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protect women and children's rights, develop young women's leadership,
build peace by non-violent and non-nuclear ways |
CONTACT US
contact us
address：Tokyo YWCA building Rm302, 1-8-11 Kandasurugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
101-0062 Japan
www.ywca.or.jp
email:
office-japan@ywca.or.jp
YWCA(Young Women's Christian Association) is a global network of women
leading social and economic change in 125 countries worldwide. It advocates
for peace, justice, health, human dignity, freedom and care of the environment,
and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women since it was
founded in 1855.
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The massive earthquake hit the northeast Japan
Contributions (March 18, 2011 updates)
A month report: Triple Disaster Relief Work (June 10, 2011)
A month report: Thank you for your solidarity (April 7th, 2011)
CALL for ACTION! STOP! the Nuclear Power Plant Operation
letter (March 16, 2011)
letter (March 12th, 2011)
letter（March 13, 2011）
How can I reduce my risk to radiation??
How can I reduce my risk to radiation??（Vietnamese）
March 18th, 2011 updates
CALL for ACTION !
Donation to Supply Women & Children’s Needs
- Northern Japan Earthquake and the Pacific Tsunami -
YWCA of Japan, with a collaboration of churches in Sendai, has started
providing aid to women and children who are in suffer since the earthquake
and tsunami attack on March 11, 2011.
With your generous donation, we are currently working on 2 steps relief
actions.
For short term urgent action, we supply and deliver diapers, powdered milk,
feeding bottles, baby food, sanitary goods, and other women and children
particular needs to those who are taking refuge and especially to those
who are out of public support. We are also making multilingual information
for non-Japanese speakers who are at the risk of isolation.
For the 2nd step, local YWCAs in safe area provide rooms for women/women
and children for short term stay.
As time passes, situation and needs for survivors change. YWCA of Japan
closely keeps eyes on and listens carefully the needs of women and children,
and when the 2 step actions get to the point to move forward we advance
to the next level of support.
* Because there is no garage or space to stock in-kind donations, we very
much appreciate your donation by fund.
Please contribute any possible amount to:
Bank Transfer
Account holder: YWCA of Japan
Bank: Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank (Swift code: BOTKJPJT)
Branch: Ichigaya branch (branch # 014)
Account#: 1282597
Bank Address: 4-8-20 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0074 Japan
YWCA of Japan Address: 4-8-8 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-0074 Japan
The first action period: March 14th to April 30th, 2011
It is a long journey for the devastated community to be recovered and be
a safe place for women, children, and those who are marginalized.
We put any updates on our website. www.ywca.or.jp
Thank you all for your love and support!
A month report: Thank you for your solidarity April 7th, 2011
We thank you for your generous support for the Tohoku Earthquake and the
Pacific Tsunami relief activities.
As of March 25th, we have received messages of solidarity from 37 YWCAs
around the world, sisters and brothers of YWCAs and YMCAs and churches,
friends from around the world who participated in our programme…and more!
We are so touched by all the messages, and knowing that friends all over
the world are with us empowers us to move forward.
As of April 1st, we have received fund contributions from YWCAs, YMCAs,
organizations and individuals, altogether 306, and an amount of 7,189,942
JPY. We thank you very much for your generous contributions and we continue
to implement our relief activities for the survivors, especially those
who fall out of public support, and those who need special care and attention.
As of April 4th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that
19 foreign nationals found lost their lives and there are probably more
among the great number of the missing population. We grieve for their precious
lives being lost, and pray for their spirit to rest peacefully in heaven.
For the first 2 weeks in this period, the YWCA of Japan delivered emergency
goods in cooperation with a Christian church network in Northeast Japan
(Miyagi prefecture, one of the heavily attacked areas). Since the road
and logistics were completely destroyed in the Northeast, we delivered
donated goods for women and children, such as diapers, powdered milk, feeding
bottles, baby food, sanitary goods, by relaying the packages from one organization/church
to another. As the telephone and internet lines in the affected area were
out of order or very limited, we sent and received information by relay
as well. Here is a brief report how we delivered the goods in the first
2 weeks of this period.
Goods from local YWCAs -> National YWCA of Japan -> United Church
of Christ in Japan Niigata church (Niigata prefecture was the farthest
place in the north which people could reach from Tokyo at that time) ->
the "Support Center for Victims and Survivors" of the United
Church of Christ in Japan Tohoku (Northeastern) Parish in Sendai (the center
was newly formed to respond to this disaster and “Sendai” is one of the
affected areas in Northern Japan) -> Local churches in Sendai ->
Survivors in Sendai area who fell out of public support, such as those
who were taking shelters in partially damaged homes, and in a local community
center.
Local YWCA members, church members, and other local volunteers helped deliver
the goods to the people in need.
In the third week after the massive attack, the first chaotic period seemed
to get a bit settled and our partner churches and centers formed a group
called “Tohoku HELP” (Tohoku means Northeast Japan) on March 28th. Tohoku
HELP is a network consisting of protestant and catholic churches in the
Sendai area that have individually undertaken emergency activities in the
first 2 weeks. It was impossible to have an organized support system and
to have a single communication center for contact during the first 2 weeks
though, now they work together as Tohoku HELP, and the support system is
working much better.
The YWCA of Japan also responded to the request from Kamaishi area in Iwate
prefecture (upper north coastal area heavily hit by tsunami) with packages
of food and sweets for survivors, particularly for children. The food and
chocolate were donations from YWCAs members and from Ezaki Glico Co Ltd
in Japan.
Currently, water and preserved food donations from the YWCA of Korea in
cooperation with the two Korean companies Gangwon Deep Sea Water Co., Ltd
and SAMYANG FOODS Co., Ltd. are in a process to be transported to the disaster
area and people who need clean water. Since the accidents of the Fukushima
nuclear power plants, drinking water contamination by radioactivity has
been reported and has been a great concern in wider areas, including Tokyo
and surrounding prefectures.
Lastly, the YWCA of Japan finally could hold a face-to-face board meeting
on April 3rd after the initial emergency responses. We could hardly meet
in one place due to aftershocks and transportation troubles. The relief
activity project team is approved and sent to the disaster area to investigate
the further needs, plan a strategy, and organize our intermediate and long-term
projects from now on.
We continue to put updates on our website. www.ywca.or.jp
YWCA Japan updates（March 16, 2011)
Dear Sisters around the World,
We cannot express our "THANK YOU" in words, we are so moved and
empowered by all your prayers and heartful messages and love and concern
for us.
First of all please forgive our late replay that made you worry so much,
as the office in Tokyo is also under effect and the communication, human,
material resources, and all access and chances are very limited and couldn't
get back to you to let you know the situation immediately. There is no
loss of lives or injury as well as material damage in the National and
Tokyo YWCA offices but communication, transportation, and nuclear contamination
are the concerns here. Other YWCAs within the metropolitan area, Yokohama
YWCA and Urawa YWCA are also safe.
As time goes by, things get more cleared as well as worsened ... According
to the Sendai YWCA survived members and president, they have been trying
to contact other members but phone and internet within Sendai and its prefecture
(called Miyagi) don't work. From outside area,like from Tokyo, we still
have difficulty of communication access but time to time we can get in
touch with Sendai survived members. Some Sendai YWCA members live by the
tsunami area and we are "Keeping Hope Alive" but worry about
them so much!
At this moment, YWCA of Japan is investigating routs and method to ship
materials to the people in affected area. The roads and logistics for shipping
is yet destroyed and finding partners there who have capability to accept
shipped goods is even harder. What we would like your support for at this
moment is to join and spread the 2 "call for actions" and please
wait for a little while if you are kindly planning to support us by material
as there is no way to ship them to the survivors there at this moment.
As soon as the method and routs are decided, we will make you updates for
a particular needs. Until then please join the 2 call for actions. We thank
you so much!
What makes us difficult to take action here is that vast area including
Tokyo and even further areas (like Shizuoka where Mt.Fuji locates, Niigata,
Nagano, Yamanashi prefectures) that include the whole middle part of the
main land Japan has been affected by countless aftershocks still now, and
nuclear contamination is expanding on the spring wind (which is strong
like a storm, and it is a sign that spring season come). But we cannot
celebrate the spring unless the lives are saved.
The YWCA of Japan office in downtown Tokyo is temporary closing until 22nd
due to transportation limitation, risk of nuclear contamination in the
air, and the aftershocks. But all staff members (7 of us together) are
working and communicating via email at home and can see
< office-japan@ywca.or.jp> .
Please reach us via this email address.
Continually, we might not be able to reply to you individually but everyone
of you is always in our heart! Your presence empowers us! We will of course
share your message to the sisters in the affected area, and to our members,
local YWCAs, and the board and the executives.
We will put updates on our facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=121902501211336
We also pray and share the pain and hope with people who are affected by
the earthquake in Christchurch, for women and girls in the Middle East,
and all of you who are working and fighting for achieving peace in our
lives.
In solidarity.....
YWCA of Japan
office-japan@ywca.or.jp
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The Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants’ Accidents
How can I reduce my risk to radiation??
Radiation is invisible. It may or may not cause your health problem but
better to be prepared and protect yourself to avoid the risk. It depends
on how long and how strong you are exposed to the radiation. You can be
exposed to it by air, rain, and by touching or getting close to a material
that is contaminated by radiation. (external exposure). And also by breathing
contaminated air or taking contaminated water and food. (internal exposure)
Radiation may not cause your health trouble instantly but it may be appeared
years later or to your children by gene.
◆3 major points to reduce risks
-If you are outside, cover your body as much as you can. (from head to
toe)
External Exposure: Rain jacket is useful as it protect you from contaminated
wind and rain. For alternatives, plastic bag, newspaper, or anything with
smooth surface is better than materials like a towel and sweater as radioactive
dust easily stick to those fluffy materials.
Internal Exposure: Wear eyeglasses and mask if available, or cover your
mouth and ears with cloth. If clean water is available, wet cloth works
better.
When you come inside a house, put the jacket into a plastic bag and leave
it outside, as you don’t want a contaminated jacket to be near you all
time. Take shower or wipe your body if you can, to get rid of the radioactive
dust from your body as much as you can.
-Stay inside a building to cut radiation.
Close the door and window tight. However, make sure you are not alone inside
a building so that you can call help when aftershock comes.
-Don’t stay at downwind from a Nuclear Power Plant.
Ask your neighbor where you are now and avoid downwind from the direction
of the power plant.
◆Ask Professional Support
-Consult a health staff or doctor Ask medical prevention. There is a solvent
(drinkable iodine) you can take to prevent radioactive effect but better
to consult professional for a possibility of side effect etc.
YWCA of Japan Tel: 03-3292-6121 Fax:03-3292-6122 office-japan@ywca.or.jp
（Tokyo and Yomiuri newspaper source）
Read more →
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How can I reduce my risk to radiation?? (Vietnamese) read →
Dear Sisters around the World
Thank you again for all your support. Although the strongly affected areas
(northern part of mainland Japan) have communication difficulty, YWCA of
Japan, board, staff, and local YWCAs overall have established a close and
strong communication and now working on information gathering and planning
for the next step.
Here are updates. (March 13, 2011)
The aftershocks have been continuing especially the mostly damaged area
(northern part of Japan) and other areas including prefectures surrounding
Tokyo. Thank God that all of you sisters ’ prayers were heard and all of
Fukushima YWCA members (Fukushima is one of the attacked areas) are safe!
The National YWCA of Japan office finally got in contact with the President
of the Sendai YWCA (Sendai is one of the other YWCAs in the attacked area)
and she was alright and the National office and the survived Sendai members
would continue to make sure of other members safety. Sendai YWCA locates
on the hill side that first it seemed not to have any damage but serious
cracks were found on the building and no one can get inside at this point.
Electricity and water supply started back partially in the affected areas
except the tsunami area. People are acting calmly there without being panicking.
The Fukushima 1st and 2nd nuclear plants got damaged and we are concerned
of the leaking of the radioactive substances.
Residents within 20km from the plants have been removed and taking shelters
outside. The danger still remains, and we are concerning of the expansion
of the radiation effect and thinking and praying for the local workers
recruited to maintain the power plants, who are at the highest risk of
radiation exposure.
Fukushima, Sendai (affected areas), and National YWCA re-assured that what
we have been stated regarding the danger of the nuclear power (both use
of electric power and weapons) are correct, and we forward sisters around
the world a message strongly that please do not believe any ads and myth
of the nuclear power promising “safety” and “environmentally friendly.
It is all false. We don’t want the same thing to happen in any other country.
Now the National office is also started to gathering information of situation
and needs particularly of women, elderly, and those who are at risk of
marginalization under such disasters. It may take a while to get such particular
information under this emergency, as accessibility to IT network is particularly
limited in the affected areas that we cannot get any updated detailed information
from there. But no worry sisters, God is always with us and especially
with those who are in suffer.
The attacked northern part of Japan is now in the coldest season, and heat
and blankets as well as food and water are mostly needed. However, roads
and any other transport systems got severely damaged and professional level
of rescue is under process by national and local governments. What we can
do as NGO is the second or third phase of support and the National office
and board are now in a close communication and figuring out the next step.
We try to put up any updates on our website
http://www.ywca.or.jp/home.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%ACYWCA-YWCA-of-Japan/121902501211336
Your message gives us power, thank you all.
YWCA of Japan
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Dear Sisters, March 12th, 2011
The massive earthquake hit the northeast Japan (offshore of Miyagi pref.)
at 14:46 on March 11th, 2011,counted magnitude 9.0 and reported as the
biggest in the history. Death and injured are increasing as time passes.
Still now, we feel shakes frequently and relatively bigger quakes have
hit many parts of northern Japan since yesterday. We keep our eyes, ears
and everything sensitive and carefully watching out the situation now.
Our 2 local YWCAs, Sendai YWCA and Fukushima YWCA, are in the attacked
area and the National YWCA of Japan has been trying to contact them. As
the electricity is out in the area and people are taking refuge elsewhere
so that we cannot yet directly talk to the 2 offices.
But we are receiving information via some sisters of the 2 local YWCAs
who happened to be out of the area and will inform you any updates to come.
With the tsunami and the continuing shakes, we are also seriously concerning
the Fukushima 1st Nuclear power plant's accident. The plant is within the
attacked area and radio active substances are leaking, according to the
news reports.
The government of Japan issued a declaration of nuclear emergency , and
announced residents within 10km from the plants to escape to outside areas.
We much concerns of other active 53 nuclear power plants and facilities
in Japan.
YWCA of Japan is now trying to make sure of the members' and their family
and friends’ safety as the first priority and collecting information of
the situation and damages, then will let you know any updates including
needed support from around the world. For now, please do pray for us and
people in the most damaged area safety and peace in heart.
Naoko Matano, President
Mikako Nishihara, General Secretary
YWCA of Japan
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YWCA of Japan address：Tokyo YWCA building Rm302, 1-8-11 Kandasurugadai,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062 Japan
email: office-japan@ywca.or.jp www.ywca.or.jp
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