On January 18th, Peace Boat US interns had the opportunity to attend the event “From the Pacific to the Steppes,” and listened to speakers on the topic of the impact of nuclear testing on the Marshall Islands and Kazakhstan, and how it has affected their countries, land, and people. They also spoke about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), and how their communities have responded to it. Both countries have been at the forefront of promoting the treaty. The Marshall Islands have seen lasting medical effects on their communities because of radiation exposure from the US nuclear tests. Kazakhstan was also used as the primary testing location for the Soviet Union. Over 450 nuclear tests took place and contaminated a large portion of the Northern part of the country. Affected communities like the Marshall Islands and Kazakhstan continue to speak out on their experiences to promote support for the TPNW.
The speakers included Dr. Togzhan Kassenova, a senior fellow with the Project on International Security, Commerce, and Economic Statecraft at the Center for Policy Research. She gave some stories of how the people in Kazakhstan were personally affected by nuclear weapons testing. She spoke about a man named Bolatbek who lost many family members from different generations due to radiation from the testing sites that continue to affect the country. Not only did the radiation affect people themselves, it poisoned their land, food, water and more. She spoke about the testing site, the collective size of the state of Hawai’i, possibly being returned to public use in the future, as many of the areas – aside of radiation hotspots, which may remain contaminated for an indefinite period of time – could have low enough levels of radiation to be safe for the public. Dr. Kassenova also spoke about the people of Kazakhstan not being “passive victims,” and returned to her example of Bolatbek as a man who organized and attended anti-nuclear rallies in his youth. After the disbanding of the Soviet Union and Kazakhstan’s liberation, the state inherited hundreds of nuclear weapons and materials, but the government decided to designate Kazakhstan as a nuclear free country, and they have been disposed of.
Another speaker, Dr. Ivana Hughes, from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, provided insight about the effects nuclear weapons testing had on the Marshall Islands using data collected across the Bikini Atoll. She provided statistics on the presence of background gamma radiation – a type of light with short wavelengths but high energies that is very destructive – and it’s presence on Bikini as a result of nuclear testing, unlike “New York City’s from the bedrock, and Colorado’s from the cosmos.” She also spoke about the presence of the radioactive isotope Cesium-137, as well as how radiation affects people differently based on age and gender, with younger people and women being most affected. She showed how countries have varying standards of how much Cesium-137 is safe to consume, with the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) being the most liberal, and the standards of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) being the most restrictive. However, many of the measurements they had taken of the produce grown on Bikini far exceeded even the standards of the U.S. FDA, exhibiting how unsafe the nuclear testing had made the food. Dr. Hughes also provided statistics on the location of the most radiation as found by their research, the majority of which was towards the center of the island of Bikini, stating that the radiation on the beaches has mostly been washed away, into the Pacific Ocean. She also stated that many islands in the atoll experience low to no levels of radiation per their research, and there is a hope for the islands that do have radiation exposure to be cleared and cleaned enough in the future to be perfectly safe for public use.
Benetick Kabua Maddison, the executive director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative and Veronique Christory, the Senior Arms Advisor of the ICRC Delegation to the UN, were also panelists at the event. Maddison cited that the amount of nuclear testing done over these twelve years was the equivalent of 65 Hiroshima bombs, and the combined 110 megatons averaged out to around 1.5 Hiroshima bombs each day. Marshall Island also has some of the highest cancer and diabetic rates worldwide, stemming from nuclear testing. Christory explained the evolution of trauma from nuclear testing with evidence of illness, people born with congenital disabilities and a predisposition to mental illnesses.
Later that evening, Peace Boat US interns were invited to attend a reception honoring Benetick Kabua Maddison. While there, they had the opportunity to talk more with not only the speakers but also other people who attended the event earlier that day and were able to learn more about what their roles include, as well as share about Peace Boat US and its mission.
Peace Boat US offers educational programs about nuclear disarmament, including peace education, study programs and guest educators onboard the global voyages.
Peace Boat US joined the Our Ocean Conference in Panama from March 2 – 3, and participated as a mentor at the Youth Conference that took place the week prior from February 27th – March 1st, co-organized with our partner organization, Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA). The Republic of Panama became the first Central American country to host the Our Ocean Conference. With the theme ‘Our Ocean, Our Connection,’ the Government of Panama highlighted the importance of knowledge as the basis of our actions and policies to ensure protection of our ocean, responsible management of marine resources, and sustainable future economic growth.
During the Youth Conference, Peace Boat US joined nearly one hundred youth from around the world, including Peace Boat Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador, Khadija Stewart from Trindad and Tobago, who was present at the conference and currently also works as the Caribbean Coordinator for SOA. The event was an opportunity to inspire, inform, and empower youth participants to build holistic solutions that better balance the needs of society, industry, and the ocean environment.
Also during the youth summit, we participated in a scientific field study program about Sea Cucumbers in Panama. Sea cucumbers are echinoderms – like starfish or sea urchins. There are some 1,250 or more known species, and many of these animals are helping keep our ocean floor healthy. Together with youth leaders from Sustainable Ocean Alliance, including Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador Khadija Stewart, we spent the afternoon learning about how youth can contribute to the UN Ocean Decade through science and innovation.
In Panama City, Peace Boat US met with our partners from the Embera and Kuna indigenous communities. Militza Flaco, an indigenous female leader from the Embera Quera community, has traveled on the Peace Boat as a guest speaker. On Peace Boat’s upcoming 114th Global Voyage, Wago Mendez from the Kuna indigenous community will be joining the ship from Iceland to Panama as a guest speaker to share his traditional knowledge and artwork. This year, Peace Boat US will also support additional scholarships for indigenous youth to join the new “Youth for the SDGs” program focused on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
During the main conference, several countries announced new commitments to protect our oceans, including through financing, development and infrastructure programs for coastal communities. Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen announced the expansion of the Banco Volcan protected area, which covers 54% of the country’s oceans and was supported by our partner organization Mission Blue. Meanwhile, the EU has committed to putting €816.5 million toward ensuring a secure, clean, sustainably managed ocean.
Peace Boat US partner and Executive Director of the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance), Jessie Turner discussed climate change, impacts, solutions, and response strategies. She stated, “OA is quickly moving from a science and technical issue to a policy and resource management issue—this comes with challenges, but also opportunities.” We are excited to support these inspiring governmental commitments with educational programs and partnerships for ocean and climate action as part of the UN Ocean Decade of Science for Sustainable Development. Peace Boat US will continue to support our commitment for the Our Ocean Conference to increase youth participation in the United Nations Ocean Decade and this year we invite you to join us on our inaugural voyage of the Pacific World!
On January 24, the Peace Boat US Interns participated in a Virtual Reality (VR) activity with the Games for Change non-profit organization that works to develop a community of practice using immersive media to address real-world challenges, create empathy, and drive social change. The initiative seeks to encourage dialogue; foster collaboration between content creators, industry, and cause-based organizations; advance equity and inclusion; and inspire creative use of emerging technologies for social impact.
Peace Boat US interns joined a program with Games for Change to view a Virtual Reality documentary titled “On the Morning You Wake (To the End of the World). The organization created a 3D virtual reality that shows the anxiety and obscurity the citizens of Hawai’i experienced in 2018, when a false missile alert was sent in the early morning, and remained unresolved for 38 minutes. This documentary also exists in a 2D format for accessibility purposes, and is translated into or has subtitles for seven different languages. The facilitators of this event also stressed the sensitivity of the topic, and gave the interns participating many safe ways to ask for breaks, or pause if needed anytime. Before the VR experience there was a small informational survey, and afterwards there was an “aftercare” survey to talk about the emotions the interns felt during the experience.
The virtual reality had 3 chapters: Take Cover, The Doomsday Machine, and Kuleana. The first chapter, Take Cover, illustrated the emotions of the people of Hawai’i when they first got the alert, in the form of a text message. It highlighted stories from people on the islands, some of whom were as young as seven, who experienced the fear of the ballistic missile threat firsthand. It showed people getting ready for work, or going to school, or doing any number of everyday activities, and the immense chaos that ensued following the alert. Some people spoke of seeing parents putting their children down sewer drains to protect them from a potential explosion, and the fear felt by those turned away from shelters because there was just no more room. Others were phoning family members who were not on the islands, and spending what they believed to be their last few minutes with their loved ones. There were also people from Hawai’i living elsewhere, with family and friends who still lived on the islands, that faced an indescribable uncertainty for those 38 minutes, when they had no way of helping those they loved.
The Doomsday Machine chapter featured a woman who survived the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs when she was twelve years old. She described her first instance of seeing those who were at the edge of the blast radius, the way the radiation had affected their bodies, and how it stuck with her. She also spoke of the flashbacks that she got from the text message, how she had moved to Hawai’i thinking she would not experience that threat again, and how hopeless it made her feel.
The Kuleana chapter had an emphasis on responsibility and interconnection. If there were to be a nuclear war, there would be no world left. Modern technologies would push the instant fatalities from one nuclear weapon past one million. Regardless of who fired first, there would be a chain reaction of responses that would lead to the destruction of humanity on a global scale. If individuals did not die instantly from the blasts, the radiation would poison waterways, the food humans depend on for survival, and lead to radiation-based illnesses for those who happened to survive. The workshop ended on a call to action, reassuring those watching that there is a chance for change, that the possibility of a nuclear-free world is attainable.
The experience, while intense, leaves those who experience it with the feeling of responsibility and the need to take action. The interns were able to see the people of Hawai’i and hear their stories without physically being there. They were also able to see and feel the effect that the missile threat had on Hawai’i, and what would have happened to the world if it had not been a false alarm. During the survey afterwards, there was information provided on disarmament, the abolishment of nuclear weapons, and the resources that people can use to push for a nuclear-free future. Please join our youth delegates in working towards a sustainable world for all, free of nuclear weapons for our future generations.
On January 4th, The Peace Boat US interns from Hollins University had the opportunity to tour the United Nations Headquarters upon their arrival to New York City. They were able to see the meeting rooms where the General Assembly and the Security Council hold discussions, amongst many others. They also saw some of the displayed exhibits including a map of the UN efforts and “blue hat” deployments worldwide, an exhibit displaying information surrounding the inclusion of Palestine as an Observer State, and a Holocaust remembrance exhibit. At one of the entrances of the General Assembly room, there was a large exhibition promoting disarmament, and displayed items that were recovered from the site of Hiroshima and a statue from the aftermath of Nagasaki.
The interns were given an introduction to the Member States of the UN, of which there are 193, and a bit of information about the Observer States – the Vatican and Palestine. In the Security Council meeting room, the Hollins Interns learned about the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom. They also learned about the election process for the non-permanent members, of which Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates are a part. For these states, their two-year term will end in 2023, and their positions will be up for election. The other five non-permanent member states, who will finish their two-year term in 2024, are Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland, and Japan, the last of which is currently serving as the Security Council President for the month of January.
More recently, the Peace Boat US interns had a second chance to tour the United Nations after gaining their ground passes. They explored more of the ground level rooms, were able to sit in on a Committee on NGO’s, and even had lunch together in the United Nations.
Peace Boat US works to raise awareness for the UN Sustainable Development Goals through its scholarship program for young people from the ages of 18-30 to participate in the “Youth for SDGs” program. The goal of this program is to not only raise awareness for the UN SDGs but also to educate young adults about sustainability and encourage them to make a difference in their community. Peace Boat has reached many young people through this program both in person and virtually by working with UN partners. Some examples of Peace Boat US’s involvement include World Ocean’s Day and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).
During the month of January, Peace Boat US is welcoming a new team of interns to gear up for all the UN related events and projects in 2023. Peace Boat US will continue its signature academic internship program with Hollins University that gives students the opportunity to work first hand on upcoming projects related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, attend ECOSOC Partnership events at the end of January, as well as the UN Water Conference in March. Interns also gain access to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, giving them the unique experience of working alongside influential leaders within the international institution. Help us give a warm welcome to Ti-Shawn Wellington, Autumn Baxter, Ellie Laferty, Julia Leng, and our returning intern team of Molly Rosaaen, Cecilia Fan, and Nuria Stojkovski! We are thrilled to have you, and look forward to building this cohort.
Meet our Interns:
Nuria Stojkovski recently graduated from Sankt-Anna-Gymnasium, a German high school in Munich. She is attending the Philosophische Hochschule of Munich for a one year philosophical orientation program. Nuria enjoys art and socializing, straddling five languages (German, English, Italian, French and Croatian) helps her connect with people around the world. Nuria is a volunteer for Peace of Paper e.V., a creative project in Munich that supports aid organizations that specialize in organizing and facilitating refugees escape routes. She was elected as class representative, where she had the chance to improve her skills in everyday communication and conflict resolution.
Nuria is most passionate about SDG #16 for Peace, Justice and strong Institutions, because she believes that empowered institutions and communities are crucial for any kind of problem solving, especially when it comes to worldwide peace. She is also very interested in SDG #13 for Climate Action. She attended a two year seminar about climate change and wrote her final term paper on “The Global Nature of Water Shortage.” She is also a member of the first Fridays 4 Future message group in Munich since late 2018. Nuria is excited to be part of Peace Boat’s huge community and she hopes to further develop her research skills along with her knowledge about coalition building and SDGs in general.
Xingyu (Cecilia) Fan is a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego. She majors in International Relations with a minor in Climate Change Studies, hoping to tackle climate change at a global level. Cecilia enjoys public speaking and cross-cultural communication and loves to go hiking in her free time. During her time at UCSD, Cecilia composed an Honors Thesis focusing on facilitating transnational cooperation between China and the U.S to promote renewable energies. She is also currently working with the University’s administrative committee in setting up a climate change course requirement for all future UCSD students.
Cecilia is most passionate about Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action. Believing that public participation is key to resolving climate change, she hopes to mobilize global efforts from both social and political aspects. At Peace Boat, she is looking forward to gaining valuable NGO working experiences and honing her research, networking, and communication skills to make greater impacts in the near future.
Molly Rosaaen is a recent graduate of Pace University and majored in Political Science and Women’s & Gender Studies. She is passionate about nuclear disarmament and advocates for providing spaces for those who understand the environmental and humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons. She works with a youth-led organization called Youth4TPNW, which promotes these values (TPNW stands for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons) Involving young people in conversations that will affect their lives and future is vital to make effective change.
Molly is most interested in Sustainable Development Goal #13, Climate Action, and SDG #16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. She believes that climate justice can be achieved by providing spaces for everyone to participate in the movement and have their voices heard. She is excited to be working with Peace Boat US and gaining experience in peacebuilding.
Ti-Shawn Wellington is originally from Jamaica and resides in New York. She is a sophomore at Hollins University, double majoring in Public Health and Biology. In her free time, she enjoys watching documentaries and doing research. She serves on her class SGA as a senator, does work study, and acts as the secretary of her universities’ Public Health Outreach Club.
Two topics dear to her heart are women’s health and culture as a social determinant of health. Being a female affects you before you are even born and dictates the type of life you will have. Also, culture is how a majority of people navigate their life and how people find answers. Establishing a relationship, respect, and understanding is essential when working with people from different cultural backgrounds. Her favourite SDGs are Gender Equality and Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions. She firmly believes that all the SDGs are interwoven and can be achieved by advocating for peace and justice for everyone. She is excited to join Peace Boat U.S. in person this January and learn all she can to implement it into her own life.
Julia（Zhuofan) Leng is a master student from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem majors in international development. Having been exposed to the social and political issues in the Middle East, Julia has great passions for conflict mitigation and peace building, as well as fostering economic development in disadvantaged communities. Previously, she worked as an intern with CIMI (The Center for International Migration and Integration) in Jerusalem in facilitating community resilience and social integration of Thai migrant workers in Israel. She also worked with Leaders International in Palestine and Jordan on projects of startup incubation, women microfinance and Syrian refugee empowerment.
Julia is most passionate about Sustainable Development Goal #16 for Peace, Justice and strong Institutions, because she believes that a just, peaceful and inclusive world is an essential foundation of human development. In the Middle East, she volunteers with local peacebuilding organizations to bring Israelis and Palestinians together in order to improve mutual understanding and facilitate peace building. She also pays close attention to Sustainable Development Goal #13 for Climate Action since she has realized deeply that the climate change has profound implications throughout sectors and that it is urgent to take action to cope with climate change.
Autumn Baxter is a current sophomore attending Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. She is working towards her undergraduate degree in International Studies, hoping to focus in Refugee Studies. She is a member of the Hollins Outdoor Program and the Rock Climbing team, an avid ceramicist and potter, and is a people-person through and through.
Recent classes have led her to focus on how the climate crisis is affecting different populations unequally, and the role that certain countries should be taking in solving them, which has shifted her interest towards SDG #13, Climate Action. She also had the opportunity to research sustainable architecture and city design in earlier semesters, and thus SDG #11 is also of great interest to her.
Ellie Laferty is a current sophomore at Hollins University in her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. She is double majoring in public health and communications. She rides for the Hollins University equestrian team as well as competing with her own horse across Virginia and the east coast.
Ellie is most passionate about SDG #11 for sustainable cities and communities along with SDG #1 for no poverty. She is drawn to these because she is interested in how she can improve her own city and the wellbeing & safety of those who also live there. Her main interest with her own city is the safety and health of students in the Roanoke area. She has also become interested in the international side of Public Health and how we can help improve lives around the world. She is very excited to join PeaceBoat U.S. this January and learn more about the issues she is interested in.
On Monday, September 19th, Peace Boat US and Blue Planet Alliance kicked off Climate Week NYC with the online program, “Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants,” highlighting themes including climate justice, conservation, sustainability, activism, youth participation, and personal experience.
The program opened with Emilie McGlone, Director of Peace Boat US, introducing two of Peace Boat’s educational programs for ocean and climate action: the Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador program, and the “Youth for the SDGs” scholarship program. Juan Sebastian Huertas Olea, a recipient of the Youth for the SDGs scholarship from Colombia, talked about his experience in Panama with Peace Boat. He was especially interested in the encounter with indigenous communities explaining that it was, “one of the best cultural exchanges of my life.” The next speaker, Sara Van Eerde from Global Kids, talked about her experience on Peace Boat’s 100th Global voyage. On her 10-day voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Valparaiso, Chile, she learned how to broaden her perspective on social justice and take action. On the ship, they signed a petition to make the Chilean side of Patagonia a World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO. She also talked about integrating creativity into activism, such as singing or art to help raise awareness about important global issues.
Sara Van EerdeHelen ManciniManzel Matt NgirmeriilJuan Sebastian Huertas Olea
The next presenter, Manzel Matt Ngirmeriil, is a Peace Boat Ocean and Climate Youth Ambassador and a Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador from Palau. He spoke about the revival of Jellyfish Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site, due to conservation efforts and sustainable tourism practices. He stated his experience with Peace Boat and Blue Planet Alliance, “[both] gave me the opportunity to network and connect with people that got me to where I am today.” The event’s last speaker was Helen Mancini, who is also a Blue Planet Alliance Ambassador. At her school, she explained her leadership role in Fridays for Future, a youth-led and -organized movement, and how she mobilizes young people to make their voices heard. Furthermore, Helen described her work with TREEage, a youth climate justice coalition, and highlighted different types of activism.
The final segment of the presentation looked to the future. Emilie McGlone showcased the plans for Peace Boat’s new “Ecoship” which will reduce the CO2 used by 40%. The new ship is the next step towards a 100% renewable energy in line with Peace Boat’s values. The closing remarks urged that there is still work to be done, but with the support of organizations like Peace Boat and Blue Planet Alliance, there is hope for making the world a better, more sustainable place.
Peace Boat US youth leaders join the #Youth4Disarmament discussion with Ms. Setsuko Thurlow, co-hosted with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs at the UN Headquarters
On August 4th, 2022, as a side-event to the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, the #Youth4Disarmament group held an in-person and live zoom meeting with Setsuko Thurlow, a survivor of the Hiroshima nuclear bombing. The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) launched the Youth4disarmament project in 2019 to reach out to young people and connect them with experts in contemporary international security concerns, the UN’s work, and how to get involved in disarmament activism. Four Peace Boat US interns joined the event and met Setsuko Thurlow herself. The conference started with an introduction of all of the in-person attendees to Setsuko, immediately followed by the main event, her personal testimony.
As a 13-year-old teenager, Setsuko witnessed the destruction of her hometown, Hiroshima, by the nuclear bomb dropped by the United States. She still remembers evacuating to find safe shelters with other survivors, and how people were desperately searching for water to survive and to wash off the blood from their bodies. As she was lucky enough to not only survive this humanitarian tragedy but also to study abroad later in her life, she decided to take firm action and become a leader in the global effort to stop nuclear weapons proliferation. Setsuko strived to raise public awareness of the harm of nuclear weapons and urged government action. Through sharing her story as a Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor) at the NPT Review Conference, Setsuko hopes to have people realize the extremely high risk and threats that nuclear weapons present to the entire world. Hearing her personal experience of the effects of nuclear weapons is critically important for our comprehension and actions regarding nuclear disarmament. As Setsuko herself said, “I don’t want sympathy, I want understanding.”
In addition to her personal experience, Setsuko enlightened the participants on other buried history around the use of the atomic bombs, specifically the role of the United States after the war was over. Instead of helping survivors, the US used the aftermath of the bomb as an experiment, creating the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission to study what the radiation did to humans. Additionally, General MacArthur censored media and victim reports of the devastating humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons during the US occupation until 1951. Not only did this prevent the world from knowing the true damage of the bomb, survivors were marginalized and discriminated against by society, as radiation was thought to be contagious.
At the end of the conference, Setsuko answered questions from the audience and viewers from all over the world. In these questions, she related the past nuclear attack to the recent war between Russia and Ukraine and warned that the use of nuclear weapons as either a threat or a means of sanction should be strictly prohibited. She also encouraged young people to stay strong by putting their sympathetic emotions into real, firm actions against the existence of nuclear weapons. She expressed ways in which we can partake in activism, such as participating in conferences like this one, informing those around us, as well as joining organizations that are responsible for changes already made and advocating for further disarmament.
While Setsuko’s testimony of surviving the bombing was heartbreaking, her story of activism was inspiring. After finishing University in Japan, she came to the United States, hoping to get the education to rebuild her hometown Hiroshima. The media soon found out that she was a Hiroshima survivor, during a time where the United States was still only beginning to understand the effects of radiation. After strongly advising the United States government against nuclear testing, those around her became unwelcoming to Setsuko, telling her to go back. She explains that this period of time was very difficult, being that she was in a new country with no language skills and no close community. Coming out of this time, she became more strongly committed to the moral responsibility of spreading the word about Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Between the years 1974 and 1975, during the 30th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Setsuka was determined to break the silence. She contacted the mayors of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Toronto. Eventually, they all organized a photographic exhibition for the event, the first of its kind in the world. This became the beginning of many action groups and projects. Following the exhibition, during the 150th anniversary of the city of Toronto, the city and its residents came together to construct a peace garden at the center of the city. To this day, the flame of peace and other symbols serve to remind us all that the experience from Nagasaki and Hiroshima is a living one. The events themselves, being heavily censored to being painted in a pro-US manner, remind us how racism and colonialism are deeply intertwined with nuclear weapons. This theme continues to be present today, long after the bombings, and it is up to both youth voices and their older counterparts to work together towards nuclear abolition as well as an understanding of the real dangers of nuclear power to the public.
By preserving the memory of Hibakushas, such as through conferences like this one with Setsuko Thurlow, youth can become empowered to build a nuclear-free future. Hibakushas’ testimonies allow us to see the lack of humanity in the atomic bombings of Japan, and force us to, as Setsuko stated, put “human beings at the center of consideration.“
Peace Boat US intern Authors: Vivienne Holmarsdottir, Gloria Wu, Cecilia Fan, Ayesha Jamal, Artpita Kundu, Matt Lohmann
This fall, we have an aspiring and talented intern team joining Peace Boat US to assist us with our upcoming events and projects. We kick off this program with an exciting series of events for Climate Week NYC—the biggest global climate event of its kind. Peace Boat US co-hosted different events with a number of other organizations to bring together the most influential leaders in climate action from business, government, and the climate community, and our interns had the opportunity to participate in these events to learn and drive climate actions. Climate Week NYC 2022 was a milestone for the beginning of Peace Boat US’ Fall programs on climate action ahead of our activities and advocacy planned for the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, November 6 -18, 2022. We want to give a warm welcome to the new intern team: Nuria Stojkovski, Daniela de León, Xingyu (Cecilia) Fan, and Molly Rosaaen. We are thrilled to have you, and we look forward to working with you!
Meet our interns:
Molly Rosaaen is a rising senior studying Political Science and Gender Studies at Pace University. She is passionate about nuclear disarmament and advocates for providing spaces for those who understand the environmental and humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons. She works with a youth-led organization called Youth4TPNW, which promotes these values (TPNW stands for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons) Involving young people in conversations that will affect their lives and future is vital to make effective change.
Molly is most interested in Sustainable Development Goal #13, Climate Action, and SDG #16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. She believes that climate justice can be achieved by providing spaces for everyone to participate in the movement and have their voices heard. She is excited to be working with Peace Boat US and gaining experience in peace-building.
Nuria Stojkovski recently graduated from Sankt-Anna-Gymnasium, a German high school in Munich. She is attending the Philosophische Hochschule of Munich for a one year philosophical orientation program. Nuria enjoys art and socializing, straddling five languages (German, English, Italian, French and Croatian) helps her connect with people around the world. Nuria is a volunteer for Peace of Paper e.V., a creative project in Munich that supports aid organizations that specialize in organizing and facilitating refugees escape routes. She was elected as class representative, where she had the chance to improve her skills in everyday communication and conflict resolution.
Nuria is most passionate about SDG #16 for Peace, Justice and strong Institutions, because she believes that empowered institutions and communities are crucial for any kind of problem solving, especially when it comes to worldwide peace. She is also very interested in SDG #13 for Climate Action. She attended a two year seminar about climate change and wrote her final term paper on “The Global Nature of Water Shortage.” Further, she is a member of the first Fridays 4 Future message group in Munich since late 2018. Nuria is excited to be part of Peace Boat’s huge community and she hopes to further develop her research skills along with her knowledge about coalition building and SDGs in general.
Returning interns:
Xingyu (Cecilia) Fan is a recent graduate from the University of California, San Diego. She majors in International Relations with a minor in Climate Change Studies, hoping to tackle climate change at a global level. Cecilia enjoys public speaking and cross-cultural communication and loves to go hiking in her free time. During her time at UCSD, Cecilia composed an Honors Thesis focusing on facilitating transnational cooperation between China and the U.S to promote renewable energies. She has also worked with the University’s administrative committee in setting up a climate change course requirement for all future UCSD students.
Cecilia is most passionate about Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action. Believing that public participation is key to resolving climate change, she hopes to mobilize global efforts from both social and political aspects. At Peace Boat, she is looking forward to gaining valuable NGO working experiences and honing her research, networking, and communication skills to make greater impacts in the near future.
Daniela de León was born and raised in Maya Q’anjob’al territory in Guatemala’s northern highlands. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies at Lake Forest College in Illinois. Daniela is passionate about environmental justice, collective memory as a way of truth telling, and indigenous rights. She is excited to continue participating in Peace Boat US as an intern during the Fall of 2022. Daniela was very active as an intern during the summer of 2022 and participated in the United Nations World Oceans Day related activities in June, as well as the UN High-Level Political Forum in July.
Daniela identifies the most with SDG #10, which calls for reduced inequalities within and among countries. She believes that providing equal opportunity to everyone irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic status will allow different voices to take a part in important decisions, especially those regarding sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
This summer, a dedicated and talented intern team has joined us to assist Peace Boat US’s activities and projects. During the beginning of the June, our intern team had the opportunity to attend the UN World Environment Day celebrations, as well as events organized by Peace Boat US around the annual United Nations World Oceans Day. For the month of July, we are focusing on the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and planning the North American Global Youth Adaptation Forum. We want to give a warm welcome to the new intern team: Anya Lebedeva, Arpita Kundu, Ayesha Jamal, Daniela de León, Gloria Wu, Makenzie Bay, Mathew Lohmann, Roland Prince Ovbiebo, Sophia Tabibian, Vivienne Holmarsdottir, and Xingyu (Cecilia) Fan. We are thrilled to have you, and we look forward to a working with you!
Anna (Anya) Lebedeva is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor. During her last year at Michigan she was a Campus Director for the Millenium Fellowship, which is a semester-long leadership development program on college campuses worldwide, presented by the United Nations Academic Impact and MCN. She also completed a Peace Corps Prep Certification Program with an emphasis on the Environment, which included 60+ hours of volunteer work.
Having completed her BFA at Stamps School of Art and Design, Anya is excited to engage in the creative work for Peace Boat US, combining her passions for sustainability, environment and art. She’s most passionate about Sustainable Development Goals #4: Quality Education and #16:Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; she believes that a lot of misunderstandings often come from a lack of education/ educational resources, and by participating in Peace Boat US Internship hopes to amplify salient voices and spread urgent messages about sustainability and peace.
Arpita Kundu has just graduated from William Cullen Bryant High School, and will be going to attend Stony Brook University for Fall 2022. She wants to graduate from University with a bachelor in Nursing. Arpita’s passions are painting and traveling, and she enjoys photography as well. She is a regular club member of Global Kids, which is a non profit organization that supports educational programs for youth from diverse backgrounds in New York City. She has worked in a middle school as an Intern teacher for SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) in the summer of 2021, and this is her second year participating in the program. She will try her best to contribute to Peace Boat using her past experiences.
Arpita also loves meeting new people and having experiences in different fields of work. Her ultimate goal is to make changes in society, work for people who need help, and ensure safety for the environment. Arpita is most interested with SDG #13, calling for Climate Action. She wants to engage herself and more youth to take action against climate change. She thinks the way the environment is changing and the weather is reacting, we should take action from now otherwise future generations will be in danger.
Ayesha Jamal is a member of Global Kids and will attend City College of New York (CCNY) this Fall, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer science. With this degree, she will enhance her career in programming and potentially use it for her passions in politics and human rights. These passions stem from her childhood lived in Pakistan up until the age of 10, where topics like the role of women, human rights, and quality education were always on the topic of conversation. Growing up female, she was always fascinated by the different roles society had given men and women, and how those roles changed in different cultures and communities.
Ayesha likes to read books and also enjoys learning new languages and currently studying Turkish. She is delighted to participate in the Peace Boat’s signature internship program and gain a better understanding of how local communities and individuals are affected by global problems and find solutions to these problems. Ayesha is most interested in Sustainability Development Goal #5 for Gender Equality as well as SDG #4 for Quality Education and SDG #16 for Peace and Justice. She is eager to be able to talk and research more about these topics. She also hopes to better her networking, communication, and research skills.
Daniela de León is a rising senior majoring in Environmental Studies at Lake Forest College. Growing up in the northern highlands of Guatemala brought her closer to topics such as environmental justice, collective memory as a way of truth telling, and indigenous rights. She is excited to further develop her research and digital media design skills at Peace Boat. Daniela identifies the most with SDG #10, which calls for reduced inequalities within and among countries. She believes that providing equal opportunity to everyone irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic status will allow different voices to take a part in important decisions, especially those regarding sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
Gloria Wu is a rising third year at the University of Virginia. She is planning to major in anthropology and foreign affairs, with a minor in history. She is interested in travel, cross-cultural communication, and social activism. Gloria aspires to have a life dedicated to public service. She is currently working on a project with a professor to create awareness about the military coup and disinformation regimes in Myanmar. She believes there is a need for awareness of many social issues in developing countries, to hold western countries and corporations accountable for their actions and historical legacies.
She is most passionate about the UN Sustainable Goal #16: Promote peace, justice and strong institutions. She has experience in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion for class council; which she seeks to implement in the spaces, organizations and communities she is a part of. She hopes to gain experience around peace making, coalition building, and nonprofit work through the Peace Boat US internship.
Makenzie Bay is a rising third year at DePaul University in Chicago Illinois. She is passionate about climate change and health. She is majoring in International Studies with a minor in geography. She is interested in languages and is currently studying both Spanish and Korean. Makenzie aspires for a future in promoting sustainability and global health. She currently volunteers with the American Red Cross as a biomedical ambassador and hopes to volunteer in a hospital soon. She is most interested in Sustainable Development Goal #3, Good Health and well-being, and SDG #13 for Climate Action. At Peace Boat US, she strives to promote their message and gain experience in people’s well being in relationship to the environment while simultaneously encouraging sustainable action.
Matthew Lohmann is a rising junior at Tufts University. Matt is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Spanish, with a minor in Economics. He is originally from Madison, New Jersey, and enjoys performing in theater, playing videogames with his younger brother, and competing in Model UN. In general, he is looking forward to learning more about the logistics of working at an NGO and how they interact with governments. Through the internship, Matt hopes to improve his research and writing abilities, as well as enhancing his skills in professional social media. He is most passionate about Sustainable Development Goal #16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; he believes that effective and fair governance is an important first step that will lead to the rest of the goals being more easily fulfilled. Peacebuilding is an incredibly difficult process but is critical to bringing economic prosperity and ecological justice to the rest of the world, and Matt is passionate about bringing a future of peace to fruition.
Roland Prince Ovbiebo is passionate about ocean sustainability and climate change. After finishing his bachelor degree in Marine Science and Technology in Nigeria, he served his nation under the National Youth Service Corps scheme. Due to his determination to succeed, he won the fully-funded 2021 Diponegoro University Scholarship for International students to study Environmental Science at the master’s level. He’ll be starting his Graduate Student Researcher position at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego in the fall of 2022.
He’s most passionate about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #13: Climate Action and Goal #14: Life Below Water; he wants to leave the world in a better place than he finds it by helping to address climate change issues through innovative research and developing climate change adaptive strategies. By participating in the Peace Boat US internship he hopes to learn more about Sustainable Development Goals, youth engagement in addressing climate change, and hone his networking skills.
Sophia Tabibian is a rising 9th grader at Phillips Academy Andover. She is passionate about climate change solutions, technology, and environmental policy. Last summer, Sophia was part of the EarthxYouth fellowship, where she learned about Peace Boat’s activities when Emilie McGlone, Director of Peace Boat US, was a mentor for the program. She produced a seven-minute film, “Skylines of Innovation,” discussing how technology can improve the sustainability and efficiency of cities. Currently, Sophia volunteers at San Francisco City Hall and runs a community service group that hosts weekly beach cleanups. At Peace Boat, she looks forward to taking action on peace education, conflict resolution, disarmament, and sustainable development through films, articles, and general NGO logistics. Sophia hopes to connect with and support communities on the local and global scale. Furthermore, she strives to raise awareness about Peace Boat’s impact, bringing together people across the world. Sophia is most interested in Sustainable Development Goal #7: Affordable and Clean Energy. She cares deeply about making green electricity accessible to all people and hopes to dedicate her future to finding new solutions for climate action.
Vivienne Holmarsdottir is a freshman at Long Beach City College. She is currently a history major but is planning on narrowing it down to Ethnic Studies after she transfers to a four-year university. Her goals include joining an activist organization for the betterment of human life, like Peace Boat US, Amnesty, the ACLU among others. She is originally from Brooklyn, New York, enjoys fashion, art, and other creative centered hobbies. She has participated in numerous protests, community engagement groups, including the most recent protests regarding women’s reproductive rights.
This is the second time she has worked with the US division of Peace Boat, however she hopes that she can continue to improve her oral communication skills in conference settings, her organizational skills through event planning, and general methods to reduce her environmental impact. Her focus is currently on the 10th Sustainable Development Goal: reduce inequality within and among countries; she feels that this is an incredibly broad focus, but feels that it is a goal that all people should work towards, and that it can be done through education, governmental policy, and even something as simple as personal communication. Her opinion is that there is no thing too small that individuals and partake in for the betterment of social equality.
Xingyu (Cecilia) Fan is a senior college student at the University of California, San Diego. She majors in International Relations with a minor in Climate Change Studies, hoping to tackle climate change at a global level. Cecilia enjoys public speaking and cross-cultural communication and loves to go hiking in her free time. During her time at UCSD, Cecilia composed an Honors Thesis focusing on facilitating transnational cooperation between China and the U.S to promote renewable energies. She is also currently working with the University’s administrative committee in setting up a climate change course requirement for all future UCSD students.
Cecilia is most passionate about Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action. Believing that public participation is key to resolving climate change, she hopes to mobilize global efforts from both social and political aspects. At Peace Boat US, she is looking forward to gaining valuable NGO working experiences and honing her research, networking, and communication skills to make greater impacts in the near future.
Hibakusha stand with nuclear disarmament advocacy banner.
On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Peace Boat US and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill EcoStudio partnered to stream “Flashes of Hope: Hibakusha Traveling the World.” Peace Boat is an international non-profit NGO based in Japan, that works to build a culture of cooperation and sustainability around the world. The dynamic film featured Peace Boat’s “Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project.” Launched in 2008, this project gave 103 Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) the opportunity to visit 23 ports in 20 countries. They shared their powerful stories, lessons, and messages regarding nuclear disarmament with citizens, organizations, and governments. “Flashes of Hope” follows personal recollections of the Hibakusha, global leaders’ and academics’ viewpoints on the ethics of nuclear weapons, and the work that is being done to abolish them.
Art depicting the traumatic effects of the nuclear bombings.
The documentary began with the Hibakushas’ memories from the bombings. On August 6th, 1945, the uranium bomb “Little Boy” was dropped in Hiroshima. Three days later, the plutonium bomb “Fat Man” was dropped in Nagasaki. Experts explained that the atomic bombing expereince consits of light, heat, and blast. The force of the blast is that of hurricane winds, piercing the human body; and the consequential radiation threatens the future of all life forms in its vicinity. All of these effects happen in an imperceivable amount of time. Survivors of the bombings recollect all kinds of atrocities: mass burning, eyes popping out of sockets, intestine bursts, and buildings on fire. Not only the immediate after effects, but the consequent effects of radiation on survivors, volunteers, and unborn children were also emphasized. These personal narratives acknowledge the genocide that was caused by the United States: Little Boy killed over 140,000 people in Hiroshima, and Fat Man would go on to kill 74,000 more. The pictures and oral testimonies remind us that indiscriminate killings are never justified.
Furthermore, many people often believe that nuclear energy is separate from the atomic bomb chain; however, they both stem from the same systems. Promoting electricity that runs on nuclear energy increases the chances of major accidents. These accidents may result in great amounts of radioactivity being released, damaging life in its vicinity. Moreover, nuclear energy testing sites are causing immense environmental damage in our world.
“A Japanese legend says that if you fold one thousand paper cranes, a wish from the heart will be granted.” Paper cranes are referred to as “orizurus” in Japanese.
Amongst these hardships, orizuru (a Japanese paper crane) became a global symbol of peace. Hope for a more cooperative and unified future are further promoted through Peace Boat’s mission of total eradication of nuclear weapons. The voyages led the Hibakusha to several ports including: Da Nang, Vietnam; Kochi India; Massawa, Eritrea; Suez Canal; Izmir, Turkey; New York, United States; Barcelona, Spain; Las Palmas, Spain; the Dominican Republic; Caracas, Venezuela; Panama Canal; Callao, Peru; Papeete, Tahiti; Auckland, New Zealand; Rabaul, Papua New Guinea; and Sydney, Australia. Through these journeys we see themes of engaging with community leaders, learning about the problems and interests of various communities, and engagement with indigenous peoples. From Agent Orange, an herbicide that was used by the United States in the Vietnamese War, to Nuclear testing by the French throughout the late 1900s, we can observe the covered up narratives and atrocities that governments have conducted over the years. We also conclude the need for community engagement – to uncover these forgotten perspectives and experiences that are an essential part of building peace and constructing a safer future for all.
Hibakusha, in partnership with Peace Boat, are making a powerful impact in the world by sharing their stories through educational events and cross-cultural connections.
The documentary ended by discussing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other nuclear disarmament initiatives. One of these agreements is the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which is a multilateral agreement that bans nuclear weapons tests and other nuclear explosions. Currently, more than 23,000 nuclear weapons exist on Earth today, 95% belonging to the US and Russia. There is still a lot of work to be done towards the cause, as many of the major powers have yet to take definitive action. Nevertheless, we must always strive to think about civilians, who are most at risk by nuclear weapons, when advocating for and enforcing new policies.
The inaugural voyage 