A Tale of Two Captains

[Adisa]

The most recent story occurred in 2009. Captain Richard Phillips, a merchant mariner, was master of the vessel Maersk Alabama. The vessel was overtaken and Captain Phillips was eventually taken hostage by four Somalian Nationals. Piracy in the territorial waters of Somalia had become an issue following a civil war which collapsed the Somalian central government. With no Somalian Navy, foreign fishing ships began fishing in the territorial waters of Somalia and some large shipping companies began dumping waste off the coast of Somalia causing an erosion of the fish stock. Local fisherman started to band together to protect the resources and their way of life. This led to former military and financiers collecting ransom from ships captured in the territorial waters off the coast of Somalia.

In 1787, the First Fleet under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip was sent from England to Australia to establish a penal colony. The penal colony was seen as necessary due to the loss of the thirteen colonies of North America. After arriving at Botany Bay and finding it unsuitable, under the orders of Captain Phillip, the site was moved to Sydney Cove. Despite having come into contact with a population of people already living in the area on January 26, Captain Phillip along with marines and officers took possession of the land in the name of King George III. This day is now remembered and celebrated annually on January 26 as Australia Day. What was to follow for the indigenous Australians, measles, smallpox, tuberculosis and the taking of land and water resources from the original people of Australia.