Hundreds of light-blue pinwheels spin as they catch the wind from the Nam Petch river, blowing the messages of love inscribed on by children and dependents of this major lifeblood in Petcha Buri province.

School youths and local residents participated in the campaign to save the Nam Petch river on Saturday.

Thanakorn "Nat" Thongjeen, from Kaeng Krachan Wittaya school was one among the participants of the "Rak Nam Petch" activity. He and other students pedaled some 30 kilometres from their home into town. They were later joined by more students from Ban Lad Wittaya school. The children distributed leaflets to passerby, and asked them to write a message on the pinwheels in support of the conservation of the Nam Petch river.

Many other students and villagers took a boat ride to collect garbage along the river. Meanwhile, hundreds other students from Prommanusorn and Benchama Tep-uthit schools clad in similar blue shirt joined the campaigning parades in town, distributing leaflets urging people to help save the Nam Petch river.

Later, the students, conservationist groups, and the mayor of Muang Pethcha Buri gathered at the end of the municipal bridge, where the ceremony "The Whole River, the Same Heart," was held.

They poured the water collected at different sections of the river, into Nam Petch, as a sign of the joining hearts of all to conserve the river. The crowd later read out their commitment of conservation of the river, followed by poems reading by students from many schools while Keetanchalee band played in the background.

Keetanchalee and the Hope Family band will join the concert for the river and other art activities on June 9 at Wat Yai Suwannaram, as part of the project to create public awareness in environmental conservation. 

The "Rak Nam Petch" activities were supported by the Din Sor See group and other conservation groups in the province.

"Nam Petch river originates in Petcha Buri province, flows to the sea here, and is the lifeline of all people in the province. The river flows from the South to the North, upstream, which is rare to be seen elsewhere," said Tharawat Kanjawipaporn, of the Nam Petch Conservation Group.

From its origin in the Tanowsri mountain ranges, the river flows into the sea at the mangrove forest at Bang Taboon and Ban Laem. Local residents revere the river, equating it to the diamond's purity, said Tharawat.

Historical records show water from Nam Petch had been used in most sacred ceremonies and for royal consumption. It is the river of culture, traditions and local arts. Most importantly, it is the lifeblood for agriculture and fishery; and is a waterway for commuters along the river, according to Tharawat.

In the past decade, however, the river ecology has been changed, said Tharawat.

"From Thayang downstream, the river is dried up. The water becomes polluted from household discharges," he said. As the amount of the sewage produced exceeded the capacity of the draining pipe dug along the river to send waste water for treatment at Laempakbia, the waste water was discharged directly into the river, said Tharawat.

"Overall, the water is still clean at the origin. However, at the middle section of the river, there are agriculture irrigation canals where farmers wash pesticide containers near the river. These substances remain in the soil for over 30 years. Many dead fishes were found floating in the river," he said.

River encroachments are another problem which have narrowed the river and changed the water way as well as affecting marine animal breeding sites, said Tharawat.

Decha "Nid" Leksuwan, from Kaeng Krachan Wittaya school said he uses the river to water his plants. Rice farmers and fruits orchards also depend on the river, he said.

"I like swimming and catching fishes in the water. There is a shoal of fighting fish in the area around the dam. Now the water becomes muddy and more polluted," said the boy.

"Some resorts near my village also contribute in polluting the water. Tourists often discharge the waste into the river," he said.

The present situation has raised concern among many conservationists. Several groups including the Din Sor See group and the Hope Family musical band have spearheaded the campaign to conserve the water. Last year, these groups also organised youth arts and cultural activities to preserve local culture.

Ratchanee Wisitwarodom of the Din Sor See group said her group organised mobile musical activities at many schools in the province to create public consciousness among school kids. This is part of the "Dream House" project initiated three years ago, with the support from the Health Promotion Fund.

She said this project receives good cooperation from the local civil groups including school-based groups like Rak Nam Petch and the Guide group, and other conservationist and environmentalist groups such as Rak Muang Petch and Palang Petch, the Kaeng Krachan Forest Lovers, and the bird watchers groups.

"These groups want to initiate their own activity, which has become the "Rak Nam Petch" campaign, said Ratchanee.

The Nam Petch river is used as a tool to encourage children to think more about their community, society and environment. The campaign also aims at mobilising the network of conservationists. The municipality office also provides support for this initiative, she said.

Ratchanee's group also organises nature camps for children. This creates the networks of young conservationists in several schools, many took part in Saturday ceremony.

Thanakorn "Nat" shared a good memory in participating in the ceremony.

"It's fun, though my buttock got hurt and I was tired from a long ride. Bicycling will be good for my health," he said.

"It's also good to know people, to tell them our campaign. I have seen many things along the way. When I pedaled pass the forest, I saw some cows and goats. But when I entered the town, it was hot, and there were many cars," he added.

The ceremony concluded. The children returned to their home. Hundreds of pinwheels continue to spin as the wind blows from the river, as if to bring its gratefulness to children and all its lovers.

Translated by Mukdawan Sakboon