Tharaka Sriram: "I want to dedicate my life to the environment"

Actually, Tharaka Sriram wanted to campaign for women's rights. Then she realized that she had to save the oceans first.

Nothing easier than that: Today the 36-year-old has already traveled to 59 countries, founded the ocean education initiative "Ocean Education", works as a campaigner for whale and dolphin conservation organizations and has dived through the oceans among garbage – even though she didn't even swim before it Now she is giving lectures around the world with her initiative to educate people about the sea and its protected areas.

As if it weren't enough of a challenge to promise oneself and one's life to marine protection, Tharaka fights against gender stereotypes and racism every day.

It was clear to us: we have to talk to this woman. And that's what we did. The result is an interview that could hardly be more inspiring. Because one thing is clear: Tharaka Sriram is a strong woman who cannot be pigeonholed. But read for yourself …

Dear Tharaka, before we turn to the seas, I am curious about you: where does your story begin?

"My parents came to Germany as Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka in 1983. I come from the Black Forest. I studied political science, Spanish, gender studies and environmental history. Then I started to get involved in the women's movement – I learned more there than at university. "

It doesn't matter if you have a PhD, if you are not married you have failed as a woman.

How did you get into the women's movement?

"I was actively looking for it. I struggled a lot at home because my parents' culture is very conservative. It doesn't matter if you have a doctorate or if you are professionally successful if you are not married to the man have chosen your parents for you and have not fathered a child, you failed as a woman.

I noticed that I would like to pass on this strength, with which I actively fight against the contempt for women in my parents' culture, to help other women. "

But it's quite a leap from the women's movement to marine protection …

"Yes, that's right (laughs). In 2008 I was in Peru, in a small fishing village. I worked as a volunteer in the capital, Lima, for a women's organization. We offered training courses for women who are active in trade unions or who In a small town on the coast that only lives off small-scale fishing, I came into contact with the women of the fishermen and learned about the problem that the fishermen caught less and less and the women more and more at home Have experienced violence. "

If you don't care about the environment, then you can forget about the struggle for women's rights.

What is the connection?

"It was such a barren place, there was no electricity, when the sun went down, it was completely dark, except for the light from the lighthouse. No entertainment, then mostly alcoholism. The men were under pressure to keep their families close Domestic violence ensued when the women stood on the beach when the fishing boats returned, the catch was insufficient to support the family and the men found no other way to deal with their frustration.

Of course, domestic violence is more complex than that and there is no excuse for violence no matter who it is directed against. But that shocked me. Before that, I dealt a lot with women and domestic violence. I had the feeling that all problems can be solved as long as you educate people and talk to them. But then there was the component with the sea. This human dependence on natural resources. "

And it changed something in you …

"It was the first time I came across this connection. If you don't care about the environment, if you don't make sure that people can survive, then you can forget about the struggle for women's rights. Then I started to research: What happens to the sea? "

One should not only care about marine protection for human, selfish reasons.

There are many sides to environmental protection, but you have always been drawn to the oceans. Why the sea of ​​all places?

"I stand up for the creatures in the sea. There are many marine conservationists who say the sea is important so that we have something to eat. Or so that it protects us from climate change. Or so that you can always surf without the plastic to swim, that's not my motivation.

I see it in such a way that the sea and every living being, also on land, has a value in itself. That alone is enough for it to be preserved and to have a right to freedom and security. One should not only be interested in marine protection for human, selfish reasons. "

And when did you become active yourself for the first time?

"I had started giving lectures on marine protection for the women's association and wanted to apply for jobs. That didn't work because I had no experience. Then I volunteered at Greenpeace, for example. At the conferences I attended, I found out about the situation in marine protected areas around the world. The wish has matured in me: I would like to take a look at them myself now, not just on paper. I looked for sponsors, unfortunately that didn't work at all. And again I have Considered: Do I even want that? But I have noticed again and again how my heart draws me to the sea. I only learned to swim when I was 32 years old. "

If I don't do it now, I will never do it. And then I just took out two bank loans.

Oops, how come?

"I almost died in a diving accident. I always pushed the topic aside. But if I wanted to devote myself to it, I had to learn to swim. I was really scared. I was fascinated by the sea, but to go in myself, to expose myself to it, that Understand element … "

But you did it.

"Yes, after a long thought. Of course it was a risk. But I thought to myself: If I don't do it now, then I will never do it. And then I just took out two bank loans. Others buy a car, I want to no car and no television either. So I set off, organized internships and in eleven months was in 17 countries and looked at marine protected areas. "

I think society is very much based on scarying women.

All alone? As a woman, were you scared?

"I think society is very much based on frightening women. I'm actually always traveling alone. You can be on your own – but you are more likely to come into contact with people. I have no inhibitions about speaking to people when they are interest me. And I'm a curious person, which is generally a good prerequisite. You shouldn't be afraid of rejection. "

You say that so easily.

"You can win a lot more than lose when you speak to people. In my experience, the world really opens up for you when you start to be more open yourself. You can't know everything. And I think you can can only learn from other people. "

I'm not the type of person who sees a problem and says let's leave it that way.

Tharaka, a question in between: Where do you get the courage from? Take out a loan, just go out, see and say bad things – do I want to change them?

"I'm not the type of person who sees a problem and says we'll leave it that way. I am moved. I have decided not to have children. I really want to do one hundred percent for the environment. As long as I do am alive and healthy enough to be committed to the seas, I'll do that too. "

So do you dedicate your life entirely to protecting the environment?

"Yes. If you think about the situation in the world, it makes no sense to me to have children. The rapid increase in the world population has ecological consequences. Every second people are born who need food and drinking water, Consuming energy, driving a car and wanting to own a smartphone. The raw materials for this come from nature. The pressure of resources leads, for example, to progressive deforestation of the forests, a decline in biodiversity, above all due to the increasing consumption of meat and fish, and further warming of the atmosphere and intensifying the greenhouse effect, not to mention more plastic waste. This is nothing new, many scientists have been thinking about it for a long time, but most people prefer not to deal with it. "

There are women who like to be mothers. I would rather dedicate my life to the environment.

Do you run into a lack of understanding?

"There are women who like to be mothers, they should do that too, if that fulfills them. I would rather dedicate my life to the environment. You can't do everything. Everyone has to decide for themselves, and I've made my decision . Humanity is not going to die out, I don't have to pass on my genes. I'd rather adopt children who are already born and need someone to take care of them. It's much more important to me to get the message across that we are too have to pay attention to other living beings – their right to life, freedom, wellbeing and joy. "

Nevertheless, one is often still considered exotic if one decides against a life in the classic female / mother role …

"I find it interesting that when it came to Corona, many women noticed that the partner they thought they had equal rights is now slipping into 'old' or traditional roles. And suddenly they are the ones who take care of the household, They take care of the children. They put the job on hold – and he goes to work. I have to honestly say: I'm not surprised. Rights have to be fought for and maintained over and over again. Whether private or public.

I think that if the structures were different when it comes to childcare, remuneration or professional freedom, a lot more women would choose to make a long-term commitment to the environment.

Are you still in a male domain?

"There are already many women who are active for the environment. But mostly the people who are in the spotlight and hold conferences, for example, are still men."

Did you feel discriminated against by your gender?

"What I find really funny is that I am often written to as a man. Because people do not know exactly whether the name is male or female – if in doubt, always male. When traveling, people have often assumed that I was the travel companion. And when I had a meeting with the Minister of the Environment at the Ministry in the Dominican Republic, the secretary asked me when the head of the organization was coming. She was amazed when I said, 'I'm the head.' "

What is your advice to women who experience something like this?

"It is important to remain attentive. Women like to do that, to say, I can take it now, it will pass. But that always has emotional, physical consequences, even if you don't see them at first. You have to start, for to stand up for yourself.

I said to myself: I'm here to work for the sea. And I would like to have solved everything that hinders me. Incidentally, I often feel that way because of my appearance, because I have a darker skin color. "

I would like that all of this is no longer an issue – neither racism, sexism nor classism.

To what extent do you experience racism in your everyday life?

"When I give lectures, it has happened to me that afterwards people have hugged me and touched my hair. Or I give a lecture for an hour and a half and all a woman says afterwards is, 'That's really great that you speak german, really great. '"

What would you wish for, what will change?

"I am a very idealistic person. I would wish that none of this is an issue anymore – neither racism, sexism nor classism. That it is no longer an issue, that you are treated differently as a woman. That you, no matter how you look What sexual identity you have, whether you are poor or rich, are treated equally, have the same opportunities and living conditions – that is what I wish so that we humans invest more energy in environmental protection and ensure a future worth living for all beings on our planet can."

Thank you for the exciting interview!