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The 120 Years Club is created
• A member of AMECA, the
headquarters will be in Cuba’s Hotel Nacional
• It is not just an exclusive club
for elderly people but for those of whatever age who
are determined and motivated to live longer than 100
years
BY JOSÉ A. DE LA OSA
—Granma daily staff writer—
THE
120 Years Club, welcomes individuals of any age from
Cuba and the rest of the world — the only
requirement being that they must want to achieve
satisfactory longevity, both for themselves and
their descendents — has been established at the
Hotel Nacional in Havana.
One
of the aims of this new section of the Caribbean
Medical Association (AMECA), an NGO presided over
by Professor Eugenio Selman-Housein with special
consultant status with the UN Economic and Social
Council, is to bring together people inspired by the
decision to live longer than 100 years.
Club
members will receive up-to-date information on the
subject and be able to attend meetings, with the
right to speak, vote and contribute initiatives
designed to achieve their fundamental objective:
living to 120 years of age.
They
will also have access to research, treatment,
technology and any other recognized means of
obtaining satisfactory longevity and the right to
publish articles on the theme, subject to the CMA-AMECA
magazine editorial committee’s approval.
During the association’s founding event, longevity
expert Dr. Enrique Vega affirmed that there was
important scientific evidence to support the
possibility of reaching 120 years and acknowledged
that the increased life expectancy experienced over
the last 100 years is principally due to changes in
human beings’ lifestyles and behavior.
There are even researchers who predict life
expectancy of up to 140 years and bearing in mind
current research, this is not just “daydreaming”.
Historically speaking, long before and up to the end
of the 19th century, life expectancy averaged around
33 years of age. This rose to 47 years during the
20th century.
In
Cuba, from 1960 until the present day, life
expectancy has increased by 20 years. In the early
1960s, 52% of Cubans died before they reached 60
years of age, currently 85% of the nation’s
inhabitants will live past that age.
To
reinforce the Club’s aims, it was also announced
that from May 17-24, 2004, the 2nd International
Satisfactory Longevity Conference will be held in
Havana. At the same time, the Happy to be Alive
Festival is also due to take place and includes
artistic activities, conferences and workshops on
subjects such as sexuality and older people plus
visits to museums and recreational centers.
To
enroll or for further information on the 120 Years
Club and the next congress, please e-mail:
ameca@ceniai.cu
, amecacma@infomed.sld.cu
, bcimeq@infomed.sld.cu
,
longevidad2003@infomed.sld.cu
or by post to Apartado 6332, La Habana,
Cuba. |
