Monday, March 5, 2012

SEX AND DRUGS ‘RIFE’ ON COSTA CROCIERE CRUISE SHIPS

CLAIMS OF SEX, BOOZE AND
DRUG ABUSE IN COSTA FLEET
www.theaustralian.com.au - An investigation into the Costa Concordia disaster includes claims that officers were seen snorting cocaine and getting drunk. Leaked documents from the investigation contain allegations that officers were seen taking drugs and drinking on two of the operator’s ships, La Stampa reported days ago.  “The officers and crew were very often drunk,” a former employee who worked on the Costa Concordia for two months in 2010 before quitting, said in one testimony published by the paper which could not be independently verified. “We often asked ourselves at parties: ‘Who would save the ship if there was an emergency?’,” she said. She was also quoted as saying by the daily that she had been sexually harassed by a crew member “who was completely high on drugs.” Costa Crociere says it implements zero tolerance anti-drugs rules on board and carries out regular checks.

Another testimony was from a former nurse who worked in 2010 under captain Francesco Schettino on board a different ship, the Costa Atlantica. The nurse said she had seen “corruption, drugs and prostitution” on board. “I saw with my own eyes officers taking cocaine,” she said. Captain Schettino - dubbed “Captain Coward” by the tabloid press - is at the centre of a criminal inquiry over the Costa Concordia. He is accused of multiple counts of manslaughter as well as abandoning ship. Eight other people are under investigation, including three executives from Costa Crociere which is part of world cruise giant Carnival Corporation.  The Costa Concordia crushed into the island of Giglio off the shores of Tuscany on January 13  with 4229 people on board just as passengers were settling down to the supper on the first day of their cruise.  Thirty-two people lost their lives in the disaster.

The Costa Concordia and other vessels in the cruise ship's fleet were hotbeds of sexual harassment, drinking and drug abuse, former crew members have claimed. Former Costa Cruises staff have claimed to prosecutors that drug and alcohol abuse and the hiring of prostitutes, took place among crews aboard the company's liners. Let us be responsible in our studies, jobs and occupations; we must try to serve our brothers and sisters and not just want to enjoy selfishly.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 
We are responsible as human beings. ... We are supposed to try to control our mind and senses. Gambling feverish, people feverishly going to a gambling situation and it brings greater and greater fever. It is intoxicating. Intoxication, illicit sex, gambling, meat eating these four principles constitute basic human morality. Honestly, truthfulness these are very very important. Why? Because they do not further thrust contaminations upon the mind ... There is frustration, there is depression, there is loneliness. The mind is simply not satisfied. The mind will never be satisfied no matter how much you money you make, no matter how much sex you have, no matter how much power you have, no matter how much position you have, no matter how much land you own. The mind will never be satisfied.



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