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Health | Elder Rights |
Rural Aging | Aging Watch
HEALTH
WORLD
Colombia: Half of the Population of Cali Overweight (October 26, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
Almost 49% of the older population in Cali, Colombia, is overweight. The provisions of a new law mandate treats obesity as a public health problem and ensures treatment. For the first time, the government recognizes obesity as a public health problem and patients will be eligible for treatment.
Japan: Japan Under the 'Silver Impact' of Seniors (October 26, 2009)
(Article in French)
Japan is the oldest country in the world: 21% of its population is more than 65 years old. Nowadays, loneliness, isolation and small pensions generate more and more tragedies. For instance, old persons now kill their partners because they can no longer care for them. Moreover, Japanese social standards make things worse since people are ashamed to ask for help. In a country where there are more than 40,000 centenarians, old persons must help the oldest ones, and many 'young elderly' keep on working long after they have reached age 65.
Spain: Heart Failure Affects 700,000 Inhabitants of Spain (October 22, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
According to recent data, heart failure affects 200,000 people between the ages 40 and 60 and almost 500,000 persons over the age of 60. It is estimated that heart failure will become the epidemic of the 21st Century due to an increased life span and an aging population. To decrease the number of older persons who suffer from heart failure, the family doctor should recommend ways to control the main risk factors.
Easter Island: A Drug from Easter Island will Help to Fight Aging (July 9, 2009)
(Article in Russian)
Scientists found that the drug rapamycin from Easter Island can extend lifespan by 28-38%. The researchers came to this conclusion after using the drug to extend the lifespan of mice. Scientists did not expect such a positive effect. However, Lynn Cox, an Oxford University specialist, pointed out that rapamycin decreases the immune system. Mice were tested in laboratory conditions, protected from outside infections. People do not live in such conditions. For this reason the drug cannot be used on humans yet. He suggested, instead, improving lifestyles rather than looking for drugs against aging.
ELDER RIGHTS
WORLD
Syria: Old Visually Impaired Professional Manufacturing Bamboo Products! (October 28, 2009)
(Article in Arabic)
Ahmed Amsha is 66 years old and blind, but he is a top professional in the manufacture of handcrafts, especially bamboo chairs. Amsha is married and has 7 children.
China: 437,000,000 Older People to Feed (October 27, 2009)
(Article in Chinese)
More than 437 million people Chinese over the age of 69 will be living in China in 2050. How will the government support these elders who will have contributed so much to the society? Today, many older people are left alone due to the absence of government programs, a floating population from rural to urban areas among young people seeking jobs and the inability of adult children to take care of the elders. Modeling the initiatives of its neighboring country, Japan, China must address issues such as national security and economic growth to respond to its rapidly aging society.
China: Making Ageing Issue a Priority (October 27, 2009)
(Article in Chinese)
China still very much relies on its traditional way to support older people: their family. Many Chinese expect their children to take care of them when they grow older. However, China's one-child policy and a rapid increase in the longevity threaten this formula. Lacking nursing homes, porous pension systems and government delays in a comprehensive approach may result in harming older peoples’ later years.
Argentina: What Has Been Done With the Retirement Money? (October 26, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
A proposition to put retirement funds in the hands of the multinationals and banks was made about a year ago in Argentina. However, many preferred to leave the retirement funds in the hands of the Government of Argentina. It turns out that older persons may not have benefited directly from this change. Retirement funds were used to finance public works, to give loans in the amount of 250,000 million pesos to companies such as General Motors, Mercedes Benz and Peugeot Citroen, as an economic stimulus. The author asks why older Argentines did not get additional personal credit from these funds.
China: China Honors its Older Persons (October 26, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
China honors its older population with a celebration at a traditional festival. The celebration will acknowledge the contributions of older generations in one of the most populated countries in the world. It is estimated that by the year 2050 older persons will represent one third of the Chinese population. Therefore, it is urgent to include older persons in future development plans.
France: The Future of the Elderly (October 23, 2009)
(Article in French)
Sociologist Claudine Attias-Donfut calls for global thinking on the consequences of aging. In France, because jobs are not available, pension funds are facing deficits. Despite government policies to help older workers remain active, strong age discrimination and some social standards prevent them from finding jobs. Consequently, France will need many migrants to renew the active generation. For all those reasons, a large, public debate is needed to raise awareness about aging issues and to create standards to benefit all generations.
Iraq: Baghdad Dressmaker: In 50 Years of Work He Witnessed the Majority of Iraqi Contemporary Leaders (October 23, 2009)
(Article in Arabic)
During his fifty years as an Iraqi dressmaker, Kadder Sadek witnessed a large number of the leaders of Iraq while remaining faithful to his profession, despite advancing age and changing conditions. The walls of his shop recite the history of seven decades and ten presidents who ruled Iraq.
Mexico: Older Persons in Search of Employment (October 20, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
More than 200,000 older Mexicans do not receive enough pension support, and have to search for employment to cover their basic needs. It is necessary not only to open jobs for older persons, but to provide training for emerging jobs in the field of technology, for example. Some companies are helping older persons in their search for employment. For example, one company opened a computer classroom in the University for Older Persons that serves 1,800 older persons.
Belarus: Human Rights Activists Ask President Lukashenko Not to Kill the Gypsy (October 15, 2009)
(Article in Russian)
The UN Committee on Human Rights is asking Lukashenko to postpone execution of a condemned man until it completes investigation of the case. The Supreme Court of Belorussia condemned the 30-year-old gypsy Uzepchuk to death for the murder of four elderly women during a robbery. Uzepchuk, however, says he didn't murder the women, and that the police forced him to acknowledge the murder by torturing him and threatening his family. The United Nations Committee also points out that the Supreme Court of Belorussia did not abide by all the rules for the court procedure. For example, Uzepchuk was not allowed to call in witnesses who could have supported his alibi. The UN is calling for Belorrusia to abandon the death penalty. A larger question, however, is whether a death sentence should be a penalty for the murder of older people.
Nigeria: Nigeria Marks International Day for Elderly (October 6, 2009)
The National Universities Commission and the North American-Nigerian International Coalition on Aging (NANICA) on Monday marked the United Nations Day for the Elderly with a message that “the society must be prepared to take care of the elderly as the population of the elders is increasing.”
China: Half of Older People Home Alone in Tianjin City (September 4, 2009)
(Article in Chinese)
The number of older persons living alone has increased in Tianjin, an urban Chinese city. As a result of rapid urbanization, 54% of old people in Tianjin city live alone. Interestingly, a survey revealed that the richer the families are, the more isolated older people become. In many cases, older people experience depression.
Russia: Russian War Veterans Still Cannot Move into Single Apartments (June 22, 2009)
(Article in Russian)
More than 52,000 Russian veterans of WWII, finished 64 years ago, still don't have an adequate place to live, i.e., they either live in communal apartments or don't have enough living space at home. From the example of St. Petersburg, one can see how ineffectively the government handles this problem. In 2008 more than 17,000 veterans applied for single apartments in St. Petersburg, but only 7,000 remained on the list in 2009 because some categories were canceled, such as those who have lived in the city less than 10 years. Moreover, new houses with single apartments don't have the necessary infrastructure (transportation, elevators, etc.), meaning that in practice veterans cannot move to their new apartments even though on paper it says they can.
RURAL
AGING
WORLD
Spain:“Nuevos
Senderos” Lead to Increase in Population in Rural Areas (October 26, 2009)
(Article in Spanish)
The Ministry of Employment and Immigration and the European Social Fund, together with CEPAIM (Organization for Action and Support of Immigrants), are developing a project to increase the population of rural Spain. The name of the project is “Nuevos Senderos,” which translated means “New Paths.” This program would develop rural municipalities that are facing depopulation, offering the possibility of stabilizing and even increasing the population. People living in some rural areas have already witnessed positive results due to this initiative.
AGING
WATCH International Day of Older Persons: Speech Delivered by Jean-Francis Regis
Zinsou, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Benin (October 8, 2009)
(Speech in French)
During the International Day of Older Persons' morning session, Jean-Francis Regis Zinsou, currently Charge d' Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Benin to the United Nations and Chairman of the Working Group of the Least Developed Countries on Remittances, outlined policies directed toward Benin’s elders. In this country, where older persons represent a little less than 10% of the population, older people find themselves vulnerable due to poor housing and their personal illiteracy. In order to give older persons the chance to pass on their knowledge to the community, the Benin government adopted a National Plan for Active Aging (2007-2016).
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