Grow. Green. India

Be honest - do you know what the carbon footprint of a condom is? Indian journalist Sarah Abraham does. During her journalism fellowship at DW, the 26-year-old researched (among other things) sustainable production methods for this truly global product. During her research, Sarah uncovered what was for her a surprising connection between Germany and India. A German manufacturer actually does produces carbon-neutral condoms - and they use environmentally-friendly, fair-trade latex supplied by a plantation in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Charu Kartikeya, a political television journalist in India, had a similar experience; he found interesting historical parallels between India's and Germany's anti-nuclear movements. Thousands of people have been protesting against the construction of India's largest nuclear power project at Kudankulam in the very south of the country - and the protests have launched nation-wide debates about nuclear power.

Green Journalism

While researching Germany's anti-nuclear movement, Charu found similarities in Germany, where anti-nuclear had protesters successfully stopped the construction of a nuclear power plant in the town of Wyhl in the 1970s. Germany's grassroots anti-nuclear movement led to the founding of the German Green Party, which is now represented in government. It was a exciting piece of political history for the young Indian, who also met with the Green Party's nuclear policy spokesperson, Sylvia Kotting-Uhl for an extensive interview.

Bringing six journalists together from various regions of India meant the "Grow.Green.India" project benefitted from six diverse perspectives. From looking at whether organic farming has a future in India where large parts of society still live under the poverty line to analysing the collapse of Germany's solar industry, which once a world-leader, the six DW Akademie fellows explored a wide range of green issues.

In interviews with DW Akademie, the six visiting journalists talk about how participation in the seven-week project "Grow.Green.India" not only changed their image of Germany, but also provided them with new inspiration and ideas: for their country, for their journalistic work and - not least - for their own contributions to a sustainable future for the planet.

Six Indian journalists and their green perspectives:

Ruchika Chitravanshi, 28, is a senior correspondent for the "Business Standard" newspaper in New Delhi. Working together with visiting DW-fellow Indrees Lone, Ruchika produced an article looking at the possibilities and perspectives of green tourism as well as a television report analyzing organic farming in Germany. Ruchika also contributed photos for an audio slideshow of the crisis-ridden town of Bitterfeld-Wolfen, the once thriving home of Germany's solar industry.

Ashish K Mishra, 28, is the principal correspondent for "Forbes India" magazine. In Mumbai, Ashish specializes in reporting on the automobile and alternative energy sectors. During his time in Germany, he continued to explore these two passions, testing an electric-car-sharing project called Multicity in Berlin as well as analyzing the crisis-hit solar industry in Germany and internationally. Ashish also captured his impressions of the decline of Bitterfeld-Wolfen's Solar Valley in a evocative audio slideshow.

Anjilee Istwal, 33, is a senior special correspondent for the New Delhi television station, NDTV. While in Germany, she visited a so-called Repair Cafe, where people learn to repair broken appliances themselves instead of throwing them away. Anjilee also spent time with a group of grade school children learning to be climate ambassadors.

Idrees Lone, 31, is a freelance print and television journalist based in the city of Srinagar in the Indian state of Kashmir. Although rocked by civil unrest, Kashmir is home to virtually untouched wilderness. During his stay in Germany, Indrees worked together with DW-fellow Ruchika Chitravanshi. The two examined whether the German organic farming model would work in India and also took a look at what possibilities existed for the sustainable development of India's tourism sector.

Sarah Abraham, 26, is a senior associate editor for the Hyderabad-based lifestyle magazine "You & I". During her seven-week DW fellowship, Sarah hooked up with design trendsetters who demonstrated that fashion and accessories can be just as chic as they can be fair and ecological. Sarah also did a background report comparing the incentives and demand for energy-efficient homes in both Germany and in India.

Charu Kartikeya, 27, works both behind and in front of the camera as a political journalist for India's parliamentary channel, Lok Sabha TV, in New Delhi. While in Germany, Charu wrote about the history of the country's anti-nuclear movement and as well as the role of the Green Partyin connection with Germany's energy transition. In Berlin, Charu conducted an extensive interviewwith the Green Party's nuclear policy spokesperson, Sylvia Kotting-Uhl.