Benevolent Bhutan
Wedged between two of the most densely populated countries on Earth, China and India, lies the country of Bhutan.
With it being oh-so easy to passively admire the Himalayan mountains and scroll to a new Photoshopped image online, would you stop and allow yourself to be surprised to know that Bhutan is the only country on Earth to be carbon-negative?
Today I watched a 2016 TEDTalk presented by Bhutan's Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay. You can clearly see that his honesty and passion derives from the love of his nation and respect he holds for each individual life. With dignity, he spoke of the path Bhutan has taken and the morals kept at the root of all actions. This is a person proud of his culture, his country and all of humanity. In reality though, it's quite sad that after all this time, society is only just starting to take real notice of these Bhutanese role models.
With climate change threatening water sources, agriculture and provoking avalanches, the Bhutanese are likely to be some of the least lucky. And what have they done to deserve it? Well, nothing.
Since the 1970's, Gross National Happiness (GNH) has been the basis of all decision-making, policies and projects undertaken by the government of Bhutan. This magnificent measurement understands that in order to sustain long-term happiness you need to retain a balance between the economy, yes, but also the environment, culture and social development.
It's been almost 50 years since the His Majesty the 4th King of Bhutan said;
"Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product."
I dare you to go and say that on Wall Street.
The population of 753,000 is entitled to free healthcare, free school education and even the remotest areas are connected to electricity. The government demand, looking far beyond their lifetime, that no less than 60% of Bhutan is to be remain covered by forests. They are a biodiversity hotspot. They've protected so many areas and connected them so life is not segregated.
I am proud to live on the same planet as the Bhutanese and I wish that in writing this blog, I myself have learnt how to find a balance between the need for money and everything else important to me. I can only look upon them in awe.
Perhaps the most extraordinary fact about Bhutan is that it is the only carbon-negative country in the world. This is because their vast forests offset more emissions than Bhutan releases, such a simple strategy yet one unheard of in the developed world. Of the near 200 countries existing on Earth, not one has ever claimed to be carbon-neutral. Yet, Bhutan has gone above and way, way beyond its 'poor country' expectations and first world demands. The people feel safe, happy and at home on their carbon-negative land.
Before I sign off, I would like to reiterate something that struck me in the New York Times Style Magazine. Here, Kinley Dorji, the head of Bhutan’s Ministry of Information and Communication, cared to explain something that many of us Westerners fail to grasp and thus misunderstand:
Happiness cannot be provided by the state. All they do is create and sustain an environment which allows for such happiness to be fulfilled.
Happiness is not an item or fleeting, thrilling emotion that can be constructed through strategic investments. Happiness cannot be stimulated through goods, services or any one design project.
We in our fabricated homes can pad out the blows of sadness, yet in doing so we loose sight of how to retain that long-term happy self.
Today, we perceive happiness as a quick feeling, passing by the hour and only arriving once free of our duties. In Bhutan, as explained by Dorji, happiness is viewed as "permanent contentment — with life, with what you have," Isn't this what every person, organisation and government strives for? At the end of the day, isn't this what we all want?
“Happiness itself is an individual pursuit." Only you can master this state of being. Whether you follow Buddhism or not; praise it, detest it or have never heard of it, you are in control of your happiness and your actions. Even if you do not fully believe what I have just written (I myself am struggling to grasp every idea here), I hope we can all acknowledge the fact that Bhutan is succeeding. Beautifully.
More than Buddhist monks and monasteries; Bhutan is a symbol of hope and honesty. For all humanity.
H _ M
:)
Bibliography:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/photoshop?s=t
http://climateactiontracker.org/countries/bhutan.html
http://www.lowemissiondevelopment.org/lecbp/countries/Bhutan
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2015/12/04/bhutan-deemed-most-carbon-negative-country-in-the-world/
http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Published%20Documents/Bhutan/1/Bhutan-INDC-20150930.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/bhutan-has-most-ambitious-pledge-at-paris-climate-summit
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/t-magazine/bhutan-bicycle-gross-national-happiness.html
https://www.ted.com/talks/tshering_tobgay_this_country_isn_t_just_carbon_neutral_it_s_carbon_negative
With it being oh-so easy to passively admire the Himalayan mountains and scroll to a new Photoshopped image online, would you stop and allow yourself to be surprised to know that Bhutan is the only country on Earth to be carbon-negative?
Today I watched a 2016 TEDTalk presented by Bhutan's Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay. You can clearly see that his honesty and passion derives from the love of his nation and respect he holds for each individual life. With dignity, he spoke of the path Bhutan has taken and the morals kept at the root of all actions. This is a person proud of his culture, his country and all of humanity. In reality though, it's quite sad that after all this time, society is only just starting to take real notice of these Bhutanese role models.
 |
| Found on the walls of Thimphu's School of Traditional Arts are the words that citizens of Bhutan live by. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_National_Happiness |
Since the 1970's, Gross National Happiness (GNH) has been the basis of all decision-making, policies and projects undertaken by the government of Bhutan. This magnificent measurement understands that in order to sustain long-term happiness you need to retain a balance between the economy, yes, but also the environment, culture and social development.
It's been almost 50 years since the His Majesty the 4th King of Bhutan said;
"Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product."
I dare you to go and say that on Wall Street.
The population of 753,000 is entitled to free healthcare, free school education and even the remotest areas are connected to electricity. The government demand, looking far beyond their lifetime, that no less than 60% of Bhutan is to be remain covered by forests. They are a biodiversity hotspot. They've protected so many areas and connected them so life is not segregated.
I am proud to live on the same planet as the Bhutanese and I wish that in writing this blog, I myself have learnt how to find a balance between the need for money and everything else important to me. I can only look upon them in awe.
Perhaps the most extraordinary fact about Bhutan is that it is the only carbon-negative country in the world. This is because their vast forests offset more emissions than Bhutan releases, such a simple strategy yet one unheard of in the developed world. Of the near 200 countries existing on Earth, not one has ever claimed to be carbon-neutral. Yet, Bhutan has gone above and way, way beyond its 'poor country' expectations and first world demands. The people feel safe, happy and at home on their carbon-negative land.
 |
| Schoolchildren supporting riders in the Tour of the Dragon. Photo: Simon Roberts https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/t-magazine/bhutan-bicycle-gross-national-happiness.html |
Happiness cannot be provided by the state. All they do is create and sustain an environment which allows for such happiness to be fulfilled.
Happiness is not an item or fleeting, thrilling emotion that can be constructed through strategic investments. Happiness cannot be stimulated through goods, services or any one design project.
We in our fabricated homes can pad out the blows of sadness, yet in doing so we loose sight of how to retain that long-term happy self.
Today, we perceive happiness as a quick feeling, passing by the hour and only arriving once free of our duties. In Bhutan, as explained by Dorji, happiness is viewed as "permanent contentment — with life, with what you have," Isn't this what every person, organisation and government strives for? At the end of the day, isn't this what we all want?
“Happiness itself is an individual pursuit." Only you can master this state of being. Whether you follow Buddhism or not; praise it, detest it or have never heard of it, you are in control of your happiness and your actions. Even if you do not fully believe what I have just written (I myself am struggling to grasp every idea here), I hope we can all acknowledge the fact that Bhutan is succeeding. Beautifully.
More than Buddhist monks and monasteries; Bhutan is a symbol of hope and honesty. For all humanity.
H _ M
:)
Bibliography:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/photoshop?s=t
http://climateactiontracker.org/countries/bhutan.html
http://www.lowemissiondevelopment.org/lecbp/countries/Bhutan
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/2015/12/04/bhutan-deemed-most-carbon-negative-country-in-the-world/
http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Published%20Documents/Bhutan/1/Bhutan-INDC-20150930.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/03/bhutan-has-most-ambitious-pledge-at-paris-climate-summit
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/t-magazine/bhutan-bicycle-gross-national-happiness.html
https://www.ted.com/talks/tshering_tobgay_this_country_isn_t_just_carbon_neutral_it_s_carbon_negative
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