Programme director of the gross national happiness centre urges young people to learn the value of wellbeing Bhutan risks making the same mistakes as other Asian countries by destroying its environment and social cohesion if it fails to engage young people in its gross national happiness (GNH) strategy. This is the warning from Tho Ha Vinh, the programme director of the GNH Centre, an NGO which is...
Political parties in the Himalayan kingdom unite to eradicate chemical fertilisers and pesticides as part of its Gross National Happiness programme Bhutan could within a decade become the first country in the world to go wholly organic in its food production, according to key politicians in the Himalayan kingdom. Agriculture and forests minister Lyonpo Yeshey Dorji and opposition leader Pema Gyamtsho,...
Managing dog populations humanely is not only the right thing, it's the best way to reduce deaths from rabies Taming Bhutan's dog population: in pictures Out-of-control dog populations, which plague many cities in the global south, have a negative effect on people's health and wellbeing. So why is taking a measured and sustainable approach to bringing down numbers not on the development agenda? "Developing...
The government of Buddhist Himalayan nation Bhutan has struggled with a high dog population Animal welfare: why dogs are a development issue Continue reading... ...
As young people reject farming and the economy remains shaky, the traditional emphasis on spirituality may be under threat The Buddhist nation of Bhutan, with its population of around 740,000, draws interest from around the world because of its search for gross national happiness (GNH) rather than a slavish desire for economic growth at any cost. By taking a cautious approach to its development, the...
In an exclusive interview, Tshering Tobgay says his country is open for business but not at the expense of its gross national happiness principles For all westerners who have elevated Bhutan to a mythical status, the prime minister has a stark message; the tiny Himalayan kingdom is "not Shangri-La". The country, which has become renowned as a beacon of light for measuring its success according...
Report supported by former cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell, calls for new policy direction that prioritises wellbeing and happiness over GDP growth Happiness is more important than GDP. This will not be a surprising statement for many, but what is surprising is that the statement comes from the former head of the civil service, permanent secretary to the Treasury and UK member of the IMF, Lord Gus...
WHO certifies 11 countries polio free after three years without reporting single new case India and 10 other Asian countries have been declared free of polio, meaning the disease has been eradicated in 80% of the world. The World Health Organisation certified the south-east Asian region which includes India but excludes Afghanistan and Pakistan polio-free after three years without a single new case...
The Kingdom's gross national happiness approach to development has been successful, but it still faces challenges. A robust private sector can help Bhutan is not Shangri La, and gross national happiness is not the panacea of human development. I'm not looking to burst the bubble of mysticism around this magical country, but at least I can blow away some of the mountain mist that clouds its reputation....
Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk marries Jetsun Pema, the daughter of an airline pilot, in a traditional ceremony broadcast live on state television...
Award-winning Getty Images photographer Paula Bronstein is based in Bangkok, having worked for various newspapers in the US, including the Chicago Tribune. Here she turns her lens on the mountain kingdom of Bhutan, where crowds have gathered to celebrate the wedding of the country's popular king...
With her contrast sleeves and statement earrings, Jetsun Pema is the latest royal to wow the world of fashion Just when everyone thought the Duchess of Cambridge had the award for most fashionable new royal of 2011 in the bag, competition has emerged from an unlikely source: Bhutan. The fashion world is rapidly developing a new royal girl-crush on 21-year-old international relations student Jetsun...
Himalayan nation calls on heads of state to come to capital for summit on way countries measure progress The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, aghast at what it calls the world's "suicidal path", has called on heads of state and leading economists to come to the capital Thimphu for a global summit to reform the international financial system and the way countries measure progress. "We...
s stone home was comfortable for the remoteness of the region. A large room was warmed by a small cooker burning dung, and lit by a single energy-saving bulb powered by the sun. Its walls held shelves of all the simple practicalities of a remote mountain existence. Pots and pans, utensils and yak's-wool sacks of rice and flour, six or more months' supplies of rations, all bartered and exchanged on...
s most famous mountain range could be endangered by a vast dam-building project, as a risky regional race for water resources takes place in Asia. New academic research shows that India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan are engaged in a huge "water grab" in the Himalayas, as they seek new sources of electricity to power their economies. Taken together, the countries have plans for more than 400 hydro dams...
A week teaching English to novices in a monastery offers a glimpse of a much simpler life The narrow trail winds above a tangled forest, as ancient temple buildings emerge from the mist. As I round the corner, a Lama appears and welcomes me to the monastery, then introduces dozens of eager monks who are to be my students over the next week. We live in cramped quarters, eat rice and vegetables, study...
s poorest children living and studying in monasteries can now report any mistreatment or abuse The Dechen Phodrang monastery sits on top of a steep hill overlooking the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu. Since the 16th century, prayer flags have fluttered in the hills around Dechen Phodrang, one of thousands of monastic orders scattered throughout this tiny Himalayan kingdom. The Buddhist faith is tightly...
s minister of agriculture and forests; the World Bank estimates it at around 740,000) will be able to grow less food, the government expects them to be able to grow more – and to export increasing amounts of high quality niche foods to neighbouring India, China and other countries. The decision to go organic was both practical and philosophical, said Gyamtsho, in Delhi for the annual sustainable development...
Bhutan's green schools initiative aims to teach children in the Himalayan kingdom about environmental conservation and sustainable living Annie Kelly ...
s green schools project is an attempt to bring its revolutionary 'happiness' model to all young people • In pictures: sustainability on the curriculum The Jigme Losel primary school in the Bhutanese capital, Thimphu, is a riot of green. Plants cover most surfaces and are piled precariously on walls and stairwells. On the wall behind the school's vegetable patch a hand-painted sign says: "Let nature...