Wales birthed the Co-operative movement and the Labour movement. There is a strong sense of independence, and a willingness to fight for it in Wales. In ‘Be More Pirate’ you highlight Wales as having a high proportion of pirates, why do you think this was?īased on available data, the majority of historians agree that most pirates hailed from Wales.
I’d be wary of anyone claiming to represent a cause or community they have no experience of.
Direct experience of the pitfalls of a broken system means you can speak authentically and authoritatively. Sam, do you think modern pirates are born, or shaped by life experience? Recent books which have caused me to sit up and take note include ‘Winner Takes All’ by Anand Giridharadas, and ‘The Leaderless Revolution’ by Carne Ross. They employ a code of behaviour that challenges the powers that be, yet is underpinned with a sense of our social connectedness. ‘Extinction Rebellion’ is doing an extraordinary job raising the alarm, in a positive way, on climate change. Pirates aside, which key thinkers, authors or activists inspire you? The most merciful, he did a lot for the pirate cause in his short life, by calling out the hypocrisies of the establishment. Haha, probably Black Sam Bellamy, the Prince of Pirates, and Robin Hood of the Sea. You’ve claimed Anne Bonny (born Anne McCormac in 1702), the first woman pirate, as one of your favourites, but which pirate do you see as your primary role model? Our youth will ensure social change will flourish. Greta Thunberg and the youth climate activists continue to demonstrate to me that the leadership we lack at government level can be found in young people. Young people were the key inspiration for ‘Be More Pirate’. Sam, you have a background in marketing and entrepreneurship, but what has contributed most to your current day thinking on social change and disruption? The history of pirates offers modern rebellion new energy, and a story that people can play an active role in.
It gives legitimacy to the feeling many of us have, that things could be better. The pirate code gives people permission to speak up without fear. I’ve since realised that many people are in the same boat, pun intended. I had been writing to vent my own frustrations. Honestly, its popularity was a surprise to me. Sam, your multi-award winning book ‘Be More Pirate’ is famed for advocating professional rule-breaking in a rigged system, why is it so popular?
0 kommentar(er)
