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Sustainable Development and Gross National Happiness



Guided by the philosophy of GNP, People took sustainability of its kind as an implicit goal but began to exploit, extract and produced comforts and luxuries. Those countries who lagged behind hoped to catch up and those who are ahead spurred on to keep their lead to extract, produce and consume more, and created a consumerist market economy. We have been cutting down trees blindly and emitting harmful gases in the atmosphere thereby causing global warming, climate change and many other bitter reactions that accelerates the crumbling of the earth.
The central theme of Buddhism, universal goal of development and ultimate dream of happiness is not about accumulating or consuming material wealth rather is about the meaningful association with the natural world (although, different people may have their own definition for happiness). Thus to save the mother earth from complete destruction and before it reaches the point of no return, Bhutan introduced its concept of Gross National Happiness, a comprehensive set of national accounts that guides every developmental activities in the country, to the world. Well received by the international leaders, UN general assembly adopted GNH as a Millennium Development Goal during its 65th session in 2010 and super power have embraced GNH philosophy into their national policies. In recent years, it is also being included in the curriculum of educational institutions in the country and UN Commissioned team of researchers has developed a balanced GNH accounting system.
 Unlike GDP which measures the quantity of the goods produced, GNH looks at the quantity of the services provided for the well being of the people. This development philosophy, which is the sole idea of his majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, strikes a fine balance between development and safeguarding human, social, cultural and natural aspects which are left out by GDP. This system is based on drawing up strengths and support from existing assets, and working on them to enhance better environment for people to realize and achieve their own happiness. Thus, Bhutan hopes to provide leadership to development and implementation and promotion of happiness in terms of policy and the least that human beings can do to amend the mistakes and save the world.
However in its infant stage, GNH has its own share of skeptics and critics who believe that GNH is a utopian ideal and not applicable in the natural world. More over different systems and ideas for accounting happiness is expected as happiness for one person does not add up to another person’s happiness. Practicing GNH doesn’t mean preventing natural resource use, but an attitudinal change in persons mind to use it efficiently.  Therefore we must take the opportunity of modern technology and time (when everybody is ready to fight for the good cause and mutual understanding to save this world) to instill the concept of Gross National Happiness to save our mother earth.

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