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We can not stop rapid proceeding of the aging society. In the next 25 years out of four is sure to be over 65 years old. So, we have to take measures to meet the problems which follow.
Getting age is not a misery but a fulfilment in our life. How wonderful it is to accumulate a lot of experience which can not be realized until we get older. Learning from those seniors, we could succeed to social estate from generations to generations.
But Japan has ingratiated themselves with younger generation too much according to economic booming. I wonder if Japan has left behind something important.
Conventional way of living or thinking has been considered out of date, which has brought young generations to the big cities and old parents have been isolated in the rural area or at the corner of the cities.
We feel less consideration, less respectfulness, or less compassion each other these days, don't you?
In coming aging society, it is very important to fix up facilities in hard aspect but much more in soft aspect. However, well facilitated, we can't feel happy without feeling to help or support each other.
Therefore, how to nurture such feeling is very important from now because we don't have such feeling by nature but learn in the circumstances.
In this sense, volunteerism is very useful and important for our society and individuals as well. In America, for example, volunteerism is imposed on the students as the alternatives of punishment at some schools, and there are various social action programs established, through which some workers participate in activities with paid-leave. And in England there is Red Nose Day when almost all the schools take part in gathering donations and students visit neighbors with red cap on the nose. Of course there are some in Japan and we wish we could enlarge such activities.
Because we cannot survive by oneself.

Question 1: Do you feel happy or unhappy in aging ?

Opinions 1:

• Aging is NOT misery.

Question 2: Have you ever participated in volunteerism ?

Opinions 2:

• Yes, I took part in some activities. For example, I participated in Clearing Mountain Campaign.
• Yes, I participated in Fund for Children.
• I have never participated in such activities. However, I think such activity is really imprtant not only for our society but also for my own. So, I will begin to take part in some activities.

Question 3: How do you think affection iss fostered ?

Question 4: If you have any poinion related to this topic, pelase tell us it?

Opinions 4:

• Currently, the population of aged generation is increasing while that of younger generation is decriasing. Some time in the future, we will be unable to support aging society only by the govorment. To prevent this breakdown, voluntary activity must become more imprtant for our society.

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