by Barista Uno | Apr 4, 2011 | Marine Products and Technology, Piracy and Security
The armour worn by medieval knights was made obsolete by the invention of more efficient ways of killing people. But the basic idea underlying it – protecting fragile human flesh in warfare – is still very much alive. One company that has taken modern-day body armour technology to new heights is VestGuard UK, some of whose products are now part of the arsenal against Somali pirates. Sir Galahad himself, the greatest of the knights of the Round Table, might don a Vestguard vest if he were sailing today through the Gulf of Aden in search of the Holy Grail. (more…)
by Barista Uno | Mar 24, 2011 | Piracy and Security
We recently did our bit to support the Save Our Seafarers campaign by visiting the SOS website and sending off the online letter of appeal on piracy to UK Prime Minister David Cameron. We wanted to dispatch the template letter to other world leaders but we held ourselves back. Surely, we thought, there are ways to get the politicians to act other than e-mailing petitions, which is a form of spamming. The paddle-for-125-miles campaign of British maritime executive James Tweed is one. Here are a few others: (more…)
by Barista Uno | Mar 4, 2011 | Media, Communications and Language, Piracy and Security
The escalating brutality of Somali pirates is appalling. But we don’t know what to make of the new anti-piracy campaign that was launched on the 1st of March by the same groups behind last year’s End Piracy Now! drive. The campaigners have dubbed it “Save Our Seafarers (SOS)” and they’re calling on people power – by the millions – to pressure governments to crack down on the maritime thugs. Have they been mesmerised by the revolt in Libya against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi? (more…)
by Barista Uno | Sep 16, 2010 | Latest Post
What’s it like when ITF launches one of its campaigns? Here are some photos taken by Caroline Edge during the kick-off programme for the Fair and Safe Ferries Campaign held on 15th September 2010 at the KC Stadium in the City of Hull, UK. Have no doubts about it. The ITF chaps are angry as hell at what they regard as unfair and unsafe practices by some European ferry operators. ~Barista Uno
Union activists can be as zealous as football aficionados
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