By Invitation Only...

Dear Marsha of Splenderosa is asking for us to reflect the world's problems by considering  these critical points... What is wrong with the world and what is good with the world.

Of late, I have seen a little too close up of what is wrong with the world and the media - driven as it is  by ratings (read revenues) - is more than happy to constantly remind us of what is wrong with our world. I guess their financial bottom lines depend on the woes of the world.

I am going to focus on a beautiful remote country, hidden away in the Himalayas, that has taught me a wonderful lesson of what is good with the world.

The Kingdom of  Bhutan

Bhutan is one of the most mysterious places on Earth with very few visitors. I was very fortunate to travel through this extraordinary kingdom, visit the monasteries, trek and sleep in tents among the most beautiful untouched nature. Bhutan tributes to economic theory is not about their GNP, but the country measures itself according the the Gross National Happiness. I will not go into the mathematical dissertation on the measurements of happiness, but rather on a theory that, in reaching for a perfect good world, we must strive for happiness. On March 28, 2012, The United Nations implemented a resolution, placing happiness on the global agenda: "Conscious that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal, and recognizing that the gross domestic product does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of people." An impressive array of luminaries spoke for this remote Himalayan kingdom. His Royal Highness, the Price of Wales, Nobel laureate, Joseph Stiglitz, economist Jeffrey Sachs. The Bhutanese have combined  Buddhist spirituality and barefoot economics into a unique model that other nations can learn from. The ex French president Nicolas Sarkozy even commissioned a study of "the economic performance and social progress" that include some Gross national Happiness indicators such as walking, reading and love making...well France is the nation of lover after all!!

Traditional values are the pillar of the Gross national happiness, the operating concept of governance in Bhutan. There are 4 pillars of Gross National Happiness.

Environment

The environment is 100 protected as are the animals that thrive in the mountains and the plains.It is illegal to kill animals or feed on animal meat in Bhutan

Culture

Traditional dancing festivals

Education is extremely important. Children taking their examination

Children walk up to 2 hours each way to go to school

Spirituality

Tiger's Nest Monastery

Children are enrolled in Buddhist studies at a young age.

Society

Young scholar,soon to attend Harvard University

Archery is the national sport

Farming is the main source of income

Very artistic and graphic phalluses are displayed in rural houses to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossips...

Shopping

The children are very much loved, cared for and protected... which is all we can  ask for to our society.

A bientot,

Francine