VOL. 68, NO. 2 - AAFI-AFICS, Geneva - UNOG

The future RER (regional express network) will be developed in partnership by the Cantons of Geneva and
Vaud, the French Rhône-Alpes region, and the French and Swiss railway companies (SNCF and CFF). The
project foresees that the number of trains will almost double compared with today.
With the continued expansion of the Geneva area, the Geneva town counselor, Robert Cramer, underlined
that the RER would help to avoid an explosion of individual traffic. Public transport will be much more
attractive, especially from France: Annemasse will be only 20 minutes from Geneva-Cornavin, la Roche-sur-
Foron, 40 minutes, and Evian, one hour.
We must, however, be patient. The full completion of the network is foreseen in the glimmering future …
2016. One pre-requisite is the finalization of the missing rail link, the CEVA (Cornavin-Eaux-Vives-
Annemasse), planned for many years and constantly postponed. It seems that there are now good
prospects that the last stumbling-blocks can be removed, and that work could begin this year. It will also be
necessary to create two new crossings at Mies and at Chambésy, as well as the improvement of the existing
tracks and railway stations in France. In this period of crisis when all the public authorities are hoping to find
projects that will boost the economy, there is maybe some hope …
J.-J. C.
HEALTH
70 IS AN AGE, NOT AN EXPIRY DATE
There is and always has been a lot of talk about it, but “dependence” is a subject that is sensitive and
indeed almost taboo. In its December 2008 issue, the magazine “Notre Temps” published a rather
astonishing article entitled “The risk of dependence – senior citizens have the floor”, backed up by a wealth
of statistics gathered during a survey of 70-year-olds carried out by a serious and well-thought of French
polling institute: INS-SOFRES.
At first I was shocked that the age of 70 had been chosen as a synonym of old age, since I believe that
everyone has their own physiological rhythm. Illness may intervene much earlier and accelerate the process
or, happily, much later.
However, I decided to go into the subject in more depth and to make an analysis of the article. It is
encouraging that 55% of those interviewed are completely independent although the article does mention
that it had not been possible to take into account those who were heavily physically or mentally dependent.
Nevertheless, 19% require help to prepare meals, do the shopping and cleaning, and 26% are dependent for
everyday needs.
To me, this was a challenge because in our entourage there are certainly people who would like just a little
help to open the jam pot or the bottle of water but who dare not ask because they don’t want to bother you
(48%). Supposing it was precisely this little bit of help that could postpone going into a home, a small prod
that could help to avoid dehydration or malnutrition. In our everyday lives, the high principles of safety, child
security and hygiene have induced over-sophisticated opening systems. Have you tried to light the gas with
a finger held down on the knob, while holding on to a walking frame. Not to mention opening a can of
sardines without spilling the oil or cutting your hand. We could make an inventory of all these products to
boycott them.
This article, in fact, illustrates all the discussions I have had with our Social Welfare Officer who refuses the
role of a fireman called as a last resort. The only answer we can find is mutual aid between those living in the
same area, who could watch over each other and become aware that something is going wrong, in other
words, the moment when help, even a minimum, becomes necessary. Lists of those living in the same
district exist (but may have gone unnoticed, which is a pity) in the List of Members which you should have
received, and it is hoped that some former colleagues will get together to share views and help each other.
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