Happy 74th Birthday, Captain Paul Watson

For Paul's birthday PLEASE sign the petition to #FreePaulWatson and contact politicians who can and should be lobbying to set him free

Just before Canada Post went on strike and stopped delivering the mail I received a lovely letter from Captain Paul Watson thanking me for the letters I’ve been sending him in prison and sharing the details of his fight for life in the oceans, his life and his wild ride with the Danish “justice system.” And he did let me know that the prison in Greenland is pretty nice as prisons go.

I’ll share specifics from his letter soon - I don’t have it with me and want to make sure this is posted for his birthday - but for now I’d like to share my thoughts which start with:

WTF? Has every country decided rule of law is an adorable anachronism?

The Danish government is pretending that they are holding Paul in prison because of an arrest warrant from the Japanese government on charges that are so patently absurd that the governments of France and the US refused to enforce the warrant.

Because I’m not wearing my journalist’s hat I’m fine to flat out declare that the Danish government is full of $#@! I’d rather write the word, but I am wearing my not wanting to get this post censored on social media hat.

I have no doubt that Paul is being held in jail in the Danish territory of Greenland because he keeps shining a spotlight on the Grind - a charming tradition in the Danish Faroe Islands that isn’t quite as postcard-friendly as windmills and tulips. Yeah, those are dead whales in the image below and yes the waters run red with their blood.

Japan’s justice system is very efficient. You basically don’t get your day in court until you confess to whatever you’re charged with. Paul is facing 15 years in jail and has no doubt that, if he is extradited to Japan, he will die in a Japanese prison. Here’s the story from Human Rights Watch about the Japanese “justice system” and their 99.8 percent conviction rate. Japan’s “Hostage Justice” System Denial of Bail, Coerced Confessions, and Lack of Access to Lawyers

Paul turns 74 today. The courts in Greenland celebrated the event by once again extending his stay in prison while once again refusing to allow Paul’s lawyers to mount a defense. He is now remanded in custody til December 18th. He was arrested in July.

How Can You Help? From the Paul Watson Foundation

How You Can Help #FREEPAULWATSON. Every action counts.

1. Sign Our Petition : Please sign this petition addressing the Denmark Ministry of Justice, to release him from custody. As Paul once said, “Every social revolution in the history of humanity has been carried out by the passion, the imagination and the courage of individuals”. Please sign this petition.

2. Contact the Danish Ministry of Justice : Apply pressure and contact those that can free Paul . Tel +45 7226 8400. E-Mail: jm@jm.dk. Post : The Danish Ministry of Justice. Address. The Ministry of Justice Slotsholmsgade 10 1216 Copenhagen

3. Post on Social Media : Amplify our call for justice using your own platforms, include #FreePaulWatson @captainpaulwatson @mette @peterhummelgaard

4. Write to Paul : Let’s flood Nuuk prison with support and love for Paul. Letter’s and postcards are welcome. Post : Captain Paul Watson
   Anstalten for Domfældte, Jagtvej 3900, NUUK, GREENLAND.

5. Campaign : Take action and generate momentum with a peaceful protest. Print posters, invite media and spread awareness to #FreePaulWatson,

6. Share Our Content : The easiest way to support our case is simply to share our content.

For more on this story and the charade playing out in Greenland…

I’ve written about Paul and his case before in a couple of previous posts.

And there’s a great re-cap of his story in The Guardian.

And an “Honest Goverment Ad” about Paul Watson vs. Japan from Juice Media:

And for a bit of beautiful to end this off… some art from Skaana supporter Natasha van Netten, Hahyrningur North Atlantic Killer Whale, ink and Icelandic seawater on paper.

Natasha’s studio website www.natashavannetten.com 

Upcoming Events www.natashavannetten.com/upcoming-markets  

Her Instagram www.instagram.com/n_van_netten 

Her shop www.natashavannettendesigns 

And here’s a link to my personal substack:

So here’s why I’m Substacking…