TVE International.

Are the days of the traditional cash economy numbered? This program examines ground-breaking monetary systems designed to benefit disadvantaged segments of the population and build strength in the small business sector-not only in the United States, but also in Mexico, India, Poland, and Britain. Traveling to each country, the program showcases remarkable financial innovations-including the "Ithaca hour," a currency rapidly becoming standard in the...

Often thought of as the Amazon of Southeast Asia, the mighty Mekong River flows through six nations and is central to the livelihoods of some 60 million people. In Laos, plans have been drawn up for 11 hydroelectric dams along the river, with the government agreeing to sell 95 percent of the electricity to neighboring Thailand. The envisioned construction projects and energy-centered commerce would create an unprecedented level of economic activity...

During the annual rainy season in Saint-Louis, one of Senegal's largest cities, thousands of people face upheaval from flood devastation linked to rising sea levels. There are no funds to build a cement sea wall, so the city dumps garbage along its waterfront in an attempt to shield itself. As mayor, Cheikh Bamba Dieye took on the responsibility of protecting his constituents from flooding, but with a severe lack of financial and infrastructural resources,...

Flush toilets are one way to deal with human waste-but they themselves are wasteful, as clean water and nutrient-rich biological matter are allowed to simply go down the drain. This earthy but informative program addresses the benefits of the dry toilet and waterless urinal, ecosanitation devices that collect human waste for use as compost and fertilizer. Ideal for regions where conventional sewage systems are unavailable, impractical, or outright...

Consider the following irony: that we live twice as long as our ancient ancestors did, even though our bodies contain all manner of synthetic and sometimes toxic substances-an unpleasant requirement of life in our modern age. This program explores the health impact, wide variety, and alarming ubiquity of manufactured chemicals. Viewers will see how communities around the world-including Inuit seal hunters, Asian and African farmers, and residents...

After direct habitat destruction, nonnative species introduced by humans to new areas pose the largest threat to global biodiversity. This program looks at how scientists and conservationists are coping with a number of these critical situations, such as on Seychelles, where rats have caused 200 years of devastation; on Scotland's Outer Hebrides, where hedgehogs were released to control garden slugs; and in New York City, where Asian longhorn beetles...

Patterns of urbanization and poverty are playing an increasingly heavy role in the debate over globalization and market regulation. In a hard-hitting analysis of the issues, this program assembles a wide-ranging set of opinions from scholars and experts-as well as from ordinary individuals around the world who face urban hardships and obstacles to their livelihoods every day. Commentators include economists Jeffrey Sachs and 2008 Nobel Laureate Paul...

Napster and Goosehead.com exemplify how technology and the Internet have given rise to a wave of businesses with extremely young leaders. This program looks at the emergence of a new breed of entrepreneurs and their impact on the American work environment. It addresses such questions as whether these young people are prepared for the responsibilities of running a company and if their ideals about commerce and social commitment conflict with an older...

The Donana marshland. The oyster beds below Rio. The Caspian's sturgeon fishing grounds. The coral reefs of the South Pacific. This program travels to Spain, Brazil, Iran, and Fiji to observe efforts to mitigate severe ecological damage to these sensitive regions-places primarily spoiled by water pollution, with causes as varied as upland agricultural runoff and the rupture of a mine tailings dam. Solutions such as preservation legislation, riverbank...