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Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment.
Peace Boat seeks to create awareness and action based on effecting positive social and political change in the world. We pursue this through the organization of global educational programmes, responsible travel, cooperative projects and advocacy activities. These activities are carried out on a partnership basis with other civil society organizations and communities in Japan, Northeast Asia, and around the world.
Peace Boat carries out its main activities through a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages. The ship creates a neutral, mobile space and enables people to engage across borders in dialogue and mutual cooperation at sea, and in the ports that we visit. Activities based on Japan and Northeast Asia are carried out from our eight Peace Centers in Japan.
Internal Structure
Peace Boat is a non-governmental and non-profit organization with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, eight Peace Centers throughout Japan and a branch association in Geneva, Switzerland.
Tools
Peace Boat's use of the ship as a vehicle for our activities has allowed the development of a unique range of tools for our work:
– Forums on board: the ship as a neutral and mobile meeting space.
– Using the ship's media appeal.
– The power of people to people contact.
– Bringing back the world's reality: beyond conventional media
Networks and Affiliations
– NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
– Affiliate Member of Friends of the Earth International.
– Member of the International Peace Bureau.
– Northeast Asia Secretariat – Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.
– World Social Forum.
– Founding member of Peace Now Korea Japan.
– Member of the Non-Violent Peace Force.
– World Peace Now.
– Abolition 2000.
– Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Travel for Peace and Sustainability
Peace Boat believes that travel in itself can be a tool for positive social and political change, and seeks to create and implement best practices in responsible travel and what we call travel for peace and sustainability. Socio-political considerations rather than commercial interests largely determine our choice of destinations. Our partnerships with local organizations and travel agencies reflect our effort to utilize tourism in a progressive and educational form so as to contribute to global sustainability and peace.
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.