September 23, 2005

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - The key concerns of adults in Britain appear to be shifting after the London bombings, according to a poll by MORI. 38 per cent of respondents believe terrorism is the most serious threat to the future wellbeing of the world.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The key concerns of adults in Britain appear to be shifting after the London bombings, according to a poll by MORI. 38 per cent of respondents believe terrorism is the most serious threat to the future wellbeing of the world.

Global warming is second on the list with 35 per cent, followed by HIV / AIDS with 15 per cent, and population growth with 10 per cent.

On Jul. 7, four blasts in London killed at least 53 people and injured 700 more. Investigators say three British nationals of Pakistani descent and a Jamaican-born man were responsible for the explosions at three underground stations and a double-decker bus. Authorities believe the event was a coordinated suicide bombing, the first to ever occur in Western Europe.

On Aug. 5, British prime minister Tony Blair presented specific measures to curb terrorism, declaring, "We are angry. We are angry about extremism and about what they are doing to our country; angry about their abuse of our good nature. We welcome people here who share our values and our way of life. But don't meddle in extremism because if you meddle in it (...) you are going back out again."

Under the proposed legislation, any person who preaches hatred or violence could be deported, people with links to terrorists would be automatically banned from seeking asylum, and naturalized Britons could be stripped of their citizenship.

Polling Data

I am going to read out four issues facing the world today. Please can you tell me which, if any, of these is the most serious threat to the future wellbeing of the world?

Terrorism	38%
Global warming	35%
HIV / AIDS	15%
Population growth	10%
None of these	1%
Don't know	1%

Source: MORI
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,010 British adults, conducted from Jul. 18 to Jul. 20, 2005. No margin of error was provided.