June 25 - Organisers of a global e-petition against piracy have announced that the number of names on the petition has more than doubled in the last week.
Those who have announced their support at www.endpiracypetition.org now stands at around 53,000, up by 31,652 in one week.
The news of increased signings comes as four new organisations have announced their support for the global e-petition. The ASF (Asian Shipowners' Forum), ECSA (European Community Shipowners' Associations), the ICMA (International Christian Maritime Association) and ICSW (International Committee for Seafarers' Welfare) are now also promoting the initiative to their members and beyond.
The petition will be used to put pressure on national governments to tackle piracy, and has a target of attracting half a million signatures by IMO World Maritime Day, September 23, 2010.
The petition is a joint campaign by BIMCO, ICS, IFSMA, IMEC, IPTA, Intercargo, InterManager, International Group of P&I Clubs, INTERTANKO, ISF, ITF, IUMI and SIGTTO as well as national shipowners' associations and trade unions worldwide.
The text of the petition reads: "Enough is enough! Governments must act now to fight piracy. Almost every day seafarers are being kidnapped and exposed to an increasing risk of injury or even death. Every day seafarers transport the world's goods through areas where the risk of pirate attack is increasing. Every day seafarers' families are suffering worry and uncertainty."
The text concludes by calling on national governments to dedicate significant resources to find real
solutions to the growing piracy problem, take immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers to their families and work within the international community to secure a stable and peaceful future for Somalia and its people.
