In order to achieve a global culture whose values reflect a genuine desire for peace and a rejection of violence, peace education must be more widely promoted and access to it increased. This was recognized both by the Hague Appeal for Peace Global Campaign for Peace Education, and by the UN declaration of the year 2000 as the International Year for a Culture of Peace and the years 2001 to 2010 as the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. Since its foundation in 1983, Peace Boat has been active in the field of peace education through the organisation of educational voyages, on land study and exchange programmes and, more recently, through the Global University, an innovative approach to peace education and the world's first floating peace university. The Global University is an intensive peace studies programme which combines study onboard the ship during one of our voyages with exposure programmes in selected regions that the ship visits. As well providing participants with the insight and skills necessary to play an active role in peace-building at a grass-roots level, the Global University aims to increase access to peace education to young people from conflict regions around the world through the international student scholarship scheme. During our stays in port, a wide range of study tours, exposure programmes and cultural exchanges foster international friendship and understanding while raising participants' awareness of local and global issues. These activities are organised in conjunction with local NGOs, and involve exchange with the local community at a grass-roots level, thus providing a mutually rewarding educational experience in which everyone who takes part becomes both an educator and a learner. Throughout the year Peace Boat invites guest speakers from around the world who are active in the fields of human rights, peace education, the environment and sustainable development to give lectures and workshops in Tokyo. These lectures cover a range of issues of both regional and global concern, and are open to members of the public as well as Peace Boat participants.