Young Europeans say: "Money does not matter"

LONDON, September 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

With the alarming youth unemployment situation, you might expect that money is a major concern in the minds of young Europeans. But according to the results of the survey "The wealth of Europe" [1], nothing is further from the truth. This survey sheds new light on the accelerated launch of a recovery plan for youth employment in France [2] and the UN and I.L.O warning of a "catastrophic" increase in unemployment among young people [3].

Following the recent comments of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon about the lack of economic measures regarding wealth, [4], a 29 year-old Buddhist teacher joined forces with [5] the largest student organisation in the world, the AIESEC, and with other important European youth organisations. Together, they interviewed more than 700 Europeans aged under 30 about the economic values in Europe in the 21st century.

• 0% of respondents believe that earning a lot of money is the meaning of life while 4% think it is money that motivates them the most;

• 30% believe that the most urgent need is to help young people access training or find a job and 31% believe it is to solve the problems in society.

• 36% believe that volunteering is the best way to have a positive impact on society.

The authors of the study "The wealth of Europe" believe that these results open up new perspectives on how we define long-term prosperity and wealth in the euro zone. His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje, a regular blogger for the Huffington Post, said: "Whenever we face any kind of crisis, and we apply our wisdom, pain has the ability to make us aware of our physical and mental state- like a kind of awakening. " [6]

At the end of his European tour last Friday, the Karmapa led ceremonies in France where 40 young Europeans will go into retreat for 3 years [7] to develop "strength, patience, courage and especially wisdom ".

Contact: Laurence Khan, +44(0)7906-714-899, laurence@globaltolerance.com

Notes [1-7], are available in the press section: https://www.facebook.com/wealthofeurope/