There could have been no better selection for the Nobel Peace Prize than Doctors Without Borders with its volunteers who ignore hardships and dangers and go to the world's most troubled places. Doctors Without Borders is a symbol, standing for many other organizations, groups and individuals who give their time and their skills to relieve suffering beyond what most of us can imagine even with the wide range of disasters brought into our homes by news coverage of catastrophes and wars.

Next Wednesday's column will tell you how to obtain information on organizations needing volunteers in Tokyo, and what you can do to help. No list, however, is ever complete; there are always omissions. Here is a worthwhile organization you won't find in this year's publication: Medecins du Monde with a mission much like Doctors Without Borders. Medecins du Monde, which was launched in 1980 as an international humanitarian organization with the mission of providing medical assistance for the world's most vulnerable populations, opened an office here in 1995, the year of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Its work, and that of many other dedicated organizations, will not end until the world learns how to avoid natural disasters and manmade crises resulting from such inhumanities as war, political repression and poverty. There are no indications that the need for such services will end within the foreseeable future.

The critical need of Medecins du Monde is for doctors and nurses who volunteer to help during our continuing crises, nor does the need for them end when the emergency passes. Now, in Kosovo, in East Timor, following earthquakes and floods, it is especially the children who require continuing care and comfort. Professionals who can give their time are urged to contact the office. For others, there is a need for secretarial help; translators, especially French, English and Japanese; and writers/editors for the newsletter. The Tokyo office is headed by French businessman Gael Austin, whose involvement did not end when his work in arranging for members to come to Japan during the Great Hanshin Earthquake was completed. Instead, he has become more deeply involved. He hopes that many of you will join him in this essential work. For information, call (03) 3585-6436 or fax (03) 3585-1134. Of course if you can only give money, that, too is both welcome and essential. Corporations especially are encouraged to contact him to learn how much their contributions can help.

Some of you may not be aware of the international Japanese award established 11 years ago to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Japan Art Association and focused on achievements in the field arts not covered by the Nobel Prize. Now the Praemium Imperiale awards have won recognition throughout the world. The international advisers who selected this year's recipients are Yasuhiro Nakasone (Japan), Raymond Barre (France), David Rockefeller Jr. (United States), Umberto Agnelli (Italy), Edward Heath (Britain) and Richard von Weizsacker (Germany). Recipients are Anslem Kiefer (Germany) painting; Louise Bourgeois (U.S.) sculpture; Fumihiko Maki (Japan) architecture; Oscar Peterson (Canada) music; and Pina Bausch (Germany) theater/film.

Names of each year's recipients are announced in varying cities throughout the world with a commemorative banquet held at some prestigious site, among them Hampton Court, the White House and the Louvre Museum. Awards are presented later in Tokyo followed by a gala banquet at Meiji Memorial Hall with a program of traditional Japanese entertainment to be held this year on Oct. 28. Fuji TV will air some of the events on Oct. 29 at 12:30 a.m. It is commendable that there are now internationally recognized awards for the arts and it is appropriate that Japan's efforts are receiving such wide acclaim.

Changes can come quickly. Recently a reader had difficulty obtaining hospital records which he needed for an insurance claim. It is not surprising. There has been a long tradition of keeping them secret. Now it has been announced that patients should be allowed to see their records. Doctors are in for a period of major readjustment.