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The Happiest Country on Earth is...
For those of you unfamiliar with the reality TV series Survivor or have better things to do with your time than watch average folk battle it our for prizes and such by competing in gladiator type competitions, you may not be familiar Vanuatu. Perhaps, you're fortunate enough to know about the group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean without the help of television and if you are you may also like to know that Vanuatu has ranked tops as the world's happiest country. According to this Yahoo News piece, a study measuring people's wellbeing and their impact on the environment has ranked Vanuatu at the top with Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, and Panama trailing close behind to complete the world's top 5 happiest places to reside. Not really surprising if you ask me. Islands always come off as cheerful places to me and having been to Costa Rica myself, I could certainly see myself living there. As far as Vanuatu is concerned - I'd love to go there as much as I'd love to go to Somalia. Happiness is what you make it.The Happy Planet Index is complied by the British New Economics Foundation (NEF) and also combines life satisfaction, life expectancy and environmental footprint to rank countries. Hopefully the results won't drive herds of shutter-bug tourists to happy little Vanuatu or away from Zimbabwe, an African country my friend finds as one of the best, but ranks 178 on the list. The U.S. comes in at 150, Canada (111), France (129), Germany (81), Japan (95) and Russia (172).
What do you think? Agree or disagree? What do you consider the happiest place on Earth?
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Zimbabwe, Japan, Russian Federation, France, Germany, Canada, United States, Vanuatu
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Willy Jul 15th 2006 3:28PM
I'd love to visit Vanuatu, despite rumors that islanders use dogs as shark bait
http://www.divester.com/2005/09/30/dogs-used-as-shark-bait-update/
In my experience, Lake Malawi is incredibly relaxing and, therefore, a happy place.
Textbook Case Jul 17th 2006 4:43AM
A ridiculous list, it reads like a list of places rich people like to go unwind and see how they think everyone ELSE should live. Just glance through the top, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand? Great for vacation, but approximately ZERO people from the "New" Economics Foundation would trade their 108th-ranked happiness for the life of someone born in most any of their top fifty countries.
I'll take freedom, self-determination, choice of career pursuits, healthy kids, and the rat race-- and so would most of the happy champions on the list if they had a choice beyond subsistence farming or fishing. Living nearly as poorly as an animal does tend to leave a small environmental footprint, which appears to be the largest criterion in the calculation of "happiness."
Willy Jul 17th 2006 8:56AM
#2 is Colombia: http://www.happyplanetindex.org/list.htm
I don't think that's a very popular vacation destination, Textbook.
Adrienne Jul 17th 2006 3:48PM
I must say I was pretty surpised by Colombia more than others, but hey I've never been. As far as I'm concerned everything I've heard to this point is just a rumor. :)
It's a fact Jul 26th 2006 12:45PM
If you meet any Colombian in any place around the world, you can understand the meaning of "Happiness". Is not just the place itself is the way that you are and how you face the life. If you read about this index is more related with non economical issues. And also if you study a little of history and demography you can check that Panama was Colombian territories, in Costa Rica there is now a lot of Colombian people, and so on... Please, before go to Colombia try to know a Colombian, for sure he/she will be happy for be your friend.
Ernie Jul 28th 2006 12:56PM
I agree with Colombia, I am going there next week and I am married to a Colombian Beauty. It is not the economic situation that makes people happy because if that was the case Americans would be at the top. It is their culture, vibrant personalities, the appreciation of friendships and their music, humility. They are just great people. here is a URL ill like to share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIRdqVprm-4
janice shot Sep 3rd 2006 6:36AM
Having personally lived in Vanuatu for six years I disagree with it being the "happiest place on earth". One thing, the standard of living for the native peoples is very low, while rich tourists come and enjoy the duty free shops, Class AAAA restaurants and AAAAA accomodations, all owned & operated by ex-patriates. There is an severe increas on crime, often turmoil within the government and mal nourished children, with lots of unemployment. Billions of aid from several countries are pumped in annually. Many native families I interacted with had, in their own words, watched the western ways take over and leave them wanting for much; even the basics.