Tag Archives: Russian whaling fleet

Environment

Paul Watson: Activist, Pirate, Friend

interview with Rex Weyler (All 5 Podcasts of an FM radio special feature originally airing January 21 -25, 2025).

In December 2024, the environmental activist Paul Watson was freed by Danish authorities from detention in Greenland.  He had been held there due to an Interpol red-notice (warrant) issued against him by the government of Japan. The Danish Ministry of Justice denied official requests to extradite Watson for trial in Japan, and he was released to rejoin his family.

What did Paul Watson do that so angered the Japanese government?  Watson, born in Canada, has spent most of his adult life — ever since the 1970s — protesting against the commercial slaughter of whales and other marine mammals.  He was a founding member of Greenpeace, and participated in their early actions to document and obstruct the Russian whaling fleet in the North Pacific.   One of his shipmates on these early campaigns was longtime Cortes resident Rex Weyler.

In this special feature, we offer an extended interview with Rex Weyler; he offers his personal memories of the early Greenpeace campaigns and of Paul Watson, who became a lifelong friend.

Continue reading Paul Watson: Activist, Pirate, Friend →
Arts, Environment, History

A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – Part 3

Originally published on Greenpeace International

Editors Note: Rex Weyler is now a resident of Cortes Island – Part 1 of this series is published here and Part 2 is here.

From 1974 to 1982, I served as photographer on Greenpeace campaigns. Here are a dozen photographs from those years and some memories that they evoke. 

Continue reading A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – Part 3 →
Environment, History

A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – Part 2

Originally published on Greenpeace International

Editors Note: Rex Weyler is now a resident of Cortes Island

From 1974 to 1982, I served as photographer on Greenpeace campaigns. Here are a dozen photographs from those years and some memories that they evoke. 

Continue reading A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – Part 2 →
Environment, History

A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – part 1

Originally published on Greenpeace International

Editors Note: Rex Weyler is now a resident of Cortes Island

From 1974 to 1982, I served as photographer on Greenpeace campaigns. Here are a dozen photographs from those years and some memories that they evoke. 

Continue reading A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – part 1 →
History

Launch Of The Modern Environmental Movement

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Greenpeace exploded into the public’s awareness after confronting the Russian Whaling fleet off the coast of California. This kind of environmental action was unheard of  in 1975! The next day, there were photographs around the world. Looking back today, Rex Wyler thinks that, in some ways, that moment was the launch of the modern environmental movement.

Continue reading Launch Of The Modern Environmental Movement →