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Seicho-No-Ie News

Republic of China Missionary Headquarters Acquires ISO14001 Certification

Third Overseas Country to Do So, after Brazil and the U.S.A.

On August 16, the Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China Missionary Headquarters in Taipei, the Republic of China (Taiwan) acquired the ISO14001 certification. The certification covers the entire building of the Missionary Headquarters, events such as workshops held there, and its publication activities. It is the third overseas organization to acquire the certification, after the Brazil Missionary Headquarters and the United States Missionary Headquarters.

Following the International Headquarters’ announcement in its 2007 Movement Policy to aim to acquire the ISO14001 certification in five years, the Republic of China Missionary Headquarters established an ISO Environment Group in June 2007, selected a staffer in charge of the environment and started preparations toward acquiring the certification.

In July of the following year (2008), when Rev. Masanori Morita (Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China Missionary Headquarters) and others visited Japan, he was given an explanation by the International Headquarters’ ISO Promotion Office as to preparations, the processes and actual work involved until the ISO14001 certification acquisition. In November 2009, they formulated the “Basic Principle” and “Environment Policy” and in January of last year they prepared their version of the “Environment Management Manual” based on the International Headquarters’ Manual.

After the preparations began in June 2007, a study class was held for the staff every month under the guidance of Rev. Morita to raise their awareness about the environmental problem and educate them on necessary activities.

At the study classes, Rev. Morita lectured on the basic philosophy of the environmental protection activity, using Imakoso Shizen kara Manabo (Learning from Nature) by Rev. Masanobu Taniguchi. In the latter half of the classes, Rev. Chen Borhorng (Chief of Administrative Office, Republic of China Missionary Headquarter) and the staff in charge of environmental affairs explained the activities for the ISO14001 certification.

The employees actively engaged in activities to reduce electricity, water and paper usage, collect rubbish by category and also reduce rubbish.

In December of last year, with the signing of an agreement with an international evaluation organization, Bureau Veritas (headquartered in Paris, France) the project was kicked off.

After the first evaluation on July 1 of this year and the second evaluation on August 10-11, the certification was granted.

On August 20, right after the certificate arrived, the news was announced at the Taipei Missionary Branch’s Regional Lecturers’ Workshop. There was a joyous applause and all attendees shared in the joy.

Remarks by Rev. Masanori Morita, Bishop of Seicho-No-Ie Republic of China

“I am happy that we could acquire the ISO14001 certification four and a half years after it was written into the International Headquarters’ Movement Policy, and after the Brazil Missionary Headquarters and the United States Missionary Headquarters.

Although the awareness about the environment is rising in the Republic of China, they still seem to feel that the problem is something far removed. Therefore, we, Seicho-No-Ie followers, should engage in environmental protection activities based on our faith and produce results, so that the importance of environmental protection and methods to carry it out are conveyed not only within Seicho-No-Ie but to many people.”