Most transportation, commerce, and public school attendance were brought to halt for 24 hours in San Cristobal, the nation’s largest province, due a strike called to protest the deteriorating condition of its rivers. Though some scattered incidents of tire burning and rock-strewn highways were reported, the day was largely enjoyed as an unofficial holiday, as dominos-players lazed before shuttered stores, and children romped through quiet streets. An organization known as "Provincial Coordination in Defense of Rivers and Natural Resources" organized the strike and pronounced it "a total success." Its spokesman, Dr. Nelson Nina explained that the strike is "the fruit of the ecological conscience that San Cristobal’s citizens." He said that those 30 years of age and older can recall the crystalline waters of the Haina, Nigua, Nizao and Yubazo Rivers, which have been destroyed by "unscrupulous persons," and went on to name sand and gravel companies whose unauthorized and continuous mining of river beds has wrought "ecological devastation." Nina blamed these companies for their rapine and the government for its indifference, and heaped special scorn on congress which has yet to approve long pending environmental protection legislation.
