WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY

On 15 March 1962, President John F Kennedy gave an address to the US congress in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so, and the consumer movement now marks 15 March every year as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights

What do your basic consumer rights do for you?

1. The right to choose. Within reason, consumers have the right to be assured that a selection of quality products and services are available for them to purchase at competitive prices. It means that a consumer should have the opportunity to select the goods or services that he or she wants to purchase.
2. The right to safety. Consumers have the right to expect protection from hazardous products and services purchased in the marketplace, particularly if used properly for their intended purpose. Consumers have protection from the sale and distribution of dangerous goods and services.
3. The right to be informed. Consumers have the right to receive adequate information about products on which to base buying decisions. Reliable sources exist to inform consumers about products or services.
4. The right to be heard and the right to voice. Consumers have the right to equal and fair consideration in government policy-making situations, as well as prompt treatment in administrative courts or legal communities. In other words, consumers have a right to complain when there are problems or concerns. They have the right to speak up, to be heard, and to expect positive results. Through this right, both business and government are expected to respond to consumers.
5. The right to redress or remedy. Consumers are afforded an opportunity to have a hearing to voice dissatisfaction such that a resolution is reached and the complaint is settled satisfactorily.
6. The right to environmental health. Consumers should be protected from the devastating effects of air, earth, and water pollution that may result from the performance of daily marketplace operations. Consumers have the right to live and work in an environment that does not threaten the well-being of present and future generations.
7. The right to service. Consumers may expect convenience, the right to be treated with respect, an appropriate response to their needs and problems, and good quality design and workmanship in a product. Additionally, consumers may expect a courteous manner while in a store or other establishment even if a purchase is not made. Service means access to essential goods and services to include adequate food, shelter, clothing, health care, education and sanitation ­ basic needs that should be available to all consumers.
8. The right to consumer education. Consumers are extended the right to continuing consumer education that supports the benefits and enjoyment of other specific rights. Consumers have the right to some form of training and mastery of knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions in the marketplace.                          
   Excerpt  from  Consumer International .org

SAVE YOUR SIGHT

MY CLUB MY FAMILY

Lions Clubs International - March 2012, Newsletter
s International Newsletter
You know that keeping your Lions family strong depends a great deal on inviting new members to join. But it may be even more important for clubs to hold onto those members after they become Lions.

Retaining members, new and old, takes effort but it is not complicated or difficult. Mostly, it requires paying attention to three common-sense ideas:

• Welcome
• Involve
• Nurture

"Welcome" means making new members feel welcome and a part of the group. This begins with something as simple as saying "hello" and learning new members' names quickly. It also means listening respectfully to their ideas and needs

"Involve" means giving new members meaningful responsibilities from the very beginning. People become Lions because they want to take action. Members who feel that they are making a significant contribution are likely to stay.

"Nurture" includes leading by example but also means giving new members an effective orientation and involving them in the Lions Clubs International Mentoring Program. Support and encouragement from the Lions family is key during the development of new Lions members.

LIONS LET US PLAY OUR PART IN BUILDING THE FAMILY OF LIONS IN THE LIONS CLUB OF CASTRIES

Excerpt from International President -Wing-Kun Tam, March message

WORLD GLAUCOMA WEEK 2012

World Glaucoma Week - March 11 - 17, 2012
 'Don’t let glaucoma darken your life'

The Lions Club of Castries join with the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association, and the Saint Lucia Glaucoma Association in observation of World Glaucoma week from March 11 - 17, 2012.  The aim of week is to increase public awareness of Glaucoma as the leading cause of irreversible preventable visual disability or blindness, to encourage screenings, patient education and advocacy.

Some of the activities planned in observance of this week include:

1    Saturday 10, March 2012 -  Fun Walk in Soufriere 7:30 a.m.

2    Sunday 11, March, 2012   -   A church service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church at 7:30 a.m.

3    Friday 16, March 2012     -  Fund raising Bar-b-que on the SLBWA grounds - 5:30.m.

4     Radio and Television Talks throughout the week.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that cause progressive damage of the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye to carry visual information to the brain. 

If left untreated, most types of glaucoma progress (without warning nor obvious symptoms to the patient) towards gradually worsening visual damage and may lead to blindness. Once incurred, visual damage is mostly irreversible, and this has led to glaucoma being described as the "silent blinding disease" or the "sneak thief of sight".

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide. It is estimated that 4.5 million persons globally are blind due to glaucoma and that this number will rise to 11.2 million by 2020. It is noteworthy that due to the silent progression of the disease - at least in its early stages - up to 50% of affected persons in the developed countries are not even aware of having glaucoma. This number may rise to 90% in underdeveloped parts of the world.

There are several types of glaucoma. Some may occur as a complication of other visual disorders (the so-called "secondary" glaucomas) but the vast majority is "primary", i.e. they occur without a known cause. It was once believed that the cause of most or all glaucomas was high pressure within the eye (known as intraocular pressure - sometimes abbreviated as IOP). It is now established however, that even people without an abnormally high IOP may suffer from glaucoma. Intraocular pressure is considered therefore today as a "Risk Factor" for glaucoma, together with other factors such as racial ancestry, family history, high myopia and age.

Some forms of glaucoma may occur at birth ("congenital") or during infancy and childhood ("juvenile"); in most cases however, glaucoma appears after the 4^th decade of life, and its frequency increases with age. There is no clearly established difference in glaucoma incidence between men and women.

 There is no cure for glaucoma as yet, and vision loss is irreversible. However medication or surgery (traditional or laser) can halt or slow-down any further vision loss. Therefore early detection is essential to limiting visual impairment and preventing the progression towards severe visual handicap or blindness. Your eye-care professional can detect glaucoma in its early stages and advise you on the best course of action.

The  Board of Directors and Members of the Lions Club of Castries  congratulates the Saint Lucia  Glaucoma Association on the observance of this week.

Happy International Women's Day

International Women's Day 2012 - CONNECTING GIRLS, INSPIRING FUTURES

 International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women

 

Message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Occasion of International Women's Day

Gender equality and the empowerment of women are gaining ground worldwide. There are more women Heads of State or Government than ever, and the highest proportion of women serving as Government ministers. Women are exercising ever greater influence in business. More girls are going to school, and are growing up healthier and better equipped to realize their potential.

Despite this momentum, there is a long way to go before women and girls can be said to enjoy the fundamental rights, freedom and dignity that are their birthright and that will guarantee their well-being. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world's rural areas. Rural women and girls — to whom this year's International Women's Day is devoted — make up one quarter of the global population, yet routinely figure at the bottom of every economic, social and political indicator, from income and education to health to participation in decision-making.

A HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TO  ALL LIONS