|
|
|
| |
| |
News Archive |
LAST UPDATE
July 11, 2005
|
|
|
| January 16, 2004 |
Peace Boat calls into the World Social Forum |
|
| |
 |
| Participants in the 2004 World Social Forum, Mumbai, India |
Peace Boat called into the port of Mumbai on the opening day of the fourth World Social Forum (WSF), on January 16, 2004 bringing hundreds of people to join the 100,000 strong international crowds that had converged on India's financial capital for the week long event. But besides being an annual forum, the WSF is also a permanent process to facilitate coordination and articulation among civil society organizations, movements, and individuals. A key objective of the WSF is to provide an "open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and the inter-linking for effective action." On a much smaller scale, this approach is similar to the creative space that can be found during a global peace voyage onboard Peace Boat. "A floating, peace education and international networking mini-WSF", some might say.
So it was only natural that Peace Boat invited a host of activists and participants to take part in onboard forums for the three week voyage across the Asia-Pacific. From Japan via Okinawa, the ship called into the Philippines, Brunei and Singapore picking up more guests and activists to arrive in India in time for the global gathering for Global Justice and Alter-globalization, known as the fourth WSF.
Amongst the 700 members of Japanese society onboard Peace Boat were over 60 people from Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Philippines, Australia, Kenya, South Korea, Japan and the United States. This large nucleus of activists committed to effecting positive social change, such as working to eliminate nuclear weapons and abolish US military bases, created an intense climate of energy and enthusiasm in the lead-up to the WSF. The rare opportunity for everyone and anyone to participate in an international conference-cum-festival-cum-demonstration ensured that nearly all participants caught the WSF fever.
Highlights of the onboard programmes were the Anti-Nuclear NGO Forum; the gathering of testimonies against US military bases in Okinawa and the Philippines; and the vibrant workshops generated by the talented Artist Ambassadors from the United States Bay Area. Peace Boat also called on the strength of Japan's young activists from various civil society organizations for an interactive education and action programme to build understanding of the WSF process and related socio-political issues. |
|
|
 |
| Forum for messages, and message infused performances |
Meeting the Press
Without the formality and convention of a standard press conference, Peace Boat greeted the international and Indian press at the Mumbai port with musical and colourful flare. Singing and drumming as they disembarked the ship were Kenyan and Zimbabwean guest musicians and their Peace Gang choir, comprising over 50 mostly Japanese participants. Assembled close by was an array of guest educators, activists, and delegates who held banners and placards reading catch-phrases such as 'Nuclear Free Northeast Asia' and 'Peace Now Korea Japan', signifying the kind of issues that Peace Boat was bringing to the WSF table. Besides outlining the general concept of Peace Boat's peace building activities, attention was drawn in particular to the onboard programme of activities which would be further built upon at the WSF.
At the WSF itself, Peace Boat contributed to the process through debate, discussion and strategy sessions, as well as making use of audio-visual equipment and more spontaneous, creative methods. Over 50 delegates, mostly from Japan, stayed at the lively Intercontinental Youth Camp where Peace Boat's talented multiethnic 'Artist Ambassadors' performed several musical and thought-provoking workshops on issues including race, HIV/AIDS and equality. >>read more – about the Artist Ambassadors
However, it was at the central WSF venue where Peace Boat focused most of its efforts. In cooperation with partner organizations and individuals, Peace Boat presented four interactive seminars and workshops, a photographic exhibition on Iraq, as well as contributed to the organization of the General Anti-War Assembly, and the International Anti-US bases campaign events. |
| |
Towards a Nuclear Weapons Free and Peaceful Northeast Asia (workshop)
 |
| Peace Boat participants campaigning for a nuclear-weapon free Northeast Asia |
This anti-nuclear workshop provided a spotlight for Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and anti-nuclear campaigners from Aotearoa (New Zealand), India and Japan to share civil initiatives towards nuclear policy with people from around the world. In light of the current Korean peninsula nuclear crisis, the workshop provided a timely occasion to strategize on the shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. Disarmament in Northeast Asia, including proposals for a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, threat reduction measures and confidence-building were key issues during the discussions.
Peace Boat staff member, Kawasaki Akira explained civil-initiated proposals for action to avoid a nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula. While Kushibushi Mari, who has visited North Korea over a dozen times, discussed 'Peace Boat's efforts to promote dialogue with North Korea' through dialogue and cooperation with the Pyongyang-based Korean Anti-Nuclear Peace Committee.
Peace Boat cooperated with the following NGOs to hold the workshop: Nihon Hidankyo, International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, Women Making Peace Korea, Abolition 2000. |
| |
 |
| Peace Boat participants in a workshop presenting on their experiences in different countries |
Voices to Japan (workshop)
An innovative approach to taking advantage of the diverse grassroots voices from around the world present at the WSF was the Voices to Japan workshop. Hosted by young activists from Japan, the aim was to collect opinions and experiences about Japanese corporations, governmental institutions, NGOs or exports and their impact – both negative and positive – in the world.
As well as gathering testimonies from high-profile environment and development spokespersons such as Vandana Shiva, evidence from people directly affected by problems linked to Japanese government and organizations made holding the workshop extremely meaningful. Using these voices, the evidence-gathering efforts will be utilized to raise consciousness in Japanese society through a public education campaign about the influence and impact that Japan is having on people around the world. It will also hopefully generate internal debate and trigger positive changes on a domestic level, thus contributing to more improved partnerships of solidarity between organizations from Japan and beyond. |
| |
 |
| A sign of the growing solidarity between people in Northeast Asia |
Northeast Asian NGO Forum: a new strategy for human security, a new Northeast Asia (seminar)
Focusing on the tense political situation with 'North Korea as the next target' in relation to US foreign policy, and the growing threat of remilitarization in the post-9.11 period (notably in Japan), this seminar placed importance on how to better develop and strengthen the civil society network in the Northeast Asian region. For it is realized that a flourishing civil society network – especially one where efforts are focused on conflict prevention – is fundamental to effectively engaging governments and pressuring them to pursue genuine policies of peace and security.
Panelists from NGOs and educational institutions in South Korea and Japan outlined key issues and called for support from the international community by means of issuing a petition to engage the respective governments to reduce tensions in the region. In concrete terms, this has been articulated with a '5 Principles, 5 Urgent Points and 6 Mid-Term Tasks' consensus between the participating organizations representing Japanese and Korean civil society.
Recognizing that a new vision for regional cooperation is needed in order to promote a peaceful resolution of the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, the seminar was effective in promoting new and constructive dialogue between civil society organizations from various countries. Following talks onboard the Peace Boat prior to the WSF, the seminar in Mumbai provided the platform for gathering wider support for civil society recommendations to governments, as well as solidifying action plans for future cooperation. This has led to the greater likelihood of holding multilateral civil round talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue between parties including North and South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the United States in the foreseeable future. |
| |
 |
| Campaigning againt the sending of Japanese troops to Iraq to support an illegitimate occupation |
Images from Iraq (exhibition)
Acclaimed Japanese photographer, Toyoda Naomi exhibited photographs he had taken in Iraq during 2003, onboard Peace Boat, and then during the WSF in the Exhibition Gallery. Documenting the dehumanizing effects of depleted uranium, especially on children, as well as street scenes in Baghdad and Basra during the war, the impact of Toyoda's images was startling. Toyoda's ability to depict the reality of the human cost of warfare had a mesmerizing effect on the many passersby who viewed the exhibition. Whether it was gaining a new perspective on the ugly face of conflict and so-called 'liberation of Iraq' by the US-led coalition, or being reminded of the pain and suffering that is implicit whenever war breaks out, Toyoda's images no doubt affirmed in people's minds a fundamental reason why they were campaigning for a world without war. |
| |
 |
In Valparaiso, Chile, announcing the global show of opposition to illegal war and occupation of Iraq |
Latino Students Programme: the WSF process in action
On reaching Latin America – the continent where the WSF was initiated in 2001 – nearly one month after the WSF in India had concluded, Peace Boat became a space for sharing experiences. New stories and experiences from Mumbai and Asia were exchanged with older ones experienced by those from Latin America who had been involved with the WSF process over the previous three years. Fifteen young people embarked from Brazil, Argentina and Chile, all of them active in various movements including the International Youth Camp of WSF Porto Alegre, Friends of the Earth, Attac, and Intergalactika. Besides an intensive intercultural experience onboard with Peace Boat participants, the group prepared a joint action in Valparaiso, calling for participation in the global anti-war mobilization on March 20. Members of the WSF organizing committee in Chile used this opportunity to call for participation in the Chilean Social Forum which will take place in parallel to the APEC meeting during November 2004.
Links
World Social Forum – www.wsfindia.org/
Abolition 2000 – www.abolition2000.org/
Attac-Chile – www.attac.cl/
Codeff – Amigos de la Tierra Chile – www.codeff.cl/
Friends of the Earth International – www.foei.org/
|
| |
|
|
|
