Global 3000: The Globalization Program: Recent Episodes
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Global 3000 – DW’s globalization magazine looks at the issues that are moving us today, and shows how people are living with the opportunities and risks of globalization.
Argentina has developed drought-resistant genetically-modified wheat. GM wheat products are on sale with no special labelling. Producers and large-scale farmers praise the new wheat but many others worry about the effect on their health.
The Apinajé people boast the Amazon's first volunteer fire brigade made up exclusively of women. With the support of the Brazilian environmental authorities, they're fighting to save the rainforest.
Millions of Venezuelans have left their homeland in recent years, mostly due to economic hardship. But conditions in Venezuela have improved slightly, and some are now returning.
Adam and Sefedine are friends from Sudan. They wanted to flee to Europe, but after a long odyssey, they opted to stay in Niger. There they have started a successful taxi business and settled into their new home.
Mariem lives in Bou-Mhel, a suburb of the Tunisian capital, Tunis. In her free time, she likes to read, write stories and draw.
Trans people in Pakistan often face rejection from their families and extreme poverty. Some of them must resort to begging to survive and rely on trans protection centers for refuge and community.
Women across Africa still have few opportunities for advancement – especially in technical occupations. Naadiya Moosajee wants to change that. For many years her organization has been helping young women to prepare for a new career.
An exodus of young people is leaving villages in Spain with an aging population. At the same time, a growing number of refugees are arriving in the country – and are being assigned to rural communities as part of a government scheme.
India has over 100 million people aged 60+ – and the disappearance of traditional family structures is increasing demand for retirement homes. The majority of the elderly, however, cannot afford the costs involved.
Why is the global population continually rising, while the birth rate is dropping in some regions? While industrialized nations have an aging population, Africa is a continent of the young. What does all of this mean for our future?
The black scabbard fish is a delicacy on the Portuguese island of Madeira. The deep sea fish is popular because its white meat is tender and fat free. It's often served with banana and passionfruit sauce.
On today's Global Teen, we get to know Emiliano Calleri Jasso Berri from Mexico. He loves playing basketball and wants to work in the film industry when he grows up.
California has heavy rainfall from time to time, but years of drought have exacerbated the constant threat of water shortages. Water utilities in Los Angeles are quickly recycling stinky sludge into clean drinking water.
Gallo Pinto is Costa Rica’s national dish, where locals usually eat it for breakfast. Made with rice, beans, onions, und a traditional spicy sauce, the savory dish is considered the taste of Costa Rica.
As Tunisia faces worsening drought, modern seeds are struggling to cope – so farmers are now reverting to traditional seeds. They're getting assistance from a gene depository set up in 2008 to collect old seed varieties.
The sea is omnipresent in the Maldives, so it's no surprise that some delicious fish curries are served there. Our reporters were allowed to look over a chef's shoulder.
It's a radical experiment: A city, organized like a private business, with its own laws, operated autonomously. International investors are building the charter city of Próspera in Honduras. But is it a threat to democracy?
Townships in Cape Town have been repeatedly hit by major fires – caused by both negligence and soaring summer temperatures. The NGO iKhayalami makes fire-resistant shacks to make people's lives safer.
Cachapas are giant pancakes made from fresh corn that are topped with soft cheese and various meats. They're one of Venezuela's most popular dishes. They're sold everywhere there, from luxury restaurants to modest food trucks.
The beach in the Tortuguero National Park is one of the most important beaches for sea turtle conservation. The turtles gather there to lay eggs, but their numbers are dwindling. Now, Tortuguero's residents are fighting to protect them.
In the 1960s, the Chilean government "sacrificed" five regions to industrial exploitation. The community of Puchuncaví, located in one of these so-called "sacrifice zones", is fighting to clean up their polluted region.
Casma is a farmer and lives with his wife and two children in a house on the Indonesian island of Java. He belongs to the Baduy people and shows you his traditional living room.
The consequences of the war in Ukraine are even being felt in Tunisia. In Kairouan, rising food and energy prices mean Najwa Selmi is faced with a tough decision: to buy food or send her children to school.
War confronts people with tough choices, including Ukrainian farmer Yevhen Nagirnyi. Many people depend on him for their livelihoods. How is he coping?
Patrizia Casale Brunet lives in Courmayeuer in the Italian Alps. She and her husband have been running a 3-star hotel there for 40 years. They have a son and a grandson, and they're passionate about reading.
Jose Fernando Eq Reyes prepares cochinita, a traditional pork dish with a marinade made with orange juice.
The Oosterwold project in the Netherlands is a neighborhood where you can build a home for yourself for your family, sustainably and completely green. The residents decide together what their town should look like.
The German village of Feldheim produces its own green energy. Solar, wind and biogas have replaced fossil fuels for electricity and heating. And rising energy prices aren't a problem. How did they do it?
This week's global teen is Gerald Kwame Adomako Amankwah from Ghana. He lives in Accra, has two sisters, likes playing soccer and is a big fan of gospel music.
In Ghana, there’s hardly a dish that doesn’t include plantains. Deep fried and spicy, they’re a key component in Ghanaian cuisine. And hot off the grill, they’re also a perfect snack for that special craving.
In Ghana, there’s hardly a dish that doesn’t include plantains. Deep fried and spicy, they’re a key component in Ghanaian cuisine. And hot off the grill, they’re also a perfect snack for that special craving.
In Ghana, there’s hardly a dish that doesn’t include plantains. Deep fried and spicy, they’re a key component in Ghanaian cuisine. And hot off the grill, they’re also a perfect snack for that special craving.
Madame Fokou Alvine shows you her home in Cameroon, where she lives with her husband and her children.
Familial Forestry distributes fruit tree seedlings to families and schools, who are instructed to treat the saplings like family members. The project aims to increase tree cover, produce fruit and slow down the expansion of the desert in Rajasthan.
Indigenous communities are the guardians of the Amazon forest. Their lands are legally protected, but since President Jair Bolsonaro came to power, that's of little help anymore. Loggers are taking what they want. Violence is on the rise, the Karipuna people are fighting back.
The monkey puzzle tree is one of the oldest tree species in the world, dating back to the dinosaur age. Climate change and deforestation endanger them, but in areas inhabited by indigenous peoples in Chile, their numbers are increasing.
Shipping accounts for about 3% of global emissions, just behind the aviation industry, and more than all coal-fueled power plants in the US. So why doesn't shipping get more attention? How has it managed to stay under the radar?
Fresh produce is expensive in Ghana, with demand met mainly by imports. The Agrihouse Foundation encourages women to plant their own backyard gardens, which allows them to feed their families and secure an income.
Rhoda Akiny lives with her four children in Mbita on Lake Victoria and works as a successful fish trader.
Bhutan contributes nothing to climate change, but is struggling with its consequences. Glaciers are melting, the monsoon rains come irregularly, drought and floods are destroying crops. But the country is fighting the water crisis with bold ideas.
John Mwangi comes from Kenya. He loves local music, cartoons and jokes. John's greatest wish is to become an engineer or a businessman.
This time our reporters discovered the Koesister, a traditional sweet pastry popular in Cape Town. It's made from spiced dough balls that are deep-fried and rolled in coconut. People here say Aunty Kubra from the area of Bo-Kaap makes the best ones.
On the island of Borneo, many forests have been cleared to make way for oil palm plantations or mining. That's having a disastrous effect on nature. So the 100 Million Trees project aims to bring back the forests.
Clean drinking water is vital - but for many people, accessing it is difficult and expensive. A pastor in an Indonesian village encourages people to make use of a dependable water supply that comes free of charge: rainwater.
Cairo's necropolis is not just a testament to Egypt's rich history, it's also the home of hundreds of poor families. Now large parts of the City of the Dead are to be sacrificed for a new highway.
Lesotho is water-rich. But the southern African kingdom is one of the world's poorest countries. To fill the state coffers, the government exports water to its parched neighbor, South Africa. Not only do Lesotho's villagers suffer, so does its eco-system.
Nemeh Mohsin is 15-years-old, and lives in Tripoli, Lebanon. He does karate, likes school, and wants to be a lawyer one day.
For some, the water hyacinth is an ornamental plant, for others a green plague. The Amazon native grows so fast it can overtake entire bodies of water and devastate whole ecosystems. Now experts have found an insect remedy for the problem.
Animal and plant species are dying out in increasing numbers. Pollution and dwindling habitats are two big reasons why. Can animal parks, rescue stations, catch quotas and protected areas help us better save species from extinction?
The war in Ukraine has brought the threat of nuclear weapons back into the headlines. Meanwhile, in the US many victims have never received compensation for being exposed to nuclear test fallout in the Nevada desert of the 1950s and 1960s.
Siara Anacilia from Mozambique is 15 years old and loves music. She wants to be an engineer and earn enough money to support her parents.
From toilet paper made from bamboo to solar leasing, entrepreneurs in Ghana are brimming with ideas for green businesses. But they often lack capital. Crowdfunding gives them the boost they need.
Desertification is threatening the livelihoods of about a billion people worldwide. It's fueled by human-driven global warming. But its effects can be reversed with regenerative farming and regreening practices.
Thirteen million people live in Brazil's favelas. Violence is commonplace so online retailers refuse to deliver there. With Favela Brasil Xpress, locals take over deliveries, creating jobs in a win-win situation for residents and online business.
Single sachets of coffee, soap or laundry liquid are ubiquitous in South East Asia. Large packs are too expensive for the poor, but the single sachet packs aren't in fact a better deal. Moreover, they're bad for the environment.
Europe's demand for fruit has turned Portugal's Alentejo region into a goldmine for landowners and corporations. Their laborers are mostly Asians hoping for a better life. But they pay a high price.
Once he was homeless, now Jacobus Claassen is a successful acrobat and performance artist with South Africa's Zip Zap circus. Refusing to give up is what got him where he is today, along with hard work and a bit of luck.
Year after year, the Finns are ranked the world's happiest people - with a beautiful country and generous welfare state. But Finland shares a 1000 kilometre border with Russia. Despite concern over Moscow's actions, the Finns are not letting it get to them.
Coping with the pandemic, coupled with news of war and fears about the climate crisis is not easy. What can help us to cope? Can we influence our mental and emotional well-being? What role does our childhood play in how resilient we are?
Around 70% of India’s annual rainfall comes in the four-month monsoon season. Climate change is also having an impact on this natural phenomenon, making weather increasingly unpredictable. A new monsoon forecast system will enable farmers to plan ahead - and hopefully reap superior harvests.
Burning crop residue in sugarcane fields is a common and harmful practice among farmers in Ghana. Climate change and insufficient rainfall add to the problem. Audrey S-Darko is helping farmers improve their harvests and benefit the environment.
Fishing is crucial to the livelihoods of people on Tunisia’s coast. Overfishing is a growing problem, especially due to trawlers. Their nets also pick up sharks, rays and other endangered species. The Med Bycatch Project wants to see sustainable fishing.
There’s a constant stream of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. The main reason is humans burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal or gas - primarily for heat and electricity. Some scientists say climate change can only be curbed by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it underground.
Planted on land that was once a hangout for crack addicts and a dumping ground for trash, a fruit and vegetable garden is flourishing in a Rio de Janeiro favela. Residents tend to the community garden that has brought hope to the entire district.
Fresh fruit and veg is expensive in Ghana, with demand met mainly by imports. Alberta Akosa's NGO Agrihouse Foundation encourages women to plant their own backyard gardens, which allows them to feed their families and also secures them an income.
Semarang is a multicultural port city on the north coast of Java that's been shaped by European, Chinese, Arabic and Javanese cultures. That's reflected in its vibrant cuisine – such as lumpia, a kind of sweet or savory spring roll.
Traffic controls, extensive bike paths and paved sidewalks aren’t exactly common in Brazil. The city of Belo Horizonte is setting a good example with its transport planning. A low speed limit zone and children’s play areas have transformed one area.
Refrigerators and air conditioners account for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A project in Nairobi organized by the German development agency GIZ with local partners trains women to repair old appliances in ways that protect the environment.
Sustained droughts are making farming near impossible in Tanzania. The soil is too dry for planting. The organization Justdiggit wants to alleviate the situation by planting trees in a way that encourages moisture collection. Not only do the trees grow better, the soil can recover in their shade.
Seabird populations are declining worldwide. On the island of Sal in Cape Verde, researchers are hoping to protect red-billed tropicbirds against the growing threat of tourism.
How about using human dung on your vegetable patch? It might not sound appetizing, but it is an effective organic fertilizer. And it’s considered safe too provided the compost is made correctly. The method has been used in Mexico since ancient times.
Russia's war in Ukraine has produced millions of refugees. The UN estimates more than 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine so far. Over 200,000 have arrived in Germany, and they're worried about their friends and loved ones back in Ukraine.
It is a comfort food for the body and soul. There's now a new veggie version, and it is going down well among foreign tourists.
A Bangkok-based entrepreneur gives new life to surplus fabric by turning unused material into new fashion items. Even other producers can use the company's website to source excess fabric and keep it out of the trash.
Even though Costa Rica gets a fair amount of rain, city dwellers often face water shortages. Treatment plants and water lines can't keep pace with urbanization. In addition, deforestation and agriculture often disturb the water balance.
15-year-old Aiché Yatabaré from Ivory Coast loves her little brother and enjoys going to school. Once a week, she attends online classes to better her computer skills.
Some fishing boats on Lake Victoria now use an electric motor rented from Dutch startup Asobo. It provides training, services the motors and charges the batteries with solar power. That helps to protect the ecosystem and cut the fishermen's costs.
Comic book illustrator and author Ita Mehrotra tells stories featuring relatable female characters to reach out to women on the fringes of Indian society. She's a firm believer that art can change lives.
Climate change, land degradation and deforestation have severely damaged Côte d'Ivoire's natural surroundings. Many farmers are worried about their future. But Digitalization is bringing new hope.
When disputes arise over sparse pastures, Habiba Tadicha is a voice for peace. As the former head of a nature conservancy, she pays respect to nature and advocates for women's rights. A portrait of an empowered woman in northern Kenya.
The Tunisian port city of Bizerte has been an important maritime and trading center for millennia. To fortify themselves between meals, residents like to eat lablabi. Hassan Saidani prepares this baguette-based local snack.
The world's appetite for octopus is growing. Biologists in Mexico are trying to farm the sensitive and highly intelligent creatures using aquaculture. The goal is to protect wild populations from overfishing. But is it really ethical to farm them?
Ghana is the second-largest cocoa exporter in the world. Old plantations, dying trees and increased droughts have made life difficult for the country's cocoa planters. A Dutch NGO is helping them to develop sustainable farming methods.
As the global population grows, so does the need for drinking water. It’s in short supply in many heavily populated regions. Desalinating could help, but current methods are expensive. Could the process be made more cost effective?
Decimated by wildfires and deforestation, little remains of Lebanon's dense cedar forests. Because the country lacks funds and staff for nature conservation, a project which employs female refugees is filling the gap.
Thick mangrove forests used to grow on the Indonesian island of Java. Now, there are rows of fish farms. The environmental consequences are fatal. Without the protection mangroves provide, the sea is eroding the coast. But now there are moves to replant.
Thousands of gold miners are trying their luck in Chimanimani National Park: the ground is being dug up and mercury poisons the streams. Now the provincial government aims to legalize the mining to regulate more environmental protection. A good idea?
Dubi Gawusas is from Namibia and has six sisters. When she's older, she wants to become a teacher or a pilot.
Over 90% of South Africa's reusable waste ends up in rubbish dumps. The Regenize startup wants to increase recycling. It employs former informal waste collectors to pick up reusable trash, and rewards participating households with vouchers.
This week's Global Snack comes from Indonesia. The island nation is famed for its range of traditional dishes, with each region having its own cuisine. We try out kerak telor, an egg-based specialty from Jakarta.
Pedro Calderon is a conservationist and loves horse riding. He shows you his home on a ranch in Chihuahua in the north of Mexico.
The Ebo rainforest in Cameroon is part of the second-largest tropical forest in the world. It is home to rare primates including gorillas. But poachers and logging companies threaten the forest and its inhabitants.
The growing appetite for milk and meat is pushing the planet to the edge. But it doesn't need to be that way since there are many plant-based alternatives that aren't bad for the environment and still taste good.
In the mountains of Veracruz, farmers belonging to the Nahua people grow coffee. But competing with corporations is a huge challenge. Their market advantage is a higher quality product from climate-friendly plantations.
Residents of Nairobi’s slums who can’t make their rent face violent eviction. Due to the pandemic, many people have been struggling to pay rent for months. Landlord Peter Chege also doesn’t shy away from hiring local gangs to carry out evictions.
Drought in Kenya threatens many people's lives: Their animals are dying, their livelihoods destroyed. A theater group is raising awareness: What can people do?
A unique paradise in southern Africa is threatened by drilling in a protected area on the Okavango River. Wastewater threatens the groundwater and the Okavango itself. Locals and conservationists fear catastrophic consequences for the environment.
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. Their meat is a prized delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional medicine. Traffickers are now targeting Africa – where the animals are already an endangered species.
From kitchen appliances, to clothes, and even packaging: In a circular economy, products are manufactured as sustainably as possible. The aim is to conserve resources and reduce environmental damage.
Disposable plastic is terrible for the environment. Alternatives are needed – and they do exist. Plastic that’s more sustainable is being developed in Germany. The result is biodegradable packaging that decomposes without polluting nature.
The sea is omnipresent in the Maldives, so it's no surprise that some delicious fish curries are served there. Our reporters were allowed to look over a chef’s shoulder.
The Olivier salad was invented by the Belgian chef Lucien Olivier in the time of the tsars. Today, it's a popular festive delicacy in Russia.
Central America's smallest country, El Salvador, is being increasingly battered by the effects of climate change - by drought, floods, and violent storms. The small organization CESTA has long been fighting for more environmental protection in its own country.
Brown hyenas are valuable, social animals. But they are being hunted relentlessly. Now, there are more and more protected zones and wildlife reserves where they can live in safety.
In Nepal, Transparency International has developed programs to better protect funds earmarked for climate protection and give a voice to the people most affected by climate change. To do this, the NGO works closely with local people and governments.
South Africa's small-scale fishermen are fighting for survival. Big companies dominate the industry and fish stocks are in decline. Now the Abalobi app connects fishers directly with the consumers, also creating a market for local fish species.
Fishing is crucial to the livelihoods of people on Tunisia’s coast. Overfishing is a growing problem, especially due to trawlers. Their nets also pick up sharks, rays and other endangered species. The Med Bycatch Project wants to see sustainable fishing.
Burning crop residue in sugarcane fields is a common and harmful practice among farmers in Ghana. Climate change and insufficient rainfall add to the problem. Audrey S-Darko is helping farmers improve their harvests and benefit the environment.
There’s a constant stream of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. The main reason is humans burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal or gas – primarily for heat and electricity. Some scientists say climate change can only be curbed by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it underground.
Around 70% of India's annual rainfall comes in the four-month monsoon season. Climate change is also having an impact on this natural phenomenon, making weather increasingly unpredictable. A new monsoon forecast system will enable farmers to plan ahead — and hopefully reap superior harvests.
Conventional air conditioning units are energy guzzlers and contribute to global warming. Yet the hotter it gets, the more we use them. It's a vicious circle. Now Singapore is developing innovative green solutions to keep people cool.
Chile has lots of solar energy and now has a way of storing it. An innovative new facility in the Atacama Desert can store the power for up to 17 hours a day. Now there are also plans to convert coal-fired plants into thermal storage facilities.
The seagrass meadows around the Maldives are under threat. But the government now plans to place this valuable ecosystem under protection. As well as serving as nurseries for sea life, they act as carbon sinks and protect the atolls from erosion.
This week's Global Snack comes from southern Mexico. A local specialty known as garnachas is comprised of small corn tortillas with delicious toppings - a nutritious and tasty snack, spiced up with a generous portion of chili.
In 2019, Cyclone Idai devastated Mozambique's port city of Beira. Many died and entire neighborhoods were flooded. The city is now setting up large green areas designed to absorb future floodwaters. But entire fishing communities need to relocate.
Most farmers in Ecuador use just a few kinds of commercially produced seeds from abroad. Traditional and indigenous varieties are out of favor. But 'Seed Guardians' are seeking to preserve them and encourage farmers to use them.
Access to clean water may be a right, but it's often hard to come by. Contaminated water kills. Henry Othieno and Saudah Birungi have developed eco-friendly filters for use in schools and homes. They turn dirty lake water into drinking water.
It's risky to rely on a few varieties of a few crops. If climate change or disease were to wipe any out, we would be in a big mess. Seed banks preserve as many strains of crop plants as they can. Some old strains are more resilient than current ones.
The Gwich'in people have a traditional way of life. But the native Alaskans and their habitat are under threat. Demand for oil and gas is stronger than concerns about climate change.
In the early 1970s crocodiles were considered almost extinct in northern Australia. Then the country banned hunting them and launched a conservation program that has been proving very successful. Both people and nature benefit.
Many women in Indonesia feel like second-class citizens. Sexual harassment in public is sadly commonplace, and criticizing it remains largely a taboo issue. But some women are taking a stand.
Uruguay generates over 90% of its power from renewables. The country now wants to pass on its know-how, and is training special engineers for the task. But despite all its success, Uruguay still has to convince some of its own people.
Nala Chengwe-Pupp is 15 years old, lives in South Africa and loves anything to do with art. She wants to study psychology like her sister and hopes that one day the world will be free of racism, homophobia and COVID-19.
In 2019 Moscow unveiled a waste management plan, but implementation is proving difficult. Few Russians recycle their trash – due to a lack of awareness and facilities.
When disputes arise over sparse pastures, Habiba Tadicha is a voice for peace. As the former head of a nature conservancy, she pays respect to nature and advocates for women's rights. A portrait of an empowered woman in northern Kenya.
Online dating is a relatively new phenomenon in India. Mumbai-based artist Indu Harikumar, 39, tried her luck.