Interview: "Why Paul Watson is a hero and the world needs him"
In conversation with my friend Marion. The second past interview, recorded on Sunday, 10 November 2024.
Marion: Patrick, let's jump straight in. Why is Paul Watson a hero to you?
Patrick: You know, Marion, there are many people who talk big, but only a few who actually act. Paul Watson is one of them. He has dedicated his life to the oceans and their inhabitants. And what impresses me the most is that he has never used violence, but has always consistently fought for whales, dolphins and sharks - often at the risk of his own life. His actions speak louder than words.
His actions have made a significant contribution to the sustainable recovery of whale populations in many places over four decades. To be honest, I don't know of any other animal protection project that has been so successful. In fact, I don't know of a single one where we have saved an animal species from extinction or extinction in the wild.
Marion: You say he has never used violence, but his opponents accuse him of being extremely dangerous. What do you say to that?
Patrick: That is the point. Yes, it is uncomfortable, and yes, it puts pressure - but only on those who are acting illegally. A good example is how Sea Shepherd has been tracking Japanese whaling fleets in the Antarctic - an unconditional protection zone. They blocked the ships, collected evidence on camera and showed the whalers that they are not untouchable. But to my knowledge, Paul Watson never hurt anyone. His mission was always clear: protect the animals, not aggression against humans.
Marion: Speaking of actions. What do you think are the most impressive moments in Paul's career?
Patrick: Oh, there are many. For example, in the early Greenpeace days, when they sprayed white seals with environmentally friendly paint to make them "worthless" for the fur industry. The pictures of these actions moved the world. I recently saw the coloured paint in colour for the first time. We only had black and white television back then.
But with Sea Shepherd, it got even more blatant. I remember one mission where a deep-sea cod hunter wanted by Interpol sank his own ship just to destroy evidence after Sea Shepherd discovered it. Think about it: You've got to know you're deep in illegality if you sacrifice your ship to avoid getting caught.
Marion: That almost sounds like something out of a film. But why do you and many others invest so much time and money in supporting him?
Patrick: Because we know he's right. Paul Watson said decades ago: If the oceans die, we die. And he's right. Whales play a central role in the ecosystem. They help to bind CO2, they contribute to the health of the oceans - and if they disappear, a huge part of the marine balance will collapse. It's not just about whales, it's about the future of our planet.
This is not a donation, this is an investment in the earth, in our common future.
Marion: His arrest caused quite a stir. Why do you think he's in prison now?
Patrick: Because it is dangerous - not for people, but for systems based on exploitation. Japan wants to set an example. They want to show that nobody messes with their whaling industry. The arrest warrant against him is nothing more than a political staging, an act of defiance. There is no final conviction, just a "Red Notice" from Interpol, based on a national arrest warrant from Japan. That says it all.
Marion: An act of defiance?
Patrick: Imagine Japan's point of view. Here comes the white man from the western world, who breeds and slaughters animals under the cruelest conditions. The USA alone - where Paul's organisation's donation account is located - kills around nine billion animals from industrial factory farming every year. And they want to tell us something about animal welfare and tell us what we can hunt in the waters on our own doorstep?
Marion: What does that mean for him personally?
Patrick: It means that he is separated from his family, from the oceans he loves, and that he has to pay for something that has actually helped the world. The methods were often on the edge of legality. Or over it. I think he was aware of the possible consequences of his actions and was willing to take the risk. When new crew members apply, he should ask if they would give their life for a whale. He would rather go to jail in Japan voluntarily than give up his activism.
Marion: What would that mean in concrete terms?
Patrick: If he is extradited, he faces an unfair trial. That would mean he would die in Japanese prison. The man will be 74 years old in a few days.
That would first and foremost be a tragedy for his wife and children, but it would also send a very bad signal worldwide. The fact that nobody wants to hear anything more about the climate crisis and the government is literally forced to tell tall tales about a 1.5 degree target because otherwise the next Sarah Wagenknecht alliance will pick up the voters in a fortnight' time... tragic. I think it's a mistake to criminalise nature conservation activism now.
Marion: In conclusion: What can we do? How can we help?
Patrick: There are many possibilities. Donations are an important part of funding his defence and continuing his work. But it is just as important to tell his story. Share posts, get informed, speak up. Paul Watson is fighting for all of us. Now is the time for us to fight for him.
👉 You can donate here:
https://www.paulwatsonfoundation.org/donate/?form=donate
The interview ends, but the message remains: Paul Watson is not just a human being, he is a symbol for the defence of life on our planet.
You can find the background to this format and how the idea came about in this article here: The Past Interview Experiment
