Bhutan: A Country Prioritizing Happiness and Sustainability

Bhutan, a unique and peaceful country with a rich spiritual heritage, is facing an existential crisis as young people leave in search of better opportunities. In response, the king is building a unique city that combines ancient wisdom with modern design, focusing on mindfulness rather than commerce, in an attempt to save the nation. Bhutan values balance between tradition and change, prioritizing inner wellbeing and outer development through a Buddhist way of life.

Measuring Development through Gross National Happiness (GNH)

The country measures its development through Gross National Happiness (GNH), which focuses on the preservation of environment, culture, good governance, and spiritual values, prioritizing the happiness and wellbeing of its people above economic growth. This approach differs from the Western focus on material progress and has traditionally been closed off from the outside world.

Challenges Facing Bhutan

Despite its rich culture and commitment to Buddhism, Bhutan faces problems like demographic issues, economic problems, and migration. Many of its youth are leaving to find better opportunities elsewhere due to the country’s largely agrarian economy and tough living conditions. To address this, the king unveiled the Galifu Mindfulness City in December 2023, aiming to provide a space for the Bhutanese to flourish.

The Galifu Mindfulness City: A Unique Approach to Urban Development

The city is designed as a self-administered state, aiming to create a radical startup-style city where new ideas can be learned and adopted by the wider country. Unlike other special economic zones, this city will be developed in a unique, modern way, inspired by Bhutan, with a series of towns connected by incredible bridges, prioritizing functionality over grandeur. The city’s bridges serve as key focal points, with one housing a temple and another a medical center, inspired by the Bhutanese Zong, a fortified monastery.

Key Features of the City

Airport built over a naturally flowing river, showcasing harmony with nature
Modular structures that can be easily expanded to meet growing demand
Incorporation of natural elements, such as a jungle canopy, to promote restfulness and mindfulness
Buildings limited to six stories to reduce the use of carbon-intensive materials like steel and concrete
Buffer zones around rivers with paddy fields instead of using resource-heavy solutions like sewers and storm channels
Permeable paving slabs to absorb excess water from flooding and reduce the need for an extensive sewer system

Sustainability and Environmental Commitment

Bhutan is committed to environmental sustainability, with 99% of its energy coming from hydro power and 60% of its land required to be covered in forests, making it a carbon negative country. The country’s unique hydroelectric dam features a temple at its center and triangular terraces, showcasing its commitment to sustainability. Bhutan also restricts plastic bags and tobacco, and protects its highest mountains as they are considered sacred.

Conclusion and Future Plans

The development of the Galifu Mindfulness City is seen as a new chapter for Bhutan, and the project is anticipated to bring peace, curiosity, and reflection, with a goal of inspiring the next generation of builders. Bhutan is open to collaborating with global experts to learn from them and aims to become a consultant and advisor to other nations on similar projects in the future. The infrastructure works are expected to be complete within 10 years, with a focus on doing it properly rather than quickly.

Key Vocabulary

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Gross National Happiness (GNH)	A measure of a country’s development that prioritizes the happiness and wellbeing of its people above economic growth, focusing on environment, culture, good governance, and spiritual values.	Bhutan measures its development through GNH, which has led to a unique approach to urban development and sustainability.
Galifu Mindfulness City	A self-administered city in Bhutan designed to create a radical startup-style environment where new ideas can be learned and adopted, prioritizing mindfulness and functionality over grandeur.	The Galifu Mindfulness City is being developed as a unique approach to urban development, incorporating natural elements and promoting restfulness and mindfulness.
Sustainability	The practice of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often through environmental conservation and responsible resource management.	Bhutan is committed to sustainability, with 99% of its energy coming from hydro power and 60% of its land required to be covered in forests, making it a carbon negative country.
Carbon Negative	A state where a country or entity removes more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it emits, often through sustainable practices and renewable energy sources.	Bhutan is a carbon negative country due to its commitment to sustainability and renewable energy sources, such as hydro power.
Hydro Power	A renewable energy source that generates power from the movement of water, often through hydroelectric dams or turbines.	Bhutan generates 99% of its energy from hydro power, making it a significant contributor to the country’s sustainability and carbon negative status.
Modular Structures	Buildings or designs that are composed of multiple modules or units that can be easily expanded or modified to meet changing needs or demands.	The Galifu Mindfulness City incorporates modular structures that can be easily expanded to meet growing demand, promoting flexibility and sustainability.
Permeable Paving	A type of paving material that allows water to pass through, reducing stormwater runoff and the need for extensive sewer systems.	The Galifu Mindfulness City uses permeable paving slabs to absorb excess water from flooding, reducing the need for an extensive sewer system and promoting sustainability.
Buffer Zones	Areas or zones that are designated to protect or separate different environments, ecosystems, or land uses, often to prevent pollution or degradation.	The Galifu Mindfulness City incorporates buffer zones around rivers with paddy fields, reducing the need for resource-heavy solutions like sewers and storm channels.
Mindfulness	The practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, often through meditation or other mindfulness techniques, to promote mental clarity and wellbeing.	The Galifu Mindfulness City is designed to promote mindfulness and restfulness, incorporating natural elements and unique architectural features to create a peaceful and reflective environment.
Buddhist Way of Life	A philosophy or approach to life that is guided by the principles of Buddhism, emphasizing compassion, mindfulness, and the pursuit of inner peace and enlightenment.	Bhutan values the Buddhist way of life, prioritizing inner wellbeing and outer development through a balance of tradition and change.
Demographic Issues	Challenges or problems related to the characteristics of a population, such as age, gender, or migration patterns, that can impact the social, economic, or environmental wellbeing of a country or community.	Bhutan faces demographic issues, including the migration of young people to other countries in search of better opportunities, which poses a challenge to the country’s development and sustainability.

Watch The Video

Why Bhutan is Building the Anti-Dubai

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What does Bhutan prioritize above economic growth?

A) Material progress and industrial development
B) Environmental conservation and cultural preservation
C) The happiness and wellbeing of its people
D) Technological advancements and digital infrastructure

2. What is unique about the way Bhutan measures its development?

A) It focuses solely on economic indicators
B) It uses a combination of economic and environmental indicators
C) It measures development through Gross National Happiness (GNH)
D) It ignores the preservation of environment and culture

3. What is the main purpose of building the Galifu Mindfulness City in Bhutan?

A) To attract foreign tourists and increase revenue
B) To provide a space for the Bhutanese to flourish and address demographic issues
C) To build a commercial hub and promote economic growth
D) To create a military base and enhance national security

4. What is a distinctive feature of the buildings in the Galifu Mindfulness City?

A) They are designed to be extremely tall and grand
B) They are limited to six stories to reduce the use of carbon-intensive materials
C) They are built solely with traditional materials and techniques
D) They are designed to be completely self-sufficient and independent

5. Why does Bhutan restrict the use of certain materials and products, such as plastic bags and tobacco?

A) To promote economic growth and increase revenue
B) To protect the environment and preserve natural resources
C) To restrict individual freedoms and impose strict regulations
D) To follow international trends and conform to global standards

Answer Key:

1. C
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using the Present Participle to Describe Ongoing Actions and States

The present participle, formed by adding -ing to the base form of a verb, is used to describe actions or states that are ongoing or in progress. In the context of the text, we see examples such as “facing an existential crisis,” “building a unique city,” and “prioritizing inner wellbeing and outer development.” These phrases indicate actions that are currently happening or states that are currently true. The present participle can also be used to describe temporary or changing situations, as seen in “leaving in search of better opportunities” and “flourishing.” This grammar point is essential for CEFR C1 level learners to master, as it allows them to express complex and nuanced ideas about ongoing actions and states.

Grammar Quiz:

1. The king of Bhutan ____________________ a unique city to save the nation.

is building
was built
builds
has built

2. Bhutan ____________________ its development through Gross National Happiness (GNH), focusing on the preservation of environment and culture.

measures
is measuring
measured
has been measuring

3. The Galifu Mindfulness City ____________________ as a self-administered state, aiming to create a radical startup-style city.

is designed
was designed
designs
has been designed

4. The city’s bridges ____________________ as key focal points, with one housing a temple and another a medical center.

serve
are serving
served
have been serving

5. Bhutan ____________________ to environmental sustainability, with 99% of its energy coming from hydro power.

is committed
was committed
commits
has been committing

Answer Key:

1. is building

2. measures

3. is designed

4. serve

5. is committed