Bhutan's Government: Gross National Happiness, Yes; Sense Of Humor, Not So Much

from the consistency,-please dept

Tue, Feb 19th 2013 12:07am — Glyn Moody

Aside from its spectacular location up in the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is probably best known for eschewing measurements of Gross Domestic Product in favor of Gross National Happiness:

Since 1971, the country has rejected GDP as the only way to measure progress. In its place, it has championed a new approach to development, which measures prosperity through formal principles of gross national happiness (GNH) and the spiritual, physical, social and environmental health of its citizens and natural environment.

Unfortunately, as Global Voices reports, it seems that humor is not included in the GNH: Rousing suspicions that Bhutan's government does not appreciate the humor of political satire blog Bhutanomics, the website was blocked on January 12, 2013 from a major internet service provider with no explanation or warning.

In less than one year of existence since launching in March 2012, the group blog has created ripples in Bhutan's political sphere with a series of satirical report cards for politicians and government officials, and as a popular open platform for anonymous government criticism and political analysis.
Blocks happen all the time, and for various reasons. Here's why the current one is worrying: Suspicions of censorship are heightened because Bhutanomics is only inaccessible on Druknet, the main ISP operated by state-owned Bhutan Telecom. It is still accessible through private ISPs like Tashi Cell and Samden.
Political humor is a tricky thing to pull off at the best of times, but it's especially difficult in a nation like Bhutan trying to preserve its ancient traditions while encouraging its people to embrace modernity in the form of online activity. Let's hope good sense prevails, and the happiness that humor can spread is added once more to the nation's store of Gross National Happiness.

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Filed Under: bhutan, censorship, free speech, gross national happiness, humor, parody

9 Comments

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Jeroen Hellingman (profile), 19 Feb 2013 @ 12:51am

Gross National Happiness in Bhutan....? Considering the treatment of various minorities, particularly the ethnic Nepalese in this country, I wouldn't take the "GNH" index of the worlds largest open-air museum that serious. I was glad this country wasn't mentioned in the previous installment, as it makes a complete mockery of the concept, but I smiled to early.
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McCrea (profile), 19 Feb 2013 @ 1:11am

Re:
I don't know about you, but oppressing the civil rights of the unworthy makes me happy.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Feb 2013 @ 5:13am

Bhutan's King
One does not make fun of the Dragon King.
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Feb 2013 @ 5:28am

Response to: Jeroen Hellingman on Feb 19th, 2013 @ 12:51am
A blocked website a day keeps the doctor away...
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Ninja (profile), 19 Feb 2013 @ 6:46am

I see now. The GNH measures how happy the politicians in the country are. I'm not sure of the details but I'd infer they measure the weight of the politicians wallets and the size of their bank accounts both domestic and international. If this measure was applied to all countries I'm sure we'd see a significant increase in global happiness!
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Feb 2013 @ 8:33am

Its very easy to maximize your gross national happiness in an aggressive, violent racist society.. Let one side kill the other and the rating will go through the roof!
Now lets just fuel aggression and violence with violent video games, then stir racist/nationalist feelings in your society. Let loose, and you'll live in the happiest country in the world (for about one election cycle).
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Anonymous Coward, 19 Feb 2013 @ 8:35am

Re:
Replying to myself:

If two people hate each other, you get a low GNH score.. But if we let one man kill the other.. your GNH score will soar!
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mockingbird (profile), 19 Feb 2013 @ 9:43am

GNH
in soviet russia,
happiness was mandatory,
no matter how miserable you were.
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Drukpa, 13 Aug 2013 @ 2:34am

It's sad to see how people starts judging and talking shits about Bhutan and the happenings there without even understanding or trying to understand the truth.
Bhutanomics was given a prior warning before shutting it down.
One can't expect Bhutan to be perfect overnight but i am proud to say it's moving towards achievement of ultimate happiness of all. I can see many people here has got a wrong understanding of GNH. Please go and read on GNH before posting and defaming my country.
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