I AM A SONIC BOOMER, NOT A SENIOR... In this blog, I am writing to and for those who believe that the Boomers will change what the word Senior means. I also believe that Boomers will change what retirement means in our society. The blog is also for those who are interested in what life after retirement may look like for them. In this blog, I highlight and write about issues that I believe to be important both for Seniors and working Boomers.
My daughter lives in Australia with her partner and our grandson, and today is her birthday in Canada and yesterday was her birthday in Australia. We hope she had a wonderful day and can celebrate her birthday on both days. We love you and miss you, and we are looking forward to seeing you again in January. Love Mom and Dad.
A global challenge for climate action in solidarity with the people who need it most
The climate emergency is wreaking havoc across the world at a scale that people on the front lines and in the humanitarian community cannot manage. Time is already running out for the world’s most vulnerable people — those who have contributed least to the global climate emergency yet are hit the hardest — and millions of others are already losing their homes, their livelihoods, and their lives.
With most climate campaigns focused on slowing climate change and securing the planet’s future, World Humanitarian Day 2021, will highlight the immediate consequences of the climate emergency for the world’s most vulnerable people and ensure that their voices are heard, and their needs top the agenda at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
Therefore, everyone is invited to join #TheHumanRace, which is the global challenge for climate action in solidarity with people who need it the most; and to put the needs of climate-vulnerable people front and centre at the UN climate summit (COP26).
Stand in solidarity with the world's most vulnerable people by using these hashtags in your social media activities #TheHumanRace #WorldHumanitarianDay
Run, ride, swim, walk or do any activity of your choice for a cumulative 100 minutes between August 16 and August 31 in solidarity with vulnerable people and to tell world leaders that they expect developed countries to deliver on their decade-old pledge of $100 billion annually for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. If you don’t wish to take part physically you can ADD YOUR VOICE.
Background
This day was designated in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).
Each year, WHD focuses on a theme, bringing together partners from across the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of people affected by crises, and for the safety and security of aid workers.
This year, we highlight the immediate human cost of the climate crisis by pressuring world leaders to take meaningful climate action for the world’s most vulnerable people
When I started writing this blog way back in 2010 I wondered if I could find enough topics to write about every day. This is my 4500th post. I started writing to keep a connection with my grandson who had just been born. My idea was that I would start writing about events in my life that were of interest to me and through which he would learn about who I am or was. He is now 11 years old and going on 12 and is a smart, articulate and athlete young man. I am very proud of him as he should be of himself. He is approaching puberty and the hormones that kick in can wreak havoc with your mind and your body. We all went through it and we all survived. So, over the next few years, he should know he is loved and will continue to be loved.
Every day there are new adventures to be started, new journeys to plan for, and new places to explore. The world is a fun, and exciting place, where there is joy and wonder everywhere. Now, I know that there is sadness and pain as well. Life is full of both, but it is our approach and our attitude toward the events that happen to us that determine how we survive.
I enjoy writing and will continue to write every day and am looking forward to writing my 5.000 post on January 11 2024 or thereabouts. By then my grandson will be 14 and starting on a new adventure having shared a few more with his grandmother and I.
Thank you to all of those who read this blog and give me comments that help me understand the world a bit better.
I don’t know if you had this program growing up, but I did. In elementary school, we had a program where we could open up a bank account and deposit a weekly amount. I think it started when I was in grade 5 and lasted through grade 6. I did not continue it when I went off to grade 7 but some did. It was a program designed to get us to think about saving for the future and it worked for many. If I had the opportunity again, I would save more at a younger rate.
If you have young men and women in your life, and want to give them some advice. My suggestion is start saving as young as you can, and use some sort of automatic deduction plan. You can set up a savings plan or a retirement savings plan and have an amount automatically withdrawn every month, so you don’t have to think about savings. Men have an advantage for saving for retirement because we earn more and work longer. If we lived in a world where women had pay equity, and they didn’t have to take time out of work for family, the challenges for women wouldn’t be quite so daunting. Since this is not yet a reality, here are some more ideas on how women can save more, given the unfairness of the system.
Women need to develop and build their own financial
independence. Today’s life stages are far more complicated now than it was when
I was young. The odds are that you will not be in the same relationship you
started in your 20’s or 30’s when you reach your 60’s. If you get to retirement
in the same relationship, you started years ago that’s a rare occurrence. Irrespective
of your relationships in the future, it’s so important to have your own
personal long-term financial objectives. Start to think about having a personal
financial strategy that weathers the odd relationship break up as you plan for
your retirement.
Get advice to help you invest. Women don’t have as much
money to invest but there is good advice out there. The access of affordable
professional advice, specifically tailored to meet women’s needs and
circumstances is not widely available but there are resources. Digital advice
and tools can help, but they are not the answer for everyone. The value of
advice is very hard to measure and, in most cases, only time will tell how good
it was. Those who have received advice are most likely better off than those
who don’t. Each person who reaches retirement in good shape means they won’t
need extra government support and there would be more money to help those who
can’t. How cool would that be?
