Inspired by their much-loved King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who believes
that compassion must replace competition, the Bhutanese government has
shunned the global economy and is protecting the rural economy with
subsidies and tariffs.
Bhutan hopes to stem the brain drain of its young to the West
They have reversed their school curriculum's urban bias to produce
"educated farmers" and have given grants to increase and diversify crop
production and boost traditional crafts.
They have brought electricity and distributed health centres to the very
remotest regions. They have devolved power to local councils and are
researching Gross National Happiness as a more inclusive measurement of
progress than Gross National Product.
Last year 80 scholars from around the world were invited to discuss how
Bhutan would operate this revolutionary concept.
Internalised into the price of the product, the want to include the
external costs to people and the environment of goods made with virtual
slave labour and no environmental standards criss-crossing the globe.
Only then will local trade be cheaper than global.
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[permaculture] BBC NEWS | South Asia | Bhutan puts farms before markets,
Lawrence F. London, Jr., 08/18/2005