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| Rod Harbinson |
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| Rod Harbinson explains the environmental impact of mega-projects |
Amsterdam-based environmental specialist Rod Harbinson
from the international NGO 'Friends of the Earth' joined Peace Boat
from Singapore to Mombasa to shed light on some of the environmental
consequences of the globalisation process. The first of Rod's four
lectures began with a highly informative presentation about how mega-projects
affect peoples' lives from Asia to Africa. The audience was guided
through the role of multilateral development banks (MDB), notably
the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, and the way in which MDBs
tend to serve corporate interests. Using examples such as the Sepon
gold mine in Cambodia, a hydro-electric dam in Laos and large infrastructure
projects in the Greater Mekong sub-region and Cameroon, Rod drew attention
to the blatant environmental degradation that results, including deforestation,
water contamination and disruption of eco-systems. Inextricably linked
to such construction projects is the detrimental social impact on
the local people. Raising issues of forced displacement, meagre compensation,
adverse health effects and labour exploitation provided the human
story to what is typically deemed an objectively worthy pursuit in
the name of development and global free trade. The mostly Japanese
audience were fascinated to learn that Japan is the principal donor
behind mega-projects in the Mekong region. During question time, Peace
Boat participants, including a former civil servant from the Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and a former large construction
company employee, were vocal in their belief that Japan should adopt
a position of genuine social responsibility in its overseas development
assistance role. |
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| Peter and John with Family |
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| Japanese speaking Kenyan musician Peter Orwa and son Mike during a performance |
There is no doubt that Peace Boat was lucky to
host a family of incredibly warm-hearted and talented musicians from
Kenya in the form of Peter, Mike and Ann Orwa and John Nzense. To
start with, Peter's thirty year connection with Nippon, beginning
with his Japan-based pro-boxing career, allowed the Peace Boat audience
to be treated to the rare company of a perfectly fluent Japanese,
Swahili and English speaking, musical maestro. Peter captured the
audience with his amusing tales of being perhaps the only black-skinned
person in Gunma prefecture in the 1970s, his Swahili and Japanese
fused enka folk singing ability, and his passion for Japanese tonkatsu
cooking. From his current position as a safari tour operator, Peter
also stressed the importance of wildlife conservation and recommended
people against buying products such as ivory. Peter, the consummate
entertainer, supported by his 13 year old son Mike, 20 year old daughter
Ann, and accomplished guitarist John, stirred up a fever with the
catchy rhythmic beats of djembe drums, dynamic African melodies and
energized, warrior-like dancing. The audience participation was incredible
since many people couldn't help moving and shaking either in their
seats or on stage. |
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| Fruit Party |
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| A cornucopia of South East Asian tropical fruit entices everyone outdoors |
With the equatorial, sultry climate of South East
Asia motivating many participants to spend more time indoors in air-conditioned
comfort, the tropical fruit of the region proved to be enough of a
lure to charm nearly everyone onboard Peace Boat to sweat it out a
little on the sunny 'Neptune' deck. Fresh fruit was the theme, and
everyone was keen, cwhether it was whiffy durian, pretty dragon-fruit,
rambutan, jackfruit, mango, longan, papaya or any of the cornucopia
of fruity flavours on offer. Social, light-hearted events like the
fruit party help create a real sense of community onboard the ship.
Unlike in ordinary society, younger and older participants alike mingle
freely and have a real chance to get to know one another, in this
case, over a delicious tropical beverage. |
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| Peace Boat's
40th 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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