By: Lidia Evita, Staff Writer for World Liberty TV

Immediately following the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week, including the SDG and Climate Ambition Summits, Peace Boat’s new ship the MV Pacific World visited New York City on September 30, 2023.

For the first time since the pandemic as part of its 115th Global Voyage, having departed from Japan in mid-August.

The occasion also marked Peace Boat’s 40th Anniversary, since our first voyage set sail on September 2, 1983.

We were truly excited to welcome more than 500 guests from New York to participate in the special event “Sailing for Change – Partnerships for SDGs Celebration Onboard Peace Boat,” bringing together partners working to find innovative solutions to accelerate climate action.

Share best practices for responsible ocean stewardship, and build momentum for peace, nuclear disarmament, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event was opened by remarks from United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Ms. Melissa Fleming, who eloquently reminded participants that “the pursuit of peace goes hand in hand with the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals:

17 goals that would allow us to live in a world of peace, dignity, and equality on a healthy planet.”

This opening was followed by two panels featuring representatives from the youth, diplomatic, business and science communities, introducing their concrete initiatives and visions for blue economy – ocean innovation and partnership for the SDGs.

A highlight was the presentation by Youth Ocean Leaders from the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), seven young ocean advocates from diverse regions of the world, who travelled onboard Peace Boat from Guatemala several weeks before.

Participating in a programme of learning and exchange on issues such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), ecosystem restoration, community- and nature-based solutions and the Blue Economy, including experiential study in Guatemala, Panama, Jamaica and Miami.

The presentations were complemented by exhibitions including the Conscious Fashion + Lifestyle Network, coordinated by the UN Office for Partnerships.

Local sustainable jewelry designer VALSE NYC, and TRUE BLUE, a project taking place onboard Peace Boat’s current voyage to gather marine garbage through beach cleans in ports of call and “upcyle” this into accessories.

In celebration of Peace Boat’s 40th anniversary, participants also had the chance to view traditional Japanese festival and cultural activities such as noh, taiko and kagamibiraki sake barrel opening.

Accompanied by music by Camila Celin and DJ Tim Sharp, with visuals by Vexta, the partnership reception presented opportunities for networking and exchange between speakers, participants, and partners from various fields and backgrounds.

As stated by Under-Secretary-General Fleming, “We need all hands on deck!”

It was truly a wonderful experience, people in attendance, speakers and many world renowned experts speaking and learning about Climate change, saving oceans and many more humanitarian projects around the world, helping people, climate and oceans.

About Peace Boat: Peace Boat is a Japan-based international NGO which promotes peace, human rights, and sustainability. Established in 1983, it holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN).

Peace Boat carries out its main activities through a passenger ship that travels the world. Working in partnership with UN SDG Action Campaign, Peace Boat’s activities onboard and in port empower participants, strengthen local capacity for sustainability, and build people-to-people cooperation beyond borders. The voyages, run on a social business model, blend sustainable tourism, lifelong learning and friendship activities with educational programs, cooperative projects, and advocacy.

Peace Boat carries out our activities in partnership and is a member of the following networks, among others (in alphabetical order): Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC),    Northeast Asia Regional Secretariat, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN),     International Steering Group, International Peace Bureau, Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines,  Japan Civil Society Network on SDGs (SDGs Japan), Japan Climate Initiative, Korea Peace Appeal and  Mission Blue Alliance partner.

Peace Boat’s first voyage was organized in 1983 by a group of Japanese university students as a creative response to government censorship regarding Japan’s past military aggression in the Asia-Pacific. They chartered a ship to visit neighboring countries with the aim of learning first-hand about the war from those who experienced it and initiating people-to-people exchange.

Since its first voyage in 1983, Peace Boat has chartered a number of passenger ships to organize our voyages, adapting the onboard spaces to provide a unique and dynamic environment for its participants. Our global voyages from 2023 will be organized on the Pacific World.

Peace Boat has around 100 staff members who represent diverse ages, education histories, backgrounds and nationalities. Nearly all staff members joined the Peace Boat team after participating in a voyage as a volunteer, participant or guest educator, and demonstrating a strong commitment and contribution to Peace Boat’s active.

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