|
第二篇Gross National Happiness In the last century, new technologyimproved the lives of many people in many countries. However, one countryresisted these changes. High in the Himalayan mountains of Asia, the kingdom ofBhutan remained separate. Its people and Buddhist culture had not beenaffected for almost a thousand years. Bhutan, however, was a poor country. Peopledied at a young age. Most of its people could not read, and they did not knowmuch about the outside world. Then, in 1972, a new ruler named King JigmeSingye Wangchuck decided to help Bhutan to become modern, but without losingits traditions. King Wangchuck looked at othercountries for ideas. He saw that most countries measured their progress bytheir Gross National Product . The GNP measures products and money. When thenumber of products sold increases, people say the country is making progress. KingWangchuck had a different idea for Bhutan. He wanted to measure his countrysprogress by peoples happiness. If the peoples happiness increased, the king couldsay that Bhutan was making progress. To decide if people were happier, hecreated a measure called Gross National Happiness . GNH is based on certain principlesthat create happiness. People are happier if they have heath care, education,and jobs. They are happier when they live in a healthy, protected environment. Theyare happier when can keep their traditional culture and customs. Finally,people are happier when they have a good, stable government. | 
