Why was Bhutan placed between Palestine and Israel at this year's General Assembly?

Last friday there was overall excitement at the United Nations headquarters in New York because Palestine was going to hand in its application to the UN Secretary General to become a member state of the United Nations.

For Bhutan, there was that as well as that our Prime Minister was going to address the General Assembly. That rainy morning I rushed up to the UN press gallery and made it in time to hear Brazil's address. A few speakers later I saw that Palestine was going to make its statement, followed by Armenia, Japan, Bhutan and then Israel.

But even though schedules changed and Armenia presented before Palestine it still didn't change the fact that Bhutan was there between the two countries (Palestine and Israel) who were the highlights at this years UNGA.

While placements for speakers of other countries might be a no brainer I am sure there had to be some thinking that went behind the placements between these two countries. Placing countries (especially between Palestine and Israel) obviously had to be thought out carefully.  Mmm... so why Armenia, Japan and Bhutan? and why the switch for Armenia to speak before Palestine? Understood that Abbas was busy submitting his application/letter to the Secretary General at around that time and probably couldn't make it on time to speak, but was that timed too so he could speak closer to Israel - like just 2 countries apart and not three?

And why Japan and Bhutan then? Because these are two non-controversial countries? Or that these two countries, maybe, had something to contribute to this conflict indirectly - one from its handling of a devastating, catastrophic event; and the other from its "Happiness" development philosophy? Or as a friend (Anuj Pradhan from Bhutan who lives in DC) put it - because Bhutan is a buffer nation in more ways than one! (buffer between India and China geographically and between statements or war of words at the UN?)

Or was it that these two placements was something no country actually wanted? Given that right after Palestine spoke half the hall would be empty as countries marched out to congratulate Abbas (which is what happened) while the rest struggled to hear the Japanese Premier? (I thought it was pretty rude that the Japanese Premier had to make his address to a restless hall)

Whatever the thinking behind these placements was, all I can say is that it was very interesting for Bhutan to be placed right in between these two conflicting countries ( well, lets assume or hope that Palestine fulfills its aspirations for country-ship :)). One can only hope that tiny Bhutan's message to the world and countries to give the aspirations of people (whoever or wherever they be) a chance to be *Happy*, will have been noted by Israel and Palestine.

Bhutan PM's address to 66th session of UN General Assembly

Bhutan's role in Promoting Regional Peace and Prosperity in South Asia (Asia Society)

This is the talk given by Bhutan's PM at the Asia Society yesterday. Click on the link to read it.

Bhutan's Prime Minister: South Asia at "Critical Threshold" (Asia Society)

This is the other article from Asia Society on last nights discussion. Click on the link to read the story.

Scenes from the General Assembly 2011

©sonam ongmo

Bhutan: PM meets with Civil Society Organizations at the UN to pursue Happiness as development goal

PM of Bhutan with Jeffery Sachs prof @ Columbia Uni & advisor to Sec General

At last years General Assembly, you may recall Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley's bold proposal that "Happiness" be endorsed as one of the Millennium Development Goals. As airy fairy as it may sound it was adopted as a resolution by the GA in July as "Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development" for the MDG's because the pursuit of those goals was essentially a pursuit to happiness.

Bhutan's Ambassador to the UN, Lhatu Wangchuk, said that since then a workshop on "Happiness and Economic Development" was held in Bhutan last month and a high-level panel discussion will be held at the UN next spring. The discussions from that panel will then be taken to Rio +20.

"While these involve mainly government delegations, civil society represents the crucial link with communities and people. NGO's are not only the ambassadors of change but also the voice and conscience of the people," said the Ambassador.

Lyonchen said that to this end Bhutan was hoping that NGO's would join in partnership in prusuing this common ideal. According to him NGO's are doing amazing work in a world beleaguered with financial crises; increasing food and fuel prices; natural calamities; social dislocation and disintegration of society.

"This is why we call on countries as member states of UN to incorporate happiness into their public policy. This should be a timeless vision that should bind humanity," he said. The idea for these conferences and meetings is to review the pursuit of happiness in relation to the MDG's which aim at providing basic needs and services and striving to provide the enabling environment for a happy living, he said. This is something we as governments, intellectuals, and scholars can and should do.

According to him NGO's did great work but often they were immersed in simply advancing their own objectives and sometimes failing to see how to work together to achieve the common goal.

Meanwhile, what happens/ or what do countries who have fulfilled their MDG's aspire for thereafter? asked Lyonchen. This is also a question that should be considered contemplatively. Shouldn't they also share a collective pursuit with the rest of the world?

Bhutan:Mainstream media's inability to convey earth-shaking news on time

Yesterday, the Himalayan regions of Sikkim, Bhutan, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Nepal and Arunachal Pradesh experienced a massive earthquake measuring 6.9 on the richter scale. The epicenter was in Sikkim.
Seconds after the earthquake hit I was informed via twitter of what had happened. This is the second time that I received breaking news minutes or even seconds after the event via twitter.

Following the earthquake there was a steady stream of updates of personal experiences, feelings and eye witness accounts from the Bhutanese that I follow on Twitter & Facebook. It was sad to hear that mainstream media like BBS TV and radio were disappointing in their coverage as the Bhutanese complained. One tweeter said that after the earthquake BBS was showing a strange dance or performance of some Atsara instead of covering a literal "earth-shaking" incident like the earthquake.

This is what some of the tweeters said :
RT @tsheringtobgay: RT @mendharawa: Earthquake! Turned @BBSBhutan on for info-NOTHING!! People need comforting!! Very dissappointed

Blogger Passang said :BBS goes on n on with their boring show even after the earthquake. It could help people but it didn't...nor did Mobile services...DAMN

And Tweeter Jimpalden said: was expecting some news on the earthquake on #BBS instead i'm seeing an ATtSHARA doing some never-seen-before show!
Mobile Web · Yesterday 10:13 AM

About 30 minutes later even the Prime Minister who is away in New York issued a statement to the Nation via Facebook.

Just goes to show that mainstream media is falling behind social media platforms like twitter, facebook, blogs and other internet platforms that provide a diversity of views, opinions, and assessments as well as an alternative to a restricted mainstream media. It also goes to show how "Citizen Media" is filling in where mainstream media cannot.

Here is the link from NDTV update on Kalimpong and Sikkim. Bhutan's Father Kinley, principal of St. Josephs North Point Darjeeling is also on. 

Bhutan: Philanthropy, GA, update.

Back from Bhutan after what felt like a whirlwind trip. Now straight into the GA. Bhutan's Prime Minister is here with a high level delegate from Bhutan so I will try and update you'll on developments for Bhutan on this trip. Unfortunately I did not get a pass that will allow me to accompany the delegation to the Bilateral meetings so I may not be able to provide much information or pictures on that but, I will,however, try my best to provide as much information as I can on what I can access.


I also have a whole lot to communicate with you all about my trip to Bhutan. So much to follow up on all those great people who are trying to make a difference to Bhutanese society. I had completely forgotten to also mention HRH Ashi Kezang Wangmo Wangchuck, the sister of the fourth king who is one of the biggest philanthropists in Bhutan.  Everybody aware of her personal contributions in so many areas of Bhutanese society - her early work with the Leprosy Mission dating back from the 70's/80's; her work with the patients at the Thimphu Hospital where she has not only generously contributed her time and money. Her great work is confined not only to Bhutan but also has also in places like Calcutta and Cambodia where she volunteered to work with the disadvantaged there.  She was even awarded - along with French Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard  - by the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Arts in New York for their philanthropic work in the Himalayan region. I hope to write more about her when I get the chance. 


Last but not least I would also like to mention Lama Shenphen - whom i was supposed to meet but unfortunately landed up only exchanging emails with because of time constraints. Lama Shenphen conducts free meditation classes for all at the Deer Park Center in Thimphu but he is above all known for his work with addicts. He has, along with Ashi Kezang Wangmo Wangchuck made great impact in the lives of patients at the psychiatric ward in Thimphu and even sponsors patients to rehabilitation centers in Sikkim and Calcutta. 


So with that let me now retrace my steps to the GA. As you are all aware Bhutan is vying to become a non-permanent member of the Security Council.  The team has up the upped the ante and so one can never tell. Should Bhutan win, it would be awesome, and even if we don't we can say (given our size) that we did our best!