Vanuatu is world's happiest country: study
 

LONDON (AFP) - The tiny South Pacific Ocean archipelago of Vanuatu is the happiest country on Earth, according to a study published measuring people's wellbeing and their impact on the environment.
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Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica and Panama complete the top five in the Happy Planet Index, compiled by the British think-tank New Economics Foundation (NEF).

The index combines life satisfaction, life expectancy and environmental footprint -- the amount of land required to sustain the population and absorb its energy consumption.

Zimbabwe came bottom of the 178 countries ranked, below second-worst performer Swaziland, Burundi, the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine.

The Group of Eight industrial powers meet in Saint Petersburg this weekend but have not much to smile about, according to the index.

Italy came out best in 66th place, ahead of Germany (81), Japan (95), Britain (108), Canada (111), France (129), the United States (150) and Russia, in lowly 172nd place.

Andrew Simms, NEF's policy director, said the index "addresses the relative success or failure of countries in giving their citizens a good life while respecting the environmental resource limits on which all our lives depend."

Nic Marks, the head of NEF's centre for wellbeing, added: "It is clear that no single nation listed in the Happy Planet Index has got everything right.

"But the index does reveal patterns that show how we might better achieve long and happy lives for all, whilst living within our environmental means," he said, according to British daily The Guardian.

"The challenge is: can we learn the lessons and apply them?"

Island nations performed particularly well in the rankings. But Vanuatu, with a population of around 200,000, topped them all.

"Don't tell too many people, please," said Marke Lowen of Vanuatu Online, the republic's online newspaper.

"People are generally happy here because they are very satisfied with very little," he told The Guardian.

"This is not a consumer-driven society. Life here is about community and family and goodwill to other people. It's a place where you don't worry too much."

"The only things we fear are cyclones or earthquakes."

Selected others: 17. Philippines; 23. Indonesia; 31. China; 32. Thailand; 44. Malaysia; 62. India; 64. Iceland; 70. Netherlands; 87. Spain; 88. Hong Kong; 89. Saudi Arabia; 99. Denmark; 112. Pakistan; 115. Norway; 119. Sweden; 123. Finland; 139. Australia; 154. UAE; 156. South Africa; 159. Kuwait; 166. Qatar.

Right on! Philippines #17 :)

that only shows one thing and one thing only - we, the white people, are damn fucking stupid, we chase ghosts 99% of the time - we want bogger house, faster car, plasma tv, you name it.

The quality of life should be measured by the ratio happy days divided the days you live aka the Antonio2006 ratio.

Sweden sucks

hmm, the results don't really make sense... it looks like the more advanced the country is, the lower it ranks...

.. Maybe that's the point?

Are we working ourselves into unhappiness?

Palestine #45 :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm

Take a look at the "the new economics foundation" people, and its like a "who is who" in the UK lefty movement.

http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/z_sy...77&folder=142&

A big pile of bullshit propaganda :2 cents:

Anyone here going to the Vanuatu "Festival of Circumcision" in August?

http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library...Vanuatu/F2.jpg

ADG Webmaster

Where can I find the complete list?

:thumbsup Just smile and wave....

That is exactly the reason they do make sense woj :) This is nothing new.

"Advanced" could be described as "civilized" or "sophisticated" - that comes at a price and it is individuals who take most of the burden, - and it shows.


PS... And "advanced" does not necessarily mean good - it is often the reverse.

"addresses the relative success or failure of countries in giving their citizens a good life while respecting the environmental resource limits on which all our lives depend."

Does you guys never read before starting an arguement?

:disgust

I live in Vanuatu and I can honestly say the locals are the happiest and friendliest people I have ever met.
And the melanesian girls look real pretty after a few months here and they all put out!This is a bachelors paradise.

I live in Vanuatu and I can honestly say the locals are the happiest and friendliest people I have ever met.
And the melanesian girls look real pretty after a few months here and they all put out!This is a bachelors paradise.

ooopppss. haha

What are you talking about and where's the arguement?

:disgust :disgust :disgust

I must move there.. or to another island asap :)

I was wondering if you ever traveled to U/K 3 times??? Your senses keen hate..Then again Germany/"EU" started the route of reverse propaganda in the 20's and the result was "Mein Kempf"...MORAL of the story: respect Earth and its cultural surroundings...

7-11 COme again

Hate is simple blindness and often comes from insecurity or inferiority - another story :)

There is also nothing more relevant than respecting the planet - the awareness of this is incredibly low and often in "civilized societies" is limited to cleaning up the trash in the local park.

Got to admit I was never "aware" for many years, till spending a lot of time being guided by folks who know better and are qualified to speak. It's an enormous topic - more than any chatboard could handle.

Especially this one. :)

what place did Israel claimed?

7-11 thank you COme again

They need more Arabs there so they can be even happeir

Can't believe all the 3rd world countries are happier then we are, but fuck research and all that shit, I'm happy..

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

http://www.haroldstephens.net/files/...4c7285-279.jpg


Are you white? If not then I would agree with your statement. But if you're not white then you're full of shit. Having been to Venuato and off the beaten path ( not in resorts but with the actual people ) I can tell you they don't like foreigners, they have "black mans islands" of which white people are not allowed. What clothes you might hang out to dry at night will be gone in the morning. They'll sell their grandma for a quarter then tell you that you didn't pay the agreed price which will be at least twice as much. etc. etc.

The people of Vanuato are happiest because they live in a hut, own the land the live on, they live off the land, and don't like outsiders. :pimp

im moving!!!

Awesome predictable gringo mentality verbal :)

Some of that may have elements of truth - wonder why some folks don't like foreigners too much? What have they got to offer? Very little. Hell.. it's the same where I am when they open their mouths, depending what comes out - hardly surprising.

Chances are you are 100% correct in that they own their own land and live off it. That's part of the whole idea eh?? :winkwink:

Yep DamageX - it would never get thru a section of the first chapter - and that would be 50% spam :winkwink:


PS.. Na 90% spam..

Yes of course owning your own hut and land, and living off the land is a great thing. I'm happy the people are content living the way they do and they should be commended.... BUT this false statement that the people of Venuato are so happy and accepting of foreigners and easy to fuck is false... that is not at all what the people of Venuato are like.

If I could have a country made up of islands, and my own people, land, etc. I'd love it. If I could discriminate against foreigners and have white only islands then I'd be a racist.. but the people of Venuato aren't?

As Americans we're taught to be accepting of other people and cultures, but when we travel the world we find how unaccepting other peoples and cultures are of us just because we're from the U.S. and how they expect us to have money and how they want us to give to them because they have less... but if you want a drink on an Island in Venuato you have to be invited by the chief into the village, then invited by a villager into the bar... where you are then expected to pay the villagers drink. :thumbsup

wow seems like I want to visit that place,
"a place where you dont worry too much..."
Cool!

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

Have you ever been in Vanuato when the villages generator used to create electricity runs out of gas and they try calling around to find more and can't? Have you been to a village where the days catch of fish was nothing and they had to eat the same fruit again today that they've eaten every day for most of their life on the island and the kids are crying because fish was the only "meat" they were going to have for the day? :pimp

Life on Vanuato is like any other island society... it is not all bliss and total happiness, etc. etc.

First... who said anything about "accepting foreigners"? That was never part of any calculation - neither was anything about fucking :)

Racism was also not part of any calculation.


Where you get the idea that "Americans" are taught to be "accepting of other people"??? While it's unfair to generalize, - that certainly has no basis of truth and appears to be the exact opposite to the extent that the US stands apart from almost all other nations on this.

Not exactly accurate is it?? But back to the "accepting of others" verbal - clearly there is a mismatch. :thumbsup

I'd like to visit

There are a good few places like that Stacey - you don't even have to travel as far as Vanutu :)

Almost anyone who has departed from "civilized countries" will tell you their quality of life has increased substantially.

This varies a lot between individuals, but the general "hit-ya-in-the-face" reasons are less stress, calmer lifestyle, far superior environment, often no taxes or govt forms to fill in etc. It is noticeable people are generally much happier and laid back.

Got a problem? No big deal - can sort it our when there is time :)

I can see why your location under your avatar says "Location: Far far away - as possible"

My statements were in response to the quotes I posted from Swami "I live in Vanuatu and I can honestly say the locals are the happiest and friendliest people I have ever met. And the melanesian girls look real pretty after a few months here and they all put out!This is a bachelors paradise."

Then you chimed in with your "Awesome predictable gringo mentality verbal" shwoing that you have a predetermined state of mind about "gringos", whatever your personal twisted definition of that is.

You are ignorant of my comments and don't read well. You are more concerned of proving that anyone who disagrees with you is wrong, instead of learning from the experience of others.

I would love for America to close it's borders and focus on our own culture, as most other countries do. Our own people, of all colors, that have come to, and live in America for the dream, and to work towards that dream. As a country we spend FAR to much time and money on interests outside our borders and nobody is grateful, nobody is gonna save our ass when we need it, and we will. So enjoy living in your la la land Webby and I leave you with this universally known symbol to ponder :321GFY :pimp

Squirtit:

Have a nice day and enjoy your travels :thumbsup



PS.. The last part of your post in particular was classic gringo :winkwink:

you have the internets there? :Oh crap

I'm on my way

You're obviously not living in this kind of environment as your post history shows post after post on GFY filled with hatred and sarcasm... not to mention you have over 10,000 post count so you spend a LOT of time on the computer.

Again... another of GFY's assumers :winkwink:

Contrary to your thinking, I do live in such an environment and enjoy it.

I admit to having a touch of sarcasm - there is far more than enough qualification for it - and also a chance to evoke a dry smirk at imbeciles on occasion :)

Sure.. there are screens open 24/7 to the net - it's called running a biz. BTW... Yes, they do have internet cabling as well :1orglaugh

PS You finished hating the people of Vanutu yet? Or just diverting the hate?

ha ha you're a hate filled racist calling me a classic "gringo" ... been looking at your other posts after checking out your profile.

You don't tell people what country your in, you put down everyone, yet pretend to know what a peaceful easy life is about... classic inferiority complex glowing through your posts :helpme

You thrive on conflict and negativity to make yourself feel whole. Why try bringing people up to feel better instead of tearing people down? ... I know .. I know.. it's to much work. Good on ya boy :thumbsup

Now back to making money