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Hi,

You've probably seen on TV the pirate crisis off the coast of Somalia - but there is a whole other story that's not been told. Many of these guys are actually impoverished fishermen trying to keep illegal foreign fishing trawlers out of their waters - and stop toxic waste being dumped off their coast.  
 
Next week there is an emergency EU/UN summit on Somalia -- a failed state with 9 million traumatised civilians after years exploitation, pillaging, toxic dumping and unrest. This is the real cause of the pirate crisis.

I just signed an urgent petition urging world leaders at the upcoming meeting not to only focus on the problem of pirates but to also tackle the political instability and poverty which make piracy possible in Somalia.

We don’t have long. This is our chance to speak out and create a massive outcry for a measured and productive response to a tricky situation. Sign the petition now:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_somalia_petition/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Read the email below for more information.

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There’s an untold story about Somali pirates that’s starting to emerge -- amidst the armed thugs, many of these so-called pirates are impoverished locals using small boats to protect their waters from illegal multinational fishing trawlers, and warding off ships from dumping European toxic and nuclear(!) waste off their coast.

This in no way justifies the taking of hostages or intercepting food aid, but it does help to understand the causes and not just the symptoms of this complex crisis. For decades Somalia, featured in the film "Black Hawk Down", has been exploited, pillaged, dumped on, impoverished and now most recently provoked by Bush’s War on Terror policies. The outcome -- a failed state, with 9 million traumatized civilians.

Piracy must be stopped, but one thing’s for sure -- Somalia doesn't need another short term counter-terrorism operation, a boots-on-the ground military attack or an armada of foreign naval ships with guns pointing towards land. Let's use next week's UN-EU emergency meeting on Somalia to influence the global response. What happens next week could impact regional security for the long term. Click here now to put your name to the Somalia petition which we'll deliver to leaders at the meeting:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_somalia_petition/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

After years of neglect and greedy foreign intervention, now there may be the international focus and political will required to tackle the root causes of Somalia's ills. The thirty countries gathered at next week's meeting should support efforts to form a unity Somali government, commit much needed food and development aid and ensure that the international community pays for fishing rights and cleans up the toxic chemicals dumped by multinational companies.

There are signs that moderate forces within Somali society want to bridge their differences and rebuild their country. If the talks work, Somalia may ultimately have a government elected by its own people with the capacity to bring law and order to the country and its waters. But this will take serious commitment and a global rally of support, which we should all be part of. Click here to add your name:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_somalia_petition/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Foreign intervention in Somalia has failed, some even suggesting it has moved the country from crisis to catastrophe. The US backed Ethiopian invasion which removed the Islamic Courts Union, empowered well armed clan supported warlords and resulted in repeated waves of insurgency and counter-insurgency -- even compromising the UN's capacity to deliver food aid to millions of impoverished Somalis.

The world must not make these sorts of mistakes again. Sign the petition to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU High Representative Javier Solana demanding genuine outcomes from the Somalia crisis meeting -- including responding to the immediate threat of piracy:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_somalia_petition/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Assisting in the creation of a Somali unity government, cleaning up the mess made by international companies and providing food and development support are the right steps for the international community to take. What is not acceptable is to repeat past mistakes.

With hope,

Brett, Raj, Iain, Alice, Ricken, Paula, Paul, Graziela, Ben, Milena, Pascal, Margaret, Luis and the rest of the Avaaz team.

SOURCES:

Piracy symptom of a bigger problem:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8001183.stm

Somalia after the Ethiopian Exodus:
http://www.enoughproject.org/publications/somalia-after-ethiopian-occupation-first-steps-end-conflict-and-combat-extremism

We are being lied to about pirates:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/johann-hari-you-are-being-lied-to-about-pirates-1225817.html

Somalia’s Piracy Offers Lessons in Global Governance:
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=12210

Toxic Waste motivates pirates:
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/10/2008109174223218644.html

EU Conference in Brussels:
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1239809522.11

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Piracy: Time to tackle the root causes

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