Peace Boat

For 103 days Nick Logan travelled with the Japanese NGO Peace Boat, on a voyage around the world to promote human rights, the Millennium Development Goals and environmental awareness. In my position as web reporter, I had the chance to interview some of the most amazing and inspiring people I’ve ever met and to visit hardworking groups and organisations in countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Fiji and the Philippines.

These are the reports that I filed from Peace Boat’s 68th Global Voyage, December 28, 2009 — April 9, 2010.

Port of Call Reports

Suva, Fiji – March 29, 2010

femLINKPacific — The fight for women’s rights in Fiji

“Bula vinaka and welcome to femTALK 89.2 FM.” Women across Fiji can now hear this salutation, and their personal stories, in communities across the country thanks to a portable radio transmitter, called the suitcase radio, and the women of femLINKPacific.

Women from the Fiji Islands until 2004 didn’t have much of a place in the country’s media, but that year femLINK – a women’s rights and security organisation – began capturing the voices of the female population, particularly in rural areas, and broadcasting them around the country on femTALK. “Radio for them was something that was in the capital city,” says femLINK director and founder Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls. “And, they never dreamt they would ever see radio, let alone talk on the radio (and) have their story heard.” It was such an emotional experience, she shares about those early shows. “We started the radio to do exactly that.” Read more.

Callao/Lima, Peru — March 6, 2010

MNATHOC and MNNATSOP – Rights for Peru’s Child Labourers

“What laws do you have in Japan to protect working children?” asked a teenage Peruvian girl. The group of guests from Peace Boat sat silent for a few moments before one participant explained that most young people in Japan don’t work unless their trying to earn money for things such as clothes and cell phones. The girl and her friends appeared slightly surprised at the response; for them, a job isn’t a privilege. Read more.

Valparaiso, Chile – March 3, 2010

Earthquake relief – 68th Voyage participants offer support to Chile

Peace Boat sailed away from the port of Punta Arenas, in the south of Chile, on the evening of February 25, and headed towards its next port of call, Valparaiso. The ship was far off the Chilean shore on the morning of February 27 when participants learned of the catastrophic magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the heart of the country and the subsequent tsunami that crashed into the coast. Read more.

Montevideo, Uruguay — February 13, 2010

Organic farming – A small country sets a big example

Sandwiched between South America’s two largest countries – Brazil and Argentina – Uruguay doesn’t often grab the headlines in global media. But, this tiny nation, of 3.4 million people, has been leading Latin America on a number of fronts including education; civil rights; and, in particular, organic farming. Agriculture makes up 9.5 per cent of Uruguay’s GDP (gross domestic product) and because of the country’s size and undeveloped landscape – much of its territory is arable land – many farmers can raise their crops and livestock naturally: GMO- and chemical-free. Read more.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  – February 8, 2010

São Martinho – Teaching Rio’s street kids a better life is possible

Associação Beneficiente São Martinho (St Martin Charity Association) has been reaching out to Rio de Janeiro’s street kids for more than 25 years, but it all started with a simple act of kindness that continues today: handing out breakfast to youngsters living in alleys and gutters. The children, as young as six and as old as eighteen, aren’t necessarily orphans — many have families somewhere – but for various reasons they are fending for themselves. Exact numbers – especially for Rio de Janeiro –aren’t readily available: Some conservative reports say there are 25, 000 kids living on the streets of Brazil’s major cities (source: SESC Brazil, 2009), while others suggest the number is more like seven million (source: The National Campaign for Children Now in the Street, 2009). According to information put out by São Martinho, their staff works with more than 1,500 boys and girls in Rio each year. The organisation has grown to have three bases around the city, where they can serve breakfast and lunch to the children. Read more.

Download São Martinho – Teaching Rio’s street kids another life is possible
Download São Martinho – Teaching Rio’s street kids another life is possible en Español

Walvis Bay, South Africa – January 28 – 29, 2010

Palama Metsi – Riding the waves to a new life

Surfing is Zen, according to many wave riders: You stare off into the horizon, wait for that perfect swell and let go of absolutely everything else in your mind. In short, like the Buddhist movement Zen, it’s a way of life. Some also consider it an addiction, but one that is natural. “Surfing is the easiest drug,” says Shafiek Kahn.

Mr Kahn has surfed for 10 years and runs a board shop and surfing school at Muizenberg Beach, near Cape Town. But, he also uses his love of the sport to help young boys escape life on the streets. It all started when he met two boys who were living in a cave, up the hill from the beach. Every Saturday, he would spend a couple of hours in the water with them, and week after week he saw a change in their demeanour: his initial act of goodwill developed into the Palama Metsi Surfing Development Academy. Read more.

Port Victoria, Seychelles – February 16, 2010

Developing eco-tourism in paradise

The lush, green mountains and quiet, pristine beaches of Mahé Island – the largest in the Seychelles archipelago – can only be described as breathtaking. While the country is a popular location for holidaymakers, some local organizations want visitors to see the country as an eco-tourism and cultural destination. On January 16, Peace Boat participants visited Kot Man-Ya exotic flower garden and Le Jardin de Roi spice garden, both just outside the capital city of Victoria. Read more.

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Manila, The Philippines – January 3, 2010

Japanese-Filipino children: Connecting with their fathers’ homeland

There are between 100,000 and 200,000 children whose Filipina mothers worked in Japan’s hostess bars and whose fathers were their mothers’ Japanese clients. The women, referred to as overseas performing artists (OPA), went to Japan as entertainers, but upon their arrival were forced to wait upon male customers and often go out with them on dohan (enforced dates). These dates often lead to sex, and sometimes relationships, but in many instances, the women go back to the Philippines alone, pregnant and with little-to-no money. Read more.

Keelung/Taipei, Taiwan – December 31, 2009

ECPAT Taiwan: Winning the fight against child exploitation

After giving onboard lectures and workshops about the commercial sexual exploitation of children, guest educator Saito Keiko of ECPAT/STOP Japan accompanied 22 Peace Boat participants to an information exchange at the office of ECPAT Taiwan during the ship’s call to Keelung.

The staff and volunteers at the organization operate an online reporting service through which the public can alert authorities about child pornography on the internet. They work closely with local police units, the government and internet service providers. Read more.

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More reports to come.