Burning the candle at both ends has a different meaning for Louise Haynes, director of Japan AIDS Prevention Awareness Network (JAPANetwork).

Haynes is also a full-time instructor at Nanzan University in Nagoya. One end of the candle is to bring the light of education in English to EFL students. The other is to remember those with AIDS and to help stop its spread in Japan.

JAPANetwork is an organization of teachers and other volunteers around the country who are interested in teaching HIV/AIDS in the English language classroom. "Basically we provide the teaching materials that teachers can photocopy freely for their students. We also provide the basics in case the teacher needs up-to-date information."

Haynes started JAPANetwork seven years ago with a handful of teaching materials and support from friends in the teaching community.

"Part of the problem here in Japan is that many Japanese teachers are not always sure how to approach the topic of AIDS. They have very crowded curriculums and don't always have time to study up and prepare materials." The same holds true for EFL teachers, and JAPANetwork's materials are a great help to busy teachers or those who need a fresh idea for a lesson.

The students she teaches also seem to enjoy the classes. "I find that students perk up in class when we start talking about AIDS. They're concerned about what's happening in the world, but when they find out that the problem is growing here in Japan, especially among teens, they realize this information relates to them personally."

According to recent statistics, HIV infection is growing among young people in their teens and 20s, and with other STD statistics on the rise, experts are worried that the numbers may only be the tip of the iceberg.

Haynes recently completed her MS degree from Newport Asia Pacific University. Her thesis, which involved a survey of 69 teachers and subsequent interviews, focused on the reasons why foreign EFL teachers in Japan do or do not include the topic of AIDS in their teaching. "The most pervasive reason was the perception that HIV is simply not a problem here in Japan and therefore there is little reason to teach it.

"That attitude stems from the fact that AIDS in Japan is rarely covered in the media," Haynes said. Although problems such as teacher embarrassment were prevalent, many teachers in her survey mistakenly believed that their students were already well-informed, or that AIDS was a subject that should be taught in the Japanese language, not in the EFL classroom.

"I can understand how some teachers might feel that way, and I think the least we can do is, during International AIDS Week, write the telephone number of an AIDS hotline on the board, so that students can call for further information in their own language."

Distributing information in Japanese is another growing section of JAPANetwork's activities. The Nagoya Chapter holds an annual AIDS Candlelight Memorial Walk through downtown Nagoya on AIDS Day, Dec. 1st. Students, teachers and other members of the community walk through the streets, carrying candles and handing out AIDS information leaflets.

The reactions of other pedestrians is mixed. "We've had people who have yelled things at us, but many people will take the information and, hopefully, call the hotline if they have questions."

This year, in addition to the annual walk, JAPANetwork, with the cooperation of the Aichi and Nagoya City AIDS Offices, and the AIDS Yobouzaidan (Japan AIDS Prevention Foundation), is sponsoring an all-day event at Kanayama Station in Nagoya.

HIV testing is another aspect of the problem Haynes feels strongly about. "Many people here in Japan are not aware of the fact that, if you test positive, you can get treatment early and can live longer. There are far too many people who have not been tested and are showing up in the hospital with symptoms of AIDS, which take perhaps ten years to show up," Haynes explained.

In fact, according to the June report of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, only 2 of the 77 new AIDS cases previously knew they were carrying the HIV virus.

Haynes believes JAPANetwork's work can help with preventing further infections. "It takes both prevention efforts and care of those with the virus. Education can help decrease stigma and prejudice, as well," Haynes said.

JAPANetwork welcomes volunteers who would like to contribute classroom activities or articles for their free newsletter. For further information, see their Web site at www.japanetwork.gol.com , or contact JAPANetwork at: [email protected] or at 052-806-5534.