Know Your Programs And Who Is Behind Them

In a March 18 Union Leader article entitled "NH Senior Notes: AARP session on ‘Livable Communities’" the report failed to mention that this program is not just AARP's alone, but originates from the United Nations (UN), in conjunction with The World Health Organization (WHO). These three NGOs are jointly soliciting towns everywhere to sign up for their Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

While we understand the growing need for towns and cities to be ‘senior’ friendly, we don’t understand why the UN or the WHO should be arbiters of what goes on in our LOCAL government. Neither of the aforementioned groups are 'government' agencies but instead are special interest groups with a clear agenda. Worse yet, why would the UL report fail to reveal the source of this effort? It takes on a whole new meaning once one is made aware of the special interest groups who are seeking to have influence in our local government.

So far, while many towns in Massachusetts and Maine have joined, no NH towns have signed on. In total, “226 communities (and counting), from Texas to Michigan, from Honolulu to Washington, D.C.” have signed on, their website boasts.

There is even a process to assess the progress toward the goals of the program participants in the UN's 'global network':

“Participation in the network involves following a multi-step process of improvement. A link to the community’s age-friendly action plan has been added to this list if the town or city has reached Step 2 of the improvement process.”

It’s hard to keep up with these folks… they are relentlessly working through many ostensibly benign-sounding organizations to spread international influence over US towns and cities, with the goal of getting those local governments to accept the UN’s agenda, while at first glance appearing to be helpful advocates for our well being.

Sources:

AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities

WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities