UN chief calls for efforts to fill world with happiness

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for efforts towards a world filled with happiness.

"The pursuit of happiness is serious business. Happiness for the entire human family is one of the main goals of the United Nations," Ban said in his message to mark the annual observance of the International Day of Happiness, which fell on Friday.

"Peace, prosperity, lives of dignity for all -- this is what we seek," Ban said. "We want all men, women and children to enjoy all their human rights. We want all countries to know the pleasure of peace."

He also hoped that people and planet alike will be blessed with sustainable development and be spared the catastrophic impacts of climate change. The UN chief called on people to give thanks for " what makes us happy," and to dedicate the efforts to filling the world with happiness.

In April 2012, the UN held a high-level meeting on "Happiness and Well-Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm" at the initiative of Bhutan, a country which recognized the supremacy of national happiness over national income since the early 1970s and famously adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product.

In June of that year, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming March 20 the International Day of Happiness to recognize the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in people's lives and the importance of their recognition in public policy objectives. Endite