Piracy

[asperity]

Can I ask everyone to put their names to the petition on the attached website? Piracy affects everyone.

 

http://www.itfseafarers.org/petition.cfm

 

Thank you.

[Bill]

Done with pleasure!

 

 

Bill

[asperity]

Thank you Bill

[observer]

Asp: it doesn't say what those "real solutions" are?

[asperity]

dedicating significant resources and concerted efforts to find real solutions to the growing piracy problem;

 

That's because there haven't been any real solutions found as yet, which is what has been said.

 

If you don't want to sign it then fine, but don't just carp from the sidelines.

[Legion]

I'm all for a good cause.

 

But seriously would pirates realy stop because of an online petition?

 

And that aside have you ever looked into the lives these "pirates" lead.

 

Its a life of poverty beyond belief on the coasts of third world countries where the western world has exploited natural resources and plundered far more than these locals with no prospects could have dreamed of.

 

Where there is no such thing as a welfare system, health service or even much of an economy. Countries such as Somalia and Yemen have vast oil reserves, but will never benefit from these resources and be integrated into our world as those that control oil already will not allow these states to become players.

[asperity]

Maybe if you tried reading the petition before making comments you would make more sense:

 

We, the undersigned, urgently call on Governments to do everything possible to protect the thousands of seafarers and the hundreds of ships at risk of attack by pirates by:

 

* dedicating significant resources and concerted efforts to find real solutions to the growing piracy problem;

* taking immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers to their families;

* working within the international community to secure a stable and peaceful future for Somalia and its people.

 

It isn't directed at the pirates, but at the governments of the world. Why should seafarers lives be put at risk for want of International action to improve the lot of the Somalian people?

[Bill]

While feeling sorry for the plight of the Somalians I can?t accept the argument that high seas piracy is therefore justifiable. There?s obviously a relationship between the two but they need to be addressed as separate issues otherwise the situation becomes overly complex and too blurred to deal with.

 

To my way of thinking, we have a substantial naval force that should be fully used to protect our ships and send out a very clear message that you don?t mess with us. It may sound harsh but I believe that these people are simply capitalising on our soft rules and respect for human rights.

 

Bill

[Peter T]

Done.

[inky pete]

Done.

 

My pleasure.

[observer]

Come on Asp, surely your not that naive: "real solutions" - "sufficient resources" - what's that all about.? Do you for one minute think, that assuming we had a Government with the intent to exercise a "real solution", that they would already have thought of it; and would the PC international community and international law permit "a real solution"? At the moment, we have NATO naval ships stopping Somali fishing vessels, taking any weapons found (which are usually thrown overboard before they are stopped) and then letting them go - what a joke. If you want a real solution, try this:- a Carrier fleet off the Somali coast, a shock and awe air strike on anything bigger than a surf board and keep it up until there's nothing left to sail = end of piracy: BUT, the bleeding hearts in the UN might get upset!

[Jerry]

I signed gladly knowing that piracy is alive and rapacious as ever.

[observer]

Somalia is a failed State, unable to administer law and order throughout it's domain - hence these sea gangsters. Now we could carry on giving them aid, to buy the latest weaponry or fill their corrupt leader's Swiss bank accounts; we can pay the ransoms with the same outcomes or we could invade creating yet another Afghanistan with huge losses to our boys OR we can just bomb the s**t out of them from 10,000ft at regular intervals, until they get the message. This of course will result in some collateral damage BUT yer can't make an omlette without breaking eggs!

[Bill]

Great idea.

 

Perhaps we could drop some of the same bombs over here to wipe out all of our criminals.

 

A better idea perhaps might be to drop food aid and supplies that can't be used by the military along with a written warning that pirates will be blown out of the water.

 

Bill

[observer]

and what "food aid" "CAN'T" be used by their military - simple, yer either want it sorting or not?!