all started with a small spark of discontent. Bay fishermen returned home evening with empty boats, paddles, sailing, networks, an effort frustrated and distressed faces, nothing more. They had several months to navigate beyond their usual fishing grounds in front of Half Way Cay, the northern coast near Schooner Cay, the northern tip of Deer Island, Punta Masaya and Rama Cay, to enter the high seas by the bar Hone El Bluff and Sound. Noticed a negligible increase in the capture of lad, shrimp and fish while her three times without allowing effort to cover their family needs with product sales. Found no explanation for his misfortune, but were aware that something was happening and called a meeting at the tip of Old Bank.
that morning walked through the streets into the meeting carrying the paddles on their shoulders. Were over a hundred, including the elderly with white hair, retired from fishing. At ten o'clock they met in a circle. Dominated the confusion and uncertainty, all talking at once, until John took the floor.
- have clear-cutting the banks of rivers! The bay is drying! Said screaming. why we put out so far, fish and shrimp are gone, will not play on the coasts and lagoons!
- need government support to purchase outboard motors and boats bigger! Shouted one of the fishermen.
- Yes, we want big engines and boats! All shouted in unison.
- Let's strike! No more fish until we give the engines and boats! Shouted another.
One of the old stone rose where he sat with his head down and walked toward the center of the circle. His hands calloused and tired legs were shaking. Expectantly for the audience to see him silenced. Marcus was an old man of ninety years from ten had engaged in fishing. He looked up and saw the fear, anguish, sorrow, hatred, impotence and failure in the face of all. He recalled his grandfather's time, when a child would take him fishing around the cays of the Bay, the abundance and diversity of fish, the boat filled with lad and shrimp, the big banks of oysters, the recognition that people gave for being a fisherman.
- The fault is ours, he said.
Everyone turned to look and laughed.
- At that time, I continue talking, the city was different. There were fewer people, fewer boats and pangas. The mountains were at the foot of the banks of streams and rivers. The waters of the bay is kept clean all year. We were also a few fishermen and our product is brought to the city, feeding them, not what we sold buyers of the bay that lead him to the Pacific.
- old already, enough with the stories! With that say we do not solve the problem! Shouted one of the young fishermen.
- Yes, we must get on strike until the government gives us motors and boats! Shouted another.
- Basta! Marcus let them talk! "Cried John.
The meeting attracted a family of fishermen in Old Bank, and those living in Beholder, Point Teen, Cotton Tree, Santa Rosa and the central district. The space was small for more than four people now attending the meeting. A woman from Old Bank, John's wife, sat a chair under the shade of a breadfruit tree offering it to Marcus to sit down and he continued talking.
- We take care of the bay as if it were our home. See how Miller has been clear-cutting Creek, Gunboat Creek and Deadman Creek, on its shores, people have built houses and trash covers, die their waters. People now strip along the streets, the city can not take the trash and see when it rains flooded streets with debris of all kinds, mixed with sewage and served ending dragged to fall into the waters of the bay. Look how many pangas and boats with powerful engines are now, think about the amount of oil, diesel and gasoline to contaminate their waters, sure they feel the smell of the gutters or will they be blind to not see the great spots to sail its waters ? All this is what has caused the loss of the richness of the bay, fish and lad and we play in this filth, so they must go far to fish.
silence for even the most vociferous to hear the words of Marcus.
- is true, you're right Marcus! Shouted one of the fishermen.
- Let's strike! Shouted another.
- "Needless to qué? — preguntó John. Nosotros tenemos parte de culpa, tiramos basura también —agregó.
Todos se volvían a ver sin respuesta, hasta que Marcus les dio la idea. Se pusieron de acuerdo y regresaron contentos a sus casas. Dos días después por la mañana aparecieron mantas colgadas por todas las calles de la ciudad que tenían escrito en la parte superior a ambos lados de dos canaletes, pintados de verde y en letras azules, ¡ESTAMOS EN HUELGA! Abajo en letras rojas sentenciaban a la población al escribir ¡Comerán chacalines, camarones, pescado y ostiones hasta que dejemos de contaminar la bahía! En letras mayúsculas, the end, had written: Fishermen's Committee.
days passed and the blankets were hung in the streets. On the fifth day, the cry of the sellers of shrimp, fish and oysters no longer heard in the streets, disappeared the sea aroma that emanated from the buckets and buckets in the corners, family dinner tables began to yearn for seafood restaurants and deleted Section menu of seafood. Municipal and regional authorities could not find answers to the problem. Sought to fishermen and, in a meeting, they offered the "Paddle Zero, but declined the offer to leave their paddles by engines and pangas.
The people of the city organized a committee for dialogue and agreed not to throw litter in the streets, collect garbage deposits selected in differentiating organic from inorganic and calling for mayor adequate treatment same. Fuel retailers on the shores of the bay were heavily punished by the police , many left to sell for not welcoming the measures outlined and students of colleges and universities joined the struggle of the fishermen through a sustained campaign of awareness of the people, developing reforestation purposes week in the hills, creeks, streams and courtyards.
A month later, Marcus along with thousands of people dismissed from the main town pier fishermen who went out happy in his new fishing operation. After rowing for ten minutes every sail up their boats at the same time, showing them their new slogan: I love my Bay!
Hill
New Guinea, RAAS
Monday, April 4, 2011 
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