BHUTAN- A HAPPY KINGDOM
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia at
the eastern end of the Himalayas. In the north it borders China and
in the south, east and west, India. It is separated from Nepal by
Sikkim. Fog shrouded temples nestling among the mountain is the
image that comes to mind when you think of Bhutan. It is a seldom
travelled destination, and the people of that country prefer it that
way. The Bhutanese have proved time and time again that they are
different. For one, they base their political decisions on Gross
National Happiness index. They do not go by economic growth like
other countries do.
Indeed! Upon reading and watching the documentary about Bhutan
I can say Alas! Bhutan is indeed a nice and interesting place to
visit. To experience what it feels mingling with locals and experience
first-hand their culture. Experiencing, why this Kingdom is called a
Happy Kingdom? Why they value more on happiness of the people
than that on economic growth? A fascinating choice of a country,
especially, nowadays that the economy is the main goal for survival.
Instead of choosing or prioritizing the economic growth they still
choose what’s best and good for the people in a simple and basic
way. Love for the environment and to their people is what they
value.
They became the world’s first country to become carbon neutral on
year 2016. As we all know carbon dioxide is the leading greenhouse
gases produced by us humans that contributed to what we are
experiencing right now on climate change. Not just our country
produces it but mostly of the developing countries all over the world
and that’s the reason the gases that are not absorbed makes its way
to the atmosphere. On Bhutan’s side, their country is mostly
covered by trees about 70% of its land area, means more trees more
absorption of carbon dioxide. They manage this on protecting the
environment by the amendment of their constitution that includes
the forested area should not drop below 60%. A ban was put on
export logging. And early on Bhutan realized that the condition of
the environment would be the base point of human happiness. So
that’s the reason why environmental protection became the priority
on Bhutan’s political agenda. They just followed on a simple rule-
stopped destroying their environment and start to protect it.
Even smoking publicly and producing tobacco is ban in the country
to prevent pollution. Using also of synthetic pesticides on farming is
not allowed to prevent soil pollution and eventually will result to
water pollution. Organic farming is what they introduce to the
locals even by the fear that they cannot produce much and grow
more if they use organic fertilizers, but nonetheless they made it.
Organic farming started to make its way in Bhutan and that is now
what they are practicing in farms in order to protect their
environment and the place that gives them happiness. To maintain
the ecological health of their country, and to preserve their
environment for the next generations. They believe that what they
are doing is also for the future generation and for their children’s
children to follow. Like what the King and Queen did upon the birth
of their son which he ordered to plant thousands of trees in
celebration, this act is a very nice act of a leader, giving value to its
environment.
Just like in the animated movie “The Lorax” where there is this one
boy who grow up in the City of Thneedville in which everything is
artificial, trees, air and even on the weather. Ted is a very curious
boy that upon hearing the story from his grandmother and friend
Audrey about trees that once grow in their area he became
fascinated and shows interest. By the idea, he really investigates on
the information learned. He finds ways to get out on their walled
city and finds out that outside is a contaminated area and a
wasteland. Upon knowing what was Ted was doing their city mayor
O’Hare who is a businessman also for bottled air confronts and
pressures him to stay in town. With the encouragement of his
grandmother he still sneaks out on the city to visit Once-ler, the
man who knows about how trees grow in the area and how it looks
like paradise once. Once-ler is a young man who left his family to
find his fortune and purpose for he feels like unworthy in his
family. Upon his journey he came into this forest which looks like a
paradise. When he first cut a tree there appear the Lorax or the
guardian of the trees/ forest. He promise not to cut anymore tree
but his kneed business blooms that’s the reason he forget his
promise and cut more and more trees. He became arrogant and the
protest of the Lorax has no use. On the process Once-ler polluted
the sky, river and landscape and finally all the trees are gone and
so the animals left. With that Once-ler was left ruined and
abandoned by his family.
With that, Teds desire to impress Audrey about trees is now a
personal mission to remind his town of the importance of nature.
O’Hare on the other hand is determined to have no trees undercut
his business, takes all means so that Ted would not be successful
with his plan on re-growing trees. But by the help of Ted’s family he
managed to open the eyes of the towns’ people by breaking a part of
their city wall and let them see how it is bad outside. Ted and his
family able to plant the seed and grows as time passes by. Once the
trees are growing, the animals are coming back also; Once-ler and
Lorax are reunited again.
In the movie we can see that the Lorax symbolizes our Mother
Nature’s response to our abuse of the environment. The Lorax
speaks for the animals and the trees. The Lorax repeatedly warns
Once-ler of the damage he is doing just like Mother Nature warns
us when we damage the environment. Just like the warnings of red
tides, ozone pollution, etc. ted on the other hand is the one that
symbolizes the solution to the problem. He portrays hope for the
next generation because of his determination and perusal to know
about trees and what is it all about. Upon listening to Once-lers
story he shows that he really cares and willing to pay the price of
what he learn. His love and enthusiasm to make a difference with
his city people makes him the instrument for the next generation.
The movies moral lesson is strongly on environmental theme. In
today’s disposable generation the value of things is greatly
diminished. Children in this generation grow up with everything
instant and if broken or damage it can easily be replaced. In the
movie it stresses on valuing things and site on the negative aspect
of wasting. Difference can start even on a single person with
courage and determination to make change. On the message left by
the Lorax “ UNLESS”, this means unless someone is brave enough
and shows care for the environment change will come and situation
will improve. Change happens even on a small single action.
Bhutan Kingdom and The Lorax movie has a great similarity, their
love and value for nature. Environment is what they really value
and portrays. Everything bad that we do for the environment will
eventually repays bad. Preserving and giving it life again is really a
great gift for the future generation. Showing value and care is very
important to make our environment sustainable place to live with,
not just by us but for the next generation. Educating the young
ones now on environmental preservation and rehabilitation is what
really needed by our government to do. Incorporating and exerting
great effort on the purpose is really a great help. Change is a big
responsibility and a very long process but by the help of everybody
we can really make a difference.
by: Apriele Rose G. Hermogenes
