WORLD

America less violent

By Wallace Kaufman

ALMATY, Oct 28

(The GLOBE)

Every year the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) surveys Americans to report how many have been victims of violent crime, and this year�s report shows the lowest level of violence in 14 years. Murder and robbery rates dropped to a 30 year low.

The decrease in US crime is the result of many factors. A low unemployment rate and rising incomes reduce the temptation to commit property crimes and also reduces pyschological stress that can lead to violence. An aging of the population means more people moving out of the 18-40 year old group whose members have the highest crime rate.

A third factor also affects the rate of violent crime is a record proportion of convicted violent offenders being held in jail. Murderers, robbers, and rapists over the past 20 years have faced an increasing risk of serving time in jail. The people in jail, of course, cannot repeat their offenses, and the increased risk deters an unknown number of others.

Millennium in the Holy Land

It promies not only conciliation of three religions and hostile countries, but good business

Alexander SHUMILIN (Expert # 40)

�History predetermined that Jerusalem would be the centre of the third millennium celebration. We anticipate this event as a catharsis for all of us and maybe, for all humanity.� To endow her words with special pathos, Larisa Gershtein, a deputy Jerusalem mayor, slowly raised her hands. Catharsis means a person�s spiritual self-purification. Larisa, still remembered in Russia for her poetry and singing, is confident that her �beloved Jerusalem� will be the centre of the humanity�s �self-purification.�

Jerusalem contains the most sacred sites of three global religions�Christ�s tomb for Christians, the Crying Wall for Jews, and Omar�s Mosque for Muslims, are in this city.

The organizers of the great celebration to be held in Israel and Palestine face the usual problems: about three million of tourists and pilgrims are expected in the next few months. Projected profits from this wave of tourists are to be divided between Israel and Palestine. Now it is up to the politicians of the two sides that have been at war on and off for over 50 years create an atmosphere of peace.