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What is it that makes me feel proud when i deliver talks in other countries?

After having completed my Bachelors in Forestry, i have been extremely lucky to have been gifted with an opportunity to work in the conservation and environmental institute in Lamai Goempa - Bumthang. It was mid - January 2007 and Lamai Goempa had its first snow fall of the year.

My job demands me to teach, conduct research and make presentations. I will admit that, i have been given the great opportunity to attend quite a good number of international and regional conferences wherein I was also provided with an opportunity to give a talk. In July 2015, I was asked to talk on the climate change hazards and adaptation experiences based on natural resources and phenology in Kathmandy - Nepal; in August this year, I was asked to deliver a talk on Bhutan's Natural Capital in Goa, India; on 9th November I was made to talk on Sustainable Development Goals and linking GNH, in Bumthang; and yesterday I delivered a talk on Climate Change and Energy Security - Challenges and Strategies between mitigation and adaptation, in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is always an honor to deliver a talk on the subject which has always been close to the heart of His Majesty the Great Fourth Jigme Singye Wangchuck, The Father of the Nation.

It is with great pride that I deliver my talk linking between the Green Economy; Sustainable Development; and Philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Had it not been for the visionary monarchs of ours, we would have doomed; Had it not been for the great leaders of ours, we would have compromised our natural capital for the short term economic growth; Had it not been for the compassionate king of ours, we would have forgotten to understand the ‘inclusiveness’ of life. Since, Bhutan has its natural resources intact, and since Bhutan understands the intricate relations with natural environment – we can still boast of more than 50% of Bhutan to be protected with people living inside the park unlike other countries – we can still boast of Royal Bengal Tigers being sighted above 4000 meters of elevation – we can still boast of our economic development and FYP’s vision of green economy and sustainable socio-economic development – we can still boast of our development guiding document ‘vision 2020’ -  we can still boast of our country being carbon negative -  we can still boast of our constitution which reflects the need to have 60% of the geographical area of the nation under forest cover for all times to come - we can still boast of many more. All thanks to His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

Our leaders have always valued environment and natural resources over the development. Our leaders have always valued the importance of making development plans from ‘grass root’ levels. Our leaders have always stayed a humble life with a great sense of humility. Our leaders have always valued the service to people as service to the nation. Our leaders have always ruled as a son to the elders; as friends to his peers; and as parent to his younger.

When the world has adopted sustainable development goals for 2030 in September 2015, His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo already made an announcement of his development philosophy in 1972 during his coronation address to the nation. The philosophy of GNH is what is being now referred to as ‘Green Economy’; ‘Inclusive Growth’; ‘Sustainable Development’; and many more as people find it difficult to understand the “HAPPINESS”. But being a Bhutanese, I can justify that the essence of GNH is what the world now refers to with many fancy names as I reflected.

Whatever said and done, I will still be proud of my Kings whenever I make presentations. I will still be smiling with great reverence for the vision which His Majesty had and how he followed his vision. As a citizen of the nation, I can only wish to follow the footsteps of His Majesty to serve the people and nation.

May His Majesty the Great Fourth and His Majesty the King live a long life to guide the Bhutanese towards a better and brighter tomorrow la! May I accumulate enough merit to contribute to the nation, a fraction of what His Majesty the great fourth have accomplished.




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