TORRANCE TRIBUNE June 9, 2016 Page 3 You’re Traveling Where This Summer? Oh, No! By Rob McCarthy It’s looking like a bummer summer for overseas travelers because of renewed threats from terrorists, criminal gangs and a tiny flying insect in the Olympic host city of Rio de Janeiro. The mosquito-born zika virus in Brazil is scaring U.S. fans from making the 13-hour flight to the host city for the Summer Olympic Games. The world comes together every four years for the Games, however, turmoil within Brazil’s government and an outbreak of zika have created doubts that the host can complete construction of the venues in time for the competition. The opening ceremonies are scheduled for Aug. 5, with the games running through Aug. 21. The U.S. Olympic Committee said two weeks ago it’s ready for the Games to begin, while acknowledging Rio’s “unique challenges” created by a zika epidemic and political scandal. “The bottom line is that our athletes are ready to go and we are committed to supporting them 100 percent this summer,” USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun wrote last month. U.S. health officials are advising pregnant women not to visit Brazil this summer because of zika virus, which can be spread from mosquito to human, as well as from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. There have been confirmed cases of transmission through sexual contact and blood transfusion, notes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. “Because infection in a pregnant woman is linked to a serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly and other poor pregnancy outcomes, CDC recommends that women who are pregnant should not go to the Olympics,” the health agency said in a recent alert. The zika virus is active throughout South America, according to the CDC. It issued an updated travel alert “2016 Summer Olympics” last week. The CDC recommends that travelers take simple precautions, including wearing long-sleeved shirts, using insect repellant and sleeping under a mosquito bed net. The greatest threat is to pregnant women, while some adults who contract zika won’t show any symptoms, the CDC reports. The alert is posted at http://wwwnc. cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/2016-summerolympics rio. The U.S. State Department’s warning about terrorist threat levels in Europe was a buzzkill for Americans who decided to skip the Olympics and head for the continent instead. A “Europe Travel Alert” issued May 31 said law-enforcement officials believe terrorists may be planning to stage attacks on visitors between now and the end of August. “The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events,” the State Department said. France is hosting the Euro Soccer Championships from June 10 through July 10, and the Tour de France cycling race from July 2- 24. France has extended a state of emergency to cover the soccer and cycling events, according to the State Department. Poland is hosting the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day event, which is expected to draw up to 2.5 million visitors between July 26 and July 31. Local infrastructure, including security, may be strained due to the large number of visitors to Krakow, officials say. “Poland will impose border controls at all of its national borders from July 4 to August 2, and visitors to Poland during this period should be prepared to show their passport and undergo stricter security screening throughout Poland,” the State Department said. The State Department warns Americans not to travel to North Korea under any circumstances, whether it be for a cultural mission or in a group tour. 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This includes knowing what resources are on the land, how they are located in relation to land features and what resources are worth preserving. Bird & Crawford Forestry is one group that utilizes wildlife biologists along with professional foresters to survey the land in person to map the property and determine resource assets from a financial as well as a recreational standpoint. 2. Once what actually exists on a property is determined, the next step is to establish goals for the property. Because every landowner/ investor is unique, goals can vary greatly. For instance, if the land is inherited, the goal may be focused upon protecting family assets to confidently keep a family legacy intact for generations to come. Upon identifying goals, an overall management strategy can be developed. 3. Finally, professional foresters will develop the plan of forest and wildlife management activities required to achieve the owner’s goals. 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