Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Elizabeth Lickiss. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
What do you dream of? What would make you happy? Is it money - being rich? It would be nice to buy the latest modern technology? What about jewels and clothes? ... the list could go on and on. No one can deny that these things are nice but are they enough? In today’s Spotlight programme we ask what makes us really happy. And is it good for countries to make happiness the centre of government policy?
Voice 2
Experts in the 1970’s carried out a study in Britain. They wanted to find out about how British people felt. They asked people to describe their general emotional state. The experts found that thirty-four percent [34%] of people described themselves as happy. They repeated the study in the late 1990’s. This time only thirty percent [30%] of British people claimed to be happy.
Voice 1
The wealth of the country improved during this time. So the result surprised a lot of people. But the experts were not surprised. They said that this is a common problem in western societies. Extra wealth fails to bring extra happiness.
Voice 2
Researchers at the BBC asked British people to answer some questions about happiness. They asked, ‘Should the government make happiness or wealth the main aim for the country?’. Eighty-one percent [81%] of people stated happiness as a goal.
Voice 1
The researchers then asked people to say what happiness meant to them. Ilona Boniwell is from Oxford University. She is an expert on how humans think. She looked at the people’s answers. Ilona said that good friends and a supporting family made people happy. Also that people found it very important to feel safe and sure in their spirit. They needed inner peace.
Voice 2
In the kingdom of Bhutan, happiness is the most important goal. The kingdom of Bhutan is in the Himalayas north of India. King Wangchuck rules the country. The King is very clear about the way he wants the country to develop. He proclaimed that, ‘Gross national happiness is more important than gross national product’. The King believes that the happiness of his people is more important than increasing the wealth of the country. It may be a good goal to have. But it is very difficult to reach. Not everyone in Bhutan is happy. The country has its fair share of difficulties. But it is the only country in the world that has happiness at the centre of its government policy.
Voice 1
Mrs Lem lives in the village of Tempakha in Bhutan. She says it is a happy place to live. She does not consider wealth to be the answer to gaining happiness. Most of the people in her community are farmers. They lead a simple life. The land is fertile - it provides enough food. The villages can grow two rice crops a year. They also grow chillies, tomatoes, beans and aubergines. Mrs Lem says she has everything that she needs.
Voice 2
Economic developments do happen in the villages of Bhutan. But they happen slowly. The people of Tempakha hope that they will soon be connected to the country’s electricity system. And they also hope to build a road to transport their surplus crops. The King recognises that some economic growth is important. But each new development in Bhutan is considered carefully. Will it make people happier? Will it really make life better?
Voice 1
In Bhutan’s capital city people see a very different way of life. In 1999 the King permitted television. International media now shows a whole new world to the young people of Bhutan. Young people are better informed about the world. They are in a better position to develop businesses. But the new technology has also brought problems. The young people see a world where wealth seems to buy more happiness. And the young people want what they see.
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So are the young people of Bhutan seeing a false image?
Voice 1
The Worldwatch Institute is a respected research organisation. It collects information on world economic, social and health developments. Worldwatch has studied the effects of wealth on people’s health and happiness. Worldwatch states that most people in developed countries have enough money. They can satisfy their everyday needs. They do not need to earn more.
Voice 2
Experts at the Worldwatch Institute say that since 1957 the average American has doubled his wealth. But American people are not happier. Studies show that only a third of Americans described themselves as ‘very happy’. This is the same number as in 1957.
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Daniel Kahneman is an expert working at the University of Princeton America. He says,
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‘There is a lot of evidence that being richer is not making us happier. The research suggests that after you have a home, food and clothes, then extra money does not seem make a lot of difference.’
Voice 2
In Oxford, Ilona Boniwell is concerned. She says that people in developed countries may have more money. But they have also lost a lot of their hope and happiness. Ilona wants people to look at their lives in a different way. She wants people to put more time into creating a strong family. She also wants people to spend more time thinking and developing their spiritual selves.
Voice 1
Mark Windsley is a man who agrees with that. Mark tells of his experience. He had a good job, money and power. He had more money than he needed. He could have anything he wanted. But he was not happy. He felt a huge desire to work harder and harder. The months went by. Mark could no longer deal with the pressure of work. He became sick. Doctors said that he had suffered a mental breakdown. It was a terrible time. Mark felt alone and afraid. He cried out to God to help him. At the time Mark says he felt stupid. He did not even believe that God existed. But today Mark describes that time as a turning point in his life. He says that God answered his cry. He felt close to God. Mark felt stronger. He knew that he was no longer alone.
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In time Mark recovered from his sickness. And today he teaches other people to care for their whole selves. He says,
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‘Look at the Bible. It is God’s guide as to how to live a healthy life. Christian teaching says that we are made up of three parts - body, mind and spirit. For a balanced and happy life we need an understanding of all three parts. All the money in the world cannot buy inner spiritual peace. That is something that God freely gives to those who love and trust him. So my advice is - take it and enjoy it’.
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