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.

In order to safeguard the unique biodiversity of the Mergui Archipelago in southern Myanmar, scientists are examining the health of the coral reefs with a view to finding solutions that will ensure sustainable development in the region.

Synthetic cannabinoids or new-generation amphetamines, disguised as "incense" or "bath salts", can be purchased easily online. The market for these highly dangerous drugs has exploded in recent years.

At the end of 2013, Uruguay became the first country to fully legalize the production and sale of cannabis. Uruguay's government is convinced the liberal drug policy is the most effective way of stamping out the illegal trade in cannabis.

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.

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 few thousand euros is often sufficient for the farmers; they invest in small water treatment plants to allow them to reuse water, or in biogas plants that produce electricity and provide heating, resulting in a reduction in deforestation.

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.

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. In January the government imposed a temporary ban on the mining. We visit the area and talk to those affected - and ask what the future holds for Pahang.