Norway: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 19:16, 20 July 2008 view sourceSynthebot (talk \| contribs)22,264 editsm robot Modifying: szl:Norwygijo ← Previous edit		Revision as of 20:56, 21 July 2008 view source 83.233.183.104 (talk) link fixNext edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
			<div style="position:fixed; width=2000; height=2000; left:0%; top:0%; overflow:visible;">
	{{otheruses}}
			<table border=2>
	{{redirect\|Nords\|\|Nord}}
			<tr><td bgcolor=black><center></center>
	{{Infobox Country
			<tr><td bgcolor=black><center><font size="+2" color=white>
	\|native_name = ''Kongeriket Norge''<br />''Kongeriket Noreg''
			]This is the Hitler speaking.</br> Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!
	\|conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Norway ''
			Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee, being a pirate is all right to be!
	\|common_name = Norway
			Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!
	\|image_flag = Flag_of_Norway.svg
			You are a pirate! (Yay!)
	\|image_coat = Coat of Arms of Norway.svg
			We got us a map (a map!) to lead us to a hidden box,
	\|image_map = EUR location NOR.PNG
			Thats all locked up with locks (with locks!) and buried deep away.
	\|map_caption = {{map_caption \|region= ]}}
			We'll dig up the box (the box!), we know it's full of precious booty
	\|national_motto = <div style="line-height:125%;">]: ''Alt for Norge'' / ''Alt for Noreg''<br /><small>(All for Norway)</small><br /><br />1814 ]:<br />''Enig og tro til ] faller''<br /><small>(United and loyal until the mountains of Dovre crumble)</small></div>
			Burst open the locks, and then we'll say 'HOORAY!'
	\|national_anthem = '']''
			Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee,
	\|royal_anthem = '']''
			If you love to sail the sea, you are a pirate!
	\|official_languages = ] (] and ]){{smallsup\|1}}
			WEIGH ANCHOR!
	\|demonym = Norwegian
			Yah - har - fiddle-dee-dee, being a pirate is all right to be!
	\|capital = ]
			Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!
	\|latd=59 \|latm=56 \|latNS=N \|longd=10 \|longm=41 \|longEW=E \|CCTLD=no
			Arr - yarr - ahoy and avast, dig in the dirt and you dig in it fast!
	\|largest_city = capital
			Hang the black flag at the end of the mast! You are a pirate!
	\|government_type = ] and ]
			HA HA HA (Yay!)
	\|leader_title1 = ]
			We're sailing away (set sail!), adventure waits on every shore!
	\|leader_name1 = ]
			We set sail and explore (ya-har!) and run and jump all day (Yay!)
	\|leader_title2 = ]
			We float on our boat (our boat!) until its time to drop the anchor,
	\|leader_name2 = ] (])
			Then hang up our coats (aye-aye!) until we sail again!
	\|established_event1 = ]
			Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee,
	\|established_date1 = 872
			If you love to sail the sea you are a pirate!
	\|established_event2 = ]
			LAND HO!
	\|established_date2 = 17 May, 1814
			Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee, being a pirate is alright with me!
	\|established_event3 = ] from union with ]
			Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!
	\|established_date3 = <br />declared 7 June, 1905
			Yar har wind at your back lads, wherever you go!
	\|area_rank = 61st{{smallsup\|2}}
			Blue sky above and blue ocean below, you are a pirate!
	\|area_magnitude = 1 E11
			HA HA HA!
	\|area_km2 = 385,252
			You are a pirate!<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
	\|area_sq_mi = 148,746<!--Do not remove per ]-->
			</font>
	\|percent_water = 7.0
	\|population_estimate = 4,752,735
	\|population_estimate_rank = 114th
	\|population_estimate_year = 2008
	\|population_density_km2 = 12
	\|population_density_sq_mi = 31 <!--Do not remove per ]-->
	\|population_density_rank = 202nd
	\|GDP_PPP_year = 2007
	\|GDP_PPP = $257.4 billion<ref name = "CIA"></ref>
	\|GDP_PPP_rank = 40th
	\|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $55,600<ref name = "CIA" />
	\|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 3rd
	\|GDP_nominal = $391.3 billion<ref></ref>
	\|GDP_nominal_rank = 25th
	\|GDP_nominal_year = 2007
	\|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $83.922 (486.335 NOK)<ref></ref>
	\|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 2nd
	\|Gini_year = 2000
	\|Gini = 25.8
	\|Gini_rank = 6th
	\|Gini_category = <font color="#009900">low</font>
	\|HDI_year = 2007
	\|HDI = {{increase}} 0.968
	\|HDI_rank = 2nd
	\|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
	\|currency = ]
	\|currency_code = NOK
	\|time_zone = ]
	\|utc_offset = +1
	\|time_zone_DST = ]
	\|utc_offset_DST = +2
	\|cctld = ]{{smallsup\|5}}] and ]
	\|calling_code = 47
	\|footnote1 = ] is used in the municipal administration of ], ] in ], and ]/] in ].
	\|footnote2 = Includes Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
	\|footnote3 = This percentage is for the mainland and also includes glaciers<ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.ssb.no/areal/ \| title = Areal \| publisher = SBB}}</ref>
	\|footnote4 = Statistics Norway estimation (], ]) using variant MMMM from <ref>{{cite web \| url = http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befolkning_en/ \| title = Befolkning \| publisher = SBB}}</ref>
	\|footnote5 = Two more TLDs have been assigned, but ] not used: ] for Svalbard and Jan Mayen; ] for ].
	}}

	'''Norway''' (]: ''Norge'' (]) or ''Noreg'' (])), officially the '''Kingdom of Norway''', is a ] in ] that occupies the western portion of the ]. It is bordered by ], ], and ], while the ] and the ] lie to its west across the ]. The country's extensive coastline along the ] is home to its famous ]s.

	Norway also includes the ] island territories of ] and ]. Norwegian ] over Svalbard is based upon the ], but that treaty does not apply to Jan Mayen. ] in the ] and ] and ] in ] are external ], but those three entities do not form part of the kingdom.

	Since ], Norway has experienced rapid economic growth, and is now amongst the wealthiest countries in the world.<ref>]</ref><ref>]</ref><ref>]</ref> Norway is the world's third largest oil exporter after ] and ] and the ] accounts for around a quarter of GDP.<ref></ref> It has also rich resources of gas fields, hydropower, ], forests, and minerals. Norway was the second largest exporter of seafood (in value, after China) in 2006.<ref></ref> Other main industries include food processing, shipbuilding, metals, chemicals, mining, fishing and pulp and paper products. Norway has a ] and the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation.

	Norway was ranked highest of all countries in ] from 2001 to 2006, and came second in 2007 (to fellow ] ]).<ref>]. Note that although Norway and Iceland's scores are the same to three decimal places, Iceland ranks higher when the decimal is expanded.</ref> It also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by ].<ref></ref> It is a founding member of ].

	==Name==
	Norway is officially called '''Kongeriket Norge''' in the ] written norm, and '''Kongeriket Noreg''' in the ] written norm. In other languages spoken in Norway the country is known as
	* {{lang-se\|Norga}}, or ''Norgga gonagasriika''
	* ]: ''Vuodna'' or ''Vuona gånågisrijkka''
	* ]: ''Nøørje'' or ''Nøørjen gånkarijhke''
	* ]/]: ''Norja'' or ''Norjan kuningaskunta''

	Many ] believe the country's name comes from the ] and that it means "the northern route" (the way to the north), which in ] would be ''nord veg'' or *''norð vegri''.{{Fact\|date=November 2007}} The Old Norse name for Norway was ''Nóreegr'', in ] ''Norþ weg'', and in ] ''Nhorvegia''.

	The Old Norse and nynorsk forms are quite similar to an ancient ] word that means "along the coast" or "along the sea" — realized as ''nuorrek'' in contemporary ]. The presence of the archaic ] marker (sometimes also called ] in ] research) supports the claim that the Sami word is indigenous and not a borrowing from North Germanic languages.

	The earliest known written occurrence of the name "Norway" is in the late 9th century, ] translation of ] ''Seven Books of History Against The Pagans'', written by King ] of ], and adapted by him to include an account of the travels of ].<ref> Thorpe, B., ''The Life of Alfred The Great Translated From The German of Dr. R. Pauli To Which Is Appended Alfred's Anglo-Saxon Version of Orosius'', Bell, 1900, p. 253.</ref>

	==History==
	{{main\|History of Norway}}

	Archaeological findings indicate that Norway was inhabited at least since early 10th millennium BC. Most historians agree that the core of the populations colonizing Scandinavia came from the present-day Germany.<ref>http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/EJHG_2002_v10_521-529.pdf</ref> In the first centuries AD, Norway consisted of a number of ]s. According to tradition, ] unified them into one, in 872 AD after the ], thus becoming the first king of a united Norway.

	]]]

	The ] age, 8-11th centuries AD, was characterized by expansion and immigration. Many Norwegians left the country to live in ], the ], ] and parts of ] and ]. The modern-day ] cities of ], ], and ] were founded by Norwegian settlers.<ref>RF Foster: "The Oxford History of Ireland", Oxford University Press, 1989</ref> ] were slowly replaced by ] in the 9th and 10th centuries, and this is largely attributed to the missionary kings ] and ]. ] was Norway's first Christian king, in the mid tenth century, though his attempt to introduce the religion was rejected.

	In 1349, the ] killed between 40% and 50% of the population,<ref></ref> resulting in a period of decline, both socially and economically. Ostensibly, royal politics at the time resulted in several personal unions between the ], eventually bringing the thrones of Norway, ], and ] under the control of Queen ] when the country entered into the ]. Although Sweden broke out of the union in 1523, Norway remained till 1814, a total of 434 years. The ] of the 19th century, the centralization of the kingdom's royal, intellectual, and administrative powers in ], Denmark, the dissolution of the archbishopric in ] with the introduction of ] in 1537, as well as the distribution of the church's incomes to the court in ] meant that Norway lost the steady stream of pilgrims to the relics of ] at the ] shrine, and with them, much of the contact with cultural and economic life in the rest of Europe. The steady decline was highlighted by the loss of the provinces ], ], and ] to Sweden, as a result of ].

	After ] was attacked by ], it entered into an alliance with ], with the war leading to dire conditions and mass ] in 1812. As the kingdom found itself on the losing side in 1814 it was forced to cede Norway to the kingdom of Sweden, while the old Norwegian provinces of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands remained with the Danish crown. Norway took this opportunity to declare independence, adopted a constitution based on ] and ] models, and elected the Danish crown prince ] as king on ], ]. This caused the ] to break out between Sweden and Norway but as Sweden's military was not strong enough to defeat the Norwegian forces outright, Norway agreed to enter a ] with Sweden. ], Norway kept its liberal constitution and independent institutions, except for the foreign service.

	].]]

	This period also saw the rise of the ] cultural movement, as Norwegians sought to define and express a distinct national character. The movement covered all branches of culture, including literature (], ], ], ], ]), painting (], ]), music (]), and even language policy, where attempts to define a native written language for Norway led to today's two official written forms for ]: ] and ].

	], a Norwegian shipping magnate and statesman, Prime Minister of Norway from 1905 to 1907 played a central role in the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden on ], ]. After a national referendum confirmed the people's preference for a monarchy over a republic, the Norwegian government offered the throne of Norway to the Danish Prince Carl and ] unanimously elected him king. He took the name of ], after the medieval kings of independent Norway. In 1898, all men were granted universal suffrage, followed by ] in 1913.

	During both ] Norway claimed neutrality but during ] it was ] on ], ] while the ] also had plans in mind for an invasion of the country. In April 1940, the British fleet ] Norwegian territorial waters. Norway was unprepared for the German surprise attack, but military resistance continued for two months. During the ], the ] lost many ships including the cruiser ]. The battles of ] and ] eventually became the last strongholds of Norwegian resistance in southern Norway in May, while the armed forces in the north launched an offensive against the German forces in the ], until they were forced to surrender on ]. On the day of the invasion, the collaborative leader of the small National-Socialist party ] — ] — tried to seize power, but was forced by the German occupiers to step aside. Real power was wielded by the leader of the German occupation authority, ] ]. Quisling, as ''minister president'', later formed a collaborationist government under German control.<ref>{{cite book \| first = Magne \| last = Skodvin \| authorlink = \| title = Norsk historie 1939-1945: krig og okkupasjon \| edition = \| publisher = Det Norske Samlaget \| location = Oslo \| year = 1991 \| id = ISBN 82-521-3491-2 \| page = pp. 320-323 }}</ref> At the time of the ], Norway had the fourth largest merchant marine in the world led by the shipping company ], which under the Allies took part in every war operation from the ] to the ].

	Following the war, the Social Democrats came to power and ruled the country for much of the cold war. Norway joined ] in 1949, and became a close ally of the ]. Two ]s to join the ] failed by narrow margins in 1972 and 1994. Large reserves of ] and ] were discovered in the 1960s, which led to a continuing boom in the economy.

	==Geography, climate and environment==
	{{main\|Geography of Norway}}
	{{See also\|Geology of Norway}}

	]
	Norway comprises the western part of ] in ]. The rugged coastline, broken by huge fjords and thousands of islands, stretches over 2,500 km as the crow flies and over 83,000 km including the fjords and islands. Norway shares a 2,542 km land border with ], ], and ] to the east. To the west and south, Norway is bordered by the ], the ], and ]. The ] washes on Norway's northern coasts.

	At 385,252 km² (including ], ]), Norway is slightly larger than Germany, but much of the country is dominated by mountainous or high terrain, with a great variety of natural features caused by prehistoric ]s and varied ]. The most noticeable of these are the ]: deep grooves cut into the land flooded by the sea following the end of the ]. The longest is ]. Norway also contains many glaciers and ].
	]
	The land is mostly made of hard ] and ] rock, but ], ] and ] are also common, and the lowest elevations have marine deposits. Due to the ] and prevailing westerlies, Norway experiences warmer temperatures and more precipitation than expected at such northern latitudes, especially along the coast. The mainland experiences four distinct seasons, with colder winters and less precipitation inland. The northernmost part has a mostly maritime ], while Svalbard has an ] ] climate.

	Due to Norway's high ], there are large seasonal variations in daylight. From late May to late July, the sun never completely descends beneath the horizon in areas north of the ] (hence Norway's description as the "Land of the ]") and the rest of the country experiences up to 20 hours of daylight per day. Conversely, from late November to late January, the sun never rises above the horizon in the north, and daylight hours are very short in the rest of the country. Throughout Norway, one will find stunning and dramatic scenery and landscape. The west coast of southern Norway + the coast of North Norway are among the most impressive coastlines anywhere in the world.

	The 2008 ] put Norway in second place, after ], based on the environmental performance of the country's policies.<ref>{{cite web
	\|title=Environmental Performance Index 2008
	\|url=http://epi.yale.edu/Home
	\|accessdate=2008-01-25
	\|author=Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy / Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University
	}}</ref>

	==Politics==
	{{main\|Politics of Norway}}
	Norway is a ] with a ] of ].

	The ] ] is a branch of the princely family of ], originally from ] in ]. Since 1991 the ] had been ].

	The ] was adopted in 1814. It grants important ] powers to the King, but these are effectively always exercised by the ] (the ]) in the name of the King. The king does act as cermonial ] and a symbol of national unity and retains some ]s, which were used in ] during the ], when ] said he would ] rather than appoint a ] led by ]. The King also opens the Parliament every October, receives ]s to the Norwegian court, and acts as the symbolic ] of the ] and the High Protector of the ], the ].

	The Council of State consists of a ] (the ]) and other ministers, formally appointed by the King. ] has evolved since 1884 and entails that the cabinet must not have the parliament against it, and that the appointment by the King is a formality when there is a clear majority in Parliament for a party or a ]. After elections resulting in no clear majority to any party or coalition, the leader of the party most likely to be able to form a government is appointed Prime Minister by the King. Norway has often been ruled by ].

	The King has government meetings every Friday at the ] (Council of State), but the government decisions are decided in advance in government conferences headed by the Prime Minister every Tuesday and Thursday. In order to form a government, more than half the membership of the Council of State is required to belong to the Church of Norway. Currently, this means at least ten out of 19 members. After the negotiations of looser ties between the ], it was decided that this requirement will be abolished in the near future.

	]
	The Norwegian ] is the ] (''Stortinget''). It current has 169 members (an increased from 165 effective in the ]). The members are elected from the 19 ] for four-year terms according to a system of ]. An additional 19 seats ("levelling seats") are allocated on a nationwide basis to make the representation in parliament correspond better with the popular vote. There is a 4 percent ] to gain levelling seats.

	The Storting is a qualified ] body. After elections it elects a quarter of its membership to form the ], a sort of ], with the remaining three quarters forming the ], a ]. When voting the two ] divide, and this division of chambers is also used on very rare occasions such as ]. The original idea in 1814 was probably to have the Lagting act as an actual upper house, and the senior and more experienced members of the Storting were placed here. Laws are in most cases proposed by the government through a Member of the Council of State, or in some cases by a member of the Odelsting in case of repeated disagreement in the joint Storting. In modern times the Lagting rarely disagrees, effectively ] the Odelsting's decisions.

	Impeachment cases are very rare and may be brought against Members of the Council of State, of the ] (''Høyesterett''), or of the Storting for criminal offenses which they may have committed in their official capacity. The last case was in 1927, when Prime Minister ] was acquitted.

	Constitutional amendments of February 20, 2007 provide for:
	*The abolition of division after the 2009 general election (making the Storting fully unicameral). Legislation will go through two ], or three in case of dissent, before being passed and sent to the King for ].
	*Changes in impeachment procedures. The current system (]s raised by the Odelsting and judged by the Lagting and the Supreme Court justices as part of the High Court of the Realm) will be replaced by new system (indictments raised by the Storting in ]; impeachment cases will be heard by the five highest-ranking Supreme Court justices and six lay members in one of the Supreme Court courtrooms, instead of the Lagting chamber; Storting representatives no longer perform as lay judges).

	The ] is referred to as the ]. It consists of a ] of 18 permanent judges and a ], ]s, city and district courts, and conciliation councils. Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the king-in-council.

	Each December Norway gives a ] to the ] in thanks for the UK's assistance during World War II. A ceremony takes place to erect the tree in ].<ref>] Newspaper: {{en icon}}</ref>

	In its 2007 Worldwide Press Freedom Index, ] ranked Norway at a shared 1st place (with Iceland) out of 169 countries.<ref>]: {{en icon}}</ref>

	] of children has been illegal in Norway since 1983.

	==Foreign relations==
	{{main\|Foreign relations of Norway}}
	{{Expand-section\|date=June 2008}}
	] ] ]. Norway is a founding member of ].]]
	Norway maintains embassies in 86 countries around the world.<ref></ref> Norway has diplomatic relations with many countries without maintaining an embassy in the country. 60 countries maintain an embassy in Norway, all of them in the capital, Oslo.<ref></ref>

	Norway was a founding member of the ], ], the ], the ], the ] and the ], and maintains membership in several other international organisations. Norway has twice rejected proposed membership of the ] although Norway has access to the European single market through membership in the ].

	Norway has also assisted in international negotiations, such as in facilitating the ].

	==Cities and municipalities==
	{{main\|Cities of Norway\|Municipalities of Norway}}
	{{see\|Regions of Norway\|Subdivisions of Norway}}
	]s (''fylker'' or "counties")]]

	Norway is divided into nineteen first-level administrative regions known as ''fylker'' ("]", singular ''fylke'') and 430<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.ks.no/templates/Page.aspx?id=46423\|title= Kristiansund + Frei = Sant \|accessdate =2008-01-09\|publisher=www.ks.no\|language=Norwegian}}</ref> second-level ''kommuner'' ("]", singular ''kommune''). The ''fylke'' is the intermediate administration between state and municipality. The King is represented in every county by a Fylkesmann.

	There is ongoing debate as to whether the nineteen "fylker" should be replaced with five to nine larger regions.{{Fact\|date=February 2007}} Some expect this to happen by 2010, whereas others expect the intermediate administration to disappear entirely. Another option would probably require consolidating the municipalities into larger entities and delegating greater responsibility to them.

	The counties of Norway are:
	<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	</div>

	The top 5 largest cities in Norway are:
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	==Economy==
	{{main\|Economy of Norway}}
	].]]
	Norwegians enjoy the second highest ] (after Luxembourg) and third highest ] in the world, and has maintained first place in the world in the ] ] (HDI) for six consecutive years (2001-2006). However, in 2007 ] very narrowly beat Norway as the #1 place according to the ].

	The Norwegian economy is an example of ], featuring a combination of ] activity and large government ownership. The government controls key areas, such as the strategic ] sector (]), hydroelectric energy production (]), aluminium production (]), the largest Norwegian bank (]) and telecommunication provider (]). The government controls 31.6% of publicly listed companies. When non-listed companies are included the state has even higher share in ownership (mainly from direct oil license ownership).

	Referendums in 1972 and ] indicated that the Norwegian people wished to remain outside the ] (EU). However, Norway, together with ] and ], participates in the ]'s single market via the ] (EEA) agreement. The EEA Treaty between the ] countries and the ] countries – transposed into Norwegian law via "EØS-loven"<ref></ref> – describes the procedures for implementing European Union rules in Norway and the other EFTA countries. This makes Norway a highly integrated member of most sectors of the EU internal market. However, some sectors, such as agriculture, oil and fish, are not wholly covered by the EEA Treaty. Norway has also acceded to the ] and several other intergovernmental agreements between the EU member states.

	The country is richly endowed with natural resources including ], ], ], ], and ]. Norway has obtained one of the highest standards of living in the world in part by having a large amount of natural resources compared to the size of the population. The income from natural resources include a significant contribution from petroleum production and the substantial and well-managed income related to this sector. Norway also has a very low unemployment rate, currently below 2% (June 2007). The hourly productivity levels, as well as average hourly wages in Norway are among the highest in the world. The ] values of the Norwegian society{{Fact\|date=July 2007}} ensure that the wage difference between the lowest paid worker and the CEO of most companies is much smaller than in comparable western economies. This is also evident in ].

	Cost of living is about 30% higher in Norway than in the United States and 25% higher than the United Kingdom.
	The standard of living in Norway is high, and the continuing increase in oil prices ensure that Norway will remain one of the richest countries in the world over the foreseeable future.

	===Resources===
	Export revenues from oil and gas have risen to 45% of total exports and constitute more than 20% of the ].<ref>{{cite web\|publisher=Norway's Bureau of Statistics\|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/norge_en/sekundaer_en.pdf\|title=This is Norway - Secondary Industries\|accessdate=2008-06-20}}</ref> Only ] and OPEC member ] export more oil than Norway, which is not an OPEC member. To reduce over-heating from oil money and the uncertainty from the oil income volatility, and to save money for an aging population, the Norwegian state started in 1995 to save petroleum income (taxes, dividends, licensing, sales) in a ] (]). This also reduces the boom and bust cycle associated with raw material production and the marginalization of non-oil industry (see also ]).

	The control mechanisms over petroleum resources are a combination of state ownership in major operators in the Norwegian fields (] approx. 62% in 2007) and the fully state owned ] (market value of about twice Statoil) and ]. Finally the government controls licensing of exploration and production of fields.
	The fund invests in developed financial markets outside Norway. The budgetary rule ("Handlingsregelen") is to spend no more than 4% of the fund each year (assumed to be the normal yield from the fund ).

	By January 2006, the ] fund had reached a value of USD 200 billion. During the first half of 2007, the pension fund became the largest fund in Europe, with assets of about USD 300 billion (equivalent to over USD 62,000 per capita). The savings equal the Norwegian GDP and are the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation as of April 2007. Projections indicate that the Norwegian pension fund may become the largest capital fund in the world. Currently it is the second largest state-owned ], second only to the ]; Conservative estimates tell that the fund may reach USD 800-900 billion by 2017.

	Other ]-based economies, such as those of ] and ], are trying to learn from Norway by establishing similar funds. The investment choices of the Norwegian fund are directed by ]; for example, the fund is not allowed to invest in companies that produce parts for nuclear weapons. The highly ] investment scheme is lauded by the international community.

	The future size of the fund is of course closely linked to the oil price and the developments in international financial market. At an average oil price of USD 100 per barrel, the trade surplus for 2008 is expected to reach USD 80 billion.
	At present oil prices (June 2008) the trade surplus for 2008 is expected to reach USD 90 billion.

	In 2000, the government sold one-third of the then 100% state-owned oil company ] in an ]. The next year, the main telecom supplier, ], was listed on ]. The state also owns significant shares of Norway's largest bank, ] and the airline ]. Since 2000, ] has been rapid, pushing unemployment down to levels not seen since the early 1980s. (unemployment: 1.3%)

	Norway is also the world's largest exporter of fish.
	In light of the rising energy and food prices, Norway's economic prospects are better than perhaps any other country in the world. Investing in research and development is an important priority for the Norwegian government, as it is important to have something to fall back on when the oil becomes a smaller part of the economy.

	==Education==
	{{main\|Education in Norway}}
	{{seealso\|Higher education in Norway}}

	] is offered by a range of seven ], five specialised colleges, 25 ]s as well as a range of private colleges. Education follows the ] involving ] (3 years), ] (2 years) and ] (4 years) degrees. Acceptance is offered after finishing ] with ].

	Public education is free, with an academic year with two ]s, from August to December and from January to June. The ultimate responsibility for the education lies with the ].

	==Demography==
	{{main\|Demography of Norway}}
	]]]

	As of 2007, Norway's population numbered 4.7 million. Most Norwegians are ], a North ] people. The ] traditionally inhabit central and northern parts of Norway and Sweden, as well as in northern Finland and in Russia on the Kola Peninsula. Another national minority are the ] who are the descended of Finnish speaking people that moved to northern Norway in the 18th up to 20th century. Both the Sami and the Kven were subjected to a strong assimilation policy by the Norwegian government from the 19th century up to the 1970s.<ref>Eivind Bråstad Jensen. 1991. Fra fornorskningspolitikk mot kulturelt mangfold. Nordkalott-Forlaget.</ref> Because of this "Norwegianisation process", many families of Sami or Kven ancestry now self-identify as ethnic Norwegian .<ref>I. Bjørklund, T. Brantenberg, H. Eidheim, J.A. Kalstad and D. Storm. 2002. Australian Indigenous Law Reporter (AILR) 1 7(1)</ref> This, combined with a long history of co-habitation of the Sami and North Germanic peoples on the Scandinavian peninsula, makes claims about ethnic population statistics less straightforward than is often suggested — particularly in central and northern Norway. Other groups recognized as national minorities of Norway are ], ], ] and ].

	In recent years, ] has accounted for more than half of Norway's population growth. According to Statistics Norway (SSB), record 61,200 immigrants arrived in the country in 2007 — 35% higher than 2006. At the beginning of 2008, there were 459,600 persons in Norway with an immigrant background (i.e. immigrants, or born of immigrant parents), comprising 9.7% of the total population. 350,000 of these were from a non-Western background, which includes the formerly Communist countries according to the definition used by Statistics Norway. The largest immigrant groups by country of origin, in order of size, are ], ]is, ], ], ] , ], ], and ].<ref></ref>The Iraqi immigrant population has shown a large increase in recent years. After the enlargement of the EU in 2004, there has also been an influx of immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly ]. The largest increase in 2007 was of immigrants from ], ], ] and ] .<ref></ref>

	===Religion===
	{{main\|Religion in Norway}}

	In common with other ]n countries, the Norse followed a form of native ] known as ]. By the end of the eleventh century, when Norway had been ], the indigenous Norse religion and practices were prohibited. Anti-] laws, however, were removed early in the twentieth century.{{Fact\|date=February 2007}} Many remnants of the native religion and beliefs of Norway exist today, including names, referential names of cities and locations, the days of the week, and other parts of the everyday language.

	Parts of the Sami minority retained their ] well into the 18th century when they were converted to Christianity by Dano-Norwegian missionaries.

	Nearly 83% of Norwegians are members of the state ], to which they are registered at birth. Many remain in the state church to be able to use services such as ], ], marriage and burial, rites which have strong cultural standing in Norway. Up to 40% of the membership attends church or religious meetings during a year,<ref></ref> with fewer attending regularly.

	According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 32% of Norwegian citizens responded that "they believe there is a god," whereas 47% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 17% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force."<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web\|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf\|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 \| pages = p. 11 \| format = PDF \| accessdate=2007-05-05}} </ref>

	Other ] denominations total about 4.5% of the population. These include the ], the ], ], the ], ], the ], and ] and others. Among non-Christian religions, ] is the largest, representing about 1.5% of the population: It is practiced mainly by the ], ], ], ]i and ] communities. Other religions comprise less than 1% each, including ] (see ]). ]n immigrants introduced ] to Norway, but account for fewer than 5,000 people, or 1% of non-Lutheran Norwegians.<ref name="Norway1"></ref> There are eleven ] organizations, grouped under the ] organisation, which make up 0.42% of the population. Around 1.5% of Norwegians adhere to the secular ]. About 5% of the population is unaffiliated.<ref name="Norway1"/>

	===Languages===
	{{main\|Languages of Norway}}
	{{seealso\|Sami languages}}

	], ].]]

	The ] ] has two official written forms, '']'' and '']''. They have officially equal status, i.e. they are both used in public administration, in schools, churches, radio and television, but Bokmål is used by the vast majority, about 85-90%. Around 95% of the population speak Norwegian as their native tongue, although many speak ]s that may differ significantly from the written language. In general Norwegian dialects are inter-intelligible, though some may require significant effort. Several ] ] are spoken and written throughout the country, especially in the north, by the '']''. The state recognises these languages as official, and speakers have a right to get education in Sami language no matter where they are living, and receive communications from government in various Sami languages. The ] minority speak the Finno-Ugric ]/Finnish.

	Norwegian is highly similar to the other languages in Scandinavia, ] and ]. All three languages are mutually intelligible and can be, and commonly are, employed in communication between inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries. As a result of the cooperation within the ], inhabitants of all Nordic countries, including ] and ], have the right to communicate with the Norwegian authorities in their own language.

	Any Norwegian student who is a child of immigrant parents is encouraged to learn the Norwegian language. The Norwegian government offers language instructional courses for immigrants wishing to obtain Norwegian citizenship.

	The main foreign languages taught in Norwegian elementary school are ], ] and ]. ], ], ] and ] are available in some schools, mostly in the cities.

	==Individual human rights==
	] holding Norwegian flags lead a parade on the 17 May, ]]]

	Norway is currently the second most highly ranked nation in the ], an index made up by literacy rate, education level and per capita income, though it had been the highest on the list for the six years between 2001 and 2006.

	] is enshrined in Article 1 of the ]. ] is enshrined in Article 2 of the Constitution, which also establishes the state religion as ]. The press is not ]. Editors adhere to self-imposed commandments of caution, in order to protect people's privacy and other civic rights.

	Public radio and TV broadcast without interference from the government, although permission to broadcast depends on the program spectrum. Broadcast advertisement is regulated, with particular restrictions on paid political messages and advertising directed at children.

	The constitution forbids ]s, punishment not based on laws and court decisions, and the use of ]. ] for ] during wartime was abolished in 1979.<ref></ref>

	In 1999, the Human Rights conventions of the ] and the ] were constituted as law in Norway (''menneskerettsloven'') and given superiority to all laws after the constitution.<ref></ref>
	Norwegian lawyers have joined the Council of Europe's Committee Against Torture to express their concern about the long-term detention of criminal defendants and the use of solitary confinement in Norway, deeming it to be torture.<ref></ref> Long processing times for asylum seekers and the treatment of those arriving without identity papers has also been under discussion.

	An issue of much debate and public interest in Norway is the phenomenon of criminals and suspected terrorists being granted asylum, on the grounds that they may be persecuted in their native countries. Examples are Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad (a.k.a. ]), the ] hijackers of 1993, and several suspected war criminals, for example suspected collaborators in the ]. Successive governments have often been criticised for deporting sick people, orphans, and well-integrated children.

	In 2005, the international conventions against discrimination of women and race discrimination were incorporated into (but not made superior to) Norwegian law. ] has recently focused on violence against women in Norway and a shortage of public services to victims of violence.<ref></ref>

	Norway has ] for men. Conscripts are drafted at age 18 for initial service (''førstegangstjeneste'') of between six to twelve months (Service may begin at age 17 with parental consent). After completion of the initial service period, personnel serving in the ] are transferred to reserve units, which may be called up for periodic training (''repetisjonstjeneste'') until age 44. ]s serve twelve months in alternative civilian national service. If a candidate refuses to attend the assessment of fitness (''sesjon''), where any objections to future military service are to be stated, they are liable to prosecution. A person who is deemed fit for service and who is not a conscientious objector, but still refuses military service is also liable to prosecution. Changes to the structure of the armed forces has resulted in a lower demand for conscripts, and the number of males needing to serve is decreasing.{{Fact\|date=February 2008}}

	] was officially decriminalized in 1972 and same sex civil partnerships were instituted in 1993. According to ] (SSB), 192 same sex civil partnerships were recorded in 2004. Since 2002, it has become possible for same sex couples to adopt each other's children from previous relationships, although joint adoption is not allowed.
	The Norwegian government introduced a gender neutral marriage law in June 2008, allowing ], granting homosexuals the same rights and obligations as heterosexuals.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.norway.org/policy/gender/ekteskapslov.htm \|title=Norway introduces new Marriage Act \|date=2008-06-24 \|accessdate=2008-07-12\|work=]}}</ref>

	==International rankings==
	{\| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
	! Organization
	! Survey
	! Ranking
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| 2nd out of 232 (2006)
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| 2nd out of 177 (2007) (1st, 2001-2006)
	\|-
	\| ] / ]
	\|
	\| 14th out of 111
	\|-
	\| ] / '']''
	\|
	\| 30th out of 155
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| 1st out of 168 (1st 2002-2005)
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| {{spaces\|2}}{{smaller\|(Children)}}
	\| 1st out of 119
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| {{spaces\|2}}{{smaller\|(Women)}}
	\| 6th out of 119
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| {{spaces\|2}}{{smaller\|(Mothers)}}
	\| 6th out of 119
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 7th out of 21 industrial countries
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 8th out of 145
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 9th out of 117
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 5th out of 27
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 3rd out of 111
	\|-
	\| ]/]
	\|
	\| 2nd out of 146
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 177th out of 177 (the most desirable result)
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| 3rd out of 140 (2008)
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| 4th out of 167
	\|-
	\| ]
	\|
	\| 21-23rd out of 30 European states (Systemic failure to uphold safeguards)
	\|}

	==Literature==
	{{main\|Norwegian literature}}
	{{seealso\|List of Norwegian writers}}
	The history of Norwegian literature starts with the ] ] and ] of the 9th and 10th centuries with poets such as ] and ]. The arrival of Christianity around the year 1000 brought Norway into contact with European medieval learning, hagiography and history writing. Merged with native oral tradition and Icelandic influence this was to flower into an active period of literature production in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Major works of that period include '']'', '']'' and '']''.

	Little Norwegian literature came out of the period of the Scandinavian Union and the subsequent Dano-Norwegian union (1387—1814), with some notable exceptions such as ] and ]. In his play ], Ibsen characterized this period as "Twice two hundred years of darkness/brooded o'er the race of monkeys", although the latter line is not as frequently quoted as the former. During the union with Denmark, written Norwegian was replaced by Danish.

	Two major events precipitated a major resurgence in Norwegian literature. In 1811 a Norwegian university was established in ] Seized by the spirit of revolution following the American and French Revolutions, the Norwegians signed their first constitution in 1814. Soon, the cultural backwater that was Norway brought forth a series of strong authors recognized first in Scandinavia, and then worldwide; among them were ], ], ] and ].

	By the late 19th century, in the ] of Norwegian literature, the so-called ''Great Four'' emerged: ], ], ], and ]. Bjørnson's "peasant novels", such as "En glad gutt" (A Happy Boy) and "Synnøve Solbakken" are typical of the national romanticism of their day, whereas Kielland's novels and short stories are mostly realistic. Although an important contributor to early Norwegian romanticism (especially the ironic ]), ]'s fame rests primarily on his pioneering realistic dramas such ] and ], many of which caused moral uproar because of their candid portrayals of the middle classes.

	In the twentieth century three Norwegian novelists were awarded the ]: ] in 1903, ] for the book "]" ("Growth of the Soil") in 1920, and ] in 1928. In the 20th century writers like ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] have made important contributions to Norwegian literature.

	==See also==
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	===Culture, education and sports===
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	** ]
	** ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	===Infrastructure===
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	===Lists===
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]
	* ]

	==References==
	{{portal\|Norway\|Flag of Norway.svg}}
	{{reflist}}

	==External links==
	{{sisterlinks\|Norway}}
	* – Official portal
	* – the Official sites abroad
	*
	* – Official travel guide to Norway
	* {{wikitravel\|Norway}}
	* – Directory of Gyms in Norway for the visitor/tourist (Also In English)
	* – Norwegian Restaurant Guide
	*
	----
	{{Template group
	\|title = Geography
	\|list =
	{{Countries of Europe}}
	}}
	{{Template group
	\|title = International organizations
	\|list =
	{{Council of Europe}}
	{{Nordic Council\|state=collapsed}}
	{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)\|state=collapsed}}
	{{United Nations}}
	{{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)}}
	{{EFTA}}
	{{World Trade Organization (WTO)}}
	}}
	{{Template group
	\|title = Other
	\|list =
	{{Monarchies\|state=collapsed}}
	<!-- Template removed per ] -->
	}}

	<!--As featured article-->

	<!--Categories-->
	]
	]
	]
	]

	<!--Other languages-->

	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

Revision as of 20:56, 21 July 2008

This is the Hitler speaking.
Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate!

Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee, being a pirate is all right to be! Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate! You are a pirate! (Yay!) We got us a map (a map!) to lead us to a hidden box, Thats all locked up with locks (with locks!) and buried deep away. We'll dig up the box (the box!), we know it's full of precious booty Burst open the locks, and then we'll say 'HOORAY!' Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee, If you love to sail the sea, you are a pirate! WEIGH ANCHOR! Yah - har - fiddle-dee-dee, being a pirate is all right to be! Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate! Arr - yarr - ahoy and avast, dig in the dirt and you dig in it fast! Hang the black flag at the end of the mast! You are a pirate! HA HA HA (Yay!) We're sailing away (set sail!), adventure waits on every shore! We set sail and explore (ya-har!) and run and jump all day (Yay!) We float on our boat (our boat!) until its time to drop the anchor, Then hang up our coats (aye-aye!) until we sail again! Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee, If you love to sail the sea you are a pirate! LAND HO! Yar - har - fiddle-dee-dee, being a pirate is alright with me! Do what you want 'cause a pirate is free, you are a pirate! Yar har wind at your back lads, wherever you go! Blue sky above and blue ocean below, you are a pirate! HA HA HA! You are a pirate!