Peace Boat Arrives in Uruguay to Promote the “Making Cities Resilient” Global Campaign

The NGO Peace Boat will arrive at the port of Montevideo on February 13, 2016 as part of its 90th Global Voyage for Peace.  It will use this occasion to highlight the combined efforts of government, civil society and volunteers in making cities resilient in the face of disasters.

The ship’s visit will be welcomed by officials from Uruguay’s National System of Emergencies (SINAE) and the Ministry of Social Development’s National Administration of Social Policy, as well as by the NGO Friends of the Wind (Amigos del Viento), the UNDRR’s Promoter of the Resilient Cities Global Campaign in Uruguay, and represenatives of the Scout Movement of Uruguay.  

Source:  The National System of Emergencies (SINAE)

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay: February 12, 2016 –Peace Boat is arriving in Uruguay to promote the “Making Cities Resilient:  My City is Getting Ready” Global Campaign that was launched in 2010 by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).  This campaign seeks to  strengthen political commitment to the reduction of disaster risks as well as adaption to climate change at the local government level, and to promote collaboration amongst various stakeholders to push for implementation of the Sendai Framework at the local level.

Founded in 1983, Peace Boat is a non-profit and non-governmental organization headquarted in Japan that works to promote peace, human rights, fair and sustainable development, and protection for the environment. Through educational programs, cooperative projects, and campaigns, it aims to raise awareness in order to create positive changes around the world.  It also carries out a range of humanitarian relief and disaster prevention activities through the delivery of aid, provision of specialists, coordination of volunteers, and the construction of resilient communities.

A delegation comprised of officials from Uruguay’s SINAE and the Ministry of Social Development’s National Administration of Social Policy,  members of the NGO Friends of the Wind and the Scout Movement of Uruguay, as well as the Promoter of the Making Cities Resilient Campaign will welcome the ship to the port of Montevideo on Saturday, February 13 at 9:30 a.m.  The delegation will also participate in a press conference onboard the ship.

During its stay in Uruguay, Peace Boat will hold an exchange of experiences that includes different presentations on the work that has been carried out in the country in the area of disaster risk management. The Global Campaign will also be highlighted, as well as  “Resistance Rally”, and a press conference is scheduled for 10:00 am on February 13, 2015.

Through the Program “Front Line Action,” which it carries out in collaboration with the group Mburucuyá, the NGO Friends of the Wind will show examples of their work.  Accompanied by students, teachers from the community will give a presentation about the experiences they have developed with students from schools in the interior of the country on the theme of floods.  For their part, the Scout Movement of Uruguay will present their Peace Messenger project--a volunteer experience for boys and girls attending schools in Montevideo.  

Related Links:

Invitation to Press Conference Onboard Peace Boat

Peace Boat Program of Activities in Uruguay

Resilient Cities Global Campaign

SINAE Press Release

Peace Boat