16 year old Canadian girl facing jail term
 

She is facing a Jail term for picking up a rock in Greece.If I were the girl I would sue the Greek Government.10 years.Source AP.Your thoughts on something so stupid for just picking up a rock.

Greece might lose tourists because of this.So I think they should bury this and don't mention it again.

Well, that depends. If it's the law, then it's the law. No matter how stupid, if she didn't listen then she should be punished.

Do you have a source for that. Please people, when you open a thread in these parts of the forums, always include a source. This is not to bully you around, but more for those who don't get that news. I haven't heard of the incident up until now, for example, and you maybe haven't heard of the seling of "our" national Airline to the Germans.

If the rock was in one of the many historical sites or monuments of greece, that might make sence. They try to preserve it as best as they can... or did she smuggle a rock home? That might be a crime as well ((Smuggling doesn't only apply to animals, weapons, drugs and cigars, you know? Plants and natural matter can count, too))

But it IS your homework to know the law before going into a forein place... I don't agree that the poor girl deserves jail time, while a simple but effective warning would probably do the trick.

I know for a fact that you can get in serious trouble in Greece for taking rocks from the Parthenon. I am partially Greek, and while I agree it's harsh, they make it incredibly clear not to take rocks, there are signs everywhere in numerous languages.

here's the link: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...eek-rock_x.htm

She has been released, and is not expected to be punished.

That has to be the stupidest law ever concieved. :roll:

And that is one of the most narrow minded posts ever conceived.
I'm sorry to say that, but you're saying it and you don't really know the situation. Imagine if the Whitehouse was destroyed, and the government and builders were doing the best they could to preserve or even rebuild it in some way. Would you appreciate it if people took pieces of rock which may be crucial to the reservation process. Now I'm in no way saying that this Canadian girl took a crucial rock, that is under debate at the moment, but the law is there because your average person wouldn't know which rocks can and can't be taken, so rather than risk people taking important pieces of the puzzle, it is safer to stop people from taking rocks alltogether.

Imagine every tourist visiting Mount Rushmore takes a tiny rock which is a part of Lincoln's nose, he takes it back home and puts it on the shelf. Then multiply by millions per year. That's why Greeks are so crazy about that.

On the other head, I've heard once that Athens authorities deliver every day fresh rocks to Parthenon to allow tourists to pick them up and take home as "the original Parthenon rock". But it was quite a long time ago so they could have stopped that. Or it could be fake information.

Best wishes,

Robweiller

We have similar laws in America, actually. You can't take rocks from National Parks or places known to have fossils or used in geologic research.

What they're trying to say, here, is that these rocks are for everybody. You can't just claim them for your own.

wow thats scary a jail sentence... why not a fine?

You can also be arrested for taking a metal detector to a Civil War battlefield.