India's intrepid women seaweed divers

A plastic sheet that reduces maternal mortality; COVID callout [View this email online]( [NPR]( Goats and Soda editor's note Anushree Bhatter for NPR "It's not for the faint-hearted. That's why you won't see any men here," Bhagavathy jokes. She's part of the sisterhood of seaweed divers in India -- women who arise before dawn and head out to the shore, where they dive in shallow waters to harvest seaweed, wearing googles, saris and flip-flops. The underwater rocks are sharp. Poisonous fish lurk. Climate change and environmental rules make it harder to do the job. But they persist. Journalist Kamala Thiagarajan met these intrepid women and wrote a story capturing the precariousness of their profession and their personal strength. Thiagarajan shared these memories from her assignment: "I was startled by how many of them said they weren't good at swimming when they started collecting seaweed -- some of them even had a fear of the water. Many of them were so young when they first started collecting -- 9 or 10 -- and were asked to dive right into neck-deep waters and hold their breath. Gradually, they got better. Now most of them can hold their breath underwater with ease. "One of the women who still feared the water told me that in those initial days when they were learning to dive, she would think of her family when she was underwater and how they would benefit from the extra income, the joy that would give them. Those happy thoughts would take some of the terror away. I said it must be hard, emotionally and physically, to do that every time, and she said, 'Well, it taught me that with a little practice, I can face and overcome anything if I think ahead to the happy ending. It's a lesson I use often on land too.' " [Read the story here.]( Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda Anushree Bhatter for NPR in the news Lynsey Addario/Getty Images [A plastic sheet with a pouch could be a 'game changer' for maternal mortality]( A new study assesses a low-cost intervention aimed at reducing deaths from bleeding during childbirth. It's remarkably simple — and, according to a new study, quite effective. [The fate of a teenage zoo elephant in Pakistan was tragic -- and a symbol of so much more]( As details of Noor Jehan's neglect came to light, the revelations sparked a national conversation about the neglect and abuse of animals in Pakistan -- and of vulnerable humans as well. COVID emergency ends Thomas Bwire for NPR [Reader callout: Tell us what the end of the COVID public health emergency means to you]( We interviewed residents of Kibera in Kenya -- and now we'd like to hear from you. Are you thrilled? Skeptical? Still mourning losses? Stopping all precautions or incorporating some into your daily life? Or maybe you've made changes in your life that you find meaningful. Email us at [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=) with the subject line "Emergency lifted" and we may feature your comments on NPR.org. Please include your name and location. Submissions close on Friday, May 19. the arts Courtesy New Museum. Photo: Dario Lasagni [The fantastical art of Wangechi Mutu: from plant people to a 31-foot snake]( Mutu, who lives in Nairobi and Brooklyn, is the star of a show at New York's New Museum. Her art takes on viruses, genocide, junk mail (the "sleeping serpent" is full of it), her own hybrid identity. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- links we like - In Brazil (and many other countries in the Global South), [community health workers go door-to-door to check on folks](. Now the U.K. is trying that approach. The BBC reports. - Fresh Air looks at [long COVID brain fog]( Millions of people have it "and there's a shortage of answers." - Science writer David Quammen writes in The New York Times: ["If the Pandemic Is No Longer a Public Health Emergency, Then What Is It?"]( - To mark Mother's Day this Sunday, we (humbly) share our 2018 story: [Secrets Of A Maya Supermom.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]