The Great Lakes Research Journal

Although German police seem to be denying any evidence of potential threats to its parliament building, there seems to be much speculation about the potential for an attack. “What Der Spiegel wrote is to be seen and understood in context with the overall assessment of potential targets being possibly highly symbolic places, buildings, venues,” said Ziercke. “We investigate some specific persons, but we cannot yet make connections to specific threats on specific locations or type of attacks. Der Spiegel is speculating.”
The magazine got reports from an “jihadist” who wants to leave his terror group which is consists of 6 other people, 2 of which are assumed to be in Berlin right now.  The US is issuing a travel alert for Americans flying to European countries.

There have been many threats made to many different nations now, including the one I live in. Most of these attempts to cause chaos and destruction on foreign soil have been prevented either by mishap or by intelligence agents stopping terrorists in their tracks. Just because I know we have been actively trying to stop attacks, does not mean I think we are safe. After bearing witness to the 9/11 attacks from my home in New Jersey across from NYC, I have seen the importance of taking preventative acts against these planned acts of violence and terror.

The Great Migration. It is one of the planet’s most breath taking and exceptional natural phenomena. This miraculous migration of over 2 million land mammals includes both hooved animals, such as Wildebeest, Gazelle, Zebra, and Eland; and herbivores, such as Topi, Impala, African Buffalo, Kongoni, Giraffe, Warthog, Waterbuck, and Elephant. This vast migration takes place on the endless Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, starting in the South and traveling North and back again. These animals follow an annual circular route around the Serengeti Ecosystem in an endless quest for fresh pastures and water. Not only do they travel over 500 thousand miles round trip for survival, they defy nature’s odds with their strong migratory instinct that defies crocodile-infested rivers, wild currents, and flocks of predators, including lions and hyenas, lying in wait.

However, Tanzania’s president, Jakaya Kikwete, has different plans for the Serengeti National Park. Kikwete has already planned and decided to build a national highway directly through the Sergengeti, directly bisecting the Great Migration route. Buses, cars, and overhauled trucks will take over this highway, undeniably effecting the wildlife and their survival methods. Scientists and conservation groups are desperately warning Kikwete of this dangerous and very serious decision; this highway has the potential to irreversibly damage the entire Serengeti ecosystem, one of the great wonders of our planet. This highway will fragment the annual migration, making the Wildebesst turn back, which will lead to a domino effect on all the other animals, causing the entire ecosystem to crash.

No matter what the effect on the Serengeti and it’s millions of wildlife, president Kikwete will not budge. His perspective on this decision is to think not of the animals, but of the people living in Tanzania. He advocates that this highway will bring about cheaper goods, bring towns together, create easier transportation to hospitals, and ultimately one day get electricity to the town. However, as all of these are great prospects for the people of Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park is what keeps this town alive. Countless people survive on the touristic attractions of the Serengeti, which gets more than 100,000 visitors each and every year, producing millions of dollars for Tanzania’s business. With a highway to destroy this precious ecosystem of wildlife, there will be less and less tourists each year, with less and less profit for Tanzania.

A national highway through the Serengeti. It is an extremely delicate situation that has the potential to single handedly enhance or destroy one of the planet’s most spectacular and precious ecosystems and way of life. This decision lies in the hand’s of one man, who the world can only hope will make the best decision for every living component involved.

Today the US and Angola signed an Air Transport Agreement that would allow new direct commerical flights between the two countries. US Secretary of State William Burns said ” Angola is one of only three countries in Africa with whom the United States is launching strategic partnership dialogues, and that reflects the range and importance of the agenda between our two countries.”

Past flights between the US and Angola have had to make stops in either South Africa or Europe before continuing onto their final destination.

American air carrier, Delta, see’s strong potential in Angola due to the thousands of Americans working over there in the oil sectors as well as the thousands of humanitarian workers that are currently in the country.

During Burns’ two day trip to Angola, he is expected to meet with Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos as well as the Prime Minister Assuncao dos Anjos as well as a trip to the US-Angola chamber of commerce.

After the recent volcanic ash eruption in Iceland, who would’ve thought just one event could affect the entire world. People living nearly 5,000 miles away, in Kenya no doubt, are being laid off because of this disaster. Many horticulture and greenhouse workers have lost their jobs recently because there has been no need for them. According to Tom Odula of the Associated Press, “The horticulture industry is Kenya’s top foreign exchange earner making $922 million last year. Kenya exports 1,000 tons a day of produce and flowers – including roses, carnations, and lilies, said Philip Mbithi, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya. Kenya has thrown away 10 million flowers – mostly roses – since the volcano eruption”.
Around 5,000 people have been without work this past week because no more flowers need to be picked; they’re all going to waste as is. Most of Kenya’s exports are perishable items, so if storage is filled to capacity, not only is there no need for more, but soon these items will go bad. This equals a huge loss for everyone. Flowers and other items are being thrown away and farmers are trying to find alternative routes to ship their goods. This, however, will still cut a lot off of their profit margin. Farmers are now being advised to just stop picking flowers altogether until flights are up and going again. How could they have known, an event so geologically distant from them, could have such a huge impact? Hopefully the ash will clear soon, and these people can go back to working, and not suffer too badly in the process.