Eco-Terrorist – Peter Jay Brown & the Evolution of Sea Shepherd
The Japanese are proud people and easily beaten. By Watson running, they won the day. I am sure that what I consider an SSCS “sell-out” doomed many more whales in the future then they have claimed to save. In the end, they bought their way out with a 2.5-million-dollar settlement paid to the Japanese whalers. I was not involved with the 2.5-million-dollar payout, but it certainly shut up Mr. Watson. I lost all respect for the man and society at this time.
It will be interesting to see how many whales are taken in the future, how many are sold, and what actually happens to the meat. After watching the Japanese government’s callous reaction to Fukushima, and if history is any indication, they’ll probably tell their people it’s healthy and feed it to their children. Any individuals who eat heavily contaminated meat deserves what they get. As to the future, I am sure scientists somewhere are trying to figure out how to remove the valued omega-3 without heavy metal contamination. If this happens, the whales are doomed.
I feel the other non-whaling nations with permanent bases on Antarctica should grow some “cajones” and tell the Japanese to stop whaling or go to hell.
OMTimes: Despite his unorthodox methods, there is no doubt that Sea Shepherd had an effective influence and caused a shift on how the need for a consistent conservation strategy and the addressing of environmental crimes were brought to the front stage. How would you describe the true personality of Capitan Paul Watson, not the Reality TV star?
Peter Jay Brown: I am not a shrink, but I have been told by those who are that Mr. Watson is a narcissist. The definition fits. Although he began with Greenpeace, I was told by Robert Hunter that much of what Paul brags about, was done by others. Bob claims the sperm whale episode was exaggerated at best, and Russell Means, the Native American leader at Wounded Knee does not remember him there. The man never stepped on a whaling ship; let alone sink one. He did, in fact, sink his own ship… My first film explains how we manipulated the press to make the man a myth. A hero was needed to start the movement, and a hero he became… at least on paper. I never thought the myth would turn out to sell out the very movement, so many other brave individuals built.
I must admit I was partially to blame. My experience told me that a figurehead was needed to coalesce a movement. American people follow individuals, not ideas. Unfortunately, as time went on, Mr. Watson believed the myth. One man who did, in fact, sink a whaling ship recently told me: “When Paul says things long enough, he believes they are true.” It happened more than once, and, interestingly, hardly an individual who actually did something is still involved with Sea Shepherd… yet movie stars, rich folk, and people around the world are still being sold the myth while real activists go lacking.
The man I knew was not a vegan, and as a matter of fact, he favored pork chops and eggs for breakfast and even recently frequented sushi bars. When I protested, I was sued. The very fact that Paul thought that might stop me from telling the truth; just shows how delusional my ex-friend has become.
OMTimes: How do you personally see the future of the Sea Shepherd Society, and do you see any shift in the Conservation Movement since the advent of the new way to disregard our multi-faceted environmental crisis?
Peter Jay Brown: I cannot say whether the Paul Watson myth will survive into the future or will he just be remembered as a has-been Reality TV star. The show at it’s most popular was viewed by a mere couple of million people; a far cry from the number of years past. He no longer captains a boat and has backed off his anti-population stance by fathering a son in his mid-60s. I recently saw him in Friday Harbor, Washington aboard a 3 million dollar yacht, in town to accept a lifetime film award. The society appears to be making deals with foreign governments to take on issues the governments themselves should be doing. The group’s independence is definitely in question, and it is a mere shadow of its former self…. Greenpeace-lite is what us old-timers call today’s organization. Their members would all be better off doing what I have done and returned to the roots of the movement where passion and creativity rule the day. Do not think you can relieve your guilt by giving money to giant corporations. If you care for the environment, get involved. If you can only give money; NGO’s tax returns are public… look them up.
Victories are won through action, and much as I never joined Greenpeace, I would certainly not join Greenpeace-lite. Each and every individual needs to use their own power, and just keep up the fight where they find it. Today, demand your elected officials restore and strengthen offices like the EPA. If you want to donate to legal fights, I would suggest checking to make sure those fights are for wilderness, and that your donation does not end up lining the pockets of fat cat bureaucrats and media stars who sit on their asses and do nothing. Demand action…get action. If you want a cool T-shirt, join Sea Shepherd.
Photos and images © Courtesy of Lon Haber & Co
