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Subject: [worldcruising] Re: Routes to UK - Piracy
burns98@XXX.XXX
Date: Fri Jan 12 2001 - 18:25:09 EST
Good points.
Also, strong personality and commanding attitude can protect you
without you even realizing it.
I'm talking about those cases where would-be thieves have a chance to
size you up (in person) before deciding whether you're an easy mark.
IOW, if you really want to know how dangerous a place is, don't ask a
40-year-old Ex-Navy SEAL (to cite an extreme example).
Fair Winds / Strong Cradles,
Randy
--- In worldcruising@XXX.XXX> wrote:
> Thank you for sharing your viewpoints. However, I live in Africa
and I have done so all my life - 44
> years. I've also spent 3 years in Somalia and a further 4 years in
the Red Sea countries. During
> this time, I had no less than 14 violent situations, 50 to 100
awkward situations, 1000's of
> beggars, more times than I care to remember bribing officials
instances, etc.
>
> Not everybody living in those countries are criminals. The real
problem is that these people are so
> impoverished - it is almost beyond comprehension. Here are some
pointers about the poverty;
>
> In Somalia you can hire casual labour for as little as .3 US$ a day.
> Or you can get 3 days of labour for a packet of 20 cigarettes.
> A bottle of whisky is a extreme priced item - this represents 4
weeks of labour.
> A huge number of people do not have ANY form of housing or
protection - they sleep in the wild.
> In this country the average and UNOFFICIAL life expectancy is 36
years of age.
> This is a country where 30 % of the population has never seen a
doctor.
>
> Now place yourself with all your luxuries and conveniences amongst
such like people. Immediately, in
> the mind of the criminal, you are a huge target. By robbing you of
US$ 1000 means security for the
> next 5 to 10 years. To make matters worse, the authorities do not
spend their resources on crime
> prevention in the same manner or proportion that western countries
do. To maim and kill another
> human being has a totally different concept and value than in
developed countries. In some cases,
> this is the only way in which disputes are settled.
>
> There are many beautiful things to see with rich and ancient
cultures. The people are exceptionally
> friendly and naive, local goods are cheap, life is cheap, etc. You
also do not want to end up in the
> local hospitals - you'll go in with a mild diagnoses but you'll
came out with some serious illness.
>
> The chances of anything happening to you is perhaps less than 1 %.
However, tourists with their
> seemingly rich trappings are prime targets for the criminal
element. Beware if you are caught in a
> conflict situation - you might pay with your life!
>
> For those that really wish to visit these places, simply take stock
of the situation and prepare for
> the worst possibility. To those of you who has never being there,
don't let your ignorance or
> believe system be the cause of your death or that of a loved one.
>
> And before I forget, Rick the Mouseherder, this is not armchair
stories. I have experienced it for 6
> to 7 years of my life.
> Have you EVER being to Somalia?
>
> Wiets
>
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