Sarah Judd

The 2018 Kerala floods is an unforgettable incident in my life of 32 years. Experiencing the agony in and around me still has not vanished the unpleasant memories of greenery underwater. Kerala witnessing a similar event after 94 years left us almost unprepared to overcome it. It was the time when the fishermen’s community and Indian forces worked hand in hand helping lives to find safe shades.

For about thirty years, I frequently journeyed to our family’s rural coastal retreat, nestled in a village that my parents established for their eventual retirement. However, this serene haven was not always as idyllic as it appeared. Initially, the land lay barren, stripped of vitality by generations of corn cultivation and the excessive use of fertilizers.

I feel a profound connection to the environment around me that would shape my journey in ways more harmonious with nature. My transformative experience began when I joined an international environmental project called “Out to Sea: The Plastic Garbage Project.” I was aware of the extent of the damage we face as approximately 80% of all marine pollution is composed of plastic…