The website for this conference - which will be held in Nongkhai and Bangkok from 22 – 28 November 2007 - has been recently launched. Readers who closely follow debates on New Mandala about sufficiency economy will find much food for thought in the site’s expanding content. Speakers at the conference will include Tuenjai Deethes, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Vandana Shiva, Dasho Karma Ura and Sombath Somphone.
According to the website:
Inspired by the example of efforts being made in Bhutan to guide development by Gross National Happiness; the indications of H.M. the King of Thailand towards Sufficiency Economy; and grassroot initiatives all over the world exploring similar pathways to overcome suffering; the aims of the conference will be:
To provide a creative platform for inspirational exchanges on transformation, revitalization of ancient culture and simplicity in the context of modernity. As well as for cross-cultural communication on transformational world views through story-telling.
To facilitate exchanges, interaction, scientific debate and networking facilitating research being done on Gross National Happiness and related issues including Sufficiency Economy; to prepare for ongoing research frameworks
To strengthen and innovate effective approaches and supporting networks inducing tangible results towards the improvement of people’s happiness, well-being, peace and Human Security involving all stakeholders
* NGO’s, civil society * governments and intergovernmental bodies * corporate sector, business networks and social entrepreneurs * academics and students
While recognizing genuine happiness as the (spiritual) force able to confront and alleviate suffering, as well as being the result of these efforts.
4 responses so far ↓
1 jonfernquest // Jul 2, 2007 at 11:27 pm
“…grassroot initiatives all over the world exploring similar pathways to overcome suffering; the aims of the conference will be: To provide a creative platform for **inspirational exchanges** on transformation, revitalization of ancient culture and simplicity in the context of modernity. As well as for cross-cultural communication on transformational world views through **story-telling**.”
Story-telling sounds good because it will keep people from getting too abstract about very “concrete” problems and solutions. Poetry might even be better! Like I would tell the story of how a big SUV nearly ran me over in the crosswalk in front of Klong Toey market Saturday. I literally felt the iron on my bones. And contrast that with zooming through the cool, clear Chiang Rai air on my Honda Dream with my favorite dog Nong Fah, a Shih-tzu, in the basket up front. IMHO Gross Aggregated Happiness should be a storybook.
2 Srithanonchai // Jul 3, 2007 at 1:45 am
Read the following story, and you will know why the military’s happiness index has jumped considerably, all with little inspirational or even spiritual forces, but rather based on the power of sufficient guns:
“Most attention has rightly focused on military spending. That is to rise to 143 billion baht. The most astounding fact about this figure is that two years ago the armed forces were working with a budget of 86 billion baht. Last year it rose to 115 billion. Thus, in less than two years, the military has increased spending by 66%, raising the question of what happened to the idea of a sufficiency economy.”
Bangkok Post, 2 July 2007
3 Taxi Driver // Jul 3, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Is anyone aware of any research that provides an estimate of how much of the Thai military’s annual budget is siphoned off into corrupt pockets each year? At a conservative guesstimate of 5%, this equates to 7.15billion (US$230m), and that’s just this year alone!
4 Happiness conference in Thailand // Aug 23, 2007 at 12:06 am
[...] the past I highlighted the upcoming 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness that will be [...]
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