Emilie McGlone is the Director of Peace Boat US, the New York-based office of the international non-governmental organization Peace Boat. Founded in Japan in 1983, Peace Boat promotes peace, human rights, and sustainability through Global Voyages on its chartered passenger ship, the Pacific World, often described as a “floating university.” Peace Boat holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, serves as a key campaigner for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and is a prominent member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Peace Boat hosts three Global Voyages per year, each lasting roughly 100 days, weaving together educational lectures, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects as the ship circumnavigates the globe. As Director and United Nations liaison, McGlone leads programs that bring peacebuilding, sustainable development, and environmental advocacy onboard. She founded the “Youth for the SDGs” scholarship to empower young leaders in ocean and climate action, coordinates side events at the UN such as the ECOSOC Youth Forum, supports global emergency response through the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Centre (PBV), and champions the Ecoship Project, an initiative to build the world’s most sustainable passenger ship.

McGlone has been with Peace Boat since 2004, initially joining as a volunteer Spanish teacher after living in Japan for a decade, and has now circled the world with Peace Boat six times.

Tell us about the educational and professional journey that led you to becoming Director of Peace Boat US.

I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Cultural Studies, and I began volunteering abroad at a very young age. After spending months studying Spanish and working alongside NGOs in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Chile, I traveled to Japan to begin teaching with the Ministry of Education through the JET Program (Japan Exchange and Teaching). I later led an environmental awareness bicycle ride called BEE, Bicycle for Everyone’s Earth, cycling from Hokkaido in Japan’s northern island down to Okinawa, where we learned about ocean conservation and shared a message of environmental sustainability.

In 2004, I joined Peace Boat as a volunteer Spanish teacher and soon began working full time in the International Division in Tokyo, building onboard programs with guest speakers and partners around the world. That early work, focused on educational programming and international exchange, shaped how I think about people-to-people connection as the foundation of peacebuilding. In 2011, I was invited to become the United Nations liaison and Director of Peace Boat US, based in New York City. Peace Boat holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and we have an office at the UN Plaza, so my role is to build strategic partnerships and work alongside our partners toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Today, my focus is connecting education, advocacy, and global collaboration: building partnerships, coordinating programs, and creating spaces where youth, civil society, and global institutions can come together to advance peace and sustainability.

What are the core missions and projects of Peace Boat?

Peace Boat’s mission is to build a culture of peace and sustainability by connecting people across borders through education, advocacy, and partnership. Our work focuses on four key areas: ocean conservation, climate action, youth engagement, and disarmament. A core program onboard is the Youth for the SDGs scholarship, endorsed under the UN Ocean Decade, which brings young leaders aboard our voyages for experiential learning and action on ocean and climate issues.

Tell us about Peace Boat’s upcoming Global Voyages, and particularly the 123rd Global Voyage from April 7 to July 20, 2026.

Each year, we organize three Global Voyages, three-month journeys around the world that bring together about 2,000 participants from approximately 20 countries. The 123rd Global Voyage, sailing from April 7 to July 20, 2026, is especially meaningful: we are celebrating Peace Boat’s 100,000th participant. The voyage continues our focus on global environmental issues, with particular attention to ocean and climate action.

In New York City, we are hosting the Ocean Gala and Blue Innovation Reception onboard during our port call, in alignment with United Nations World Oceans Day and the UN Ocean Decade. The event brings together partners from the UN, civil society, the private sector, and youth leaders to strengthen collaboration around ocean protection and the blue economy. Participants will also engage with leading research institutions, including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, learning directly from scientists about biodiversity and environmental change.

Which UN events does Peace Boat prepare side events for each year?

Each year, we engage with major UN processes including the ECOSOC Youth Forum, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP). We also contribute to ocean-related initiatives such as World Oceans Day, Climate Week NYC, and activities under the UN Ocean Decade. These spaces let us bring youth voices and civil society perspectives into global policy discussions, connecting our onboard work with international advocacy.

You founded the “Youth for the SDGs” scholarship. Tell us about this initiative.

I started Youth for the SDGs to create a space for young leaders aged 18 to 30 to engage with global challenges through experiential learning and practice. Endorsed under the UN Ocean Decade by IOC UNESCO, the program brings participants onboard Peace Boat to explore ocean and climate action while connecting with scientists, policymakers, and communities around the world. Through this experience, youth build knowledge, networks, and a sense of agency, and they are supported in taking action on the Sustainable Development Goals in their own communities.

Tell us about the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Centre (PBV).

Peace Boat Disaster Relief, or PBV, is a Japan-based NGO that supports communities affected by disasters and works to strengthen local response capacity, both in Japan and globally. PBV emphasizes that people are central to reducing disaster risk and building resilience. After Japan’s 2011 triple disaster, PBV recognized that well-trained and organized volunteers can play a crucial role in effective response and launched its Disaster Relief Volunteer Training Program. Sessions are held regularly across Japan and are open to anyone, regardless of background or experience. PBV also delivers tailored training for corporations, universities, Social Welfare Councils, and other organizations.

Tell us more about the Ecoship Project.

Ecoship is the next step in our 41-year evolution. It will be the future platform for Peace Boat’s global voyages, carrying 8,000 people per year, hosting exhibitions on green technology in up to 100 ports, and serving as a floating laboratory contributing to research on the ocean, the climate, and green technology. The ship will create awareness of and encourage active engagement with the challenges embodied in the SDGs, while modeling a transition path for decarbonizing the maritime sector.

Does Peace Boat participate in Climate Week events around the world?

Throughout Climate Week, we act as a key player in strengthening cross-sector collaboration and elevating inclusive leadership across global climate processes. During Climate Week NYC 2025, Peace Boat US and Blue Planet Alliance convened a series of engagements alongside the 80th UN General Assembly to advance ocean and climate action. A central highlight was the “From UNOC to Belém” high-level luncheon, which brought together senior leaders to elevate ocean priorities within global climate governance and finance. Youth leadership was also featured through the Youth for the SDGs event, where young leaders and global ambassadors shared initiatives on ocean literacy, science education, and climate action.

Beyond your work with Peace Boat, you are the founder of Parties4Peace. Tell us about this initiative.

Parties4Peace (P4P) is a non-profit event production and fundraising organization that hosts music and art events to support global initiatives focused on education, sustainability, equality, and disaster relief. P4P unites people to create a culture of peace through dance and music, emphasizing collaborations with those who seek a platform to make a difference.

You are also a collaborator in M.A.P.A. (Music & Art Peace Academy). Tell us about this initiative.

MAPA aims to provide young artists, musicians, and producers from around the world with experiences and resources to further explore and develop their creative talents. The MAPA project invites individuals, organizations, musicians, artists, activists, DJs, photographers, designers, writers, actors, videographers, and promoters interested in social and environmental issues to work together to promote a culture of peace through music and art, and to join Peace Boat’s global voyage for the Music & Art Peace Academy onboard.

You are a Global Ambassador and UN liaison for Blue Planet Alliance. Tell us about this initiative.

As a Global Ambassador for Blue Planet Alliance, we are working together toward a 100 percent renewable energy future by 2045. We also invite youth leaders from Small Island Developing States to join us as part of the “Youth for the SDGs” scholarship for the UN Ocean Decade onboard. My work with Peace Boat connects this directly to the United Nations through our ECOSOC consultative status.

How can people get involved with Peace Boat, Parties4Peace, M.A.P.A., and Blue Planet Alliance?

People can get involved through a range of programs designed for different levels of experience and commitment. The Youth for the SDGs program is an experiential learning and capacity-building opportunity for young activists and scholars working on SDG-related initiatives, open to participants of any age and background, and endorsed by IOC-UNESCO as part of the UN Ocean Decade.

Internships with Peace Boat US offer hands-on experience in advocacy, youth engagement, sustainability, and international partnerships, supporting work on issues that include climate action, ocean conservation, disarmament, and peacebuilding. For more flexible involvement, volunteering opportunities are available on a project or event basis. Volunteers are especially important during Peace Boat visits to New York City and at public events, and they can support campaigns such as nuclear abolition or apply specialized skills to specific initiatives.

Anything else you would like to add?

We are excited to support an inclusive and sustainable blue economy for all, creating networks for ocean conservation and climate action, using our ship as a venue. Ocean Gala information will be shared at peaceboat-us.org/pb-ocean-gala-nyc.

How can people reach you?

People can learn more and get in touch through the Peace Boat US website at www.peaceboat-us.org, or follow on Instagram @peaceboatus for updates on programs and events. We are always open to connecting with individuals and organizations interested in peace, sustainability, and youth engagement. You can also write to info@peaceboat-us.org.

Call for Sustainable Fashion Designers and Artists: Join Peace Boat for The Ocean Gala in New York City, June 10, 2026

As Peace Boat docks in New York City during its 123rd Global Voyage, a special Ocean Gala will be held onboard the ship on the evening of Wednesday, June 10. The event brings together diverse changemakers working to find innovative solutions to accelerate ocean and climate action, showcasing blue innovation and partnerships for a sustainable blue economy and resilient societies, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Peace Boat is an international NGO with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council, working to promote a culture of peace and sustainability worldwide by connecting people across borders and creating opportunities for learning, activism, advocacy, and cooperation. Its programs run primarily through voyages aboard the passenger ship MV Pacific World, enabling participants to learn first-hand about issues such as ocean conservation, environmental degradation, and gender equality. Peace Boat sails with the SDGs logo on its hull, visiting roughly 100 countries each year.

• Date: Evening of June 10, 2026 (Wednesday)
• Program: Talks, artwork, music, and sustainable fashion for the ocean
• Venue: Onboard the MV Pacific World, docked at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, New York

Designers and artists interested in participating in person are invited to register their ideas by May 20, 2026 at forms.gle/hsN9UvWJEBwRP75K9.

By Selva Ozelli

Selva Ozelli is a contributing writer for SEVENSEAS Media covering ocean conservation, climate, art, and sustainability.

Every meaningful project begins with a moment of connection—an experience that shifts perception and plants the seed for something larger than oneself. Sounds of the Ocean was born from such a moment: while teaching a yoga class, it struck me how deeply sound can influence presence and awareness. As students moved through their breath and stretches, I realized that auditory experience could guide attention, calm the mind, and connect people to something larger than themselves. This insight sparked the idea: what if the hidden soundscapes of the ocean could be used in the same way—to foster presence, reflection, and a profound connection to our planet?

The ocean has always been both a place of mystery and calm—a space of reflection and immense unseen activity. While many experience it visually, few are aware that it is alive with sound. From the complex songs of whales and dolphins to the low-frequency hum of shipping lanes, the ocean is anything but silent. The idea behind Sounds of the Ocean was simple yet powerful: what if people could truly hear the ocean, not as background noise, but as a living, breathing entity?

This curiosity led to an exploration of underwater acoustics—the science behind how sound travels in marine environments—working closely with my colleague Dr. John Ryan, Senior Marine Acoustics Oceanographer at MBARI. Together, we investigated how whale songs reveal migration patterns, dolphin clicks uncover social interactions, and the pervasive noise of shipping offers insight into the human impact on marine life. These collaborations allowed us to understand the ocean not just as a visual landscape, but as a complex, communicative environment shaped by both nature and human activity.

The recordings used in Sounds of the Ocean are captured using specialized hydrophones, underwater microphones designed to detect even the faintest vibrations. These recordings are both scientific documents and artistic expressions. While the data helps researchers monitor ecosystems, the same sounds can be transformed into immersive compositions that evoke emotion and curiosity. Some performances incorporate whale calls recorded near shipping lanes, highlighting both the majesty of marine mammals and the impact of human activity on their acoustic environment.

This combination of science and art naturally led to opportunities to present the project on global stages, including United Nations Climate Conferences and COP events. Sharing Sounds of the Ocean in these contexts has been both an honor and a responsibility. These gatherings bring together policymakers, scientists, activists, and storytellers, all working toward solutions for the climate crisis. In such spaces, data and policy dominate—but there is also growing recognition of the role of emotion and narrative in driving change.

Presenting at these events has highlighted the unique role that sound can play in climate communication. While charts and reports inform, sound can transform understanding into empathy. Audiences often experience a moment of stillness when they first hear the underwater recordings, as if the ocean is speaking directly to them—bypassing intellectual analysis and connecting on a more instinctive level. That moment of connection is where awareness begins to shift into action.

Collaboration has been central to amplifying this impact. Sounds of the Ocean has partnered with a diverse range of leading scientific and environmental organizations:

• MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) provides access to cutting-edge marine research and high-quality underwater acoustic data.
• Oceanic Global connects the project to international networks of ocean conservation, translating awareness into tangible action.
• UN Ocean Decade offers a global framework for ocean research and sustainable development.
• 1% for the Planet supports environmental funding and advocacy.
• EU4Ocean platform links European stakeholders in science, policy, and society.
• everwave removes plastic from rivers, reducing debris entering the ocean—a mission highlighted in performances that connect river health to marine soundscapes.
• PMDP (Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project) monitors and removes marine debris in one of the world’s most remote and ecologically important marine areas, allowing us to incorporate recordings from cleaner, protected waters and emphasize the importance of debris-free habitats for whales and dolphins.

These collaborations reinforce a key insight: meaningful change requires collective effort. No single discipline or organization can address the complexity of the climate crisis alone. By bringing together scientists, artists, institutions, and communities, Sounds of the Ocean becomes part of a larger ecosystem of solutions—one that values both knowledge and emotion as drivers of change.

As the project evolves, its direction is guided by a central question: how can we deepen the connection between people and the natural world? Live performances in immersive venues, such as planetariums and cultural spaces, allow audiences to be enveloped by sound, creating a sense of presence within the ocean itself. These events transform listening into a shared, collective experience that fosters dialogue and reflection.

Another exciting development is bringing these experiences directly into the field. In collaboration with the Pacific Whale Foundation in Maui, we are designing whale-watching tours where participants wear high-quality wireless headphones to hear whales live, directly under the boat. This approach allows passengers to experience the animals’ vocalizations in real time, bridging the gap between scientific observation and immersive human connection. Hearing whales in their natural environment while also observing them visually fosters a deeper appreciation for these magnificent creatures and the importance of protecting their habitats.

Integration of new technologies also continues to expand the project’s reach. Spatial audio, interactive installations, and virtual environments offer ways to bring ocean soundscapes to life. Imagine walking through an exhibit where each step reveals the calls of whales or the hum of shipping lanes, or experiencing a live performance where sound moves dynamically around the listener, mimicking the fluid nature of the ocean. These innovations make the experience engaging and impactful, particularly for younger audiences.

Education remains a vital focus. By collaborating with schools, universities, and educational platforms, Sounds of the Ocean serves as both an artistic and scientific resource. Introducing students to the acoustic dimension of the ocean enriches understanding of marine ecosystems and encourages curiosity and stewardship. When people feel connected to something, they are more likely to protect it.

Ultimately, the journey of Sounds of the Ocean is one of translation—turning scientific data into emotional experience, distant ecosystems into immediate presence, and awareness into action. It is a reminder that the ocean is not a distant, abstract concept, but a vital, living system that shapes our planet and our future.

Looking ahead, the vision is to continue building bridges between disciplines and audiences. Whether through performances, collaborations, or new forms of storytelling, the goal remains the same: to give the ocean a voice that people can hear, feel, and remember. Because when we truly listen, we begin to understand—and when we understand, we are more likely to care.

In a world increasingly defined by noise, perhaps the most powerful act is to listen. And in listening to the ocean, we may rediscover not only the beauty of the natural world, but also our place within it.

By Joshua Sam Miller