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Official: Killing ants is punishable by law (The Scotsman, 4/30/2003)

Gerhard Schroeder’s unpopular government has acted decisively ... to protect the humble German ant from the nation’s over-zealous gardeners ...

German homeowners and gardeners who attempt to destroy an ant hill or subterranean nest will be subject to hefty fines if caught.

They must now apply for a permit from their local forestry office to have the ants carefully moved to local woods.

"People with an ant hill in their garden must under no circumstances resort to the use of poison," said ant officer Dieter Kraemer.

This is the kind of progressive environmental legislation that could energize the liberal base and revive John Edwards's faltering presidential campaign. Posted by Paul Jaminet at July 28, 2003 4:41 PM