Greenland Holds Anti-Whaling Activist Paul Watson

Court rules activist must stay detained pending extradition decision
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Aug 15, 2024 2:00 PM CDT
Greenland Holds Anti-Whaling Activist Paul Watson
Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, founder of the Oregon-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, testifies during a contempt of court hearing in federal court, Nov. 6, 2013, in Seattle.   (AP Photo/Karen Ducey, Pool, File)

Environmental activist Paul Watson must remain in custody until September 5 as Greenlandian authorities deliberate over Japan's extradition request. Watson, aged 73, appealed the decision but remains detained following his arrest last month in Nuuk. Greenland's police confirmed the detention in a statement. The Canadian-American faces extradition to Japan concerning a 2010 incident where he allegedly obstructed a Japanese crew's duties by directing his own captain to toss explosives at their whaling research ship.

Japan argues that whale meat is a part of its food culture; it resumed commercial whaling in 2019. Watson's confrontational methods, seen in the reality series "Whale Wars," have attracted both significant support and criticism. Watson, an ex-leader of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, separated from the organization in 2022 to start his own initiative. He also had a key role in Greenpeace until parting ways in 1977 over tactical disagreements. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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