Thaaragai Aarathana, an 8-year-old scuba diver from Chennai, India, is actively involved in cleaning the ocean and its shores of plastics to protect marine life, especially the endangered dugong. Despite facing initial ridicule, her efforts have inspired her community, and she aspires to become a diving master like her father, Aravind Tharunsri.

Mumbai's beaches, including stretches up to Alibag and Palghar, have been affected by tar pollution, with black or dark brown sticky liquid tar deposits washing ashore. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been cleaning the tar, but the source remains untraced. Tarballs, harmful to marine life and potentially entering the human food chain, are a recurring issue during monsoons. Environmentalists and NGOs call for more significant action and investigation into the pollution's sources, as the impact on marine life, local residents, and fishermen is profound.

The article discusses the certification of two villages in Odisha, Venkatraipur and Noliasahi, as 'Tsunami-Ready' by UNESCO. This recognition is a testament to the disaster preparedness and response capabilities of these communities. The article recounts the devastation caused by the 1999 super cyclone in Odisha, which prompted the state to implement policy measures and establish the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority. The Tsunami-Ready programme, developed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, aims to minimize loss of life and property by training coastal communities. The article details the process and criteria for achieving the Tsunami-Ready status, including community training, mock drills, and the establishment of early warning systems. The certification has given the villagers confidence to face natural disasters, and the state aims to have more communities certified in the future.

The article discusses the role of indigenous tribes in conserving wildlife and their habitats, highlighting the Toda tribes of the Nilgiris and their relationship with Toda buffaloes, as well as other tribes like the Kattunayakans, Kurumbas, Sholigas, and Irulas who are involved in sustainable honey harvesting. It criticizes state policies that have led to the eviction of tribes such as the Baiga and Gond from their ancestral lands for tiger conservation efforts, and the destruction of tribal homes in the Nilgiris to protect elephant corridors. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting tribal efforts in conservation, as their eviction and the loss of their traditional practices can have detrimental effects on biodiversity. The author, Rituparna, is a journalist with a background in technology who studied at the Asian College of Journalism.

The article discusses the plight of migrant workers in India during the COVID-19 lockdown. Arun Kumar Paswan, a restaurant worker from Varanasi, had to return to his village in Bihar due to the lockdown and loss of income. Similarly, Kameshwar Yadav, a head chef, also returned to his village in Bihar after the restaurant he worked at closed. Both covered a distance of around 250 kilometers to reach home. Amarit Manjhi, another migrant worker from Bihar, is stranded in Tamil Nadu, 2,380 kilometers away, after an attempt to walk home was thwarted by the police. The article highlights the struggles faced by migrant workers, including lack of food, loss of income, and the challenges of returning to their native places during the lockdown.