Keeping the American dream alive

In the United States, owning your own home is part of the American dream. But for many, the dream has become a nightmare. Every month, tens of thousands of homeowners are losing their houses to foreclosure. But people are fighting back. Our reporters went to Florida, the state that has been most severely affected, where one group of people helps these victims of the crisis to hold on to the American dream.

REPORTERS

By Ludovic Gaillard / Miyuki DROZ ARAMAKI

Fourteen million Americans without a job, six and a half million foreclosures, and forty million people on food stamps. The figures detailing the economic crisis in the United States give one pause. We decided to meet the people behind these statistics.

We discovered families who fight for months - sometimes even years – to avoid defaulting on their mortgages. This means no more evenings or dinners out, of course, but also no more money to spend on university studies or sometimes on healthcare, even in the case of a serious illness.

Saving a family home is about much more than just keeping one’s name on the title deed. Keeping an address means providing normal living conditions for one's children and having a chance to find a new job.

ZIMBABWE

One year on, land reform still dragging in Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe's past land reforms drove more than 4,000 farmers off their land and destroyed a once prosperous sector. One year after a historic power-sharing deal was signed, Zimbabwe's agriculture is still in the doldrums.

GABON

Gabon's election dispute rumbles on

For over forty years, the country was ruled by one man, Omar Bongo. After his death, elections named Ali Bongo, Omar's son, the new president. However, two other candidates are also claiming victory. And they're not backing down.

INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

Swine flu's second wave: how big is the risk?

European Union ministers and health experts are meeting in closed session to discuss how best to tackle a second wave of Influenza A (H1N1). But how big is the risk? And what steps are being taken to curb the outbreak?

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GREECE

Fierce anger still burns after the wildfires

On the outskirts of Athens, the fire is out, but a fierce anger is still burning. Sifting through the charred remains of their homes, furious residents blame the government for years of inaction.

MEXICO

The deadly combination of drugs and weapons

Despite the thousands of soldiers deployed across the country to combat arms and drugs smuggling in Mexico, no end is in sight. Arms arrive from the US to supply the country's fearless cartels, who are ready to kill anyone in their way.