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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE June 9, 2007
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| April 23, 2007 |
Global University Unit Two Report – The Path to Reconciliation |
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| Group photograph of Global University students |
Under the theme of "Looking at the Creation of War through the Lens of the Balkan Conflict," 28 participants joined Peace Boat's Global University (GU) Unit Two - an intensive peace studies programme that combines study onboard with experiences relating to the theme applied to the Balkan conflict, with a special focus on Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim is for students to develop the fundamental skills and insight necessary for conflict resolution and prevention. Additional objectives include:
Studying the mechanisms of war, strategies used to start a war, who profits from it and the conditions in which wars begin
Fear and hatred via mass media propaganda, particularly related to ethnic identity and genocide
A peaceful condition is not a given, not to be taken for granted and the importance of citizen's roles in maintaining peace
Steps taken for reconciliation
Apply findings to an East Asia context |
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| GU students on their overland exposure tour |
Global University participants represent a wide cross section of Japanese society, from students to full time workers to retired people. Students came from a range of generations, aged from 18 to 74 years old.
Global University students also participate in discussions with guest educators from conflict areas in class. Before arriving in the Balkan region, the GU students heard from International Students Sabina Cudic (Bosnia) and Maja Stojanovic (Serbia). They talked about their personal experiences during the war and of the current situation in their respective home towns. |
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| The Olympic stadium grave site |
In addition to onboard workshops and classes, students learn firsthand about post conflict regions during exposure tours. Through direct experience with conflict-affected people, they gain a deeper appreciation of the complexities involved. Combining facts with experience is critical to balancing the partiality of relying solely on textbooks, mass media or people's opinions. Many of the students said that through visiting Sarajevo they could grasp the reality of what conflict actually means. During the exposure tour, the GU group took part in many activities as outlined below:
GU students visited many historical sites such as the Olympic stadium in Sarajevo. Once a symbol of peace and multicultural goodwill when Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, this site was turned into a mass graveyard during the war. Sarajevo is slowly rebuilding itself since the war ended a decade ago but some buildings are deliberately left in a destroyed state as a symbol of remembrance. |
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| A play performed by a Croatian NGO at the Abrasevic youth centre |
The NGO Abrasevic was established four years ago in Mostar by 300 youths from eleven different organizations to convert a run-down building into a functional cultural center. Here young people from different ethnic groups participate in workshops, educational programmes and volunteer activities. During Peace Boat’s visit, a Croatian theater troupe performed a pantomime with the theme of media manipulation’s role in creating war in the former Yugoslavia. |
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| Soccer match between GU students and Krilo |
GU students were able to enjoy a friendly soccer match with Krilo, a team made of Croatian and Muslim youths. Krilo has been a counter partner of Peace Boat for three years and was started by Taro Morita, who believed steps to reconciliation can be achieved by bringing together culturally diverse youths together to enjoy an activity together. In August 2006 Krilo played in a tournament in Hiroshima to commemorate the Atomic Bomb Memorial Day. |
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| Visiting NGO “Women of Srebrenica” |
The Women of Srebrenica is an NGO consisting of women who lost family members during the July 1995 genocide. A representative of the organization testified that, “my only hope is that the bones of my beloved are found, and that those responsible for the genocide are properly brought to justice.” GU students felt strongly that although the war ended over a decade ago, the pain it caused still lives on in these women.
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| Discussion with OIA members |
Bosnian NGO Youth Information Agency (OIA) runs various advocacy programmes for youth. GU students had a friendly discussion with OIA members over coffee, learning about the activism they undertake in across the country. “I realized how detrimental it is to remain politically and socially apathetic, to not know, to take every day for granted and to naively believe that we can live peacefully forever,” says Mizue Higashi, a 26 year old dental assistant from Japan. |
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| Street action in Sarajevo |
Having had many opportunities to meet and listen to talks at Bosnian NGOs, GU students wanted to know the opinions of local people so they launched an interactive street campaign posing three questions to passersby.
Who writes your history?
What does ethnic belonging mean to you?
What does your future look like?
Lee Yunshin, a Korean International Student participating in GU said, “the reason I wanted to do a street performance using music and dance as well as asking questions to locals is because it is important for us to hear voices of Bosnian people. Social movements start from changing people’s apathy to curiosity.”
Feedback and critical analysis is an important process within the GU programme, and students later gave group presentations on topics arising from GU seminars. They also addressed domestic conflicts by interviewing people on Peace Boat about their opinions regarding the amendment of Article 9, the peace clause of the Japanese Constitution. |
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