Saturday, September 30, 2006

India and China

I was really really encouraged by the picture of big wind turbines and the article titled "India and China catch the wind" on the September 27th issue of International Herald Tribune. According to the story, Suzlon Energy, a wind turbine manufacture of India, is now on the list of Top five in that field worldwide and expanding rapidly abroad. I have heard that Indian people and industries are suffering from high costs of electricity and blackouts. For example, I was once pretty surprised to see a soccer game of India and Japan, an official match certified with FIFA, was interrupted by the blackout for thirty or forty minutes a few years ago.

"Wind power may still have an image of as something like of a plaything of environmentalists more concerned with clean energy than saving money. But it is quickly emerging as a serious alternative not just in affluent areas of the world but in fast growing, energy-starved countries like India and China," said the reporter, I think it is a good tendency for those countries like BRICs, which refers to Brazil, Russia, India, China and are rapidly economically developing, to acknowledge the effectiveness of using free, clean resources.

I guess countries like U.S., Japan and European countries should make a contribution to help these drives, but I suppose enough political efforts have not yet been seen especially in Japan and the U.S. A few days ago, a new Abe administration in Japan launched. However, I was really disappointed with the lack of any signs to take care of global environment in his policy speech. I do not oppose he focuses on the national security and ponders how to shape our country, but it is common sense that security is closely connected with resources and environment. Without solving the environment problem, there is no future with our country, I think.

To tell the truth, a week ago, I contracted with Shell in Japan to set a solar panel at home. It is a very expensive equipment, but I hope it be a great step to stimulate an environment preserving movement furthermore.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Global Environment-(2)

If it is true, how should we deal with the situation?

First of all, we need to think about alternative energy created by solar, wind power and hydrogen more and more seriously. In Japan, the number of houses that install solar panels has been increasing. For example, Seicho-No-Ie, where I work for, a religious organization based on Japan and now has spreaded to about 30 countries, has powerfully been promoting a solar panel installment movement to our members and others. As a result, the amount of electricity generated by our corporations' and our members houses' panels exceeds 2,000 kilo wat per hour. Needless to say, it is certainly a small step, but can be a great step for humankind.

Some believe this global environment issue is kind of secular. In other words, they consider it a matter of techlnology. Consequently, they believe technological advancement is enough to solve the problem. However, I do not agree with the idea. Because even if energy efficient car is invented and on the market, it is a human mind to decide to buy or not. Some may buy a super utility vehicle that emits a lot of carbon dioxicide even if they know the car has a bad impact on the global climate. Therefore, I think, it is also important to enlighten general public to have a mindset to love and preserve the Mother Earth.

As for me, I am taking care of my life not to hurt global environment. For instance, I use my shopping bag instead of a vinil bag given at a store. More than that, I drive a energy-efficient car, and I installed a solar-heated water system, and I walk to a nearby station when I go to work. Because I believe each person's efforts to protect global environment is more important than any others.

As a minister of this religious organization, I wll try to enligten people to respect nature and change our daily behavior in my lecture and articles. Because I really want to leave this beautiful earth to our children's and grand children's generation.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Global Environment

Today's morning paper,"International Herald Tribune," reported that California is suing the world's six largest auto makers for environmental damage caused by emissions from their vehicles. The United States' government is notorious for NOT enthusiastic on preserving global environment, but I know many of U.S. municipalities have already started to tackle with this problem. I understand that California is leading this drive very well.

I suppose not only auto companies but also petroleum companies need to ponder future- oriented energy sauce seriously because there is a consensus that oil peak is just around the corner. There is an example. I have heard that Shell in Japan, a branch of International oil major, The Royal Dutch/Shell Group, launched a solar panel business for individuals and a salesman recently visited my home to brief on photovoltaic generation system. I am now positively thinking about the installment of the system.

Not to mention, global environment problems are one of the most critical issue that people in the world have to tackle with hands in hands. Emissions of green house gases have been increasing year by year. Experts expect if the world surface temperature would raise by two centigrade compared to the one before Industrial revolution, ice of Arctic Ocean will start to melt, and it will have a catastrophic impact not only on the climate but also the fate of humankind.

According to a simulation performed by a Tokyo based giant computer, Tadahiro Mitsuhashi, a Japanese top-notch environmentalist says that the world surface temperature is considered to reach a dangerous level unless much more measures than we now have taken will not be done.
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Monday, September 18, 2006

Baby Came-(5)

When I saw some nurses passing by the corridor, I wished one of them would come to say that operation finished safe and sound. But nobody did. Around two o'clock and thirty in the morning, the nurse who briefed me when the operation had started came and told me the operation had completed successfully. Then I asked about the baby, her answer was "Not bad." She said, "The baby is girl. There is no problem at this point, but various kinds of treatment and examination are necessary. She is now in an incubator with oxygen concentration 40%. If you hope, you can see your baby when we are prepared. Do you want to meet her today" "Of course!!" I answered.

In a short time, my wife came back to the room which I was in, I said, "Good Job, honey. I will read HOLY SUTRA, take a good rest." And then she fell asleep. She sometimes waked up, but soon her eyelid closed. I appreciated her at my heart and again read "Holy Sutra."

It was after four o'clock in the morning when I was allowed to meet my baby for the first time. The encounter really produced butterfly in my stomach. The room my daughter was in was strictly managed for immature babies that we had to wear special cloth and wash hands with disinfectant.

I felt really really sorry for my baby, because she was conneted to a lot of tubes and put to sleep by drug. Then, the doctor in charge explained in detail about her conditon and future treatment. I found myself mysteriously relieved because I did not sense tension with his tongue, though what he said upset me a little.

The doctor and nurses suggested me to touch the baby, I followed and stroked her slowly and gently with saying "Welcome! We are really waiting you to come. You must be haste because it is one month before a scheduled day but I think you really want to see your father and mother. How lovely you are! I believe we can live together soon..."

It is very fortunate for us that my wife left hospital a week after the surgery, and we found there was no problem with our daughter after various kinds of examinations. After the baby was released from the hospital, in case the baby had mental birth trauma, my wife took "Baby Massage" lessons by a correspondent course and put it into practice everyday.

She is now two years old and growing safe and sound with a lot of love from many people. She brought us a lot of visible and invisible treasures. My wife's health is extremely improved after her birth. I was granted a lot of responsible jobs at work. But more than anything else, through living with her, we have been taught that how wonderful it is to live.
(End)

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Baby Came-(4)

I sent my wife a message by e-mail that I would go home as soon as possible after work on 29th, in August 2004, but she didn't notice my message until I came back home because she fell asleep. It was just one month before our child's scheduled day. She looked pale and exhausted when I saw her face in the evening, I went walk the dog instead of her, and we ate supper. But I sensed that she seemed consistently to be dull and something strange.

She shouted "Oh My God," when she was in the bath room. In no time, she dashed out of the room and told me that "I saw a lot of blood discharged." We promptly rushed to our regular obstetrician by car. Soon after she entered a consulting room at the clinic, I was invited to come in. Vice hospital director made us known the really shocking fact that my wife's placenta was about to leave the baby.

As you know, placenta is a lifeline to a baby in the womb, it means the life of the baby and my wife can be exposed to be danger. Hospital director came before very long and announced that he was searching a nearby big hospital like University Hospital that had facilities to be able to perform a Cesarean section and take a treatment for immature babies. It was around 10 PM on Sunday, any hospital could not meet our wish. However, the director once more requested Jikei University Hospital, then it worked out.

While waiting, my wife's agony became severer and severer. Whenever she shouted out of pain, the doctors there encouraged her by saying like this, "That's O.K. Heart beat of your baby is vivid." Soon came an ambulance with siren, she was transferred to the University Hospital. I followed the ambulance and arrived at Jikei University Hospital in five-minute drive.

The doctor at Jikei Hospital who diagnosed my wife immediately asked me to sign the consent form, explaining that unless she took the operation as soon as possible, her and our baby's life would not be assured. I signed it. As I later knew that it was a symptom called premature separation of normally implanted placenta, which can be cause of stillbirth. It was lucky with me not knowing such a horrific fact. As all got prepared, the C-section operation started just 0 o'clock in the morning.

I was at a vacant room alone during the operation performed. A nurse's explanation was followed that it was such a serious operation that it could take at least 2 hours and half and at most 8 hours or more. I was at a loss to the extent that I never experienced and I cannot find any words to express how I felt then. And I had never imagined it was such a huge problem, I only wore T-shirt and shorts, the temperature made me feel too cool.

I read Seicho-No-Ie's Holy Sutra, full of inspired and creative words as a form of poet, again and again and again to relieve myself.
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Monday, September 11, 2006

Baby Came-(3)

In 2004, it was an extremely hot summer in Japan. Temperature exceeded well over 30 degrees Celsius and sometimes reached 35 degree Celsius and more. My wife was in good health, but a overhigh blood pressure was a ground for concern. Around two months before the expected day, there was a decision for me to make a business trip to Germany for a week. It was a great opportunity for me to go there as a lecturer, but my wife seemed to feel anxiety for my absence.

Germany was the perfect place at that time, because temperature and humidity was fairly lower than those of Japan, and scenery was extremely beautiful. But, at the same time, my duty was not simple. I had to deliver three lectures with interpretation, which was the first time for me, to distinguished audience at the 20th Seicho-No-Ie Spiritual Training Seminar in Europe. However, once the seminar started, my concern was completely and easily removed. The atmosphere was warm and great, and participants seemed to enjoy all events delivered. It ended up a great success that satisfied everyone involved.

Coming back to Japan after, I felt extremely fatigued that I had never experienced. I had been to Europe several times in the past, but business purpose trip was tremendously different from sightseeing trip in terms of responsibility. Incidentally, I was granted bonus during the trip. I was supposed to have a economy class seat, but I was upgraded to a business class seat by airline company's convenience with no extra chage. Not only that, I was seated next to an Olympic athlete of Japan! Unfortunately, I forgot to insert battery to my digital camera, I couldn't have any photo with him.

Two days after my return from Germany, the last and biggest accident waited us.
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P.S. You are able to see some photos that I took when I went to Germany at my Japanese site. Here is address:
http://make-peace.cocolog-nifty.com/
You will find a small photo at the center of right side. Click it, and about 20 photos will be emerged.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Imperial Baby!

First of all, I would like to express my sincere congratulation to Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko as well as Emperor, Empress, Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako on the birth of new baby! As one of Japanese national, I am really pleased to share this jubilant moment with everyone.

Some reporters including Chief correspondent at Tokyo branch of New York Times wrote articles that this occasion may hamper a controversial debate over amendment of Imperial Household Law, in which the article only male can ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne is included.

However I think it is a perfect opportunity for Japanese peoples to think about Imperial Household System as themselves taking a long time. Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi, the Vice President of Seicho-No-Ie, expressed his idea on his blog that he would like Emperor and Empress to show their image of future Imperial system, I totally agree with his idea. Because almost of all Japanese national love and respect our Imperial family and we all want Imperial House Law to change in accordance with Emperor's idea.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Baby Came-(2)

We probably arrived at home around two o'clock in the morning. We rushed to be in front of the family (Buddhist) altar, which is commonly seen at Japanese home, and started to read "Holy Sutra Nectarean of Holy Doctrines," a Seicho-No-Ie's sutra filled with words of Truth, to our ancestors and baby's soul. Reading this, various thought came to my mind and tear tumbled down my cheek. My wife also shed tears. "We wish we could share the joy of living together, or we wish we could sing with him/her..." We read three kinds of Sutra again and again, and again until dawn.

My wife and I went to bed early in the morning, but we found wake-up bell before long. We prayed Shinsokan, Meditation to visualize God, as usual, then, we left for the clinic we went only several hours ago.

According to my memory, my wife was prioritized to enter the consulting room. I was really nerved that I never experienced those feelings before. In a short time, I was called to see the doctor, who was clinic director and diagnosed my wife. He said, pointing out a scanned picture of the embryo, "Cardiac beat is confirmed. You can have a lot of expectations!" Listening to his words, we were so moved as if we had been in heaven. And we thought that our baby had strong life and sensed his/her desire to live with us together by intuition.

It is lucky for us to have quite time to prepare for carrying a baby in terms both of mentally and technically. My wife and I read about various books on prenatal education. Especially a few months before my wife's expectation, we found the best book for us. The author, an obstetrician of In Vitro Fertilization clinic, recommends us to have "Womb Talk." Usually, we consider parents teach a baby something, but he insists that we TALK TO the baby.

In accordance with his guidance, we willingly started to TALK TO the baby. My wife seemed especially to enjoy their conversations. Wherever she goes, she briefed what she saw and experienced. We led a cheerful and happy life as if we had already been living with him/her together.
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Sunday, September 03, 2006

Baby Came-(1)

I was waiting for my wife to come out from a bath room at home. Why, and what for? She was testing there with a test drug to see whether she was pregnant or not. Coming into the room I was in, she asked me how I thought was the result. When I saw her bright face, I immediately found it was successful. It was an occasion around the end of January in 2004.

At that time, it was seven years and half since we had tied the knot in 1997. After our wedding bell rang, despite we expected to have a child, we couldn't. It was the fantastic moment that we knew that my wife carried a baby.

A few days later, my wife and I promptly went to an obstetrical clinic near my house to see a doctor. The doctor formally confirmed the embryo in my wife's womb which was 5mm long. We felt a tremendous joy that we never, ever imagined and tasted before.

But there had been some unexpected stories before our daughter was born. One week after we went to the clinic, my wife appealed a severe pain in her abdomen. Around that time, she was doing her job as a dog groomer and engaged in a Seicho-No-Ie activity that promoted an upcoming event. While she took care of her baby, she also tried to lead a normal life.

We soon went to the clinic in the midnight and she entered a consulting room. After a short time, the doctor who diagnosed my wife invited me to the room and explained as showing a scanned picture that the womb wasn't in a good shape. And he added, "If the condition of the womb don't improve, very unfortunately, we may have to extract the embryo even tomorrow." This examination made us extremely shocked and at a loss.
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