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Media Briefing regarding Projects on Peace Boat’s 117th Global Voyage: Hibakusha Project and Ukraine Youth Ambassadors
Various projects are to be held onboard Peace Boat’s upcoming 117th Global Voyage, scheduled to depart from the port of Yokohama on April 13, 2024. Two highlights are the “Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project,” and the “Ukraine Youth Ambassadors.” A media briefing was held at Peace Boat’s Centre in Tokyo on March 27, introducing the projects as follows.
Peace Boat Hibakusha Project
The “Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project” was launched in 2008, and since then over 170 Hibakusha, or survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have sailed with Peace Boat to share their first-hand testimony of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, and their appeal for nuclear abolition. 3 Hibakusha will be joining this upcoming voyage, accompanied by two Youth Communicators throughout their journey. Together, they will work beyond generations and borders to encourage participation in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and strengthen concrete steps toward a nuclear-free world.
Tanaka Terumi, who experienced the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, served as Secretary General of the Japan Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers (Nihon Hidankyo) for a total of 20 years, and continues to appeal for nuclear weapons as the organisation’s Co-Chair. “Our role is to inform the world about the reality of the atomic bombings,” he said, adding that "I think that we sometimes just hear the words 'inhumanity of nuclear weapons' in some aspects without the substance of these words being truly conveyed. It is important to talk about what this actually means.” Mr Tanaka will be travelling onboard for approximately one month, from Yokohama until Cape Town.
Youth Communicator Huang “Miki” Rongyuan from China also spoke at the media briefing online, expressing that “Unfortunately, the world is not at peace. This is why now I would like to contribute to bringing this message of peace around the globe, so that hopefully people can enjoy travelling peacefully anywhere in the world.”
Ukraine Youth Ambassadors
Launched for the first time on this voyage in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan is the “Ukraine Youth Ambassadors” programme. 7 young Ukrainians living in Japan will be travelling onboard to engage in a capacity building and empowerment program, sharing their perspectives as young people from Ukraine on the current situation of their country, international cooperation, and future peace and reconstruction.
Natalia Makohon joined the press conference on behalf of the 7 Youth Ambassadors. Born and raised in the eastern part of Ukraine, in the Donetsk region, Natalia moved to Kyiv. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 she found refuge in Japan through a scholarship, and regularly gives talks on Ukraine. “I am honoured to have the opportunity to participate in Peace Boat and speak with people around the world,” shared Natalia. “My friend has remained a prisoner of war for two years now. War creates the most miserable conditions. I want to promote the importance of creating peace through grassroots exchange.”
Peace Boat hopes that the participating youth leaders will meet other peace-seeking people from around the world, broaden their horizons and become a driving force for Ukraine's future, as well as a bridge between Japan and Ukraine. Further, the issue of nuclear weapons and what is happening in Ukraine are also deeply connected. Throughout the voyage these project members will work with other voyage participants and partners around the world, taking concrete action for our common future.
