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| The Role of NGO's in
Peace Movements / Johan Galtung |
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| Professors Galtung and Nishimura, longtime
residents of Kyoto, providing us with deep insight into the
potential of Japan in the Peace Movement |
How do NGO's fit into the Peace Movement, and what
can they do? This was the massive subject tackled in about 30 minutes
(one hour with interpretation) by Professor Galtung, a subject particularly
relevant and important for Peace Boat as an NGO working to promote
peace. Under this question, the first place to look was the source
of NGO's themselves - civil society, using Japanese society as an
example. Directed in the right way, Japanese society could become
a much greater source of peace promotion from which organizations
and directed movements could come, working on social issues, violent
conflict and problems of structural violence. The next step may be
the development of international relations between peace-oriented
NGO's - based on the historically poor performance of inter-governmental
relations and efforts for peace, forming a broad social base from
which alternatives, anti-violence pressure and better coordination
of the Peace Movement can happen. Important for all of this though,
is that people themselves become aware of what is necessary and what
is possible within a society - in this case Japan. Much of the lecture
was a discussion of Japanese society and where, in the context of
peace and the Peace Movement, its weak and strong points are. Many
participants were more than a little interested in this examination,
and the reaction was very positive - many participants seeing their
own culture through a new perspective. |
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| Gala Buffet |
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| Rani and Nikita with smiles that steal all the attention from the kimonos |
Participants were faced with a troubling dilemma tonight as they were faced with more dinner options than could possibly be chosen in an hour and a half giant buffet night. Both restaurants, the Music Salon and one of the lounges featured Japanese, Italian, Chinese and dessert buffets with participants lined up in there evening best for the occasion. The favorite of the night though, aside from the free drinks, was a shrimp-mountain in the middle of the Japanese food. Step-by-Step, a band composed of some masterful Ukrainian musicians and singers finished the night with a concert.
Text and photos by Stacy Hughes
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day before / index |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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