Paul Watson placed on Interpol's Red Notice

Interpol Issues Red Notice for Sea Shepherd’s Paul Watson

by Michael dEstries August 8, 2012
Categories: Animals, Causes
Tags: paul watson.

Paul Watson’s ability to move around the world has just become a lot more complicated.

The 61-year-old founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has just been placed on Interpol’s “Red Notice” – which is the highest bulletin the international policing body issues; but does not necessarily constitute an automatic arrest warrant.

In other words, Watson is going to have to pick the countries he travels to very carefully.

Interpol’s action stems from Watson’s decision to skip bail in Germany and flee the country; a move that almost certainly avoided the ocean conservationist from extradition to Costa Rica – or worse – Japan.

“For me it is obvious that the German government conspired with Japan and Costa Rica to detain me so that I could be handed over to the Japanese,” Watson wrote from an unknown location. “For me it is clear that they made the political decision to turn me over to the Japanese even before a court decision was made.”

Interpol says that it upgraded Watson’s status from Blue to Red after gaining “additional information from Costa Rica” (whatever the hell that means) and his decision to skip bail in Germany.

“Each of Interpol’s 190 member countries must apply their national laws and standards in determining whether it may detain or arrest the wanted person,” it said.

That word “may” is a big deal, since it presents a wild card for determining which countries might be friendly to Watson. But as doom and gloom as this all seems, for Watson, it’s likely just another reason to keep fighting.

“It is a simple fact that if you are effective at what you do, you make enemies,” Watson wrote back in 2010. “Sea Shepherd has a host of enemies, and we are making more every year. And our enemies are powerful and run the gamut of government, corporate, and organized crime. Hell, I’m surprised we have survived as long as we have.

“But what is the alternative? To do nothing, to be another docile, submissive, unquestioning slave to a paradigm of blind greed?

“No thank-you. Give me my name on a blue list, the red list, the black list, or the death list, for it is preferable to the I-don’t-give-a-crap list.“

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →

http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Smith/100003317178090 Chris Smith

“It is a simple fact that if you are effective at what you do, you make enemies,”

Yeah, normally those are the people you rail against, not the authorities, organizations’ rules you claim to uphold and, to an extent, the nation you based your illegal activities in for a few months a year.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003872802595 Charles Morgan

Has the Whale Wars saga run it’s course? Three years ago if there was a post regarding paul watson or the sea shepherd a lively debate would have ensued. It seems as if the interest has waned.

I cannot help but think of both international calls to action following his arrest in Germany, Turn out was not very great for the first and even worse for the second.

So is it that people have simply moved on to other causes/issues, or has the reality of what they’ve seen on Whale Wars not met their expectations?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1133025134 Lucy Flywheel

Charles-I think that most people have figured out that Paul Watson is nothing more then a con-man.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003872802595 Charles Morgan

Interpol is carrying out it’s charter as it always has.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003872802595 Charles Morgan

And now Australia has denied their request for tax exempt charity status.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003872802595 Charles Morgan

paul who…

The pretty much demonstrates it right there. Only 11 comments in five days. He might as well stay in hiding.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003872802595 Charles Morgan

You can update this article with the latest. Interpol has just issued a second Red Notice on behalf of Japan.