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Bhutopia 2008: Balancing Progress and Environment
Today, in 2008, 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 in harmony 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; their core Buddhist belief is their base, and today, they are consciously taking the steps to combat compromising their environment for the sake of "progress." Today, in 2008, Bhutan's rapid modernization and growing population are swiftly escalating the inevitable problems of waste-manag... more -
Bhutan: The Richest ZENvironment on Earth
Bhutan is one of the most biodiverse places on earth.
We already know about its transition to Democracy this year...And that it is a small, landlocked nation in South Asia.
But do you know that it is the Land of Medicinal Plants? Nothing grown there is done with pesticides or herbicides. It could perhaps be the most organic place on earth with more diversity in their plant and animal life than anywhere in the Himalayas.
But with modernization and a growing population, the inevitable problems of waste-management, fuelwood burning, and water conservation, are escalating rapidly.
This is still a largely undeveloped, non-industrialized country that depends much on subsistence farming, livestock grazing, and forestry.
Their development policies disregard sacrificing its natural resource base for short term economic gains and are consistent with the central tenets of sustainable development, environmental conservation and cultural values.
Bhutan is a model for sustainability and eco-consciousness; their core Buddhist belief is their base. They are very aware of the dangers that lurk if the rest of the world does not follow suit and revere the environment as highly as they do their own. All life is inter-connected. Bhutan is one of the most biodiverse places on earth. ... more -
Bhutan: The First Democracy in the Last Shangri-la
Imagine a territory that did not have an automobile until the 1960's.
Imagine a country that did not have a television set until 1999.
Imagine an entire kingdom that banned smoking in 2004.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is known as the "Jewel of the Himalayas" and the "Greenest Place on Earth," yet it has been relatively invisible to the world for hundreds of years.
This is perhaps the only country in the world that did not participate in the industrial revolution and has remained a hidden paradise, accessible to only a fortunate few.
Today, a Democratic revolution is happening in Bhutan, and they are poised on the precipice of change.
This is not a violent revolution or even a grass-roots groundswell for change. This is a gift by the people's beloved king, and now the future of the country rests in their hands. Imagine a territory that did not have an automobile until the 1960's. ... more
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