Not my cup of pigshit

Audacity of this sort is truly hard to come by. For over a year, residents of Asbestos have been trying to stop plans for the construction of a massive 4,800-head pork farm just outside of town. Their reason: prevailing winds blow in the town's direction and no one wants their pristine country air spoiled by the smell of pig droppings.

So when resident Alain Lafond and three of his neighbours paid a visit to Environment Minister David Cliche last Monday, Lafond brought along a cupful of pigshit in a bucket, along with a battery-powered ventilator for accentuated effect. According to a report in La Presse, Lafond even dipped his hand in the bucket prior to shaking the minister's hand.

"I don't know how else to get the government's attention," Lafond says. "If I have to, I'll take the bucket to Premier Bouchard's office."

--Philip Preville