Promoting October 1st as Longevity Day
The International Longevity Alliance (ILA) is gearing up to promote longevity research on October 1st, presently the UN International Day of Older Persons, and also the date for this year's Eurosymposium for Healthy Ageing conference. This is a step on the way towards establishing an officially recognized Longevity Day at some point in the years ahead, one of the traditional methods of long-term political advocacy for a cause that needs more attention. ILA chapters will be organizing meetings and events, and - coincidentally - here at Fight Aging! we will be kicking off the year-end SENS rejuvenation research fundraiser on October 1st of this year.
Last year, activists of the international longevity movement proposed to celebrate the "UN International Day of Older Persons" on October 1 as a "Longevity Day" - to emphasize on that day that we need to promote longevity research for the benefit of older persons. Events were organized in more than 30 countries, ranging from national conferences to small circle discussions. Let us repeat this outreach this year too! Let us organize events on or around October 1, as a special day, or a week, or even a month dedicated to promotion of "Longevity" and "Longevity Research"!The main events that could be organized could include: 1) organizing live and online meetings, and 2) writing and distributing texts - including in national languages (petitions, blog posts, flyers, media press releases, etc.). And the methods of their organization are simple: 1) Just thinking what *you* can organize in your area and inviting friends among longevity activists to think what *they* can organize, 2) writing and distributing texts and appeals. As October 1 is the "International Day of Older Persons" officially recognized by the UN, this could be a fantastic opportunity for longevity activists to organize and contact politicians and media to raise interest in the subject of longevity research. Let us celebrate and advance Longevity for All on October 1, and possibly extend the outreach following this date, as convenient, into a week or a month.
We may yet establish a special Longevity Day not to coincide with the International Day of Older Persons (possibly toward the summer). But for now, let us make the best of the International Day of Older Persons to raise the awareness of longevity research as a real way to help the aged. With little effort we can organize a series of highly influential and synergistic events around the world. There are already several initiatives under way. The leading one is the Eurosymposium on Healthy Aging, that will be held in Brussels, Belgium, on October 1-3. You are welcome to attend and/or create a similar event in your country and area! Please spread the word and engage others!