Singer and activist Francis Lalanne flew to Nuuk, capital of Greenland, on Sunday to support environmental activist Paul Watson, founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd. Incarcerated since the end of July at the request of Japan, which accuses him of endangering whale hunters, Paul Watson is waiting to know if he will be extradited during his third hearing scheduled for October 2. Lalanne, known for his controversial commitments, hopes that his arrival will draw attention to this affair and encourage other personalities to mobilize.
In a video published on his social networks from Copenhagen, Francis Lalanne expressed his wish to raise public awareness of this situation which he describes as “unjust and unacceptable”. “The arrest of Paul Watson is serious, all artists must mobilize,” he declared. He also challenged Emmanuel Macron, calling on the French president to grant political refugee status to the environmental activist. Lalanne hopes that this personal approach, although independent of the Sea Shepherd organization, will help prevent Watson’s extradition to Japan.
This trip is also symbolic for Francis Lalanne, who had a certain musical success in Greenland around ten years ago with the song “Suli Avunga”. He will also meet local singer Tuperna Kruse on site to perform this song together in Greenlandic. “I am perhaps better listened to here than in France, where people no longer want to be associated with me,” he confided to Parisian before embarking on this long journey of forty-one hours.
While Francis Lalanne’s support is received with reservation by some due to his controversial positions in the past, his approach remains, according to him, a testimony of solidarity. “It is time for the artistic world to rediscover a sense of courage and commitment,” he said, adding that he would continue to advocate for the release of Paul Watson in the United States and Australia after this visit .
Alice Leroy
