Pirate training in full swing at Lake Constance

At this camp ground at Lake Constance, young aspiring pirates are well catered for. The special “Pirates' Nest” crèche is available for any one over 4 years old and certain areas of the camp ground are reserved for pirates. 

Other forms of theft are also encouraged with this offer of a “Thieve's Platter” which children fill from their parents' plates.

Hoilday Programme VI

Only a stone's throw away from the Hamburg remand prison where seven of the accused Somali have been locked up for over two years now, stands this image of a pirate at the entrance to a playground, enticing children to a life of adventure and freedom. Is anyone warning them what will happen if they actually try?

Holiday programm III

The "Pirate Special" was a major attraction at last year's consumer fair 'Du und Deine Welt'. Reflected in the windows is the Hamburg remand prison, were 7 of the accused are still held.

Your children can become pirates too – for only 325 Euros

Capitalism thrives on its contradictions and here is another one. A German tour organiser offers sailing trips for children with a pirate theme in the Dutch North Sea: “Which child hasn't dreamed of going on board like Pippi Longstocking and entering the world of the pirates” the text in their brochure says, next to a picture of children wearing skull and crossbones bandannas as well as bright orange life jackets. No one wants aspiring pirates to drown. The life jackets alone mean that these kids are better equipped than the ten Somali who were arrested on the Taipan.

A readers comment often seen on newspaper web sites is that the Somali on trial in Hamburg are 'just plain criminals' and need to be punished severely. While the reasons why people actually become pirates are rarely published, it is totally acceptable for German parents to pay money for their kids to participate in piracy as a harmless adventure. What is a game for European children is a matter of survival for others who first risk their lives and are then labelled 'terrorists' and go to prison.

Will the instructors at this holiday trip talk about the reasons why piracy exists? Will they encourage the children to think about the role they can have in creating a world where everyone has access to resources?

When pirate games for German kids become popular...

Adventure magazine for cool pirates!


A magazine, already in the 7th issue, well done and amusing for German kids whose parents can afford to pay 3.40 euro for a copy.
It is sold all over Germany so that the youth can get a taste of the freedom and adventure that is expecting them at sea.

But what about the ones in Somalia who, because they are lacking the sausages to build pirate ships, are forced to really become pirates in order to have something to eat?

The inequality in this world is clear to see - anyone who can count to 3 knows.

Isn't it a strange thing to let the German kids read and play pirate games and at the same time imprison young Somali people for over a year and force them to attend court for more than 57 days now, also in Germany?

Two worlds clashing.
And no justice to be seen...