Civil Society Initiative to Improve East Asian Relations
Japanese – Korean Historic Peace Voyage marks 60 years since World War II
History textbooks
Yasukuni Shrine
Takeshima / Dokto territorial dispute
Korean peninsula nuclear issue
With little sign of improvement for severely strained Sino-Japanese and Korean-Japanese relations, civic organizations in Seoul and Tokyo are taking the initiative to strengthen cooperation and understanding in the region. Tokyo-based international NGO "Peace Boat" and Seoul-based NPO "Green Foundation Korea” will carry out a two week voyage that takes 300 Japanese and 300 Korean citizens on a mission to promote peace, security and environmental issues in East Asia. The route will circumnavigate the region, calling to seven port cities in Japan, China and Korea. Educational programs onboard and study tours in ports with local communities form the heart of the voyage, and help ensure that historical reconciliation is improved through people-to-people exchange. Korean poet, Kim Ji Ha, who was instrumental in the democratization movement in South Korea, is one of the many special guests participating in the voyage.
Peace Boat Spokesperson Mari Kushibuchi says, “Through open dialogue we will endeavor to create a common vision of the future for our region. We are planning visits to the border between China and North Korea; the Panmunjeom demarcation area that separates the two Koreas; the Nanjing Massacre Museum; and an audience with former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung.”
Through this voyage, the organizers hope to make a symbolic and practical contribution to confidence-building and friendship between the people of East Asia. The organizers have also announced that similar such voyages to promote East Asian relations will be carried out as a joint venture over the next 10 years.
Voyage for Peace and Green in Asia
Date:
August 13 - 27, 2005
Route:
Tokyo (Japan) – Incheon (South Korea) – Busan (South Korea) – Dandong (China) – Shanghai (China) – Naha, Okinawa (Japan) – Nagasaki (Japan)
Press Conference
Time:
April 27 2005 (Wednesday) from 11am
Place:
Diet Members’ No.2 Office Building of the Lower House, Conference Room No.3
More Info.:
Contact: Eric Ellefsen 03-3363-8047 / 080-5038-5224
Speakers:
Choi Yul: Internationally renowned environmental activist / conservationist; Green Foundation Korea Director; instrumental in South Koreas’ democratization movement
Kang Sang Jung: Professor of Political Science, Tokyo University; Respected commentator on East Asian political affairs and security policies
Shin Suk Ok: Female Korean resident in Japan; growing reputation for speaking out for minority groups in Japan
Mo Bang Fu: Chinese journalist & social commentator; Asahi Shimbun columnist
Li Song: Association of Chinese Residents’ of Japan Director; Human rights activist in exile since Tiananmen Square massacre
Yoshioka Tatsuya: Peace Boat Director; Visited North Korea over 10 times and was active in assisting in the release of Japanese hostages held in Iraq.
