Sad state

A recent study by the people at the Happy Planet Index has revealed, in the way that such things do, that Estonians are the most miserable people in Europe, and indeed the sixth most miserable country in the world out of the 178 canvassed. The rankings were based on the extent to which countries are able to ensure long and happy lives for their citizens, so it's no surprise to see that the top three is comprised exclusively of Scandinavia.

The criteria for the study were how satisfied people are with their lives, the average life expectancy in each country and how ecologically discreet they are. Someone called Nic Marks, who had a hand in organising the thing, is quoted as saying something along the lines that a country like Iceland, which sits proudly on top of the pile, is a shining example that human happiness doesn't have to cost the planet dear. He cited its strong combination of sociocentric legislation and wealth of green energy and pointed out that living an environmentally friendly life doesn't mean you can't live happily.

There's no arguing the fact that life in Iceland is pretty good, but neither can you ignore the fact that they live on what is in essence a volcanic blob: no wonder they enjoy energy sources that are so good for the planet. It couldn't come any more natural. Such criteria don't really explain either why a state like Luxembourg comes second last on the European list, only just ahead of Estonia. You can't imagine it will forever go down in history as The Duchy That Destroyed The World. I would have expected the average lifespan and how good life is there to be pretty high, but then perhaps living so comfortably is very boring, and that's why they're almost as unhappy as the Estonians are alleged to be. (But in that case, how did Switzerland make it into the top five? Are cow bells and Milka really enough for the Swiss?)

None of this will do the Estonians' reputation for being cold and standoffish any good, although it may at least give visitors a better understanding of why their waitress seems not to have encountered the concept of smiling: it's because she's struggling inside over the ecological mark her country will leave on the planet. It must also explain why the locals I met in Amsterdam over the weekend are chalk to her cheese - friendly, embracing and talkative: they realise that whatever they do, their country will eventually be reclaimed by the seas, and their slate will be wiped clean.

Thank goodness they issue these reports to enlighten us so.