VOL. 65, NO. 2 Mars – March 2006 - AAFI-AFICS, Geneva - UNOG

EDITORIALA Quarter of a Century more to Live!In the century from 1950 to 2050, our life expectancy will be extended by 25 years. A quarter of a centurymore to live ! This phenomenal progress, thanks to the scientific advances that have been multiplyingexponentially for the past 20 years or so; deals with practically all the ills that flesh is heir to. And this forpersons of all ages: for the very young as well as for the elderly, like us.Some issues about our “human society” surface in the press as regularly as the ocean’s tides. At present,when Spring is about to burst out and sunny days are on the way, the theme of living longer, together withthe accompanying care of body and mind, fills our magazines. It’s in the air. We should certainly read thesewith interest and pleasure for they tell us of the progress in the treatment of our ailments. But then we shouldconsult our doctor or a specialist in the “prevention of aging” to make sure that we understand how thesetreatments should be applied. We must resist being carried away by the overwhelming publicity andjournalistic comment which promises us many wonders: we can lose 15 kilos in three weeks, or miraculouslyrecover those nights of undisturbed sleep which we enjoyed in the days of our youth, or put an immediateend to those unyielding migraines - all thanks to some miraculous diet or to the magic pills of Dr. So-and –so,oh-so very easily obtainable.Early this year, a French weekly published (a little early in the season?) a collection under the heading “StayYoung in Body and Mind”; this consisted of articles and interviews on the promises held out by medicalscience, on our way of life, on our eating habits etc. Extremely well done and well informed, it wasintroduced by a short presentation which appealed to us and which we want to share with you. Itsummarises the state of mind necessary to cope with the changes brought about by age without too muchmental stress. The writer goes so far as to say Staying young is a civic duty. You must judge for yourselfbut we thought you would find it valuable.We also publish in this Bulletin - reproduced from the same weekly - an interview with our colleague andfriend Yolaine Nouguier, President of the Association of Former UNESCO Staff (AFUS), our Parisian “sisterassociation”. It’s a tonic.Having said this, let me hasten to reassure you: a bit of dreaming and some encouraging news about ourtimes (these are not too plentiful) is not going to make AAFI-AFICS abandon its role of protecting our health :this remains important. The annual report we submitted to the recent General Assembly informed you thatwe have kept the difficult problem of “long-term care” and questions relating to dependency high on ouragenda. A small team of specialists has just been formed within our Committee’s Health Group. We willreport on its work later this year.Jean-Jacques Chevron24