Peace Boat US participated in the Global Peace Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 19th. The Forum was headlined by H.E. Dionísio Babo Soares, Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Timor Leste to the United Nations, and Roselyn Akombe, Chief of Peacebuilding Strategy and Partnerships at the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, who stressed that peace is a continual process and that “those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.” The event also marked the first in-person event that the summer cohort of Peace Boat US interns attended at the UN.
The forum had three main panels: Youth, Conflict, and Global Citizenship; Peace, Security, and Sustainable Economies; and Oceans, Climate, and Human Security, where Peace Boat US’ Director Emilie McGlone was a panelist. Each speaker discussed unique perspectives on accomplishments in their respective fields that contribute to peacebuilding, as well as advice for community engagement. Emilie emphasized the importance of youth empowerment, evident by the robust participation of youth interns from Peace Boat, and the vital role youth play in creating change and fostering community support.
Emilie McGlone focused on the intersection of sustainability, education, and peace. She emphasized the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), nuclear disarmament, and discussed Peace Boat’s involvement with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the role of young people. She also highlighted the role of youth from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and presented Peace Boat’s work with various stakeholders to develop policy for a sustainable blue economy.
Another panelist, Vincent Intondi, nuclear disarmament expert and Professor of History at Cornell University, emphasized the importance of nuclear disarmament in promoting peace, which aligns with Peace Boat’s core values. He discussed the direct impact of nuclear warfare, but also the challenges to address the effects of chemical poisoning on surrounding communities. Additionally, Intondi emphasised the negative effects of the diversion of funds from community-building programs that are poured into arms and nuclear weapons. He left the audience with a memorable remark to inspire further change for nuclear disarmament, stating, “everyone has gifts; it’s what you choose to do with them.”
