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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| August 13, 2004 |
Piraeus, Greece – Olympic Truce Event at Piraeus Beakeio Amphitheater |
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| Beginning the event; Piraeus Beakeio Amphitheater |
Opening day of the Athens 2004 Olympics, Peace Boat arrived in Piraeus Greece to celebrate the spirit
of the Olympic Games, and to continue its Olympic Truce Campaign that began in Tokyo on July 14th.
On the second day of Peace Boat's visit, with hundreds in attendance, an Olympic Truce event was staged
at Piraeus Beakeio Amphitheater to call for all nations to lay down their weapons, and build the foundation
of peace, mutual respect, understanding, and reconciliation. With it Peace Boat delivered the Peace
Flames from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to show peoples ability to transform the "fires of war into
flames of peace," and to call for the end of war from a civilian level. |
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| Acropolis from Athens Center |
Historically, the Olympic Movement was reestablished in 1896 to encourage the foundation of a peaceful
and better world by educating youth through sport. Returning to Athens after 108 years, the 2004 Olympics
demonstrated to the world that Greece is ready for the future, while retaining its ability to celebrate
its past. One tradition being honored was the ancient practice of "Ekecheiria" (an Olympic
custom that allowed athletes safe passage to and from The Games). In modern times, as recently as
November 2003, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an
Olympic Truce during the Athens Games, which began on August 13. And since 1992, the Olympic Truce
has helped with United Nations intervention in various conflicts, including the former Yugoslavia
and the Persian Gulf. |
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| Vivian, Yoko and Eleni holding "flames of peace" (left to right) |
Gathering with local residents at the amphitheater, Peace Boat staged the event in cooperation with
local youth, musicians, dancers, politicians (including Piraeus city, Piraeus State, Olympia city),
Panteon University, and members of the Greek peace movement. The ceremony began with a joint statement
read by Peace Boat representative Yoko Furuyama, and Vivian Myloni and Eleni Mantratzi (two Greek "peace
ambassador" traveling with Peace Boat from Tokyo to Greece). The three delivered "vows of
peace" from around the world and reinforced Peace Boat's belief in the importance of the Olympic
Truce. Countering the common belief that conflicts will always exist, and can't be resolved without
war, Furuyama said firmly "Lets not give up. As long as there is hope there is life." |
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| Mr. Yannis Michas, Piraeus prefecture representative delivers speech |
After a series of songs performed by the Saxophone Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra of Piraeus,
Mr. Yannis Michas, the representative of the Piraeus prefecture delivered a speech concerning the
use of military to secure the Olympics. Focusing on Olympic security he emphasized that today our
planet lives in considerable fear and insecurity, putting high pressure on the government of Greece
to take extra security measures during the Olympics, including the presence of military. But, in his
belief, these pressures come from people who will never understand that security does not come with
weapons, war, and blood - but only by taking human measures, and respecting human rights, can the
conflicts of the world be resolved. |
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| Mayor of Piraeus, Mr. Christos Agrapidis |
The Olympics has always been considered a time for ceasefire and for conflicting parties to meet and
negotiate peaceful solutions. The Mayor of Piraeus, Mr. Christos Agrapidis reinforced these beliefs
and expressed his concerns for the current conflicts in the world. "We are advocating for respect
and human rights for the people in Iraq," said Agrapidis. "At the same time we as a nation
– Greece, we are looking for human rights around the world." He emphasized, "There
is only one way to make peace in the world - through dialog." |
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| Ballet performed by Panteaon Universities contemporary dance group |
Captain Paris Katsoufis, the owner of the TSS Topaz, delivered a detailed history
of the Olympic Movement, and explained the Olympic tradition. "The Olympic games, served to
remind all who gathered, from all corners of Greece, that they had more in common than differences." Mr.
Katsoufis was then followed by a number of creative dance performances by Panteon University, ranging
from contemporary ballet to traditional Greek dance.
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| Fumiko Amano lights Peace Flame |
Mrs. Fumiko Amano delivered the most sobering moment of the event. Presenting a speech on behalf of
the Hibakusha (survivors of the nuclear bombings) of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she entered the stage
with a fellow survivor Mrs. Ishikawa Yoshiko. After reading a poem written by a Hiroshima Hibakusha,
she spoke to the audience about her own experience on the day of the Hiroshima bombing. "I looked
around, at a town that was completely dead. I was the only one who was alive. That was when I realized
that war was massacre." Finalizing her speech she proclaimed, "Lets vow together. No more
Hiroshima! No more Nagasaki! No more War!" |
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| Awa Dori preformed by members of Peace Boat, all were invited to join |
Nearing the close of the event, a representative of the Greek Peace movement presented
Peace Boat with a Greek peace flag before sharing a song composed by an Iraqi refugee involved
with his organization. Following this performance, with over a month of practice at sea, hundreds
of Peace Boat participants performed Tai Ko drumming and a variety of world dances, including
Salsa, Swing, Flamenco, and the traditional Japanese dances Awa Dori and Nanchu So-ran.
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| Narae Lee, South Korea, and Iba Farrah, Palestine, read Ocean Peace Declaration |
Ending the evening, with the skyline of Pireaus reflecting off the ocean in the background, Peace
Boat presented its Ocean Peace Declaration at the closing of the ceremony. Several Peace Boat participants,
staff, and International Peace Boat guests from Korea, Palestine, and Greece read out the declaration.
Together they proclaimed, "The ocean does not separate us, but connects us. We, the Peace Boat,
declare here to take active steps together with all of you to spread what all people wish to have;
peace, friendship, cooperation and humanitarian love." |
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| Final song joined by many |
As the speech came to a close hundreds of participants and guests gathered on the stage for the
presentation of Olympic Truce Peace Flames to Greece. As the Peace Flame ceremony began, a multi
media presentation created by Media School Without Borders and Peace Boat, traced the Peace Flames
journey to various countries, from Tokyo to Greece. Passing the "Peace Flames" throughout
the audience the amphitheater soon became illuminated with bright candle light while a vibrant display
of fireworks went off overhead. |
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