"The Global Embrace" is the World Health Organization's world-wide walk event. It consists of a chain of walk events during a 24-hour period on 1 October that follow the rising sun, time zone by time zone. This is the second time the Global Embrace is being held. It was successfully launched to celebrate Active Ageing during the International Year of Older Persons in 1999.

The year 2000 event will take place in over 1000 cities in 70 countries. Each celebration will be organized locally with partnerships especially created for the Global Embrace. Older people and their families will lead the walks. A special feature of this upcoming event will be a 24-hour interactive web site where everyone can send messages and descriptions of their activities (http://www.who.int/ageing/global_movement).

Here are some examples of Sunday's events:

¨ The walks will start in the Pacific in Fiji, followed by New Zealand, where "Age Concern" is organizing events nation-wide. All walk events include displays, debates, music, dancing, entertainment and food in a variety of settings. Fifteen major events will take place. (Further information: Age Concern New Zealand, Tel: +64 4 4712709)

¨ In Nepal, an intergenerational walk event is being organized by the National Federation of Medical Students. The Nepalese Prime Minister (age 78 ) is expected to join in.

¨ Yokohama, Japan, will host the 14^th National Conference on Ageing with the Global Embrace walk as part of the programme. An estimated ten thousand people will participate. (Further information: Japan NGO network of Ageing, e-mail: tm_m@health-co-op.dion.ne.jp)

¨ Walk in London, England will be co-ordinated by the NGO "Help the Aged" who will lead participants through four London parks: St. James', Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. (Further information: Help the Aged, tel: +44 20 7253 0253)

¨ Some of the largest celebrations will take place in Mexico, where over 500 walk events are scheduled to take place. In Chihuahua, the walk is organized by a multi-sectoral coalition of organizations. The State Governor will lead the walk that ends in the local baseball stadium where youngsters embrace older persons and ask to dance with them. (Further information: Ministry of Health, tel.+52 5 511 7001)