Vol. XVII #2

October 2005

NSKK NEWSLETTER
日本聖公会管区事務所だより
NIPPON SEI KO KAI Provincial Office

Editor : E. Hajime Suzuki

65 Yarai-cho, Shinjuku-ku,

Tel. +81-3-5228-3171

Tokyo 162-0805 JAPANFax +81-3-5228-3175

Impression of the Review Meeting of NPT
Revd Laurence Yutaka Minabe
General Secretary
Requested by the Japanese Committee of WCRP to go to New York I attended theconference of Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons in May as arepresentative of the Committee of Demilitarization and Reconciliation of the WCRP.
The Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons is a treaty which was signed in1968 and came into effect in 1970. In this treaty it is only the US, UK, Russia (then Soviet
Union), and China that were permitted to possess nuclear weapons on condition of aneffort to a reduction in armaments, while it was not permitted to other countries except theright to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It is this Review Meeting that reexamines thetreaty every five years. Though some appreciate it, saying that it had some significancein a crisis in the Cold War era, it is a controversial treaty, because it is one sided likesaying, We can possess nuclear weapons, but you cannot. after all. The controversial
countries in this issue such as India, Pakistan, and Israel do not participate in it, and North
Korea declares its withdrawal from it. It was a strange meeting as it opened in spite of thefact that each country had divided opinions and that they could not decide what to discuss.
We participated in it as one of the observers of NGO’s. About 190 bodies have beenregistered as NGO’s, and 40000 people attended at the antinuclear assembly held at theCentral Park on the 1st of May. It is said that a thousand people of A-bomb survivors’
groups and peace movement groups gathered in New York from Japan. The members of
MJM (Metropolitan Japanese Mission), whose core is Japanese Anglicans living in New
York, were actively involved in the work as volunteer interpreters for the Japaneseparticipants.
During the session, the united assembly for peace of various religions was held, and there
were the witnesses of hibakushas (those who have been affected by atomic bomb) from
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These were the occasions when all the participants could not
help sharing their strong notion that they had to hand down the dreadful stories of a

nuclear weapon , which they had experienced themselves, from generation to generation,
as the survivors from the atomic bombs in Japan, including those who felt that only they
themselves had survived. Moreover, it seemed to me that it was not the diplomats
representing the interests of each country, but the ‘citizens’ that listened seriously to thevoices of the hibakushas.
The General Assembly Hall of the UN was quite an empty space, feverish atmosphere
was felt at the seats for the public observers rather than at the seats of the permanent
missions from each country (where the printed texts of every speech had been
distributed). The mayors from Japan, including the ones of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
attended the Mayors’ Conference for Peace. The mayors’ meeting was filled with feverish
atmosphere. It might be an exaggeration, but, in my view, a state regards the interest of
the powerful party as the interest of the nation, while mayors regard the lives and small
peace of their citizens as their familiar issue. This difference seemed to be reflected on the
degrees of enthusiasm in the meetings.
In fact I realized that it was not the power of a politician or bargaining of a state but thepower of citizens or each one of us that enabled us to care for each other not for our own
interest, to wish for peace, and to achieve and maintain the peace.
On the 15th of August, this year, we Japanese observe the 60th anniversary of the end of
the Second World War. The duration of 60 years is one period for human life cycle. It is
nothing other than ‘the time’ to look back on the development after the war and to begin
the new one.
This summer, through the Day of Consoling the Spirits of the war death at Okinawa (23rdof June), the service of the 60th anniversary of the A-bomb at Hiroshima (6th of August),
the service of the 60th anniversary of the A-bomb at Nagasaki (9th of August), and the
day of the 60th anniversary of the end of war (15th of August), NSKK held several events
to look back on the 60 years after the war and to confirm our vow for peace.
Recollecting the facts of those who were chased by the flames of war, carrying theirchildren in the fierce heat and fell down with exhaustion, seeking for water, andrecognizing that the same thing is still being repeated in many places in the world evennow, we should proceed in our effort for peace. With deep feeling I pray for the peace of
the Lord.
<additional note>
Afterwards, the media reports that in the review meeting of NPT held at the UN, all of thethree committees, the 1st committee discussing the reduction in armaments, the 2ndcommittee discussing the nonproliferation, and the 3rd committee discussing peacefuluses of nuclear energy, could not reach the complete agreement and that they had to giveup making the document of agreement, and that the subsequent reappraisal meeting has
broken down . It can be said that difference of position between the countries possessing
nuclear powers and the ones that do not possess is large, and that it became clear that the
NPT system could not fulfill its responsibility as required.
(the Editor)

Kiwoko Hospital in Uganda and Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK)NSKK has been supporting Kiwoko Hospital in Ruero, Uganda since 2004 for the
purpose of treatment of HIV/AIDS and contributing to the crusade against HIV/AIDS. A
Japanese doctor, Dr. Eiko Kitagawa, who operates and works as a medical doctor at the
Hospital, has reported the recent situation of the Hospital, which is introduced as below.
Visiting medical practice for HIV-positive children has been continuously done and wellprogressed by the financial support from NSKK.
1. Free distribution of ARVs (anti-retrovirus drug) has now been available.
Use of ARVs makes it possible to prevent from progressing HIV infection and todelay the manifestation of AIDS. Eventually, HIV-positive patients are able tomaintain their health for a considerable length of time. For a long time, however,these patients were unable to obtain the drug because the drug must be taken daily forlife, and furthermore, it is extremely expensive.
Reportedly there are 4 million HIV-infected patients worldwide, of whom 2.5 million
patients are in Sub-Sahara area. In order to help these patients, there is a worldwide
aid-project through which free-ARVs or inexpensive ARVs made in India have now
been distributed to the patients.
Since April 2004, some of the HIV-positive patients who live in Kampala, Capital of
Uganda, have been given ARVs through the good-will contribution from othercountries. However, no ARVs were delivered to patients in such a small village like
Kiwoko. In 2005, the Government has decided to deliver free-ARVs to Kiwoko
Hospital for the use of 40 adult patients and 15 pediatric patients Daily dosage of
ARVsf for children is determined by bodyweight of the children. ARVsf is normallyadministered in a form of syrup, which is extremely difficult to obtain, and we are just
waiting for the arrival of the syrup from the Government.
ARVs for adult patients have already been available, and medical practice for adultHIV-positive patients has started since February this year. After giving medical
practices several times, ARVs are given to the patients.
Time of starting ARVs administration is decided when the number of certain
lymphocytes(so called CD4) has apparently decreased to a certain degree, which is
caused by HIV infection. However, CD4 test costs about ¥2000 in Japanese Yen,
which is quite expensive. Because of this, it is not possible to conduct free CD4 test
within the Hospital budget. Therefore, the cost of CD4 test for children is covered by
the fund of Visiting Medical Practice to HIV-positive children,
2. How to find HIV-positive adults/children
There is an inter-religious organization, called Inter Religious Council of Uganda or
IRCU, which consists of protestant, catholic, Greek orthodox as well as Muslims.
Due to the fund for Visiting Medical Practice to HIV-positive children raised by
IRCU, it is now possible for HIV-positive children, who are newly found in places
where no medical budge is available, to give free medical practices at medical clinic,transportation expense to Kiwoko Hospital as well as to distribute food to poorfamilies. However, the Visiting Medical Practice to HIV-positive children Fund wasused only to find new HIV-positive patients among the inhabitants who live out of theregion, and no more services can be provided with the budget. Accordingly, otherservices are provided by part of the fund raised by NSKK.
3. Current situation of HIV-positive children
It has been possible to a certain degree to prolong the life of these children by giving
free visiting medical practice, food supply and free medical treatment at the clinic andin the Hospital. However, there have still been some children for whom ARVs
cannot be used, thus their life expectancy is not optimistic. Most of the HIV-positive
children lost their parents, and they are brought up by their grand-parents or relatives.
However, some of them are not necessarily well taken care of. These children canhardly go to school or some of them stay home all day long, or in some cases they areforced to help their guardians with the domestic chores including driving cows.
In order to improve the quality of life of the HIV-positive children whose
life-expectancy is not long, we have decided to offer school fee to 12 HIV-positive
children who are subjected to visiting medical practice. This has been achieved by thefund raised by NSKK, as mentioned above. Annual fee per child for this scheme is
US$90, which covers school fee, text books, school uniform and shoes etc.
There is a boy named Kato, who is one of our visiting patients. His parents died of
AIDS, and he is now living with his grand-mother and his twin-brother Wasuwa.(InUganda, when twins are born, the first boy is named Wasuwa and the second one
Kato; whereas the first girl is named Babirye and the second one Nakato). Kato is now
10 years old, but HIV-infection has retarded his growth, looking like only 7-year oldor so. His brother Wasuwa is HIV-negative, and is a tall and vigorous boy.
Kato has received our visiting medical practice since 2002. Because of early
treatment and well-nutritive food, he has been relatively progressing favorably. In
January this year, however, he got pneumonia and was given treatment in the Hospital.
He has recovered and was discharged from the Hospital. When we visited him in
February, he was found to have recurrence of pneumonia. His elderly grand-mother
did not give him medicine regularly or pay no attention to the sanitary condition.
Furthermore, Kato’s immune state has dropped considerably; these factors caused torecur pneumonia. Kato is now in the hospital to receive medical treatment on
pneumonia, lung tuberculosis and meningitis. His condition is well improving, but thelung murmur has still been heard. When he would be able to receive ARVs, his
immune state will be improved and he will get well alright.
One of the male doctors who works at pediatric department is greatly concerned about
Kato, saying I feel that Kato is my own brother . I was so impressed by his words.
Some medical doctors in developing countries often have special awareness that they
are belonging to the privileged class, and used to be less sympathetic towards thepatients. However, as visiting medical practice has started and the doctor has
regularly visited Kato, his mind has changed to become affectionate towards Kato.
We are hoping that if such occasions as directly contacting patients are increased, it
will be possible to give warm and heartfelt care and services towards patients by
doctors from their own country, so that there will be no need to dispatch medical
doctors from developed countries such as Japan.

What I learned from the International Anglican Women’s Network.
Sayoko Ohoka (An officer of Women’s Association of Anglican Church
in Japan and a committee member of the gender project in NSKK)
Revd Shigeko Yamano (Tokyo Diocese) and Ms. Sayoko Ohoka (a layperson from Kyoto
Diocese) participated in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). They
also joined the International Anglican Women’s Network (IAWN) which was held during
the same period from Feb. 23 to Mar. 10 at the United Nations in New York. They
responded to an invitation from the UN Anglican Office. Ms. Sayoko Ohoka wrote her
impressions concerning the progress of the conferences in addition to several matters thatwere discussed at the conferences.
The Theme Beijing + 10 was sponsored by the UN Commission on the Status of
Women and had over 1800 official delegates from 165 countries and approximate 3000
participants from world wide Non Government organizations. We participated as NGO
members sent from the Anglican Consultative Council.
The status of women in the UN has been greatly promoted through the past 4 conferencesof the World Conference on Women. Especially, the Beijing Congress in 1995 was doneon an epoch making scale. The Beijing Action Platform adopted in Beijing specified
clearly 12 categories for improvement such as poverty, education, health, violence, armed
conflict, economy, power and decision making, the structure in the social system, humanrights, mass media, environment, young girls and children.
All these have been held up as the goals to improve the status of women in each country.
In 2000 the UN General Meeting of the Millenium made a decision which was focused onMillenium Development Goal , applied from the Beijing Action Platform. The goal wasfor the urgent problems to be solved in the 21st century in the developing countries.
These are as follows:
1. The eradication of extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Universalization of primary education.
3. Stepping up of gender equality and empowerment to women.
4. Reduction of the death rate of children.
5. The improvement of women’s health.
6. Fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
7. Sustainable durability of environment.
8. Establishment of global partnership for development.
In this conference, each government delegate gave a presentation concerning theconsequences of dealing with these urgent tasks. It also showed how they evaluatedthemselves in reference to the contents shown in the Beijing Action Platform. We
observed these conferences while participating in side events held outside of theassembly hall sponsored by NGO from different countries. We participated in many
subjects concerning women and shared our thoughts in common.
In parallel with CSW, Conference of the International Anglican Women’s Network was
held. 41 women representative from 27 Anglican Provinces participated. They discussed
about 12 themes of the Beijing Action Platform within groups divided into themes orregions. As the result of these discussions, we summarized the urgent problems which
now women confront: poverty , education , violence and the lack of policy forgood quality and moderately-priced health care . To overcome these problems, we
confirmed the solidarity of all Anglican women spread over the world.
Finally we adopted the Closing Statement by ACC Representatives to the 49th CSW
2005 (Mar. 8, 2005). The statement contains that at least 30% of membership should be
women in every Anglican organization where decision-making is done.
Through these conferences, I have obtained a lot of documents concerning the status of
women in CSW or Anglican Women’s programs. I think these documents about the statusof women might not yet be a concern in NSKK (Nippon Sei Ko Kai). I, myself, realizedthat only reading the documents was not enough in order to understand everything. It
made me more understanding and deepened mutual fellowship when I participated in theconferences. Therefore, I wouldn’t keep these precious experiences only for myself. I will
try to keep telling my experiences in order to bring people more understanding.
Overcoming all problems concerning women are not only for women, but also for all
people in order to live better. So we have to go through the procedure of our required
subjects. I do hope NSKK will have concrete programs for these themes and build up asystem which contribute to a better and more peaceful world.
**
The above is a summary of Ms. Sayoko Ohoka’s report, a participant in the International
Anglican Women’s Network (The 49th UNCSW in New York). In a rapidly changing
social situation today, with various values, the role of church women and how they can
support the church is being determined. There will be a diversity of wide-ranging
opinions regarding the activities of women in the church.
Many of members of NSKK will listen and learn from the valuable report of Ms. Ohoka’s
experiences during the conferences. It touched on global circumstances and movements.
ggested the role of women.
We will take a step forward in solidarity with all Anglican women and others,
continuously, now and hereafter. (the editor in chief)

CCEA Meeting in Tokyo
Shinya Samuel Yawata
Secretary, PIM, NSKKCCEA Bishops’ and Executive Committee Meeting was co-hosted by NSKK and the
Diocese of Tokyo, and it was held in Tokyo from October 12 through 18. Bishops, theirspouses and Executive Committee members of about 40 people from Province of South
East Asia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Myanmar, Korea, Australia, Japan, and diocese of
Taiwan enjoyed fellowship, talk by a guest speaker, excursion tour to Asian Rural
Institute and others, ladies’ program, etc. All bishops of NSKK joined the closing Holy
Eucharist and the farewell dinner. On Sunday, October 16, 13 local churches and one
chapel were visited by bishops and spouses and they enjoyed fellowship with eachparishioners. On Sunday Bishop David Lai went to visit diocese of Osaka to strengthen
their diocesan companionship.

Members of the English Version of NSKK Newsletter, Summer 2005 are: as follows:
Rev. Kazuya Takeuchi, Ms. Kazuko Takeda, Ms. Toshiko Yoshimura.
Editor-in-Chief: Hajime Suzuki