July 2019 was a month full of challenges and emotional moments, once again exposing the shortcomings in our community. From questionable decisions by the local administration to shocking examples of abuse of power and the continued disregard for basic environmental standards affecting the daily lives of the people of Rasova, this month highlighted how deeply rooted the problems are and why change is so necessary. I want to share my thoughts and experiences in this review to make clear what we as a community have gone through and why it is so important not to give up.

The municipal council meetings in July were, as always, a place of chaos. At the meeting, I and other citizens were surprised by the massive police presence, allegedly deployed to protect against the citizens. It was hard not to get the impression that intimidation was the real goal here. Instead of listening to the citizens, we were ignored, and our prepared discussion points were disregarded. It was particularly frustrating that despite my efforts to present solutions for the community, there were once again only empty discussions, and no decisions were made. This clearly shows that the interests of the citizens have no place with those in power.

Another major issue this month was the increasing environmental pollution, particularly regarding the contaminated drinking water in Cochirleni. The nitrate pollution in the drinking water once again exceeded the allowable levels, posing a significant health risk to the villagers. However, as usual, there was no response from the authorities. At the same time, I had to witness funds being spent on trivial expenses like fireworks rather than investing in urgently needed infrastructure measures. It was frustrating to see how the interests of the population were overlooked while the well-being and health of the citizens were put at risk.

Corruption in our community became even more evident this month. The local administration seemed more focused on pursuing personal interests than on improving the living conditions of the people of Rasova. An example of this was the use of grazing land by Marian Suleica, which was arbitrarily denied to him. The situation around the sewer connection also escalated, as the high connection costs were unaffordable for many citizens, and no alternatives were offered. The authorities made it clear that they were not interested in solving the problems but rather in securing their power and controlling the citizens. This motivated me even more to keep fighting and raising my voice—for justice and for the people who cannot demand their rights.

It was a month that made it clear to me once again that change does not happen on its own. We must stand together as a community and fight against the injustices imposed upon us. I hope my posts will help encourage citizens not to be intimidated but to stand up together for a better future. July 2019 was further proof that the road to justice is long and arduous, but I am convinced that we can overcome it together.