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Special Report |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| October 13, 2004 |
Global University Programme – "Breaking
Down the Wall" |
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| Members of the GU and IS programs at the United Nations
in New York City |
Under the theme of "Breaking Down the Wall" 22 participants on the 46th voyage have joined
Peace Boat's Global University (GU) - an intensive peace studies programme that combines study onboard
with experiences in countries that the ship visits. Nohira Shinsaku, the GU coordinator, explained
that over the programme's three months, students develops the skills and insight necessary to work
on conflict prevention at a grassroots level. In his words "The 'Wall' is symbolic for disagreement
and tense situations among groups of people, whether cultural, political, economic or religious." The
syllabus for the current voyage focuses on Israel-Palestine, Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka's civil war
and Japan's reconciliation process with the rest of Asia. Also covered was the United States' reaction
following the attacks of September 11, 2001. |
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| Guest speaker Kawabe Ichiro giving a lecture to GU students |
The GU participants represent a wide spectrum of Japanese society with ten university students, four
educators, office workers, businessmen, a farmer and an ex-company president. A cross section of generations
is also represented, with students ranging in age from 19 to 72 years old. Nohira, emphasizing the
value of group-study, said he meets with the students for several hours almost everyday with classes
including cultural studies, intensive English lessons and media literacy. Kanagae Yoko, a Japanese
language teacher and GU student, said the age differences creates a lively dynamic mixing young students'
fresh ideas with the perspective of older students who have experienced war. "Many young people
joined, some before they have even entered university [on land]. But we can learn the same thing at
the same level. I can learn from young people." |
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| Kanagae Yoko's presentation on Israel and the West Bank |
Many of the GU students joined the program hoping to get more involved in community based civil society
work in the future. Kanagae, who worked in Malaysia for three years as a Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) project coordinator, was searching for a new job and thought the timing was perfect. "When
I looked at the website, I immediately decided to join GU." Even after living abroad for nine
years, she feels as a teacher she can still learn something as a student. "Teachers have a big
responsibility for people's future, so they have to learn." |
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| Hirata Tamiko participating in a Northeast Asian youth panel at the UN |
Hirata Tamiko, a third year Japanese student at the University of British Columbia in Canada, wanted
to take a break from university and explore issues through contact with people, not books. "I
didn't know much about international relations, because I didn't study politics or economics in school.
But I found that they are all related." Katsuma Hiroyuki, who took off one year from studying
economics at a Japanese university to become a GU student, saw Peace Boat as an opportunity to gain
firmer grasp on things happening outside his home country. "When I was in Japan I learned about
conflict, but not the details. I could get all the facts, but I had no first hand experience." For
Hirata, who is anthropology major, being part of the GU program has strengthened her interest in working
with an NGO in the future. "I think it's important to see things as they are, but it's not as
easy as it sounds." |
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| GU coordinator Nohira Shinsaku |
As well as onboard workshops and classes, students learn firsthand about communities on exposure tours,
gaining a deeper appreciation of conflicts complexities through direct experience with effected people.
According to Nohira, combining facts with experience is critical to balancing out the bias of relying
on only mass media or people's opinions. "Many of the students said that through visiting Belfast
they could grip the reality of what conflict means." Hirata agreed, saying that her negative
expectation of Sri Lanka, a country torn by a 20 year long civil war, was far from her actual experience. "I
couldn't believe that there is still a conflict going in that country." |
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| Former ICJ Judge Chris Weeramantry |
Global University students also have the chance to have discussions with guest
speakers from conflict areas in class. Before arriving in Sri Lanka, the students heard from two
Sri Lankans - Rohan Edrisinha, a constitutional law professor at the University of Colombo and
Judge Christopher Weeramantry, a former judge of the UN's International Court of Justice. They
also talked about Japan's constitution and Japan's changing political climate with Maeda Tetsuo,
a journalist and prominent Japanese military affairs expert. Besides these guests, the students
held a series of discussions with participants from Peace Boat's International Student program.
Talking to Israeli International Student Itay Lewinsky had a big impact on Kanagae. "Before
I came here I didn't have know much about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Now I feel like I really
have to catch up."
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| Economics student Katsuma Hiroyuki |
Feedback and output are also essential ingredients in the GU program and help enrich the ship's atmosphere
for other passengers. Towards this, students practiced public speaking through group presentations
on topics that came up in GU sessions. They also addressed domestic conflicts by interviewing various
people on Peace Boat who have experienced war. For this series, held in the ship's free space, students
persuaded more than ten people to tell their stories from World War II. For Katsuma, this project
was especially meaningful, as his grandfather was a soldier in Manchuria. "My grandfather has
experienced war, but he didn't talk about it so much." For Katsuma, the lessons he took away
from these talks has him worried about Japan's relationship with the United States and Japan's increasingly
aggressive foreign policies, such as its involvement in the Iraq War. "The system now could start
a war. I think Japan needs to find another way to support developing countries in conflict." |
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| GU student Kurogawa Iwao participating in an English speech contest |
According to Nohira, the result of this deeper knowledge and experiences with
conflict is a desire to get more involved. Already several students have held projects of their
own initiative. Kanagae said she wishes more people have the drive to not only travel, but to
get to know more about the problems of people around the world and how they relate to themselves. "We
should not directly teach peace, but try to respect all people and understand the differences
between countries and between people." Hirata advocates that people from affluent nations
should become more educated about developing nations and cultures and not just the other way around. "There
are still people suffering from many things and so much is not appearing in the media," Hirata
said. "I know that it's time for Japan to change. I thought I couldn't change things, but
now I can act and do something with my voice," said Hirata.
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Resources
Northeast Asian Youth at the United Nations
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
Itay Lewinsky
Rohan Erdinsha
Judge Chris Weeramantry
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