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	Top Stories The sacred birds of longevity revered in Bhutan Bhutan: National Day a time to celebrate together Bhutan's new organic food movement

	Top Stories Maharishi University of Management's Dr Thimmaiah is helping Bhutan adopt organic agriculture Former Bhutan advisor to teach organic, biodynamic, and Maharishi Vedic Agriculture Live webcast Monday - MUM hosts 2nd talk by former Minister of Education, Bhutan: 'Gross National Happiness'

	Top Stories Bhutan switches to democracy even though citizens happy with monarchy Mines destroy Bhutan's mountains, affect India Four seriously injured in Bhutan blast
Positive Trends Short Summaries of Top Stories The sacred birds of longevity revered in Bhutan 1 August 2023 - The black-necked cranes are a revered species across the Himalayas. ...There are less than 10,000 that survive on the roof of the world. In the scenic Phobjikha Valley of Bhutan, the natives eagerly await their return each winter. Monks of the local monastery pray for their safe journey. (more) Bhutan: National Day a time to celebrate together 15 December 2021 - As Bhutan is set to celebrate her 114th National Day on 17 December, Chang Dorji, 81, from Khasadrapchu in Thimphu who is well versed in Bhutanese history shares his insight about the National Day of Bhutan. ... Ap Chang Dorji believes that the national day is auspicious and ... Bhutanese should celebrate such days. 'What our forefathers have done, it is important that the younger generation does the same as their ancestors to preserve and promote the unique Bhutanese culture and tradition,' says Ap Chang Dorji. (more) Bhutan's new organic food movement 27 November 2018 - Kesang Choedon has created an innovative organic and heritage food enterprise near Thimphu, the Bhutanese capital. Formerly a police officer, Choedon employs and trains 30 young women in processing and marketing of Bhutan's local food treasures. Choedon is eager to further expand her facilities, products and training to young Bhutanese people. (more) A royal encounter for Britain's William and Kate in Bhutan 14 April 2016 - Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan on Thursday, meeting its glamorous young royal couple for the first time and trying their hands at a national dart-throwing sport. Bhutan's fifth king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and Queen Jetsun Pema received the British royals for a 45-minute private audience. (more) Britian's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Himalayan nation of Bhutan 14 April 2016 - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Bhutan on Thursday, 14 April, meeting with the Himalayan nation's popular King and Queen with whom they have much in common. After arriving in a jet on a windy Thursday morning, Prince William and his wife, the former Kate Middleton, checked into their hotel in the capital of Thimpu and later headed to the 13th-century royal fortress. From their vehicle, they were ushered by traditional dancers, flag-bearers, pipers, drummers, and Buddhist monks down a 500-meter (1,600-foot) walkway to meet Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema, who are wildly popular in the nation of 800,000. (more) Bhutan: 108 trees planted to celebrate the birth of the new Prince 7 February 2016 - To celebrate the birth of Bhutan's new prince, The Gyalsey, 108 trees each of five different species were planted on 7 February in Tsirang, Dagana, Sarpang, Punakha, and Thimphu. These included Oak, Cypress, Rosary Tree, Bodhi tree, and white Sandalwood. The trees were planted under the coordination of the agriculture and forest ministry, which will also ensure appropriate after-care to ensure the survival of all the saplings. (more) Bhutan wants to go organic by 2020 28 September 2015 - In 2011, Bhutan's government launched the National Organic Program, which aims to make the country's agriculture 100 percent organic by 2020. By teaching farmers good organic farming practices and how to earn more money by growing organic produce, and by providing financial support, Bhutan hopes to reduce waste, decrease the country's dependence on imported food, and ensure it remains climate-neutral, producing no more climate-changing emissions each year than its forests absorb. (more) Electric vehicles boost climate 'nirvana' in the Himalayas 1 September 2015 - Bhutan is abuzz with electric cars, a form of transport that the government is keen to encourage. 'We see ourselves on the one hand being able to use electric cars for our own purposes, to protect our environment, to improve our economy, but also to show in a small measure that sustainable transport works and that electric vehicles are a reality,' said Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. (more) Remote Bhutan gets Google Street View panoramas 23 October 2014 - You can now take in dramatic vistas from the tiny, isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan -- via Google. The tech giant Thursday unveiled Street View images -- the Google Maps feature providing 360-degree panoramic images -- for some 1,900 miles of roads in the remote country, which sits between India and China and is home to about 700,000 people. (more) Bhutan could be world's first wholly organic nation within a decade 12 May 2014 - Bhutan could within a decade become the first country in the world to go wholly organic in its food production, according to key politicians in the Himalayan kingdom. Agriculture and forests minister Lyonpo Yeshey Dorji and opposition leader Pema Gyamtsho, who held the post in the previous government, say there is a united commitment to rid the country of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The plan is part of Bhutan's Gross National Happiness programme. (more)
Success of Maharishi's Programmes Short Summaries of Top Stories Maharishi University of Management's Dr Thimmaiah is helping Bhutan adopt organic agriculture 6 October 2016 - Bhutan is the first country in the world that is becoming 100 percent organic. The man behind this transition is Dr Appachanda Thimmaiah. Currently an associate professor of sustainable living at Maharishi University of Management in Iowa, from 2008 to 2013 he served as the organic agriculture consultant to Bhutan. His biodynamic agriculture consultancy company in India was the first to develop large agricultural projects transitioning to organic agriculture. Helping farms in Bhutan maintain self-sufficient, 'closed-loop' systems where no outside products need be purchased has caught on with the government, along with 'no-cost' organic certification for farmers, and training programs for instructors in organic farming methods. Dr Thimmaiah upholds that for a country that puts great emphasis on its unique Gross National Happiness metric, which measures progress through the spiritual, physical, social, and environmental health of its citizens, switching to organic agriculture would have an enormous positive influence on its citizens. (more) Former Bhutan advisor to teach organic, biodynamic, and Maharishi Vedic Agriculture 16 June 2014 - Truly sustainable agriculture will now be a major offering of the Sustainable Living Department at Maharishi University of Management in the USA, thanks to the addition of new faculty member A. Thimmaiah, a former agriculture advisor in Bhutan and a top expert in organic and biodynamic agriculture. Dr Thimmaiah, who authored the national organic standards for Bhutan, will teach organic agriculture, biodynamic agriculture, and Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture, both at the undergraduate level and in a proposed new MA programme that could start as early as this autumn. (more) Live webcast Monday - MUM hosts 2nd talk by former Minister of Education, Bhutan: 'Gross National Happiness' 27 October 2013 - Monday, 28 October, the second in a series of Conversations from the Land of the Thunder Dragon with His Excellency Thakur S Powdyel, former Minister of Education of the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan, will be held on the Maharishi University of Management campus in Fairfield, Iowa, USA. In this live webcast on MUMTV, His Excellency will discuss Gross National Happiness: Converting Theory into Practice -- a policy he instituted in the Bhutan educational system. In these events he is discussing with MUM faculty and other experts the intersection among sustainability, education, and public policy. Tomorrow's event also features sustainability expert Dr John Ikerd. (more) MUM webcast features 'Conversations' with His Excellency Thakur S Powdyel, former Minister of Education, Bhutan 21 October 2013 - Tonight and next Monday evening, Maharishi University of Management is hosting a series of Conversations from the Land of the Thunder Dragon with His Excellency Thakur S Powdyel, former Minister of Education of the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan. His Excellency instituted the policy of Gross National Happiness into the education system. He is a promoter of educational integrity, academic excellence, Green schools, good practice, and national self-respect. In two live webcasts via MUMTV, he will discuss with MUM faculty and other experts the intersection among sustainability, education, and public policy. (more) Official from Bhutan Ministry of Education visits Maharishi University of Management 8 September 2012 - The chief engineer for school construction in the Bhutan Ministry of Education, recently spent time at Maharishi University of Management to learn more about green construction, Maharishi Vastu architecture, and sustainability. With the help of the MUM Sustainable Living department, Bhutan is planning to begin constructing its first sustainable schoolhouse this fall, at an elevation of 16,000 feet in the Himalayas. (more) The Kingdom of Bhutan inspires new center at Maharishi University of Management 15 December 2011 - After a recent visit to the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan, administrators from Maharishi University of Management were inspired to create a new centre. The centre for study of Gross National Happiness aims to become a world-renowned institution which enhances balanced and integrated national development. (more)
Flops Short Summaries of Top Stories Bhutan switches to democracy even though citizens happy with monarchy 17 January 2008 - Bhutanese will vote to elect 47 members to the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, as the tiny Himalayan kingdom switches to democracy after a century of absolute monarchy. The mainly Buddhist country has been preparing for democracy ever since former monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuck decided to hand power to an elected government, even as many of his citizens said they were quite happy with the way things were. The monarchy, now headed by Wangchuck's Oxford graduate son, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, remains popular in Bhutan, partly because of its policies focused on boosting what it calls 'gross national happiness'. (more) Mines destroy Bhutan's mountains, affect India 6 June 2007 - Mineral mining in Bhutan, a country that prides itself on its environmentally friendly policies, is not only angering some locals. It is also damaging agriculture and killing wildlife in neighbouring India, Indian officials said. (more) Four seriously injured in Bhutan blast 3 December 2006 - A bomb exploded in southwest Bhutan near the border with India seriously injuring four people and shattering the calm of the isolated Himalayan kingdom, Bhutanese police said. India believes that the militant group the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), may be back in the kingdom of Bhutan. (more)