:00:00. > :00:18.Lundy Island off the coast of South West England -
:00:19. > :00:25.Islands, no matter what the country or where they are, fascinate
:00:26. > :00:35.We marvel at their independence and detachment from the wider world.
:00:36. > :00:38.Life often evolves rather differently and those who live
:00:39. > :00:57.there are fiercely protective of their identity.
:00:58. > :01:00.The BBC's language service reporters have travelled the globe,
:01:01. > :01:04.from Indonesia's archipelago to the Caribbean, to discover some
:01:05. > :01:35.of the world's most curious and captivating islands.
:01:36. > :01:39.With its rich, tropical landscape, Buru is a far-flung island hidden
:01:40. > :01:59.within Indonesia's immense archipelago.
:02:00. > :02:02.The islanders have traditionally survived off the land,
:02:03. > :02:06.on eucalyptus farms and paddy fields.
:02:07. > :02:11.According to local legend, a woman dreamt there was something
:02:12. > :02:18.She immediately began searching this vast landscape and amazingly found
:02:19. > :02:24.Word quickly spread and thousands followed her to Mount Botak,
:02:25. > :02:31.lured by this life-changing discovery.
:02:32. > :02:36.Buru was laden with the most precious resource in
:02:37. > :02:45.The hillsides were pulled apart and the digging began.
:02:46. > :02:47.There are workers digging down this mineshaft right now,
:02:48. > :02:53.They will be in there for 12 hours in the dark.
:02:54. > :02:57.There are environmental and safety concerns.
:02:58. > :03:03.But the desire for riches is simply too great.
:03:04. > :03:09.Mahani was once a eucalyptus farmer, working for just $6 a day.
:03:10. > :03:12.As a gold digger, she earns five times that.
:03:13. > :03:15.TRANSLATION: The gold is a gift from God for the people
:03:16. > :03:29.It is dangerous, but people fight for a better life.
:03:30. > :03:37.At schools across Buru, it's a lively start to the day.
:03:38. > :03:40.The island's new-found wealth has meant more children can buy
:03:41. > :03:46.More of these pupils can afford high school too.
:03:47. > :03:53.They say they would like to be doctors, teachers and policemen.
:03:54. > :03:57.For some families, daily life has not changed at all.
:03:58. > :04:00.They are just telling me it takes an hour to get home.
:04:01. > :04:03.They need to cross a river, climb a hill, and then take a boat,
:04:04. > :04:15.This rickety commune is run by their guardian,
:04:16. > :04:22.She came here from another island and belongs to the Bajo tribe.
:04:23. > :04:26.They are well known for living in houses on stilts.
:04:27. > :04:29.Mama Ronja has been here for 30 years.
:04:30. > :04:32.TRANSLATION: I would love to go to Jakarta to see the lights
:04:33. > :04:36.They say there are trains there and I've never seen a train,
:04:37. > :04:41.I want a different life for the kids.
:04:42. > :04:44.They should be whatever they want to be, finish university,
:04:45. > :04:59.160,000 Indonesians live here and it feels like almost everyone hopes
:05:00. > :05:03.to make their fortune in these hills of gold,
:05:04. > :05:33.One woman's dream has fundamentally changed Buru and its islanders.
:05:34. > :05:39.Europeans once believed that this was the end of the world.
:05:40. > :05:44.El Hierro is the smallest, remotest part of the Canary Islands,
:05:45. > :05:56.This iconic wild juniper tree has been battered for years,
:05:57. > :06:08.But for the islanders, the wind has become a valuable resource.
:06:09. > :06:13.TRANSLATION: The island El Hierro, the remotest, the most neglected
:06:14. > :06:15.of the Canary Islands, has been fighting for more than 30
:06:16. > :06:20.years to become energy self-sufficient.
:06:21. > :06:23.We have a dream of converting the wind into electricity to improve
:06:24. > :06:30.Wind energy is not new but the genius of this island's system
:06:31. > :06:36.is that they have combined wind and water.
:06:37. > :06:41.TRANSLATION: When we have enough wind in the wind farm,
:06:42. > :06:45.we produce electricity and distribute it through the grid.
:06:46. > :06:49.We use what is left to pump water from a lower reservoir
:06:50. > :06:54.When it stops blowing, we let that water fall through a set
:06:55. > :06:56.of hydraulic turbines and we generate electricity again
:06:57. > :07:03.El Hierro will soon be powered completely through this setup making
:07:04. > :07:13.Whilst the wind is powering turbines down in the valley,
:07:14. > :07:16.up above the clouds, it is propelling thrill seekers
:07:17. > :07:40.TRANSLATION: It is the feeling of freedom, to be able to take off
:07:41. > :07:45.from these surroundings, with the sea of clouds at your feet,
:07:46. > :07:48.go through them and pass by the 1,500 metre high cliffs,
:07:49. > :07:57.and all of this, all year round, in a blaze of incomparable beauty.
:07:58. > :08:15.Despite the abundance of wind on the island,
:08:16. > :08:20.freshwater is more difficult to come by.
:08:21. > :08:24.There are no rivers or natural lakes on El Hierro.
:08:25. > :08:27.So the islanders were forced to look elsewhere
:08:28. > :08:35.More than half of this island's water comes from wells like this -
:08:36. > :08:38.rainwater seeping through the volcanic rock.
:08:39. > :08:41.The rest is from desalination plants.
:08:42. > :08:44.Of course, this water is more natural and people say
:08:45. > :08:51.The islanders often queue to fill their bottles straight
:08:52. > :09:00.Wherever you are, the terrain grabs your attention.
:09:01. > :09:05.Look up and the view can be just as absorbing.
:09:06. > :09:08.The unique system for powering an island may be too costly
:09:09. > :09:15.But El Hierro would become an example to the world -
:09:16. > :09:18.a self-sufficient island on the road to a cleaner,
:09:19. > :09:27.Now from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean,
:09:28. > :09:32.Zuhura Yunus, from BBC Swahili, takes you on a trip to the African
:09:33. > :09:37.Daily life is a struggle for the islanders.
:09:38. > :09:40.The choice is stark - stick with it or attempt
:09:41. > :09:55.a treacherous voyage to a more prosperous neighbour.
:09:56. > :09:58.Off the coast of Mozambique is an island where traditions
:09:59. > :10:09.are upheld and fragrant flowers grown.
:10:10. > :10:24.Life on Anjouan is hard, but the drive to prosper is evident.
:10:25. > :10:27.If you are scared of heights, you might struggle here.
:10:28. > :10:31.It is a volcanic island where mountains tower above you.
:10:32. > :10:46.And hidden in these spectacular hills, a precious and prized
:10:47. > :10:58.A key ingredient in the world's most luxurious perfumes,
:10:59. > :11:02.Anjouan is the world's top producer and these women pick up to 40
:11:03. > :11:17.TRANSLATION: We planted ylang ylang and other crops but it is ylang
:11:18. > :11:21.ylang that still generates an income today.
:11:22. > :11:23.I worked in the fields picking flowers and eventually made enough
:11:24. > :11:30.Working in ylang ylang is very difficult, in every way.
:11:31. > :11:37.Trees chopped down to fuel the 350 distilleries.
:11:38. > :11:50.The challenges of life on Anjouan encourage young people to strive
:11:51. > :11:57.His big brother left Anjouan three years ago.
:11:58. > :12:02.They haven't seen each other since and they only speak
:12:03. > :12:07.It seems like virtually every family here has a story of a loved one
:12:08. > :12:15.who has moved to a neighbouring island.
:12:16. > :12:20.His brother lives 40 miles away on the more prosperous
:12:21. > :12:26.As a French colony, it provides more jobs,
:12:27. > :12:29.as well as free health care and education -
:12:30. > :12:36.opportunities that Anjouan cannot offer.
:12:37. > :12:39.Ousmani is here illegally, but he is willing to
:12:40. > :12:47.TRANSLATION: Here you can make things up and everything
:12:48. > :12:52.I have decided to do DIY so that I can make some money.
:12:53. > :12:55.Many prefer to live in Mayotte because of the strength of the euro.
:12:56. > :12:59.If I can't start a business here, I will do everything I can to start
:13:00. > :13:12.a business in Anjouan and live there with my friends.
:13:13. > :13:28.Back in Anjouan, the population is young and growing rapidly.
:13:29. > :13:31.This new generation will have to decide whether to leave or keep
:13:32. > :14:02.Blanketed in jungle, fringed by beaches, Bugala Island
:14:03. > :14:08.is the biggest in Uganda's Ssese archipelago in Lake Victoria.
:14:09. > :14:17.For Ugandans, Ssese used to be a shorthand for remoteness.
:14:18. > :14:20.Today Bugala's abandoned forests and thriving waters are drawing
:14:21. > :14:32.You would be forgiven for thinking we are in the middle of an ocean
:14:33. > :14:35.and it is the sheer size of this lake that makes
:14:36. > :14:45.But it is also what has sustained the people of Bugala.
:14:46. > :14:48.In the forest, there is life on every branch and an income
:14:49. > :15:05.Jude Kagame became a boat builder to put himself through school.
:15:06. > :15:08.TRANSLATION: The boats we build are used for transporting people,
:15:09. > :15:14.Some of the wood we get from here, on the island, and some
:15:15. > :15:20.The trees we use are getting more and more scarce which is why we look
:15:21. > :15:30.Much of the forest has been cut down for palm trees.
:15:31. > :15:33.Palm oil is in demand around the world.
:15:34. > :15:37.Growing it can bring wealth, but it comes at a cost.
:15:38. > :15:44.Precise rows of palm encroach on what was once wild jungle.
:15:45. > :15:52.Islanders people's livelihoods are visibly changing.
:15:53. > :15:55.He tells me, five years ago, there were no more than four cars
:15:56. > :16:04.Now he will repair more than ten cars a week.
:16:05. > :16:07.And you would need one to traverse the new roads which carve
:16:08. > :16:20.But look around and it is a world of water.
:16:21. > :16:24.Every morning, fishing boats arrive at the Nakatiba landing site,
:16:25. > :16:28.owned and run by the formidable Mama Sylvia.
:16:29. > :16:31.As a young woman, she would fish in a small boat without an engine.
:16:32. > :16:41.She came to Bugala in the '80s and things were different then.
:16:42. > :16:45.TRANSLATION: The reason I was attracted to this place
:16:46. > :16:49.was because where we were, the stocks had completely vanished
:16:50. > :16:53.and this place was teeming with fish.
:16:54. > :16:57.When we came here, there was no electricity, but we have started
:16:58. > :17:02.getting piped water and the roads have been constructed.
:17:03. > :17:05.In the coming years, Bugala is going to be so much better
:17:06. > :17:10.than it is now because everything is being put in place.
:17:11. > :17:13.This community is an example of what it means to persevere
:17:14. > :17:26.Once considered distant and mysterious, Bugala is a place
:17:27. > :17:30.that a growing number of people are now calling home.
:17:31. > :17:33.The island is bursting with potential, but its resources
:17:34. > :17:44.For now though, Bugala continues to hold promise and to provide.
:17:45. > :17:47.In a moment, we will take you spear fishing with Rastafarians
:17:48. > :17:51.But first, Andriy Kravets, from the BBC's Ukrainian service,
:17:52. > :18:05.and covers a story of mysticism and legend.
:18:06. > :18:09.A tiny island in the middle of the mighty Dnieper River
:18:10. > :18:12.with the big role in Ukrainian history.
:18:13. > :18:15.For centuries, Khortytsia has provided spiritual sanctuary
:18:16. > :18:20.and helped define Ukrainian identity.
:18:21. > :18:24.After all, this is the birthplace of the national icon,
:18:25. > :18:33.In Ukraine, when you want a little boy to stop crying,
:18:34. > :18:44.It is an old expression and it is all about being a warrior.
:18:45. > :18:48.In the 15th century, men came here in search of freedom,
:18:49. > :18:52.democratic self-rule and independence.
:18:53. > :18:58.They trained, they fought, they defended their faith and became
:18:59. > :19:03.Here being a Ukrainian Cossack is something to be proud
:19:04. > :19:23.TRANSLATION: Zaporozhian Cossacks were very brave, decisive
:19:24. > :19:30.Our main task is not just to act but to live like Cossacks.
:19:31. > :19:33.We are trying to find the essence of what Cossacks had and to transfer
:19:34. > :19:40.them into our modern life, so we work a lot with schoolchildren.
:19:41. > :19:43.In our times, the war has kindled a spirit of patriotism in society,
:19:44. > :19:54.so it seems to me the Cossacks will have a lot of work to do now.
:19:55. > :19:57.The waters around the island are brimming with remnants
:19:58. > :20:03.Dmitry Kobalia is one of many archaeologists painstakingly
:20:04. > :20:13.The ship was found right next to Khortytsia, it was built in 1737
:20:14. > :20:21.Forcibly sunk at the end of the Russian-Turkish war,
:20:22. > :20:33.the boat is now part of Ukraine's unique past.
:20:34. > :20:37.It is not just Khortytsia's history that makes this place so special.
:20:38. > :20:40.On the other side of the island, in the stillness of the trees,
:20:41. > :20:47.there is something else that draws people here.
:20:48. > :20:52.With the touch of a flame, pagans start their ancient ritual.
:20:53. > :20:54.Orthodox Christianity dominates the country,
:20:55. > :20:57.but at the island's ancient standing stones, it is nature
:20:58. > :21:06.that is worshipped in a 1,000-year-old Slavic tradition.
:21:07. > :21:09.TRANSLATION: For us, to be a pagan is to respect our land,
:21:10. > :21:13.our culture, and to develop the future of our nation.
:21:14. > :21:15.Khortytsia is a sacred island for us.
:21:16. > :21:20.The first time I got on this island, I got lost in the forest.
:21:21. > :21:23.Suddenly I felt that my legs were growing into the ground.
:21:24. > :21:38.Contemporary politics of the country have had an impact on people here.
:21:39. > :21:41.With both ancient traditions and modern history, preserving
:21:42. > :21:45.the island is seen as crucial in defining national identity
:21:46. > :22:09.On Old Providence, time takes that little bit slower.
:22:10. > :22:32.You want to do something quickly, you've come to the wrong place.
:22:33. > :22:35.Old Providence is one of the few places in the Caribbean that has not
:22:36. > :22:42.And the people want to keep it that way.
:22:43. > :22:56.Yet work is hard to find and many grumble about
:22:57. > :23:16.Only the ocean offers regular, reliable employment.
:23:17. > :23:20.TRANSLATION: Everyday you need to get up and make it your one.
:23:21. > :23:22.Your cannot say, "I'm off to my job," because there are no
:23:23. > :23:26.businesses, no multinational companies, none of that.
:23:27. > :23:31.The sea is our biggest economy and it doesn't matter
:23:32. > :23:38.Not everyone operates honestly in these waters.
:23:39. > :23:41.Too many islanders are lured into drug smuggling.
:23:42. > :23:45.This is the biggest threat to their way of life.
:23:46. > :23:57.Nobody denies this, but nor do they dwell on it.
:23:58. > :24:01.Here they are incredibly protective of their culture.
:24:02. > :24:06.In many parts of the world, cockfighting is a big no-no,
:24:07. > :24:10.but for the islanders, this is pure entertainment.
:24:11. > :24:27.From the beach to the street, big booming tunes pump out everywhere.
:24:28. > :24:31.With a new recording studio, there is the chance to capitalise
:24:32. > :24:43.on this passion, encouraging young talent to flourish.
:24:44. > :24:46.I think the music studio is a great opportunity for the young people
:24:47. > :25:00.because they have something new to do.
:25:01. > :25:11.And I know one day we will get to it where ladies take over this island
:25:12. > :25:40.When you visit, you have little idea of the threats facing this island.
:25:41. > :25:44.In Old Providence, your soul is easily swept away
:25:45. > :25:49.with the Rastafarian vibe and every day feels like a lazy
:25:50. > :26:22.Island living requires creativity, ingenuity and endurance.
:26:23. > :26:26.Islands have become worlds of their own, worlds we have come
:26:27. > :27:08.to know through people's Island Stories.
:27:09. > :27:14.After the last 24 hours, it's certainly going to quite and down a
:27:15. > :27:17.bit. No more strong winds and blustery showers. A little breezy
:27:18. > :27:21.out there but plenty of clear skies about through the course of this
:27:22. > :27:23.evening and overnight. This was Storm Eva, you