Modern Day Piracy is no Party!
June 21st, 2007
With all the publicity following the release of Disney’s newest installment of Pirates of the Caribbean, people have become more and more interested in the real history behind pirates. Most people are interested in the Golden Age of piracy that spanned the 15th through the 17th centuries. Why shouldn’t they be? There is something very appealing about that era, and the public is enthralled with notorious characters like Black Beard, Captain Hook, and Jack Sparrow. Their swashbuckling demeanor and rebellious attitudes appeal to all of us. It’s always fun to read stories about these men, or look up a pirate birthday party idea, but the real truth is that piracy is not joke. At Pirate Theme Party, we aim to create and provide ideas for all those pirate lovers, but we also want to give some historical background and perspective on the subject. From time to time, we will research and write a short report on piracy and not just piracy during the Golden Age. As long as there have been ships on the water, pirates have raided the ocean. That is true today as well, where piracy still plagues many spots around the world. Within the last few years, the crime of piracy has exploded. These pirates do not carry around swords and look for Davey’s locker. These modern day pirates carry AK-47’s and rocket propelled grenades! They will go after anything from a private vessel, cargo ship, or even a cruise ship. Just a couple of years ago, a cruise ship narrowly evaded capture from pirates of the coast of Somalia. In fact, Somalia is well known to be a danger to cruise and cargo ships. Other areas include Iraq, South America, Western Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the South China Sea, and the Malaccan Straits. In particular, the Malaccan Straits are an area that is very susceptible to piracy. The Straits are a very narrow passage that connects the Pacific and Indian Ocean’s, and it also is the main access point for central Asia. Because of this, The Malaccan Straits are the expressway for about 1/3 of the world’s goods, and the area makes an attractive target for thieves. As you can see, piracy is a very real menace. At Pirate Theme Party, we want you to enjoy your experience and perhaps gain a good pirate birthday party idea, but we also hope you keep in mind what piracy is really about! Enjoy and Arrggghhh!



