AFRO-NETS> The Drum Beat - 107 - Ageing

["Warren Feek" <wfeek@comminit.com>]

The Drum Beat - 107 - Ageing
----------------------------

Director: Warren Feek mailto:wfeek@coastnet.com Web Site: 
http://www.comminit.com

AGEING

We live in an ageing world. Demographers predict that if current 
trends in ageing continue as predicted, a demographic revolution will 
reveal the proportions of the young and the old undergo a historic 
crossover which will be felt in just 3 generations. Population ageing 
weaves through all social, economic and cultural spheres.  

TRENDS

1.Population size doubled from 3 to 6 billion between 1960 and 1999. 
The previous doubling from 1.5 billion took twice as long.

2.In 2000, there were 600 million people aged 60 and over; there will 
be 1.2 billion by 2025 and 2 billion by 2050. Soon, every 3rd indi-
vidual will be over the age of 60.

3.Today, about 2/3 of all older people are living in the developing 
world; by 2025, it will be 75%.

4. In the developed world, the very old (age 80+) is the fastest 
growing population group.

5.Women outlive men in virtually all societies; in very old age, the 
ratio of women/men is 2:1.

See the following URLs for more Trend Data 
http://www.who.int/hpr/ageing/index.htm#Contact%20us: 
http://www.popcouncil.org/ppdb/aging.html

PROGRAMMES

6.      Adopt-a-Gran - India - links the elderly in need with sponsor- 
ing individuals, families and corporations. A need is identified for 
assistance (social, financial or otherwise), whereby interested indi-
viduals, families or corporations are contacted to set up the "adop-
tion". 
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2035.html Contact: 
mailto:helpage@nde.vsnl.net.in

7.Bread of Life - Colombia - initiated by Pro Vida, the local age 
care agency, this programme used traditional media where elderly peo-
ple were given the means to set up & operate a bakery. An example of 
how "available finance was used for highly profitable long-term in-
vestment rather than short term relief". 
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2168.html 
Contact: mailto:sidorenko@un.org

  8.     Fueling the Economy - Kenya - the seniors of Mawego in Nyanza 
province of Kenya came up with their own idea for a profitable busi-
ness in kerosene, saving members of the elderly community many miles 
of walking. 
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2178.html 
Contact: mailto:sidorenko@un.org

  9.     Youth Records Old Wisdom - Jamaica - the history of Jamaica's 
ageing population is recorded by students, creating museum treasures 
while fostering friendship & respect between youth & the elderly. 
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2146.html 
Contact: mailto:sidorenko@un.org

10.     Generation 1997 Theatre Project - UK - a theatre programme 
where Small World Theatre (SWT) worked with a group of pensioners & 
teenagers in Ely using the media of puppetry & participatory theatre 
as a means of expression to explore tensions in the community. 
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld- 2267.html 
Contact: mailto:smallworld@enterprise.net

11.Youth Interwoven With Age - Bolivia - using local materials, 
youths in the community copy a full-size loom to create a thriving 
business for a programme initially developed for elderly widows to 
renew their weaving skills.
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2131.html 
Contact: mailto:sidorenko@un.org

12.     Utilizing the Useless - South Africa - A recycling programme, 
which used the ingenuity & traditional skills of South Africa's age-
ing population to turn useless waste articles into useable household 
commodities that were sold at a profit. 
http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2165.html  
Contact: mailto:sidorenko@un.org

IMPACT DATA

13.     Impact: Generation 1997 Theatre Project - UK - Between the 
years of 1997 & 1999, there was a decrease in the harassment of older 
people, noted by youth, community workers & pensioners. "The commu-
nity has recently raised funds for a new phase of intergenerational 
drama work". 
http://www.comminit.com/idcc2001/sld-2370.html 
Contact: mailto:smallworld@enterprise.net

14.Impact: "The Global Embrace" Walk - Global - It is estimated that 
over 1 million people in 96 countries participated in about 3,000 
walks all over the globe on Oct 2 1999. At the local level, municipal 
authorities, institutions serving older people and organisations of 
older people, as well as the private sector worked together. Through 
these partnerships, capacity was built to raise awareness and to ad-
dress the needs and concerns of older people. 
http://www.comminit.com/id10-14-00/sld-1781.html  
Contact: mailto:activeageing@who.int

STRATEGIC THINKING

15.Health & Ageing:  A Discussion Paper - "... As we enter the 21st 
century, global ageing will put increased economic & social demands 
on all countries. At the same time, older people provide a precious, 
often-ignored resource that makes an important contribution to the 
socio-economic fabric of our lives". The WHO believes we can afford 
to get old if countries act immediately in developing "active ageing" 
policies & programmes that encourage the health, independence & pro-
ductivity of older citizens. 
http://www.comminit.com/stcc2001/sld-2271.html 
Contact: mailto:activeageing@who.int

16.Impact of AIDS on Older People in Africa: Zimbabwe Case Study -The 
bulk of people caring for AIDS orphans are over 50 yrs old. In the 
age group of 50- 54, 15% are the main caregivers of orphans; those 
55-59 yrs yield 14% as the main caregivers; and in the group 60 & 
over, 71% are currently caring for orphans of their children dying of 
AIDS. 
http://www.comminit.com/stcc2001/sld- 2268.html  
Contact: Robert deGraft Agyarko mailto:Agyarkor@who.int

BROADCAST

17.Images of Older Women in the Media - USA - 
United Nations Radio interviews discussed images of older women in 
the media, how to go about making changes & talked about a campaign 
with The Body Shop (a skin care business) to promote positive atti-
tudes towards ageing. http://www.comminit.com/pdscc2001/sld-2223.html 
Contact: mailto:unradio@un.org

CULTURE

18.Meanings & Images in an Ageing Society - India - 
Images of ageing are rooted in culture... However, the understanding 
of one's language and culture can very often contrast with the mean-
ings and images given it by others. ...Roles diminish & images play 
an important part in how the world perceives ageing. Mass media...is 
also a link in the globalization chain & can have pro- found effects 
on the developing world & particularly on the older women who live 
there...  
http://www.indev.org/news/1july01k.html OR        
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/ageimpl.htm#Meanings

CONFERENCES / TRAINING

19.International Association of Gerontology (IAG) holds its World 
Congress every 4 yrs. The Congress is a major vehicle through which 
the IAG pursues its objectives, including the promotion of: geron-
tological research and international cooperation training in the 
field of aging interests of gerontological organisations in interna-
tional affairs. In the 2nd yr between World Congresses, regional con-
gresses are usually held. 
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/iag/

EVENTS / ADVOCACY

  20.    The Global Embrace 2001:  Sept 30 - An annual intergenerational 
walk that is the major advocacy event of the Global Movement for Ac-
tive Ageing. The WHO launched this event on Oct 2 1999 during the UN 
International Year of Older Persons, with its slogan "Towards a soci-
ety for all ages". See: - 
http://www.comminit.com/pds9-00/sld-1361.html 
Participants walked on every continent, in cities & villages, along 
beaches & country roads, in parks & shopping centres. 
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2001/230- event.html 
Contact: mailto:activeageing@who.int

21.The 2nd UN World Assembly on Ageing: Apr 2002 - In Madrid, this 
will be a 20 yr follow-up to the World Assembly in 1982. This confer-
ence will be devoted to the review of the outcome of the 1st UN World 
Assembly, as well as to the adoption of a revised plan of action & a 
long-term strategy on ageing in the context of a society for all 
ages. 
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/267-event.html

WEB SITES

22.Population Council - Population & Social Policy 
http://www.popcouncil.org/ppdb/aging.html

23.UN Programme on Ageing: Towards a Society for all Ages   
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/

24.UN HelpAge International: 
Leading global action on ageing - relaunched in June as a major focal 
point for news and comment on ageing and development issues. Includes 
policy and research, advocacy, emergencies, practical issues and the 
HelpAge International network. 
http://www.HelpAge.org

MATERIALS

25.Active Senior Electronic Newsmagazine - general newsletter for 
seniors - USA Contact: mailto:jlgiffor@prairienet.org

26.The Global Embrace Handbook - 
A guide for organisers of The Global Embrace walk events. available 
in English - soon to be available in Spanish. 
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-1983.html 
Contact: mailto:activeageing@who.int

***

With special thanks to Alex Kalachea and the team at WHO for their 
support 
mailto:Kalachea@who.int 
http://www.who.int/hpr/ageing/index.htm 

This issue by 
Cathy Challinor 
mailto:cchallinor@comminit.com 

The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for de-
velopment activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement 
or support by The Partners.

Please send material for The Drum Beat to the Editor - 
Deborah Heimann 
mailto:dheimann@comminit.com

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