Incarcerated for almost three months in Nuuk, Greenland, the activist who decided his life to protect whales will be made an honorary citizen of the commune of Saint-Ouen (Île-de-France)announced the mayor, Karim Bouamrane, this Sunday, October 20, reported Le Parisien.
“Paul Watson symbolizes the fight for the preservation of the planetdeclared the elected socialist and mayor of Saint-Ouen, Karim Bouamrane this Sunday, October 20. He is an environmentalist who fights against whaling, he is the symbol of the activist who risks dying in prison because of his convictions. It’s still pretty amazing!”he continued, while he posted, this week, the giant portrait of the founder of the Sea Shepherd associationwhich continues to work for the preservation of whales.
Incarcerated for almost 3 months
The 73-year-old environmentalist was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk after having been attempted to intercept a new Japanese whaling factory ship aboard his boat, the John Paul Dejoria, on the basis of an international arrest warrant. Japan has also requested the extradition of the activist, while Paul Waton requests political asylum from France in a letter sent to Emmanuel Macron.
Despite the entry into force of a moratorium from the International Whaling Commission in 1986 which prohibits whaling, Japan is one of the countries like Norway and Iceland which free themselves from it and manage to find arrangements in order to continue their traditional practice, regretted the councilor of Saint-Ouen.
Political asylum requested from France
“We have a considerable challenge which is the preservation of biodiversity, of aquatic species which goes with the fight against global warming, the establishment of alternative transport to the car. It is really an overall project for us”adds Karim Bouamrane. “Saint-Ouen highlights an emblematic figure who today suffers political injustice, concludes the elected official. We show our solidarity with his fight, his values by also designating him an honorary citizen of the city.”
This announcement should be made official with the next municipal council meeting scheduled for the end of November. Furthermore, the City of Paris indicated that it had made the same decision. In France, many mayors have shown their support for Paul Watson in recent days.
