Captain Paul Watson, head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,is a much-hated man, as the comments at the bottom of any article pertaining to his courageous activities prove. At least 60% of the commentaries are vicious and vitriolic, accusing him of being an 'eco-terrorist', a pirate, and an immoral outlaw.
When more than half of the general populace hates your guts, you know you're doing the right thing. Flying-Phil Gaglardi, B.C.'s Highway Minister, was much despised (and later revered) by the majority of British Columbians when he built the Province's amazing highway system up and down and across the Rocky Mountains in Canada, but he gave them all the vebal finger: "Call me anything you want. Just spell my name right...G A G L A R D I"
Far from being an eco-terrorist, Paul Watson is an 'eco-defender' -- putting himself in harms way constantly in defence of whales, seals, tuna, sharks, and any other creature threatened illegally by the real enemies of the marine ecology: greedy fishing corporations and their hired thugs. Certainly very few of his detractors, wouldn't expose themselves to jail time and bullets to defend anyone or anything in distress.
Paul Watson gets shot
Yes, he has been arrested - by people who share the same prejudices as his online critics - but he has never been tried or convicted, because he has never done anything illegal.
His rap sheet is an extensive testimony to his courage, not criminality. I wish I could boast such a record in defence of creatures whose lives were being taken by real criminals. His record reflects the typical response of the law when an innocent man seeks to defend himself or others who are being attacked by a potential murderer. You, not the criminal, will be charged with a crime.
1972 Iran - Paul Watson spends two weeks in jail. Espionage for want of any real offense.
1977 Seattle WA - Paul Watson spends one day in jail. Trespass. No charge laid. No conviction. You too could spend a day in jail while some malicious cop tried to drum up a real charge.
1980 Quebec Canada - Paul Watson spends ten days in jail. Breaking the Canadian Seal Protection Act. Can you imagine Paul Watson breaking any act that protects seals.
4/83 Quebec Canada - Paul Watson spends ten days in jail. Conspiracy to break the Canadian Seal Protection Act. The persecution of a Hero continues.
12/83 Quebec Canada - Paul Watson spends ten days in jail. Conviction for conspiracy to break the Canadian Seal Protection Act. The whole Canadian Government should be jailed!
1989 Iceland - Paul Watson spends one day in jail. Charges not laid. Another act of harassment.
6/1/92 Lofoten Islands Norway - Two activists claim guilt for sinking the Norwegian whaling vessel "Nybraena" while in port. Both are sentenced to 120 days in prison in absentia. Shipwrecking, other unclear charges. Not Paul this time - just two of his trainees destroying the vehicle that was being used to illegally slaughter whales. No more of a criminal act than U.S. customs seizing and disposing of a vehicle used to transport drug across the border. Although definitely a vigilante act, because Norwegian law enforcement agencies refused to take action.
1993 Newfoundland Canada - Paul Watson spends five days in jail. Mischief. The little devil!
3/31/94 Bremerhaven Germany - One activist arrested by harbor police for an incident related to the ramming of a Norwegian Navy vessel. Authorities fail to extradite him and the charges are dropped. Attempted Shipwrecking. Only one activist against the Norwegian Navy?
3/31/94 Amsterdam Holland - One activist arrested in Amsterdam and held in Lelystad penitentiary for extradition to Norway. Charges were related to the sinking of a Norwegian whaling vessel. Charges not clear.
1995 Newfoundland Canada - Paul Watson spends ten days in jail. Accessory to mischief. Only an accessory?
1997 Germany - Paul Watson spends one day in jail on Norwegian Interpol warrant. Sinking a ship.
1997 Netherlands - Paul Watson rearrested on Interpol warrant (see above) and spends 80 days in jail awaiting extradition hearing. Sinking a ship. Eighty days for a hearing? Since when did waiting for a hearing become an offence to be included on a rap sheet?
4/22/02 Puntarenas Costa Rica - Arrest warrant issued for an activist in relation to an altercation with the Costa Rican fishing vessel "Vacadero". Attempted murder, destruction of property. No trial. No conviction. Just accusations. A trial would have meant hearing both sides of the story.
5/10/02 Puntarenas Costa Rica - New charges leveled against one named activist and the crew of the "Farley Mowat" related to April 22 altercation. Attempted shipwrecking. Once again, no trial. No conviction. Just accusations and no revelation of the activities of the fishing vessel involved.
11/17/03 Taiji Japan - Two Sea Shepherd activists arrested after diving into a bay and releasing pilot whales before they could be killed by fishermen. Interfering with commerce. You have to admire the courage of the divers. They deserve medals, not arrests.
03/31/05 Charlottetown, PEI Canada - Ten "crew" of the ship Farley Mowat are arrested for interfering with the seal hunt. Violating Fisheries Act regulation regarding distance to be kept from seal hunt. At least this time, the stupid Canadian Government didn't accuse them of a "seal protection act" violation. No trial. No conviction.
Interview on British TV
As for being a pirate, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ships fly their own special version of the skull and crossbones. Maybe they are pirates! Just don't try to slaughter defenceless sea creatures if you see their pennant.
You need to edit your "article". You say, "Yes, he has been arrested - by people who share the same prejudices as his online critics - but he has never been tried or convicted, because he has never done anything illegal." I only bring this to your attention because 6 paragraphs later you state,"12/83 Quebec Canada - Paul Watson spends ten days in jail. Conviction for conspiracy to break the Canadian Seal Protection Act." Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I would have to believe, according to your own statements, that he was not only tried but also convicted. I may be wrong on this as well, being that I am an American citizen, and in our country you have to be tried before you can be convicted. However I do not claim to have any experience with Canadian law where anything may or can happen, i.e. a conviction is not a conviction, you don't have to be tried to be convicted, etc. etc. I also have a hard time swallowing the facts you state in the above "article" when you follow it with, what I'm assuming, is your personal opinion. Pardon me, once again, "The whole Canadian Government should be jailed!" Is this because Mr. Watson was "detained" for ten days? Is this because he was convicted for a crime? Which, unfortunately, would contradict what you said earlier. I can't see how if Mr. Watson was detained legally you could be so rude as to suggest the government be jailed. Of course I'm assuming( and yes, I'll take the risk that goes with it) that the Canadian government treated him fairly, fed him, clothed him, and adequately sheltered him during his detention, before peacefully releasing him into his natural habitat. Sorry to rant about a subject that has me honestly baffled, but if you would please correct the mistakes in the above "article" it would be greatly appreciated by the intelligent species of the world. Sincerely, Scott Anderson.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Scott. Captain Watson spent time in jail, but was not tried or convicted. No, the Canadian Government did not treat him fairly. In fact his treatment by the RCMP was inhumane, if not torture. Mr Watson was NOT detained legally. He was taken from International waters where I believe the RCMP has no jurisdiction. Although some things in the above article may be arguable, on balance it presents a fair summary of Watson's conflicts with the law. I think it would be a good idea for you to read his book 'ocean warrior'.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple other books available at any public library by other authors as well.
I don't know how you could come to such conclusions. Your comments make you sound like a raving lunatic.
ReplyDelete