As part of its strong commitment to protecting Patagonian wilderness and raising awareness about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Peace Boat US organized a special program focusing on climate action in February of 2017. The program was organized in collaboration with the Music & Art Peace Academy (MAPA), and traced a route from Chile to Peru through the Patagonia region.
Participants in the program spent time hiking in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia to learn about the flora and fauna of the region.
For more than ten years, Peace Boat has been working with Chile’s most venerable environmental organization–the National Committee to Protect the Flora and Fauna of Chile (CODEFF)—on a campaign to declare 7,500,000 hectares of Chilean Patagonia territory a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a partner organization to CODEFF, Peace Boat has used its global reach to organize public events in Chile, New York and Tokyo, as well as press conferences onboard its ship during calls in Valparaiso or Punta Arenas, Chile. These events have collected thousands of signatures in support of this declaration. Earlier this year, Peace Boat also raised funds to support its disaster relief work in Chile after numerous forest fires suddenly swept through parts of the country.
The Patagonia region abounds in pristine glacier water, an important natural resource for future generations.
In addition, Peace Boat has renewed its commitment to building a more equitable and sustainable world by pledging support for the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As a committed campaigner for the SDGs, Peace Boat continues to raise awareness about the goals through educational programs both onboard the ship and in the ports of call.
New York-based photographer Brian Park captures the nature in Patagonia for his upcoming exhibition at the Energy Thought Summit entitled “Energy From”
Chilean musician and guest speaker Pier Bucci, together with New York-based photographer Brian Park and Christian Voldstad, an MBA student from Fordham University, participated in the voyage as part of the program for climate action. Peace Boat US organized various events onboard, including lectures about environmental sustainability that focused strongly on SDG #13 for Climate Action, SDG #14 for Life below Water and SDG#15 for Life on Land. Pier Bucci gave a lecture about his project for environmental conservation in Peru and the nonprofit organization Amaru Mayu, which is dedicated to protecting the Amazon rainforest. Currently, Pier is also collaborating with guest speaker Mario Tuki from Rapa Nui to create an album of traditional music from the island. Through his music and art productions, he continues to raise awareness about important global issues and create a culture of peace and sustainability.
Peace Boat US participants meet with CODEFF representatives in Valparaiso to deliver a donation to the organization’s disaster relief program that helps flora and fauna affected by recent forest fires in Chile.
Onboard the ship, hundreds of participants took photos of the pristine nature in Patagonia. Peace Boat US organized a photo contest for SDG #13 on Climate Action, and held a photo slideshow as a closing event to announce the winning photos that matched the theme of each of the SDGs. Images included glaciers, mountains, rivers, penguins, whales, sunsets over the ocean, the fjords of Patagonia and nature along the coastline. During the final event, each participant shared their views on why climate action is important using their photos as an example.
Guest speaker and environmental activist Pier Bucci speaks about his work as a musician and his project in Peru to conserve the Amazon rain forest.
During the visit to Peru, participants joined a cultural exchange program with the nonprofit organization Arena y Esteras in Villa El Salvador, where they had the opportunity to meet with local youth who are learning about social issues through the arts. In 1987, the community joined the UN Peace Messengers Cities network and was even nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Integral to the town’s development has been the performance troupe Arena y Esteras (meaning Sand and Mats). Their community-based art and education programs include theatre, circus, dance and sculpture, which has humanized their town and brought people – especially youth – together for a more peaceful future.
Participants were able to vote for the photo of their choice in a Photo Contest focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Climate Action.
Peace Boat organized a cultural exchange program using music and art as a tool for social change in Villa El Salvador Peru, and delivered donations of art materials and musical instruments to the nonprofit organization Arena y Esteras.