They're everywhere!
Just Lawn Ornamentation?
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The increased popularity of the common garden gnome in today's popular culture is making it terribly apparent that garden gnomes are not simply for decoration. Garden gnomes have made their appearances not only in the gardens of the world, but also in political activism and movies. There is something about these unblinking little men and women that make them so fascinating to the public. It's not quite clear exactly what it is about garden gnomes that make them so popular.
Garden Gnome Liberation Groups
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Gnome liberation groups are organized all over the world. These groups are modeled after the already instituted animal activist and liberation groups. The largest and most well organized liberation groups are centered in Europe, namely Italy and France. France's largest liberation group, the Front de Libération des Nains de Jardin (FNLJ) "liberates" gnomes across the country by releasing gnomes into surrounding forests. The Italian group, Movimento Autonomo per la Liberazione delle Anime da Giardino (MALAG) liberates garden gnomes by smashing the statuary in order to release the gnome's spirit. Most gnome liberation groups are non-violent, but they are still committing the crime of theft. Many members associated with gnome liberation groups worldwide have been arrested on counts of theft and were made to pay fines for stolen or destroyed property.