Decades of oil drilling in Ecuador has devastated huge swaths of the Amazon rainforest and its wildlife, threatening to destroy the ancestral homes of native tribes and their culture. But some of these indigenous people are finding a way to balance development and conservation. 

In the town of Iqaluit in the far north of Canada, domestic violence is a serious problem. But Arctic women are supporting each other at Qimaavik, a safe haven for abused women and children. Through peer support and counseling, they are rebuilding their self-esteem and healing wounded spirits.

Among indigenous people in remote parts of Ecuador, expectant mothers are often reluctant to give birth away from home, leading to possible complications during labor. But local hospitals are beginning to realize that a little cultural sensitivity can go a long way toward changing their minds.