Piracy

Piracy

Thesis: To solve the piracy problem in Somalia the United Nations must establish a stable government.

Evidence: After Somalia declared its independence from Britain it had a prospering government until a militarian rule took over, then soon after a socialist party took over, then shortly after that a democratic party took power. Inflation caused anger amongst the citizens. The Government then outlawed meetings of more that 4 people at a time. In 1991 Somalia descended into a civil war over government control, food, grazing land, and cattle. The UN attempted to stop the fighting but was unsuccessful and after suffering casualties withdrew there attempts. In 2006 the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) took military control. They claimed to care about peace and the people in the country. After taking power several hundred people died when "resulting a conflict". In November 2006 the ICU collapsed and there was fear of a civil war between Somalia and the Ethiopian state. In December 2006 an all out civil war broke out. Today Somalia's Government is corrupt and the system is breaking down. Citizens of the country are suffering from starvation, lack of cleaning water and out breaks of disease causing them to take drastic action.
 * Daniel**- Reason 1: History of Somalia and how they got to be in their current state.


 * Stephanie**- Reason 2: Piracy is a global problem (Why is it the United Nations Issue? Why shouldn't we leave it for Somalia to handle?).

Evidence: Piracy has affected main exports, which increses prices of exportation, importation, and the costs of the goods being transported or imported. the increased prices on the cargo is used to make security higher for the cargo, travel longer routes, and higher insurance rates for the shipment companies exporting goods.

This is the United Nation's issue because (as stated above) Piracy in Somalia has effected the prices of shipments of products to higher prices that most comsumers can not afford. The factories of different nations have overstock, which sometimes forces them to lower their prices to sell their goods and make profit to pay the factory workers, the shipment workers, and the stores in another nation that supplies the product. This is bad because the factories need all the money they can get to pay the factory workers, the high shipment prices due to piracy, and the store. With very little money from the product, factory workers will get very little money that won't be enough to support their families and keep their homes as well as the workers of the stores that supply the product. Also, if the shipment prices aren't fully paid, they won't be able to afford higher security, fuel, and insurance for the shipments in the first place, which also effect the fact of whether or not the people working on the ships get paid or not. Piracy effects the world's standard of living and economy.

We (being the United Nations) should not leave this situation left for Somalia to handle because Somalia doesn't have a stable government, but the members of the United Nations do. The members of the United Nations should aid the people of Somalia towards a strong, stable government that works for them so that they don't have any social or economic issues that also affects the other nations of the world. If the United Nations don't act soon, Pirates will steal about more than $70,000,000 worth of pruducts from the shipments each year.

(Stephanie Found this and thought i would post it -Daniel) Another Reason the United Nations should help solve the problem is that Somalia is a member of the UN.

Evidence: Both Kenya and Tanzania have had primarily stable governments for the past two decades. Despite their occasional problems and disease outbreaks, their economy continues to grow, and their standered of living has increased. The majority of their children attend school for atleast 10 years. Because of their stable government, they no longer experience most of the issues like piracy, that the Somalians face now. The majority of Kenya's population can read and write(about 85.1%). Less than half of Kenya's population is unemployed. Their Economy relys 75% on Agriculture and 25% on industry and services.
 * Kaitlin** -Reason 3: How the United Nations should fix the problem of piracy (Create a stable government, a strong economy, etc...).

Video Clips: []- Good for Reason 2

[]- Long but informative

[]- Talks about corrupt government.

[|http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cjpZmcyD64]

[] - Talks about what Russia's planning on doing to stop piracy.

[] - Long but talks about how piracy effects Somalia, what other countries plan to do, and more.

Images: []- picture of one of the Somali Pirate groups leader, Omad Hassan.

[]- Picture of Pirate Flag.

[]- United Nations logo.

[]- Picture of Somali Pirates attacking one of Germany's naval supply ships.