Hard Times Create Pirates?

As an estimated one-third of Somalia's population desperately needs emergency aid, the rash of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia should come as no surprise -- at least that’s what the relief organization Oxfam is suggesting. “Focus on the humanitarian crisis driving Somalis to commit crimes on the high seas,” an Oxfam spokesman stated. “Without economic opportunities offering alternatives to criminality and without law and order to curb these activities,” the spokesman continued, “then the massive economic returns of hijacking ships will continue to drive piracy.”

“The international community must urgently focus their attention on finding ways to assist the millions of people in desperate need,” the Oxfam spokesman said.

Somalia, which is racked by poverty and conflict, has not had a fully functioning government since 1991, when its president was overthrown. Drought and rising food prices have added to the nation's problems. Families are finding it difficult to obtain even the most basic necessities. In addition, prices for basic food items are at record high levels.

In America, government officials have noted that the spike in crime in U.S. cities is directly related to the economic recession that is affecting so many American families. Hard times make for difficult choices. As the old story goes, “Which is worse ... to steal bread or to make bread so expensive that the poor cannot afford it?”

A sign of the times

The worldwide recession is not only hitting the flow of money for those charities working in the United States, but also charities serving sub-Saharan Africa. As the financial crisis worsens, organizations are facing tough choices in an effort to continue desperately needed work.

“We were preparing for this crisis, but I didn't realize it was going to be as bad as it is,” explained Gemma Sisia, founder of The School of St. Jude, a school for the poor in Tanzania. “Most of our children would not eat if it were not for the meals they receive at school.” Now, those meals could disappear altogether. (www.schoolofstjude.co.tz)

“According to the World Bank, over 50 million people in low income countries, many of whom live in Africa, could be thrown back into absolute poverty -- with obvious consequences for other social ills, like sickness and infant mortality,” said the director of the International Monetary Fund. “The economic and political challenges facing Africa are clearly enormous.”

There’s clearly more at stake than IRAs and 401k accounts.

“Next time, we won’t be so lucky.”

Shane Murphy, first officer of the freed U.S. merchant ship “Maersk Alabama,” called on the world Monday to wake up to the dangers of piracy. Murphy spoke less than 24 hours after the U.S. military killed three pirates who had been holding the captain of the Maersk Alabama hostage on a lifeboat.

“We would like to implore President Obama to use all of his resources and increase the commitment to ending this Somali pirate scourge,” Murphy said at a news conference in Mombasa, Kenya. “Right now there are ships being taken. At sea, it's a global community. It doesn't come down to nations.” Currently more than 200 mariners from a variety of nations remain captives at sea.

“America has to be at the forefront of this. It's time for us to step in and end this crisis. It's a crisis. Wake up. This crew is lucky to be out of this with every one of us alive. We're not going to be that lucky again.”

Many would ask, though, "is it the role of the United States to 'police' international waters?" In a time when U.S. Armed Forces are deployed in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Eastern Europe -- to name just a few -- should the U.S. be the nation "to be at the forefront?" Or should we be moving toward the forefront of crises such as those in Darfur and Zimbabwe?

A Deadly Silence

In 1994, a Kigali (Rwanda) hotel owner named Paul Rusesabagina sheltered 1,200 Tutsis and moderate Hutus from the horrific violence led by gangs of machete-wielding Hutu extremists. This week marks the fifteenth anniversary of the start of the 100-day genocidal massacre in Rwanda in which an estimated 800,000 people were brutally killed. As gangs roamed outside his hotel walls, Rusesabagina risked his life for complete strangers.

“I did all I could during that time,” Rusesabagina later said. “We knew there were tensions between Hutus and Tutsis, but we never believed that people can be so cruel -- can be so wild.” Rusesabagina's efforts were later highlighted in the 2004 Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda.”

This week, Rwandan President Paul Kagame addressed thousands during an emotional candle-lighting ceremony, criticizing the international community for not doing more to prevent the bloody massacre. A similar ceremony was held at the United Nations. “Today is a day to open our eyes to this suffering and honor the memory of those killed in Rwanda fifteen years ago,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said. “But beyond reminding us of the horror, that silence should spur us to action.”

Fifteen years later, as the situation Darfur continues to deteriorate ... as Zimambwe falls into deeper chaos ... as pirates continue to plunder ships and cargo off the coasts of Somalia and Nigeria -- one must ask: has anything really changed?

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3594187.stm