Podcast

Event Podcast: Yo ho yo ho a Pirate’s Life for Me
Complete Show Length: Roughly 7 minutes

Episode 1: Topic: The Rebirth of Piracy in 2008

Introduction: 1 minute

Music Clip: Will and Elizabeth (Pirates of the Caribbean Soundtrack)

Length: 10 seconds (Fades out, and continues to play softly in the background. Vamps back up at outro of segment)

Good afternoon, this is Raquel Jordan pod-casting live from the coast of West Africa, bringing you reports of the increased pirate activity we have seen thus far in the year 2008.////
When I say “pirate” you probably think of Jason Surell’s Pirates of the Caribbean with the young William Turner and the charming captain Jack Sparrow fighting to protect the lovely Elizabeth Swan and, of course, treasure. The characters in this fantasy are handsome, broad-shouldered men and dainty, yet strong, beautiful young women. Swordfights and mutinies are performed to a perfectly orchestrated soundtrack and if you didn’t know any better you would almost think the music was specifically designed for such encounters.



Segment Two: 2.5 minutes
Music Clip: The Black Pearl Length: 10 seconds

When somebody mentions pirates, my mind immediately conjures up images of swashbuckling heroes, defiant villains, sword fights and fantastical treasure hunts. The pirate’s tale has traditionally been one of romance and adventure, and throughout my childhood, third on my list of preferred occupations-- right below “mermaid” and “faerie princess”-- was “pirate”. When I hear of the Somali pirate attacks gathering so much attention this year, I must confess, parts of me are secretly thrilled. These kinds of people have songs written about them and let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to live a life equipped with its own theme music?
I quickly rush off in search of pictures of these modern-day pirate expenditures, expecting my greatest hopes and dreams will soon be confirmed. I am ready to quit my job and join the Somali natives in their quest for gold and treasure.////
I begin my search with google images and WHAT? What’s this? Where is Johnny Depp?? Where is my swashbuckling, grungy, endearing, almost-certainly-always-drunk, non-hero, hero? These guys look nothing like I imagined them. They have machine guns and hand grenades and rocket launchers?? There is a shocking lack of dreadlocks here… and teeth come to think of it, and WHOA! That guy’s head is HUGE! These people are not searching for gold and treasure. They’re looking for oil.////
I keep scrolling, hoping desperately to find something even remotely similar to the fantasy I have conjured in my head. Please, please, please somebody be semi-attractive. Anybody?//// Nope. Not a thing. Not even close. And what’s up with all the aluminum buckets they keep referring to as “boats”? What happened to the Black Pearl? What happened to the Revenge? What happened to the Rising Sun? The very least they could do is put up a flag. I’m lodging a complaint! Where are the real pirates?



Segment Three: 3 minutes
Music Clip: A Pirate’s Life for Me Length: 10 seconds

Somalia is a far cry from the Swiss family Robinson’s island paradise. The tiny arid country, located on the west coast of Africa, has been victim to civil unrest, famine, and poverty for much of its history. Thus far in 2008 there have been right around 92 pirate attacks off the Somali coast and of the 92 attacks, 36 have been successful hijackings. The largest piracy hull in history was performed Tuesday, November 18 of 2008. Somali pirates hijacked the Sirius Star, a Saudi oil-tanker estimated to be worth over 100 billion dollars. Pirates are still holding the tanker, its cargo--2 million barrels of oil-- and 25 crew members off the Somali coast. Their demands for the ship are remain unknown.
Poverty is one aspect of the rise in piracy, coupled with famine and civil unrest. According to the Rural Poverty Portal over 40 percent of Somali people live on less than one U.S. dollar a day. Somalia has essentially had no government since 1991 and the economy is in terrible shape. Piracy has become the best source of income for the country and is expected to bring in more than 50 million dollars worth of revenue this year.

In a New York Times interview, Somalia pirates’ spokesperson, Sugule [Sioux-glue] Ali, said that the pirates were hijacking ships merely because they wanted the money. He also stated that the pirates were simply protecting their territory from the illegal fishing and dumping that has been going on in the Somali controlled portion of the Indian Ocean. He went as far to say that they view themselves as guardians of the Somalia coastline. “We don’t consider ourselves sea bandits,” he said. “We consider sea bandits those who illegally fish in our seas and dump waste in our seas and carry weapons in our seas. We are simply patrolling our seas. Think of us like a coast guard.”////
The extreme desperation driving the pirate attacks is astounding. Poverty and famine have destroyed the livelihood of so many Somali citizens. For some, piracy seems like the most pragmatic choice. Violence and thievery have become the methods that many have turned to in efforts to survive. Piracy is no longer glitzy and glamorous. My fantasy is over. Needless to say, I no longer wish to be pirate when I grow up.


Ending Music Clip: He’s a Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean) 15 seconds