BBC News reported on September 23rd that more than 930,000 sailors signed a petition to put a stop to global piracy. The petition was sent in twelve boxes to the UN International Maritime Organization in London. It was also organized by unions, ship operators, and welfare organizations. Primarily the petition is aimed at the renowned pirates of Somalia who are currently holding 354 sailors hostage. The petition's strength in numbers reflects the anger of sailors around the world. The signers specifically want international governments to take steps to secure the safe release of the hostages. The Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Somalia (an area of about 1.1 million square miles) are the focus areas of the petition. Government officials hope that the petition will help the public see the dangers sailors and seafarers face with piracy.
--Emily Goodfellow.
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