Gross National Happinesss 2

This is a letter that my friend Clinton has sent to the local newspapers on the 26th Jan 2006, in the aftermath of the tragic Tsunami devastation in South East Asia.

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The Editor

Forum Page

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Dear Sir,
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“ NATURE at its worst, humanity at its very best” ( ST, Jan 26 ) was thought-provoking and warrants some postulations, some possible solutions.
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The tsunami taught the world two key lessons – how small and inter-connected our “global village” is and the power of globalisation. Just as it had “globalised” 11 countries in less than 24 hours, mankind responded magnificently and was equal to the challenge, as unprecedented compassionate aid was globalised to the affected areas in double-quick time.
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One month later, many – myself included – are left wondering not only why nature reared its ugly head so devastatingly, but perhaps with much gratification, why mankind responded so compassionately, so magnanimously.
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Scientists tell us that everything in the universe is a movement of energy. And nothing is 100 per cent solid. Under a very powerful microscope, at the sub-atomic level, everything and everyone vibrates, at different frequencies.
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Mankind comprises two words – man and kind. Man was born kind – a sub-property of love, which is one of the two most basic and powerful of our emotions ( the other is fear ).

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Man is a total energy system, not just comprising cells, fluids and bones. Within us, too, is an energy system of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Love, which vibrates at the highest level, is capable of converting lower energies and possibly impacting everyone, whether close by or far away.
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So, like it or not, at the spirit or soul level, everyone on Planet Earth is connected. Each one of us is like a scoop of the mighty ocean. Humanity is one immense, infinite, immortal soul. And that is one key reason for the outpouring of love, compassion, empathy and sympathy.
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The other possible reason is that for most people, contentment and happiness are not measured by just material wealth alone. Equally important is for one to be fulfilled mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And this in itself is a cry for help… for love, for happiness.
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World leaders would do well to take a leaf from the book of the tiny kingdom of Bhutan, the only country in the world to measure its well-being by Gross National Happiness, instead of Gross National Product. In Himalayan cultures, the whole society’s economy was meant to serve the quest for happiness.
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If for nothing else, this tsunami catastrophe has led to an awakening for, and the creation of more love, more happiness amongst us all, then the thousands of lives lost will not have been in vain.
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Gross National Happiness, anyone? )
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Thank you.

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Yours sincerely,

Clinton Lim

Gross National Happinesss

Some of you may have heard of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness index. I have not been to Bhutan, but found some informative videos on Youtube, which I have included here, as they have helped me to reflect on my life and the priorities I set for myself daily.

Some data about Bhutan (from Wikipedia):

Location: In the Himalayas, in between China and India.

Capital: Thimpu

Land area: 47,000 sq km

Population: 672,425

Per capita GDP: $5,477

For more on the history and geography of Bhutan, click here

Here is an introductory video of Bhutan:

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Click here to watch this video entitled, "Dragon Kingdom Bhutan". It depicts the country, its culture rooted in Buddhism and their reverence to their King, who embraces happiness above their GNP.

Early this year, Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy, with their first democratic elections:
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As Bhutan opens up, some of the social ills found in the West have started to surface in the country. The following documentary depicts the situation, where alcoholism and drug abuse has become an increasing problem.

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Questions:

1. Do you think Gross National Happiness can be applied to the country you live in? Does it apply to a densely populated city-state like Singapore that relies heavily on industrial efficiency, foreign labour, foreign trade and tourism?

2. Do you think Happiness should be the ultimate end of companies and organisations in their quest for material wealth? Watch the commuters in mass rapid transit in the morning rush hour. I have tried observing this in London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Budapest, Singapore and Hong Kong. They always give me a quick and rough guide to a city. Is GNH feasible amid the vagaries and the harsh cut-and-thrust forces of the market economy? Is there a better economic model? Communism failed. Socialism is expensive! :) How about Bucky's vision of the 'World Game'? Read here . Or Alvin Toffler's Revolutionary Wealth? Read here

3. Do you think as an individual, you can put happiness first? Is this feasible with the meritocratic and competitive school system you go to, or the organisation you serve?

4. As a parent, do you tell your child to study hard to make more money and have a comfortable life after that? Or do you remind your children to be educated so that they will grow up to be useful citizens that can put a smile on every other person he meets everyday?

5. In the quest for happiness, does it necessarily mean that you will have less material wealth? Do you think it is worthwhile to sacrifice material for happiness? Or does sacrificing happiness for material wealth makes more sense to you?

6. Many of us have been happy children when we were little, yet we didn't realise we were poor at the time, until years later as an adult. Why is this so?

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