Somalia: Pirates? Europeans illegally fish & dump toxic nuclear wastes in their waters (Updated 1/12/2010)

The Update of 1/12/2010 follows the main story below.

How has this whole pirate-thing emerged in Somalia? For decades Europeans have fished their waters illegally and used Somalia waters as toxic waste dumps, to dump nuclear waste.

The Italian Mafia has had a hand in the dumping of the nuclear waste. Yes, nuclear waste! As soon as the government was gone, mysterious European ships started appearing off the coast of Somalia, dumping vast barrels into the ocean.

The 2005 tsunami pushed hundreds of barrels, many leaking up onto Somalia's shores sickening thousands. Over 300 people died from radiation sickness.

Heavy metals are also included in the toxic mix.

Somalia loses almost 95 million dollars a year to illegal fishing. Other estimates have been noted as high as 300 million a year. The waters off north Somalia are rich in Tuna, and until 2006, when pirates became a serious problem, European ships, mainly Spanish gleaned the bounty, selling most of their rich catch to Japan, even though they were in Somalia's exclusive economic zone waters, EEZ. On an annual basis there have been 700 to 1000 boats fishing illegally. Other countries who joined the Europeans in the rape of its waters, prior to 2006, are Taiwan, China, South Korea, Thailand, Yemen and Kenya.

"Somalia is suffering economic terrorism," said a Somalia professional fisherman.

Originally, Somalis, went out into the waters to protest the illegal fishing and dumping by these countries, all much wealthier than they. These European fishing firms practiced their fishing even though there were no agreements between them and Somalia. No European fishing should be happening in Somali waters. Spanish boats had been signing private deals with warlords. This type of arrangement is illegal under laws of the European Union.

And, we call them pirates? As, long, as, the money keeps flowing into non-Somalia coffers we look the other way. What about Somalia? What about its people? What about their hopes? What about their dreams? What about their children? What about what is right?

In Mombasa, Kenya, pirate expert Andrew Mwangura complains "that toxic waste has been dumped in Somalia for a long time," and that the international community is looking on and "doing nothing about it," thereby giving the pirates "a convenient excuse to legitimize their actions." (1)

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991. 25% of children born die before age five. Half the country's people, 3.2 million, are starving.

Since the pirates have been rolling there have been no reports of illegal fishing vessels.

Now, we find a young man, brought to New York to stand trial and become the first person to be tried for piracy on the high seas in the United States in over 100 years. What will his trial prove? Will we take his life away forever? Will he be better off living in prison, than, that in Somalia?

I am hoping his trial will open our eyes, and ears, and our thoughts to finding a solution for the people of Somalia. No living being should ever be subjected to the horrors the Somalia people have endured.

Stand-up for change!

UPDATE 27 April 2009: The Government of Japan has made no comment whatsoever, that I was able to research, about the Tuna sold them and caught, illegally in the toxic waters.

(1) quote taken from:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,594457,00.html

Read a real nuts and bolts story on Somalia:
http://euobserver.com/?aid=27966

Read about Pirate comes to NY, world away from home in Africa:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izUbtx1o15cqD9GcYDcuI16mUxQQD97N62H00

Read about the toxic waste dumping:
http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/2009/04/12/untold-stories-about-somalia-pirates-european-ships-dump-nuclear-waste-into-somalia-ocean/

Read interview with new Somalia President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed:
http://www.hiiraan.com/comments2-news-2009-Feb-interview__the_somali_people_do_not_want_any_more_fighting.aspx

And, the latest from Green Peace:
http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenpeaceusa_blog/2009/04/16/here_there_be_pirates

And, a little more:
"You are being lied to about pirates:"
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-you-are-being-lied-to-about-pirates-1225817.html

Some information used for this article comes from:
“The European roots of Somali piracy,” by LEIGH PHILLIPS
of EUobserver online. (Euobserver.com)

"Audacity Of Hypocrisy , 'Untold Stories about Somalia Pirates - European ships dump Nuclear Waste into Somalia Ocean'"

Added since 24 April 2009

Somalia: Has Piracy Drawn the World's Attention To Country?
http://allafrica.com/stories/200904250013.html

PRELUDE TO PIRACY
The Poor Fishermen of Somalia, by Horand Knaup,Mombasa, Kenya
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,594457,00.html

Added 30 April 2009

The Destruction of Buddism
http://xomba.com/destruction_buddhism_letter_shared_professor_sharif_abdullah_sri_lanka

Added 1 May 2009

Somalia: Foreign Minister Wants Pirates Convicted ***
"Mohamed jama' Ali known as (MJ), a director of the Somali foreign ministry has held a press conference in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday and appealed the Somali pirates who are captured in the Somali coasts to be convicted in the country."
http://allafrica.com/stories/200904300913.html

Somalia's new in-country news service begins:
***SOMINA will cover news events throughout Somalia, including Somaliland, as they happen. Its dispatches, in Somali and English, will be available free of charge on its website*** http://www.sominaonline.com

Added 11 May 2009***

Somalia: Beyond Piracy - Next Steps to Stabilize the Country
For the first time in a long time, Americans are paying attention to what their government does in Somalia. Following last month âs hostage drama off the coast of Somalia, President Barack Obama is under increasing political pressure to address the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden. While short-term measures to curb pirate attacks are certainly necessary, the Obama administration must not allow the
politics of the piracy problem to distract it from putting in place a long-term strategy to help Somalis forge a state that, with measured external support, can fight piracy, promote peace and reconciliation, and combat the threat of terrorism within its borders.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200905080532.html

Updated 6-1-2009***

From AllAfrica.com 8 June 2009

"...Piracy offers quick money to young Somalis who have few alternatives that pay as well as piracy," Hopkins said. "Unfortunately for both these young men and their victims, piracy is a serious crime that damages their country's chances of recovering from civil war and building a sustainable future. International investors are unlikely to invest in a country where criminal gangs could threaten their investments. Piracy is organized crime, which makes Somalia less attractive as a place in which to invest to provide employment..."

International Community Uniting Against Pirates
An article by Lauren Caldwell
http://allafrica.com/stories/200906081523.html

*** from AllAfrica.com

Suspected Somali pirate Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse headed into Federal court this morning.  He was indicted on ten-counts, which included the hijacking of two ships prior to the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, and the kidnapping of Capt. Richard Phillips, and, thus, the capture of Mr. Muse.  The two other ships are referred to as Ship-1 and Ship-2 in the indictment.

You can read the full story about today's court proceedings at:  http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/maersk.alabama.charges/

I can't help but wonder why is Mr. Muse smiling?  Is it that his life has become so much better since entering the U.S. Jail / Prison System?  The worst sentence he may be given is life in prison.