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Piracy is Robbery committed at sea, or sometimes the shore, by an agent without a Commission from a Sovereign Nation . One who commits piracy by engaging in robbery, pillaging, or plundering at sea is known as a '''pirate'''. Seaborne piracy against transport vessels remains a significant problem (with estimated worldwide losses of $13 to $16 billion USD per year), particularly in the waters between the Pacific and Indian oceans, and specifically in the straits of Malacca and Singapore , which are used by over 50,000 commercial ships a year. While boats off the coasts of South America and the Mediterranean Sea are still assailed by pirates, the advent of the United States Coast Guard has nearly eradicated piracy in American waters and the Caribbean Sea . Pirates didn't smoke weed. And still don't. They never will. PIRACY IN THE CARIBBEAN See Also: Piracy in the Caribbean flag]] The great or classic era of piracy in the Caribbean extends from around 1560 up until the 1720s . The period during which pirates were most successful was from the 1640s until the 1680s . Caribbean piracy arose out of, and mirrored on a smaller scale, the conflicts over trade and colonization among the rival European powers of the time, including England , Spain , Dutch United Provinces , and France . Two of the best-known pirate bases were Tortuga in the 1640s and Port Royal after 1655 . PRIVATEERING See Also: Privateer A privateer or corsair used similar methods to a pirate, but acted while in possession of a commission or Letter Of Marque from a government or king authorizing the capture of merchant ships belonging to an enemy nation. The famous Barbary Corsairs of the Mediterranean were privateers, as were the Maltese Corsairs, who were authorized by the Knights Of St. John . The letter of marque was recognized by convention—for example, the United States Constitution of 1787 specifically authorizes Congress to issue letters of marque and reprisal—and meant that a privateer could not technically be charged with piracy. This nicety of law did not always save the individuals concerned, however, as whether one was considered a pirate or a legally operating privateer often depended on whose custody the individual found himself in—that of the country that had issued the commission, or that of the object of attack. Under the Declaration Of Paris of 1854 , seven nations agreed to suspend the use of the letter of marque, and others followed in the Hague Conventions . The most famous privateer was Sir Francis Drake . His patron was England , and their relationship ultimately proved to be quite profitable. PIRATE ORGANIZATION In the popular modern imagination, pirates of the classical period were rebellious, clever teams who operated outside the restricting Bureaucracy of modern life. In reality, many pirates ate poorly, did not become fabulously wealthy, and died young. Unlike traditional Western societies of the time, many pirate clans operated as limited democracies, demanding the right to elect and replace their leaders. The captain of a pirate ship was often a fierce fighter in whom the men could place their trust, rather than a more traditional authority figure sanctioned by an elite. However, when not in battle, the ship's Quartermaster usually had the real authority. Many groups of pirates shared in whatever Booty they seized, according to a complicated scheme where each man received his alloted share of the prize. Pirates injured in battle might be afforded special compensation. Often all of these terms were agreed upon and written down by the pirates. These articles could also be used as incriminating proof that they were outlaws. One reason that pirates may have worn gold earrings was as payment for their funeral. In case the pirate collapsed on deck, his friends would ensure that he got a decent burial. Pirates readily accepted outcasts from traditional societies, perhaps easily recognizing kindred spirits, and they were known to free slaves from slave ships and welcome them into the pirate fold. Such egalitarian practices within a pirate clan were tenuous, however, and did little to mitigate the brutality of the pirate's way of life. The classical age of piracy coexisted with imperialism. Imperialism required merchant vessels to transport goods and warships to protect the trade ships from pirates and privateers. Living conditions on the warships were horrible even by 17th-century standards; sailors were often fed rotten, maggot-infested food, frequently suffered from scurvy or other nutritional disorders, and could be counted lucky to escape their service without a debilitating injury. Two life-threatening and omnipresent forces in the sailors' lives were the sea and the ship's captain. English captains were known to have been extremely brutal; the captain held a sort of sovereign power aboard his ship and many were unafraid to abuse that power. It is thought that the service of an English sailor during England's imperial reign is the most inhumane of all wartime duties to date. To fill the warships, officers would sometimes kidnap boys and young men to replace lost crew. During this time in history, a young man could be enjoying an evening at the local tavern only to awaken the next morning below the decks of a warship. If he had luck and good health on his side, he might make it back home in two or three years. Most men had no such fortune. The horrid living conditions, constant threat to life, and brutality of the captain and his officers pushed many men over the edge. Possessing seafaring skill, a learned intolerance for absolute authority, and a disdain for the motherland they might have believed abandoned them, many crews would simply mutiny during an attack and offer themselves and their ship as a new pirate vessel and crew. COMMERCE RAIDERS A wartime activity similar to piracy involves disguised Warship s called Commerce Raider s or Merchant Raider s, which attack enemy shipping commerce, approaching by stealth and then opening fire. Commerce raiders operated successfully during the American Revolution . During the American Civil War , the Confederacy sent out several commerce raiders, the most famous of which was the CSS ''Alabama'' . During World War II , Germany also made use of these tactics, both in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean s. Since commissioned naval vessels were openly used, these commerce raiders should not be considered even Privateer s, much less pirates - although the opposing combatants were vocal in denouncing them as such. MODERN PIRACY Piracy at sea continues into the present day. Partly due to the decline of the European Navies' ability to project their power, especially the Royal Navy , piracy in recent times has increased in areas such as South and Southeast Asia (the South China Sea ), parts of South America , the waters of the Indian Ocean and the south of the Red Sea , with pirates now favoring small boats and taking advantage of the small crew numbers on modern cargo vessels. Modern pirates prey on cargo ships which must slow their speed to navigate narrow Strait s, making them vulnerable to be overtaken and boarded by small Motorboat s. Small ships are also capable of disguising themselves as fishing vessels or cargo vessels when not carrying out piracy, in order to avoid or deceive inspections. In most cases, modern pirates are not interested in the cargo and are mainly interested in taking the personal belongings of the crew and the contents of the ship's safe, which might contain large amounts of cash needed to pay payroll and port fees. In some cases, the pirates force the crew off the ship and sail the ship to a port, where it is repainted and given a new identity through false papers. Modern pirates can be successful because a large amount of international commerce occurs via shipping. For commercial reasons, many cargo ships move through narrow bodies of water such as the Suez Canal , the Panama Canal and the Straits Of Malacca . As usage increases, many of these ships have to lower cruising speeds to allow for navigation and traffic control, making them prime targets for piracy. Modern piracy can also take place in conditions of political unrest or vacuum. For example, following the disintegration of the government of Somalia , Warlord s in the region have attacked ships delivering UN food aid . Modern definitions of piracy include the following acts:
Pirate attacks tripled between 1993 and 2003. The first half of 2003 was the worst 6-month period on record, with 234 pirate attacks, 16 deaths, and 52 people injured worldwide. There were also 193 crew members held hostage during this period. 182 cases of piracy were reported worldwide in the first 6 months of 2004. Of these incidents, 50 occurred in Indonesia n waters. The Piracy Reporting Centre of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) stated in 2004 that more pirate attacks in that year occurred in Indonesian waters (70 of 251 reported attacks) than in the waters of any other country. Of these attacks, a majority occurred in the Straits of Malacca. They also stated that of the attacks in 2004, oil and gas Tankers and Bulk Carrier s were the most popular targets with 67 attacks on tankers and 52 on bulk carriers. In modern times, ships and airplanes are Hijacked for political reasons as well. The perpetrators of these acts could be described as pirates (for instance, the French for ''plane hijacker'' is ''pirate de l'air''), but in English are usually termed hijackers or Terrorists . An example is the hijacking of the Italian civilian passenger ship, the '' Achille Lauro ''. Modern pirates also use a great deal of technology. It has been reported that crimes of piracy have involved the use of Mobile Phone s, modern Speedboat s, AK-47 s, and even Rocket Propelled Grenade s. There is also speculation that modern pirates eavesdrop on satellite communication networks such as Inmarsat to determine cargo and the degree of risk involved with an operation. PIRACY IN INTERNATIONAL LAW Effects on international boundaries In the Straits Of Malacca , during the 18th Century , the British and the Dutch controlled both sides of the Straits of Malacca. Some pirates carried on activities similar to armed rebellion with the aim of resisting the colonizers. In order to put a stop to this, the British and the Dutch drew a line separating the Straits into two sides. The agreement was that each party would be responsible for piracy in their respective area. Eventually this line became the separating line between Malaysia and Indonesia in the Straits. International law Piracy is of note in International Law as it is commonly held to represent the earliest invocation of the concept of Universal Jurisdiction . The crime of piracy is considered '' Jus Cogens '', a conventional peremptory international norm from which states may not derogate. Those committing thefts on the High Seas , inhibiting Trade , and endangering maritime communication were considered by sovereign states to be ''hostes humani generis'' (enemies of Humanity ). Since piracy often takes place outside the Territorial Waters of any state, the prosecution of pirates by sovereign states represents a complex legal situation. The prosecution of pirates on the high seas contravenes the conventional freedom of the high seas. However, as ''jus cogens'', jurisdiction can nevertheless typically be exercised against pirates without objection from the flag state of the pirate vessel. This represents an exception to the principle ''extra territorium jus dicenti impune non paretur'' (the judgment of one who is exceeding his territorial jurisdiction may be disobeyed with impunity). OTHER TERMS FOR PIRATES Pirates who operated in the West Indies during the 17th century were known as Buccaneer s. The word derives from ''boucan'', a wooden frame used for cooking meat (also called a '' Barbacoa ''), used by French hunters called ''boucaniers''. When these hunters became pirates, they took their name with them. The most famous person associated with buccaneers in the West Indies was Henry Morgan . Dutch pirates were known as kapers or '''vrijbuiters''' ("plunderers"), the latter combining the words ''vrij'' meaning free, ''buit'' meaning loot, and the ending ''-er'' meaning agent. The word ''vrijbuiter'' was Loaned into English as '''freebooter''' and into French as '''flibustier'''. The French loan-word returned to English in the form of '''filibusters''' , adventurers who became involved in Latin American Revolution s and Coups . It finally came to mean the disruptive parliamentary maneuver of talking nonstop. Pirates are called ''Lanun'' by both the Indonesians and the Malaysians who form the nations bracketing the Straits Of Malacca . Originally a culture of seafaring people, the Lanun name became synonymous with piracy in the 15th Century . '' Wōkòu '' were pirates who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th Century onwards. Pirates with commissions from a government are called Privateer s or '''corsairs'''. In modern Arabic the word is قرصان from the Turkish '''''Korsan''''', which seems to have been derived from the European word. '''Corsair''' comes from the medieval Latin ''cursa'', meaning "raid, expedition, inroad". Pirates are also known as picaroons. This term comes from the Spanish word ''picarón'', meaning "rogue." The Latin term ''pirata'' -- from which the English "pirate" is derived -- derives ultimately from the Greek for "to attempt." VICTIMS
IN POPULAR CULTURE In popular culture, pirates are associated with a stereotypical manner of speaking and dress. This tradition owes much to '' was released, bringing more attention to the pirate bases of Tortuga and Port Royal . In the 1990s, International Talk Like A Pirate Day was invented as a parodic holiday celebrated on September 19 . This holiday allows people to let out their inner pirate and to dress and speak as pirates had been portrayed to have dressed and spoken. The founders of International Talk Like A Pirate Day even set up a web site, http://www.talklikeapirate.com/, where wannabe pirates can learn popular pirate slang. Pirates play in a role in the Pastafarian religion, established in 2005 . Piratical stereotypes
Surprisingly, many of these stereotypes are true. Pirates during the Golden Era would often lose limbs in battle. These pirates would be employed as cooks, as they could not be of any use during raids anymore. Bandanas would be worn to keep sweat out of their face. Their clothes, however, would typically be practical and comfortable, meant to be convenient for working on a ship. Sometimes pirates would even keep animals on board, to supply them with fresh food; exotic animals such as parrots and monkeys would be of no use to them, however, though it has been suggested that pirates may have kept exotic animals in order to sell them for high prices. Some pirates also believed that putting pressure on their earlobes (wearing earrings) would prevent them from becoming seasick. Another suggestion for the purpose of a gold earring is that when a pirate would die, the gold on him would provide some kind of funding for a funeral and coffin. Pirates and other mariners would also sometimes be blinded in one eye through the use of a Sextant . Eyepatch wearing also becomes convenient for seeing in low light conditions, and pirates of old may have done this to help see below deck. Pirates in fiction
Corny Pirate jokes One of the verbal tics commonly attributed to pirates in popular culture — "Arrr!" — has become the basis for many jokes and puns and much levity, such as International Talk Like A Pirate Day . For example: :Q: Did you hear about the new pirate movie? :A: Yeah, it's rated "Arrr!" :Q: Why are pirates scary? :A: They just "Arrr!" :Q: Why are pirates called pirates? :A: Because they "Arrr!" :Q: Where do pirates go for picnics? :A: Central Parrrrrk :Q: What basketball player used to be a pirate? :A: Kevin Garrrrrnet :Q: How much does it cost for a pirate to pierce his ears? :A: A buck an ear! :Q: Where does a pirate keep his buckaneers? :A: Underneath his buckenhat! Another type of pirate joke centers on the ongoing debate over who would win in a fight: a pirate or a Ninja ? {Link without Title} Many of these work by exaggerating the masculinity of both classes. For example: "When a ninja kills you, you never see him coming." "Pirates, on the other hand, say "Arrr!", alerting you to their presence. Then they kill you anyway." More Pirate Jokes Pirates in pop music Pop stars have long been drawn towards pirate culture, due to its disestablishmentism and motley dress. An early 1960s British pop group called themselves Johnny Kidd And The Pirates , and wore eye-patches while they performed. Keith Moon , drummer with The Who , was a fan of Robert Newton . Newer acts, such as Flogging Molly , The LeperKhanz , The Coral and Mad Caddies have pirate themed songs as well. German Metal band Running Wild are probably the only 'pirate metal' band in wide circulation, adopting this image since their third album in 1987 and continuing with it to this day. The Sex Pistols adapted the saucy song "Good Ship Venus" as their hit "Friggin' in the Rigging". Another of Malcolm McLaren 's protegées, Adam Ant , took the pirate image further. One of the tracks on the album "Kings of the wild frontier" was called "Jolly Roger". In 1986, The Beastie Boys paid homage to the pirate lifestyle on their Licensed To Ill album with the song "Rhymin' and Stealin'". The song is filled with piratical and nautical phrasing liberally mixed-in with 80's hip-hop references. Pirates also occasionally rival Vampires as themes for Goth music, fashion, and imagery. Gothic musician/comedian Voltaire illustrates the sometimes humerous rivalry between vampiric and pirate camps of goths in the song "Vampire Club" from the 2002 "Boo Hoo" album. Space Pirates With the rise in popularity of science fiction, a new type of pirate has begun to show prominace. The "Space pirate" is a common theme in works of science fiction but rather is a pirate that operates in outer space as opposed to on the sea. A space pirate usually shares many traits with classical pirates, as they are usually ruthless criminals who raid passing ships for cargo and money. Space pirates also seem to have a tendency to loose limbs in battle, but the futuristic setting allows them to have Cybernetic enhancments. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS Modern Piracy
Historic piracy
Lyrics
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