Yep if I live there, it would be a pirate’s life for me. This country needs a voice. From what I understand of history; Africa has become independent only recently. This entire continent had been ruled by random European nations for a while. How long this while was I’m not sure. I say stay out of the country and keep amping up security on the ships. I wonder what insane weapons have been put on merchant ships thus far. Yep it will cost more but that’s the risk people will have to take. Like everyone in life they’ll get the picture eventually. It’s a sad situation but without harsh punishment we can’t help the innocent people being dragged along in this. If the rest of the world show were not messing around it may give hope and strength to the “honest” (guy from the video) people of Africa to stand up for themselves. Battles and blood shed have been going on since the beginning of time and it’s most likely not going to change. Though its unfortunate merchants now have to hire security and pack heat, that’s life baby. All anyone can do is punish the offenders caught and move on. Hopefully these guys will work up some sort of agreement to help rebuild this unstable country all by themselves. I can’t wait to hear more in class. And while I’m at it I’ll go on a veteran rant. When we were on a ship and all this was new, I remember we had to go on night training missions on our zodiacs to prep us for the possibility of a pirate raid. It was cold, it sucked and I really dislike these pirates.
This video shows harsh realities lived in the horn of Africa. The country has a long way to reach a state of functioning government, so that its people could find a decent way in earning a living. While their country is slowly evolving into a structured government, piracy is a career path picked by many men. Even for the men trying to make money through means of fishing are being persuaded or forced into the life of piracy. These men are tired of not being able to properly provide for their family. They want quick cash, and they want it now. In the meantime merchant ships traveling this area must stay prepared for pirate attacks. Until the people of Somalia have a chance at living a decent life, they will continue doing what they need to in order to survive.
This class has proved to be very interesting to say the least. First let me start off by saying my eyes have definitely been opened to the harsh conditions that this country suffers from.......I thought that last week was something with the gangs of Jamaica, now the Horn of Africa. Where do I start, I think that its a sad day in the life that we live that others continue to use people for their own personal agendas. While growing up, my idea of a pirate was an old nasty fat white man with a peg leg, a hook hand ,an eye patch and oh yeah that dreadful parrot. Nothing like what I am now witnessing while studying and looking at this video. I guess I never realized that pirates come in all colors, shapes and form. The video said that being a pirate is like a business, and the hostages are the product.....really I guess if you set out to go fishing for the biggest ship then so be it, people not fish is your big catch of the day. The video takes an interesting turn when Chine tries to convince his friend Abdi that if he would just help the pirates out with navigating the waters he could live the "big" life and take care of all his daughters' needs. It's funny how people will always try and knock what the next person is trying to do , all this young man wanted to do was provide a decent life the best way he could by following the traditions of his father and grandfather by being a fisherman and not a fisher of men. And what did was he hit with the lure of money...hmmm. He still wasn't falling for it so kidnap him, really??? It say about society if you are not doing what I want you to do , we will force you to do as we say. I see that Abdi was a religious man and prayed , surely I know he hoped that one day his prayers would be answered and he could provide for his daughter, but that innocence was robbed from him when he was forced to participate against his will. Two ways to fish, with or without a net........I think Abdi would have been better off if he continued to fish with a net, sooner or later his faith would have paid off either in this life or his reward in death,
I was just simply amazed by how this video on how it really depicts the reality of piracy in Somalia. The reason being is one can get a better glimpse on as to why some of these locals are forced into the life of being a pirate. Though it is very sad what these people are going through in their country, with civil war waging on for more than a decade, corruption in government it seems that that’s what all these people really know what to do. In the case of Abdi he just wanted to peruse an honest living just like his father and his grandfather as a fisherman, but in environments with what Somalia is going through it’s very hard to do. I am also certain that Abdi’s story is just one of thousands that happens in Somalia every day. Where they are forced or peer pressured into a life like this. Which brings another question to mind, should the problems that Somalia be more addressed to the U.N.? I truly believe that they should because not only are the lives of the citizens in Somalia and shipping crew also people sailing the ocean being jeopardized but also trade at a global effect (which I’m sure you are already aware of that.).
In this class. I learned about three main pirate groups. The article gave many facts about Somalia. The location of Somalia is the horn of Africa. Somalia had a 22 year civil war. Somalia has a very dysfunctional government. Somalia is is full of poverty and has an 24% literacy rate. I found the Anti -Piracy measures interesting. My favorite Anti-Piracy methods was the water cannons, blocked entrances and the barb wire. The film reminded me of "Captin Phillips". The privates seem to take advantage of the people who fail to prepare because in many cases the is little to know consequences for their actions.
The act of piracy seems necessary from the Somalis point of view. Because of the lack of protection from other country's fishermen and so much traffic coming through around the world. The pirates are the only coast guard the country has. Of course the luxury of the payouts glamorizes the pirate life. This video helps all viewers understand the realness of the situation, the emotions and the risks. All other countries are concerned about taking the anti-piracy precautions and not concerning themselves with trying to help the country build its infrastructure and adequately getting rid of the need for any pirates.
When I finished watching this video, I wished that it wouldn't have been this short. After watching this dramatic and interesting film, I understood what piracy was a lot better than before. Obviously, piracy is a crime and they should have been punished for what they did, but this is a hard life to live in when this is a poor country in Somalia, which is at the Horn of Africa. This is a sad film because there are Somalian pirates out there who cannot afford a living like ours. There is definitely a lack of protection from piracy in this film. Honestly, I do not like these pirates because they're violent and pretty terrifying. Life is cruel sometimes. Overall, this short film was really nicely put together and get a really good picture of what a pirate's life is like in Somalia.
The most interesting thing about this film is that it portrays the pirates as having justification for their actions. It tells the other half of the story. The people who are their victims only see one side; the side where the people who took from them are bad people and should be punished. The lesson to be learned from this is that these people have no other means of making a living, and even some of them are supporting others with their illegitimately gained funds. If anyone who was a victim of piracy or even thinks these people (within the narrative of the film at least) lack justification for what they are doing, I have little doubt that those same people would be in the same boat (no pun intended), and wouldn't think twice about taking from people in order to ensure their survival. When the chips are down, people will do anything to survive, even rob people who had no business being robbed. Sure, perhaps some of the victims of these crimes somewhat deserve to be victims for exploring those waters, but that's just natural selection. If someone goes into those waters knowing full and well what dangers lie ahead, I see no reason to think that they should feel victimized. It's like jumping into a shark tank and then blaming the sharks for picking you apart. It's ludicrous. Sure, some people use routes around those areas for business purposes, and if any of them are victimized, I see it as their fault as well. They are still willingly choosing to continue to sail those waters. If anyone goes into those waters, they need to be prepared, and as we've seen in class a lot of boats do in fact have anti-piracy measures, but a more aggressive approach to defending themselves would be an effective deterrent. If boats have adequate watchtowers (or whatever they're called in boat terms) to spot the threat far away and shoot (at least warning shots) on site, any and all pirates would know that if they didn't retreat from the warning shots, they would have a high chance of dying. Seem unethical? Think of it as survival of the fittest. Another fine example of natural selection. Not only that, but I also think that many agencies that could potentially ruin a business for killing some pirates would turn a blind eye to it. It's simply damage control; a company protecting its assets. Could the pirates take more aggressive measures in retaliation? Sure, but it would be the equivalent of a small heard of rams taking on hordes and hordes of elephants, and the small heard of rams would eventually die out. That or simply find another way to ship your cargo. Avoid the area completely. Force them to find other ways of making a living, and you've fixed the problem. Of course, they will likely find other illegitimate means of income, but that is just the way of the world.
I wish that film was longer. It reminded me of the trailer of the movie Captain Phillips because i haven't sen the movie yet. It made me want to go see it more though. That is sad that the boy was punished and made into a pirate just for wanting to live like his father, and his fathers father and knowing the sea. I think they need to put police on those big cargo ships and threaten to shoot if a little boat of pirates come close. I wonder what security and or weapons have been put on those cargo ships so far. It’s sad that they even are doing this stuff in the first place, so if they think it is okay then they will just keep getting shot until they change their mind. The only problem with that is the innocent people that would be killed like the boy in the video. But hopefully this will give people like his strength and make him stand up for himself and either leave there or make the place better.
In the Somalian Piracy, in the video is shows several pirates in the Horn of East Africa, just 40 miles north of Puntland, Somalia. They are committed, to stealing other people’s belongings from their boats. These pirates are armed and very dangerous. They don’t want to shoot, but if they are forced to they will do so, if the hostage don’s cooperate. Also capturing the victims and holding them hostage, for ransom till they get the money that they are asking for. The pirates see the people and values as the main product. Most of the pirates, after retrieving the cargo some of the valuables are cell phones, watchers and other electronics. They also turn the product around, and have other people hustle it and sell it the other civilians out on the streets. It’s also a way of surviving and making an income for these people. A lot of them see it, as taking care of one another. However, most of these people have no jobs, or no source of income coming into the household. So they see it as, providing for their families and putting food on the table and shelter, as a place to sleep.
After watching this video I wished that it would not have been so short. I also wish they would have gone deeper into the way the live and what happened after they went to the boat. When they picked up Chime from the road and made him hustle into it, i feel like that was not the only person they just picked up to help them. Even though they said he would get the profit i feel he still did not want to be apart of it. Even though he could not even feed his own kid. This is not the way that he wanted to live. It was amazing to see that those people were content with this way of living. That they would put their lives in danger just to make some money to live off of, but the guys they are attacking don't see it that way. They see it as an attack, which it is, but they only see one side of it. I'm sure if the people they were attacking did not have enough money to survive they would turn to desperate measures to survive as well.
I can understand both sides of view. First of all, if you have a family that has no reliable source of money to put food on the table or no money to assure your child that you can provide the medicines need to keep them healthy, then yes if I lived under those conditions. I would have to say that after trying everything "fishing with nets" and that didn't work I would have to move to extreme measures, "fishing without nets." I am not trying to justify the pirates extreme actions of taking cargo ships, crews and even the young man to just help navigate the waters, as an excuse. I do have to agree with the others I felt like the video was really good but on the other hand it pulled a "sopranos" move, ha-ha.
Fishing without nets was a wonderful short film it showed the poverty that is experienced by the locals in Somalia that drive them to become part of the pirates who take ships for hostages to get ransom. In gangsters we have talked about how poverty can drive these types of situations develop due to a lack of services. These gangs can provide what the government does not. With the basic needs of human beings not provided for we become desperate like a caged animals. The gangs are smart about how they recruit new members they try to sell them on the idea that they are not there to be violent only there for money. These gangs however cannot predict if the ship they board will comply with this type of situation which leads to the senseless violence that inevitably occurs. I think what is amazing about the pirates versus other gangs we have discussed is their willingness to go out to the unknown and board these huge vessels that are thousands of feet in the air. With the illegal over fishing that other countries have done they have taken away the opportunities of the locals to make an honest living. People are no longer able to carry on the traditions of their ancestors and they are forced to have a new means of employment with the government not providing jobs it leaves little else these men without an education can do.
Who among us wouldn't do whatever it takes to live a healthy and stable life and provide the same for our families? I obviously don't condone piracy in any way, but this video allowed me to understand what leads these people to partake in piracy. When one of the only jobs you are able to do is no longer enough to provide you with the necessary resources to survive the only option is to find an alternative way to do so. Like someone else said, only one side of the situation is being highlighted and that is that these pirates are all bad people and should be punished. But nobody sees that they are just trying to survive (many of them at least). Like i said before, i dont condone their actions but they are doing what they have to do to survive. We (first world country citizens) know there are other means of surviving and living a good life because we have these at our disposal. They don't have it that easy. Until their country gives them these means piracy will continue to be the career of choice for many of these Somali men.
Yes, many of us would probably turn to pirating as a source of survival to provide for our loved ones. The underlying problem though goes beyond the pirates of Somalia. The involvement of pirating is a product, I believe, more so of the over fishing by the more developed countries. Somalia is very unstable due to lack of a solid financial structure providing jobs, as well as resources, and an underdeveloped government. This cannot be blamed solely on the government or lack of government. These individuals who choose to become pirates, more so do not do it out of fun or a variety of careers to pick from, but to survive. The waters that had been fished in the past provided abundantly to the people, but now have become barren because of the food demands of other more developed countries. Businesses of countries, who take advantage of the lack of security to enforce the stopping of overfishing in Somalian waters, do so without much fear of facing any repercussions or punishment. Quite the contrary, since some pirates are actually being prosecuted in a few other more developed countries. The responsibility remains in the hands of nations who drive businesses to fish wherever they please to fulfill demands and oil the economy. It seems the “pirates” of Somalia are actually individuals taking the issue into their own action out of desperation, since there seems to be not much help provided to Somalia’s plight. By any means, I do not approve of the pirating, but also I do not approve of the illegal fishing perpetrated. But as long as we keeping raising demands here in our country, just as others of separate developed countries, pirating will more than likely stay and increase. It's ironic to me seeing the currency of U.S. dollars exchanged in light of state of the dollar. What will the people turn to if the dollar does ever happen to collapse?
I do not understand how in Somalia there is a scarcity of food and medicine, but there is the multitude of guns. It seems they would have the capability to get other supplies if they have access to guns. Weapons are expensive. I feel bad for these people for they are just trying to make a living and support their families and not go hungry. The one guy in Somalia with children wants to be honorable in how he supports his family because that is how he was raised by his father. Unfortunately he lives in a very poor country where he does not have many options. Most people would just see dollar signs and do what they could to make money. I do not agree with piracy because you are taking something that is not yours and often hurting people in the process. However, I can not say what I would do if my daughter was hungry or needed medicine. I will not judge these people for trying to survive. Most of them do not want to hurt anyone they just want their money so they can eat and support their loves ones. I thank God I am blessed to be able to support myself and my daughter. The things we take for granted like running to the grocery store or pharmacy when we need something.
Blog 11 Sandra Odom My father fished here. Dr G. asked the a question in Forensic Soc “what would make you become a terrorist?” I am asking what would make you become a pirate. Would Famine, poverty, watching your children waste away from hunger or lack of medicine cause you to kidnap people and property. These are men put into a situation through no fault of their own trying to survive. The story is as old as time the haves and the have not’s. Piracy did not begin with the Somalian from the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 1400’s to France and England in 15 to 1600’s piracy has been a way of survival. In those times pirating was quite prevalent and even condoned by their respective governments. Privateers, pirates who were authorized by their government to attack and seize ships of enemy nations, Buccaneers were pirates and privateers who operated from bases in the West Indies, and attacked Spanish shipping in the Caribbean, and Corsairs were Muslim, and operated solely from the North African states of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and Morocco, and were authorized by their government to attack the ships of Christian countries. Piracy was a war tactic and means of survival in hard times. The Somalian are in an economic and governmental crisis in other words they are at war.
It must me very depressing what some of the Somalia who wants to be honorable to support the family, but have no other options in his situation. It sad that the pirating has to go around taking other people’s thing and ever kill for it. There are more guns there than food, medical, I do not believe of the illegal fishing perpetrated. They are a very unstable due to not having job and other resources, most of them are been take advantage of without enforce their to help. The put their life in danger just to lived
Many people are trying to make a decent living and than people like this show up and take everything that took a long time to be earned. It is hard to make a living where they are but they do not have to resort to such low methods to get what they want.These pirates might not be all bad people, they are just desperate. This is when the government should step in and try to help out those who are in need. Not the ones who just want to take what they want even though they have plenty more where they live but those who take because there is no other way they can get food or resources they need.
Yep if I live there, it would be a pirate’s life for me. This country needs a voice. From what I understand of history; Africa has become independent only recently. This entire continent had been ruled by random European nations for a while. How long this while was I’m not sure. I say stay out of the country and keep amping up security on the ships. I wonder what insane weapons have been put on merchant ships thus far. Yep it will cost more but that’s the risk people will have to take. Like everyone in life they’ll get the picture eventually. It’s a sad situation but without harsh punishment we can’t help the innocent people being dragged along in this. If the rest of the world show were not messing around it may give hope and strength to the “honest” (guy from the video) people of Africa to stand up for themselves. Battles and blood shed have been going on since the beginning of time and it’s most likely not going to change. Though its unfortunate merchants now have to hire security and pack heat, that’s life baby. All anyone can do is punish the offenders caught and move on. Hopefully these guys will work up some sort of agreement to help rebuild this unstable country all by themselves. I can’t wait to hear more in class. And while I’m at it I’ll go on a veteran rant. When we were on a ship and all this was new, I remember we had to go on night training missions on our zodiacs to prep us for the possibility of a pirate raid. It was cold, it sucked and I really dislike these pirates.
ReplyDeleteThis video shows harsh realities lived in the horn of Africa. The country has a long way to reach a state of functioning government, so that its people could find a decent way in earning a living. While their country is slowly evolving into a structured government, piracy is a career path picked by many men. Even for the men trying to make money through means of fishing are being persuaded or forced into the life of piracy. These men are tired of not being able to properly provide for their family. They want quick cash, and they want it now. In the meantime merchant ships traveling this area must stay prepared for pirate attacks. Until the people of Somalia have a chance at living a decent life, they will continue doing what they need to in order to survive.
ReplyDeleteThis class has proved to be very interesting to say the least. First let me start off by saying my eyes have definitely been opened to the harsh conditions that this country suffers from.......I thought that last week was something with the gangs of Jamaica, now the Horn of Africa. Where do I start, I think that its a sad day in the life that we live that others continue to use people for their own personal agendas. While growing up, my idea of a pirate was an old nasty fat white man with a peg leg, a hook hand ,an eye patch and oh yeah that dreadful parrot. Nothing like what I am now witnessing while studying and looking at this video. I guess I never realized that pirates come in all colors, shapes and form. The video said that being a pirate is like a business, and the hostages are the product.....really I guess if you set out to go fishing for the biggest ship then so be it, people not fish is your big catch of the day. The video takes an interesting turn when Chine tries to convince his friend Abdi that if he would just help the pirates out with navigating the waters he could live the "big" life and take care of all his daughters' needs. It's funny how people will always try and knock what the next person is trying to do , all this young man wanted to do was provide a decent life the best way he could by following the traditions of his father and grandfather by being a fisherman and not a fisher of men. And what did was he hit with the lure of money...hmmm. He still wasn't falling for it so kidnap him, really??? It say about society if you are not doing what I want you to do , we will force you to do as we say. I see that Abdi was a religious man and prayed , surely I know he hoped that one day his prayers would be answered and he could provide for his daughter, but that innocence was robbed from him when he was forced to participate against his will. Two ways to fish, with or without a net........I think Abdi would have been better off if he continued to fish with a net, sooner or later his faith would have paid off either in this life or his reward in death,
ReplyDeleteI was just simply amazed by how this video on how it really depicts the reality of piracy in Somalia. The reason being is one can get a better glimpse on as to why some of these locals are forced into the life of being a pirate. Though it is very sad what these people are going through in their country, with civil war waging on for more than a decade, corruption in government it seems that that’s what all these people really know what to do. In the case of Abdi he just wanted to peruse an honest living just like his father and his grandfather as a fisherman, but in environments with what Somalia is going through it’s very hard to do. I am also certain that Abdi’s story is just one of thousands that happens in Somalia every day. Where they are forced or peer pressured into a life like this. Which brings another question to mind, should the problems that Somalia be more addressed to the U.N.? I truly believe that they should because not only are the lives of the citizens in Somalia and shipping crew also people sailing the ocean being jeopardized but also trade at a global effect (which I’m sure you are already aware of that.).
ReplyDeleteIn this class. I learned about three main pirate groups. The article gave many facts about Somalia. The location of Somalia is the horn of Africa. Somalia had a 22 year civil war. Somalia has a very dysfunctional government. Somalia is is full of poverty and has an 24% literacy rate. I found the Anti -Piracy measures interesting. My favorite Anti-Piracy methods was the water cannons, blocked entrances and the barb wire. The film reminded me of "Captin Phillips". The privates seem to take advantage of the people who fail to prepare because in many cases the is little to know consequences for their actions.
ReplyDeleteThe act of piracy seems necessary from the Somalis point of view. Because of the lack of protection from other country's fishermen and so much traffic coming through around the world. The pirates are the only coast guard the country has. Of course the luxury of the payouts glamorizes the pirate life. This video helps all viewers understand the realness of the situation, the emotions and the risks. All other countries are concerned about taking the anti-piracy precautions and not concerning themselves with trying to help the country build its infrastructure and adequately getting rid of the need for any pirates.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finished watching this video, I wished that it wouldn't have been this short. After watching this dramatic and interesting film, I understood what piracy was a lot better than before. Obviously, piracy is a crime and they should have been punished for what they did, but this is a hard life to live in when this is a poor country in Somalia, which is at the Horn of Africa. This is a sad film because there are Somalian pirates out there who cannot afford a living like ours. There is definitely a lack of protection from piracy in this film. Honestly, I do not like these pirates because they're violent and pretty terrifying. Life is cruel sometimes. Overall, this short film was really nicely put together and get a really good picture of what a pirate's life is like in Somalia.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting thing about this film is that it portrays the pirates as having justification for their actions. It tells the other half of the story. The people who are their victims only see one side; the side where the people who took from them are bad people and should be punished. The lesson to be learned from this is that these people have no other means of making a living, and even some of them are supporting others with their illegitimately gained funds. If anyone who was a victim of piracy or even thinks these people (within the narrative of the film at least) lack justification for what they are doing, I have little doubt that those same people would be in the same boat (no pun intended), and wouldn't think twice about taking from people in order to ensure their survival. When the chips are down, people will do anything to survive, even rob people who had no business being robbed. Sure, perhaps some of the victims of these crimes somewhat deserve to be victims for exploring those waters, but that's just natural selection. If someone goes into those waters knowing full and well what dangers lie ahead, I see no reason to think that they should feel victimized. It's like jumping into a shark tank and then blaming the sharks for picking you apart. It's ludicrous. Sure, some people use routes around those areas for business purposes, and if any of them are victimized, I see it as their fault as well. They are still willingly choosing to continue to sail those waters. If anyone goes into those waters, they need to be prepared, and as we've seen in class a lot of boats do in fact have anti-piracy measures, but a more aggressive approach to defending themselves would be an effective deterrent. If boats have adequate watchtowers (or whatever they're called in boat terms) to spot the threat far away and shoot (at least warning shots) on site, any and all pirates would know that if they didn't retreat from the warning shots, they would have a high chance of dying. Seem unethical? Think of it as survival of the fittest. Another fine example of natural selection. Not only that, but I also think that many agencies that could potentially ruin a business for killing some pirates would turn a blind eye to it. It's simply damage control; a company protecting its assets. Could the pirates take more aggressive measures in retaliation? Sure, but it would be the equivalent of a small heard of rams taking on hordes and hordes of elephants, and the small heard of rams would eventually die out. That or simply find another way to ship your cargo. Avoid the area completely. Force them to find other ways of making a living, and you've fixed the problem. Of course, they will likely find other illegitimate means of income, but that is just the way of the world.
ReplyDeleteI wish that film was longer. It reminded me of the trailer of the movie Captain Phillips because i haven't sen the movie yet. It made me want to go see it more though. That is sad that the boy was punished and made into a pirate just for wanting to live like his father, and his fathers father and knowing the sea. I think they need to put police on those big cargo ships and threaten to shoot if a little boat of pirates come close. I wonder what security and or weapons have been put on those cargo ships so far. It’s sad that they even are doing this stuff in the first place, so if they think it is okay then they will just keep getting shot until they change their mind. The only problem with that is the innocent people that would be killed like the boy in the video. But hopefully this will give people like his strength and make him stand up for himself and either leave there or make the place better.
ReplyDeleteIn the Somalian Piracy, in the video is shows several pirates in the Horn of East Africa, just 40 miles north of Puntland, Somalia. They are committed, to stealing other people’s belongings from their boats. These pirates are armed and very dangerous. They don’t want to shoot, but if they are forced to they will do so, if the hostage don’s cooperate. Also capturing the victims and holding them hostage, for ransom till they get the money that they are asking for. The pirates see the people and values as the main product. Most of the pirates, after retrieving the cargo some of the valuables are cell phones, watchers and other electronics. They also turn the product around, and have other people hustle it and sell it the other civilians out on the streets. It’s also a way of surviving and making an income for these people. A lot of them see it, as taking care of one another. However, most of these people have no jobs, or no source of income coming into the household. So they see it as, providing for their families and putting food on the table and shelter, as a place to sleep.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this video I wished that it would not have been so short. I also wish they would have gone deeper into the way the live and what happened after they went to the boat. When they picked up Chime from the road and made him hustle into it, i feel like that was not the only person they just picked up to help them. Even though they said he would get the profit i feel he still did not want to be apart of it. Even though he could not even feed his own kid. This is not the way that he wanted to live. It was amazing to see that those people were content with this way of living. That they would put their lives in danger just to make some money to live off of, but the guys they are attacking don't see it that way. They see it as an attack, which it is, but they only see one side of it. I'm sure if the people they were attacking did not have enough money to survive they would turn to desperate measures to survive as well.
ReplyDeleteI can understand both sides of view. First of all, if you have a family that has no reliable source of money to put food on the table or no money to assure your child that you can provide the medicines need to keep them healthy, then yes if I lived under those conditions. I would have to say that after trying everything "fishing with nets" and that didn't work I would have to move to extreme measures, "fishing without nets."
ReplyDeleteI am not trying to justify the pirates extreme actions of taking cargo ships, crews and even the young man to just help navigate the waters, as an excuse.
I do have to agree with the others I felt like the video was really good but on the other hand it pulled a "sopranos" move, ha-ha.
Fishing without nets was a wonderful short film it showed the poverty that is experienced by the locals in Somalia that drive them to become part of the pirates who take ships for hostages to get ransom. In gangsters we have talked about how poverty can drive these types of situations develop due to a lack of services. These gangs can provide what the government does not. With the basic needs of human beings not provided for we become desperate like a caged animals. The gangs are smart about how they recruit new members they try to sell them on the idea that they are not there to be violent only there for money. These gangs however cannot predict if the ship they board will comply with this type of situation which leads to the senseless violence that inevitably occurs. I think what is amazing about the pirates versus other gangs we have discussed is their willingness to go out to the unknown and board these huge vessels that are thousands of feet in the air. With the illegal over fishing that other countries have done they have taken away the opportunities of the locals to make an honest living. People are no longer able to carry on the traditions of their ancestors and they are forced to have a new means of employment with the government not providing jobs it leaves little else these men without an education can do.
ReplyDeleteWho among us wouldn't do whatever it takes to live a healthy and stable life and provide the same for our families? I obviously don't condone piracy in any way, but this video allowed me to understand what leads these people to partake in piracy. When one of the only jobs you are able to do is no longer enough to provide you with the necessary resources to survive the only option is to find an alternative way to do so. Like someone else said, only one side of the situation is being highlighted and that is that these pirates are all bad people and should be punished. But nobody sees that they are just trying to survive (many of them at least). Like i said before, i dont condone their actions but they are doing what they have to do to survive. We (first world country citizens) know there are other means of surviving and living a good life because we have these at our disposal. They don't have it that easy. Until their country gives them these means piracy will continue to be the career of choice for many of these Somali men.
ReplyDeleteYes, many of us would probably turn to pirating as a source of survival to provide for our loved ones. The underlying problem though goes beyond the pirates of Somalia. The involvement of pirating is a product, I believe, more so of the over fishing by the more developed countries. Somalia is very unstable due to lack of a solid financial structure providing jobs, as well as resources, and an underdeveloped government. This cannot be blamed solely on the government or lack of government. These individuals who choose to become pirates, more so do not do it out of fun or a variety of careers to pick from, but to survive. The waters that had been fished in the past provided abundantly to the people, but now have become barren because of the food demands of other more developed countries. Businesses of countries, who take advantage of the lack of security to enforce the stopping of overfishing in Somalian waters, do so without much fear of facing any repercussions or punishment. Quite the contrary, since some pirates are actually being prosecuted in a few other more developed countries. The responsibility remains in the hands of nations who drive businesses to fish wherever they please to fulfill demands and oil the economy. It seems the “pirates” of Somalia are actually individuals taking the issue into their own action out of desperation, since there seems to be not much help provided to Somalia’s plight. By any means, I do not approve of the pirating, but also I do not approve of the illegal fishing perpetrated. But as long as we keeping raising demands here in our country, just as others of separate developed countries, pirating will more than likely stay and increase. It's ironic to me seeing the currency of U.S. dollars exchanged in light of state of the dollar. What will the people turn to if the dollar does ever happen to collapse?
ReplyDeleteI do not understand how in Somalia there is a scarcity of food and medicine, but there is the multitude of guns. It seems they would have the capability to get other supplies if they have access to guns. Weapons are expensive. I feel bad for these people for they are just trying to make a living and support their families and not go hungry. The one guy in Somalia with children wants to be honorable in how he supports his family because that is how he was raised by his father. Unfortunately he lives in a very poor country where he does not have many options. Most people would just see dollar signs and do what they could to make money. I do not agree with piracy because you are taking something that is not yours and often hurting people in the process. However, I can not say what I would do if my daughter was hungry or needed medicine. I will not judge these people for trying to survive. Most of them do not want to hurt anyone they just want their money so they can eat and support their loves ones. I thank God I am blessed to be able to support myself and my daughter. The things we take for granted like running to the grocery store or pharmacy when we need something.
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ReplyDeleteSandra Odom
My father fished here. Dr G. asked the a question in Forensic Soc “what would make you become a terrorist?” I am asking what would make you become a pirate. Would Famine, poverty, watching your children waste away from hunger or lack of medicine cause you to kidnap people and property. These are men put into a situation through no fault of their own trying to survive.
The story is as old as time the haves and the have not’s. Piracy did not begin with the Somalian from the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 1400’s to France and England in 15 to 1600’s piracy has been a way of survival. In those times pirating was quite prevalent and even condoned by their respective governments. Privateers, pirates who were authorized by their government to attack and seize ships of enemy nations, Buccaneers were pirates and privateers who operated from bases in the West Indies, and attacked Spanish shipping in the Caribbean, and Corsairs were Muslim, and operated solely from the North African states of Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and Morocco, and were authorized by their government to attack the ships of Christian countries. Piracy was a war tactic and means of survival in hard times. The Somalian are in an economic and governmental crisis in other words they are at war.
It must me very depressing what some of the Somalia who wants to be honorable to support the family, but have no other options in his situation. It sad that the pirating has to go around taking other people’s thing and ever kill for it. There are more guns there than food, medical, I do not believe of the illegal fishing perpetrated. They are a very unstable due to not having job and other resources, most of them are been take advantage of without enforce their to help. The put their life in danger just to lived
ReplyDeleteMany people are trying to make a decent living and than people like this show up and take everything that took a long time to be earned. It is hard to make a living where they are but they do not have to resort to such low methods to get what they want.These pirates might not be all bad people, they are just desperate. This is when the government should step in and try to help out those who are in need. Not the ones who just want to take what they want even though they have plenty more where they live but those who take because there is no other way they can get food or resources they need.
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