Children run backward in slow motion as a bomb retreats into the sky. Demolished houses rebuild. A burning teddy bear is resurrected.
This striking video (above) from The Syria Campaign, a U.K.-based nonprofit, shows scenes of devastation playing in reverse, reminding us that we cannot turn back the clock on the chaos in Syria. The video is a call to action for people to sign the #WithSyria petition urging world leaders -- and through them, the United Nations Security Council -- to address the situation.
The conflict in Syria, which began as a popular uprising against President Bashar Assad, has turned the country into a battlefield between the regime, opposition groups and various extremist organizations that have found a fertile ground in the war-torn nation. The violence has left at least 191,000 people dead since March 2011 and forced nearly half of all Syrians to leave their homes.
Just this week, the U.S. and partner nations began airstrikes against extremist targets in Syria. Some activists are reporting civilian casualties as a result of the strikes.
The Syria Campaign released its moving video, titled "In Reverse," in conjunction with the 130 organization-strong #WithSyria petition. The video hit YouTube Sept. 17, days before the airstrikes began.
"We can't reverse what's happening in Syria, but we can change how the story ends," reads a message that appears at the end of the video.