Note to self: don't kill fish in Denmark

Posted By Elizabeth Dickinson Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 6:55 PM Share

"In some countries a journalist can be thrown in prison for years for a single offending word or photo," points out Reporters Without Borders, a press advocacy group.

I imagine that had something else in mind... but a case today would fit: a journalist in Denmark was convicted of animal cruelty for killing fish with shampoo. Ouch?

The incident took place back in 2004, when Lisbeth Kølster wanted to demonstrate on TV that Terva shampoo was literally toxic enough to kill fish. Easy enough: she dumped a bottle of shampoo in a fish bowl, and killed 12 guppies over the next four days.

Well, the power of the press worked, and Tevra shampoo was booted off shelves. "Sometimes you need a serious eye-opener, and when we made the programme, we chose to say that we should illustrate this in addition to the experts and reports we had," Kølster was reported to have said.

Luckily, no need for free press activists to jump in and free Kølster. She was convicted but not fined -- her right to a speedy trial having been violated.

EXPLORE:EUROPE, LAW
 
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VIRGIL TIBBS

8:50 PM ET

May 19, 2009

Of course it killed the fish

Of course it killed the fish - any shampoo or household chemical will.

They should have fined her for stupidity.

 

KSALL

9:46 AM ET

May 20, 2009

sad

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