Peacebuilders from different corners of the world have gathered in some unique places to learn more about the horrors of war, and the path to conflict prevention and peacebuilding. They have met Hibakusha – survivors of the Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – who have joined the 67th Global Voyage of Peace Boat to tell the world of their horrific experiences. And together they met with victims of Agent Orange in Da Nang, Viet Nam. From there, the peacebuilders joined the Hibakusha onboard Peace Boat and will arrive in the harbour of Singapore today, to convey their messages of peace and disarmament, and be a voice for victims of war. The peacebuilders are representing member organizations of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), a global civil society-led network which seeks to build an international consensus on the importance of peacebuilding and the prevention of violent conflict. That is why members from almost all regions of the world have come together to learn to convey their messages of peace to the media. To help them do this, they have received media training onboard the ship. The Hibakusha have joined Peace Boat's three-month 67th Global Voyage to deliver their message of the importance of a nuclear-free world. They are travelling the world to talk about the urgency of preventing anyone having to live the through the horrors they had to go through. They are accompanied by a group of high school students determined to share their legacy with future generations. Having their own heart-breaking stories, as well as being the voice for those victims of war that do not have the opportunity to speak for themselves, both the Hibakusha and the peacebuilders from GPPAC will use this press conference as an opportunity to share their experiences and tell you about the ambitious project that has brought them together. Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment. Peace Boat carries out its main activities through a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages.

Where: CIP Lounge, Harbourfront, Singapore Cruise Centre When: 11:00, Sunday, 6 September 2009 Who: KAWASAKI Akira. Peace Boat, Japan Victor SAPAR, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), the Philippines OSAKI Shizuko, Hibakusha, Nagasaki, Japan Marte Hellema, European Centre for Conflict Prevention (ECCP), the Netherlands Both Hibakusha and Peacebuilders from GPPAC will be present during the press conference and available for interviews.

Visuals: Peace Boat's passenger ship the SS Oceanic, to arrive in Singapore Harbour on the morning of Sunday, 6 September 2009

Contact Persons: Rei Ueno (Tokyo, +81-90-5755-9552 / reiueno@peaceboat.gr.jp) Meri Joyce (Arriving in Singapore on board the ship on 6 September, +81-80-3457-9714 / meri@peaceboat.gr.jp)

For more information go to: www.gppac.org and www.peaceboat.org