tagged w/ Vanguard : Lost in Democracy
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Since I watched Vanguard's awesome piece on Bhutan (Lost in Democracy), I have followed the news coming out of the country. I read this today in the Bhutan Times and I had to share it.
Juvenile delinquency in the country is on the rise. And the capital is every which way leading in terms of the crime rate. Statistics say it all. In 2007, 140 cases of juvenile crimes were reported with the police, of which 87 occurred in Thimphu alone. In 2008, of the total 267 cases of juvenile crimes reported, 182 happened in the capital. This year, till date 126 cases have been reported with the police so far. And Thimphu stands out with 82 cases.
It is interesting to not that the trends since the filming of 'Lost in Democracy' have stayed the same. The article notes that the majority of the offenders are students, the unemployed and those from farming background.
Most of the crimes pertain to larceny, possession of contraband substances, and display of weapons; burglary, battery, and rape; public intoxication, smuggling, and malicious mischief including auto stripping, chorten vandalism, and indecent exposure.
Reading this article in it's entirety will bring a Vanguard flashback. The police say while the number of juvenile crimes are growing, they are doing their best to curb it. Initiatives like education campaigns and warning children of the consequences have been taken up by the police. So much so, the police even make sure that children are not allowed to swim at the Thimphu river.Since I watched Vanguard's awesome piece on Bhutan (Lost in Democracy), I have... more
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Hidden near the Himalayas between India and Tibet, the kingdom of Bhutan has long been shrouded in mystery. Sometimes called "the last Shangri-La," it's a lushly forested land where people wear traditional robes, where policy is guided by "Gross National Happiness," and where Tantric Buddhist saints are celebrated with paintings of gigantic penises. But Bhutan is on the verge of change. This year, it will transform itself from an absolute monarchy to a parliamentary democracy -- a move that leaves many young Bhutanese puzzled and uneasy. "When His Majesty first informed us he was going to change the government, there were lots of people who couldn't speak," says one activist. "They wished it was just a dream." Current Correspondent Christof Putzel travels to Bhutan to find out how young people are dealing with democracy, westernization, and other challenges to their unique national culture.Hidden near the Himalayas between India and Tibet, the kingdom of Bhutan has long been... more
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Today, Bhutan's rapid modernization and growing population are swiftly escalating the inevitable problems of waste-management, fuel wood burning, and water conservation.
The people of Bhutan practice the oldest known form of Buddhism and believe that their strength as a people is to coexist harmoniously with nature. They are aware that by harming the environment, we are in fact harming ourselves.
Bhutan is a model for sustainability and eco-consciousness. The people of Bhutan are taking drastic steps to avoid compromising the environment for the sake of "progress."Today, Bhutan's rapid modernization and growing population are swiftly escalating... more
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For well over a century, the Bhutanese have painted penises all over the country to ward off evil spirits.For well over a century, the Bhutanese have painted penises all over the country to... more
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