EU: Younger population in EU under financial pressure

Young people in Europe are at greater risk of falling into poverty than the overall population, according to Eurostat. 

Their latest figures show that 20% of young people aged 15-29 were at risk of poverty in 2021, while the at-risk-of-poverty rate for the total population of the EU stood at 17%. 

The at-risk-of-poverty metric compares those on low incomes to other residents of the same country

Read more at; https//www.euronews.com

EU Commission: Sinkevicius: ‘There can be no return to business as usual’ after the pandemic – by Alexandra Brzozowsk

There can be no return to business as usual after the pandemic and no amount of economic pressure should force us to compromise on people’s health and the health of our planet, Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said in an interview about the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and young people’s demands for a greener future.

He spoke to EURACTIV ahead of ViacomCBS and EU40’s ‘BEYOND 2020 – Global Youth: voices and futures!’’ virtual summit.

Read complete report at: Sinkevicius: ‘There can be no return to business as usual’ after the pandemic – EURACTIV.com

Britain: What do young people think of Brexit?

The decision over whether the UK remains inside the European Union could depend on whether young people vote in sufficient numbers on 23 June.

With only a few days to go before Britain vote on one of the most significant political decisions for a generation, euronews reporter Damon Embling met up with Dr. Darren Sharpe, a Senior Research fellow at The University of East London, to find out how young voters might affect the referendum.

Read more: What do young people think of Brexit? | euronews, world news

US firearms industry marketing guns to children says report from Violence Policy Center

NRA strikes again: marketing gun sales tochildren

The American firearms industry is targeting children as young as six with brightly colored guns and encouraging parents to let children take up shooting at an early age, according to a new report.

The Violence Policy Center, which aims to stop gun violence, said in its report that gun manufacturers are marketing to the youngest consumers because their primary market -- white men -- is aging.

"The firearms industry has set its sights on America's children. Much like the tobacco industry's search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement shooters," the group said in a statement.

"Along with the hope of increased gun sales, a corollary goal of this effort is the creation of the next generation of pro-gun advocates for future political battles."

Examples of "aggressive efforts" to market to children include rifles made with plastic parts so they are easier to handle, with less weight and recoil, the report said. Some manufacturers sell firearms in a variety of kid-friendly bright colors, including pink for girls.

The report also pointed out that the firearms industry and its lobby want parents to let their children "access guns at the earliest possible age."

The National Rifle Association, the main gun lobby in the US, previously had a website for its junior members, divided into "Under 8" and "8 and Up," the Violence Policy Center said.

Now called "NRA Family," the website's content includes a 2014 article reviewing the Thompson/Center HotShot youth rifle, calling it "a tiny gun intended for the very youngest shooters -- the ultimate first gun."
The article cited the manufacturer as saying the rifle is targeted to kids aged six to 12.

Gun violence is rife in the US, where a third of children live in a household with at least one weapon, according to the group Everytown for Gun Safety. Its statistics show that seven children and teens are killed with guns in the US on an average day.

Read more: Flash - US firearms industry marketing to children: report - France 24

Global Living: This Is Surprisingly the Most Affordable City for Young People

So what was the result of the global ranking after all the unusual numbers were crunched. Here are the results (bet you didn't see number one coming):

1. Paris
2. Toronto
3. Los Angeles
4. Chicago
5. Berlin
6. Dallas
7. Rome
8. New York
9. Tokyo
10. London

Read more: This Is Surprisingly the Most Affordable City for Young People | Inc.com

Employment - USA: 6 Charts That Should Freak Out Every Single Young American

America has a youth unemployment problem on its hands. Millions of 20-somethings can't find full-time work, according to the Center for American Progress. That could have long-term consequences: a six-month period of unemployment costs a person under 25 at least $45,000 in lost wages, the Center noted in a report released Wednesday.

This isn't just a young-adult problem; it hurts everyone else too. Youth unemployment is poised to cost the U.S. some $18 billion over the next decade, according to an analysis last month by Bloomberg Senior Economist Joseph Bruseulas.

So how did we get here? The Great Recession dealt a particularly harsh blow to young people as unemployment rose, and employers opted for the abundance of job-seekers with more experience. As a result, nearly half of the nation's unemployed are under 34 years old, according to an April report from Demos.

Presently the unemployment rate for Americans 16-to-24 years old is 16.2 percent, more than double the 7.5 jobless rate for all Americans. 

Note EU-Digest: this problem is not only limited to the USA, but is also prevalent in the EU.

Read more: 6 Charts That Should Freak Out Every Single Young American

Signs of dissent becoming more visible among Saudi Arabian youths

With some Saudi men in jeans, others in traditional thobes, and women in black abayas, the emergence of the trendy literary scene is nothing short of groundbreaking in this conservative kingdom, where the mixing of sexes is largely prohibited and movie theaters are banned.

A growing frustration with Saudi political and social behaviors has been visible throughout the kingdom in recent weeks, as measured in budding protests, bolder blog posts and petitions asking King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to loosen up his rule.

But the discontent is particularly palpable among the young and educated in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia's historically most progressive city, which has long been at odds with the more religiously conservative capital, Riyadh. The new cafe has become a hub for young intellectuals to share ideas as the Middle East undergoes the most sweeping period of change in their lifetimes.


For more: Signs of dissent becoming more visible among Saudi Arabian youths

EU-Digest: Worldwide poll shows todays 17-24 years olds reluctant to make personal sacrifices to solve effects environmental challenges

For the complete report on the 27 country Pleon survey click on this link

Worldwide poll by Pleon Communications in 27 countries sponsored by Shell shows today's 17-24 years olds reluctant to make personal sacrifices to solve effects environmental challenges

The poll shows that most of those questioned believe that by 2050 people will travel in flying cars, get much of their power from renewable energy and live a life of luxury in a world without borders. That optimistic image of the future emerged from a survey of young adults in 27 countries worldwide. And while survey respondents believe their generation will have to adapt to rising sea levels and other effects of global warming, they are reluctant to make personal sacrifices that could help address the problem. The worldwide poll gives a fascinating insight into the younger generations view of the future.

Their answers to 24 questions about hopes and fears show they are largely optimistic about their own welfare. Most expect to be better off than their parents by 2050. More young adults in Nigeria, India, Mexico and Russia think so than in any other surveyed country. On the other hand, Dutch and Japanes respondents were the most pessimistic, expecting to earn less than their parents. Although they fear climate change, very few young people say they are prepared to rein in their economic ambitions to help protect the environment. Over 80% of those surveyed want to live in a big house and to travel the world. Although two thirds are ready to make small changes in their lives to help the environment, such as composting or recycling, they are less willing when it comes to tougher lifestyle choices that could have the largest impact on climate change. Only one-fifth of respondents are prepared to take fewer long-distance holiday trips and just a third will change their diet to eat only locally grown food.

LA Daily News - Zombies aside, the rage is evident in Europe - Bridget Johnson

For the complete report from the LA Daily News click on this link

LA Daily News - Zombies aside, the rage is evident in Europe - Bridget Johnson

Rage has popped up around Europe, in the form of vicious reactions and bloodlust that has seemed so foreign to countries that have tried to pride themselves on a modern mix of liberalism, tradition and tolerance. The rage surfaced in reaction to the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as French president.

Peaceful protests are one thing, but many discontents opted for breaking shop windows and burning cars night after night. We're told this is just a youth reaction to feelings of inequality and not having jobs and being bored. We're told that the French government is to blame for this rage, rather than the perpetrators themselves.

It's the rage that drove Mohammed Bouyeri to approach filmmaker Theo van Gogh in 2004 and proceed to shoot him several times, nearly decapitate him and stab him in the chest. Pinned to a knife left in van Gogh's chest was a note threatening Dutch parliamentarian Ayaan Hirsi Ali, van Gogh's partner in the making of his short film "Submission," which decried the treatment of women in Muslim societies.

But zombiedom aside, it's easy to see the rage spreading through Europe beyond the silver screen - and terrifying to see how infectious it seems.