Wildsight Invermere is proud to host Dasho Kinley Dorji, a journalist and government official from the Himalayan nation of Bhutan. His presentation, Within the Realm of Happiness: a Himalayan Perspective, will take place on Monday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Invermere Community Hall. Tickets are $12, and $6 for students, available at Circle Health Foods, The Book Bar and online at www.wildsight.ca

Bhutan, a country most people have never heard of, is unique for many reasons. Its catchy tourism tagline boasts “Happiness is a Place.” While the rest of the world interprets development purely as economic development, Bhutan identifies Gross National Happiness (GNH) as the goal for human development.

Since Bhutan’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, came up with the idea of GNH in 1972, the concept has spread to other countries. The Bhutanese have an inherently strong belief that if they preserve their culture, their environment, and ensure that economic development is sustainable, it will enable the people to find and maintain happiness.

Their government has instituted measures that have caused the rest of the world to pay attention. For example, the constitution states that 60% of the country must remain as forests.

The ‘Finding Balance’ forum organized by Wildsight last March generated valuable discussion on the links between conservation, economics and wellbeing. Now Dasho Kinley’s talk is a chance for valley residents to consider other paradigms for living and to question what is really important to us as we pursue wealth and prosperity in the East Kootenay.

Dasho Kinley is the former managing director and editor-in-chief of Kuensel, Bhutan’s national newspaper, and is the author of a collection of short stories, Within the Realm of Happiness, which was published with assistance from the Canadian Co-operation office in Bhutan.

Currently Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications in Bhutan, he’s well placed to explain the concept of Gross National Happiness. He will discuss both the theories and challenges of instituting GNH into everyday life in Bhutan.

Those who packed the Invermere Community Hall this past June to hear Dr. David Suzuki’s rousing talk on the economic/environmental challenges of the 21st Century will be interested to know that Dasho Kinley and Suzuki are headliners at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival right after his Invermere presentation. They will appear together live on stage to have a conversation on the topic of GNH.

What can we in the Rocky Mountains learn from a tiny Himalayan kingdom in Bhutan? Come and find out.

For more information please contact [email protected] .

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