proportion of respondents who saw climate change as a fact mostly caused by emissions fell by 11 points. Now, Canadians are closer to their pre-Copenhagen summit numbers.

In stark contrast, the views of Americans have not recovered since last year’s plunge. Twice in 2010, a quarter of respondents have branded climate change as an unproven theory—six points higher than in November 2009.

In Britain, the conclusion of the so-called “climate-gate” has left opinions about global warming at roughly the same levels as before the controversy first began. The big drop experienced in April has dissipated, and Britons are now closer to Canadians on this issue.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From October 4 to October 17, 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,009 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, 1,003 American adults who are Springboard America panellists, and 1,948 British adults who are Springboard UK panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and the United States, and 2.2 per cent for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada, the US and Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

People in Britain are definitely more alarmed about animal cruelty than those in the United States and Canada, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of representative national samples also found that respondents in the three countries overwhelmingly brand the actions of Mary Bale—who was caught tossing a cat into a garbage can in a video that went viral—as cruelty to animals.

Minimizing Pain and Suffering

At least three-in-five respondents in the three countries (CAN 66%, BRI 63%, USA 62%) agree with the statement: “There is nothing wrong with humans using animals for food, clothing, entertainment, and research, as long as unnecessary pain and suffering are minimized.”

What is Cruel?

When asked whether five specific actions amount to cruelty to animals, respondents in Britain are at odds with their American and Canadian counterparts. Four-in-five Britons (79%) believe killing animals for their fur amounts to cruelty to animals, compared to 64 per cent of Americans and 55 per cent of Canadians.

Britons are also more likely to describe using animals for entertainment as a cruel practice (35%) than those in Canada (29%) and the U.S. (25%), and to feel the same way about hunting animals for sport (BRI 81%, CAN 62%, USA 56%).

Respondents in the three countries were almost unanimous on the issue of dog fighting and cockfighting being a cruel practice (BRI 96%, CAN 94%, USA 91%), and less than one-in-five (USA 16%, BRI 14%, CAN 12%) believe eating animals amounts to animal cruelty.

Protecting Animals

When asked about the protection of specific animals, about a third of Canadians said their various levels of government are doing “too little” to protect wild animals (37%), animals bred or raised for their fur (35%), and laboratory animals (34%). The level of criticism for governments is slightly higher in the United States, and increases even more in Britain, where more than half of respondents (53%) say the various levels of government are doing “too little” to protect animals bred or raised for their fur.

Bans

Britons are also in a class of their own when presented with several proposed bans. Two-thirds of respondents in Britain (66%) would ban all types of hunting, compared to 35 per cent of Canadians and 25 per cent of Americans. Seven-in-ten Britons (71%) call for a ban on fur farming, compared to 50 per cent of Americans and 47 per cent of Canadians.

More than half of Britons (53%) would ban circuses that feature animals, a proposal that is not popular in Canada (37%) or the U.S. (23%). Respondents in Britain are also more likely to call for a ban on all types of product research on animals (51%) and all types of medical research on animals (40%). The notion of freeing all animals currently in captivity at zoos is only supported by about one-in-five respondents in the three countries.

The Mary Bale Video

Earlier this year, Mary Bale—a resident of Coventry, England—was caught on a closed circuit camera petting a cat before picking it up, tossing it into a garbage can and closing the lid. Bale was eventually charged with animal cruelty offences and will appear before Coventry Magistrates Court later this month.

After seeing the closed circuit footage, an overwhelming majority of respondents in the three countries (BRI 87%, CAN 86%, USA 77%) believe Bale’s actions amount to cruelty to animals. While more than half of respondents in the three countries believe a fine would be the appropriate punishment for the action depicted on the video (BRI 57%%, CAN 56%, USA 52%), about three-in-ten respondents think prison time would be adequate (BRI 29%, CAN 29%, USA 28%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From September 8 to September 15, 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,006 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists, 1,024 American adults who are Springboard America panellists, and 2,013 British adults who are Springboard UK panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1 per cent for Canada and the United States, and 2.2% for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Canada, the US and Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Most voters in Thailand are content with the way democracy operates in their country, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,350 Thai adults who voted in the 2007 General Election, 57 per cent of respondents say they are either “very satisfied” (16%) or “moderately satisfied” (42%) with their country’s democracy.

Conversely, 38 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the way Thai democracy works.

Status Quo

Most Thai voters (54%) think the current parliamentary system, with a prime minister and a cabinet, is the best political system for Thailand.

One-in-five respondents (21%) would prefer to see the country adopting a semi-presidential system, with a president in charge of foreign policy and a prime minister managing the domestic agenda. Only six per cent of Thai voters would like to have a fully presidential political system with separate executive and legislative branches.

Political Leadership

The popularity of five different Thai political leaders varies greatly depending on the party affiliations of each respondent.

Among those who voted for the People’s Power Party (PPP)—allied with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra—in the 2007 General Election, Thaksin is the most popular politician. Three-in-five (59%) express a mostly favourable opinion of him.

Former prime minister and PPP leader Samak Sundravej is a close second among PPP voters with 54 per cent, followed by current prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of the Democrat Party (PP) with 31 per cent, and Prem Tinsulanonda—current head of the Privy Council—with 26 per cent. Somsak Kosaisuuk of the People’s Alliance for Demcracy (PAD) is last with 21 per cent.

Respondents who voted for the PP in the 2007 ballot rank Prime Minister Abhisit in first place with 85 per cent. Prem is next with 71 per cent. The least liked politicians for Democrat Party voters are Samak (24%), Somsak (22%), and Thaksin (14%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From September 15 to September 17, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,350 Thai adults who voted in the 2007 General Election. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.7%. The results have been statistically weighted to ensure a sample representative of the entire 2007 voting population of Thailand. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

People in the United States, Canada and Britain have reacted with skepticism to the announcement of high level talks between Israel and the Palestinians, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of representative national samples also found that Britons and Canadians are more likely to regard their respective prime ministers as pro-Israel, while Americans are slightly more likely to believe that their head of state sympathizes with the Palestinians.

Sympathies

A large proportion of respondents in the three countries do not express sympathy for either of the two sides in the Middle East dispute. Americans favour Israel over the Palestinians (27% to 5%), while Britons pick the Palestinians ahead of Israel (19% to 10%). Canadians are evenly divided in their assessment (13% for Israel; 13% for the Palestinians).

Respondents in the three countries were also asked about the sympathies of their respective heads of government. Canadians clearly think of Stephen Harper as pro-Israel (36%) and Britons feel the same way about David Cameron (21%). In the United States, 18 per cent of respondents think Barack Obama sympathizes more with the Palestinians, while 15 per cent believe he is more considerate to the Israelis.

The Negotiations

Respondents in the three countries express doubts about the direct negotiations towards a peace agreement that have begun between Israel and the Palestinians. Three-in-four Canadians (79%) and Britons (78%) and two thirds of Americans (68%) say they are “not too confident” or “not confident at all” that the talks will be successful.

Creation of a New State

Since April, the proportion of respondents in the three countries who support the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza Strip living side-by-side with Israel has increased markedly. More than half of Britons (58%, +8) and Canadians (54%, +7) support this course of action, along with two-in-five Americans (45%, +7). It is important to note that at least one-in-three respondents in each country are undecided.

A Solution to the Conflict

At least one third of respondents in the three countries (38% in the U.S., 34% in Britain and 41% in Canada) believe that a solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians will never be reached. Less than one-in-five expect a solution in the next five years (USA19%, BRI 17%, CAN 14%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

Australia is regarded by many people in Canada, the United States and Britain as an attractive destination due to its natural environment, but several misconceptions about life in the country persist, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

The online survey of representative national samples of 1,014 Canadians, 1,007 Americans and 1,739 Britons also shows that respondents have a hard time identifying the country’s two main political leaders, but offer glowing reviews when they ponder their interaction with Australian people.

Life in Australia

At least two-thirds of respondents (USA 66%, BRI 70%, CAN 74%) say they would expect to be able to practice their religion and observe their cultural traditions freely and without restrictions if they moved to Australia.

Three-in-five Canadians (62%) and Britons (67%)—along with almost half of Americans (48%)—expect to work in the same profession that they currently have in their respective countries.

At least one-in-four respondents believe they will pay higher taxes if they moved to Australia (USA 33%, BRI 25%, CAN 25%). There is a discernible difference in one question: while three-in-four Britons (77%) expect to have a better quality of life in Australia, only 39 per cent of Americans and 36 per cent of Canadians concur.

Australia is clearly not regarded as a dangerous place when respondents are asked to contemplate crime and public safety. Two thirds of Canadians (69%) expect Australia to be as safe as their own country. Two-in-five Britons (40%) and one third of Americans (32%) believe Australia would be safer than their respective countries.

Remarkably, one third of Americans (33%) think it is “very likely” or “moderately likely” that they will see a kangaroo in the streets of an Australian city on an average day, along with 21 per cent of Canadians and 16 per cent of Britons.

The Australian People

Respondents in Canada, the United States and Britain were asked to choose words to describe the last Australian person they met in their own country. The findings were overwhelmingly positive, with more than 70 per cent of respondents in the three countries branding Australians as down to earth, more than three-in-five saying they are open, and more than half claiming they are honest.

Two thirds of Canadians (66%) and Americans (65%) describe Australians as “intelligent”, along with almost half of Britons (47%). Every negative attribute is in single digits across the three countries, with one exception: one-in-five Britons (19%) assert that Australians as arrogant.

Australia as a Country

At least two-in-five respondents (CAN 46%, BRI 44%, USA 41%) consider Australia as an ally of their own country, while a third (BRI 38%, CAN 35%, USA 33%) deem it a friend.

When asked about the most appealing thing that comes to mind when they think about Australia, the top answer was the natural environment (BRI 37%, CAN 36%, USA 35%). One-in-four Americans (23%) and Canadians (21%) mention the people, while Britons also have positive things to say about social services and quality of life (12%) and perceive Australia as a place for good employment opportunities (11%).

It was impossible for a third of Americans (34%), a third of Britons (also 34%) and two-in-five Canadians (40%) to choose a least appealing thing when thinking about Australia. The top response are the fact that Australia is remote and isolated (CAN 29%, USA 28%, BRI 21%), followed by the climate and weather (USA 13%, BRI 13%, CAN 10%). Discrimination was an issue for 10 per cent of respondents in Canada and Britain, while high taxes are a concern for 10 per cent of Americans.

Two-in-five respondents in the three countries (CAN 40%, USA 40%, BRI 39%) rate the state of relations between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians as good or very good. The state of relations between Australia-born citizens and immigrants gets a more positive rating (CAN 43%, BRI 46%, USA 49%).

The notion of Australia being a country that does what the United States wants it to do in foreign affairs is only endorsed by 19 per cent of Canadians, 19 per cent of Americans and 16 per cent of Britons. Conversely, a third of Canadians (34%) and Americans (34%) believe Australia has become a bigger actor in foreign affairs. Britons (41%) are more likely to believe that Australia remains a small country with little influence in foreign affairs.

Misconceptions

Respondents were shown four incorrect statements about Australia and asked whether they thought they were true or false. Half of Britons (49%) and Canadians (48%)—as well as two-in-five Americans (39%)—mistakenly believe that same-sex marriage is legal in Australia. More than half of Americans (53%) wrongly assume that the Australian dollar is worth more than the British pound, along with two-in-five Britons (40%) and a third of Canadians (32%).

Three-in-five Americans (61%) incorrectly identify Australia as a Republic, along with 33 per cent of Britons and 28 per cent of Canadians. Significantly fewer respondents (USA 26%, CAN 18%, BRI 18%) erroneously think that Australa—which has no nuclear facilities to generate electricity—is a global leader in nuclear energy production.

The Political Leaders

In order to gauge the level of awareness of Australia’s main federal political leaders, respondents in the three countries were shown pictures of both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, and asked to name each one.

While nine per cent of Britons correctly identified Gillard, only four per cent of Canadians and 0.34 per cent of Americans were able to do so. Abbott was correctly identified by six per cent of Britons, one per cent of Canadians, and 0.06 per cent of Americans.

A large proportion of respondents in the three countries (USA 56%, CAN 52%, BRI 40%) have not been following news related to Australia over the past month. When informed about the fact that the last General Election in Australia did not produce a clear winner, one-in-four respondents (USA 26%, BRI 25%, CAN 24%) express concern about the stability of Australia’s government.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Peter Harris, Executive Vice President and Managing Director
+61 2 9256 2001
peter.harris@angus-reid.com

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 27 to August 31, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,014 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists; 1,007 American adults who are Springboard America panelists; and 1,739 British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% in Canada and the U.S., and 2.3% in the UK. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the three countries. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

A new two-country Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found that Canadians and, to a greater extent, Americans, want their respective governments to reduce their foreign roles and focus on domestic issues instead.

In the online survey of representative national samples of 1,002 Canadian and 1,006 American adults, two thirds of respondents in Canada (66%) say the federal government should stop thinking so much about international affairs and rather concentrate on solving national issues and ensuring prosperity at home.

In the United States, 81 per cent of respondents think their federal government should do the same.

Taking the Neighbour into Account

In Canada, 38 per cent of respondents agree with the notion that the views of the U.S. should be taken into account when drafting foreign policies. A majority of respondents (56%) disagree.

A large proportion of Americans (45%) say Washington should listen to Canada before making decisions in the realm of foreign affairs, but 35 per cent disagree.

Foreign Intervention and Free Trade

Canadians are divided on whether Ottawa should intrude in another country’s internal affairs. Two-in-five respondents (41%) say Canada should never intervene, even as part of a multi-lateral body such as the United Nations (UN) or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Almost half of Canadians (49%) disagree and favour intervention.

Americans are evenly divided on this topic: 44 per cent say the U.S. should never intervene in another nation’s affairs, and the exact same proportion thinks the opposite.

A large majority of respondents both in Canada (76%) and the U.S. (68%) share the view that their countries should not enter free trade agreements with nations that hold dubious human rights records.

Helping Poor Nations

A majority of Canadians (62%) feel that their country has a responsibility to help poorer nations. On this particular topic, Canadians are at odds with Americans—54 per cent of respondents in the U.S. disagree with the notion that, because their country is rich, it must help others.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 13 to August 14, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,002 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, and 1,006 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% in Canada and the U.S. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the three countries. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Canadians offer a more positive review of their participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) than Americans do, a new two-country Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of representative national samples of 1,002 Canadian and 1,006 American adults, 40 per cent of Canadians think the United States has gained the most from being in NAFTA, 30 per cent say Mexico has enjoyed the most benefits, and only eight per cent say Canada has gained more than the other partners.

In contrast, 41 per cent of American respondents believe Mexico has gained the most from NAFTA, 17 per cent say the U.S. has benefitted most, and nine per cent think that Canada has been the biggest winner.

Affected Sectors

Overall, Canadians see more benefits from NAFTA than Americans. Most Canadians (58%) say the national economy has been positively impacted by NAFTA. Only 27 per cent of Americans state the same of their own economy.

A majority of Canadian respondents say Canadian manufacturers (55%) and employers (54%) have made moderate or great gains from the treaty. Over two-in-five (45%) also think Canadian tourists have gained.

However, when it comes to assessing NAFTA’s impact on Canadian workers, 42 per cent of respondents say this sector has not gained anything at all from the treaty—38 per cent disagree, saying it has benefitted.

In the U.S., two-in-five respondents (42%) think American manufacturers have gained with NAFTA, but a third (33%) think they have not. Thirty-five per cent say tourists have taken advantage of the treaty, but 28 per cent say they have gained nothing at all.

Over a third (37%) of respondents say American employers have gained with NAFTA, but the exact same proportion (37%) say they have not benefitted at all. The most negative review of the treaty is in relation to American workers—only 18 per cent think this sector has been positively impacted by NAFTA, compared to 57 per cent who say there has been no good impact.

Renegotiating NAFTA

Over two fifths of Canadians (44%) agree with the notion that the government should do anything it can to renegotiate the terms of its participation in NAFTA. A fifth of respondents (22%) are at ease with the status quo, and say Canada’s membership of NAFTA should continue under the current terms. There is little appetite to leave the treaty altogether (8%).

In the U.S., 36 per cent of respondents would like to change the current terms of membership, 13 per cent say things should remain unchanged, and the same proportion (13%) would completely pull out from NAFTA.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From August 13 to August 14, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,002 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, and 1,006 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% in Canada and the U.S. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the two countries. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.