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Special Report | LAST UPDATE April 27, 2010 | |
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Participants on the ship SS the Oceanic will travel to 22 countries in five continents during the next 101 days. The ship will sail through Asia, and stop at the tip of North Africa before heading through the Suez Canal, into the Middle East and past the Mediterranean. It will make a rare visit to Scandinavia and then travel to Latin America, through the Panama Canal and back towards Japan. |
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Kawasaki Akira, a Peace Boat Executive Committee member, says the theme of this trip is global sustainability. He told Japanese and international media organizations attending Peace Boat's press conference in Yokohama that the aim of this voyage is to help participants develop a sustainable society by picturing how our actions will affect the earth 100 years from now. As participants travel around the world they will be learning about sustainable practices and environmental policies adopted by European nations. They will also gain an understanding of changing societies throughout Latin America and the challenge of ending social inequalities. |
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This trip is also the launch of the third Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World - Peace Boat's Hibakusha Project (also known as the Orizuru Project). Survivors of the atomic bombings of Japan during World War II, commonly referred to as Hibakusha, are onboard to share their stories with people around the world. There are ten Hibakusha joining Peace Boat's 69th voyage, three of whom live outside of Japan. This voyage coincides with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York which will be held in May, 2010. Two of the Hibakusha on Peace Boat's 69th voyage will be travelling to the conference for formal talks with delegates to the United Nations, and to share their stories with students and citizens both from New York and gathered there for the conference. The Hibakusha are calling for a the complete abolition of all nuclear weapons throughout the world, an idea that has the backing of the President of the United States, Barack Obama. |
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Hirayama Yuki, the charismatic Director of this voyage, welcomed the more than 850 participants onto the ship - the biggest group to travel with Peace Boat in recent years. At least 250 of these have previously travelled on a Peace Boat voyage including the oldest participant, 91-year-old Seki Hideyo, who was so impressed with the 68th voyage that he has joined this journey as well. They will be joined by over 30 guest educators from a wide range of backgrounds including academics, NGO workers and artists. Some are onboard to discuss serious issues, such as International Relations expert Achin Vanaik from Delhi University. There are also others including Lee Juyeon, a professional belly dancer, who will offer participants a chance to learn new and exciting skills. |
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Peace Boat's Global University (GU) programme is making a return after being on hiatus for ten voyages. The Global University Programme combines onboard research and workshops with programmes in port where students gain a direct understanding of issues relating to human rights, the environment and peace. 29 students are participating in the programme, including a group of four Korean students from Sung Kong Hoe University in Seoul. During the voyage GU participants will be learning about a range of topics including conflict in the Middle East, renewable energy and globalisation. |
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The 69th voyage also features Peace Boat's Montessori Programme, an early childhood learning initiative based on the Montessori method which aims to create environments for children where they can develop their own skills and interests. There are five children participating aged between one and five years old in the course during the voyage, which is being held for the second time. |
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