"This is the ship Rena, ran aground of the coast of NZ. The ship flies the flag of Monrovia, of course, the ship is not from Monrovia at all. Corporate gangs fraudulently register there so that they can avoid regulations that civilised jurisdictions impose: regulations like employing and paying for competent crew, and minimum safety standards like not running gigantic container ships on to reefs." This was my opening statement on this thread. http://www.politicalforum.com/latest-world-news/211772-rena-disaster-beautiful-new-zealand-bay-plenty-says-all.html#post4573657 I have been accused of being racist to Africans. I would really like to get other members opinions. I will be only too happy to retract it if it is.
I didn't see anything that could be described as racist in that thread. I didn't see any accusations of it either so it'd be interesting to know exactly what you were accused of and how.
Why would anyone say that? There are plenty competent seamen and captains on the African continent. It's their politicians and laws that are in question here.
Well, this part is a bit problematic: You are saying that Monrovia is uncivilized, which is very condescending. I think if you take that word out of your statement, there shouldn't be a problem.
There's nothing wrong with racism so you shouldn't even be worrying in the first place. Racism is completely natural. However, I can see why liberals would accuse you of racism after seeing words like "civilised jurisdictions" and "competent crew." You see, in the eyes of a liberal telling the truth is racist and evil. I wouldn't worry about what liberals think though. Most of them are nuts. Personally, I think the thread and your posts in it were great. It's important to highlight the criminality and stupidity of operations like the Rena disaster.
Yes, very condescending and highly accurate. We should avoid the truth at all costs as to spare Liberian feelings.
If you are asking, if you were racist in that particular thread, then the answer is no, not that I could see anyways. What you said was "I have been accused of being racist to Africans" and did not specifically state that the allegation was in that thread. Was it a different thread, or PM, or personal conversation at the office that you were called a racist?
Someone who rants about corporate gangs is silly but not necesarily racists when it comes to Africans or blacks. How are you with Jews?
First, the flag state is Liberia not Monrovia. Name: Rena IMO: 8806802 Flag: Liberia Captain: Mauro Balomanga of the Philippines Owner: Ofer Brothers Group of Israel Second, the Rena is owned by an Israeli company and has probably never even docked in Liberia or Monrovia. Third, the "flag of convenience" has nothing to do with its captain or crew. In fact, the vast majority of container ship captains are Scandinavian and the crew are Indonesian and/or Filipino. However, in this case, the captain is Filipino which is somewhat rare. The reason ships are commonly flagged in Africa is because most countries there have absolutely no safety, environmental, or crew pay regulations whatsoever and very low taxation rates. They also ask no questions about cargo or itineraries. So in this case, New Zealand is on their own to prosecute the captain and the owners of the ship for damages.
Thank you I stand corrected. I haven't checked your data but am willing to believe you. My original thread, http://www.politicalforum.com/latest-world-news/211772-rena-disaster-beautiful-new-zealand-bay-plenty-says-all.html#post4573657 was more concerned with exposing that whilst we clamber for cheaper and cheaper things, companies will keep trying to circumnavigate safety to gain $ at any price to the environment.
I completely agree with you. The overwhelming lust for consumerism around the world will lead to more and more disasters like this. But the UN could regulate international shipping and end flag of convenience practices. But then people would probably cry it is racist towards Africa and other poor nations that take advantage of the practice. I say do it anyway as it is actually a national security issue as most drug, gun, toxic waste, and human smuggling ships carry African flags.
