Peru, part 3

Joan also sent a link to an article in HelpAge's newsletter on the need for a pension for elders in Peru and other developing countries.

Here's the note she sent as explanation (what's the emoticon for blushing?):

As I translated your note to Oscar and Father Alfonso it occurred to me that I needed to THANK YOU sincerely for doing this.  It went unsaid, but is very heartfelt on my part.

I would also like to add a specific request of my own:  prayers for the Peruvian Congress to, once and for all, sign off on the proposed law that would provide a ‘social pension’ or a ‘non-contributive pension’ to seniors in Peru.  To this date Peru does not have such a pension (such as an age-related SSI payment) while countries poorer (such as Bolivia) have been far more advanced and illuminated in making this possible for their older citizens.    This has been a UN and World Bankrecommendation for a long time now; it is an unbearable burden for seniors and families for elders to reach old age without any form of assured minimal protection for survival.   (See enewsletter from HelpAge International forwarded separately).   Some of us consider it a case of ‘institutional elder abuse’ since this was a focus of many world conferences, and was on the agenda even in 1999 with the UN.

I’m sure you will concur with, and understand, this particular need for our Peruvian elders.