Qu o r t e , I y
of tlte Association@Wffi of Fortner IVHO St"lT WHO, CH-1211 Geneaa 27, Sutiaerland ( TP:+41 22 791 31 03; IX: +41 22 791 07 46; e-mail:
The soundness of the financial "Tltis position led the Board to make summer, we decided to stay home and com?lain." FraruREs
A GI-IMPSE OF EnnLY TIMEs
arly in 1950, on learning that my first \[HO duty station was to be in south-east Asia, I had become increasingly conscious that my father, grandfather and half a dozen other family members had spent their active lives in that Bengal and Burma over which we were now gliding. Many of them are buried there. Their yesterdays had made possible my o\À/n today.
On leaving the plane at Bangkok the change of temperature !ÿas as physical as the blow of a fist. \W'e were met by Sam Keeney, director of UNICEF's regional office, whose advisor I was to be. He had come over my horizon in 1946 as chief of the UNRRA mission in Italy, where his social sense and deft administration had brought brilliant results.
A week or so later I went to New Delhi; it was the only occasion in which I had direct contact with Prime Minister Jawaharal Nehru, who showed that wonderful Indian capacity for creating instant friendly understanding. A few days later, when I went to take leave, he said laughingly, ''§ÿ'ell I know it's going to work - how can it not with three Tiiniry men on the job, especially as rwo of them are Indians and the third has an Indian bacÇround."
eville \7adia, who had been in my year et Cambridge, was now a leading Parsee industrialist. He was interested in manufacturing penicillin. I went down to Bombay to discuss this possibiliry which, for U.N. bureaucratic reasons, was harder to implement than was State ownership. I would dearly '§ÿ'adia '§ÿ'adias have liked to have helped a member of the family make penicillin. In my grandparents' day the had been our partners in a ship-building project based on Burmese teak. The symmetry of the relationship appealed to me but, alas, it was not to be.
I have extremely hrppy memories of my colleagues and my superiors in the U.N. at this earlier period in its history and even more so within \ürHO, where recruitment was still made in each and every cese on the sole criterion of proven professional competence. Dr Chandra Mani, Regional Director, SEARO, had been a colonel in the Indian medical service of imperial times; he brought the best of that servicet tradition with him, but remarked that it was very hard to create an egrit de corps in an international service largely composed of experts on short-term contracts.
By the mid-1970s, not only had those \fHO veterans been retired but the organisation was itself applying new criteria in the recruitment of their replacements, guided by what were euphemistically called considerations of "geographical distribution." This really meant considerations of political expediency as glimpsed momentarily by senior bureaucrars. '§7HO, t is easier to hire than to fire. As a Third'§7orld scientist once remârked, this, in has resulted in the blocking of certain jobs by only modestly qualified candidates. Such people tend to end up doing very little as their pseudo-utiliry had but temporary appeal. However, with nowhere else to go, they stay put -- occupying a budget-line that could have carried a more active , if less politically decorative, appointee . Sinclair-Loutit -Kenneth (Excerpted frorn unpublished rnemoirs Chapter 24) (formerly EMRO)
page 2 Health Corner OeESITY
CC T ook at that" whispered Albert ironically, I gazing intensely in the direction of our I-./neighbouring table. "The lady doesnt seem to lack appetite. How can she eat thai much at this time of the day?"
The object of Albertt conrempt ,ÿvas an explic- itly stout solitary lady, sipping , .rrp of chocolaà in company of rwo sizeable slices of chocolate cake; it was just about 10 a.m. - and she seemed to enjoy the treat. "Isn't it a shame o be that fat?"
My friend is thus one of rhose numerous members of our sociery who feel rhar overeating is a.bad, even disgusting habit, and that the result"ing obesiry is a most unwanred condition. \7hile I dà not rrl/ant to comment on the.complicated question^ of the sociology of obesiry (there are societies in which being obese is a status symbol), medically sp.aking, significant obesiry is"indeed high-.irk condition. " tT-P]lst of *t-",tt potentially associated with obesiry includes hypertension, diaberes, coronary eræry ! disease, gallbladder disease, gout, deep vein thrombosis, pulm on^ry embolism, osteoarthritis, decubitus J- ulcers, intertrigo,^incr^eased risk in case of surgery and, in gèneral, de.re"sed span of life. Not all, though many, " obese persons suffer from these diseases; the piobabiliry"of developing some'of the above corrjitior* i, proportionate to the degree of their obesiry.
Obese-persons are classified into three categories: mild, moderate and severe obesity. Mildly obese persons are considered to be.thoservhose body..weight.ii 10.to.40 per cenr over the average *Lr..orr.rporrài.rg,o their age, sex- and height. Obesity is càIed Âoder"t. if the excess welght is berween?g and 100 p.', cent, and severe.orpatho.logical obesity exists if body.weight is more than doub"le the average. The arrerag! *.igt,,,.. given in the following, grossly simplified table: Height/cm 150 155 160 165 170 r75 180 §Teightikg women 59 GO G4 68 70 75 Men 62 65 68 72 76 80
Thevalues refer to persons over age 60, and are raken from Ciba-Geigy, ScientificTâbles, 1982 Some per-cent 90 of obese persons belong,to_ the category of mild obesiry 9 per cent are moderarely obese, while severe (pathological) obesiry is rare, ,J0.5 p., ...,r1 "p The most common cause of obesiry especially in elderly people, is overeating, coupled with decreased physical activity. Hormonal changes also play ,à1., ,"d hé.àiÇ seems ro accounr for about one fourth ofexcess body fat. "
o what to do? Severe.obesiry is a severe medical problem, and needs to be treated by specialists. Moderate obesiry may !e treated by one of the numerous làw calorie diets, and increased ptryri.it activiry. Appetite- supp^ressing^drugs (anorexigens) were much used in the past, but are pr.r..r, considered les, desir"bl. because ", of their freq-uent side-effects. The most common form, mild obesiry if t.."t-..rt is desired at all, calls for behaviour modification, including physical activity. The latter h"s othÉr beneficial effects as well, e.g. on the cardiovascular system. Advanced age is ,ro ,.rron to become physically inactive, unless o.r. ,,rfi.r, ?o* severe rheumatism or other incapaciry. Eating and . overeating is a complicated chapter of human psychology. Most obese persons I know are gentle, good-natured characters, not at all unhappy rbo,rt their'e*cess bidy weight. TË.r. is no point in stigmatising.them. _So, to come back to the beginning of my story I said to my friËnd Albert: "Let hei eat her chocolate cakes. \Why dont you have one, roo?"- Strasser, M.D. -Tom (former$, CW) page 3 Pensions News & VrEws PETSIoNERS.To.B E: TNINK TwICE Pensioners-to-be are being advised now by AAFI/ pension fund is ready to pay your benefit in any AFICS to take pensions based on the U.S. dollar, which currency you name." could then be payable in a currency of choice. Vhy? Addressing the many pensioners already on the Simply, because from January 1997 to December local track, he says: "There is no reason for regrets. It 1999, the dollar has been appreciating against most raised your pensions substantially in the days of low national currencies, and, also because the U.S. con- dollar pariry and is not penalising you today. However, sumer index has been rising relatively quickly. (A new retirees are advised to think rwice before choosing notable exception is the case of Japan.) the dual-track system now."
"lJnless you request the local track option (which One wee advantage of the dollar track is that is based on currencies other than the dollar) you will periodic proof of residence is not required. Also, you automatically receive U.S. dollar pensions, thereafter can change from the dollar to the local track later. adjusted in line with the lJ.S. consumer price index," However, he added, 'ÿou are not allowed to return to according to the Associations expert Robin Perry, the dollar track once on the dual-track sysrem." writing in its Bulletin (May and March 2000). "The
PER pETUATI NG STEREoTYPES
To U.N. Special, the monthly magazine of inter- national civil servants, a "brevo" for standing up for pensions and a "boo" for letting down pensioners, all in its June issue. ' A bilingual (in itself, exceptional) editorial champions the "inviolability of our pensions" in protest at the pension board's decision to allow deductions of alimony from pensions.
"First alimony payments, next maybe traffic fines, rent arrears or the most far-fetched claims..." the editor states. Sympathetic readers are asked to send him this message: "Hands Off Our Pension."
. An illustration to ân article on retirement perpetuâtes the stereorype of the old. As can be seen, the photo is wonderfully classical, but the woman depicted (toothless, wrinkled, wizened) bears little resemblance to the average U.N. pensioner, QN's \flise U.N. Special, June 2000 Old Owl is convinced, while making a plea for a little more accuracy next time seniors are shown. As U.N, Special sees us, pen^sioners.
page 4 CSG AND CRDS. - A TAx oR NoT A TAx
rom the very start' the payment Francet (contribution of CSG sociale génhalisée) and of the CRDS (contribution Pour le rembours€ment de k by frontalie. *orkîr, .dene ,sociale) h* b..., .orr.rà, ,ti, tali;ularf those by associations of workers.living in France brt *o-rking in Germany'ï:-r.: î::ît:::,ilïl'; French authorities iniist that ,h.r. .o.r,ributions are râxes while the frontalier that they are obligatory social deductions. "rro.irtiorÏïii
on 15 February2000, the European_Communiryt Court ofJustice delivered nvo rulings, one concerning the csG (case c-169/98) and the otÀer the ('case CRDS c-34/98). In both cases and on-identical grounds, the Court censured France and declared that its. applying the CRDS to the earnings (pensions fall in this category) of salaried and independent workers *ho li',r. In Fran.e but work in another Member State and who' by virtue of Rule are not subject l4oïl7ll, to French legislation as regards social securi; ir-" breach tlt obli8ptions incumbent upon Franc. :f ,r,d.. Article B ;f the Rule, ar" *ell as Articles 4g and 52 of the Ti'eary of Maastricht.
therefore quite clear. However, in both cases ir concerns T-Ï ,::ïï:: -is salaried and independent I iîïî,ï|: ,î:i'J,.,i::ïL:il: ïf ;î.':,,,l,.üT:ni,",_!;,{,l,r,K!;";,r*ri securiry and who are dependent on our own institutions, ,r"-.ly the pension "*::; I rr . Joint Staff Fund and our own health lnsurance scheme?
one thing is certain: the highest European court has ruled that these rwo "conrriburions" are social deductions and not taxes,.and ", "..otr.q,ren.. o,rght nor ro be applied to people *ho b.lorrg to a different social security system' Although the r_ulings are not aimed at U.N. pÀiorr.r, iiring i., France, we should be able to invoke the same reasons adduced ,o .h"ll.rrg. the payment of th. "contributio.r"r'; ùy ,r. it certainly seems that the French l\ /f ?n""", tax services have tacitly admitted this since they have lvl::ï:,ii":ï;:',f:'niïï:',ï*:'.:J; i,i:[,.:*:iT:l;li.t:i::J',îïï:.r?y,: at Present in process will be settled according to the decisions of the Court of Justice and that people who have wrongfully paid these deductions should b. Ài..rb,r., ed. on request.
Requests for repayment of the CSG made by letter should be addressed to the relevant URSSAF and those concerning the CRDS to the relevant tax centre, before I January 2003. (For Ain, utrite to 14, rue paué dAmoun 01016 Bourg-en-Bresse Cedex, tel. 04 74 45 66 99.) Leclercq -J.M. (former TM) LrresryLEs ..GRANNY, WHY Do YoU DIVE?,, activiry lare on in life and, moreover, can keep it up for a long time. The centres for scuba activi- It was this question - as simple as it is sensible ties are equally varied, whether they are in from her three-year-old grandàaughter that led _ Duingt, Bonnaire, New Caledonia Claudine Mouly to explain why she enjÇs scuba-diving or offshore neâr Marseilles, and to describe for us some of her most ,p..t".,rlrl dives. The reasons \X/hatt for putting onet head ,r.rd., *",.. more, it also gives are many and various, for instance to see, to show off the lie to those of us who some- to learn, to forget, to heal - in short, to have fun. times ask whether ir is reasonable, at our age, to sign up for a bungee-j umping course! All this is described with a great deal of spontane_ ("Grand-mère, pourquoi iry and wit by the wife of a former ILO .à11."g,r., tu Dlowes?" ISBN2- 91i4s3-09-7. Publihed'by Editiàns 2e la Nerthe, Jean Mouly. This book proves ro us all, in an 83190 Ollioules. pricei 98.40 FF; e-mail: entertaining way, that anyone can take up a sporting < edi ti o ns. nerth e @utan ado 0.fi >) page 5 DoUBLY HoNoURED
Jean-Pierre Dustin, formerly Chief, \MHO's \ÿorld Food Programme, COR, has been named Commander of the Crown of Belgium in recognition of his life-long work to prevent nutritional blindness - work that is estimated to have saved the sight of a million people, and which he continues even afrer retirement from \ü[HO.
The order was conferred upon him, in the name of King Albert II and in the presence of his wife and daughter, on 13 June by Belgium's U.N. Ambassador J.M. Noirfalisse. It is the second time he has been decorated: 16 years ago he was made Commander of the Order of Leopold II. "You based your scientific work on hypotheses which originally aroused consider- able scepticism. The rigorousness of your approach finally proved you right.
"Measures for the prevention of nutritional blind- Invited to the ceremony were Dr 8c Mrs Halfdan ness which stem from your work now consrirute the Mahler, AFSMt Dr Ec Mrs Rajindar PaI and Mr & international norm," the Ambassador said. Mrs Jery Kilker.
TneeIE JEoPARDY
A colleague reporrs he was snapped by a mobile subject to further penalties. On 2 May, ignoring camera speeding along the road from the Versoix the letter he had wrirren, the Service banned him roundabout to Ferney Voltaire just five days before from driving in Switzerland (and Lichtenstein !) for Christmas last year, when everybody was in a rush. a month, and also levelled an emolument of CIHF 30 fu he had exceeded the speed limit by 23 km, on 1 against him, while alluding to him as a "felon" ro March, he received notice from the Corps de police, add insult to injury. Canton of Geneva, of a stiff CHF 500 fine, plus "I reckon I ve been something referred to as an "emohtment" of CHF 60. punished three times so far. This goes beyond On 3 March, he paid up, thinking it would be the prosecution, and begins to look end of the affair. uncommonly like persecution," the colleague says, a little dazed, and still uncerrain what an emolument To his surprise, on 13 April he received notice means. from the Service des Automobiles that he would be
In Memoqtam
Mike Sacls died in New York He studied medicine at uni- on 30 March at age 85. He was versities in New York, Edinburgh \MHO known in and in the U.N. and Chicago, from where he gradu- family as a wielder of links among ated. After taking his MPH at the major divisions at headquarters, Colombia Universiry he embarked in the six regional offices and other on a distinguished career in inter- U.N. agencies. It is not easy to national health. His first assign- forget him, and our symparhy goes ment was with UNRRA in China, to his wife, Barbara, and his son and where he worked with Madame daughter. Sun Yat-Sen, the wife of the found-
page 6 er of modern China. His work U.N. system and, within it, \MHOt al knowledge of \fHO's history there from 1946 to'49 gave rise responsibilities. \(hen discussing a programmes and procedures and later to allegations of disloyalry problem, he would always say: "The his devotion to dury. fu Chief by the U.S. House Committee matter is manifestly (one of Mike's C\fO (Coordination with other on Un-American Activities (the pet words) 'simple'." \7hich it rarely Organisations), he contributed, in "McCarthy Committee"). He was was. He never really "retired" after no small measure, to the excellent deprived of his U.S. passport for his official retirement in 1978, but reputation that \WHO enjoyed in ten years, but happily not of his continued to work as an adviser to the international communiry. generous and liberal views. UNDP The wealth of his experience He joined §7HO in 1949 as It was a privilege to have been and his boundless enthusiasm for adviser to UNICEF in Paris. In his friend. I miss that greeting of his work were unique. Even after 1953 he was appointed as adviser his over the phone -'Saaax!' But retirement in 1978 he continued to to the Ministry of Health, India, Mike would not have had the time campaign for the under-privileged as in 1958 as liaison officer to the to notice sorro\M, for he would be a consultant to UNDP in NewYork, §7HO office at the U.N., NewYork, already busy drafting the agenda for overseeing the expansion of public and in 1963 as Chief, Programme the next plenary of the Interstellar health programmes and infrastruc- Coordination, Geneva - a posr he Coordinating Committee or what- ture projects. held for 15 years. Among initiatives ever eternal organ he may be asked wonderful he launched wes one with FAO that to chair... But there too he will Michael w'âs a human being, a good colleague and a took into account the health hazards always keep a seat for friends, we faithful friend. To his of agriculture. who miss him so much. survivingwife, Lawton Barbara, his two children and six He knew virtually by heart -Paul grandchildren, the Executive Group '§7HOt (formerly every resolution of gov- Director, AFSM present heartfelt condolenc- erning bodies, as well as the man- Coordination utith Other es. dates and programmes of sister plan- Organisations Flache, M.D. -Stanislas ets in the U.N. firmamenr. In Simance, France (formerll' a career that spanned 40 years he Ass istant D ire ctor- Gen era l; had the privilege working trained cohorts of young people, I of Director, Diuision of Coordination) with Michael Sacks in the seyenties, imbuing them with a respect for the Geneua admiring his intelligence, exception-
Jeff Hendericls has left us, Benin, l,ouis Joseph Lovelace passed passing away on 23 February 2000. Togo, Niger, ev/ay on 20 August 1999 in the '§7'e He was my friend! joined §fHO Ghana.... United States, friends were deeply in the early sixties, both assigned to grieved to learn. the malaria eradication programme He joined '§7HO in Algeria. Our paths frequently narrowly He in 1957 escaped as a sanitary engineer, serving in crossed in Tirrkey, in Tirnisia - death when Burma, and and finally in the 1970s with the Iraq, then at AFRO Pilatus as Regional for Onchocerciasis Control Programme the EMRO Counsellor Porter char- Environmental Sanitation, retiring in the River Volta basin, where he by 1976. worked for a dozen years, interrupt- tered in \fHO crashed into the Black Volta. ed only by a mission to Ethiopia. After completing his studies in He recovered from a severe bout of civil engineering at the Polytechnic He was a field man, a tireless onchocerciasis contracted during his School of Haiti in 1938, he really worker, always ready to help no mat- entomological prospecting. In the started his career with the Inter- ter how difficult or dangerous the con- end it was his first enemy, malaria, American Cooperative Service of ditions ofwork. I would say he spent which laid him low Among all his Public Health, SCISP In 1944 he in the order of 10,000 km in heli- former colleagues he leaves behind specialised in sanitary engineering at copters on dury Suzzing at low alti- an imperishable memory. Harvard University. tude along the channels made in the Lion -Roger forest by rivers in Upper Volta (now (formerly EMRO) From 1950, he was appointed 'W'ater Burkina Faso), Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Rixensart, Belgium Engineer in charge of Supply,
page 7 of which he was Director General He valued his friends and was Katherine P. Connor'90 PhD until 1956. At the same time he consistently loyal, sincere and true (epidemiology and public health) taught sanitation at the Polytechnic to them all; he may best be charac- died on January 12, 2OOO, in School of Haiti. terised by the words emparhy and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, age 48- compassion. Despite his frail physical con- From 1979 to 1997, she stitution, he never stinted his efforts; Dear Joe, now that you have worked in Geneva, on woment he was a perfectionist and loved accomplished your earthly mission, health issues in developing coun- a job well done. Apart from his we salute your memory and wish tries and on the global AIDS pro- technical books, he devoured works you profound peace. gramme. She was part of the §7HO 'W'oment on philosophy, history and mysti- team at the 1985 Health Our warmesr sympathy goes cism; indeed he chose his place of Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Since to his wife and their children. retirement in an environment pâr- 1997, she worked as consultant in Wilson ticularly favourable to his spiritual -Arnold Pennsylvania. and intimate aspirations. formerly TDR) tbe Yale Alumni Geneua -Excerptedfommagazine, Winter 2000)
Other deaths reported: Jean Halet 28.12.99;
Julia Bulfet 28.05.00; Mustapha Lafif 1 2.06.00;
Jacques H. Colineau 06.04.99; Francesco Oddo 1 6.05.00;
Henry W. Cotton 0 1.0 1.00; Ludwig M. Werthe im 26.07.99.
Iu rxe House
No MCH pon Srerr AT WHO Representarives of serving staff have had little is 1,750 CH monthly), or that it give space for the success in persuading the Administration to subsidise, installation of a pre-fabricated model for a crèche on either in cash or in kind, a crèche for children of \fHO grounds. working morhers, which, not incidentally, would also be of benefit to working dads. Citing finances and the perceived concerns of Member States for its refusal in a letter dated Howeveç the ILO and the European Broadcasting 6 June, the Administration claimed its position " is Union have agreed ro pur up 70,000 CHF each, consistent with current resource allocations, priorities and the U.N. and \nPO have pledged support that for... managemenr reform, and the anticipated stance is to be determined, even though mother and child of Member States on increased administrative cosrs health progremmes do not rank among the primary to benefit a small number of sraff" -- namely the responsibilities of the four organisations. mothers.
The disappointment of the Staff Committee is To which the Spotligh, retorted: reflected in a tartly-worded Spotligbr (No.23, 14 June than 360,000 CHF has been ,;,i.,. '"i::i 2000, oddly enough released only in English) that says: allocated for e ne\M automatic "Hours have been spent discussing projects to improve watering system -- this must (then) the qualiry of the work environmenr, ro encourage certainly be a \MHO prioriry." recruitment of women, but when ...reasonable propos- als are made, the response is negative." But all is not yet lost for staff, says QN't \ùflise Old Owl, Earlieç the Administration had rejected the pro- with hope, on reading of the posal that it contribute 70,000 CHE which would Administrations unequivocal have secured ten places ar a crèche established by the "intention to have an overall work- Scoubidou Association, and which would also have life policy that will make §IHO an meant lower paymenr for staff (the unsubsidised cost employer of choice."
page I Mone Moerle psorues
Over half the population in many countries now use mobile phones and the industry predicts that up to 1.6 billion more will do so 6y 2005. There is uncertainry however, about the health effects of radio-frequency fields (RF) which mobile phones and their base srations emit, according to a strHO release (§mlo/45, June 2000).
"AIl the information we have to date shows no adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones," emphasised Dr Michael Repacholi, manager of \ÿHOt Electro-Magnetic Fields project. "However, most stud- ies have examined the results of whole body exposure to RF fields at levels far higher than those normally associated with wire-less communicarions, as walkie- talkies and mobile phones." However, "few studies address the consequences of localised exposures to RF fields to the head."
Some types of cancer and changes in brain activ- iry have been ascribed to the use of mobile phones. But no studies on humans have yet supported these claims.
An epidemiology study is being coordinated in over 10 counrries by the International Agency for Among recommendadons IÙ7HO makes is that Research on Cancer to determine if there are links motorists be discouraged from using phones while berween use of mobile phones and head and neck driving. cancers, which is scheduled to be complete in 2003. Lerrens
(Unhss stated to the contrar! by correspondents, htters receiued are routinely-ta;t*) conçidaed and edited, for publication to encourage an exchange of uieus among colleagues.-
Tne FoncorrEN people If AISM wanrs to achieve more rhan simply protecting the af[luent, namely themselves, it has an (The following are excerpts from a letter forwarded opportuniry to place the administrerive, political and /o QN on a role for AFSM to play in the world technical experience of its members at the service of the today) worldt most underprivileged.
The world has just reached a human population An international association of former inrerna- of six billion, mosr of whom have ro live on $2 per day. tional civil servants working to help the forgotten Jonathan Swift, Irish satirist of the 17th...rt,rry, .r,rrà people of our planet could exert a positive influence. It a scandal with his "Modesr Proposal" that poor Irish just remains to find the right acronym. families could sell their nursing child for rich English families to serve up stewed, roasred, baked or boiled. Hamon 'W'e -Jacques are getting close to that point, the only difference (formerfi ADG and author of 'Perspectives énergétiques being that the rich counrries leave it to the poor ones ro pour le 21eme siècle et leurs implications sociétales" roast the poor while they cream off the profits. "'i,i#:;,0;:::1,
(See page l0for editorial response.) page 9 (Most colleagucs are eager to giue of their shills. EvenyoAY PRoBLEMS Unfortunately, there are uhers. If tbe uriter, feu I would like to see in the QÀ/analyses, srudies, uho is erninmtly urell-connected, utould help identify commentaries and advice concerning the problems of institutions that are 'hge-blind,' or tahe tlte had in everyday life of pensioners, for example: establisbing the "association" he ?roposes, it anuld be sure$r urehome. Tbat utould be tbe time to find the 'iight acronym. " -Editor) . Thxation: Retired international civil servants in the Département de I'Ain are now subject - not only to taxation on their incomes - but also to the Connibution 8N WeeSIrE, AFSM DueS poar le Remboursement de la Dette Sociale (CRDS), amounting to 0.5 per cent of total income. Their colleagues in Haute-Savoie do not have to pay it! (Re: QN39, ÿI/inter 2000) My copy of this issue arrived here in Brazil on This tax is illegal since it amounts to a social contribution. should be noted European 17 June 2000; the official envelope showed no date of It rhat the mailing. §7hile h"ppy to read the news, I wish I could Court of Justice took a decision, on 15 February 2000, have received it earlier. in favour of people living in frontier zones. In the light of inconsistencies Since the QN editorial team is able to edit it on the part of the transatlantically by e-mail, perhaps they could posr ir ro French fisc', it even raises doubts as to just how well- a website so that those of us with computer access could founded is the taxation of our incomes. Surely the read it on publication date? (The AFSM could also AFSM is capable of shedding some light on, or offering more probably save quite a bit on postâge that wÿ. I would details, about these problems? suggest an unindexed page on the website, with §fHO Incidentally, I have abeady contesred the validiry the URL only given out former and serving to stafi of this tax in a registered letter requiring acknowledge- just like the Directory. ment of receipt. AFSM Dues: §(rhy dont you have a US$ accounr . Marriage after separation: Under this sub- so that folla me, Swiss like who have closed their heading, the new rules allowing pensioners who mar- eccounts, can pay their dues easily? ried after separetion from §7HO to provide for their *IVHO surviving spouses were regarded as a most welcome Re: Tianslators, Rest Easy': I thought John Bland's test of Internet translation funny but unfair; addition to the Pension Fundt social provisions. who would expect to get a machine good iranslation of \Vhen one looks at it more closely, this is far all that very English slang! from being a hand-out, since the arrangemenr is only I retired from the N.Y. State Health Dept in the equivalent of making out a private life insurance February 2000, so have now retired rwice, but I am policy for a spouse. still active as Director of the Nucleus for Investigating In my own case, such an option would reduce Emerging Infectious Diseases here at the Federal my monthly pension by a quarter in order to obtain Universiry of Rio de chair Policy Janeiro; of the a transferred pension worth only 50 per cenr of the Committee PToMED-mail; of and co-chair of the reduced total of the pension! Scientific Commimee of MEDNET 2000, th. 5th International Congress of the Inrerner in Medicine, Furthermore, it is regrettable that the pension which meets in Brussels this year. fund has not seen fit to favour widowed civil servants as opposed to divorced ones. Best wishes to all who still remember me. Marcel Clémence (formerfi IYHO, Geneua) -JackVoodall(fonnerlY HST) 100, Bois Chatton, France Bt. Bernardo Coutinho 9557, Araras, Petropolis - RJ, 25725-022 Brazil (Tbe issue of tat i"g U,N. pensions u)t s coaered P h one/fax 5 5 2 4 -22 5 - I 3 95 in QN 19, 20, 2l and in 23, uthere a supphînent utas (No. e-mai l:
HOMMAGE To oUR FaI.uEI.I CoI.UEAGUES Humanitarian workers are in a stare of shock.
,ii Hundreds of them made their wây one September .1.:§$.,,,, T I: :' [.} X day to the Palais des Nations to attend a solemn ceremony in homage to the three employees of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees murdered in'W'est ïmor: Samson Aregahegn (aged 44, from Ethiopia), Carlos Caceres (aged 33, the United States) and Pero Simundza (aged29, Croatia), as shown at right in the memorial poster.
The three were murdered at Atambua by mem- bers of the pro-Indonesian militias.
Opening the ceremony, Naveed Hussain, Chairman of the UNHCR Staff Committee, ser rhe tone. "'§ÿ'e are simply furious," he declared. "The tragic deaths of Samson, Carlos and Pero have underscored the extremely dangerous conditions under which we work. How much longer must \Me pur up with being left like that, completely unprorecred ?"
For her part, the High Commissioner Sadako Ogata declared before the family members of the three employees: "These murders are not just traffic accidents," and she added thar "in the course of the last 13 years, 15 other employees of the UNHCR have lost their lives while on mission."
Carolyn McAskie, representing the U.N. Secretary to the security of humanitarian employees. It recalls General, said: "§7e ere very well aware thar eâch that over 200 civilian staffmembers of the U.N. system humanitarian worker is required to risk his or her life in have been killed and 228 taken hostage or kidnapped order to save the lives of others. But this time, we wanr in the past eight years. to tell the Member States: This is roo much !" - An&é Allemand A petition is at present circulating among the staff (Excerpted from the Tribune de Genève, of the different agencies of the U.N. system calling on 13 September 2000) the Securiry Council to hold a special session dedicated FRRNcE GIVEs BEsT HEITTn Cnne France tops the list for providing the best overall product on health vs. only 5.8 per cenr in the United health care. Following closely are Italy, Spain, Austria Kingdom. and Japan. The United Kingdom is at No. 18, Even though the United States outspenr everyone, and the United States is at 37th place; tiny San at 13.7 per cent of failed to win the top rating Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore were rated GDP it because many Americans better performers than some larger nations. do not heve health insurance coverage. In addition the U.S. rating was dragged Most of the countries at the bottom of the ladder down by its low level of healthy life expectency, another '§7HO are in sub-Saharan Africa, according to which, of several factors evaluated. for the first time, has ranked the health systems of its 191 member countries. Healthy life expectancy is 70 in the United States, which is 4.5 years lower than countries like France spent 9.8 per cenr of its gross domestic France, Austria and Japan. In responsiyeness, which page 11 includes treâting patients with digniry and giving them prompt attention and a choice of doctors, the A xrss. A Cuoole U.S. health system câme out on top, followed by A kiss or a pat on the back has always made people feel good. But scientists have now proved The Êrst 40 rankings that skin-to-skin contact can help lower blood pres- 1 France 15 Island 29 Marocco sure, reduce stress and stimulate the bodyt immune 2 ltaly 16 Luxembourg 30 Canada system. Sensual activiry releases the hormone oxytocin, 3 San Marino 17 Netherlands 31 Finland says physiologist Dr Kerstin Uvena-Moberg, of the 4 Andorra r8 u.K. 32 Australia Karolinska Institute in Stockholm - Swedent top 5 Malta t9 Irland 33 Chile research hospital. 6 Singapore 20 Switzerland 34 Denmark 7 Spain 21 Belgium 35Domin. Rep. "Oxytocin is released when we give or receive a 8 Oman 22 Colombia 36 Costa Rica loving touch,' she said. 'It is not just sex. Any kind 9 Austria 23 Sweden 37 U.S.A. of loving stimuli, like being surrounded by nice people, triggers the hormone's release." 10 Japan 24 Cyprus 38 Slovenia 11 Norway 25 39 Cuba Germany To make the most of the hormonet healthy 12 Portugal 26 Saudi Arabia 40 Bruneï benefits people should surround themselves with friends 13 Monaco 27 U.A.E, who enjoy sensory stimuli. 14 Greece 28 Israël (Excerpted fom Daily Mail,6 July 2000) (ExcerptedfomThe Guardian, 21 juin 2000. A TITvTE TO LIvE Switzerland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Germany, Japan, rWhen I was youngeç I made it a point to always Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden. find the opportunity to speak to those more senior France was rated at the top of healthy life than myself. expectancy "They and high in other key categories. My surprise was to find that most people lament- are getting impressive healthy life expectancy scores ar ed about what they had not done, instead of (rejoicing a relatively low expenditure," explained Dr Christopher in what) they had done. I achieved some wisdom Murray, head of the \7HO health poliry progrâmme, from this. who oversaw the report. Olson For this reason, I staunchly believe in that old -Elizabeü (Excerpted fom tlte International Herald Tiibune, Chinese proverb, "Study as if you were to live forever, live as if you were to die tomorrow." 2l 2000) Jane Navarro -Beltran(Babimore, Md.) IN PnaIsE oF (Excerptedfon AARP Bulletin, Sept. 1999) FenNeY-VoLTAIRE
In the spirit of sharing information with other food lovers, I d like to recommend a market my wife and I discovered when we were living in Geneva. Achnoatbdgements: Tlte Executiue Group thanks those who haue madz possible this issue, especially Peto In my opinion, the market at Ferney-Voltaire in Ozorio (Editor); Yre, Beigbedrx Rosem)r1, Aill and neighbouring France is the equal of any Iïe ever visited Kilber (Editorial Board); Rajindar Pal (Chair- in the provinces. The cheeses, game and charcuterie are Jery man); Fèure, especially good, and the polyglot popularion of Geneva Dauid Cohen, S.K.D. Djazzar Michel (French and the surrounding erea ensures a good variery of Jean Leclercq, Akin Wssereau nansktions); (English); ethnic food as well. John Bhnd ako Marianne King (Editorial Kuehl, Assistant). Layout by Humphrey Maxhey Glasgou. -Craig Consul Gen. Durban, South Africa The opinions of the are those of the (Excerpted fom International Herald Tiibune, QN not necessarily 2 March 2000) authors, ofAFSM.
page 12