Arg, it’s a pirates life for me!

Quick! Get a parrot!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7z74BvLWUg

Pirates: Bloodthirsty Villains of Yore

• Caribbean is famous for its stories of sailor thieves known as pirates.

• Islands offer warm weather, hidden bays and coves and secret caves for hiding booty.

• Pirates terrorized the seas from 1600s to 1700s known as the “Golden Age of Piracy”

Capt. Henry Morgan

• Would rob is own men• Would loot and capture ships

Blackbeard

• One of the most dreaded pirates of all• To look terrifying during a raid he would braid

hemp fuses into his hair and beard (used to light canons) and light them. They would burn slowly and he would look like he was on fire

Bartholomew Roberts• Captured more than 400 ships• He would wear fine clothes while doing so• He had rules:

– All important decisions to be put to the vote– Any man caught stealing would be marooned (left on a deserted island)– All pistols will be kept clean– No women on board– Any man who deserts in battle shall be killed– All crews quarrels will be settled on shore– Captain and quartermaster receives 2 shares of the booty– Injuries to be compensated, any man who looses a limb shall receive

extra booty

What is Piracy

• The act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. This can include acts committed in air, or on a major bodies of water.

Modern Day: Somali Pirates

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjnBwEfqYcw

• Captain Phillips - Official Trailer (HD) Tom Hanks - YouTube

Some stats…• 25 military vessels - from the EU and Nato countries, the US, China,

Russia, India and Japan - patrol approximately 8.3m sq km (3.2m sq miles) of ocean, an area about the size of western Europe

• 151 attacks on ships in 2011, compared to 127 in 2010 - but only 25 successful hijacks compared to 47 in 2010

• In 2011, pirates earned $146m (£93m), an average of $4.87m (£3m) per ship

• 10 vessels and 159 hostages are being held

• An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 pirates operate; 1,000 have been captured and are going through legal processes in 21 countries

Piracy and Armed Robbery Incidents 2011

How did this happen?• With the fall of the Somali government, the

waters were left undefended and foreign fishers began illegally fishing in Somali waters

• Local fishermen banded together to protect their resource (the first act ~1991)

• After a few successful acts, pirates saw this as a profitable alternative – A pirates income is estimated at $238 million in

2010– The average ransom rose to $5.4 million in 2010

Who are they?

• Most are between 20-35 from Puntland (in northeastern Somalia)

• There are three main types:– Local fishermen– Ex-militiamen – Technical experts

Captain Phillips

• Documentary of Captain Phillips and Somalian Pirates

• Captain Phillips: Somali Pirates Inside Story (2014) Full Documentary - YouTube