DDV News Episode 01: World Happiness Report 2023
“It has been over ten years since the first World Happiness Report was published. And it is exactly ten years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/281, proclaiming 20 March to be observed annually as International Day of Happiness.
“Since then, more and more people have come to believe that our success as countries should be judged by the happiness of our people.
There is also a growing consensus about how happiness should be measured. This consensus means that national happiness can now become an operational objective for governments.”
According to the report, FINLAND is #1 because:
“Finlanders felt strongly that they were free to make their own choices, and showed minimal suspicion of government corruption,” read the report.
“Both of these factors are strong contributors to overall happiness.”
Top 5 happiest countries are (drum roll please):
1. Finland
2. Denmark
3. Iceland
4. Israel
5. Netherlands
OTHER LINKS:
“Harmony Day is celebrated annually on 21 March in Australia. It is a Howard government-declared observance day that began in 1999, coinciding with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.”
First the author says that it’s basically perfection.
Then he says… winters are brutal, cost of living makes suicide fun AND… DEPRESSION and ALCOHOLISM are a PROBLEM.
…but it’s the happiest place in the world no?
“The Nordic countries are well known for topping charts globally in education, equality, and happiness levels. Nordic welfare systems provide citizens with myriad state benefits and free healthcare and education from pre-school to university.
However, in The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ “Being Black in the EU” study, Finland has also topped the charts for something far more insidious as well: racism.“
“A 2011 poll showed that 66% of Finnish respondents considered Finland to be a racist country but only 14% admitted to being racist themselves.
Minority groups facing the most negative attitudes were Finnish Kale (aka the Romani, The Romani people have origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically Rajasthan but we can unpack that later) , Somalis, and ethnic groups mostly consisting of Muslims.
“In December 2012, the Finnish Police reported an increase in cases of racism and related physical abuse.[2] In February 2013, researchers of racism and multiculturalism reported an increase in the number of threats and abuse.[3] In January 2013, Save the Children reported that immigrant children were facing an increasing amount of racist abuse.[4] In June 2011, a researcher reported an increase in the amount of racist violence targeting children and teenagers.[5]”
Suomi. Finland’s True Name.
“’Finland’ was not Finnish-born. In fact, the original Finnish alphabet didn’t even contain the letter ‘f’, which was introduced to the language through borrowed words. One theory is that the name ‘Finland’ comes from the Old English word finna, a general term once used to describe people from Scandinavia.
“Finna is a term the kids say nowadays” – Sandhya
Where is Finland?
It’s a republic in northern Europe, bordered by the Gulf of Bothnia (an arm of the Baltic Sea) and Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east, and the Gulf of Finland (another arm of the Baltic) and the Baltic Sea to the south. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki.
World Happiness report: About
“The World Happiness Report was written by a group of independent experts acting in their personal capacities.
Any views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization, agency or program of the United Nations.”
“The World Happiness Report is a publication of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, powered by the Gallup World Poll data.”
Please note that the site URL has “UN” in it. Predominantly non PoC people but the PoC are very credible.
“Mr. Gross the man even more than Mr. Gross the investor dominates this story. Pimco, Ms. Childs writes, was “suffused with Gross’s clinical insecurity that someone might catch up.”
Certainly Mr. Gross was driven: “Grow or die!” he boomed to his troops.
A nurturing corporate environment it was not—the author quotes the light-hearted suggestion of a senior colleague of Mr. Gross’s that the new-hire interview should be two questions:|
‘Were you abused as a child?’ and ‘Did you like it?’ ”
What is the Gallup Poll
“The Gallup Poll is the division of Gallup that regularly conducts public opinion polls. Gallup Poll results, analysis, and videos are published daily in the form of data-driven news. Conducting polls brings the company financial losses of about $10 million a year, but gives Gallup company the visibility of a well-known brand, which helps promote its corporate research.[10]
Historically, the Gallup Poll has measured and tracked the public’s attitudes concerning political, social, and economic issues, including sensitive or controversial subjects.”
“When Qarase won the May 2006 election, tensions with Bainimarama escalated. Despite Qarase conceding to Bainimarama’s demands to drop controversial legislation that aimed to enshrine iTaueki traditions and interests, Bainimarama led Fiji’s fourth coup in December 2006.
Before the 2014 restoration of democracy, Qarase was charged, convicted, and jailed for a year for abusing his office, inflaming ethnic tensions, and failing to perform his duties.”
“This year, researchers asked a sample of people from each country to rate their happiness, and whether the coming year would be better or worse than the last.
Respondents were also asked about their country’s economic prosperity, and whether they would go to war for their country.
Fiji was by far the happiest country in the world in 2014: 93 per cent of respondents said that they were either happy or very happy.
The Pacific nation was followed, at some distance, by Finland, where 80 per cent said they were content.”
Fiji opposition groups say intimidation, lack of coverage means September 2014 polls won’t be free and fair
ABC Posted Thu 5 Jun 2014
Fiji Times. March, 2023, 4:05 pm
**********************
Hosted and curated by Sandhya Nand.