Global Us: What connects us all

Rwanda is often called the "land of a thousand hills". But its topography also makes it vulnerable. Heavy rain often leads to soil erosion, which can cause entire villages to be flooded. An initiative helps protect farmers against these risks.

The Maldives are on a construction drive, aimed at boosting tourism. New airports, artificial islands and luxury resorts are springing up everywhere, exacting a huge toll on the environment and the lives of the local people.

Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender in Uganda means living in fear. The church says homosexuality is immoral. Now the government is said to be considering plans to introduce the death penalty for gay sex.

Most asylum applicants in Germany are under 30. They're young, and hopeful they’ll be able to rebuild their lives in a new country. A Syrian photographer explains how his camera helped him integrate.

In 2018, around 10,000 people applied for asylum in Japan. Only 42 were approved – fewer than in any other industrialized country. The rejected applicants are often held in camps with poor living conditions. We went to meet some of them.

Colombia has 7.7 million internal refugees – more than any other country. They fled the conflict between paramilitary groups and can't return to their homes. There are also 1.5 million Venezuelans seeking refuge in Colombia.

The Sahel is hot, dry and barren. Trees have been cut down to make charcoal and building materials. Tony Rinaudo, winner of the 2018 Right Livelihood Award, shows farmers his method of growing new trees from stumps.

Mali was gripped by terrorist conflicts for decades. More than 100,000 people fled to neighboring countries. The 2015 peace treaty led many of them to return. But religious extremists still govern many aspects of everyday life – even in schools.

An urban farming project is securing food sources for thousands of poor people in Quito – by providing access to gardens. Participants currently grow over 900 tons of produce for consumption and sale. The gardens are also good for the climate.

The European appetite for chicken begins and ends with the bird’s breast. Other parts are chopped up, frozen and shipped abroad – often to Africa. Poultry imports subsidized by the EU are ruining the market for African farmers.