Headline: Buddhist ritual does not bring peace to NJ environment regulators

[Lobster Martini]

PATERSON, N.J. - A New York sect of Amitabha Buddhists bought hundreds of eels, frogs and turtles in Chinatown to set them free in the Passaic River, hoping they would not only survive but also realize their karmic potential.

Saving the animals, though, did not do anything for the karma of the state Department of Environmental Protection. DEP pfficials say the Buddhists did not have a permit and may be subject to fines up to $1,000.

Releasing critters into the wild takes a permit, and because of fears of harm being done by nonnative species, New Jersey is reluctant to issue them out for anything beyond stocking fish ponds.<snip>

Authorities have not found the Buddhist group yet.

But one member, Ann Chin, talked to the Herald News.

She said the idea was not to hurt other species, but to save the animals that were destined for dinner tables.

"When I pass by the fish market, I cry," Chin said. "I tell people: 'Stop killing them.' Then: 'Don't eat them.' Then your heart goes to mercy."

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20070814_ap_buddhistritualdoesnotbringpeacetonjenvironmentregulators.html

[Teaser]

1. Catholic ritual fails to convert bread and wine to flesh and blood.

AGAIN!

[Myrina]

2. Eels in the Passaic?

Lovely. Just what we need, to go along with the other exotic animals that have been dumped and are eating the native species.

:spank: Way to fuck up the natural eco-structure.

[Teaser]

3. Nature has ceased to exist.

We've managed to create a human modified "nature" almost everywhere.

These eels aren't going to go away. We'll have to hope (and help) that the ecosystem that emerges there reaches some kind of equilibrium, probably with intensive management from us.

[LostinVA]

4. I think, there already are eels in the Passaic river

They have them in the Delaware and Hudson Rivers.

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. "I like eels, except at meals"

Sorry, but this bit from poet Ogden Nash seemed appropriate.

[BlooInBloo]

6. ROFLMAO!!!!!