Global Us: What connects us all

Tracking signs of animals in the forest: a mere 20 bears and a single wolf pack can still be found in Vashlovani National Park. Poachers and herdsmen have killed most of them in the past number of years. The conservation organization NACRES is fighting for these animals' survival.The wolves regularly kill sheep, endangering local residents' livelihoods. For conservationists, it's a balancing act. They want to protect the wild animals, but have to take sheep farmers' seriously. The simplest methods have proved effective in keeping wolves and bears at bay: floodlights, electric fences and better sheep dogs. Together with the Succow Foundation, NACRES now plans to create corridors for sheep farmers. On the one hand, they're to be far from the routes wolves and bears take. On the other, they're meant to prevent overuse of sensitive pasturelands.

Cologne is home to what is said to be Germany's first entirely vegan burger joint. What’s more, the two owners source the produce locally and make sure it is all organic. Even committed meat eaters are known to have enjoyed a veggie-based burger there.

The Seychelles is an island paradise in the Indian Ocean that is seeking ways to protect its biodiversity. A high proportion of the flora and fauna are unique to the archipelago.Maintaining the natural world costs money, and the Biodiversity Financing Initiative of the UN Development Program is involved in finding ways to ensure that the necessary funds are available.

The Sheka Forest is a green lung in south-west Ethiopia and a hot-spot for biodiversity. It's home to more than 50 rare plant species and numerous endemic birds. But illegal logging, coffee plantations and settlements are threatening one of Ethiopia's last large contiguous forest areas.

Locals are now fighting for its preservation. "Man can't live without forest," says Dakito Atestata from the Aseso community. "Everyone is responsible for its protection."

Ca Mau is Vietman's answer to Venice, with countless arms of rivers running throughout the region. It's a town of fishermen, traders and artists. Mig Wan's stand is in the middle of the market. Her snack is called Tik Hot To, a dish of caramelized pork with hard-boiled duck eggs.

15-year-old Christina from Berlin shares her view of the world. She feels that one of the biggest problems today is that not all people can avail themselves to the same opportunities. In the future, she hopes to travel to have many valuable and memorable experiences.

Good wages, flexible hours and a great way to juggle work and family life. These are the promises made by companies to their independent courier drivers. But in practice these promises are rarely met.

Most couriers find it hard to make ends meet with the delivery orders they're given. But companies like this have become a normality in today's market.

Zero-hours contracts have been changing Britain's low wage sector for some time. But are they just widening the gap between rich and poor? Employees work on an on-call basis, getting paid only when they work. No work, no money.

These are contracts that don't guarantee a minimum number of hours. This undermines the entire minimum wage system, say critics. But contracts like these have helped keep the unemployment rate in check.