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mithrandi... mithrandi...
 
M$1.25 August 25, 2009 01:47 PM

Discussion: Dutch 13 year old girl wants to sail around the world. Should she be allowed?

Young dutch girl Laura Dekker has been planning to sail around the world on a solo trip for two years, planning to sail off September 1st. In a final attempt to stop her, dutch social workers are now trying to make her a ward of court to effectively take her into custody.

Should this girl be allowed to take on her dream voyage around the world, or should she indeed be stopped?

BBC on Laura Dekker
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Interesting: brian san M$0.25

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snowplusbr... snowplusbr...
 
 August 25, 2009 01:54 PM
I doubt they'd send her out without a way to contact someone if something went wrong... I really don't see why it has to be such a big issue to let a girl with a vision pursue her dream.

I think it's fine if she wants to do it. She has the experience and she definitely knows the risks. I think the courts are overstepping their bounds here... It's not like the parents are being negligent or uncaring, if they were then maybe the courts should do something to protect the girl...

"When she's got a broken mast on heavy seas, can a girl make herself safe again? I can't see it happening," .....They act like she has no rescue beacon.... Most people who try voyages like this have a fail safe to contact help...

The parents I'm sure find it hard to let their daughter do this, it is a risk. But to say OK to it shows how much faith they have in her abilities!


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Voted as best: dbiddie, buddawiggi, bbrookin, shinju
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mithrandir mithrandir
 
August 25, 2009 02:02 PM
Good points. Social workers are trying to prevent her voyage by referring to Compulsory education, which is mandatory for all children until their 16th year. This girl has prepared for this, and plans to follow distance-education, but this is not accepted by Dutch Law. (The Netherlands doesn't allow home education).

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snowplusbr... snowplusbr...
 
August 25, 2009 02:13 PM
Too bad they cant let her take a "gap year" as an exception here... It seemed from what I read that the intention wasn't to dodge school but to take a leave of absence from it with the intention of returning and finishing after.

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benney benney
 
August 25, 2009 03:25 PM
A kid traveling all alone around the world is not safe. Traveling alone is a bit of a misnomer since you'll be meeting different kinds of people everywhere she goes where she is not experienced it..

Many women who have traveled alone describe an incredible sense of freedom and possibility. But there are also the challenges, ranging from loneliness to safety, making solo travel daunting enough that many women never attempt it.

All above she has to check the safety first.

Tags: travel, safety

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Voted as best: psionandy, kareul, pellrider
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einlanzer einlanzer
 
August 25, 2009 03:34 PM
While I would not have the courage she has or her parents have I do think that in the end it´s her and her parents choice. I find it disgusting that people want to take away the parent´s right and want to lock up the girl in a boarding school.

I never felt more disgusted with my own country then when I hear child protection people blab like they know everything. Which they don´t.

Of course there are dangers but I think that off all people the girl and her parents would know about them.

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Voted as best: adamuu, ewpldf
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mrcal mrcal
 
August 25, 2009 05:33 PM
Lane Wallace at The Atlantic addressed this during the final leg of Zac Sunderland's circumnavigation effort. I think her point about "'youngest' being a dangerous bar" is right on (in my opinion). So, I'm just going to add the link and get out of the way:

http://correspondents.theatlantic.com/lane_wallace/2009/06/in_pursuit_of_those_15_minutes.php

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Voted as best: defolts
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shyne27 shyne27
 
August 29, 2009 09:35 AM
Yes, she should go and see the world, but at a later time in life. 13 is young and there are a lot of creepy people in this world that would try and hurt her in some way. Now if at all possible her trip was planned and a parent or guardian was going with her to make sure she was safe would be ideal. The world is a beautiful place to travel, but it is just not safe. If she is so determined to leave that i think the court should intervene and make her stay because it wouldn’t be the best thing to do right now.

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answer_mac... answer_mac...
 
August 29, 2009 09:59 AM
I thinks the dutch should be stopped!!!!!!!!!!
i also thinks about her dreams,but it is better that she would go with
her parents because for two years on solo trip,she get many problems
like bad peoples,loneliness,and a big thing memory of parents.
So i thinks she may broke her dreams at now ,but when she at age of
18-20 years she may go on solo trip!!!!!!!!!!
But now she may stopped ,because i thinks her parents loves she much
so they want to stopped her,because they know the dangers of solo
trip of 13 year old girl!!!!!!!!!!!
I only suggest that girl that go with her parents!!!!!!!!

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