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Global Action on Aging
List-Serv Communication
August 29 – September 3, 2004
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GLOBAL ACTION ON AGING
LIST-SERV AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 3, 2004
Dear Global Action on
Aging Friend,
On August
30 Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan fired the first official ammunition round into
the heart of older US citizens' income support. Claiming
that Social Security should be made less generous, he set off a policy war
against older persons. Greenspan failed to call for aggressive prosecution of
job discrimination against older workers. Nor did he suggest requiring FICA
taxation of any income-not just those wages under $87,000. Greenspan also
ducked any demand that employers modify onerous jobs that physically "wear
out" workers long before they reach 65 years. Greenspan drew the line. And
now older US citizens and all who care about
them must mount a massive struggle for income rights in old age! See <http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=7416716&u=60904>http://www.globalaging.org/pension/us/socialsec/2004/greenspans.htm
Houston's Rice University documents the shocking state of
many female caregivers across the United States. Women caregivers are more than
twice as likely to live in poverty and five times more likely to receive
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) than those who are not giving care. In other
words, the human act of giving care to an elderly family member drives many,
many women into poverty. Not a family-friendly policy! See
<http://en.groundspring.org/EmailNow/pub.php?module=URLTracker&cmd=track&j=7416716&u=60905>http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/us/2004/caring.htm
Ekaterine Pareshahvili, the Muskie Scholar from the country of Georgia, who has researched articles to
post to GAA's section on protecting older persons in
armed conflict has completed her internship with us.
She brought first-hand understanding of the pain and suffering of post-conflict
life and worked hard over many months to build our data. Eka
returns to her studies at New York University in the Public Administration
graduate program. We thank her for her substantial contribution to GAA's work.
Hanna Blyumina, another Muskie Scholar,
has joined us for September. Having completed her studies at Rutgers University, Hanna will return home to the Ukraine soon. At the moment she uses her
abundant linguistic talents gathering new stories describing older person's
access to income support, health and elder rights in Russian speaking areas.
She will also work on the armed conflict section. Welcome Hanna!
Have a good
week,
Susanne Paul for Global Action on Aging
PENSION
US
SOCIAL
SECURITY
How Migrants Help Fund U.S.
Citizens' Pensions (August 31, 2004)
Author Mark
Stevenson describes how millions of undocumented migrants help fund U.S. citizens' pensions. Most migrant workers who work under false Social Security numbers, or
even with false names, do not receive any benefits back, though they pay
contributions from their paychecks just like U.S. workers. The so-called "earnings
suspense file," a Social Security account in which contribution payments
collected by those undocumented workers are saved, grows at a rate of about $6
billion a year and now stands at $376 bullion. Dan Griswold from a
Washington-based research institution, calls the
earnings suspense file "gravy for Social Security" because the money
in the account is used to fund American citizens' retirement.
http://www.globalaging.org/pension/us/socialsec/2004/migrants.htm
Greenspan Warns of Shortfall as U.S.
Ages (August 30, 2004)
Concerning the
future of the U.S. social insurance system, Fed Chairman
Alan Greenspan warned that the U.S. may have promised workers more in
Social Security and Medicare benefits than it can deliver. In order to avoid
"abrupt and painful" pension reforms in the future, he suggested,
Social Security and Medicare benefits should be made less generous, for example
through later qualifying ages and by discouraging early retirement. However,
some, including Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, seem to want to
push out older professors. The content of work itself makes a difference.
"It's easy to be a professor at 75... it's not so
easy to lift heavy objects," said Princeton University economist Alan Blinder who also
criticized the proposal to push back the retirement age. Increased immigration
to the U.S. could help out; requiring Social
Security payments on all incomes instead of limiting taxation to workers with
$87,000 in wages or less could also help. Ending age discrimination against
those who want to work would be positive. With an increasing aged population,
other possibilities are available.
http://www.globalaging.org/pension/us/socialsec/2004/greenspans.htm
PRIVATE
Retirees May Suffer In Pension Takeover (August 30, 2004)
Duane Warning,
a 60-year-old former pilot in Chicago, wound up with only about half of the
pension that Trans World Airline promised him. After airline companies go
bankrupt and a federal insurance agency takes over, retirees like Warning do
not receive 100 percent of the benefits once promised to them. "I was
decimated. I was upset. But there was nothing I could do. I had to swallow
it," said Warning helplessly. Though pension funds are supposed to be
protected by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp., a federal insurance agency,
why can't they often get the expected amount of pension? Why do those retirees
who worked for the company for a long time have to suffer from the company's
failure? And it may get worse as US taxpayers must bail out the federal
insurance agency itself. With the current regressive tax system in the U.S., low and middle income workers who
actually pay income tax will have to supply most of the funds. Rich Americans
have hired accountants or bank offshore to allow them to duck taxation. Not a
pretty picture.
http://www.globalaging.org/pension/us/private/2004/takeover.htm
WORLD
Zambia:
Two Pension Funds Under Threat (August 26, 2004)
The existence
of Zambia's traditional pension systems -- the
Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) and the Local Authorities Superaanuation Fund (LASF) --have been threatened because
of a drastic loss of membership since the National Pension Scheme Authority
(NAPSA) was created in 2000. According to the NAPSA Act, all new civil service
employees except for teachers and security personnel are to affiliate to NAPSA.
Many, including the World Bank Economist Aniruddha Bonnerjee, demand the government give more careful
coordination between NAPSA, PSPF and LASF especially in terms of funding.
Others, like the International Social Security Association representative,
point out that, in order to make profit off the pension systems, public pension
funds of Zambia need more improved investment
techniques. It also appears that government officials may have interfered with
pension investments.
http://www.globalaging.org/pension/world/2004/threatzambia.htm
Australia:
Super Fund Shortfall Fears Grow (August 26, 2004)
As a result of
a growing shortfall in pension funds, more and more Australians are considering
working longer than the so-called retirement age, according to a survey
conducted by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). In a
few decades, the aged population in Australia is estimated to rise to 25% of the
total population, which means there will be only 2.5 workers for everyone aged
65 or over, in order to fund the government pension. More people will face
"a gap between their retirement savings and their desired lifestyle in
retirement," according to ASFA pension executive Philippa
Smith.
http://www.globalaging.org/pension/world/2004/super.htm
Czech Republic:
Czechs Eye Mid-2006 For Pension Reform (August 26, 2004)
The Czech
Parliament approved a proposal for a government pension reform that is to be
prepared by mid-2006, IPL reported. In the new system, individual income and
pension contributions are going to be reflected more, while the existing
pay-as-you-go system will be maintained. In addition, the new government wants
to encourage volunteer pension insurance and include employee pension schemes.
The new system "should bring financial stability and long-term
functionality," commented Martin Jahn, Vice
Premier for Economic Issues. The fund to cover the transition costs to the new
pension system, according to Czech Finance Minister Bohuslav
Sobotka, will most likely be financed by
privatization revenues and dividends from large companies. This privatization
strategy may prove illusory as the companies insist on profit margins that a
public system does not require. For certain, sharp disparities in income levels
between retirees will occur.
http://www.globalaging.org/pension/world/2004/czechs.htm
HEALTH
US
Phone Pals Play Vital Role for Elderly
Folks Home Alone (August 26, 2004)
In Washington County, Oregon, the Retired and Senior Volunteer
Program (RSVP) developed a telephone reassurance program for the elderly who
live alone and need company. Currently, 19 volunteers with an average age of 73
are reaching out to 24 seniors with an average age of 82. Margaret Larson, 84,
is one of veteran callers at RSVP. She likes this volunteer work because she is
able to help others without leaving her home. Also, for the phone receivers,
talking with someone is the way to socialize. Elder phone pals strongly connect
each other.
http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2004/pals.htm
New Treatments For
Alzheimer's Symptoms (August 26, 2004)
About half of
Alzheimer's patients suffer from developing psychiatric and behavioral symptoms
such as violent outbursts, paranoid thoughts and intense anxiety while they
fight against slow erosion of memory, the major symptom of Alzheimer's. These
behavioral changes shock family members, close friends, and patients
themselves. Fortunately, a number of new studies found out that so-called
atypical antipsychotics, a class of drugs normally
used to treat young schizophrenics, can reduce the psychiatric symptoms of
Alzheimer's. Although some serious side effects such as an increasing risk of
stroke and diabetes are reported, Alzheimer's patients and their families will
enjoy benefits of new treatments. Of course, families and caregivers must be
vigilant that such medications are not used to sedate elderly and thus permit
lower staffing levels at nursing homes.
http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/2004/alz.htm
WORLD
Japan:
Ministry to Establish Centers to Curb Nursing Dependency (August 23, 2004)
The Health,
Labor and Welfare Ministry in Japan plans to request 22 billion-yen for a
budgetary allocation to renovate public and private facilities such as day care
centers and city halls. The new centers will hold exercise classes and dietary
advice for the senior citizens. This project will educate elderly people on how
to maintain good health and prevent them to becoming dependent on nursing care.
http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/2004/establish.htm
Canada:
Long-Term Care: A Success Story (August 26, 2004)
Often older
persons want to avoid nursing homes. However, in Toronto, Chinese descent seniors enjoy living
in nursing homes, eating traditional meals, speaking in their first language
and participating in cultural activities at nursing homes. According to Statistics
Canada and a review of the number of nursing home beds, 9.5 % of nursing home
residents in Toronto are of Chinese descent. Also, 7.3 % of Torontonians age 75
or older are Chinese. Therefore, demand is high for nursing facilities with an
active Chinese culture. The author suggests that Ministry of Health's focus on
cultural sensitivity to health and social care can improve the quality of
nursing homes.
http://www.globalaging.org/health/world/2004/success.htm
ELDER RIGHTS
US
Caring for Parents (August 24, 2004)
Researchers at Rice University in Houston found out shocking facts on female
care-givers! In the United States, 80% of elder care is provided by
family members, mostly women. However, care-givers need to spend most of their
time to take care of their elder parents. Therefore, they often give up their
full-time jobs resulting in reduced working hours and wages. "If women
assumed caregiver roles, they were 2.5 times more likely than non-care-givers
to live in poverty and five times more likely to receive Supplemental Security
Income (SSI)," the study noted.
http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/us/2004/caring.htm
Growing Elderly Population Raises New
Policy Issues (August 20, 2004)
Wisconsin residents want to know how to take care
of the elderly people in the future. The number of its seniors age 65 and older
will increase at four to six times faster than the general population. Also,
this growing number of elderly is expected to live longer. This means that
fewer workers will pay state income taxes, says the Wisconsin Taxpayers
Alliance study. Health care dominates the issues to be discussed as well as
social services, pension, consumer protection and public transportation.
Politically, the Taxpayers group believes that an aging society requires
reordering government priorities. Some suggest more children per parent. Global
Action suggests looking to immigration to provide more workers. Second, greater
taxation of the rich (both individuals and corporations) could go a long way to
provide a more progressive tax system. Fortunately, aging is gradual, so
policymakers still have a few years to prepare for the aging society. But Wisconsin policy makers are asked to look beyond
the immediate political moment.
http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/us/2004/newpolicy.htm
States Consider Allowing Cameras in
Nursing Homes (August 23, 2004)
Would video
cameras prevent abuse in nursing homes or violate residents' privacy? Several
states are now considering using video surveillance in order to keep eye on
nursing home residents and the care they receive. Selket
Nicole Cottle, a student at the University of Illinois College of Law, studied the pros and cons of
using video cameras, and concluded that video cameras would benefit residents
endangered with abuse. "The cameras are a way to safeguard against abuse
both because people are less likely to act abusively if they know they are
being filmed," Cottle pointed out. However, she
also added residents should have a choice to put a camera in their room or not.
http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/us/2004/cameras2.htm
WORLD
Canada:
Is 65 Just a Number? (August 21, 2004)
If you were
told, "You can't work here because you are 65 years old," what would
you think? But it is perfectly legal to say so in Ontario, Canada, because the protection against age
discrimination ends at 65 under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Recently, the
government tried to change the mandatory retirement law despite the fact that
many Canadians retires at age 61. "If you hit the magic age of 65 and you
are still able to make a contribution and you want to, shouldn't you have the
choice to do that?" Labor Minister Chris Bentley emphasized. However, the
list of questions such as how long employers should let elder employees work
even though they have trouble with technology or the pace of work, or how to
adjust pension plans to seniors who keep working over 65 are piled up, too. But
it's worth looking at in depth!
http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2004/number.htm
South Korea:
Korean Elderly Live Happier in New York than in Korea
(August 25, 2004)
Professor Lee Ju-il at the Hallim Institute of
Aging Society figured out that Korean elderly in New York live happier than those in Korea despite the language and cultural
differences. He collected data from people ages 60 or over in Korea (1,322 people) and New York (254 people). The significant
difference revolves around Korean New Yorkers knowing that the public takes
responsibility when they are sick, while 56.5 % of Koreans said their children
should take care of them. The author said he reckoned "various welfare
systems supported by the government is the most important factor for
happiness."
http://www.globalaging.org/elderrights/world/2004/korean.htm
ARMED CONFLICTS
Israel:
West Bank City
Closed Off After Blasts (September 1, 2004)
Palestinian
suicide bombers' actions took 16 lives of civilians in Beersheba, situated in Negev Desert between the Israeli occupied
territories close to Hebron and Gaza. Nissim Vaknin
traveled on one of the attacked buses. When an elderly woman with shopping bags
boarded, Vaknin gave up his seat to her and walked to
the back, a gesture that saved his life. The elderly woman was killed in the
blast several seconds later. In retaliation, the Israeli military destroyed the
home of an accused suicide bomber, arrested the accused's
three brothers and sealed off the town of Hebron. In addition, the Israeli military has
stepped up "targeted killings" of Palestinians it believes to be
militants.
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/palestine/vaknin.htm
Chechnya:
Kremlin Choice Wins in Chechnya
Election (August 30, 2004)
August 29 was
an important day in the history Chechnya, the rebel Southern region of Russia. On that day Chechens voted in a tense
election for a successor to the assassinated president in a tense election. The voters, with a high representation of older persons, turned out
despite of security threats and lack of a real choice. All signs pointed
to victory for the Kremlin-backed candidate, Maj. Gen. Alu
Alkhanov, but many doubt that he will manage to stamp
out rebellion in this turbulent region. However, the elderly voters said they
are voting for the hope for peace.
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/FSU/alu.htm
Israel:
Arab Prisoner Murders Elderly Jewish Cellmate (August 30, 2004)
The
Israel-Palestine conflict has long gone beyond political circles and entered a
dangerous phase of human hatred. Recently, a young Arab career criminal in Kishon detention facility attacked his elderly Jewish
cellmate for snoring in his sleep. The Arab cut the 70 year-old Jew numerous
times with a razor blade and then beat him to death.
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/palestine/cellmate.htm
Iraq:
Residents of a Shattered City Begin to Pick Up Its Pieces (August 29, 2004)
After 23 days
of unrelenting combat, fighting came to a halt in the Iraqi city of Ajaf. Together with Al-Sadr
Brigade fighters, a lot of civilians were also killed. Those who were lucky
enough to find themselves alive, started to identify
the dead. The dead here are marked by slips of paper and one of them simply
said: "old woman, medium height, black dress, dark skin."
...
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/iraq/black.htm
Sudan:
Darfur
Elders Say United States Demonises Sudan
to Hurt Islam (August 28, 2004)
The bloody
18-month conflict between the two main rebel groups continues in the Sudan. In an attempt to mediate the problem,
the Sudanese government sent 11 elders - tribal chiefs from the war-torn
Sudanese region of Darfur -- to Nigeria as part of a delegation to the African
Union peace talks. The chiefs criticized the United States for blaming Muslims for the conflict,
saying that the superpower has tried to "demonise"
Muslims. Information about the underlying international competition over
Sudanese oil reserves has not yet emerged in syndicated press reports.
http://www.globalaging.org/armedconflict/countryreports/drc/chiefs.htm