Teenager arrested after tying herself to Japananese Embassy
The Whales | 25.01.2008 12:54 | Animal Liberation | Ecology | London | World
A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said. Sophie said last night: "I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse."
A British teenager has been arrested after tying herself to a staircase at the Japanese Embassy in London in a protest over whaling, she said.
Sophie Wyness, 14, and her father Martin attached themselves to a stone staircase inside the embassy lobby with cable ties overnight, saying it was wrong to "brutally murder" whales.
Sophie said last night: "I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse."
It is not the first time the 14-year-old, who has also campaigned against Australia's nuclear policy, has been removed from a protest but it is the first time she has been arrested.
She said: "I have just been released. We have been charged with criminal trespass and it will go before the Attorney General, not the CPS, because of the political implications."
The teenager was inspired to take action after watching a film about the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza - which is currently disrupting the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.
One video clip lasting 30 seconds, which showed a whale being blown up, had "hit me hard", she explained earlier.
The video pushed her to stage the hour-long protest because she felt it was wrong to wrong to "brutally murder" whales.
"It's a very important subject at the moment. They're such amazing creatures and they deserve rights and love and a bit of respect," she said.
"I have total respect for the Japanese people but not what they're doing out there with the whales."
She said taking direct action was the only way to get attention on the issue.
"Hopefully it'll get put out there and show we're not going to sit back and let them get away with it."
Mr Wyness said he was only involved in the protest in order to support his daughter and spoke of his pride that she had been so resolute in standing up for her convictions.
He said: "I was really only there as back up. This was Sophie's day."
He added: "I am extremely proud of Sophie. She is an amazing, amazing young woman full or courage and determination and her convictions are very strong. This documentary genuinely moved her to the point where she wanted to do something about it.
Quotes taken from thelondonpaper.com
Sophie Wyness, 14, and her father Martin attached themselves to a stone staircase inside the embassy lobby with cable ties overnight, saying it was wrong to "brutally murder" whales.
Sophie said last night: "I honestly think that me having a criminal record is not a big price to pay when what the whales are going through is so much worse."
It is not the first time the 14-year-old, who has also campaigned against Australia's nuclear policy, has been removed from a protest but it is the first time she has been arrested.
She said: "I have just been released. We have been charged with criminal trespass and it will go before the Attorney General, not the CPS, because of the political implications."
The teenager was inspired to take action after watching a film about the Greenpeace vessel Esperanza - which is currently disrupting the activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.
One video clip lasting 30 seconds, which showed a whale being blown up, had "hit me hard", she explained earlier.
The video pushed her to stage the hour-long protest because she felt it was wrong to wrong to "brutally murder" whales.
"It's a very important subject at the moment. They're such amazing creatures and they deserve rights and love and a bit of respect," she said.
"I have total respect for the Japanese people but not what they're doing out there with the whales."
She said taking direct action was the only way to get attention on the issue.
"Hopefully it'll get put out there and show we're not going to sit back and let them get away with it."
Mr Wyness said he was only involved in the protest in order to support his daughter and spoke of his pride that she had been so resolute in standing up for her convictions.
He said: "I was really only there as back up. This was Sophie's day."
He added: "I am extremely proud of Sophie. She is an amazing, amazing young woman full or courage and determination and her convictions are very strong. This documentary genuinely moved her to the point where she wanted to do something about it.
Quotes taken from thelondonpaper.com
The Whales
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