 Tuesday, June 4, 2002
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A week ago Sunday, I have featured an article by Sea Captain Paul Watson titled The Second Greenpeace Foundation. As introduction for that article I wrote:
One of the problems with a belief in Human Neutrality is that it causes great apathy. If I am truly independent, then I have no duty to family, community, Life or the Earth itself.
Those humans who are waking up to the knowledge of their interdependence are putting away the illusion of neutrality along with its apathy and indifference. But to do so sometimes takes great courage.
As reported in yesterday's GuardianUnlimited:
Paul Watson Charged With Attempted Murder
Duncan Campbell
For a man under investigation for attempted murder on the high seas, Paul Watson seems remarkably calm. The veteran environmentalist, who has been arrested many times before but never convicted, believes the latest accusation is an example of how far powerful fishing interests are prepared to go in trying to neutralize conservation campaigners.
Mr Watson is the founder of Sea Shepherd, the conservation group based in Malibu, California, whose two ships patrol the seas challenging illegal fishing and whaling.
Recently, Sea Shepherd was asked by a number of Latin American governments to act on their behalf in protecting endangered marine species from poachers. Last month, it was invited by a Costa Rican environmental group and the Costa Rican government to assist in the protection of Cocos island, 320 miles off the coast.
On the way to the island last month on Sea Shepherd's vessel, the Farley Mowat, group members came across a Costa Rican ship poaching. They contacted the authorities who told them to bring it in. As the poachers attempted to escape, Mr Watson used water hoses "to intimidate them" after which, he said, the two boats collided, doing some damage to the poachers '13 vessel.
But when the Farley Mowat reached port in Costa Rica, Mr Watson was told by a judge and prosecutor that he was alleged to have rammed the other ship and tried to kill its captain. He was told he would be charged with attempted murder and destruction of property.
"I said, 'first of all, if I had rammed him once, he would be sunk and if it was my intent to kill him, he'd be dead'," said Mr Watson, now back in Malibu.
By chance a documentary team was on board his ship and had filmed the episode. When the video was shown to the prosecutor, the charges were dismissed. But a few days later, a new prosecutor - appointed under pressure, Mr Watson believes, from the fishing industry - made it clear that he should be held in jail pending charges. On the advice of his Costa Rican lawyer, Mr Watson returned to the US.
Read the full article
