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(Spanish) Good afternoon[br]and thank you very much.

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Thank you very much for inviting me[br]to this great TEDx event Cordoba 2012.

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I'm highly honored to be here[br]among you to share an idea.

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An idea unfortunately[br]which is not mine.

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An idea that has been conceived[br]two or three decades back

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in this small Himalayan[br]Kingdom of Bhutan.

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This idea of Gross National[br]Happiness and pursuing

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a development philosophy based[br]on the happiness of people.

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Something which was very unconventional

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at the time when we started off.

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So, this is the idea that I've come[br]to share with you in the spirit

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of the theme of the event:[br]"Ideas that move ideas."

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Ladies and gentlemen,[br]the architect of the philosophy

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of Gross National Happiness[br]is no other than

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the fourth King of Bhutan,[br]His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

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So the picture you will see[br]is the forth king.

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And his thesis was that GNH[br]is more important than GDP.

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And understanding what human beings

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need to be happy[br]is vital to the society.

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So this was the conviction to be judged

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when he conceived the idea.

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The topic of my talk, well,[br]will be primarily focused

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on the Gross National Happiness.

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I'll try to give it an international flavor[br]by seeing how happiness

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could be applied[br]in other parts of the world.

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And to redefine[br]and look what development

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could mean and whether[br]if we can pursue

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a development with a different[br]vision and a policy.

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When you talk about development,

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what comes to your mind?

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Economics, right?

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So, essentially, development[br]actually means growth.

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But what has happened conventionally

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is that growth has not been[br]pursued in its true sense.

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It has essentially meant development

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which is associated with economic growth.

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And it is my opinion[br]and belief that growth

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does not necessary mean[br]just financial or economic growth,

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it has other parameters[br]and other requirements.

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Material growth alone[br]is not reflective

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of true initial growth.

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And there are evidence, which say,[br]that there's a minimum correlation

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or non-correlation[br]between economic prosperity

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and happiness or well-being of the people.

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Having pursued development with the vision

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of pure material or GDP-based vision,

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the world is facing a series of problems and --[br]what are the consequences?

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The world, to my belief,[br]is in a mad pursuit of economic gains.

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And this has cost a series of conflicts.

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Today, as you'll agree with me,

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the entire world is actually in conflict.

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We are facing conflict of crisis.

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Social crisis, cultural crisis,[br]economic crisis, financial crisis.

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And above all,[br]the most defining issue of the crisis

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that we as humanity face,[br]as Mrs. Marina Silva once put it,

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the crisis of ethics and values.

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The current pattern of the alarming rate

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at which the consumption and production

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is growing is not sustainable.

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We need to look for a solution.

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We need to look for an alternative.

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It is easy to say that we need to look,

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it is easy to say that we are in a problem.

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So, what is the solution?

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This is the question that we need to ask.

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To do that we go back[br]to the drawing board and ask ourselves,

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what should be the relation[br]between a state and its people?

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To me, in my belief,[br]a state without its people is not a state.

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Therefore, there is a saying, which says,

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"As I am, so is my Nation",[br]which clearly defines

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that the most important matter or factor

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in a state is its people.

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Therefore, it's individual[br]citizens that collectively

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define the character of a state,

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and hence, is the people that matters.

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The duty of the state?[br]It should solely be to serve its people.

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Now, let's look out.

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If the people [are] the center of development,

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and this is what we should do,

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what should the state be doing?

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Are the states doing [br]what they are supposed to do?

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To my belief, the primary[br]responsibility of the state

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should be to pursue development goals

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that matter to the people.

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And what matters to the people,[br]in my belief and opinion,

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is not just material growth.

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There are other requirements as human beings.

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The state should also make the right policies

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that promote happiness and well-being.

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And happiness and well-being[br]is a universal flavor

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which appeals to every individual

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whether you are from Latin America,

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or whether you are from North America,

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or whether you are from Asia.

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So the most [important] factors[br]that promote happiness in an individual,

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is beyond the control of an individual.

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So, therefore, the important role of the state.

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The policy decisions that the state makes

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has a tremendous influence

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on how the individual can grow[br]or promote his happiness.

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Therefore, there is an important factor

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that the state has to play.

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And the best way to do it is to put people

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at the center of the development policies.

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Let's look at the conventional development goals

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which has been pursued as I said,

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it is either to increase your GDP,[br]you are talking about savings,

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and increasing or decreasing[br]your financial deficit.

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These ways or approaches,[br]are conventional approaches,

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that have been pursued.

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To my belief, are only means[br]to a greater end.

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And that end, ladies and gentlemen,[br]I believe is Happiness.

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Now, having said that happiness[br]is the central theme

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or the single most important[br]factor for individual

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and, therefore, the duty of the state[br]to promote those conditions

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which promote happiness on the individuals,

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can we consider development vision

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and policy, and base them on happiness?

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Is this possible?

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Many people wouldn't agree with me[br]and say that happiness

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is very subjective and relative and is something

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that cannot be objectively verified, or measured.

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Therefore, it is not possible.

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But, ladies and gentlemen, the experience[br]that I've come to share with you

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is something which should tell me,[br]or tell you, that it is possible.

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Let's look at what has been happening[br]in the few months and years

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since the world has been confronted[br]with a series of problems.

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If you know, and if you agree --

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I think some of you would have heard --

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the former French President,[br]Sarkozy commissioned,

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what is called the Sarkozy Commission,[br]or Sarkozy Report,

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which was looking at alternative ways

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of measuring the country's well-being.

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So, he was primarily looking[br]at happiness as one aspect.

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There are also NGOs[br]and independent organizations

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which try to measure the happiness

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of countries and try to rank them.

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And the Happy Planet Index[br]is one way of doing that.

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The latest of one being[br]the David Cameron Report on Happiness

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that is trying to see if Britain, as a country,

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and the British citizens[br]are in the measure of happiness.

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Then, of course, from Bhutan,

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we have had this philosophy[br]of Gross National Happiness

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for the last four, five decades

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and we felt that it was[br]our humble duty to try and share

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the experiences that we have had,[br]such a long experience.

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And therefore we put it forward[br]to the UN to adopt a resolution

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which declares happiness and well-being

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as a fundamental human right or a goal.

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Then, I believe there is something[br]called "El club de la felicidad",

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somewhere in Brazil,[br]which is also encouraging.

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So, ladies and gentlemen,[br]let's see if Bhutan's experiences

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would be one way forward to look

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at an alternative development paradigm.

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I've been talking about[br]the evolution of the concept.

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I will then touch upon development[br]of happiness indicators,

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and then, try to convince the skeptics

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who feel that happiness [is][br]a subject that cannot be measured.

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We will also look up at the[br]operationalization of GNH.

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So, ladies and gentlemen,[br]let's take a minute

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and join me and let's take[br]a voyage towards Bhutan.

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Oh, my sound is missing.

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Anyway, this is the map of Bhutan.

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A very small Himalayan country.

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We are in between China and India,

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you'll see, and most of the[br]challenges that we face are,

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as a small Himalayan country,

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sandwiched between the two giants of India.

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You'll see the pictures on the site.

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This is to give you[br]a bird's-eye view of Bhutan.

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The architectures is very intact.

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The country profile,[br]43,038 thousands km2,

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with 0.65 million people, very small,

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half of the population[br]of Cordoba, I believe.

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Let's look at the evolution.

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As I mentioned, the concept[br]of Gross National Happiness concept

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was conceived by a great leader[br]with unmatched vision

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and unmatched statesmanship,

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and that was the fourth King of Bhutan.

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And he was [already] a proponent[br]as way back as 1970

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when he as a young teenager[br]at the age of 17

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had to take the reign of the[br]country and became the king,

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when his father died an untimely death.

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He has consistently pursued[br]this policy and put the people

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at the center of development.

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And, so much so, even today[br]when we are constructing

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a democratic monarchy,

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we still have the requirement[br]of pursuing happiness

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as a development objective.

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The rationale, as I said, human beings

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need more complex than material needs.

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GDP growth does not necessarily[br]lead to increased

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well-being and happiness.

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Evidence also suggests that.

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So, just to give a pictorial explanation.

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If you pursue development[br]purely based on GDP

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or financial growth you[br]will have the balance tilted.

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On the other hand, if you have[br]just non-material, it'll also be tilted.

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So what we are looking[br]at is a balance between

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the material and the non-material[br]to achieve happiness.

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What is then,[br]Gross National Happiness?

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To us, Gross National Happiness[br]is a development approach

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that seeks to achieve[br]a harmonious balance between

0:10:02.968,0:10:05.132
material well-being, spiritual, emotional

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and cultural needs of a society.

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And it is based on a belief[br]that happiness "is" the ultimate desire

0:10:10.129,0:10:13.391
of every citizen and [br]it is a purpose of development

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to create enabling conditions[br]for the people.

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So how do we define happiness?

0:10:19.507,0:10:22.320
Or how have we been looking at happiness?

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What have been the defining pillars[br]which have guided us

0:10:26.361,0:10:28.699
in these thirty or forty years

0:10:28.734,0:10:30.767
of the kingdom's development process?

0:10:30.802,0:10:34.315
We have four pillars, you could develop[br]the socio-economic aspect

0:10:34.350,0:10:38.360
preserve and promote culture,[br]conserve the environment

0:10:38.395,0:10:40.176
and then, of course, good governance.

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We feel that as long as you have[br]these four pillars in mind

0:10:43.074,0:10:46.670
we should be able to achieve GNH[br]in any pursuit that we go.

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In terms of operationalizing this concept,[br]what have we done?

0:10:50.803,0:10:53.570
We have a 5-year planning system.

0:10:53.605,0:10:56.599
And the central planning agency is the agency

0:10:56.634,0:10:59.452
which is primarily responsible[br]to develop plans.

0:10:59.487,0:11:01.799
So, therefore,[br]we have now what is called

0:11:01.834,0:11:03.680
the Gross National Happiness Commission,

0:11:03.715,0:11:07.149
which maintains and mainstreams GNH[br]into development policies.

0:11:07.184,0:11:13.079
We have all sort of indicators[br]which help us to measure the GNH.

0:11:13.114,0:11:14.925
So, what's the GNH Index?

0:11:14.960,0:11:16.893
It's a composite statistic to measure

0:11:16.928,0:11:18.961
Bhutan's progress enhancement in happiness.

0:11:18.996,0:11:24.379
It is consisting of 9 domains,[br]33 indicators and 124 variables.

0:11:24.414,0:11:27.659
Excuse me, I'm running fast[br]because I'm running out of time.

0:11:27.694,0:11:30.293
So, what are these 9 domains?

0:11:30.328,0:11:33.242
We have conventional ways of measuring

0:11:33.277,0:11:35.072
the progress of the country,

0:11:35.107,0:11:37.475
and they are the ones [br]which are highlighted in red.

0:11:37.510,0:11:40.031
These are the conventional approaches.

0:11:40.066,0:11:44.896
And we have non-conventional [ways][br]which are the following:

0:11:44.931,0:11:49.930
psychological well-being,[br]time use, community vitality

0:11:49.965,0:11:53.543
and then, of course,[br]cultural diversity and resilience.

0:11:53.578,0:11:56.108
So, we have 9 domains,[br]within which we have

0:11:56.143,0:11:59.392
some 83 indicators and 124 variables.

0:11:59.427,0:12:03.728
We conduct an annual survey[br]-- a 2-year survey --

0:12:03.763,0:12:07.192
to assess where we are going,[br]and based on the results of the survey

0:12:07.227,0:12:10.157
we make policy interventions[br]to correct in areas

0:12:10.162,0:12:16.150
where we feel we are[br]not doing so well.

0:12:16.185,0:12:19.267
To give an example of how[br]we are using the indicators.

0:12:19.302,0:12:22.375
For example, let's say[br]psychological well-being, education

0:12:22.410,0:12:25.344
and community vitality...[br]In the survey results stands

0:12:25.379,0:12:28.233
that there is a decrease in them,[br]then what do we do

0:12:28.268,0:12:30.506
as a state policy,[br]state interventions?

0:12:30.541,0:12:34.643
We need to design and come out[br]with policies and measures

0:12:34.678,0:12:37.692
to help uplift the psychological well-being.

0:12:37.727,0:12:40.187
Similarly, in education,[br]we do interventions

0:12:40.222,0:12:42.846
so that we improve[br]in the education domain.

0:12:42.881,0:12:46.254
Then, we have[br]the community vitality interventions

0:12:46.289,0:12:50.351
that are state policy decisions[br]that need to be designed and promoted.

0:12:50.386,0:12:54.013
And a case example,[br]is in the education sector.

0:12:54.048,0:12:57.000
When we look at the education sector[br]without the GNH lens,

0:12:57.035,0:13:01.239
from a conventional way[br]of looking at it, it was perfect.

0:13:01.274,0:13:04.536
We have an education system [br]which are doing very well,

0:13:04.571,0:13:07.960
the growth of enrollment ratio was 120%,[br]or so, and so...

0:13:07.995,0:13:10.950
But then when we put[br]the GNH lens into it, we realize,

0:13:10.985,0:13:13.256
"Wait, look, you are not doing too well."

0:13:13.291,0:13:17.526
So this is how the GNH Index helps[br]to give a more wholesome approach

0:13:17.561,0:13:21.055
and allows the government[br]to have policy interventions.

0:13:21.090,0:13:25.820
We also have what we call[br]the GNH Policy Screening tool.

0:13:25.855,0:13:29.172
And I'm not sure if any other country[br]has this sort of screening tool,

0:13:29.207,0:13:32.558
where every major policy decision[br]that is taken by the country

0:13:32.593,0:13:35.441
in the context of any development intervention,

0:13:35.476,0:13:38.825
is subjected to this screening tool.

0:13:38.860,0:13:44.739
So, as long as the policy screening[br]passes the minimum threshold,

0:13:44.739,0:13:46.135
the policy gets through.

0:13:46.135,0:13:50.161
But the policy -- if it does not meet[br]the minimum requirement,

0:13:50.196,0:13:54.464
then, the policy is rejected[br]and it is sent back to the agency

0:13:54.499,0:13:57.752
which is proposing that policy,[br]and make the recommendations

0:13:57.787,0:14:02.322
to make the necessary changes[br]which will help to make or promote

0:14:02.357,0:14:05.819
happiness in the country.

0:14:05.854,0:14:07.938
So, in conclusion,[br]ladies and gentlemen,

0:14:08.000,0:14:11.387
actually, Im not doing it too bad...[br]in time... I thought I was doing very bad.

0:14:11.422,0:14:14.986
Happiness, as I said,[br]is a universal human aspiration.

0:14:15.021,0:14:17.849
And, hence, it is my belief[br]should be pursued

0:14:17.884,0:14:19.658
as a state development policy.

0:14:19.693,0:14:23.176
And don't just look[br]at the mad economic race

0:14:23.211,0:14:25.781
of pursuing material prosperity.

0:14:25.816,0:14:30.182
And, in order to do that, and apply[br]what we have done in Bhutan,

0:14:30.217,0:14:34.857
in terms of pursuing GNH,[br]we have to look at different contexts

0:14:34.892,0:14:40.800
depending on the original cultural[br]and religious sensitivity involved.

0:14:40.835,0:14:44.597
And, ask yourselves,[br]what does it mean to be a happy society

0:14:44.632,0:14:48.341
or what are the parameters[br]that would define happiness for you.

0:14:48.376,0:14:51.546
For Bhutan, as I said,[br]we have looked at the 4 pillars,

0:14:51.581,0:14:54.579
the 9 domains, and then the 83 indicators,

0:14:54.614,0:14:59.341
which essentially reflect this happiness[br]of the Bhutanese society.

0:14:59.376,0:15:03.385
So, for it to be applied[br]internationally or replicated

0:15:03.420,0:15:08.065
in other parts of the world,[br]those states who wish to do that

0:15:08.100,0:15:09.906
need to look at themselves and see

0:15:09.906,0:15:14.843
what are the parameters[br]that would define happiness.

0:15:14.878,0:15:27.292
(Applause)

0:15:27.327,0:15:31.055
How many of you are happy today?

0:15:31.090,0:15:36.901
I would say 90 percent are happy because[br]you are the lucky 100 lottery winners, right?

0:15:36.936,0:15:39.285
Good luck. Thank you.

0:15:39.285,0:15:40.847
Muchas gracias.

0:15:40.852,0:15:43.456
(Applause)