【推荐1】Many people think that when they become rich and successful, happiness will naturally follow.     1     The world is full of very rich people who are as miserable as if they were living in hell. We have read stories about movie stars who committed suicide or died from drugs. Quite clearly, money is not the only answer to all problems.

    2     Lottery winnings do not bring happiness. Gambling winnings do not bring happiness. To my mind, the secret to happiness lies in your successful work, in your contribution towards others’ happiness and in your wealth you have earned through your own honest effort. If you obtain wealth through luck or dishonest means, you will know that it is ill-earned money. If you get your money by taking advantage of others or by hurting others, you will not be happy with it.     3    

Long-term happiness is based on honesty, productive work, contribution, and self-esteem.     4     It is a continuous process of honest, productive work which makes a real contribution to others and makes you feel you are a useful, worthy person.

As Dr. Wayne wrote, “There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” There is no use saying “Someday when I achieve these goals, when I get a car, build a house and own my own business, then I will be really happy.” Life just does not work that way. If you wait for certain things to happen and depend on external circumstances of life to make you happy, you will always feel unfulfilled.     5    

【推荐2】If I could give today’s young people three wishes, they would be: more hugs, more time outside in nature, more belief in their own power to change the world. The third one leaves some people wondering why young people’s belief in their own power is so essential.

Let’s start with the idea that all of us – especially young people – need heroes. Our modern society is terribly confused about the difference between a celebrity and a hero. A celebrity is all about fame – temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a great dance move, etc. A hero, by contrast, is about character- qualities under the surface that aren’t seen until they take action.

Heroes are all around us. They truly hold our world together, through their unselfish devotion to helping others, teaching children, and protecting the environment. They don’t want fame, or glory; they just want to help. In so many ways, these unsung heroes pilot the boat in which all of us sail.

Yet, young people hear a lot more about celebrities than about heroes in the media. The hidden message they get from all this is that their self-worth comes from what they buy – which shoes, which cell phone – not who they are down inside. What gets lost in this? Young people’s sense of their own potential for heroic qualities – their own power to – make a positive difference in the world. Truth is, there is a potential hero, a future difference maker, in every young person.

How do we help young people believe in their own power? The best way is simply to share examples of other young people who have made a difference.

Barbara grew up on a farm in Texas. When she realized that local farmers were pouring their used motor oil into rivers, causing pollution, she organised the creation of a recycling centre for crude oil (原油). Her project has grown to include 18 recycling centres in Texas.

The list could continue. These are but a few examples of young people who have discovered that they can build on their own energy to do something great.

【推荐3】Hello, I'm Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O. — The Environmental Children's Organization.

Coming here today, I am fighting for my future. I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of (代表) the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go. I am afraid to go out in the sun now because of the holes in the ozone (臭氧层). I am afraid to breathe the air because I don't know what chemicals are in it.

You don't know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer. You don't know how to bring back an animal now extinct. And you can't bring back forests that once grew where there is now desert. If you don't know how to fix it, please stop breaking it!

Here, you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organizers, reporters or politicians— but really you are mothers and fathers, brothers and sister, aunts and uncles— and all of you are somebody's child.

At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us to behave in the world. You teach us: not to fight with others, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share— not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?

Do not forget why you're attending these conferences, who you're doing this for— we are your own children. You are deciding what kind of world we will grow up in. But are we even on your list of priorities? My father always says "You are what you do, not what you say."

Well, what you do makes me cry at night. You grown-ups say you love us. I challenge you, please make your actions reflect your words. Thank you for listening.