• Which segment did you find most interesting and why?

I found the segment titled "And what does the end of life look like?" the most interesting as it showed the stark contrast between different cultures around the world. The brutal reality of how some cultures treat their elderly highlighted the differences in the many cultures of the world. In our society and culture, we do everything possible to try and keep our elderly healthy and alive, whereas in other cultures elderly are seen as a hindrance and they are murdered or set out to die. It was shocking to see the grave difference between cultures and how they treat their elderly. 

• Which event(s) led to the passing of an Elderly Rights Law (Article 207 of the Civil Code) in France? What do you you take away from this?

The passing of an Elderly Rights Law (Article 207 of the Civil Code) in France was due to two specific events; "a study that showed a high rate of elderly suicides in France, and to a heat wave in which 15,000 mostly elderly people died". This shows that the culture in France is to care for the elderly and what they can to keep them alive and healthy, as when many of their elderly were suicidal or even dying of natural causes, they passed a law that required adults to stay connected to their elderly parents.

• What are highly specialized skills and knowledge that come from old age? Give examples from at least 3 different cultures.

"...Hawaiian grandmothers are revered for their unique knowledge and skill at creating ornate leis and feather accessories."

"Similarly, since an elderly woman in New Guinea was the only person alive who witnessed a devastating typhoon, her people looked to her for guidance on which plants are safe to eat if another disaster were to strike."

"The Huaorani people of Ecuador believe that elderly shamans, called mengatoi, are endowed with magical powers..."