World Happiness Foundation Statement on SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being
Introduction: Health as the Core of Sustainable Happiness Good health
World Happiness Foundation (WHF) Statement on Zero Hunger (SDG 2) – The World Happiness Foundation stands united in the global movement to end hunger and ensure food security for all. Guided by our core ethos of abundance, interdependence, and shared well-being, we believe the time has come to fundamentally reimagine how we address hunger. This public statement lays out our vision: a world where no one goes to bed hungry, achieved not through zero-sum struggles, but through abundance mindset, systemic compassion, and holistic well-being. Rooted in principles of non-violence, fundamental peace, and rising consciousness, we call for collaborative action by all stakeholders – from policymakers and UN partners to grassroots leaders and global citizens. In alignment with the United Nations and countless community leaders, WHF is working to realize “10 billion free, conscious and happy people by 2050,” a bold goal demanding unprecedented cooperation across sectors. We affirm that eradicating hunger is not only a moral imperative; it is foundational to our shared mission of global happiness and peace.
For decades, efforts to end poverty and hunger have been framed by a scarcity mindset – the notion that resources are finite and people must compete for their share. Traditional goals like “No Poverty” and “Zero Hunger,” while crucial, focus on eradicating deficits and what is lacking. This scarcity paradigm, born of fear and zero-sum thinking, can inadvertently reinforce competition and short-term fixes. We now know that humanity stands on a bountiful earth with the capacity to feed everyone; our challenge is how we think and collaborate. The World Happiness Foundation proposes an abundance mindset to flip the narrative. An abundance approach replaces fear with trust and recognizes that one community’s flourishing need not come at the expense of another’s. When others succeed, we all succeed – prosperity and well-being are not zero-sum. Embracing abundance encourages long-term, cooperative solutions over short-term competition. It means investing in people – in nutrition, sustainable agriculture, education, and health – not out of charity, but out of common sense: uplifting the most marginalized creates more for everyone, leading to stable and thriving societies. As our founder Luis Gallardo says, “A scarcity mindset creates limitations, whereas an abundance mindset allows us to think big and set bold goals.” Adopting this mindset globally is our next frontier. We urge individuals, organizations, and governments to shift collective consciousness toward the truth that there is enough – enough food, knowledge, and compassion – to ensure zero hunger for all, if we choose to share and collaborate.
Achieving Zero Hunger requires more than material aid; it demands a paradigm shift in how we define progress and prosperity. Happytalism is the World Happiness Foundation’s proposed paradigm to guide this shift from scarcity to abundance. At its heart, Happytalism reframes development itself: rather than measuring success purely by GDP or crop yields, we measure it by the well-being, freedom, and happiness of people and planet. In a Happytalist approach, every policy and practice is asked a simple question: Does this increase freedom, consciousness, and happiness for all? If not, it falls short as a solution. Under Happytalism, the ultimate goal is Fundamental Peace, envisioned as a triad of freedom, consciousness, and happiness for all people. In practical terms, this means a world where no one lives in fear of hunger or want, everyone has the liberty and awareness to pursue their purpose, and societies judge success by the health and happiness of all members. This paradigm aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals but also expands beyond them – it encourages us not just to end hunger as an isolated problem, but to create “Abundant Nourishment for All.” For example, where SDG 2 calls for “Zero Hunger,” we reimagine it as ensuring universal access to nutritious food and prosperity through generosity, fair distribution, and well-being–focused systems. This is a move from simply ending a deficit (hunger) to building a positive: a world where everyone thrives with ample healthy food. We believe policies should foster conditions where everyone can flourish, preempting hunger by building systems of plenty and resilience. Happytalism also promotes a well-being economy in place of endless extraction; it emphasizes purpose-driven work, community entrepreneurship, and new metrics like Gross Global Happiness to track true progress. By adopting this new paradigm globally, humanity can redirect its vast innovation and resources toward uplifting the human condition – ensuring no one is left behind or goes hungry in the pursuit of joy and freedom. In essence, Happytalism invites us to redesign our economies and food systems to put people’s happiness and health at the center, recognizing that nourishing each person nourishes the whole world.
Our vision for a hunger-free world is inextricably linked with peace and justice. WHF recognizes that hunger, like extreme poverty, is not merely a physical condition but a form of “structural violence” – an injustice embedded in our systems that leaves millions deprived of basic needs and dignity. In a world of plenty, when a child goes hungry, it is a form of violence by society’s structure. We echo Mahatma Gandhi’s insight that “peace is not only the absence of violence, it is the presence of justice.” True Fundamental Peace goes beyond silencing guns – it requires actively cultivating justice, equity, and care in every community. By WHF’s definition, peace is a state where people are free from fear and want, conscious of each other’s humanity, and able to live with joy. There can be no true peace while hunger persists, for so long as even one child goes to bed hungry, our world is failing to uphold the justice and compassion that peace demands. Therefore, ending hunger is an act of peacemaking at the deepest level. Our approach is inherently non-violent and compassionate: we seek change not through coercion or competition, but through empathy, solidarity, and restorative practices that heal communities. We advocate treating the hungry and the poor with dignity, addressing grievances through dialogue and inclusion, and dismantling the systemic injustices that allow hunger to continue. Fundamental peace and food security must advance hand in hand. In a truly peaceful world, no child will go to bed hungry and no community will be left behind. By weaving non-violence and justice into all policies – from how we manage food aid to how we structure economies – we create a future where nourishment is seen as a basic human right and conflicts over resources fade away. Peace, in this vision, is built on bread as much as on treaties: by ensuring every person’s needs are met, we eliminate the fertile ground for despair, conflict, and instability. In sum, to achieve SDG 2 is to take a giant step toward Fundamental Peace, crafting a world that refuses to tolerate hunger or extreme inequality in the fabric of society.
Lasting transformation towards Zero Hunger requires empowering minds and communities. The World Happiness Foundation is contributing through a range of programs in research, education, and training that foster sustainable food security and holistic well-being. Central to our approach is elevating human consciousness – nurturing mindsets of resilience, empathy, and possibility, especially among youth and educators who shape the future. One flagship effort is our “Teachers of Happiness” program, which is training over 45,000 teachers across Latin America, Mexico, and Spain to become conscious catalysts of well-being in their schools and communities. Through partnerships like the Amauta Project and Bhutan’s “Educating for Global Happiness” curriculum, these teachers learn to integrate mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and compassion into education. The goal is to create “Schools of Happiness” where students not only gain knowledge, but also grow in character, purpose, and social-emotional skills – planting the seeds of an abundance mindset in the next generation. By equipping educators with tools like the ROUSER model (which emphasizes regenerative thinking, unity, systems thinking, empathy, and resilience), we are seeding a new generation that views the world through a lens of abundance and interdependence. This transformative education helps break the cycle of scarcity mentality and empowers young people to become innovators of community solutions – including ensuring their neighbors do not go hungry.
Beyond schools, WHF invests in research and thought leadership to reshape systems that impact hunger. Through our Public Policy & Happiness forums and Well-Being Observatory, we support new economic paradigms and metrics that guide nations toward balanced, sustainable development. For instance, we champion measures like Gross National Happiness and the Happy Planet Index, which encourage policymakers to value sustainable well-being for all over narrow economic output. By developing and promoting such indices and reports (e.g. on the Economy of Happiness and Well-Being), we help governments design budgets and policies that prioritize health, nutrition, and equality. We have seen forward-thinking leaders adopt “happiness-based budgeting” and well-being indices to complement traditional measures. These innovations guide resources toward social protection, sustainable agriculture, and community resilience – the building blocks of food security.
WHF also trains leaders and professionals to carry this mission into every sector. Our World Happiness Academy and programs like the Chief Well-Being Officer certification are building a global network of advocates who integrate happiness and abundance principles into workplaces, governments, and NGOs. We believe that when business and government leaders are educated in well-being economics, empathy, and systems thinking, they are better equipped to create policies and initiatives that eradicate hunger and poverty. In communities worldwide, we collaborate on grassroots projects that illustrate how holistic well-being initiatives lead to sustainable food security. One inspiring example comes from Jaipur, India, where WHF partnered with the social enterprise Jaipur Rugs on the “Threads of Happiness” initiative. This partnership goes beyond boosting incomes for marginalised artisans – it provides emotional well-being support, leadership training, and educational opportunities alongside economic empowerment. By weaving mindfulness workshops, peer support circles, and scholarships into a livelihood program, we saw a holistic upliftment: artisans gained confidence, resilience, and purpose, which translated into improved livelihoods and healthier families. Such inner transformation becomes the bedrock of lasting change – when people feel seen, capable, and hopeful, they become change-makers in their own families and communities, breaking cycles of poverty and hunger. This is just one model of multi-dimensional intervention; WHF is fostering similar multi-stakeholder collaborations in education, healthcare, and city planning, all aimed at the well-being of the whole person and community. By integrating research, education, and training, we are nurturing the human capital and social innovation needed to achieve Zero Hunger in a sustainable, dignity-affirming way.
Eradicating global hunger in a sustainable way requires nothing less than a systems revolution – a coordinated ecosystem of efforts where governments, businesses, civil society, and communities all play a role. No single entity can end hunger alone; however, together, in genuine partnership, we form an ecosystem capable of self-sustaining progress. The World Happiness Foundation’s work exemplifies this multi-stakeholder approach, proving that collective action can unlock abundance where isolated efforts fall short. We have seen that each sector brings unique strengths: governments can enact supportive policies and social safety nets; businesses can drive social innovation, invest in sustainable agriculture, and ensure fair wages; civil society groups and grassroots organizations bring community trust, local knowledge, and on-the-ground solutions; and global bodies like the UN can coordinate, set norms, and amplify successes. WHF – with consultative status at the United Nations – actively encourages partnerships for the SDGs, serving as a convener of dialogue between these stakeholders. We champion initiatives where, for example, cities commit to well-being budgets, NGOs connect farmers to fair markets and nutrition programs, tech companies share data to improve food distribution, and educators integrate sustainable practices in schools. Such feedback loops of support ensure that progress in one area (e.g. a farmer’s crop yield) is reinforced by progress in another (e.g. access to markets, nutrition education, or local health services). Crucially, a truly effective ecosystem requires that each stakeholder adopts an abundance mindset: rather than guarding their turf, all actors collaborate in the faith that empowering others ultimately benefits all. When a corporation invests in the well-being of its employees or a government designs inclusive food assistance programs, they are contributing to an environment where fewer people slip into destitution. When a non-profit teaches digital and financial skills to rural youth, businesses gain a more skilled workforce and communities gain stability. Every positive action reinforces another. In essence, ending hunger becomes a shared mission and a shared reward. We call for collective action to reshape the policies and systems that perpetuate hunger: it is time to rethink entrenched models of food production, distribution, and consumption. We must champion innovative policies – from supporting regenerative agriculture and local food cooperatives to implementing nutrition-sensitive social protection – and invest in human development as fervently as we invest in technology. This systems change also means addressing the root causes of hunger such as inequality, conflict, and climate change in a coordinated way. By uniting across sectors and borders, sharing resources and knowledge, and aligning our efforts under a common vision, we can transform the food system into one that is sustainable, equitable, and abundant. WHF is committed to galvanizing this unity: through global forums like World Happiness Fest and our Public Policy Forum, we bring leaders together to redesign systems with human well-being at the core. Through initiatives like our #TenBillionHappy by 2050 campaign, we work in partnership with the UN, governments, businesses, and grassroots heroes to create a planet free of the “violence” of hunger and poverty.
Achieving Zero Hunger is not a one-time victory but a long-term transformation – a continuous journey of building resilient communities and conscious systems that ensure no one is ever hungry again. The World Happiness Foundation emphasizes that short-term aid, while vital for emergencies, must be coupled with strategies that foster holistic well-being for all people. This means tackling hunger from all angles: ensuring economic opportunity, mental and physical health, education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability are all advancing together. Our Happytalist perspective urges the world to go beyond treating hunger as a technical problem of calories and instead see nourishment as a human right and a cornerstone of thriving societies. We envision a future in which prosperity is measured not by the wealth of a few, but by the well-being of all. Progress will not be counted in how many billionaires are created, but in how many millions of people are freed from fear and want, empowered to flourish. In this future, non-violence is woven into every policy – we “do no harm” not only by silencing guns, but by ensuring no child goes to bed hungry and no community is left behind. Fundamental peace – grounded in freedom, consciousness, and happiness – becomes the foundation upon which all other successes rest. And a rising global consciousness awakens us to our interconnectedness: the idea of anyone suffering from chronic hunger becomes as unacceptable as the idea of cutting down the last rainforest – because a higher consciousness recognizes it as a loss to all humanity. To realize this future, we must have the courage to rethink old habits and the imagination to chart a new path. It will require sustained leadership, innovation, and moral will from this generation and the next. We must be willing to challenge entrenched interests, shift subsidies and investments toward sustainable food systems, and hold ourselves accountable to the well-being of the least advantaged. It also means each of us, as individuals and as leaders, must cultivate an abundance mindset in daily life – celebrating others’ successes, sharing resources freely, reducing waste, and believing deeply that by working together we can “make the pie of prosperity bigger” for everyone. The World Happiness Foundation is in this for the long haul. We commit to continue learning, adapting, and expanding our programs until the day hunger is eradicated and happiness thrives in every corner. Our resolve is fueled by love, justice, and the unshakable belief that humanity can transform its story from one of survival to one of shared thriving.
This is a universal call – an invitation and challenge to all of humanity. We call on policymakers and governments to reshape agendas and budgets around well-being, to enact policies that guarantee access to nutritious food, fair land use, and social protection for all citizens. We urge United Nations agencies and international partners to integrate the happiness and abundance mindset into development strategies, coordinating efforts to share resources and technology so that no region is left behind. We appeal to the private sector and business leaders to recognize their role in a hunger-free world – by investing in sustainable agriculture, fair wages, and healthy food supply chains, businesses not only fight hunger but also create more stable and prosperous markets for all. We encourage grassroots organizations and community leaders to continue innovating locally, to lift up marginalized voices, and to hold all of us accountable to the real needs on the ground. And to global citizens – individuals and families in every nation – we say: you are powerful agents of change. By cultivating empathy and an abundance mindset in your homes, by reducing food waste, supporting local food initiatives, and demanding action from leaders, you help turn the tide. Every person has a role in this great transition.
The World Happiness Foundation commits to action: We will continue to serve as a convener and catalyst in this movement. Through our global events, research, and campaigns like #TenBillionHappy, we will tirelessly advocate for an end to hunger and all forms of needless suffering. We will expand our education and training programs that empower others to become “Rousers” – conscious catalysts of well-being – in their communities. We will support the growth of multi-stakeholder alliances and share success stories, so that a solution in one place can inspire hope everywhere.
Today, we stand at a pivotal moment. Hunger is a solvable problem in our lifetime – not through competition over scraps, but through co-creation of abundance. Let us all, across continents and cultures, unite in this common cause. Together, guided by the principles of Happytalism, we can ignite a new era in which the 8 billion people on Earth (and the generations to come) are free from hunger, free from fear, and empowered to live with purpose and joy. Let us turn our collective resolve into collective triumph, ensuring that SDG 2 – Zero Hunger – is not just achieved as a statistic, but exceeded in spirit by a world that cherishes well-nourished, healthy, and happy communities.
With abundance in our hearts and action on our minds, we affirm our commitment to a future where everyone can shine. The journey from scarcity to abundance begins with each of us and it begins today. We invite all stakeholders to join us in making this vision real. A world of abundance, a world of Happytalism, a world with Zero Hunger is within our grasp – and together, we will achieve it.
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Introduction: Health as the Core of Sustainable Happiness Good health
Become a Conscious Catalyst of Well‑Being. If you’re a leader,
Introduction Poverty eradication stands as one of humanity’s greatest moral