The 64th Global Peace Boat, which set sail in Yokohama, Japan on January 15, arrived in Cape Town on February 13 after a successful 30-day voyage across two continents.

Passengers traveling on the Peace Voyage called on African and Western governments to treat the rising levels of poverty in many African countries as a global emergency.

The passengers, who included youth from various African countries and Japan, demanded that world leaders take immediate action and decisive steps to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
“Young people from Africa can no longer tolerate the empty promises made by our national and world leaders. They must act now to save thousands of lives from being needlessly lost every year due to poverty,” said Mwaura Kaara, one of the youth travelling on the historic voyage.

During the voyage, the youth participated in the African Youth Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Forum. The Forum provided a platform for debate on key development issues and helped raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals among the 500 travelers on board the cruise ship.

Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-raheem, Deputy Director of the UN Millennium Campaign, lauded organizers for the unique initiative, noting that the Peace Boat provided a great platform for cultural interaction and for highlighting the urgent needs of disadvantaged people.

A roundtable focusing on the global economic crisis and MDGs in Africa involving South African local NGO representatives and officials took place aboard the ship in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 13. Participating organizations included the UN Millennium Campaign, Africa Monitor, and the Economic Justice Network.

African youth leaders involved in this exercise have developed recommendations to be submitted to the UN General Assembly highlighting what governments must do to ensure that the MDGs are achieved by 2015. For more information, visit http://www.peaceboat.org.