Pirates – Heather E. Lanthorn

Somali piracy as non-state governance

Source: Somali piracy as non-state governance

west african pirates

i’ve been slow on pirate news. sometimes my google alert for ‘pirate’ brings me good things; most of the time it is about sports teams. in any case, something good came in today. a lieutenant commander in the french navy noted that west africa and the gulf of guinea is a good place to beContinue reading “west african pirates”

carols and shanties

there’s someone else out there (actually, several people, it would seem) that enjoy both re-writing song lyrics and pirates. if you are so inclined, she invites you to add to the songs: http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/12/the-pirate-was-a-gentleman/ http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2011/12/pirate-carols/

mo money, mo pirates

most of the pirate attacks appear to be the work of Nigerian crime syndicates that have been operating in their own oil-rich country for years. the rest of the story is here.

somali pirates convicted in german court

full article here. arguments about being forced into piracy by a leader rejected arguments about being forced into piracy (or not actually committing piracy) because of desperation also not dismissed, although taken into account in sentencing 7 years for adults, 3 years for minors

kenyan courts can start trying somali (and other) pirates caught in international waters

full story here. follow[ing] a 2010 Kenyan High Court judgement [that] courts could only deal with offenses carried out within the country’s territory… Kenya’s Court of Appeal rules the country’s courts have jurisdiction to try pirates caught in international waters.

coastal communities recording pirates, informing countries

“in the 18 months since the London-based Environment Justice Foundation (EJF) raised the £50,000 needed to buy and equip a small seven-metre community surveillance boat for villages in the Sherbro river area of Sierra Leone, local fishers have filmed and identified 10 international trawlers working illegally in their protected waters and have made 252 separateContinue reading “coastal communities recording pirates, informing countries”

pirates and the rolling stones (not keith richards in the movie)

pirates (secuity, employment) around minute 14:00: http://www.ted.com/talks/jason_mccue_terrorism_is_a_failed_brand.html also, the enduring power of the rolling stones, at the end of the talk

‘party over’ for somali pirates

first of all, i don’t think i fully understood that the somali pirates were partying. however, “the empty whiskey bottles and overturned, sand-filled skiffs littering this once-bustling shoreline (of Hobyo) are signs that the heydey of Somali piracy might be over. most of the prostitutes are gone and the luxury cars repossessed. pirates while awayContinue reading “‘party over’ for somali pirates”

continued declines in piracy but bolder in West Africa

a more complete review is here. “outside of Somalia, most of the piracy is basically robbing the crew of their valuables and any portable items of worth from the ship (that will fit into the pirates’ small boat).” “some of the pirates on the west coast of Africa (mainly the Gulf of Guinea) have becomeContinue reading “continued declines in piracy but bolder in West Africa”