Britons: Still the same after all these years

Posted by: Dos | Apr-9-2008 | File Under: News, Wisdom

They may have more money, greater health and life expectancy but Britons seemed no happier than before.

In the annual “Social Trends” report of the Office of National Statistics (ONS), Britain’s production increased in the last 30 years and ranked third among the G8 countries.

Living and health standards were higher. As a matter of fact, deaths from respiratory related illnesses and cancer are falling sharply as well as heart disease and strokes having a steady decline since 1970s.

Even though Britons experience all these, their satisfaction – reflected in their happiness – has not improved. “This would suggest that societal well-being has not improved, even though economic well-being has steadily improved,” ONS expert Paul Allin said. Data from surveys show that every year, since 1973, an average of 86 percent of Britons said they were “very” or “fairly satisfied” in their standard of living.

Allin said: “These figures were in keeping with the Easterlin Paradox, an economic phenomenon where life satisfaction stays level once a country’s wealth passes a certain point,”

Smile and be famous!

Posted by: Dos | Mar-31-2008 | File Under: News, Wisdom

From www.hertz24.co.uk

We already knew being witty and funny can take us places but when was the last time it happened?

The gleaming faces of British students from the Barnwell School in Stevenage just won them in a competition. The prize? Appearance in a major motion picture! Isn’t it great?

The school’s head teacher, Richard Westergreen-Thorne was very happy they won. They are now considered the happiest school in all of U.K. He said:

“I believe passionately that the key for success at school is that children feel safe and happy. For us to win this recognition reflects the hard work and commitment of very many students and staff.”

Educationalists Alistair Smith is behind the competition on which he will use the movie’s message of the importance of happiness in effective schooling to promote to other schools his happy philosophy.

Come to think of it, teaching happiness to students wouldn’t hurt, right?

Show your happy face! Who knows, your happy teeth may bring you to stardom!

(Via thecomet, image courtesy of herts24.co.uk)

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