In responses to Fairfax Media’s questions relayed to him in a Frankfurt Airport holding cell overnight, Mr Watson expressed fears for his life in Costa Rica if extradition was granted by Germany.

But he said that, whatever the outcome of the case, Sea Shepherd’s anti-whaling campaign in the Southern Ocean would not be deterred.

“In our efforts to defend the whales, we have made some powerful enemies, most notably the government of Japan,” Mr Watson said.

Costa Rica has revived a 10-year-old case in which Mr Watson’s then ship Farley Mowat was involved in a collision with a shark-fishing boat. The central American country has alleged navigation offences.

“I am surprised that Germany would consider extradition for an alleged offence against an illegal fishing vessel that did not cause injury, nor did it damage property,” Mr Watson said.

Sea Shepherd said a long-lapsed warrant for Mr Watson’s arrest was taken up again in Costa Rica last October, just as Japan’s Institute of Cetacean Research initiated a civil case aimed at stopping the group.

“It is no coincidence that the extradition request by Costa Rica was issued the same month as the Japanese lawsuit against Sea Shepherd was initiated,” Mr Watson said.

The group’s spokesman, Peter Hammarstedt, said Mr Watson was doing well under the circumstances when they met overnight Australian time in Frankfurt.

He said that a General Public Prosecutor to the German Higher Regional Court had formally requested a preliminary extradition arrest warrant against Mr Watson on the basis of the local arrest warrant and request for extradition from Costa Rica.

“In a highly unusual move, the Public Prosecutor stated that the German Ministry of Justice and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the power to stop the extradition procedures on political grounds,” Mr Hammarstedt said.

Sea Shepherd is still waiting to hear a decision from the closed court hearing, he said.

If the extradition request is granted, Costa Rica will have 90 days to file full papers to Germany to complete the request.

If it is not, Mr Watson would be freed.

Story from smh

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SASY! Stop Animal Suffering Yes!

Who is SASY?
www.sasycostarica.com

The SASY! Foundation (Stop Animal Suffering Yes!) is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the eradication of animal abuse and suffering in Costa Rica. Your support funds educational programs to promote animal welfare, fund spay/neuter clinics in low-income barrios and areas with overpopulation of strays, and sponsor several shelters that house and rehabilitate abused and abandoned animals. Thanks to the many businesses, individuals and attendees for making the 2010 annual fundraising event such a great success! We thank you for your generosity to Stop Animal Suffering Yes!

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If you are travelling to and from San José and Limón is best to get the latest information (http://www.transito.go.cr/estadorutas/) on the road condition or plan out your alternate, either through Heredia, Sarapiquí and Guapiles or Turrialba.

Weather conditions continue to cause landslides resulting in temporary and complete closures for hours at a time.

Diego Herrera, director of the Policia de Transito said CONAVI authorities are working to clear all the debris and hopes that the weather conditions will improve for Saturday’s final national soccer match in Guapiles.

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There are so many words that seem to escape these jerks in Washington. Words like compromise, deal, agree, progress, or work, just to name a few. They were all elected to do the right thing, no matter what their political affiliation. Evidently, none of them have a clue as to what the right thing might be, however. What is the right thing? Basically, it would seem to logically be to get to work and find some way to try to repair the damage done by a totally clueless Republican Administration during the eight years that followed a very successful Democratic Administration.

Unfortunately, from where I sit, the last two years plus of (in)activity in Washington, D. C., have shown us (and the world) some of the most childish partisan politics that have ever disgraced that once beautiful city. Both parties are to blame for this, and it is truly unfortunate that this had to happen at a time when we so desperately needed to show the world a united front. It was bad enough for the world to see us as a clumsy, unfeeling bully, and to have the world grow to hate us so actively (and rightfully so, in the wake of the bumbling Bush/Cheney/Rove ‘Axis’). But, for the world to now see us as this quibbling, back-biting bunch of spoiled brats fighting over scraps is heartbreaking and truly shameful.

Now, it is true that the GOP has been laboring under the stigma of trying to defend those actions that got us into this mess since after all it was their guys who did this to us. So, in any effort to come up with solutions they start with a serious handicap. While trying to defend an indefensible position, they are clinging to their antiquated GOP methods to fix the mess. The Democrats really have no excuse, other than the fact that they are currently outnumbered in the Congress. Meanwhile, if ever there was a time in the history of this once proud nation for all parties to put aside their differences and do what is best for the nation, this is it (and, has been since 2008). But, what is still happening?

No, I most definitely am not leaning toward becoming a Republican, because I haven’t accepted much of anything from the GOP since Teddy Roosevelt, but even he was a progressive, and I doubt that he would be at all acceptable to today’s crop. As for the Democrats, I just happened to agree with more of what has come from their side of the aisle, and that goes back to FDR, through Truman, to JFK, LBJ, even Carter, then Clinton, and now, it is ending, not with or due to Obama, but because I no longer believe that there is such a thing as a politician who can be trusted, or worse, a politician upon whom anyone can depend for anything (unless you depend on them to lie through their teeth).

So, who can any right thinking person support today? Damned if I know…….I do not see a single individual out there who gives the impression that he or she cares enough to put party aside, and bring the nation back together to clean up the mess.

John G. Dungan, RN

Property For Sale:  http://www.encuentra24.com/costa-rica-en/real-estate-for-sale-country-houses/se-vende/1082494

Personal Blog:  http://arenalgrumbles.blogspot.com/

Forum Owner/Moderator:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CRRealists

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