Hawke's Bay Today is reporting that a man in New Zealand is alleged to have threatened to release the nasty invasive alga known as didymo (Didymosphenia geminata, also known as "rock snot") into the Waiau River. He reportedly called in the threat to the Wairoa Department of Conservation in response to their plans to begin poisoning local populations of rats and possums. Charges are expected to be brought against him, though a search of his house did not turn up any of the offending invader.
If he is found guilty, he could get 5 years in jail or a fine of $100,000 NZD (about $70,000 US). Personally, I'd rather he got one of those cool activist judges who punishes him not with jail time, but with something innovative. Like, say, a dunk tank filled with didymo...or stationing him at a boat launch and making him clean off anglers' boots with a toothbrush ;-).
3 comments:
Oh, yes. I like the toothbrush idea.
Keeping in mind the presumption of innocence, and writing strictly hypothetically, would it not be better to sentence someone guilty of such a crime or violation to five years of, say, clearing and removing invasive species from a public area. Think of it as community service writ large.
ioannis, I find your punishment lacks muster, and hereby sentence you to two years of mandatory Daily Show viewing ;-).
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