Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.14
The 9 domains and 33 indicators of the Gross National Happiness index. (
http://www.
10 June 2014)
were diffused through TV programs, and worm compost as well as natural enemy
insects was applied as alternatives to chemicals.
Free medical service
: the number of citizens per doctor is 169 (compared with
520 in Japan). Medical expense is free and medicines are very cheap. A Latin Amer-
ican School of Medicine was established in 1999 and has accepted even foreign
students without tuition fees. Several 10,000 patients from Chernobyl were treated.
Vaccines are produced by biotechnology and alternative medical systems are de-
veloped.
Effort on education:
after the Revolution, 23 % of the national budget (10 % of
GDP) was applied to education. Tuition fee is completely free from elementary to
graduate school. No school was closed during difficult periods. Subjects are practi-
cal and students construct their knowledge by themselves (constructionism). For
adults, a TV program, 'College for All', started to air in 2000 and improved the
literacy rate.
While we may not wish to follow the Cuban example, this can remind us that
there are alternatives to continuing the current unsustainable economic model and
encourage us to think creatively about the future we wish to leave to our children.
