Japanese 'peace boat' calls at Cochin Port

Cochin, India, Sept. 17 2002 (INS News) -- Japanese 'peace boat', M/V Olivia,, carrying the message of peace and human rights, carrying 650 volunteers, students and journalists taking part in the 100-day 39th global voyage, docked at the Ernakulam Wharf, at Willingdon Island ,Cochin,the only port of call in India.

The team which started from Tokyo on September 1 visited Singapore and Philippines before reaching here. It will leave for Massawa in Eritrea on Tuesday evening and will also visit Egypt, Turkey, France, Spain, Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia before reaching Tokyo on December 9, said Laure Norest, the International Director of the cruise.

The 'peace boat' is a japan-based NGO founded to establish a global network to support initiatives in the fields of peace, human rights. The last 19 years time, the Peace Boat, had carried more than 15,000 persons to 90 ports in over 50 countries.

A group of media personnel from India, Pakistan, Jerusalem, Bosnia and Israel are also travelling in the vessel.

-- Mohamed Ansif - Correspondent in Cochin, India
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