September 2018: Introduction Environmental Protection

September 2018 brought many difficulties and challenges, but it also opened my eyes to the potential that lies within our community. Environmental protection and sustainability had always been important to me, but in September, it became clear just how urgent it had become to protect our natural environment. Overflowing trash bins, heaps of garbage, and the indifference of those in charge made it evident that we had to take responsibility ourselves. That was the moment I decided that I couldn’t just hope for change – I had to be part of the solution. This month inspired me to become even more committed to environmental initiatives and to show my community that a better future is possible if we fight for it together. September brought to light the ongoing neglect of environmental issues in Rasova. I remember standing by the overflowing trash bins, looking at the heaps of waste piling up, and feeling a deep sense of frustration. The lack of proper waste management had become a serious problem, and the municipality showed no interest in addressing it. People were left to their own devices, often burning waste or dumping it wherever they could. The irony is that EU funds were available for projects like public Wi-Fi and improved waste management, but our mayor was more interested in personal gain than in leveraging these opportunities. I couldn’t help but think about the missed potential. The recycling program I had envisioned could have made such a difference here. Instead of harnessing these opportunities, the mayor chose to push his own agenda, using public funds for vanity projects while ignoring the urgent needs of our community. This realization made me even more determined to continue advocating for real environmental initiatives that would benefit Rasova. The storm from earlier in the year was a clear warning, yet our leaders were unwilling to take the necessary steps to make our village more resilient. I knew that if we wanted change, we would have to fight for it ourselves.