“I’m not giving up”: Paul Watson remains in prison, but his fight for whales continues. The letter from the founder of Sea Shepherd

The icy Arctic wind blows across the Nuup Kangerlua Fjord, while Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd, spends his 74th birthday behind bars in Anstalten prison. The Nuuk court has in fact decided to extend his detention for another two weeks, until December 18, awaiting a decision on his possible extradition to Japan.

Watson, known for his actions against whaling, was arrested last July while in Greenland to refuel his ship, the MV John Paul DeJoria. The accusation? Conspiracy to trespass, disrupt operations and damage the Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2 in 2010 in Antarctica.

An accusation that Watson strongly denies. “I wasn’t even present at the scene of the alleged crime,” defends the activist, who denies having had a command role in the incident. “If they send me to Japan, I won’t go home“, confesses Watson in an interview with the Guardian. “I know that if they extradite me, I won’t have the chance to defend myself and I risk spending the rest of my life in prison“.

A terrible prospect for this man who has dedicated his life to protecting the oceans and sea creatures. A man who considers himself an “enforcer of international whaling treaties” and a champion of environmental justice, opposed and persecuted for his courageous actions.

Paul Watson’s letter: a cry of pain and hope

From his cell in Anstalten prison, Watson wrote a letter full of frustration and concern. “I return to court on my birthday, December 2. It will be my sixth court appearance after 134 days. “, writes Watson, underlining the absurdity of his long preventive detention.

“The evidence clearly shows that,” continues Watson, who underlines the political nature of the accusation. “It is clear from the video documentation that this is a politically motivated accusation over a very minor crime from 14 years ago. I didn’t hurt anyone.”

Watson describes his anguish at separation from his family. “On December 2nd I will turn 74. I haven’t seen my children since June and I’m only allowed one 10-minute phone call to my family a week,” she says bitterly.

“I will be back in court on December 2nd, but this time without hope or expectations of release. This expectation has become a form of psychological torture and the best thing I can do now is not to be hopeful and not expect release, and to accept that I won’t see my children for Christmas, that I won’t see them after six months.”

Watson concludes his letter by denouncing Japan’s hypocrisy and its violation of the global moratorium on whaling. “I’m in this prison because my TV show Whale Wars showed the world the crimes of the Japanese whalerscausing humiliation and embarrassment to the industry,” Watson writes.

“I’m not a terrorist, I just tried to protect the whales”

In the interview with the Guardian, Watson reiterates his innocence and his determination to continue his fight for the protection of whales. “I’m not a terrorist,” he states firmly. “I have never hurt anyone. I was just trying to protect the whales“.

And while the days follow one another in the Anstalten cell, the activist continues to write, to plan, to keep the flame of hope alive. “I can’t afford to collapse,” he confides to the Guardian. “I have to stay strong for myself and my family.” A family that supports him from a distance, with affection and concern. “My wife is a little anxious, but she tries to be supportive,” Watson says. “And my children… well, they are my strength.”

While the Danish Ministry of Justice takes its time, Paul Watson’s fate hangs by a thread. His possible extradition to Japan would represent a dangerous precedent for all environmental activists who fight to defend the planet.