“We will continue our missions”: in Paris, Paul Watson maintains his commitment against whaling

The environmental activist wasted no time. The day after his arrival in France, a few days after the end of his detention in Denmark, Paul Watson went to Place de la République in Paris. He gave a press briefing there, on the sidelines of an event organized to celebrate his release, where former Prime Minister Michel Barnier attended. The opportunity for the ardent defender of whales to reaffirm his commitment to what he defined as the fight of his life.

“We will continue our missions. We will oppose Iceland's whaling and, if Japan tries to return to the Antarctic whaling sanctuary, we will be there”he told the media.

“We are going to put an end to whaling around the world, one way or another. We must learn to live in harmony with all the species that share the world with us”said the 74-year-old American-Canadian activist. In a hurry to “spend Christmas with (one’s) children” and seeing his grandchildren for the first time in six months, he assured that he wanted to continue his activist action.

“It’s my priority, but we will return to sea”a-t-il promis. L’association Sea Shepherd “has a boat in Bermuda, which will go to Iceland next June. We also have a boat in Australia ready to return to the Antarctic sanctuary if Japan goes there.”

Paul Watson was also asked about a possible message to the Japanese government, while the founder of Sea Shepherd was detained following the issuance of an Interpol red notice by Japan. The whale defender responded that the country must “obey international laws. Killing whales in an international whaling sanctuary is illegal. (…) We are not protesting against Japan's whaling. We are simply asking that (this country) respect the law.”