Pirates are thriving around the world, and not just in this past summer’s blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

That’s the message NIU alumnus John Brandon will try to convey to students today as he lectures about the rampant increase in piracy in Southeast Asia.

In 1984, Brandon received his master’s degree from NIU in political science and Southeast Asian studies. Now, he returns to campus as the associate director of the Washington, D.C.-based Asia Foundation to deliver the message that piracy is a very real threat at home and abroad.

“There’s been a great upsurge in maritime piracy attacks in the past five years,” he said. “It’s a problem that is growing exponentially. The thrust of my comments in the speech are going to focus on what are the economic costs not only to the region, but also to the United States. Also, I will address the possible link between piracy and terrorism in a post-9/11 era.”

Figures on the International Maritime Bureau’s Web site show that smuggling and hostage-taking operations still run rampant across the globe. The most recent statistics show pirate attacks have increased by more than 50 percent annually since the early ’90s.

Susan Russell, the director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, said Brandon is recognized nationally for his expertise.

“John has one of the most public profiles in Asian studies in the country, and he is at the forefront of international education support for spreading knowledge of Asia here in the United States,” she said.

The speech will take place at 12 p.m. today at Campus Life Building, Suite 110, and is sponsored by the Graduate Colloquium Committee and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.