Global Us: What connects us all

The next high is just a mouse click away. Whether it's synthetic cannabinoids or new-generation amphetamines - the dangerous drugs disguised as "incense" or "bath salts" can be purchased easily for a small price and arrive in the post a few days later. Many users are unaware of the dangers of these harmless sounding products. Serious side effects, long-term damage and even fatalities are becoming increasingly frequent.

A traveling theater group in Ghana is seeking to discourage would-be refugees from attempting the dangerous journey to Europe. The initiator was himself a refugee. Now he's working to convince others to stay. The initiator was himself a refugee and was rescued off the coast of Italy, only to be deported back to Ghana. Now he wants to convince others to stay and is also working with local projects to create a better life for people in rural villages.

Microloans are helping small-scale farmers in Colombia to adapt to climate change. The loans are also designed to protect the region's biodiversity.

An increasing number of small-scale farmers in southeast Colombia are finding their fields are drying out. Microloans can't replace the rain in the valleys of the Andes, but they can help the farmers to adapt to the changing climate. Two thousand loans have already been awarded, while some €20 million has been earmarked for the initiative altogether. The project is also designed to protect the region's biodiversity...

A traveling theater group in Ghana is seeking to discourage would-be refugees from attempting the dangerous journey across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean to Europe. The initiator was himself a refugee and was rescued off the coast of Italy, only to be deported back to Ghana. Now he wants to convince others to stay and is also working with local projects to create a better life for people in rural villages.

The demand for raw materials has turned many ordinary towns into industrial centers. The town of Kathu in South Africa is one example. But iron ore prices have dropped drastically in recent years. Now residents of Kathu fear for their jobs. In December, they reached their lowest level since the financial crisis. While the residents of Kathu once benefited from huge profits, today they are fearing for their jobs.

The cloud forests of Costa Rica are home to some 400 rare bird species. Their natural habitat is threatened by climate change. The solution: Biological Corridors.

It's something Malaysia's industry has rarely experienced. Bauxite - the red aluminium ore - earned the country billions. Within one year Malaysia was exporting ten times as much bauxite as it had previously. But there was a dark side to the industry, both for the environment and the local population. As companies rushed to mine whatever bauxite they could find in the state of Pahang, rivers became polluted and many people lost their livelihoods...

The cloud forests of Costa Rica are home to some 400 rare bird species. Their natural habitat is threatened by climate change. The fabled quetzal, for example, which was revered by the Aztecs as a goddess, has been forced to nest in higher and cooler regions as the lower areas of the forest no longer offer sufficient food. The solution in Costa Rica: "Biological Corridors".

It's something Malaysia's industry has rarely experienced. Bauxite - the red aluminium ore - earned the country billions. Within one year Malaysia was exporting ten times as much bauxite as it had previously. But there was a dark side to the industry, both for the environment and the local population. As companies rushed to mine whatever bauxite they could find in the state of Pahang, rivers became polluted and many people lost their livelihoods...