In the eerie silence of space, orbiting the earth is a masterpiece of modern technology, the International Space Station, where some of the most brilliant scientific minds are at work paving the way for future space travel.

Their experiments often prove beneficial to many areas of life here on earth.

There are already plans well under way to send humans to Mars.

Ironically, despite such a massive project that would cost billions of dollars, there are people suffering in war-torn regions to such a degree that they are prepared to take any risk, including loss of life, to escape a plight of never ending terror.

A human wave of migration out of parts of Africa and the Middle East is causing great concern as the death toll mounts from overcrowded boats running into trouble on the high seas, creating a nightmare for rescue crews who have a difficult time even trying to locate them.

In a desperate attempt to reach the European coast, these people give their life earnings to criminals involved in human trafficking, who promise them a better life.

It is a vicious scam targeting the desperate who seek a life away from utter misery.

The recent sinking of one of these vessels, crammed with more than a thousand people, resulted in most of them slipping beneath the ocean waters in the middle of the night, igniting fresh concerns around the world about what action should be taken to halt this human carnage on the high seas.

Survivors told of men, women and children locked in storage holds on the stricken ship with no way to escape. So many souls gone in a flash.

For a brief period, the event captured headlines around the world but within days those lost became tragic statistics as other stories of human suffering keep much of the world on edge.

The violence by groups who feel justified in attacking people simply because of their faith or ethnic differences continues.

Some of those trying to escape by boat ended up in the hands of the notorious Islamic State group and suffered deadly consequences. It was truly an escape to disaster.

What is really amazing is that while dazzling space technology is keeping a diverse crew alive and well in space, here on Earth we are yet to learn how to live peacefully in an atmosphere that does not require special breathing apparatus to exist.

With each passing day, there are new concerns about how far terrorists are willing to go to crush resistance to their code of life, which demands that no other code meets their approval.

Italian authorities foiled a plot by one of these groups recently, which revealed that they were about to target the Vatican. Another example that no area is out of bounds.

After recent breaches of security around the White House, America is wrestling with concerns over the use of drones, a popular device with positive and negative potential that might need tighter regulations to avoid misuse.

In Japan, authorities discovered one of these devices on the roof of a building described as equivalent to that located near the White House. The device was later found to contain some type of radioactive material.

Whether that incident was connected with terrorism was not made clear but officials know nothing is off limits and that includes technology and new types of weapons.

With parts of the Middle East and Africa crumbling as a result of disintegrating governments, terrorists are moving quickly to gain new ground as millions of people have their lives shattered in the process.

The problem is that it creates a new migration issue for nations already struggling to cope with day to day problems.

The International Space Station continues to orbit the Earth and with so much happening far beneath, the crew must remain focused on their various projects and experiments. In a sense, it is as though they are living on another planet. Of course, they are fully aware of events below them.

The world is a more dangerous place because of terrorism, and there is no clear solution in sight.

At this very moment people are probably boarding another boat in hopes that fate will be kind to them in their endeavour to find a better life.

However, the grim reality is that they too could join hundreds who fall victim to human traffickers and the mighty ocean.

Although we are privileged and fortunate on our Island home Bermuda, we should be mindful that the world is a much smaller place, and no one is totally isolated from events that disturb the quality of life, even if it is thousands of miles away.

Yes, we have problems also, but our size and population, along with our geographical location, should be an advantage in solving problems and keeping the Island a place where no one would ever wish to escape from.