Hello everybody~ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Today I want to introduce a program hosted by Korea and Japan that promotes the environmental, social, and cultural interchange between the two East Asian nations, Korea and Japan. This program, named "Peace&Green Boat - Towards A Common Vision of the Future for East Asia," is a historic project. There are seven main subjects for the participants to engage in on the voyage: Global Warming, East Asian Biodiversity Community, Energy, Human Rights, Animal Protection & Food, Interchange & Education, and finally Cultural Events.

Since the boat's first voyage in 2005 August, there have been 4 more voyages: in 2006, in 2007, in 2008, and the most recent voyage was executed just 3 weeks ago, from December 2nd to 10th, 2012.

There are Korean and Japanese participants onboard, along with a wide array of guest speakers and staff. Among the passengers are famous researchers and experts in the related academic fields. Special study and exchange programs are carried out in port, while lectures, panel discussions, workshops and other educational activities are organized on board. There are also programs designed to be carried out at the arrival ports on land, such as touring through energy-related museums, visiting eco-friendly entrepreneurs and firms, interviewing with navy forces, experiencing each other countries' culture, viewing extensive natural landscapes, and so on.

This event is organized by two nongovernmental organizations named The Green Foundation and the Peace Boat. They continue to plan to organize annual voyages throughout East Asia so that all countries can get together to understand each other and to solve problems that East Asian countries are facing.