Bhutan the land of happiness?
The tiny South Asian nation of Bhutan isn’t really famous for what’s in it, but for what it won’t let in. Tourists for example, are discouraged by the One hundred US dollars per day cost of a Visa, and amazingly, television only allowed in about five years ago. Bhutan has also made a bit of news around the world for its Policy of Gross National Happiness, meaning that progress should be measured by the people’s happiness, and not by their bank accounts. Funso Wundi is a lawyer in the Bhutanese government, but is currently taking a break to do a Masters of Comparative Law here in Australia. He talked to David Boyd about his Bhuddist kingdom’s love for the environment. But not everything is calm in the Himalayan country. Bhutanese refugees are stranded in Nepal, not wanted, and in the south of Bhutan Indian guerillas are a real nuisance. Amnesty International believe there are around 60 political prisoners in the country. Change is coming however, with democratic reform leaking into the country.