My country is most happy to welcome South Sudan as a member of the United Nations family. I now seek the permission of the Members to speak on the subject of happiness. Since joining the United Nations 41 years ago, Bhutan has always maintained a long-term and broad perspective on the purpose of this great Organization, which is to create a secure and harmonious society. But in the many times that I have participated in the United Nations General Assembly over the last 25 years, I cannot recall a session that gave me reason for hope for the future of humanity, except once. That was when the cold war came to a thundering halt, and a euphoric world saw it as the dawn of a new era. I was then a young ambassador excited by the prospects of peace dividends. Instead, what followed was a sense of betrayal and disillusionment, as the world became ever more divided and insecure. We gather before this high podium, year after year, and make of this annual gathering a mournful event. We speak of what ought to be, of promises broken and opportunities lost. We speak of endless conflicts within and among nations, of the failures of Governments, of frequent and devastating disasters, of diminishing resources and fierce competition for their control, of dying ecosystems and new threatening diseases and epidemics, and of financial calamities and economic ruin. We speak of rising unemployment, hopeless poverty, hunger and destitution. And of course, we talk of solutions. Lacking the political will and, indeed, clarity of vision, we deny with clever arguments what we know to be the cause of our predicaments. So we go on doing 35 11-51185 what is irrational. We continue to acquire arms to prevent war; answer climate change with more harmful emissions; race to extract, produce and consume more in the face of depleting resources; fuel faltering economies with debt and greed; and enable the wealthy to widen the deep crevasses that separate the rich from the poor. We idealize individualism as family and community crumble amid rising social dislocation, crime, mental illness, loneliness and suicide. For too long, we have ignored the truth that the causes of all those problems are interrelated and that durable remedies must be found through a rational and holistic approach. For too long, we have refused to accept that economic models focused on gross domestic product have served their useful purpose and that we need to switch tracks. Guided by the misbelief that life satisfaction is about material pursuit and accumulation and that good economics is about limitless growth, our economic development processes have created the monster of a consumerist market economy. However, the market gives no satisfaction. It enslaves humanity and thrives on the insatiable nature of our greed. As slaves, our value as individuals and nations is measured by the extent of our economic productivity and consumption capacity. That sad transformation, from humans into voracious beasts, comes at the cost of our physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. It is destroying our natural life- support systems and threatening our long-term survival. But that need not be so. Humankind is in need of a clear vision that transcends the diversity of our cultures, thoughts and circumstances and binds us to a common pursuit. We need a different development paradigm that is guided by a vision that is holistic, sustainable, inclusive and humane. Such a vision can take civilization forward and enable it to sustain the progress that it has created and must continue to make. It is therefore with a great sense of joy that my country welcomed resolution 65/309, entitled “Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development”. Introduced by Bhutan and sponsored by 68 Member States, it was adopted unanimously without a vote in July. Through that resolution, Member States adopted a universal goal, while acknowledging the limitations of our conventional development processes. It commits our nations to creating the necessary political, social and economic conditions to enable the pursuit of happiness by citizens within a stable environment. My delegation is of the firm conviction that happiness or well-being, as it is promoted in my country, would be against a well-developed set of indices, a natural progression from the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to establish the minimum conditions for human survival and the basis for development. It is, indeed, a universal value that binds the rich and the poor, and the developed and the developing, and articulates the ultimate purpose of life. It is about making true societal progress in ways that are meaningful, joyful and lasting. In that regard, I am happy to report that my Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the Earth Institute of Columbia University and leading scientists and thinkers on the science and economics of happiness, are working in concert to prepare the panel discussion stipulated by the resolution. Proposed to be held in New York in the spring of 2012 before the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the meeting will endeavour to present to Member States a set of policy recommendations in their pursuit of happiness as they work in harmonious collaboration with each other with a shared and clear sense of purpose. We look forward to Members’ participation in that meeting. My delegation remains fully committed to the promotion of a sustainable and progressive human civilization within a peaceful and secure environment. To that happy end, Bhutan is prepared to share its experience and the modest development achievements made with the support of our generous partners. Our attempts to promote equitable and sustainable social economic growth are bearing fruit within a rich biodiversity that includes a forest cover that has expanded from 64 per cent to 81 per cent in four decades. Today, Bhutan is the only country that has pledged to remain carbon neutral forever. Our social and cultural values remain vital, even as we embrace globalization and its many offerings. We have successfully and smoothly transited from an absolute monarchy to a fully fledged and vibrant democracy. For those reasons and out of a sense of duty and obligation, my country aspires to serve as a non-permanent member on the Security Council for the biennium 11-51185 36 2013-2014. Having been a member of the United Nations for 41 years and never having served on the Council, while having fully enjoyed the benefits of membership, we wish to contribute as a small State for small States. We believe that we can bring to the Security Council a fresh and holistic perspective on peace and security beyond its narrow confines and open it to new and innovative approaches to fulfilling its important mandate. My country is of the firm belief that maintaining peace and security is not only about preventing war. It is about recognizing and forging the will to deal with all forms of threat to the survival, progress and happiness of human society. Yes, I speak of a dream, but it is possible. As leaders and representatives of our peoples, we must dare to dream and find the courage and determination to pursue the highest of ideals. That is how happiness is to be fashioned. Blessings and good luck! My country prays for Members’ support to give Bhutan an opportunity to contribute to the realization of shared dreams. I wish participants happiness.