Thailand has a Gross Domestic Happiness Index. And according to Thailand’s Assumption University or BAC Poll, the index has been on a steady slide since the coup there back in September.
Who knew there was such a thing as a "Happiness" index for a country? This peaked my interest . It turns out it’s been around for a while, and has been so well received by the country and some bigwigs at the United Nations, that it’s soon to be shared with the rest of the world. The country is developing an entire set of new indicies which will make up what will be known as the "Happiness Indicator." It will measure and assess public health, education, employment, natural resources and good governance in both the private and public sectors. The specifics of the "Happiness Indicator" will be released in June.
This new indicator and the programs associated with monitoring and fostering it, (in a perfect world) might be a healing elixir to the ongoing bloody insurgency in that country.The country’s Buddhist majority has been clashing with the Muslim community, most recently, in a three year spin of deadly cultural infighting. Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanon, who was appointed after that bloody coup back in September, is pushing happiness to quell the chaos. And for him, that means more projects to promote jobs and quality of life.
At this writing there is a meeting of high ranking officials in Thailand talking about supporting public happiness. Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanon is hosting this gathering, he says, "…to foster community and social strength, in order to create happiness and national reconciliation based on virtue, knowledge, and self-sufficiently among citizens." The Prime Minister added that provincial governors and high ranking civil servants would be required to meet these goals governed by what is termed as "Sufficiency Economics."
It might sound like a lofty idea, but it’s not new to that country.The term, "Sufficiency Economics" was coined by King Adulyadej during the 1997 economic meltdown in Thailand. It is a set of tools and principles which embrace the three pillars of Buddhism – giving, morality and meditation. This economic model was lauded by the United Nations Development Programme as a method to, make wise decisions that promote sustainable development, fight poverty, cope with economic risk and promote corporate social responsibility.
Happiness can certainly be nurtured in a better social climate, but cultural and religious infighting that truly goes back centuries? Not so sure about that. I’m not writing about this to slam the idea as valueless – actually I think it’s a great concept.
While my belief is that true happiness comes from within, the support and awareness of a "Happiness Indicator" is not such a bad idea. At the very least, it puts the idea of happiness and being more conscious on the front burner. The very awareness gives that strength, and to me, adds desperately needed funds to the growing bank of a global collective conscience.
