A Different Take on Somali Pirates
Finally! Someone is giving us a different perspective about the Somali Pirate situation. Seems like all the news outlets are giving us one side of the story - especially since Americans were captured - but what about the other side? One argument is..."who cares about what the other side has to say? Their story doesn't matter! They are pirates for chrissake!" Okay, point well taken. But, how do we make informed judgments and become a less ignorant population if we don't know the whole story?Somali - Canadian singer, K'naan breaks it down for us and gives us a totally different view on the pirate situation. Check out the clip below:
What's extremely interesting is the role major super powers have played in the events leading up to the most recent attacks and capture. Big media isn't talking about this side of the ordeal. But we should.
Also, take a look at this piece K'naan wrote for HuffPost. Stand out quote:
Can anyone ever really be for piracy? Outside of sea bandits, and young girls fantasizing of Johnny Depp, would anyone with an honest regard for good human conduct really say that they are in support of Sea Robbery? Well, in Somalia, the answer is: it's complicated.
After watching the video and reading the article, has your view changed at all? Are you even more set on how you view the situation? Leave your comments, experiences and questions below!
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ok. so dumping nuclear waste is wrong. but hijacking ships, kidnapping innocent people and demanding money from them is not a way to solve the problem. i mean what does kidnapping people and demanding ransom have to do with the dumping of nuclear waste???
are you telling me the luxury liners are dumping toxic waste also??? k’naaan did not address the issue. i think that whole “coast guard” description is a load of bull.
if nuclear waste is the issue then they should speak up and get the international community involved. they need to protest, tell the world who is doing the dumping so we can get to the bottom of this.
Harry you said “what does kidnapping people and demanding ransom have to do with the dumping of nuclear waste?”. What you need to understand is these fishermen, not “pirates” as they say on the news, have been violated! Their shores have not only been intoxicated with these dumpings but the fish they have always used as a means for survival and making money has also been taken away from them. Its got to the point where all these european and asian countries are going to the unprotected sea coasts of somalia to gather fish. Now OFCOURSE if the only way they made money is now taken away from them then they will resort to hijackings because they need money. These people are hungry, they have families that they need to look after. So YES they will continue to do this. So before you start looking at one side of the story put your shoes in there people. Like Malcom X said “By any means necessary”. Its also a way of tax collection, so to use OUR (yes im Somali and PROUD) sea to deliver you best believe it wont be for free!!! Get your facts straight and dont believe everything that the media feeds you. Peace
I wrote a piece on this also…. As much as I don’t think dumping nuclear waste has a direct correlation to kidnapping and hijacking, I do think the adverse effect is a retaliatory attitude towards Western vessels and ships. The problem wont be solved by just snipping the “pirates” anytime someone is captured… The problem has to be solved from the inside out.
http://www.jaguda.com/2009/04/19/more-to-the-story-than-is-told-somali-pirates/