NEW YORK, September 3, 2024.— Today, activists and volunteers held a creative and peaceful demonstration in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York, demanding the immediate release of Paul Watson, the renowned environmental activist and founder of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.

The rally, organized in response to Watson's arrest in Greenland, gathered demonstrators wearing Viking helmets and featuring a representation of Hans Christian Andersen's mermaid, along with three mobile billboards circulating around the UN building, all carrying a clear message: "Free Paul Watson."

The demonstration took place in front of the UN offices and continued with a march to the Danish mission to the UN. Throughout the day, trucks with mobile billboards were driving around the area, drawing the attention of passersby and the international community to the injustice of Watson's imprisonment.

“In an upside-down world, activists who fight to uphold international law are arrested, while governments like Japan, which flagrantly violate international law and global treaties for the oceans, have the audacity to demand extraditions,” the volunteers said during the demonstration.

Paul Watson, 73, was arrested on July 21, 2024, by Danish police in Nuuk, Greenland, in compliance with an international arrest warrant issued by Japan due to his activism against whaling in Antarctica over a decade ago.

Watson currently faces the possibility of being extradited to Japan, where he could spend the rest of his life in prison. The Greenlandic court has ordered that Watson remain detained until September 5, 2024, when a key decision on his extradition will be made.

During the protest, organizers pointed out that Watson's arrest and possible extradition are clearly politically motivated actions. "This is an attempt to silence those who oppose whaling and the destruction of the oceans," said lawyer Andrea Gordon of the Parley for the Oceans foundation.

Watson's detention has generated a wave of international support, with prominent figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, actor Pierce Brosnan, and environmental activist Jane Goodall demanding his release. In addition, several online petitions have gathered nearly a million signatures calling for Watson to be freed.

Paul Watson has dedicated his life to protecting the oceans and has led campaigns that have saved thousands of whales and other marine animals. Founder of the organization Sea Shepherd, Watson is globally known for his radical and effective approach to marine conservation, documented in the popular TV series *Whale Wars*.

The possible extradition of Watson to Japan has raised concerns worldwide, especially regarding human rights and the freedom of environmental activists to operate without fear of political reprisals. The decision on his extradition will set an important precedent in the application of international law in cases of environmental activism.

Watson's situation has sparked a global debate on justice and the protection of human rights. Watson's defenders argue that his arrest is a direct retaliation for his tireless fight against illegal whaling, particularly in the protected waters of the Antarctic Ocean. Despite numerous international rulings and agreements banning whaling, Japan has continued these practices, arguing that they are part of scientific research, although evidence suggests otherwise.

Watson's case also calls into question the use of international arrest warrants to pursue activists who challenge powerful economic and political interests. His detention in Greenland and the possible extradition to Japan could set a dangerous precedent, where states use legal mechanisms to silence those who oppose their destructive policies. Prominent human rights lawyers have described the situation as an "unacceptable setback" in terms of international law.

As the critical date of September 5th approaches, the pressure on Danish and Greenlandic authorities continues to mount. Protesters, non-governmental organizations, and world leaders are calling for Watson's immediate release, arguing that his extradition would not only be unjust but also a blow to global efforts to protect the environment. The decision made in the coming days could have significant repercussions for the future of environmental activism worldwide.