Watson - Down Under or Down and Out?

Once again Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherds is claiming he shall head back to Australia in time to intercept the Japanese scientific whaling fleet. His plan is to try to prevent them from conducting their lawful and meaningful research. This plan turned into a fiasco the last time he tried it, when the Shepherds couldn't find the flock. This time, Paul is asking Greenpeace to bring their vessels and help in the effort. Lots of luck! Greenpeace won't want to share the media spotlight with an unpredictable wingnut who may try to do damage to any research vessels he stumbles across. Even Greenpeace leaders know when to fold them. Australia will not send its government vessels out to interfere with the research effort, and our bet is that neither will Greenpeace, especially now that Paul is getting into the act.

The Australian newspaper The Sunday Mail outlined Watson's alleged plans back on June 26, calling the Sea Shepherds "a radical American green group". More established organizations such as Greenpeace shudder to think that their supporters might associate them with any outfit that would be likely to fire on a research vessel, ram it in heavy seas, or otherwise conduct some rash and ill-advised operation.

Our guess is that Paul Watson will be down and out on this one. All alone in the Southern Ocean and wondering where the action is. We hope he doesn't hurt anyone or lose a crewmember in this stupid venture. May the world media refuse to send anyone to accompany him on this pointless journey. He doesn't deserve any positive attention for his exploits.

Give it up, Paul. No one wants to watch you puff and blow and spend donated money for another potentially destructive campaign. You will never put an end to scientific research because the sane people in this world know it is necessary in these times of proven and ongoing environmental change.