Anti fish-farm graffiti shows lack of respect
By Janine Bell, The Daily News, May 14, 2010
When I saw the graffiti on the city's waterfront walkway left behind by last week's anti-salmon farming protesters I was angry. Defacing public property, regardless of the message, is unacceptable behaviour.
I was struck by the irony of where the protesters scrawled their self-promoting graffiti -- beside a successful salmon habitat restoration project.
The difference between the people who vandalized the public walkway and the people who helped restore the river below it is significant. Some people yell, while others act. Some point fingers, some find solutions.
DFO and the City of Nanaimo should be commended for their work to restore the pink salmon runs in our community. They rationally assessed the problem (destruction of fish habitat) and implemented a strategy to resolve it.
Not only has it brought back an important natural cycle to our community but it's been so successful it has also created a great opportunity for urban sport fishing.
It's an example of the kind of work that needs to happen to really save our wild salmon -- far more effective than a misinformed group of protesters who scribble on public walkways.
City workers should also be commended for their work to clean up the tagging left behind by these protesters. I suggest the bill for their time be sent to the protest organizers who did, after all, leave their calling card.
Janine Bell
Nanaimo
