As electric trams slowly rumble through the vibrant neighborhoods of Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, they take the passengers on a journey back in time. Part of the cultural fabric of the city for more than a century, the tram system has been allowed to atrophy for a lack of riders. Now, enthusiasts and climate activists are fighting to keep tram service as an eco-friendly transportation option. 

“Trams are a great way to reduce emissions in the city,” says Debasish Bhattacharyya, president of the Calcutta Tramways Users’ Association (CTUA). “In a time of climate crisis, we need to embrace modes of transport that are sustainable and efficient.” 

With sacks tied around their saris and well-used goggles as their only equipment, the seaweed collectors of India’s south-east coast have been diving in the Gulf of Mannar for decades, passing skills from mother to daughter.

The women spend six hours a day in the sea, diving up to 4 metres (13ft) to harvest the seaweed from sharp rocks, holding their breath as they tuck the fronds into bags tied around their waists.

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One day he summoned her to meet him at the local railway station. “When I got there he said: ‘Let’s run away,’” she said. “When I said no, he brought out a white handkerchief and pressed it to my face. I fell unconscious and when I woke up I was tied up and locked in a house.”