File consists of an interview with Hon. Jigme Thinley titled "Governing for Gross National Happiness." The interview was conducted by Silver Donald Cameron as part of The Green Interview. File includes video of the interview, printed transcript, sound recording, and closed captioning file.
From the interview with Jigme Thinley: "Gross National Happiness is the conceptual framework that has guided Bhutan's developing process [...]. It is based on the belief that the aspiration and the main desire of every human individual is to pursue happiness and find happiness. And that happiness, on the other hand, is a state of mind that one is able to achieve only if there were an equitable balance, an equilibrium between fulfilling the needs of the body and fulfilling the needs of the mind.
"On the other hand, what we have seen, and what we see globally is a macroeconomic model that has promoted purely economic growth at the cost of spiritual and emotional well-being.
"Now, here in Bhutan, under this philosophy of Gross National Happiness, the government has assumed the responsibility of creating enabling conditions for individual citizens to pursue happiness, and this has been undertaken all these years through what we commonly refer to as the four pillars of GNH. These are: (1) sustainable and equitable social economic development; (2) conservation of our very fragile Himalayan ecology; (3) preservation and promotion of our cultural heritage; and (4) good governance. [...]"