Paul Watson resigns as leader of anti-whaling organisation Sea Shepherd

[Joe Shlabotnik]

Source: Globe and Mail

The head of a controversial anti-whaling organization has resigned in order to comply with a U.S. court order.

Paul Watson issued a statement saying he has stepped down as leader of Sea Shepherd.

Mr. Watson says his decision was based on an injunction issued in the U.S. last month that barred the organization from being within 450 metres of Japanese whaling vessels.

Mr. Watson, who holds dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, says he was personally named in the injunction and must step down in order to avoid criminal charges.

The Toronto-born anti-whaling crusader says he has resigned all positions with the organization, which has chapters in the U.S. and Australia.

He says campaigns against Japanese fleets will continue under the leadership of former Australian senator Bob Brown.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/paul-watson-resigns-as-leader-of-anti-whaling-organisation-sea-shepherd/article7039373/

[KamaAina]

1. The Canadians should be up in arms about this

Mr. Watson, who holds dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, says he was personally named in the injunction

but they won't be, not as long as that snivelling little toady Harper is around.

[obamanut2012]

2. I doubt the Canadians will do anything

They still allow the seal massacre every year, and literally protect those doing the killing.

[LCH]

9. Unfortunately

the seal cull is a necessary evil required to return the eco system (and fish stocks) back into balance after years of abuse.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Oh, right.

It is the fault of the seals that the fish stocks are depleted. Yep. And it is the fault of whale piss that the oceans are warming.

[Canuckistanian]

14. "Seal cull"??

Please....
After humans have been depleting the cod stock almost to the point of extinction, it necessary to kill seals for some kind of perverted "balance"?

[obamanut2012]

16. Yes, the seal massacre, where they club seals

Defenseless seals. The way it is done is barbaric.

[Canuckistanian]

24. My amazement was over the word "cull"

It's a HUNT. "Cull" implies a scientifically informed and CONTROLLED killing of a species that is overrunning it's environment.

The seal hunt is NOT controlled, nor is it recommended by scientific studies.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

29. well said.

But, that said, I've come to peace over the last decade or so about the seal hunt that I think is fair: Let FN people hunt seal for food and pelts for their own consumption.... But make Seal fur, meet and carved trinkets illegal around the world. Remove the 'market' from the equation. Successive Canadian governments of Liberal and Conservative types have not/will not do either.

[obamanut2012]

17. Clubbing defenseless animals

BS.

[AgingAmerican]

20. They have been doing it for a couple centuries

They do it for the pelts. Not to cull anything.

[Nihil]

30. Brilliant! Don't know which member of MIRT it was but I love it!

"...the troll cull is a necessary evil required to return the eco system back into balance after years of abuse. "

[smknz]

7. Canada will sit on their fins.

You are right. The Canadian government was voted in by 37% of the 60% who actually voted. That means that less then 25% of eligible voters put these clowns in power. How's that for democracy. They are a group of neoliberal republican wannabe's who will never stand up or dissagree with American policy.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

8. Well said. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

15. Yup.

The liberal vote was fractured by 4 separate parties - The Liberals, The NDP, The Bloc and the Greens.

The Liberal Party was all but destroyed by the Sponsorship scandal.

This is almost the reverse of 1993, where Conservatives almost vanished into history.

[derby378]

3. A shame - he did the world's ecosystem a great service

Ginny once talked about serving with Sea Shepherd for a while, but poor health discouraged her from pursuing it further.

[DrewFlorida]

4. You have done a great job Paul Watson, I hope Sea Shepard can continue to be effective without you!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

5. +1000

He was very effective as a lightning rod garnering attention to the cause, and is leaving some pretty big shoes to fill.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. Nonsense...what makes you think he is going anywhere?

He resigned some corporate positions as part of legal maneuvering. Nothing there says he is not going to continue in place as the skipper of the fleet?

[Turborama]

32. "resigned all positions with the organization"

ALL poisitons.

This means he will have NO position with the organization.

Position: a post of employment.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

33. Take another look at which organizations he resigned from and what positions

[Turborama]

34. "ALL positions" in "Sea Shepherd"

And?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

35. That does not mean he cannot be a member and their fleet skipper

The positions he resigned from are those with legal governance capacity within the organization. Its not like he is going to apply for asylum somewhere and disappear

[Turborama]

36. Again, it specifically states: "*all* positions within the organization"

It does not state:"all positions within the organization with legal governance capacity"

Unless you've read something else somewhere else that says otherwise?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

37. Look at the positions he resigned from

add to that he is still aboard their flagship

[Turborama]

38. Where?

In the article that says he's resigned from *all* positions?

He could be getting a lift somewhere and sunbathing on that ship, for all we know.

LOL this is getting ridick!

[Dont call me Shirley]

6. Paul will find another greatness to outlet his immense courage.

Thank you for your service to the earth.

[KoKo]

10. K&R!~

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I am not sure that there is anyone with more guts than Watson

but I am hoping that Brown has it in him.

And exactly what jurisdiction does the US have in this? They are barring an international organization from getting close to Japanese fuckwads? I am not sure how that works.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

13. I question that too.

Theres not much info about this particular story yet, but I think the international noose is tightening for Watson to step down like this. I suspect he'll be arrested somewhere soon.

[obamanut2012]

18. I was wondering that, too

[soaky]

19. I have great respect for Bob

Was very disappointed when he retired from politics last year, but glad he's gone to Sea Shepherd.

This is a bit out of date but gives a good overview http://australianpolitics.com/parties/greens/07-05-10_bob-brown-biography.pdf

[Curmudgeoness]

22. Well, he certainly is no slouch.

The thing about Watson was his ability to garner lots of attention. He knew when to go public, who to go to, and where to go. And after watching Whale Wars, I was also impressed by his knowledge of seamanship. He is a man of many talents. And this ongoing crusade has to have continued publicity and action.

I always wanted to go fight with them. Alas, I am too old and beat up to keep up the rigors of the fight. Also, I hate the cold.

[AgingAmerican]

21. He has some very brave underlings

But he will never be replaced. He will, however, continue to be the pied piper for the cause. I can't see this guy ever retiring.

[Curmudgeoness]

23. No, he will never retire.

And I am sure, that if it is true and he does get arrested, he will not go quietly. Nor would he regret anything he did. In fact, I am sure that the whole thing would be a circus, and he would be the ringleader.

[Tx4obama]

25. Kick! n/t

[earthside]

26. What power does a U.S. court have in this matter?

How can the U.S. government have any jurisdiction on the high seas?

And, even if Watson doesn't hold a 'position' or 'office' with Sea Shepherd technically, what is to stop him from still being a participant with the group?

I don't think this is the end of Watson's relationship with Sea Shepard. This is just another legal obstacle to overcome.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

28. Sizable as it turns out

There are multiple nations with active warrants for him and a court presumably with jurisdiction (otherwise it would have been tossed) has also issued an injunction. Given the level of international cooperation if/when Watson sets foot on just about any nations soil, he will be arrested. Welcome to international cooperation

The resignations were just legal maneuvering. Nothing to indicate he will not still lead the fleet.

[Nihil]

31. When you're the biggest bully on the block, you get away with it ...

... for a while anyway ... and then start screaming about "Terrorism!" when everyone
else is thinking "Serves you right" ...

[Great Caesars Ghost]

39. Watson can always form a new org.

You can take the dog from the fight, but not the fight from the dog.