Unfortunately, modern pirates don't warn their victims with a Jolly Roger (Photo by Simon Bisson) We love pirates! We love pirate jokes, fashion, and that swashbuckling Johnny Depp in eyeliner, so naturally we're big fans of Talk Like a Pirate Day (and any other excuse to dress up, dress down, or speak strangely, really). In years past, we've reported on buried treasure, the kraken, pirate myths, and the history of Talk Like a Pirate Day itself. But even though it seems that the pirate fad is waning (avast!) and we've strip-mined the topic, there's one area we've neglected: modern-day piracy. Unfortunately, it's not very funny. Most of us don't sail the Seven Seas anymore, so the only piracy we worry about involves borrowed software and downloaded MP3s. But in recent years, old-fashioned seafaring piracy has been on the rise. While the famed buccaneers of the Golden Age were fearsome and brutal, history has rendered them romantic, mythical characters, with their tall ships, cannons, and cutlasses. Modern pirates in speedboats, armed with automatic weapons and grenade launchers, don't have the same panache -- and frankly, sound a lot scarier. Interpol even classifies them as terrorists, and we think everyone can agree that there's nothing very romantic about terrorism. Current pirate hotspots include the waters around Indonesia, especially the Strait of Malacca, and both coasts of Africa, thanks to instability in Somalia and Nigeria. But the increased pirate activity has not gone unnoticed. This summer, a UN Security Council resolution granted states the right to help protect ships from acts of piracy, and, after a recent naval raid freed two hostages held by Somali pirates, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for a global effort to combat piracy. Unless you're looking to ruffle some feathers today as you talk like a pirate, you might want to stick to the old-fashioned and/or fictional kind. After all, it's not Talk Like an International Terrorist Day... though it wouldn't surprise us if someone created that holiday next. Suggested Sites... International Marine Bureau Weekly Piracy Report - up-to-date news on pirate attacks around the world, with a handy map to know which areas to avoid. Noonsite.com: Piracy - reports of recent attacks, messageboards, and articles about modern pirates. Introduction to Modern Yacht Piracy - what you need to know to protect yourself from pirates. Cargo Security International: Piracy - news and stats about modern pirate attacks.

Directory categories: Maritime Transportation, Historical Piracy, Pirates and Buccaneers, Maritime History, Somalia

Archived under: Boating, Crime, Pirates, Regional, Talk Like a Pirate Day, Terrorism, Transportation

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