September 8

Page Two

With the breakdown of families and the deteriorating conditions in the schools, the young have suffered. Even guns, knives, and drugs have become common in big-city schools. What are the relative responsibilities of schools and parents in teaching and rearing children? What do the young really need from their parents? What is the homework parents must do if their children are to become successful adults?

Are Schools Replacing Parents?

TODAY, schools are expected to do much more than teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Many provide meals, moral guidance, and other services once cared for at home. “A growing number of parents expect the schools, especially the guidance counselors, to do their parenting,” observes Jim McClure, head of a high school guidance department.

Many parents, however, face the dilemma of choosing between making an adequate living and caring for their children. Unlike a generation ago, making a living today often means leaving children without the desired parental supervision. Providing that attention, on the other hand, may mean not making an adequate living for the family. Both situations are undesirable.

Beginning of the Downward Trend

Those who have studied the problems that affect modern education believe that the downward trend began over 40 years ago, immediately following World War II. Women supported the war effort by taking up work in the industrial labor market. Then, when the war ended, an appreciable number did not return to their former role as mother and principal tutor of their children. They remained in the work force.

As the years passed, other social changes further complicated matters. Moral values eroded. Divorce became acceptable, leaving a growing number of single-parent homes. Also, the rising cost of living forced more parents to work longer hours. Such trends have greatly limited the hours parents have left to care for the intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of their children. Parents have thus come to lean heavily upon schools to fill this void. But is this, in fact, the responsibility of the schools?

Today’s Realities

“The new reality,” explains education writer Gene I. Maeroff, “is that the father who used to return from a hard day’s work faithfully each evening to his homemaking wife and their two well-adjusted children is probably now living alone in a bleak apartment somewhere trying to figure out how to pay for his TV dinners after writing the weekly alimony check. The mother, who remained behind with the children . . . works three days a week.” With what consequences?

“The children,” Maeroff says, “are facing the awesome task of building their educational future on a support system of splinters.” For example, an elementary-school teacher in the United States observes: “Over 20 percent of our students come to school every day without having had breakfast.” Since breakfast is vital to learning, this teacher laments: “We are trying to deal with the problem by setting up a breakfast program.” At the same school, a student came down with a high fever. The mother, reached at her place of employment, responded: “I can’t come for her. I’m working.” She finally did arrange to leave work, but she was “frustrated” by being forced to decide between caring for her sick child and earning money.

Conditions in the Schools

The moral decay of society has seriously damaged the ability of schools to teach. It has made it almost impossible for them to provide moral guidance. Illustrating the changed school environment is the list of the 7 top disciplinary problems in U.S. public schools in 1940 as compared with the top 17 in 1982. The 1940 top problems in school were: (1) talking, (2) chewing gum, (3) making noise, (4) running in the halls, (5) getting out of turn in line, (6) wearing improper clothing, and (7) not putting paper in wastebaskets.

On the other hand, the 1982 top problems in school were: (1) rape, (2) robbery, (3) assault, (4) burglary, (5) arson, (6) bombings, (7) murder, (8) suicide, (9) absenteeism, (10) vandalism, (11) extortion, (12) drug abuse, (13) alcohol abuse, (14) gang warfare, (15) pregnancy, (16) abortion, and (17) venereal disease.

Deborah, a mother of four, worries about the influence this changed school environment will have on her children. “I grew up sheltered,” she reflects. “Almost everyone and everything around me was a support to help me grow up. Those of us who were brought up that way must be aware of the fact that our children are out there in a very different world.”

Indeed, in some inner-city schools in the United States, students commonly carry knives and guns; they use and deal drugs; and expressions like “coke head” (cocaine user) are part of the daily vocabulary. Teachers are often content, not necessarily because they have successfully taught their students, but because they have survived another day without trouble.

The lamentable conditions within the schools underscore the fact that they are unable to take the place of parents in providing the guidance and support that children need to lead successful lives. Yet, regardless of such conditions, there are successful students in all types of schools around the world.

‘What does it take to succeed?’ you may ask. ‘How can I, as a parent, help my child succeed? And what will my child have to do?’

What Children Need From Parents

THE success of a child’s education should not be measured simply by the grades he receives. Of greater importance are the values he develops, his moral standards, his behavior, and his thinking. But who bear the principal responsibility for the child’s development in these fields?

“The parents do,” answers one longtime school counselor. “The primary objective of formal education is to support parents in producing responsible young adults who are well-developed intellectually, physically, and emotionally.”

Such school counselors have frequently learned what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to producing well-adjusted young adults. Roddy Cameron, another such counselor, has dealt with hundreds of cases over the years. He was asked by Awake!: “What do children really need most to succeed?”

After pondering for a moment, he replied: “You show me a troubled kid, and the chances are extremely high that I can show you troubled parents.” In reviewing his experiences in talking with such parents, he noted: “When trying to explain to me why they work so hard and have to be away from home so much, they almost always say they want to give their kids what they themselves didn’t have.”

Yet, are the material advantages that so many parents lacked when they were young what children really need? Are expensive cars, fine clothes, and exotic vacations important to becoming successful, well-adjusted students? “What’s wrong with a hug, a kiss, love, attention?” asked Cameron rhetorically. “These cost nothing, but they are things that kids need most.”

Time, Love, and Concern

Tender loving care is the basic need of children. And the most effective way parents can provide it is by unselfishly giving of themselves, giving of their time, and not being ashamed to show genuine, uninhibited love and deep concern. One writer noted that the best gift one person can give another is “being there.”

In its brochure Plain Talk About Raising Children, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health reported the results of a survey of successful parents. They were identified as those whose children, over age 21, “were all productive adults who were apparently adjusting well to our society.” The parents of these well-adjusted young adults were asked: ‘Based on your personal experience, what is the best advice you could give to other parents?’ The most frequent responses were: ‘Love abundantly,’ ‘discipline constructively,’ ‘spend time together,’ ‘teach your children right from wrong,’ ‘develop mutual respect,’ ‘really listen to them,’ ‘offer guidance rather than a speech,’ and ‘be realistic.’

Does that sound prosaic, old-fashioned? Yet, parents might well ask themselves: ‘If something works well, why abandon it for something different, something that doesn’t work?’ Yes, time, love, and concern make up the glue that holds families together. It is the parents’ homework to provide these basic needs for their children. Fulfilling their assignment will help their children to become successful students and then successful adults. There are no shortcuts, no substitutes, such as providing material things, thinking that they will make the difference.

Comparable to Plants

In many respects, children grow and develop like plants. The successful farmer knows what it takes to reap a good crop​—fertile, cultivated soil; warm sunshine; water; weeding; and protective care. Often there are difficult times and heartaches along the way, right up to the harvest. But how proud successful farmers are when they see their hard-earned rewards!

Surely, a human life is more valuable than a farmer’s harvest! Should it, therefore, be expected that the desired result could be obtained with less effort? Not according to the parents surveyed by the National Institute of Mental Health, nor according to the scores of parents and students interviewed by Awake! over the past two years.

The successful parent knows that raising a child takes commitment. The home environment must be right, with plenty of warmth and understanding. Gently and persistently, parents need to cultivate in their children an appreciation for learning and living. Patiently they need to adjust, watch, and helpfully share the difficult times and heartaches that mar every life’s path. If parents do these things, the chances are very good that the harvest will be a successful young adult.

[Blurb on page 6]

‘Show me a troubled kid, and the chances are that I can show you troubled parents’

[Blurb on page 6]

Time, love, and concern make up the glue that holds families together

Parents Who Have Done Their Homework

PARENTS who do their homework provide their children with the things they really need. Obviously, this involves more than simply paying the bills. Such parents also help their children develop proper values and goals in life, and they give them plenty of time and loving concern.

“When the children were younger, we crawled on the floor with them, banged pots, wore pan covers as helmets, and swung kitchen ladles at one another to act out famous Bible characters in historic events,” explains Wayne, a father of four. “The kids loved it.”

As the children grew older, Wayne and his wife, Joanne, adjusted their teaching methods; yet they continued to stir their children’s imagination and desire to learn. They thereby practiced some of the finest principles of teaching. Julie M. Jensen, president of the U.S. National Council of Teachers of English, believes that a good teacher never forgets his own childish excitement when he was learning, and he nourishes this in his students.

The Importance of Praise

Wayne and Joanne developed a system to help their children with their schoolwork. There is an “in” basket in the kitchen where the children put their graded papers on arriving home from school. Joanne reviews the papers while the children play or do their homework, and at supper the family often discuss them. The better ones are displayed on the refrigerator and on the kitchen walls, which resemble a cluttered art gallery.

“It is our way of extending praise to the children,” says Joanne, “and they thrive on it.” In the living room, the family has an “out” basket where the finished homework goes before bedtime. “This way,” explains Joanne, “we don’t have to look for it in the morning when the children are rushing off to school.”

Beatrice, a mother of two girls, also decorates her kitchen with the schoolwork of her children. She says: “I do it because I’m proud of my kids and want them to know it.”

Recognizing the high value of praise, the Dallas, Texas, Independent School District encourages its volunteer tutors to make generous use of encouraging expressions, such as: Terrific! Much better. Keep it up! Good for you. That’s clever. Exactly right. Very creative. Good thinking. Excellent work. Now you’ve got it. I appreciate the way you’re trying.

If you are a parent, could you give encouragement more often?

Providing Support in Other Ways

In addition to praising their children’s efforts, parents who do their homework cultivate a home environment that is conducive to study. They get their children interested in reading and learning about the world around them.

“My parents supported me,” explained Julie, “by putting a fence around my study time. I had a particular place in the house to do my homework, and I was off limits to the rest of the family until it was done. During my study time, I was not required to do chores. Interruptions in my concentration were thereby avoided.”

Mark tells how his parents supported him and his sisters: “They made sure we always had available a dictionary and other books to assist us in our studies. They encouraged us to build personal libraries by letting us buy books we were interested in without having to pay for them out of our allowances.”

“We began our reading program with the children when they were about three months old,” explains Althea, mother of four. “It was difficult to maintain because, like many women today, I had to work. To make room for it, I had to buy out the time from other activities. The children had over 300 books​—nursery rhymes, scientific books, all kinds. They would bring me their favorites to read to them. Sometimes I would skip sections to try to shorten the session, but that didn’t work. The kids always knew the missing part and would remind me by filling it in from memory!”

Johan from Finland says that his parents would read to him 10 to 15 minutes every night before bedtime. “I could pick the story,” Johan explains. “Mom would play the characters in the story. My sister and I got so attached to the arrangement that even when my parents didn’t have the time, we would pick out a book and try it on our own. This helped us develop very good reading habits. It has made our schoolwork easier and widened our world.”

Ravindira from Sri Lanka loved having her father put her to bed because of his reading style. “My favorite bedtime story was How the Camel Got Its Hump. Father would thump, pump, laugh, and do everything else during the reading. That was supposed to put me to sleep, but it only succeeded in keeping me wide awake and wanting more. He pretended not to know this, but he knew exactly what he was doing. Later, when I was older, he would let me carry the books back to the library. That made me feel important and further encouraged me to enjoy reading.”

Describing how her father helped her, Susan says: “Dad loved field trips. He would take me everywhere​—museums, bird sanctuaries, libraries, to pick wild berries in the woods. Sometimes we would just explore unknown forest areas. We would come home all scratched up, but it was fun. Those trips gave purpose to my school studies.”

Emilo from Puerto Rico recalls: “My mother wanted us to know that we were always learning. When I would come home from school, she would ask, ‘So, what did you learn today?’ If I said, ‘Oh, nothing,’ she would come back with, ‘What do you mean, nothing? You must have learned something.’ She would stay with the questioning until I came up with what I had learned. She did the same thing with my two brothers. She wanted us to know that we were very important to her and that she cared for us. This made us a close-knit family.”

Cultivating Family Closeness

Successful families get along well together, but this requires effort. So parents who do their homework seek to cultivate a cooperative family spirit.

“We discuss family business honestly and almost on a daily basis,” observes Carol, a single parent of two teenage daughters. “Sometimes the girls will hold their problems back because they feel I have enough of my own. I can tell when they do this, for they get into arguments over silly things. I have to remind them that the family arrangement works best when we talk out our problems with one another honestly.”

Money is a source of problems in many families, but Carol says that her being open with the girls regarding the family’s financial situation has elicited their support. She explains: “I encourage them to find jobs to earn their own money for the extra things they would like. I respect them for earning it and let them know it is their money.”

Some parents use their family’s financial situation to teach their children budgeting, banking, and mathematical skills. “Another lesson we have been able to teach through this arrangement,” observes Henry, father of three boys and a girl, “is cooperation in family activities through involvement.”

But where can parents find the time for such homework? Audrey, a mother of two, says that because of her tight schedule, she invites the children to join her while she runs errands. She gets her talking time in then.

Handling Problems

In order to do their homework well, parents need to learn to listen carefully to their children. As the Bible proverb says: “A wise person will listen and take in more instruction.” (Proverbs 1:5) Attentive listening builds trust, and this is vital in handling problems successfully.

For example, when Leon and Carolyn learned that their eldest daughter, Nikki, was skipping school and failing some courses, Carolyn’s first reaction was to blame the bad influence of school friends. However, Leon explained: “I suggested we reserve judgment until we had all the facts.”

“But even then,” Leon notes, “it took a week of patient, gentle probing and listening before we reached the root of Nikki’s problem. What a shock it was to us! Nikki felt we weren’t interested in her, since we had been so busy with our own activities! Carolyn and I made adjustments, and Nikki responded by becoming more alert to her responsibilities around the house and at school.”

Dan and Dorothy have eight children. These spend an hour and a half on school buses each day, and a major problem has been the worsening conditions there. “When the older ones were in school, it was an easy matter to utilize the time on the bus to do homework or catch up on reading,” Dan noted. “In just the last 12 years, however, that has all changed. Now there are many unwholesome distractions​—foul language, loud rock music, and smoke from cigarettes and marijuana, usually in the rear of the bus.”

Dan explained that they brainstormed this problem with the children. “Two ideas surfaced,” he noted. “Sit as close to the bus driver as possible, and equip each child with lightweight headphones connected to a personal AM/​FM cassette player. Now the children are able to isolate themselves from the trouble, enjoying easy-listening music while they read or do light homework. The solution seems rather simple, but it has worked!”

Working With the School System

During the school year, students spend about six hours a day under the direct influence of teachers. Parents who appreciate what that means in terms of learning potential for their children will want to see to it that this time is well spent. A mother of three children explained how she and her husband made sure that it was.

“When John and I were dissatisfied with one of our children’s classes,” she relates, “we would go to the school and work out a suitable adjustment with the guidance counselor, the teacher, or the principal. We stayed deeply involved in our children’s formal education from beginning to end. Now that it is over, we are satisfied they got the best of what was available to them.”

Children may need help with their schoolwork, and part of a parent’s homework should be to become involved. Yet, the parent wisely cooperates with the school system. “One thing I remember about my parents,” says Wesley, “is that they never interfered with the teacher’s classroom strategies. They realized that the teaching process can be varied.

“For example, when I was baffled by the process that would get me to the answer of a math problem, Dad would give me the answer and let me struggle with the process until I figured it out. I knew I had it when my answer matched Dad’s.”

Not an Easy Assignment

Any child will tell you that some homework assignments are harder than others. But the homework you parents have is much more difficult than any that you ever had in school. Indeed, rearing children successfully is a complex, long-term assignment. Some have called it a 20-year project.

The key to success includes being an attentive, friendly, understanding parent, one who knows the children well and responds to them as individuals. Remember, what your youngsters really need is personal attention that is demonstrated by loving concern for their welfare. Nourish in them a thirst for learning, and help them make the gaining of knowledge a pleasurable experience.

All the Effort Worth It

You parents who do your homework are self-sacrificing, not self-indulgent. You are ready to make adjustments. You realize that to help your children, you must ‘be there,’ and you must expend yourselves by providing the time, love, and concern that your children really need.

When you do your homework, the results may be comparable to the harvest of a farmer who prepares the soil and then plants, cultivates, and waters his crop. You may be rewarded with a delightful harvest. It is as the Bible says: “Train up a boy [or girl] according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.”​—Proverbs 22:6.

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What Else Can Parents Do?

In modern society, teachers and schools are important to the successful development of children. That doesn’t mean they can fulfill the role of parents, but they can be of vital assistance in rearing children successfully. So another homework assignment that you parents have is to cooperate as fully as possible with the school system in which your children are enrolled.

What, then, if there is a special function or program at school? For example, at a school in Massachusetts, there was a Student Awards Achievement Presentation program. “I went because I wanted my children to know I was proud of them,” explained Joanne, a mother of four boys. Twenty students received special achievement awards that day, yet most of the parents did not show up. Do you think that their absence encouraged their children to do better in school? Hardly!

Consider also the teachers. Schools often set aside evenings to exhibit the students’ work and to review their progress with parents, and many teachers give up personal time to prepare for these activities. One teacher observed: “We have our own families and our own lives to live too. It is discouraging when you spend so much time preparing for special events and see only one, two, or three parents all evening.”

As parents, you may at times expect schools and teachers to make adjustments to meet the special needs of your children. Should you not be willing to make similar sacrifices to support the efforts of the school system, especially since it is endeavoring to help your children grow into successful adults?

The brochure School and Jehovah’s Witnesses, published to promote understanding and cooperation between parents and teachers, outlined the following homework for Jehovah’s Witnesses who are parents: “It is important that parents become acquainted with their children’s teachers​—making arrangements to meet and talk with them. . . .

“In such a meeting the Witness father or mother should let the teacher know that the parents expect proper Christian conduct from their children, and that if the children misbehave, they want to be informed. The parents also should give assurance that they will support the teacher in whatever reasonable discipline is administered, even reinforcing it at home.

“Other ways that parents can help: Make sure children get a good breakfast before they leave for school. See that their homework is complete and that they have all their books with them. Always show respect for school regulations and expect the children to respect these as well. Get the children to talk at home about school activities and any problems they may encounter there.”

Don’t you agree that these are fine suggestions? Are you as parents applying them? Part of your homework is to do so.

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Questions for Parental Self-Examination

1. Do I take a real interest in my children’s schooling?

2. Do I know their teachers?

3. Do the teachers know that I appreciate their efforts?

4. Do I make sure that my children take their schoolwork seriously?

5. Do I see to it that their homework is done properly and on time?

6. Is my attitude toward knowledge and learning a positive one?

7. Do my children see me study?

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Reading stirs children’s curiosity and imagination

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Parents who spend time reading to their children strengthen the family bond

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Family trips to a museum or to the country can be real family fun​—and a learning experience

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Your youngsters need personal attention

Yugoslavia​—A Land of Fascinating Variety

By Awake! correspondent in Yugoslavia

“HOW do you say it in Yugoslav?” That question from a foreigner may evoke one of at least three different answers​—each in a different language! Furthermore, ask a native of Yugoslavia, “What nationality are you?” and the odds are that he will give one of at least six different answers​—likely not one of them being, “Yugoslav”!

Yugoslavia is indeed a land of surprising variety. Its very geography helps make it so. Yugoslavia sits on the Balkan Peninsula in the southeastern part of Europe, with the Adriatic Sea to the west. Rubbing shoulders with seven nations​—Italy, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania—​Yugoslavia is subject to a variety of cultural influences.

Even the weather is varied: hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters on the coast; short, cool summers and long, snowy winters in the mountainous regions; hot summers and cold winters in the northern plains. All of this in a country that extends only some 600 miles [1,000 km] in length and 400 miles [600 km] at its widest point from east to west.

A Nation of Peoples

Even greater diversity, though, is found among its people. According to the 1987 estimate, of the nation’s 23.5 million inhabitants, only a small proportion declare themselves to be Yugoslavs (South Slavs). The rest of the population consider themselves to be Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Slovenes, Macedonians, Montenegrins, or one of numerous minorities.

Thus, there is no “Yugoslav” language; Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian, and Macedonian share the distinction of being the official languages of Yugoslavia. And to add to the variety, two alphabets are in use here: the Latin and the Cyrillic.

This is because Yugoslavia is really a blend of a number of smaller nations, each with its own language, customs, culture, and traditions. However, this amalgamation of nations has existed for a relatively short period of time, since they only became allied in 1918 when the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was born. It was an uneasy alliance, but it lasted up until the outbreak of World War II. Out of the ashes of that war rose the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. So from its start, Yugoslavia has been diverse. Furthermore, it also bears the cultural imprint of two large empires that have dominated it in the past: Austria-Hungary in the north and the Ottoman Empire in the south.

Variety to Tickle the Palate

Since variety is so intrinsic to this land, you could hardly expect to find such a thing as a typical Yugoslav dish. In the northwest, you can enjoy Central European food. In the middle and in the southeast, you dine on Turkish-Oriental delicacies. On the coast, fish and fine wine are served. Nevertheless, certain items are quite popular with tourists. Many ask for ćevapčići (pronounced “che-vap-chee-chee”), a grilled, spicy meat roll with a tantalizing aroma. Also in demand is šljivovica (pronounced “shlee-vo-vee-tza”), the famous plum brandy. And in hospitable homes all around the country, you will almost always be offered turska kafa, a strong, black Turkish coffee​—a must at friendly gatherings. Although it is served in a small cup called a fildžan (pronounced “fil-junn”), sip it slowly so that it lasts as long as the conversation.

Contrasting Temperaments

The people of Yugoslavia also vary in outlook and temperament. In the north, people resemble the Central Europeans. They are more or less reserved, limiting the closeness of their relationships and respecting the privacy of others. Southerners, though, tend to interpret this behavior as a lack of interest in the well-being of fellow humans. By way of contrast, they have a more typically Balkan temperament: expressive of their feelings, appreciative of close relationships, cooperative, and, some say, inquisitive to the point of nosiness!

For example, in the south one sees crowds, usually in the evening, walking up and down a street, apparently for no purpose. This is korzo​—a stroll down a street where one can surely meet one’s friends or make new ones. One may also see groups of men who sit or squat every day in front of their homes or their favorite shops. Strangers cannot pass unnoticed in these neighborhoods. Why, when you first call at a home, you are soon surrounded by children and grown-ups who assail you with questions: “Who are you?” “Where do you come from?” “What do you want?” But when you come the next time, everybody in that street knows who you are!

Religious Variety

This has an interesting effect on the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses are known the world over for their house visits, and no less so in this country where an initial visit often attracts much attention from neighbors. Upon returning, Witnesses often find that everyone in the neighborhood has formulated strong opinions about them. Where positive comments prevail, they find a warm welcome.

In their work, Jehovah’s Witnesses encounter quite a variety of religious beliefs. The Serbian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Islamic faith, and the Macedonian Orthodox Church claim the largest number of adherents. Again, such diversity is a result of the forces of history. Christendom’s missionaries​—Greek missionaries in the east and Frankish missionaries in the west—​converted the Slavic people in the ninth century. But the later split in Christendom into the western Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches likewise divided the Slavic people. To this day, Roman Catholicism dominates in the northwest while Eastern Orthodoxy prevails in the southeastern part of Yugoslavia. The Ottoman invasion of the Balkans brought the Islamic faith to this land.

To its credit, the government of Yugoslavia has taken a tolerant view of this religious variety. Jehovah’s Witnesses are especially appreciative of being able to worship together freely. In recent years they have even been given permission in the region of Slovenia to use public halls and gymnasiums for their assemblies. They are delighted to be able to share the Bible’s truths with others in this land of fascinating variety.

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(For fully formatted text, see publication)

YUGOSLAVIA

Belgrade

AUSTRIA

HUNGARY

ROMANIA

ITALY

BULGARIA

Adriatic Sea

ALBANIA

GREECE

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Mladinska knjiga; Turistička štampa

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Mladinska knjiga; Turistička štampa

Tall Sailing Ships Captivate Sydney

WHEN John Masefield, England’s 20th-century poet laureate, wrote those words in his ballad “Sea-Fever,” he may not have envisioned the thrilling effect tall ships can have on spectators. But the sight of sailing ships certainly impressed beyond expectation local Sydney-siders and their throngs of visitors. It was Australia Day, January 26, 1988, and Sydney Harbour was ablaze with sail to herald the beginning of celebrations for Australia’s bicentenary.

Spectator craft choked the waterways, and an estimated two million pedestrians lined the harbor foreshore. But why such exceptional interest in a group of large sailing ships? Because it was part of a reenactment of the voyage to Australia of the First Fleet from Portsmouth, England, 200 years ago. The 11 sailing ships of that fleet left England on May 13, 1787, and arrived in Sydney Cove on January 26, 1788.

Original Voyage a Navigational Triumph

In his book Australian Discovery and Colonisation, Samuel Bennett gives fascinating details on that First Fleet. He writes: “The Isle of Wight [England] was appointed as a rendezvous for the fleet, consisting of eleven sail. . . . The garrison consisted of 200 marines, . . . forty of whom were allowed to take their wives and families, 81 free persons and 696 convicts. The founders of the colony therefore consisted of one free person to every two prisoners. . . . The prisoners were mostly young persons from the agricultural districts of England. . . . Very few had been convicted of serious crimes. Out of the whole six hundred and ninety-six, only fifty-five were sentenced for longer periods than seven years, and the sentences of a large number would expire within two or three years after their landing.”

It is not clear exactly how many lost their lives on the long voyage from England to Australia. The figure varies from a low 14 to about 50. One writer reflects that to have more than a thousand people crammed into 11 tiny ships to sail halfway around the world on a voyage of more than eight months with so few deaths and not one ship lost was an epic achievement of navigation and organization.

The Reenactment Begins

So on May 13, 1987, 11 sailing ships again left Portsmouth, England, exactly as the First Fleet did 200 years earlier. Four ships had been chartered for the day to keep the total number accurate at 11 vessels for the official start of the reenactment. The seven ships that sailed south toward Australia were joined by two more at Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and a final two joined the fleet in Sydney. This meant that the full complement of 11 square-riggers was on hand for the entry into Sydney Harbour.

The sea route chosen duplicated the original eight-month voyage: Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, and then on to Sydney. This time, however, two extra stops were made, one at Port Louis, Mauritius, and one at Fremantle, Western Australia. Their final rendezvous was Botany Bay, just south of Sydney Harbour. From here the regrouped fleet sailed in convoy into the resplendent harbor on Tuesday morning, January 26, 1988.

Similar yet Different

Whereas the appearance and size of the ships in the reenactment were as close as possible to the originals, in many respects there were dramatic differences. The 20th-century replicas were extremely comfortable, some even luxurious. They had engines as well as sails for getting in and out of ports, and they were well-equipped with generators, deep freezers, washing machines, dryers, showers, and even water makers.

What a contrast this was to the plight of the convicts crammed into dark, fetid quarters two centuries earlier! Most were chained and allowed on deck only during daylight hours in good weather. At all other times, they were confined to the holds that were like prison decks. The bunks were wooden planks set in tiers 3 feet [0.9 m] apart; they were 7 feet 6 inches [2.3 m] long by 6 feet [1.8 m] wide. Each bunk was shared by five persons!

Other Tall Ships Add to the Spectacle

The square-riggers of the reenactment fleet were relatively small. The largest was only 159 feet [48 m] in length and displaced just 530 tons. So to add to the spectacle, other countries were invited to send tall sailing ships to share in the celebrations. The response was overwhelming. Some 200 such ships came to Sydney, ranging from a modest 13 tons up to Japan’s giant bark Nippon Maru, 361 feet [110 m] in length, with a mast height of 165 feet [50 m] and displacing 4,729 tons. The romantic sailing ships came from such diverse countries as Poland, Oman, India, Uruguay, Spain, the United States, and the Netherlands.

Many of the visiting vessels assembled at Hobart in the island state of Tasmania for a 620-nautical-mile [1,150 km] ocean race to Sydney, where they were then on hand to line up in the harbor and welcome the convoy of 11 ships of the First Fleet reenactment as they sailed from nearby Botany Bay.

This, then, was the impressive spectacle that greeted the thousands of enthusiastic onlookers on that sparkling 26th day of January 1988. It heralded the first 200 years of European settlement for the wide, brown, sunburned country of Australia​—now home for some 16 million people.

[Full-page picture on page 17]

Young People Ask . . .

Should I Tell On My Friend?

“I COULDN’T believe he was doing such a thing,” recalls Lee. Lee was out riding his bike with his cousin when, to his surprise, he saw his best friend, Chris, with a group of youths.

Chris was smoking a cigarette.

Lee was shocked, since this went contrary to Chris’ professed Christian beliefs​—not to mention his parents’ wishes. (2 Corinthians 7:1) Chris slyly dropped his cigarette and snuffed it out with his foot, but Lee wasn’t fooled. He then learned that smoking was just the beginning of Chris’ problems, due to the bad company he was keeping. Lee realized his friend needed help and knew that he wasn’t in a position to give it. At the same time, he was reluctant to tell anyone else about the problem. Explains Lee: “He was my friend, and I didn’t want to squeal.”

Perhaps you have found yourself in a similar position​—suddenly aware that a friend is dabbling in drugs, experimenting with sex, cheating, or stealing. Says a popular youth magazine: “Squealing. Blowing the whistle. Being a tattletale. Some teens worry that’s what they’ll be doing when they speak up on behalf of a pal.”

The Code of Silence

Misguided loyalty seems to be the primary reason youths hold back from reporting a friend’s wrongdoing. Viewing discipline as something harmful, negative, and damaging, they imagine that they do their friend a favor by covering up his problems. The TV and motion-picture industries have fueled this notion by glamorizing the idea that only rats and stool pigeons squeal on their pals. Hence, an unwritten code of silence often prevails among youths. As a young man named Carl puts it: “The thing is to cover up for your buddies. When it comes to telling on others, you just don’t do it!”

Breaking that code of silence exposes one to the ridicule of peers and the possible loss of friendship. An article in ’Teen magazine, for example, tells of a girl named Debbie who learned that her friend Karen was a shoplifter. In an effort to help, Debbie decided to tell Karen’s parents. Karen stopped speaking to Debbie. More than that, Debbie’s friends likewise shunned her and ridiculed her for being a squealer. “It was an embarrassing experience, and yes, it hurt,” says Debbie.

Should You Break the Silence?

Similarly, Lee risked such hurt and embarrassment and decided to act. Says Lee: “My conscience was eating me up because I knew I had to tell someone!” This reminds us of an event recorded at Genesis 37:2: “Joseph, when seventeen years old, happened to be tending sheep with his brothers . . . So Joseph brought a bad report about them to their father.” Likely, this report concerned no light matter, as the original Hebrew word rendered “bad” can also mean “evil.” Perhaps Joseph’s brothers were in some way jeopardizing the family’s economic interests. Whatever the case, Joseph knew that if he remained silent, the spiritual welfare of his brothers would be endangered.

Overlooking wrong acts or unscriptural thinking has been likened to trying to ignore a toothache. Grin and bear the pain all you like, the cavity won’t go away. Indeed, you merely allow decay to spread. Similarly, sin is a decaying, corrupting force. Unchecked, corruption invariably begets further corruption. (Galatians 6:8) In other words, unless an erring friend receives help​—perhaps in the form of firm Scriptural discipline—​he or she may plunge yet deeper into wickedness.​—Ecclesiastes 8:11.

Covering up a friend’s wrongdoing thus does little good and may do irreparable harm. No wonder, then, that Joseph felt impelled to report his brothers’ wrongdoing! What about Christians today? The Bible exhorts: “Brothers, even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness.” (Galatians 6:1) Understandably, you may not feel you have the spiritual qualifications to readjust an erring friend. But would it not make sense to see to it that the matter is reported to someone who is qualified to help? Why, neglecting to do so could even make you ‘a sharer in his sins’! (1 Timothy 5:22; compare Leviticus 5:1.) It could call into question your own loyalty to God and to his righteous standards.​—Psalm 18:25.

Approaching Your Friend

It is thus imperative that you approach your friend and lay bare his fault. (Compare Matthew 18:15.) This will take courage and boldness on your part. Don’t be surprised, though, if you meet with some resistance, as it is a human tendency to make excuses. Be firm, giving convincing evidence regarding his sin, specifically telling what you know and how you came to know of it. (Compare John 16:8.) Do not promise you ‘won’t tell anyone,’ for such a promise would be invalid in the eyes of God, who condemns covering up wrongdoing.​—Proverbs 28:13.

Proverbs 18:13 warns, however: “When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears it, that is foolishness on his part.” Perhaps some misunderstanding has occurred. On the other hand, your friend may be relieved to have his problem out in the open and to have someone to talk to and confide in. So be a good listener. (James 1:19) Do not stifle the free flow of his feelings by using judgmental expressions such as, “You shouldn’t have . . . ” or, “If it had been me, I would have . . . ” These only accentuate the friend’s feelings of guilt and helplessness. Likewise, expressions of shock such as, “How could you!” only make a bad situation worse.

Recall the Bible’s account of Job’s three “comforters,” who did little more than condemn Job. After being subjected to their humiliating accusations, Job said: “The comfort you give is only torment. Are you going to keep on talking forever? . . . If you were in my place and I in yours, . . . I could strengthen you with advice and keep talking to comfort you.” (Job 16:1-5, Today’s English Version) So try to show empathy and feel what your friend feels. (1 Peter 3:8) This can temper what you say and how you say it.

But while you may do what you can to encourage your friend, often the situation requires more help than you are in a position to give. Insist, then, that your friend reveal the wrong to his parents or other responsible adults. And if your friend refuses to do so? Let him know that if he does not clear the matter up within a reasonable period of time, then as his true friend, you will be obliged to go to someone in his behalf.

Being “a True Companion”

Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that “a true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress.” True, at first your friend may not understand why you took such action, and he may not appreciate it. He may even become upset and rashly terminate your friendship. But don’t panic. Give your friend time to sort out his feelings and come to realize that you were really interested in his lasting welfare and good.

Now let us return to the cases of Lee and Debbie. Says Lee: “I know I did the right thing by telling somebody. My conscience felt so much better because Chris was getting the help he needed. Later he came and told me that he was not upset with me for doing what I did and that also put me at ease.” True, not all friends will react favorably. Recalls Debbie: “I just knew I couldn’t let Karen continue and maybe even end up in jail with a juvenile record.” Eventually Karen’s friends stopped the nasty comments. Says Debbie: “I made new friends. I survived and learned a lot along the way.”

If your acquaintance continues to resent your courageous actions, obviously he or she never was a true friend in the first place. Among true Christians, though, there are those who will admire your high principles, some of whom may even seek your friendship as a result. At the very least, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you proved your loyalty to God and showed yourself to be a true friend.

[Blurb on page 19]

If your friend is unwilling to get help himself, it may be necessary for you to act in his behalf

[Picture on page 21]

What should you do if you learn that a friend is headed for serious trouble?

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Why Liberation Theology Is Not the Answer

LIBERATION theology is a relatively new idea. It was developed two decades ago by Roman Catholic priests in South America who were frustrated by the grinding poverty of many in their flocks. They came to feel that merely speaking to the desperately poor about spiritual things was not really helping them. Rather, they, the clergy, felt that they needed to promote radical social changes if the people were to improve spiritually. Some even advocated revolution.

Of course, it is not wrong to want to improve the lot of the poor. Jesus himself felt great compassion for the people of his day. We read: “On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) Indeed, Jesus promised liberation to those who responded to his words, saying: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) So is liberation theology the Bible’s way for a Christian minister to help the poor?

A Wrong Theory

No, for many reasons. For one thing, a Christian minister’s primary responsibility is the spiritual well-being of his flock, and there is no evidence that if a poor person’s living standards improve, he will be more inclined to improve spiritually. Indeed, the wealthier countries of North America and Europe, despite their high living standards, suffer from severe spiritual problems. Dishonesty, immorality, abuse of children and the elderly, and greed​—to name just a few—​are rampant. And in some places interest in God is all but dead.​—2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Further, liberation theology was not the way Jesus went about helping the poor, and Jesus is the Great Exemplar for genuine Christians. (1 Peter 2:21) When Jesus was on earth, he lived among a people who were subjects of a colonial power and suffered at the hands of cheating tax collectors. The most helpless among them were often victimized by rapacious members of the ruling class. (Matthew 22:21; Luke 3:12, 13; 20:46, 47) Yet, Jesus did not get involved in political theorizing or social agitation to try to improve their lot. Rather, he preached “the good news of the kingdom.”​—Matthew 4:23.

Finally, ministers of religion who promote liberation theology are seeking a political solution to a problem that can only be solved in God’s way. Although their theory is called a theology, it is not Bible based. Jesus said of his disciples: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16) It is impossible to encourage political activism and not be a “part of the world.”​—James 4:4.

What Really Helps the Poor?

Really, if liberation theologians do not have a spiritual message that is relevant to the very poor, we have to say that they are preaching the wrong message. Jesus greatly helped the responsive poor of his day, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are doing the same today as they share in preaching the “good news of the kingdom.”​—Matthew 24:14.

What is this good news? For our time, it is the truth that God’s Kingdom has been established in the heavens and soon will remove all wickedness and oppression from this earth. (Revelation 11:15, 18) In this way, God’s Kingdom will solve forever the problems of poverty and oppression. Speaking of the effect of the rule of God’s Kingdom, the Bible says: “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) What a magnificent prospect for righthearted ones!

But how does this truth about God’s Kingdom help poor people now? Well, remember that Jesus said: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) The truth helps one to enjoy freedom from a guilty conscience, freedom from fear of the future, and freedom from religious superstition.

Moreover, the person who learns this truth gains two very powerful Friends. One is Christ Jesus, who is now reigning as King of God’s Kingdom. The other is Jehovah God himself, of whom the Bible says: “Throw your burden upon Jehovah himself, and he himself will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to totter.” (Psalm 55:22) Even if a poor person lives under an oppressive political or economic system, these two compassionate Friends can help him to cope by means of the Christian congregation.

Additionally, responding to the truth about God’s Kingdom leads a person to get rid of bad habits and to make the most of whatever resources he has. No, a poor person does not necessarily become rich because of living a Christian life. But if he puts God’s Kingdom first and lives according to His righteous standards, in one way or another the physical necessities of life are provided. It is just as Jesus promised: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.”​—Matthew 6:33.

King David of old gave heartwarming testimony to the way God cares for His own. He said: “A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, and yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) There are innumerable examples among Jehovah’s Witnesses today that prove this to be the case.

Hence, rather than seek temporary relief through human theories and theologies, all, including the poor, are encouraged to enjoy the very real benefits that come from serving God. Those who do so agree with the apostle Paul, that “godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.”​—1 Timothy 4:8.

[Picture on page 23]

God’s Kingdom rule is the only solution to world poverty

The Dragon Mountains​—Beautiful but Dangerous

By Awake! correspondent in South Africa

THE hiker walks slowly, as it has been a tiring day. But soon he forgets his weariness. With a growing sense of danger, he notes that there has been a dramatic change in the sky, followed by a different smell in the air and a deathly silence. Clouds gather and it grows darker. Suddenly, there is a deafening clap of thunder in the sky!

The hiker heads quickly for shelter. But he does not run​—that would produce static electricity, which attracts lightning like a magnet. The rain comes; then hail, stinging his face. He finally reaches the shelter, regains his breath, and stares out at the spectacle.

The sound of thunder crashing and reverberating through the surrounding peaks is frightening. And the darkness is relieved only by the lightning that illuminates the opposite mountain face. For an hour the storm rages. But as quickly as it came, it subsides, and the hiker makes his way to the cave that is his temporary home.

Such scenes are common in the so-called Dragon Mountains​—the famous Drakensberg range of South Africa. One of its peaks is actually named Indumeni, which in Zulu means “the place of thunder.” White settlers gave this huge range its name because of the legend that dragons once lived here. Indeed, the range sprawls like a lazy dragon some 650 miles [1,050 km] through South Africa. However, the section forming a natural border between Natal and Lesotho is by far the most spectacular part of the range. It is often called the Switzerland of South Africa. This name is fitting, especially when the heights are blanketed with snow.

The fierce summer storms in the Dragon Mountains enhance their reputation for being beautiful but dangerous. Yet, it has not been the ravages of nature alone that have earned them this reputation.

Man​—The Greatest Danger

The story of man in the Drakensberg is often more violent than the summer storms that strike here. In 1818 a period of bitter tribal warfare among the blacks began, and the beautiful Drakensberg became the backdrop for many terrible acts of man against fellowman. By 1823 the population of Natal had shrunk from possibly a million to a few thousand. Remnants of scattered tribes sought refuge in the mountains.

Before the black man arrived, though, another race had lived in the shadow of the Drakensberg. For how long the so-called Bushmen were sole inhabitants of the area, we do not know; neither is it certain where they came from.a They had light, yellowish-brown, wrinkled skin and were of short stature.

The Bushman’s ways were strange to the white man. The Bushmen were skilled hunters but hunted only for food, never for sport. They had a sound knowledge of plants and were careful not to upset the balance of nature. Some were accomplished poets, others were artists. The mountain caves were their homes, and they decorated the walls with the now famous Bushman paintings. Visitors to the Drakensberg can still enjoy some of this beautiful rock art. How the Bushmen mixed their durable paints is still a mystery.

When in 1837 the first white men started to settle in the area, a clash of interests became inevitable. The Bushmen did not keep cattle. In fact, they viewed all animals as there to be used by all men. But they did recognize territorial hunting rights. For strangers to hunt in their area was thus a declaration of war. The white man hunted for sport, killing off the game that was the Bushmen’s food. They retaliated by stealing the white man’s cattle. The white man responded by hunting down and destroying the Bushmen. The little men were also attacked by black tribes. As a result, the Bushmen became extinct in this region.

The Dragon Mountains no longer lure hunters, as hunting is now prohibited in the Drakensberg. The mountains, nevertheless, still beckon another kind of adventurer​—the nature seeker.

Men and Animals​—Watching and Listening

While the Drakensberg can be a dangerous place for unprepared visitors, with proper precautions one can enjoy scenes of stunning beauty! Africa is renowned for its variety of plants, and this area is richly endowed. Especially after good rains, the flower lover will be delighted to discover wildflowers like the bottlebrush, red-hot pokers, and ground orchids, to name just a few. The diversity of wild animals is impressive. You will not see all of them, but you will hear many if you are alert to their distinctive calls. You may be startled by the eerie howl of a black-backed jackal or the bark of a baboon, and with practice you can distinguish the sounds of many birds. Hundreds of eyes will be watching you, although you may not see them.

Many kinds of antelope reside here. Among them are the tiny gray duiker, which is usually active at night; the larger bushbuck; and the majestic eland, the largest of all. The beautiful oribi, with its reddish coloring and white markings, is rare, but you will find it at the Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve. Sometimes, as you look at a slope, it appears as if the grass were moving, but then you realize that it is some well-camouflaged antelope grazing!

Not to be overlooked is the giant, soaring lammergeier, also called the bearded vulture. It has the eating habits of the vulture, but in flight it resembles the eagle. The chest is off-white, the throat and neck are an orange color, and the head is white. This contrasts with the black feathers on the wings and tail. A tuft of black bristles forms a “beard” around the beak, and a mask of black feathers around the eyes adds to the bird’s fearsome appearance. But it is a shy bird that lives mainly on carrion.

The lammergeier has the habit of dropping bones from a great height to shatter them on rocks. It then swoops down to scoop the marrow out with its tongue.b The black eagle and the Cape vulture also reside here, but the lammergeier, with a wingspan of nearly nine feet, [3 m] is king. Unfortunately, it is an endangered species; very few are left. A lookout blind is provided at Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve where it may be observed.

Spectacular Mountains

The challenging summits of the Dragon Mountains​—peaks like the massive Sentinel, 10,384 feet; [3,165 m] the smooth, dangerous Monk’s Cowl, 10,610 feet; [3,234 m] and the treacherous Devil’s Tooth with its 656-foot [200 m] sheer sides​—also beckon to the adventurous mountaineer. But such climbing is dangerous. The composition of the rock itself adds to the danger. This basalt is quite crumbly.

A number of passes to the escarpment, though, are steep but safe and do not require special climbing equipment. Of course, it is essential to obey the rules of the mountains. Warm clothing, a tent, and a reserve of food are vital. The escarpment can be bitterly cold, with fierce winds at night. “I remember one night,” said a hiker, “with the wind tearing at our tent and the cold so severe we could not sleep. The next morning our water bottles were frozen although they were inside the tent. I vowed I would not subject myself to this torture again. But the following year I was back! This time I was better prepared for the elements.”

Each year many thousands of hikers, campers, and mountaineers of all races leave behind the stress and pollution of cities and come here for the fresh mountain air, the thrill of a dip in an icy pool, the tingling sweetness of mountain water, and the grandeur of the majestic heights. At night they can see a blanket of brilliant stars crowding the sky. Some are thus moved to revere the Maker of all these delights and look forward to the time when the whole earth will be converted to a paradise.​—Luke 23:43.

[Footnotes]

[Map/​Picture on page 24]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

DRAKENSBERG

SOUTH AFRICA

LESOTHO

NATAL

Durban

INDIAN OCEAN

[Pictures on page 25]

Malachite sunbird on bottlebrush flower in Drakensberg

[Pictures on page 26]

Far left: Sebayeni Rock Art Gallery in the Drakensberg

Left: The majestic eland

Bottom: Bushman paintings from the Sebayeni cave

From Our Readers

Homelessness

I am surprised the articles on world homelessness (March 8, 1988) do not stress the root cause​—world overpopulation or man’s inability to control the rate of his own reproduction. As in all cases, man brings misery on himself through contravening God’s wishes for His children in some way.

J. A., Japan

It is true that overpopulation is a major cause of homelessness. However, the homeless are also found in parts of the world where overpopulation is not a big problem; hence our effort to present a balanced view of the causes. World overpopulation is a subject in its own right and was discussed at length in our issue of August 8, 1983.​—ED.

In one of my classes, we have been doing reports on problems in the world today. I chose to do my report on homelessness. From all the magazines I used as references, the March 8 Awake! gave me the most and the best information. It was the only one that had the real solution.

S. G., United States

Avoiding Rape

Last December, I was attacked. A man grabbed me from behind. I remembered that the magazine (July 8, 1980) advised women to scream in such situations. Since he had his hand over my mouth, I tried biting it to be able to scream, but it was impossible. He kept saying that he would kill me if I didn’t calm down. But I was in no doubt as to what to do.

I managed to open my mouth and found the palm of his hand between my teeth. I bit him with all the strength I had, and he loosened his hold on me. I bit him again, and pulling his hand away with my nails, I screamed as loud as I could. Swearing at me, he punched me hard in my mouth and then ran off. How grateful I was! I will never miss an article in these fine magazines.

D. P. Italy

I have to thank you for the “Watching the World” item “Best Weapon: Screaming” that gave advice on avoiding rape. (August 22, 1980) While I was walking from one village to another recently, a man pursued me and made a violent attempt to rape me. I screamed and shouted for help. Two men ran out from the bush to rescue me, and the rapist ran away. Thanks again.

E. A. A., Nigeria

Honor Parents

I am 17 years old and have just finished reading “Young People Ask . . ” on honoring parents in the April 8 and 22, 1988, issues of Awake! These articles were especially for me. Following the counsel not to ‘sift through the diamonds looking for dirt,’ I sat down and filled a sheet of paper with my parents’ good points. There are so many of them.

The articles helped me to understand how much I should appreciate the fact that I have two dear parents who, in spite of all their faults, have guided me toward the best way of life. I realize I am often impossible to get along with, but they don’t deserve this. From time to time I read that sheet of paper listing their fine qualities. Thank you for these excellent articles.

R. P. Italy

Watching the World

Children at Risk

Parents who value the mental and emotional health of their children should protect them from damaging TV programs, warns Dr. Gerard Lesser, a world authority on child psychology. According to Lesser, immature young minds cannot filter out fiction from reality in what they see on TV. The report in the Evening Herald of Dublin notes: “Comic violence and hard-sell techniques linked to TV adverts and children’s programmes like space cartoons are an equal outrage to the soft-spoken expert.” He warned that a daily diet of television violence and killing can be like taking the children for a walk through the streets of Belfast or Beirut.

Magnetic Fluctuations

The earth’s magnetic field is constantly subject to disturbances by the sun’s radiation. Solar flares and magnetic storms caused by sunspots can give rise to compass errors of several degrees. Thus, daily monitoring of magnetic headings could provide a warning of any serious deviations for air and sea navigation. Forecasts of magnetic activity are being prepared by geophysicists at the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, Scotland, for potential industrial, commercial, and military applications. The Times of London quotes Dr. David Kerridge, a member of the Edinburgh research group, as saying that “electrical currents induced by magnetic field variations could cause damage or interference to telephone lines, television cables, electronic devices, power lines and automatic railway signals.”

Diagnosed Too Late

The “ancient Egyptians were subject to most of the same diseases and injuries that plague modern man,” says The Wall Street Journal. How is this known? “By using CT (computed tomography) scanners. The scanners take cross-sectional views [of wrapped mummies] like slices from a loaf of bread, which computers reconstruct as a three-dimensional image of the mummy inside.” Unwrapping the mummies and doing autopsies meant destruction for them. And X rays, while working well for bones, did not project sharp images of softer body tissues. By means of the scan, the doctors have diagnosed tumors, gallstones, diabetes, hardening of the arteries, parasites, bone fractures, and other ailments. But “for these patients,” says the Journal, “diagnoses are made 3,000 years too late.”

Bigger Waves

Waves in the northeast Atlantic are getting bigger. Over 25 years of wave measurements off England’s southwestern tip reveal an average increased height of some 25 percent, reports the science journal Nature. Scientists, however, are at a loss to know why. After discounting faulty measurements and changes in the weather, one researcher concedes: “There is no obvious explanation.” The effects, though, are plain. While surfers along England’s Cornish coast may welcome the boost from higher waves, the oil and gas industry envisages greater costs as higher and stronger offshore drilling rigs and platforms are needed to withstand the battering of bigger waves.

Italy’s Heavy Drinkers

Referring to alcoholic beverages, Il Corriere della Sera, a Milan newspaper, reports that “more than five million Italians drink double the quantity considered moderate.” According to WHO (World Health Organization), the daily alcohol intake for men should not exceed two ounces [60 g] (contained in about four glasses of wine or in one and a half liters of beer), and one ounce [30 g] for women. Many experts recommend that women abstain completely from alcohol during pregnancy. However, it is estimated that in Italy 9.2 percent of the population consumes more than four ounces [120 g] of alcohol daily! Such estimates place Italy in the number two position in Europe and eighth in the world for alcohol consumption. Such overindulgence is said to be responsible for 30 percent of hospital admissions in Italy. In addition, WHO states that alcohol abuse is implicated in 40 percent of road accidents, 50 percent of homicides, 25 percent of suicides, and 20 percent of work- and home-related accidents.

Baby Stress

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin in the United States have linked stressful events like separation from parents in early childhood to illnesses such as asthma, arthritis, and leukemia. According to the report in American Health magazine, psychologist Christopher Coe “speculates that separations from parents could have particularly negative consequences for very young children” and “might cause immune suppression.” He suggests that “even day care for infants under six months old could be a risk.” Dr. Coe concludes that “to maximize health, we should attempt to foster emotional stability in our children.”

Lovers or Keepers?

In Britain dogfighting is increasing in popularity even though it has been outlawed for a hundred years, claims the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). With at least one organized fight every weekend, often involving American pit bulls or Staffordshire bullterriers, Britain is fast losing its claim to be a nation of animal lovers. Instead, “we are a nation of animal keepers,” asserts RSPCA inspector Charles Marshall, adding that the trend toward greater animal cruelty is a “sign of the cruel times in which we live. Cruel videos, cruel times.”

Go to the Ant

People are going to the ant these days for more than just wisdom​—also to get healthy and rich. Prospectors have “found that white ants, or termites, could lead them to precious metals lying underground,” says The Daily Yomiuri of Tokyo. How so? As the insects dig deep in search of water, they bring soil to the surface. Analyzing the resulting anthills has led prospectors to the minerals lying below. One farmer in South Africa reportedly noticed small twinkles of light reflecting from an anthill. Inspection showed their source to be tiny rubies, which led him to a fortune in diamonds buried below. In China, though, interest is in the insects themselves. “Chinese health experts,” notes Asiaweek, “claim that powder made from the hard-working insects can cure rheumatoid arthritis and many other diseases.” The pulverized creatures are said to be high in protein and zinc. Additionally, “wineries in Peking and Jiangsu Province have been producing ant tonics for years,” says the report.

Nothing but the Truth?

In British courts nine out of ten defendants lie, claims John Hosking, chairman of the British Magistrates’ Association. Yet, all swear to tell the truth with either a religious or a secular oath. Advocates and opponents of oaths sworn on the Bible or other sacred books admit that such swearing fails to prevent lying. According to The Independent of London, even those who favor retaining religious oaths believe that they merely offer swearers the “chance to stop and think about the solemnity of what they are doing.” Why such lack of honesty? According to Hosking, “there was a time when people had a fear of God and thought they were in for it if they lied. But that is now diminishing.”

Cats’ Lives

Ninety percent of cats treated in New York City for “high rise syndrome,” falling several stories onto concrete, survived. According to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vets released one feline acrobat 48 hours after a fall of nearly 500 feet [155 m] (some 32 floors) that resulted in only minor injuries. What accounts for such an outstanding feat? Medical experts cite the cat’s ability to relax its muscles so that its legs stretch out horizontally. Then, in parachute fashion, the animal descends with a maximum spread of its body, which acts as an air brake and minimizes the effects of impact. A gyroscopic reflex helps the animal land on all fours.

Reach for the Stars

YELLOW dwarfs, red supergiants, hot blue stars, all conjure up visions of a celestial kaleidoscope. But, apart from their brightness, most of us find it hard to detect any difference between one star and another. What do the astronomers see that we don’t?

Even a medium-sized telescope hardly reveals their color. Nevertheless, the color is there. As the Bible said some two thousand years ago, “star differs from star in glory” and, of course, color.​—1 Corinthians 15:41.

So why can’t we see the diverse colors of the stars? Although our eyes get accustomed to the dark after a few minutes, they require a certain minimum intensity of light to perceive color, and starlight is not that strong. Thus, while we can see faraway objects, we still find it difficult to distinguish their color.

The astronomer gets around this problem by using sensitive photographic plates together with powerful telescopes. The time-lapse photograph at the right shows clearly the different colors of certain stars in the Southern Hemisphere as they move across the night sky. What a beautiful testimony to the handiwork of God!​—Psalm 8:3.

[Picture Credit Line on page 31]

David Malin, Anglo-Australian Telescope Board

Death​—A Door to What?

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