Dorado, Puerto Rico, Inaugurates a Way to Happiness Pathway
Dorado is a municipality on the northern coast of Puerto Rico that is regarded as a tourist destination with golf courses, hotels and beautiful beaches. Puerto Rico has long had one of the highest murder rates in the world, yet Dorado has remained a safe haven for residents and tourists alike. But an increasing crime rate in the city alarmed long-standing Dorado Mayor Carlos A. López Rivera.
After being introduced to The Way to Happiness (TWTH), he knew he had the solution and decided it was time to make his city “The Way to Happiness City.”
As a way of making that happen, Mr. López inaugurated the Paseo del Camino a la Felicidad (The Way to Happiness Pathway) in the center of the city. The event was held on the most important holiday in Puerto Rico, El Día de Los Reyes (Three Kings’ Day), January 6, 2019. The day represents the official end of the 12 days after Christmas, also known as the “Feast of the Epiphany.”
The park includes a walking and exercise path with plaques along the way, each having one of the 21 precepts of The Way to Happiness inscribed on it. At the opening ceremony, the Mayor read each precept to the more than 150 attendees. At the entrance to the park is also a plaque dedicated to The Way to Happiness author L. Ron Hubbard.
After being introduced to The Way to Happiness, he knew he had the solution and decided it was time to make his city “The Way to Happiness City.”
At the opening, a custom-cover TWTH made specifically for Puerto Rico was also distributed. TWTH provides precepts to help steer people away from violence and crime. This includes Precept 2, “Be Temperate,” which provides guidance to not take harmful drugs or drink alcohol in excess. Then there is Precept 7, “Seek to Live with the Truth,” including such statements as, “Harmful lies are the product of fear, malice and envy. They can drive people to acts of desperation. They can ruin lives.” And of course, Precept 8, “Do Not Murder.”
Now Dorado is truly on its way to happiness.
FACTS
WELCOME TO PRISON
The undeniable true statistics of our global prison system.
2.2
MILLION
the number of inmates in US prisons, making it the nation with the largest prison population
618
PER 100,000
people are in prison in El Salvador, giving it the 2nd-highest prison population rate in the world after the US
460%
OCCUPANCY
in prisons in the Philippines, making it the most overpopulated prison system in the world
77%
OF INMATES
released from US prisons eventually return
$80
BILLION A YEAR
is the estimated cost of running US prisons and jails
RESTORE TRUST & HONESTY
The Way to Happiness Foundation International works to reverse the moral decay of society by restoring trust and honesty through widespread distribution of the 21 precepts. Donations support production and distribution of The Way to Happiness booklet and curriculum material.
