Swiss heartland voters ban nude hiking in Alps

[steven johnson]

Vitamin D has great health benefits and such closed minded policies are unhealthy.

AP – People in Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Switzerland, vote by raising their hands on Sunday, April 26, 2009. …

By HARRY ROSENBAUM, Associated Press Writer Harry Rosenbaum, Associated Press Writer – Sun Apr 26, 3:24 pm ET
APPENZELL, Switzerland – Voters in the heart of the Swiss Alps on Sunday passed legislation banning naked hiking after dozens of mostly German nudists started rambling through their picturesque region.

By a show of hands citizens of the tiny canton (state) of Appenzell Inner Rhodes voted overwhelmingly at their traditional open-air annual assembly to impose a 200 Swiss franc ($176) fine on violators.

Only a scattering of people on Sunday opposed the ban on the back-to-nature activity that took off last autumn when naked hikers — primarily Germans — started showing up in eastern Switzerland.

The cantonal government recommended the ban after citizens objected to encountering walkers wearing nothing but hiking boots and socks.

The German sites also promote walks in France and in regions of Germany, where public nudity has roots going back to the 18th century through a movement that has come to be called "Free Body Culture." Nudism in more conservative areas of Switzerland is less common.


Swiss heartland voters ban nude hiking in Alps

[Redneck Socialist]

1. If you ban nudity, then only nudists will be nude...

...or something like that.

[Dr. Strange]

4. From my cold dead--

uh, never mind.

[MrScorpio]

2. Have you ever seen German nudists?

They are not all pretty

[Pool Hall Ace]

3. Yabbut, it's fun and refreshing to be naked.

And not all clothed people are pretty, so just avert your eyes. :hi: