May there always be an angel by your side I had a health issue earlier this year and landed up in
emergency units first in New York and later in Brussels. In both cases I was blessed to have the support of my best friend and a PIONeer from our network. (Happy to say I’m fine now). After the New York episode, my best friend of half a century gave me a little plaque that simply said, “May you always have an angel by your side”. That simple phrase and the flood of deep gratitude I felt from having this support in my time of need set me off on an angel hunt. I can honestly say I have been abundantly blessed throughout my life by always having not one, but a host of angels by my side, starting with my parents and my siblings. What a joyful, heartwarming experience I offered myself by making the time to do my personal angel review. It unleashed a flood of love and gratitude and my angels floated to the surface as brilliantly as I remembered them … the nursery school teacher who called me “Skatterbal”, Mrs. Money, my first news editor who taught me the trade, the French client whose mentality so intrigued me that I had to get to France to
fathom the French spirit of contradiction, and so on, until, worried about retiring, I met Jan Hively who showed me the way to meaningful work paid or unpaid and that led to the amazing global adventure that is our living, thriving and expanding Pass It On Network, and the PIONeer friends, each special in their own way, I’ve made across the world. I didn’t
count my angels, but “host” is not an exaggeration. Each one unique and canny, knowing just when to show up. I wouldn’t have made through the multiple transitions and adjustments that come with time without them. Irrefutable scientific evidence shows that we thrive on relationships and in fact, relationships and social integration and are top of the list for
fostering longer lives. My tuppence is to take the time to remember and appreciate the angels in your life and be conscious of how you spread your own unique angel influence on all you meet. Moira Allan
Co-Founder & International Coordinator
Pass It On
Network |
GLOBAL 50/50 ONLINE CONVERSATION Environmental disasters don't wait for your readiness. We’re witnessing this reality day to day. Places like Maui (Hawaii), Libya, Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Fukushima (Japan), South Africa, Canada, and others have faced
hurricanes, typhoons, floods, earthquakes, tsunami, extreme heat, and wildfires, to name a few. The primary concern in preparing older adults for disasters revolves around their heightened vulnerability to physical, emotional, and logistical challenges during environmental crises. Older individuals often grapple with mobility issues, limited access to medical
care, and difficulty maintaining social support networks, making emergencies even more daunting. Leading this upcoming 50/50 Conversation is Femada Shamam, CEO of TAFTA, who has lived through two major flooding disasters in KwaZulu
Natal. Monday, 9 October
1pm EDT / 5pm GMT / 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST Find your local time. View Time Zone Converter here. |
If you missed our most recent
50/50 Conversation,
check it out on our PION YouTube Channel! Digital Equity for Older Persons - Perspectives from 3 Continents
Without digital equity, older persons not only miss out on accessing crucial services, but are also excluded from participating actively within their communities. In this intriguing 50/50 conversation, we bring perspectives from three highly populated and culturally diverse countries across three continents: India,
Nigeria, and the USA.
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Every month Moira Allan, our co-founder and international coordinator, hosts an Open House for anyone who wants to find out more about our network. We offer a choice of two sessions to accommodate PION’s global outreach. |
Americas, Europe, Africa
Tuesday, 10 October
1pm EDT / 5pm GMT
7pm CEST / 7pm SAST | Asia,
Australasia
Wednesday, 11 October
7am CEST / 10:30am IST
1pm SGT / 3pm AEST |
Voice your opinion - Download the Questionnaire and consult your constituencies The Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People (GAROP) is hosting a webinar on 26 September on how to make an impact through the UN Open-Ended Working on Ageing Intersessional Questionnaire. Presenters are Andrew Byrnes, Emeritus Professor of Law in the Faculty of Law and Justice at the
University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and Yookyong Park, Human Rights Officer at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. Margaret Young, our PIONeer and Chair of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People, is the moderator. We need diverse regional and intersectional input to shore up the call for a UN Convention on the rights of older persons. More information about the Intersessional Work, Questionnaire (available in French, Spanish, and
English) and webinar recording are available here. |
Signs that Things are Moving Almost 700 million people are now over the age of 60. By 2050, 2 billion people, over 20 percent of the world’s population, will be 60 or older. The greatest and the most rapid growth will be in the developing world, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons, and Africa facing the largest proportionate
growth. The most striking fact about these figures is how 20% of the population is not taken into account in policy making. We have to stand up and be counted. Rights are vital; active consultation is essential. Use every occasion to speak up. |
Ageism Awareness Day, initiated in 2022 by the ASA (American Society on Aging) will be observed on 7 October 2023. We can all dip into the very comprehensive tool kit ASA has developed and draw inspiration.
You’ll find everything from a social media toolkit and facts and figures about ageism to a call to action and, Ageism Awareness Day logos to share. |
Ka Māno Wai: The Source of Life This new book, Ka Māno Wai: The Source of Life, features 14 esteemed kumu loea, expert teachers who are knowledge keepers of Hawaiian cultural ways. Our PIONeer, Kathryn Braun, is one of the three authors with Noreen K. Mokuau, and S. Kukunaokalā Yoshimoto. The book covers spirituality, care of the dead,
conflict resolution, traditional massage, cordage, medicine, cweapons, martial arts, law, and many more fascinating facets of Hawaiian culture. Read more. |
SilverEco & Ageing Well International Festival |
From shock absorbing floor coverings to high protein nibbles, AI solutions, cloud health tracking and fall detection, assisted living and ingenious solutions based on gaming, innovations were received from all over the world and finally 36 awards were accorded. A very empathetic touch from Jérôme Pigniez, the creator of this
festival that has grown exponentially since its inception in 2008, was the unique nature of the awards. Each one was a work of art created by a resident of an Alzheimer home.
PION’s co-founder, Moira Allan, was on the judging panel. |
PION Click-Ons to
Pass-On |
University of the 3rd Age Take three minutes to enjoy a small facet of the remarkably
varied initiatives of University of the 3 rd Age, devoted to lifelong learning and doing. More information from Tom Holloway tom@worldu3a.org. Dip in here to see U3A websites from all over the world, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Botswana, all created by Tom. 3 Keys to successful Advocacy Adriane Berg, speaker, podcaster, media personality and author walks you through 3 keys to successful advocacy. View here. |
This podcast, Red Wine & Blue Jeans, originated by our PIONeer Lynda Smith’s Refirement Network explores how to live the second half of life in the best way possible. Listen to the stories of
people who, like red wine and blue jeans, just get better as they age. |
PIONeer Pearls of Wisdom
to Pass On The Dalai Lama, when asked about what surprised him most about humanity, answered...
"Man, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health, and then he's so anxious about the future, that he does not enjoy the
present. The result being that he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die. Then he dies, having never really lived." |
30 September -- Register here. ACAP Webinar - Mobility and Transportation in an Ageing Society 1 October -- Register here.
IDOP (International Day of Older
People)
Join Top Sixty for an intergenerational discussion about the rewards and challenges of today’s 100-year life as we recognize two very important dates: October 1, International Day of Older Persons and October 7, Ageism Awareness Day. With special guests:
Jeanette Leardi,
Social Gerontologist
Sky Bergman, Filmmaker, Professor Emeritus
Tessa van Aanhout, teen Age Advocate 2 October – IDOP (International Day of Older People) Plan Ahead. Theme: Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons: Across Generations.Join the
33 rd UN Observance of the International Day of Older Persons virtually on 2 October from 10 am-1 pm at the UN. 2023 is the 75 th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration, REGISTER NOW to attend in person. Or watch it live on UN Web TV. Almost 700 million people are now over the age of 60. By 2050, 2 billion people, over 20 per cent of the world’s population, will be 60 or older. The greatest and the most rapid growth will be in the developing
world, with Asia as the region with the largest number of older persons, and Africa facing the largest proportionate growth. 2 and 9 October
ILC-UK Solutions Breakfasts at two political party
conferences 2023 Solutions breakfast at the Conservative Party
Conference: Monday 2 October, 8:30am – 10:30am in Manchester Solutions breakfast at the Labour Party Conference: Monday 9 October, 8:30am – 10:30am in Liverpool Objective: to help us identify politically workable solutions to better enable the UK to realise the economic and social opportunities of longer
lives. |
6-7 December
High-Level Forum on the Silver Economy Aging for all
Ages The Global Coalition on Aging is offering its fourth High Level Forum on Aging in contribution to the Decade of Healthy Aging 2020-2030. It will be in-person at the United Nations and broadcast live from New York City’s Paley Center for Media, and will be available virtually. Find out more. Advocating for the Rights of Older People
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