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INTRODUCTION TO RWANDA: A COUNTRY OF THOUSAND HILLS

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  RWANDA  is one of the smallest countries in Africa. It is also one of the most beautiful. Known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, it has mountains, forests, lakes, and waterfalls, as well as a seemingly endless variety of plant and animal life. Dominating the mountainous region that borders Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Uganda to the north are the formidable Virunga Mountains. Mount Karisimbi, the highest in this range, is a dormant volcano some 14,700 feet [4,480 m] high, which is often capped in white because of sleet and hail. Lower down, the slopes of these mountains are covered with thick bamboo growth and rain forest, where endangered golden monkeys swing effortlessly among the branches and vines. And it is here, too, in this luxuriant environment, that one of Rwanda’s greatest treasures is found—the mountain gorilla. Exotic plants and lush vegetation extend down to the shores of Lake Kivu and to the Nyungwe Forest. In this forest live chimpanzees, black-and-w
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The Earth Has a “Fever”​—Is There a Cure?

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THE symptoms are showing​—the temperature is rising. A case in point is the Alaskan village Newtok, located in the subarctic. The once frozen subsoil​—known as permafrost—​on which Newtok is built is melting. “I don’t want to live in permafrost [anymore],” lamented a resident named Frank. “It’s too muddy.” Studies say that within ten years, this coastal village could be washed away. The “warming of the climate system is unequivocal,” concluded the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Rising global temperatures testify to this fact. What scientists call climate change has resulted in extreme weather, including droughts, heavy precipitation, heat waves, and hurricanes worldwide. What will happen to our planet? Is there a cure? What Causes Global Warming? There are three positions on global warming: (1) that global warming is not occurring and so neither is climate change; (2) that global warming and climate change are occurring, but these are natural, cyclic eve
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Save Our Planet - Start From Your Neighborhood_ 5 Ways

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 “Save” is an interesting word choice, especially considering that many people think that we are beyond saving after the environmental devastation we have put Earth through thus far. However,  I believe that every little bit counts and that we can still make this planet a beautiful place, and hopefully save its creatures from impending disappearing. The choices we each make today are important.      1. Tell Others What You Know Often, when people are damaging the environment, it is because they don’t have the facts, or haven’t considered a particular course of action. Share this list with your friends – if each of them takes on board just one point, the effect could be immense. And if they share it on too, think of the mass chain reaction.Let’s work together to make the world a better place.    2. Use Non-Chemical De-Icers Most people use ice melters to clear the sidewalks after a big storm. These contain harmful chemicals and should be avoided. Similarly, salt based produ
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Kigali City-Rwanda: One of the Safest and Friendliest Place in Africa

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The City of Kigali is the capital of Rwanda and it is located at Rwanda’s geographical heart. The City of Kigali has rapidly grown in a modern city in the last decade and it has not only become Rwanda’s most important business center but also the main port of entry. The City of Kigali which started in 1907 is one of the safest and friendliest of African capitals. It is blessed with a moderate high altitude climate that belies its tropical location, and is conveniently located within three hours’ drive of the main tourist sites. The Rwandan capital provides both a comfortable and welcoming introduction to this land of a thousand hills and an ideal springboard from which to explore this magical country. The City of Kigali is made up of three districts namely Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge. It is presently inhabited by approximately 1.2 million inhabitants. Kigali is 70% rural with a population which is relatively young- the youth make up about 60% and women make slightly more t
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Martinique: France, Tropical Forests and,Yes, Beaches As Well

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The GPS told us to go inland to cross Martinique’s mountains if we wanted to reach the northern coast town of St. Pierre and its black sand beaches by noon. So off we went, heading out from our rented villa with beach chairs and a cooler in the trunk and the children strapped into the car seats in the back. About an hour later, the road narrowed, the tree cover grew super thick and we had to slow our SUV down to ford three separate streams that spilled precariously across the mountain road. Then, finally we came to a full stop. We had hit a dead end at a place the sign told us is called the Forêt de Rabuchon. The road had turned into a hiking trail. Before us stood a riot of nature: century old mahogany trees, towering ferns, bamboo and a crazy array of wildflowers — ixora, heliconia and porcelain rose. So we left behind our beach chairs, and headed out for an unplanned hike, first crossing a small river on a kid-friendly rope and wire suspension footbridge and heading out
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Amazing Creatures-Dolphin Human Companion

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IT LOVES warm, shallow tropical waters, whether salty or fresh, murky or clear. Its range covers an area from India’s Bay of Bengal through the Malay Archipelago to northern Australia. Yet, few people—especially Australians, whose northern doorstep may hold the largest concentrations of this animal in the world—have ever seen or even heard of the Irrawaddy dolphin. Surprising? Yes and no. In the 19th century, zoologist John Anderson saw schools of this bluish-gray dolphin, with its round, beakless head, in the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar (then Burma). He gave it the name Irrawaddy dolphin.                                                                Why Rarely Seen Irrawaddies thrive in hot and humid coastal, estuary, and river regions. Their home is often flanked by mud, mangroves, jungle, clouds of mosquitoes and, in places, even crocodiles—not the surroundings that attract humans. The water in these areas is also generally murky, so the only time you would see a dolphin
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Job Interview:How Can I Make an Excellent First Impression?

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“This job interview is going great! It should be obvious to my future boss that I’m relaxed; I’ve been calling him by his first name since I walked in the door. I just know he’ll hire me!” “Is this the same young man who sent in that impressive résumé? There’s no way I can hire him! If this is how he acts before he gets the job, what will he be like afterward?” Look at the picture, and read the text above. Can you identify three ways in which the job applicant is making a poor impression? 1. The young man’s clothing is too casual for a job interview. 2. His speech (calling the employer by his first name) is overly familiar. 3. His body language conveys a lack of respect. IMAGINE that you’re tasting a certain food for the very first time. How long does it take for you to figure out if you like it? One bite may be all that’s required to determine whether you’ll ever eat that food again—or even finish the portion that’s in front of you. Something similar happens when you meet a
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