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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE June 11, 2008
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| May 14, 2008 |
62nd Global Voyage Departure Ceremony – A celebration of new beginnings |
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| Family and friends brace the rainy skies to bid farewell to their loved ones |
Peace Boat’s 62nd Voyage will always be a very special one. It is a voyage to mark the 25th anniversary of Peace Boat, the first one to visit Iceland and Greenland and the christening of a new ship, the Clipper Pacific.
Yet when Peace Boat left Yokohama port at noon, and the stormy skies turned sunny blue, it was the dreams and hopes of the passengers that vibrated through the spring air on the 14th of May |
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| Peace Boat founder Yoshioka Tatsuya and International Director Ken Rhodes wish the passengers the best of luck |
For many of the mainly Japanese passengers aged between four and 99 this was the first time they were participating in a social awareness program. For others Peace Boat was a way to extend their understanding of the world’s cultures and issues.
Over 300 of the passengers had already spent months volunteering their time at Peace Boat centres all over Japan so they could be part of this enriching experience.
As 964 passengers waved ‘sayonara’ to family and friends, they were welcomed aboard by Peace Boat founder Yoshioka Tatsuya as they set off on their 104 day voyage to 20 countries. |
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| Voyage Director Mr Shinsuke’s charisma energized the room as he spoke of the adventures that lay ahead |
Among the Peace Boat staff, are an international team of volunteer English and Spanish language teachers and communication coordinators (interpreters), a Japanese dance teacher and a live radio DJ.
The voyage will host an array of guest speakers, experts, humanitarian workers and artists from all over the world to educate participants on global issues and celebrate the cultures of the world.
By bringing such a diverse group of people under the common aspirations of peace, compassion and awareness, the 62nd Voyage aims to create a more sustainable and peaceful place for all of humanity.
Through lectures, programmes in port, debates and discussions, passengers will learn of the issues affecting indigenous societies in Greenland, Central America and Canada. As the Peace Boat sails through the Norwegian Fjords and makes its way to Alaska and Greenland, the issue of global warming will be explored and the progressive alternative-energy policies of Iceland will be studied.
In Western Europe we will learn of the human rights of the immigrants and in towards New York a group of young adults from the Global Kids programme will come aboard to share their experiences and ideas with passengers. Voyage highlights include a home stay at a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan to gain a deeper insight into the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the opportunity to examine Chavez’s “Bolivarian Revolution” first-hand in Venezuela.
Upon leaving Yokohama, the celebrations continued into the night as special guest, journalist Ito Chihiro, the charismatic Director of the voyage Hidaka Shinsuke and Mr Yoshioka welcomed the passengers once more to much cheer and excitement. |
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Mr Yoshioka spoke of the vibrant history of Peace Boat from the vision of four university students who travelled the seas 25 years ago to understand the world outside of Japan to the dynamic and diverse education and cultural exchange program Peace Boat has grown into.
He shared many of his unique experiences and thoughts invoking much laughter from the passengers. Mr Yoshioka urged the passengers to embrace the many cultures they will encounter and the friendships they will make with people from all over the world.
Imagination he said is the key to life, to peace, to friendships, to discovery and if you use your imagination then anything is possible. |
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