Categories: uncategorized
Date: 02 October 2008 20:10:51
You may have gathered that I work in the Logistics/Shipping industry.
Recently we have been receiving more and more reports regarding the activities of pirates. Not those nice ones like Burt Lancaster, Errol Flynn and Johnny Depp but evil ones intent on siezing ships or robbing them at sea.
It is so bad that Somalia is now regarded as a country that makes money by allowing this activity by its citizens. It doesn't help that there is no real law enforcement, or even a proper government. The French have a few naval vessels in the area but, apart from 1 rescue, have done nothing. No other countries seem to be that concerned either.
There are currently 12 ships and crews in capitivity waiting for ransoms to be paid. You may have seen that one ship siezed was carrying 30 T-72 main battle tanks. It is believed that these have no fallen into the wrong hands. We are seeing the same activity off the South China coast with 2 incidents in the last week of pirates raiding vessels, tying up the crews and stealing whatever they can - mainly money and papers.
The situation around Somalia is a clear threat to maritime safety and yet, despite the International Maritime Organisation giving governments the legal clearance to enforce law and order, nothing is being done. Countries that have signed up to a naval enforcement group have done nothing to provide them with instructions on how to combat these pirates.
It seems odd that we are still battling a menace that was supposed eradicated nearly 200 years ago. Yet no one seems to have the political will to "let loose the dogs of war" to put an end to this. With several tens of millions believed to have been paid in ransomso far this year, you'd think that something would be done.
Where's the good old Royal Navy when you need it?
History Today:
1187: During Third Crusade, the Siege of Jerusalem ends as Saladin captures the city.
1780: John Andre, a British major, is hanged as a spy by traitorous colonial forces in Tappan, New York.
1836: Charles Darwin arrives at falmouth aboard HMS Beagle, ending a five year surveying expedition of the Southern Atlantc and Pacific Oceans.
1928: Spanish priest Josemaria Escriva founds Opus Dei. Dan Brown has a lot to thank him for, including a few million dollars.
1943: The Danish resistance finishes smuggling up to 7,000 Jews to neutral Sweden, ahead of an SS round-up. Maybe if others had tried harder we wouldn't have had 6 million killed.
1944: The German army cruishes the Warsaw Uprising, by the Polish "Home Army" after 63 days, razing the city and murdering thousands. Meanwhile the Soviet army sits nearby and lets them get on with it - it saves them having to round up the non Communist undeground fighters later.
1952: Britain becomes the world's third nuclear power by testing a bomb off Trimouille Island near Australia.
1983: Neil Pillock becomes leader of the Labour Party and leads them to 3 successive defeats.
1985: Rock Hudson dies aged 59 of AIDS.
1989: Dr Robert Runcie, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is heckled while addressing a Catholic congregation in Rome. British Protestants - protesting - are angry because of his attempts to draw closer to the Catholic church. Has not not learnt anything from 16th Century history?