DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.


Ha Vinh Tho, Ph.D
Vietnamese and French

has traveled from one war zone to the other

firsthand experience of what war really means

N Afghanistan: political meeting and traditional cultural event 

Preamble, constitution of UNESCO
“Since wars begin in the mind of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”

Prison visits in middle east
RCRC (Red Cross) delegates re. Geneva Convention can visit and hear stories of detainees. 
15-70+, all with very painful stories to tell.

As humans we tend to take sides with the most oppressed, most suffering.

Solider drafted, who had wanted to become an educator.
I am in this situation, but I am also a human being.
“Do you think I am evil?” (Early 20s, late teens… soldiers are kids.)

We pride ourselves to be neutral, but we are not. 
It is hard to see the young, helpless, victim of a child behind the machine gun.
We have to build a defense of peace in the mind of men… can we stop separating, binary that perpetuates conflicts (good/evil, victim/oppressor)

Thich Naht Hahn : “call me by my true names”
-after a ship was hijacked by pirates and little girl jumped off after being raped
…our true names are the victim and perpetrator
see that my joys and pains are one
the door of compassion, my heart… let it be left open

Physical violence vs. structural violence
reality, it is structural and systemic… much deeper than how it manifests in firing weapons

~inequity of wealth distribution
(world’s poorest 20% consume 1.5%, world’s middle 60% consume 21.9%, world’s richest 20% consume 76.6%)

The maps of war overlap the maps of oil…
the next is the war over water.
Darfur violence
     *inequality of resources

World biocapacity

Feeding centers in Darfur: consequences of inequality, environmental relationship, distribution of resources
     *only feeding children under a certain BMI
     *mothers of five being fed for one child
     *food program feeding 3 months at a time, mothers intentionally underfeeding one child to stay on the food program

“the time for change is now” …how long have we been saying that?

4 main challenges

-spiritual challenge

     *all economic systems based on: homo economicus: concept of humans as rational, narrowly self-interested actors who have ability to use rational assessments in attempts to maximize utility as he embodies the three poisons of the mind: ignorance, greed, hatred
          *modern economic system is a self-fulfilling prophecy 
We have to change the ways we understand ourselves as human beings to bring any lasting change to the system

     *Buddhist psychology is based on the notion that human beings are fundamentally good. 
Their most basic qualities are positive ones: openness, intelligence and warmth. 

—two opposite assumptions of humanity

Alienation from nature: economic crisis
     *nature is a being, and we have a relationship with beings of nature… based on something other than greed and exploitation

What we use in a year, the earth needs 18 months to produce. 
We will come to need 3 planets in a year in the next few years unless we have a rapid reduction to bring us way back down to needing 1 like we did in the 70s.

Inequality of consumption - even within rich countries

Sweden, Norway, Denmark = more equal, fewer health and social problems

-leadership challenge

     *serving short-term interests vs. long-term sustainable interests of groups
     *leaders willing to destroy half their population just to stay in power longer

Limits of GDP - keeps growing, but life satisfaction has started to decline
     *after you have your basic needs, there is no correlation between GNH and GDP
We can measure development and orient progress in different ways

Mandala: like a fractal, representation of mind, universe, society or organization.
4 doors = 4 pillars of GDP, interdependence of factors in society

GNH = increasing wellbeing (not with more consuming) qualitative approach
developmental strategy
indicator system and index (done every 3 years in Bhutan)
policy screening tool
shift in individual and collective consciousness (GNH center in Bhutan)

The only unlimited growth in the material world is the cancer cell.
That is what we are trying to replicate with limitless material growth.
—replace this with spiritual and leadership/community growth, which is the only other experience that is limitless

We cannot have compassion with things; only beings.
We must find the being in the environment.
Egoistic intention is not enough.

Opening of the heart is what grounds a deep ecology.

Good governance: Maitri, loving kindness
Preservation of the environment: Karuna, Compassion
Preservation and diversity of culture: Mudita, joy
Equitable and sustainable economic development: Upeska, equanimity or inclusiveness 

Robert Kennedy (video) 1968 warning against everything we are still facing now to much more extremes

"May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness
May all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering
May all beings never be separated from the supreme joy that is beyond all sorrow
May all beings abide in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion"

How do we apply these values universally? Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Non-secular communities
Fundamental values across humanity. 

GNH = Development must be human-centered
objective: create situations enabling human individual to achieve what is most important to her = happiness
Happiness is a condition that can be attained when one can balance the needs of the body with those of the mind
the physical and mental needs being balanced
*alternative holistic, sustainable, inclusive development approach

9 domains of GNH measured in surveys 

GNH Centre Bhutan 

-place where people can learn and understand
learn GNH: open mind

-create a community
experience GNH: open heart

-taking it back into homes, institutions, community, careers
Implement GNH: open will

combining off-grid, zero-waste technology combined with bhutanese infrastructure for buildings… starting now with first constructions on land
fundraising issue to enable them further

"There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.”  -TNH

**Global Wellbeing and GNH Lab - video**
-Brazil and Bhutan















































DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.