世界节假日博览 第142期:老年人日（在线收听）

 　　Senior Citizens Day is on August the 21st. It is a day to celebrate the world’s older people. Their number is increasing rapidly every year. In 1950 there were 200 million people over 60 years old. That number nearly tripled to 600 million in 2000. Experts say that by 2025, there will be over 1 billion old folk. The day was started by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. He said there should be a day for us to show our gratitude for what old people have achieved in their lives, and for their contributions to our communities and society. It is also a day on which we can focus on the rights of the aged all over the world. In today’s world where equality is so important, there are many issues surrounding ageism.There are many things we can do on Senior Citizens Day. Perhaps the first thing we should do is tell the older people in our lives how much we love them. We should thank them for all they have done for us. It is important to spend time with seniors, especially those who live alone, who may be lonely.Spending time with seniors shows them they are still appreciated. There are many things we can learn from them. They are full of wonderful stories of a different age. President Reagan said: “For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks…We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to grow older.”