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| Ryuhei Kobayashi - The Galapagos Islands |
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| Ryuhei Kobayashi |
With some passengers preparing for a five-day trip
to the Galapagos, Ryuhei Kobayashi, who has visited the islands over
one hundred times in the last twenty years, gave an open lecture on
their unique habitat and bio-diversity, inspiration for Darwin's epoch-making
Theory of Evolution. Located about one thousand kilometres off the
coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos receives seventy thousand visitors
per year, three and a half times its permanent human population, and
increasing numbers of researchers monitor the fifty percent of species
that are unique to the islands. Kobayashi spoke of the effects of
discovery and nearly five hundred years of settlement on this fragile
ecosystem, from the decimation of the Giant tortoise population by
pirates, to the introduction of non-indigenous species which now threaten
to overrun many of the islands. Kobayashi, who will be acting as a
guide on the Peace Boat tour, explained that strict regulations are
now in place to preserve this important ecological environment. |
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| Approaching Latin America |
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| Indio Sato, Cruise Director Takayoshi Kise and
a passenger supporting the Revolution! |
As Peace Boat drew nearer to the New World, events
onboard took on a Latin feel, from salsa on deck to a presentation
on Columbus featuring a montage of movie images about the explorer
and his arrival in the New World. From mutiny to potatoes, romanticised
heroes to the reality behind the myths, Kobayashi's lecture discussed
the impact of "Discovery", addressing the detrimental effects on the
indigenous populations and the benefits reaped by Europe. Other seminars
took passengers on a journey through the diversity of South American
music, from Folklore, traditional music of the Andean region, to Latin
American pop and rock. As well as introducing names of rhythms, typical
instruments, famous composers and musicians, the guest speakers used
the music and lyrics as a springboard to discuss social movements
against oppression and poverty. Finally, Indio Sato, who spent over
two years travelling around Central and South America, showed slides
of his travels. This contemplative event presented the majestic natural
environment and patchwork of cultures in the mysterious continent
from a personal angle, making those onboard anticipate adventures
of their own. |
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| Pilar Chavez - Mangroves, shrimp and economic independence |
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| Pilar Chavez |
Development projects that aim to improve the standard
of living for inhabitants of Cartagena and other urban areas are costing
the lives of people in rural Colombian communities, testified International
Student Pilar Chavez. Not only forced to leave their Palenque (independent
black communities founded by African slaves) under threat of violence
from paramilitary groups, members of this disadvantaged minority are
also facing threats to their traditional, environmentally-friendly
ways of life. Agrochemical pollution from cocaine cultivation, changing
water flows due to road and dam projects, and local damage caused
by lack of education are resulting in the destruction of mangrove
swamps, vital to the survival of these fishing and farming communities.
As environmentalist Takayoshi Fukuyo explained, mangroves are not
only an important food source, providing shelter for a host of other
animals, but are also used for boat-building, housing materials, tools
and charcoal by local people. Recognising the importance of mangroves
in providing economic independence and protecting traditional lifestyles,
local NGOs are educating black communities in the role of the mangrove
in the ecosystem and are working in concert with villagers to set
up sustainable projects such as shrimp farms, with the support of
Peace Boat. In a final note, Pilar spoke of how this regeneration
of mangrove swamps has become a symbol for the regeneration of local
communities and is giving hope to rural populations in her country
as a whole. |
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| Peace Boat's
39th Voyage 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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