WORLD Media workers hold seminar on ‘responsible journalism’ Efforts to improve the situation of Caribbean newsmen and women and advance the cause of responsible journalism received an added boost last month with the holding of a regional seminar in Castries, St. Lucia. Sponsored by the 105-af- filiated-St. Lucia Media Workers Association (SLMWA), the par- ley brought together representa- tives from several regional journalists organizations such as the Barbados Association of Journalists, the Union of Guyanese Journalists, the Pro- gressive Media Workers Associa- tion of Suriname and the Press Association of Jamaica. In an interview with the Tribune, BAJ Public Relations Officer and seminar participant Dawn Morgan said that the hold- ing of the get-together was moti- vated to promote the professional interests of media workers, to en- courage the strengthening of Caribbean unity and to preserve the cultural and_ political sovereignty of the region. She termed the seminar “‘signi- ficant’’ and an opportunity to meet and discuss problems with colleagues from other islands. Morgan, who was the Barbados representative at the important Women and Peace Conference ¥ Norman Faria held ..1 Halifax in June, observed that an excessive amount of foreign TV programming brought into the region by way of satellite dishes is a development which has to be tackled by journalists organizations. 2 Although not dismissing all foreign programming, she said that there is ‘‘a definite need”’ for the formulation of strategies to ensure that programs are relevant to the needs and cultures of the region. The Final Declaration adopted by the seminar, which has as its theme The Quest for Conscious- ness and the Challenge of Technology, cited four main reasons why such an umbrella group for the region’s newsmen and women is necessary: e The growing climate of hos- tility being experienced by pro- fessional practitioners in the media: e Systematic attempts to de- trenchment, redundancy and political considferations; e The deep concern over the concentrated cultural penetration of our region through satellite technology and the invasion of our airwaves; e The need to heighten the awareness of media personnel about their social functions. During the October 14-15 semi- nar, a number of papers were pre- sented on such topics as Geo- politics of Information and Accommodation of Ideological Pluralism and Satellite Relays in the Eastern Caribbean. Besides Morgan, other mem- bers of a Steering Committee set up to work towards the formation of the umbrella journalists organization included noted Guyanese _ journalist Moses Nagamootoo, St. Lucian News- man Earl Bousquet of the SLMWA and Cecil Shillingford of the Media Workers Association of Dominica. Peace, disarmament theme of Nov. 7 fete MOSCOW — If President Reagan comes to the Geneva Summit Nov. 19 with a con- structive, businesslike ap- proach, then the talks may prove to be fruitful. This was the message of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in his speech to a government recep- tion, Nov. 7, the 68th anniver- sary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. “In policy we support a constructive dialogue and a search for mutually beneficial agreements,’ said Gorbachev. “This also concerns relations with the U.S. As far as the Soviet Union is concerned, it has enough good will and it demonstrates this will by ac- tions. If a business-like, constructive approach, for which we are ready, prevails, then the forthcoming meeting in Geneva may prove to be fruitful. The people of the world are looking forward pre- cisely to that, to the elim- ination of the fear of war from life, that the principles of peace, justice and co-operation will prevail.” Gorbachev told his audience that 68 years after the revolu- tion, the potential of the world forces that stand for peace and social progress is much grea- ter. ““They are united on the main point —the readinessand ~ determination to uphold life on earth — life in conditions of peace and freedom.” Earlier in the day, the De- fence Minister, Marshal Sergei Sokolov, flanked by Gor- bachev and other Soviet lead- ers, addressed the massive parade through Red Square. Stressing the desire of the Soviet people to live in peace and concentrate all their ener- gies on further improving their socialist way of life, he drew attention to the complex inter- national situation: ‘‘The world’’, he stated, ‘‘is witness- ing an intensification of the forces trying to dismantle im- portant gains of the period of detente and ensure military: superiority over the socialist states.” J.P. One of the standards by which we judge any society is how well it treats its elderly people, according to its economic capabilities. On that score, the Soviet Union rates very high. Men in this country are eligible to go on pension at age 60 and women at age 55. In Canada it is at age 65 for both men and women. In the USA, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, 63 to 65, and in Norway 67. It must also be noted that working people in the Soviet Union pay no taxes towards their pensions, the state meets the entire cost. The retirement ages for men and women were established in 1928, long before Canada had a national pension as we know it today. At that time Soviet gerontologists regarded people who had reached the ages of 55 and 60 as old people. However, in the last half century living standards, health care, the consump- tion of wholesome food and the quality of life in general have increased immeasurably. Consequently, the aver- age life span has increased from 44 to 73 years. Now gerontologists use the following figures to classify older people: Those between 60 and 74 are elderly; those between 75 and 90 are old, and those over 90 are living prolonged lives. However, as a matter of social policy, the ages at which pensions can be claimed remain the same, which means that the vast majority of people going on pension in the Soviet Union are not old people. Retirement age is now looked upon more as a statutory right than as a medical, biological borderline signifying the arrival of old age. Most people here regard going on pension at the minimum retirement age as a matter of course. In Moscow there are 1,500,000 pensioners, of whom one-third continue to work on a voluntary basis, thus keeping themselves busy at full-time or part-time work while supplementing their pensions. The Moscow Soviet (municipal council) would like to see many more pen- sioners take up part-time work, because there is a short- age of labor in general and in the service trades in particu- lar. This is true in almost every part of the country. But whereas a bourgeois government faced with such a shortage of labor would raise the minimum ages at which workers could claim pensions, that is not the way they do it here. Notice boards, radio, newspaper and other means are used to advertise vacant positions suit- able for pensioners. Many enterprises, with the active participation of the trade unions, organize special work groups of pensioners who are employed for less than the whole work week. Many pensioners find this arrange- 8 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 20, 1985 -cimate the profession throught re- : OOCQDERAUSELEAUUEEUUAEL EAD EEUU AREEEAE AOU EAAA A SATEEA EAD EAA TEA EA AEA AEA ADAH OO OO EOBOODUEOOOOOOOUUGOUOQOOOQOUOOUEOUOGOUOODOOUUOOQUOOOUOOUCOUUGQUOOOOQOUOOUOI Seniors’ security guaranteed in USSR From Moscow Jack Phillips ment a convenient one, because they can utilize their skills and experience in a familiar work atmosphere. As for the enterprises concerned, it helps them to meet and surpass production quotas and provides them with steady workers who are good examples to the younger, less experienced. Old age pensions are based on length of service. To obtain the full pension, men require credits for 25 years of service and women 20. Credits include service in the armed forces, training at specialized secondary schools, colleges and universities, paid annual vacations, mater- nity leave and one year paid leave for women to look after their newborn babies. Where length of service is insufficient to claim a full pension, as in the case of women who remain houswives for a lengthy period, a reduced pension can be obtained. Guaranteed pensions for Soviet citizens place that coun- try high on the lists of states who treat seniors justly. After 42 years as head ofa rural hospital, Yevdokiya Gorunovich retired last year with full security. Factory and office workers who have remained with the same employer for 15 out of the required number of years to receive a pension, are entitled to a 10 per cent increment. Those who work in certain hazardous occu- pations or in a harsh climate (far north for example) get 4 bonus on top of the normal pension amounting to be- tween 10 and 40 per cent. In some cases, workers can gO on full pension five or 10 years earlier than the minimum retirement age. This applies to hazardous occupations and service in the far-north. In addition, if miners of metal workers, as well as factory and office workers in trades without exception who work in areas with a harsh climate go on working after retirement age, full wages are paid in addition to the pension. In most cases, taking the country as a whole, workers who continue full-time employment after going on pen” sion are allowed to have combined earnings up to a givel ceiling. But as this limit is well above the average wage for the country as a whole, many workers are happy t0 take advantage of the opportunity. The size of the retirement pension is based on the last year of earnings or the average of any five years in thé last decade of service. This makes it possible to fix thé amount to be paid as a given percentage of peak earnings. ‘/ In addition to work service pensions, there are merit _ pensions, awarded to individuals by governments at all - levels for services that merit special rewards. Outstand- _ ing workers in industry, collective farming, science, the — arts and culture are thus rewarded. Also, they receive © other benefits, like reduced rents and utility charges, free tickets for public transportation and free accommoda- — tion at the best holiday homes and resorts. Z The lowest, minimum pension for factory and office workers is approximately one-third of the average wage _ in the country. The maximum, with some exceptions | where it is higher, is about 72 per cent of the sam¢ average. Most factory and office workers can, if they choose, continue working after reaching pensionable age without drawing their pensions, thus increasing the sizé of their pensions when they finally retire. Old age pensions are granted by social security de- partments whose pension commissions always include trade union representatives. They make sure that the papers submitted provide a full picture of the wor record. All this must be seen against a background of fu employment, stabilized prices, low rents and free med care.