Urasoe hosts peace symposium following fatal Henoko boat accident

An international peace symposium was held at JICA Okinawa in Urasoe to discuss peace education and the aftermath of a fatal boat accident near Henoko. The event featured a keynote speech by Professor Tomoko Ago of the University of Tokyo and a director of Human Rights Now, who urged participants to continue thinking about understanding others.

Discussions also addressed the March accident involving a protest boat during a school trip from Doshisha International High School, which resulted in two deaths. Speakers at the symposium raised concerns regarding the crisis in peace education, criticizing instances where political activities and anti-base sentiments were allegedly integrated into student learning. Participants called for greater political neutrality in educational settings and the establishment of a certification system for peace guides to prevent future tragedies.