The happiest country in the world, Costa Rica

 

   

 

Brazil World Cup in 2014! All countries in the world are enthusiastic or feel missed about the World Cup. Among many groups, group D is said to be a ‘Group of Death’. Group D consists of Costa Rica, Uruguay, Italy, England, and Costa Rica. In this group, Costa Rica was thought to be relatively weak when it is compared to other countries. However, Costa Rica competed with the powerful soccer teams and advanced to the second round.

Furthermore, it is a hot topic that Costa Rica won over Greece and advanced to the third round for the first time.

When Costa Rica is making headlines in World Cup, do you know that Costa Rica is the happiest country in the world?

The name of Costa Rica means rich beaches in Spanish(República de Costa Rica), for it has beautiful natural views.

 

 

 

A statistician, Nic Marks established New Economics Foundation (NEF) in England and made Happy Planet Index (HPI). Costa Rica ranks 1st in HPI. The assessment items of HPI are these; how long does the each individual feel pleased?, how wide is the land polluted? These estimate how much each country has understanding and consciousness of human beings and nature. So we can know that low earning and spending money cannot be a measure of happiness.

 

 

 

Nick Marx suggested 4 kinds of code of conduct as a way to raise the HPI, as follows;

First, ‘Be active.’

Second, ‘Pay attention to surroundings.’

Third, ‘Give to others.’

Fourth, ‘Always learn.’

 

Thus, if you practice these codes to raise HPI with heart to love people and nature, rather than seeking the materials and profits in your life, you and people around you may feel more happy in their lives.

 

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil; the world festival for the World Peace

  The 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the largest sport festival in the world, was opened on June 13. This world cup will be played in 12 cities such as Sao Paulo, Curitiba, etc until Juy 14. Its slogan of All in one rhythm stamps Brazil on the country of Samba.  Korea in a group- H will play against Belgium, Russia, Algeria and challenge the top 16. Brazil taking third in FIFA Ranking aims to win playing against Mexico, Cameroon, Croatia in a group- A. Though Brazil have been considered the worst public security in the world from before opening, about 600,000 visitors from all over the world have visited Brazil to enjoy 2014 World Cup.

 

Korean national soccer team has been to qualified for the World Cup in 8 breaks and created the legend of reaching the semifinals at 2002 World Cup. And they advanced the first top 16 in an away match in 2010 South Africa World Cup. This time, the goal of Korean national soccer team is advancing to the quarterfinals first in an away match.

I hope them achieve their goal.    

 

This World Cup will be not only an international soccer competition but also World Festival that realizes the harmony and peace of human beings and transcends nationality, nation, race, language. In the Ivory Coast, Africa losing tens of thousands of lives because of the civil wars, the ardent appeal of a player attending last 2006 World Cup worked marvels that stopping gunshots during that period. After that, a peace treaty was concluded ended the civil war fully, which showed World Cup could contribute to achieve national World Peace and unity.

     

Sports are not wars. Therefore playing pair is much more important than winning.

Though the national soccer players have trained to win in matches, they have to redound to national honor as a member of the national team

  

Now the whole people must have a role of 24th player. We have give our players power and courage with cheering up hard and loud applause. In last 2002 World Cup, we surprised the world with the Korean reserve of force. The reserve of force is the national unity and the power of unity.

       

The disaster of passenger ship caused sadness for our entire country, so an excessive passion about World Cup may be going to create a conflict. It is for us to forger the sadness but to remember and overcome the sadness, also, it is not to cover but to hear and sublimate our sad emotion to our strong power.

   

I hope this 2014 world cup will be a place for festival that the whole nation is united in rooting for the national team. and I also hope it will be that all of us will be able to overcome frustration and loss and revive depression Korean with embers of hope.