A colleague told me on Friday that he was off to Bhutan for a holiday. As he is a Manchester United fan, I thought that he was simply escaping the ridicule of City fans, but of course he was in search of wonderful wildlife. Whenever I think of Bhutan I think of snow leopards - a species which I searched for in vain for many months in the 1990s in Mongolia, a near neighbour. But I also think of their famous National Happiness Index.
This was first proposed in 1972 by Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the country's former King. King Wangchuk said that instead of relying on Gross Domestic Product as the best indicator of Bhutan's progress, it should instead consider its "Gross National Happiness." That was to be measured by its peoples' sense of being well-governed, their relationship with the environment, satisfaction with the pace of economic development, a sense of cultural and national belonging.
I know it has its critics, but it has always made sense to me.
Talk of Bhutan made me wonder how the Office of National Statistics was getting on with its own attempt at developing a national well being index. You may recall that David Cameron first spoke about this in opposition saying that "It's time we admitted that there's more to life than money, and it's time we focused not just on GDP, but on GWB - general well-being". Then, last year, he asked the National Statistician, Jill Matheson, to develop a national measure of well-being and progress. Following a five month consultation, a progress report was published in the summer. Those who replied to consultation felt that health, friends and family, job satisfaction/economic security matter most but also the present and future conditions of the environment.
As a hypochondriac, who loves his job and likes nothing better than going in search of beautiful places with my family, I think that I probably agree with the findings. I'd probably add that I was also pretty happy that Chelsea let in five goals this weekend. However, years of experience has taught me that, in sport, happiness can be fleeting.
We can expect the first assessment next spring, just before the Rio+ 20 Summit in Brazil - twenty years on from the seminal Earth Summit. If ever there was a meeting which was focused on enhancing our well-being, this has to be it. And so it is sad that Mr Cameron, once such an advocate of sustainable development and well-being, has reportedly decided not to attend due to a clash with the Queen's Jubliee. I hope that he reads Charles Clover's open letter in yesterday's Sunday Times which urges him to rethink his decision and attend.
What makes you happy? Do you think we should have a national index of well-being? And do you think that the Prime Minister should attend the Rio+20 Summit next year?
It would be great to hear your views.
Peter - although I did hear the media commentary I have not yet had a chance to look at the Compass initiative properly. I will do so and offer a comment. All I would refer to you is our Letter to the Future campaign which did not make a judgement on the fiscal stimulus post Lehman brothers. However it did argue that spending billions meant building up debt which the next generation would inherit so it would make sense for the spend to be on those things which our children would thank us for.
Sooty - it is really good to hear from you. I hope you are well.