Kochi: A ‘Peace Boat’ from Japan, with passengers of various countries on board, arrived in Kochi on Monday with a message of peace, friendship and sustainability.
The city corporation council, in association with ‘Mayors for Peace,’ an international organisation working for global peace, accorded a formal reception to the ‘messenger of peace.’
Mayor Tony Chammany and Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry welcomed the 11-member team representing the ‘Peace Boat,’ a Japan-based international organisation that travels around the world on a ship.
This is the 87th global voyage of the ship. During the reception, a commemoration ceremony was organised to remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombing.
“Peace is a blessing of God and all religions exist for the peace of believers,” the Archbishop remarked. He complimented the corporation authorities for organising the event. Swami Bhandreswananda of Ramakrishna Mission also attended the ceremony.
The Mayor said that Kochi was committed to coordinating the activities for world peace and moulding public opinion against nuclear weapons.
Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi, who was expected to be in Kochi, could not make it as he has been attending the NPT review conference in New York. His message was read out during the function.
After the reception, the Peace Boat members had an interaction with selected students from various schools in the city. Seeds India and YMCA Kerala region also supported the event.
