Three classic poems for the New Year
Why I finally quit writing about seafarers’ rights
The shipping world’s silence on the Gaza flotilla attack
Three classic poems for the New Year
The painting ‘A Greater Morning’ (pictured above) powerfully conveys what many feel with the onset of the New Year: a sense of hope and renewal, of a new beginning. The same sentiment is expressed in different but equally engaging ways in the following poems. I hope you all enjoy reading these literary gems as much as I have.
Why I finally quit writing about seafarers’ rights
I have made up my mind to stop writing about seafarers’ rights and allied issues after my post of 25th October. This was no spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the result of an epiphany.
The shipping world’s silence on the Gaza flotilla attack
Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and detention of 462 activists plainly violated international maritime law. The incident took place from the 1st to the 3rd of October about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast in international waters. Yet, save for some unions, the global shipping community has been silent on the matter.
A damaged culture: Manila’s maritime sector uncovered
Calm seas and an ordered mind
Recent Posts
Waning US merchant fleet calls for new US mindset
Alarm bells continue to ring over the decline of the US-flag merchant fleet, accompanied by dire warnings that this puts national security at risk. The merchant marine-national defence connection is an old theme that harks back to World War II and the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt:
Seven most powerful descriptions of the sea
A great many writers have described the sea in poetry and prose. Only a few, however, have done so in a way that makes one imagine and feel its mysterious beauty and power. The words they used seem fresh and out of the ordinary. They stick to the mind.
Venus by the sea: Gazing at beauty in a time of war
The world continues to be assailed by the sounds and images of war–the genocide in Gaza, the fighting in Ukraine. It can be too much to take in. What better time to gaze at the paintings of Venus? She was the Roman goddess associated with love, beauty and fertily—the very opposite of all that war stands for.
5 things slowing down the campaign on seafarers’ rights
The campaign to promote seafarer rights has undoubtedly made giant strides. Like a boat at sea, however, it continues to be buffeted by wind and waves. The following are five things that slow down or even stall the collective effort to advance the rights of those who work at sea.
Marine Café Blog is sailing again!
Becalmed for weeks, Marine Café Blog is sailing again. I had to leave the old ship temporarily to focus on book writing?something I had always wanted to do but kept putting off. While blogging gives one the pleasure of expressing oneself spontaneously, it is ephemeral by nature. Blogs come and go, but books stay.
‘I am a feminist’: A male writer speaks up
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, feminism is “the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way”. Going by this definition, I can call myself a feminist. Indeed, I am one.
Sunsets at sea: Colour versus black & white photography
In a world addicted to colour, it takes a bit of courage to photograph a sunset in black and white. Doing so can be tricky, but going off the beaten track has its rewards. The use of greyscale enables the photographer to show a different aspect of reality that has been hidden by colour. It is a challenge to both the eye and the mind.
Which is correct: ‘in a boat’ or ‘on a boat’?
Prepositions can be tricky. Should one say “in a boat” or “on a boat”?
Women in boats: A celebration of beauty
Paintings of women in boats wearing vintage dresses fascinate me. Is it the way the women maintain their poise while out on the water? Is it the flow of their garments in sync with the gentle ripples of the river or lake?
A maritime writer’s credo
The samurai had their bushido, a code of conduct that guided the way they thought and acted. If one considers writing a noble profession, why shouldn’t writers have one, too? After years of wielding pen and pounding keyboards, I finally got down to crafting my personal credo as a maritime writer.
