As parents, it's heart-wrenching to see our children shed tears over the sight of the once-thriving local wetlands that they loved, now filled with toxic sludge and dying wildlife. Their innocent delight in spotting ducks, tortoises, and eels has been replaced with confusion and sorrow, and we have to explain to our 5-year old the cruel reality of what pollution does.

The situation is bleak, not only for our children and our community but, most importantly, for the ecosystem we are losing. Wetlands are a fundamental part of our environment, serving as the earth's natural filtration systems. Due to severe pollution, our local wetlands are silted up, failing in their crucial ecological task.

Various species - such as eels, tortoises, and a wide array of wetland birds - that once thrived are now struggling to survive, some even nearing extinction in our area. This is not just a loss of biodiversity, but it also signifies the undermining of a delicate balance that sustains life and nature.

Around the world, wetlands are being vanquished. According to the Ramsar Convention, since 1900, over 64% of the world's wetlands have disappeared. The statistics are shocking, and the destruction of our local wetlands is a part of this global catastrophe.

As members of this community, it is our responsibility to restore this vital ecosystem. We must urge our local authorities to take immediate action to clean up and regenerate our local wetlands, before it’s too late. This is not just about preserving nature - it's about safeguarding our children's future and teaching them to respect and take care of their environment.

This is a plea for urgent action. Let us work together with the authorities to restore, conserve, and protect our local wetlands. Let there be a day soon when our children can once again marvel at the tortoises, the eels, and the birds in their full vitality. Sign this petition and join us in making sure that day comes.