(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - Citizens around the world have two main concerns this year, according to the Voice of the People survey released by Gallup International. 22 per cent of respondents in 65 countries say an increase in terrorism is their greatest worry for 2005, while 21 per cent mention economic problems.

Several deadly terrorist incidents took place around the world last year, including a series of explosions in one of Madrid's main railway stations and three commuter trains, a car bomb outside Australia's embassy in Indonesia, a three-day siege in a Russian school and several attacks on coalition forces in Iraq.

On Jan. 12, United States homeland security secretary Tom Ridge declared that terrorism requires a global response, saying, "What once was the purview of individual nations is now the responsibility of every nation that stands on the side of hope and liberty." Earlier this week, U.S. president George W. Bush nominated federal appeals court judge Michael Chertoff as Ridge's replacement.

Unemployment was third on the list with 19 per cent, followed by the expansion of war, serious disease threats and a major environmental disaster.

Polling Data

Which of these would be your greatest worry for 2005?

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