As we unfortunately know, Paul Watsonlegendary environmental activist and founder of Sea Shepherd, is currently detained in Greenland, after being arrested on 21 July 2024 in the port of Nuuk. His mission was to counter the activity of the largest whaling ship never built, the Kangei Maru, a Japanese vessel designed to slaughter thousands of whales in violation of the global moratorium on commercial cetacean whaling.
This arrest, motivated by an old Japanese warrant, sparked a global mobilization in support of Watson and the cause he represents. In response to this injustice, Sea Shepherd France and numerous other organizations they are appealing to the mayors of France to publicly support Watson, displaying his portrait on their buildings.
The aim is to draw attention to the injustice that the greatest defender of cetaceans of our time is suffering. At the same time one is active petitionlaunched by journalist Hugo Clément and signed by hundreds of thousands of people, who asks the speech of the French President Emmanuel Macron and the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to prevent Watson from being extradited to Japan, where he would risk a 15-year prison sentence.
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The false accusations of violence made by Japan
Japan has pursued Watson for over a decadeusing an Interpol red notice in an abusive manner, as also reported by the European Parliament in 2017. This judicial fury is due to its actions against whaling, an activity for which Japan was condemned by the International Court of Justice for poaching in the Southern Ocean Cetacean Sanctuary.
Despite the false accusations of violence moved from Japan, Watson and his crew always acted nonviolently, using creative methods to stop the whalers, such as throwing paint and physically preventing the massacre of cetaceans. Over more than ten years, their operations have saved thousands of whales.
The petition and the international mobilization are not only about Watson’s freedom, but represent a battle for protection of the seas and the survival of whales. Anyone who wants to support this cause can sign the petition or use the “Free Paul Watson” Instagram filter, joining this global fight for justice and the protection of the oceans. Let us also do our part for those who have only defended innocent animals from barbarity!
Petition: Sea Shepherd France
