June 8

Page Two

Military aircraft may cost from several million dollars apiece to over 500 million dollars for one Stealth bomber

One aircraft carrier may cost over a thousand million dollars

Trafficking in Death

While the world spends about a trillion dollars a year for armaments:

800,000,000 people live in absolute poverty

770,000,000 do not have enough food for an active working life

100,000,000 are without shelter

1,300,000,000 do not have safe drinking water

14,000,000 children die each year because of the effects of hunger

THEY have been called Merchants of Death, Gravediggers of Civilization, A Cancerous Tumor on the Body of Society. Who? The world’s arms merchants. Why?

In former times, they kept troops equipped with swords, spears, axes, and pikes for man-to-man slaughtering on the battlefields. In this century, they made and delivered the guns, bombs, tanks, warships, airplanes, poison gas, and ammunition for killing tens of millions of people in the two world wars while ruining billions of dollars of material resources, such as cities, homes, and other property. They have fueled the more than 120 wars fought since the end of World War II.

They continue to fuel bloody wars in various parts of the world. They train Third World armies for more effective use of their weapons. They have equipped world military powers with a stockpile of nuclear weapons able to blow up the human family several times over and transform the earth into an uninhabitable planet. They seem to be completely unscrupulous. Their watchword could be: “Your death​—our profit.”

No business has affected the human family as deeply as the arms business. The evidences are clear. The next article will reveal some disturbing facts.

The Arms Trade​—How It Affects You

“THE problem in defense spending is to figure how far you should go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without.” When former U.S. president Eisenhower said that in 1956, the global military expenditures in constant prices were less than half the present levels. How has this enormous expansion of the armament business affected you? A research report, World Military and Social Expenditures, will illustrate:

1. At present levels of world arms spending, the average individual can expect to give up three to four years of his life working to pay for it.

2. Extravagant weapons purchases have built up a huge pyramid of public debt for future generations.

3. The neglect of social needs in the pursuit of military power has left 1 person in 5 living in grinding poverty. The global population suffering from illiteracy, poor health, and chronic hunger steadily grows.

4. The military emphasis on high technology produces relatively fewer jobs than would be created by comparable sums spent for education, health, inner-city housing, and other civilian needs. Unemployment rises.

5. There is 1 soldier per 43 people in the world but only 1 physician per 1,030 people.

6. Years of military excesses have created an environment that is more unstable and more dangerous to human life than in any time in history.

7. Weapons of mass destruction, on hair-trigger alert, hold all of humanity hostage.

An Enormous “Theft”

The world’s poor are the most affected by the arms business​—in the richest countries as well as in the poorest. Dwight D. Eisenhower put it this way: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its labours, the genius of its scientists, the houses of its children.” What does this “theft” mean to the victims?

It takes schooling from them:

▪ The cost of a single new nuclear submarine equals the annual education budget of 23 developing countries with over 160 million school-age children.

▪ The budget of the U.S. Air Force is larger than the total educational budget for over a billion children in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, excluding Japan.

It takes money from them:

▪ In recent years the Third World has taken 75 percent of the world’s arms imports​—a reckless use of foreign exchange that has left many burdened with unmanageable foreign debts.

▪ By 1988 the combined external debt of the Third World countries had reached a colossal $1.3 trillion ($1,300,000,000,000).

▪ The world’s military budget each year equals the income of about 2.5 billion people in the 44 poorest countries.

It takes food and drink from them:

▪ It costs $590,000 a day to operate one aircraft carrier, while every day in Africa alone, 14,000 children die of hunger or hunger-related causes.

It takes health and life from them:

▪ Every minute an average of 30 children die from the most common diseases in the world. These could be prevented by vaccination, sanitary measures, and proper nourishment if social and health demands were put ahead of military power.

▪ A vaccination program that would protect 750 million children against infectious diseases is estimated to cost only two days’ expenditure for world armaments.

▪ In the poorer countries, the average life span is 30 years shorter than in the richer countries, due in part to the neglect of health needs in the pursuit of more arms.

Indeed, the arms merchants carry a heavy responsibility for the miserable world conditions. How do they feel about these conditions? “We have no problems of conscience. We are contributing to our own development,” says the foreign vice-minister of a leading arms-producing country. But the average person may ask, ‘Can it be stopped?’ We will consider that question in the next two articles.

Can Human Power Stop It?

SINCE the arms merchants rob an enormous amount of needed goods and services from the poor, why do people not stop them? The simple answer: The arms business commands money and power. The following facts about the scope, interests, and methods of this big business will help you to find out why human power cannot stop it.

Many people live off the arms business. Since the beginning of this century, the arms business has been the world’s most international industry. It employs some 50 million people worldwide, directly or indirectly. Additionally, one quarter, or some 500,000, of the world’s scientists are engaged in military research.

Immense economic interests are involved. The world’s nations have spent 15.2 trillion dollars ($15,200,000,000,000 in 1984 U.S. dollars) on the arms race since 1960. And the demand for arms continues. For example, in 1987 military expenditures reached a new high at 1.8 million dollars a minute! Twenty-two hot wars, with at least 2.2 million casualties, were fought in 1987​—more wars than in any previous year in recorded history!a The war between Iran and Iraq, ranked as the bloodiest and most resource-consuming local war in recorded history, for years soaked up arms from all over the world.

While there is much talk of peace, global military expenditures reached about a trillion dollars. Actually, the world spends nearly three thousand times as much on military forces as on peacekeeping efforts!

Many nations stand behind the global arms-bazaar counter. The two superpowers are the world’s leading arms sellers. France, Britain, West Germany, and Italy are Western Europe’s largest arms dealers. Greece, Spain, and Austria have recently joined them.

Even neutral nations sell arms and military technology. Sweden, esteemed as the origin of the Nobel Prize for Peace, has two of the world’s most advanced arms companies, manufacturing jet fighters, artillery, and explosives for export. Switzerland, pledged to the Red Cross and humanitarian efforts, is also involved in the international arms business. To add to this intense competition, an increasing number of Third World countries are also becoming arms producers.

Cutthroat Competition

All merchants want to convince people through advertising that their products (whether they are cars, shavers, or brooms) are the best. Likewise, in lavish, full-color trade journals, arms merchants advertise their deadly products as having proved lethality.

How would you react if you read an ad in the morning newspaper saying: “Looking for a killer missile? RBS 70 packs a highly effective warhead”? Or another, offering you a lightweight antitank weapon, saying: “A hit​—and a certain kill! . . . Nothing can stop it”?

Such ads would upset people if published in ordinary papers. But arms-trade journals are studded with them. Nowhere is it mentioned, however, that the adversary is offered the same weapons, just as deadly, just as accurate, just as technically full-fledged. Nowhere is it suggested how these weapons will be used, how civilians​—the final “consumers”—​will be affected by these terrible arms.

Shady Business

While most arms transactions are made between governments, the business is shady. A private report says: “A vast commercial network operates clandestinely as well as through approved channels. Governments pursue their own interests, often secretly.”

Although several weapon-producing states have strict rules regulating military exports to warring countries, their arms continue to find their way to the battlefields. A report from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute explains why: “There are no waterproof bulkheads between the legal, ‛white’ arms business and the ‛gray’ and ‛black’ arms transactions. No state selling arms seems to be able fully to control how, against whom, or by whom these weapons will be used.” A Newsweek report on the arms trade forecasts: “Restraints on arms sales are likely to collapse as more countries enter the competition for weapons sales.”

In the shadow of this international arms trade between governments, an army of private salesmen operate all over the world. They maintain contacts in high political and military circles. Among these are salesmen employed by the big arms industries, agents (middlemen) who never touch the arms, smugglers who trade drugs for arms, and small-scale wanglers.

In their rush for money, some arms companies seem to stop at nothing. The following list shows some of the intrigues they have been accused of, according to Anthony Sampson, an investigator of the arms trade:

1. Fomenting war-scares and persuading their own countries to adopt warlike policies and increase armaments.

2. Large-scale bribing of government officials.

3. Spreading false reports on military programs in various countries to stimulate armament expenditure.

4. Influencing public opinion through control of mass media.

5. Playing off one country against another.

6. Organizing international trusts in order to increase arms prices.

Yet, the armament business is flourishing more than ever. And no one seems to be able to close down this mighty arms bazaar. The two biggest international peace organizations ever formed in history, the League of Nations and its successor, the United Nations, have not been able to convince even one of their member nations to ‘beat its swords into plowshares.’ The arms business has become so politically and economically intertwined with world affairs that many people feel that it is beyond human power to stop it. Then, is there any power strong enough to do it?

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 8]

Even neutral nations sell arms and military technology

[Pictures on page 7]

Arms merchants advertise their deadly products in lavish, full-color trade journals

What Hope for a World Without Weapons?

WHAT a relief it would be if the crushing burden of the arms business were lifted and the global stockpiles of weapons done away with! What hope is there for such an eventuality? History shows that the nations will not do it of their own free will. Moreover, armaments are just a symptom. A problem has to be tackled at its root to be permanently solved. Can that root be traced, and if so, who can tackle it?

The arms business derives its nourishment from one of mankind’s greatest curses, war. But war did not grow from the arms business. Instead, the arms business grew from war. Is the root of the evil to be found in war, then? No, war is just a branch on which the arms business is flourishing. From where does that branch derive its nourishment?

Who have the power to declare war? All constitutions put such power in the hands of their governments, which usually start wars to enhance or protect national interests. Governments are supported by the people. So the problem is connected with this whole human system of things, influenced by nationalism, economic rivalry, territorial imperialism, and racism. Is this system the root of the problem, then? No. A closer examination will show that this wicked system derives its nourishment from a hidden root, a source that most people ignore.

A Hidden Root Laid Bare

That root is exposed in the Bible. This ancient book reveals that a powerful spirit creature, driven by selfish ambition, raised himself up in opposition to God. (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7) He is called Satan (meaning, Adversary) the Devil (meaning, Accuser, Slanderer). He introduced sin and death into the human family. (Genesis 3:1-7) Therefore, he is called “the wicked one.” He inspired the first lethal assault in human history, that of Cain on Abel.​—1 John 3:12; Genesis 4:8.

The Bible also unmasks Satan as “the god of this system of things,” the great “dragon” who ‘gives power, throne, and great authority’ to the global political system of rulership. Jesus Christ boldly pointed out that “the Devil . . . was a manslayer when he began” and described him as “the ruler of the world.”​—2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9; 13:1, 2; John 8:44; 14:30.

However, this lethal root will not last forever. A study of the Bible identifies this present cataclysmic period in human history as the last days of Satan’s system of things, which means that “he has a short period of time” left before he and his machinations are stopped cold. The provision for relief from this satanic influence is symbolically described by Jesus’ apostle John: “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while.”​—Revelation 12:12; 20:1-3.

Removing the Burden of Armaments

When the root is put out of action, all its bad influence will cease. To make possible this thousand-year era of restored peace on earth, Jehovah, Almighty God himself, will remove the crushing burden of armaments: “Come, you people, behold the activities of Jehovah, how he has set astonishing events on the earth. He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does cut the spear in pieces; the wagons he burns in the fire.”​—Psalm 46:8, 9.

Millions of people are already preparing themselves to live under such peaceful conditions. Jehovah’s Witnesses are already fulfilling this prophecy: “Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4) Therefore, they do not take part in any form of armament business. Like Jesus and his disciples, they maintain a strict stand of neutrality on political issues and do not participate in any temporal war or conflict, come what may.​—John 17:16.

According to fulfilled Bible prophecy, the time is near when no weapon will be forged for war, when all the earth’s resources will be used only for the well-being of its inhabitants. The Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, the King of all the earth, guarantees this: “He will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious in his eyes.” Therefore, rejoice! A world without weapons is soon to be a reality!​—Psalm 72:12-14.

[Pictures on page 10]

The time is nearing when there will be no more war. Instead, the earth will become a peaceful paradise

[Credit Lines]

U.S. Marine Corps photo

Tahiti Tourist Promotion Board

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Cope With Verbal Abuse?

“My father would never physically abuse me, but with his words he tells me things that hurt deeper and scare more than any slap ever could.”​—Ann.

“The verbal attacks made me feel worthless and would stay with me for days, even weeks. They caused mental wounds that healed in time but left scars.”​—Ken.

ANN and Ken, like thousands of other teenage youths, have been the victims of what some experts have called a systematic destruction of a youth’s self-esteem​—verbal abuse. Though no bones are broken and no bruises show, ongoing verbal attacks by parents are considered by some to be a very destructive form of child abuse.

“I felt that there was no sense in living,” recalls Marleen, who suffered verbal abuse from her mother. Low self-esteem is not uncommon among youths who are repeatedly called stupid or worthless, threatened with violence, made to feel like a failure (“You always let me down!”), or constantly blamed for mishaps (“It’s all your fault!”). Slow mental or emotional growth and destructive or withdrawn behavior are further ill effects attributed by some to verbal abuse. The Bible is thus accurate when it compares the effects of hurtful speech to “the stabs of a sword.”​—Proverbs 12:18.

Granted, what some youths call abuse often amounts to little more than parental discipline. (Ephesians 6:4) Such discipline can benefit you even if it is meted out in an unpleasant way. (Proverbs 4:13) Furthermore, parents too “stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man.” (James 3:2) So in the heat of anger, even the best of parents occasionally say things they regret. But when harsh, cruel words become a way of life, an ongoing destructive pattern, such speech may amount to serious emotional abuse.a

In such a situation, what can a youth do? First, let’s try to understand why the abuse may take place.

Why They Abuse

“Parents who abuse their children are not cruel maniacs,” claim Blair and Rita Justice, “nor do they lack love for their child.” Their study of abusive parents revealed that 85 percent of them had experienced deprivation​—if not actual physical abuse—​when they were children themselves! Many experts thus believe that much of parental abuse springs not from a youth’s misbehavior but from the parent’s raging feelings of insecurity.

Having never received adequate love and nurturing from their own mothers and fathers, some parents find it difficult to deal lovingly with their offspring. (Compare 1 John 4:19.) Minor failures on the part of their children are taken as a personal affront, unleashing a storm of criticism and ego-crunching insults.

Remember, too, since these are “critical times hard to deal with,” the pressures of making a living and of child-rearing can be crushing. (2 Timothy 3:1) Burdened by such pressures, some parents overreact to any seeming sign of rebellion on the part of a son or a daughter.

True, there is no excuse whatsoever for abusive speech. (Colossians 3:8) Parents are commanded not to “be exasperating [their] children, so that they do not become downhearted.” (Colossians 3:21) Nevertheless, realizing that an abusive parent may be deeply troubled or under intense pressure can help a youth keep the hurtful talk in perspective. Having this insight may even ‘slow down anger’ on the part of the abused youth.​—Proverbs 19:11.

Coping With the Abuse

If your parents are suffering from some emotional difficulties, usually you are not responsible. You are not really in a position to do much about helping them overcome such problems. At times the abuse is so serious that a youth is wise to seek outside help, perhaps approaching a Christian elder in his local congregation.​—Isaiah 32:1, 2.

Nevertheless, often there are things you can do to make the situation more tolerable. For one thing, you can always try hard to ‘honor your parents’​—even when their behavior seems unbearable. (Ephesians 6:2) Talking back or, worse yet, screaming back at them is displeasing to God and usually succeeds only in escalating the conflict.

However, “an answer, when mild, turns away rage.” (Proverbs 15:1) In her book My Parents Are Driving Me Crazy, author Joyce Vedral proposes a situation where an angry mother has blurted out, “I curse the day you were born.” Firing back a reply like, “I curse the day I got stuck with you for a mother,” simply prolongs the argument. Vedral thus suggests a reply like: “I know I give you a hard time sometimes. It must be hard to be a parent.” Responding to rage with kindness is not easy, but it may very well put out the fires of contention.​—Compare Proverbs 26:20.

Sometimes needless confrontations can even be avoided. Reflecting on some conflicts she had with her parents as a youth, a young woman named Barbara admits: “I could have thought more before I spoke. I needed to be more discerning. If you see that your parent is already mad about something, wait till later. All it does is add more fuel to the fire.”

Another youth says: “I realize now that what usually triggered an outburst was that I didn’t do something that I was supposed to do. I became more conscious of fulfilling my chores, such as washing the dishes and taking out the garbage.” The result? Fewer confrontations.

Repairing Your Self-Esteem

Still, verbal abuse can shatter one’s self-esteem. Ann (mentioned at the outset) admits: “Sometimes I even start to believe that I’m stupid and I’m not good enough, and that I’m a burden.” How can you rid yourself of such negative feelings?

Many youths manage to survive their difficult home environment and prove to be quite intact emotionally. Studies reveal that such youths “usually have at least one person in their life who is looking out for them.” As Janet Drobes, a psychiatric social worker, explains: “Youths need to spend time with people who are positive and who value them.” Perhaps you still relate well to at least one of your parents and can draw close to that one. The Christian congregation also has any number of caring individuals who can be a real help and support to you.​—Proverbs 13:20.

Taking up a productive hobby, such as learning to play a musical instrument or mastering a foreign language, can also help boost your self-esteem. And helping others to learn God’s Word is a particularly satisfying activity​—especially as you see God bless your efforts! (Compare 1 Corinthians 3:6-9.) Says Ann: “Through the [full-time] ministry that Jehovah has lovingly allowed me to share in, I’ve come to realize that I’m not as stupid as my father would like to think.”

Fortunately, even the worst situations do not last forever. And your parents’ actions in no way doom you to being a poor parent yourself one day. God’s Word can have a far greater influence on what kind of parent you will be than any poor example set by your parents. In the meantime, look to Jehovah God to help you endure. Your efforts to conduct yourself properly in the face of abuse make his heart rejoice.​—Proverbs 27:11.

It is even possible that your mature handling of matters will move your parents to change. Says Marleen, the formerly distraught girl mentioned at the outset: “All my life it was my mother yelling and me answering her back. But now I try to put into practice what God’s Word says. It works. Mom’s attitude has started to change. By applying the Bible, I came to understand her better. Our relationship improved.” By your taking the initiative, yours can too.

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 12]

A study revealed that 85 percent of abusive parents had experienced abuse when they were children

[Picture on page 13]

Taking up a productive hobby, such as learning to play a musical instrument, can boost self-esteem

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

1. It is in subjection to Christ (Ephesians 5:24)

8. To have them “opened up” means receiving enlightenment (Psalm 40:6)

9. True to their father’s command, they refused to drink wine (Jeremiah 35:1-8)

10. One of seven colors in a rainbow

12. The father of the Midianite woman that Phinehas killed to halt the scourge against Israel (Numbers 25:1, 6-8, 15)

13. Demented (Acts 12:15)

14. A descendant of Asaph who played a musical instrument at the inauguration of Jerusalem’s rebuilt wall (Nehemiah 12:36)

16. It will give up “those dead in it” (Revelation 20:13)

17. A Judean city given to the tribe of Simeon (Joshua 19:1, 3)

21. Son of the Benjamite Jeroham (1 Chronicles 9:8)

22. The forefather to whom those in 9 across were faithful (Jeremiah 35:6)

24. Each differs in glory (1 Corinthians 15:41)

27. One of the settlements of the repatriated Jews (Nehemiah 11:35)

29. Droop (Hebrews 12:12)

30. Frozen water (Job 37:10)

31. First woman (1 Timothy 2:13)

32. Necessary (Luke 10:42)

34. Method of Jesus’ execution (See Mark 15:20.)

35. A Levite of David’s time (1 Chronicles 24:26)

36. Because this was required by Caesar Augustus, Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7)

Clues Down

1. Considered so important under Mosaic Law that it was even performed on the Sabbath (John 7:22, 23)

2. Elisha’s attendant (2 Kings 5:20)

3. Smoldering remains of a fire (Proverbs 26:21)

4. Paul considered sending him to Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12)

5. Where Jesus said the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and lawlessness would be found (Matthew 23:28)

6. Has an eye but does not see (Luke 18:25)

7. What each unclean inspired expression looked like (See Revelation 16:13.)

11. This makes Jesus unique (1 John 4:9)

15. The one to whom Jesus was first taken when arrested (John 18:13)

18. A son of Shimei assigned duties with other Levites during David’s reign (1 Chronicles 23:10)

19. Ecbatana was the capital of this ancient nation (Ezra 6:2)

20. One of two overseers of the Nethinim who returned from Babylon (Nehemiah 11:21)

23. On the road to Emmaus, the disciple who asked why Jesus did not know of recent events (Luke 24:18)

25. A wilderness city rebuilt by Solomon (2 Chronicles 8:4)

26. Traveling (Isaiah 19:1)

28. One who carries out a transaction (Isaiah 21:2)

29. Military headgear (1 Samuel 17:5)

33. A town in Issachar’s territory (Joshua 19:20)

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS PAGE 26

Answers Across

1. CONGREGATION

8. EARS

9. RECHABITES

10. INDIGO

12. ZUR

13. MAD

14. MAAI

16. SEA

17. EZEM

21. IBNEIAH

22. JONADAB

24. STAR

27. LOD

29. HANG

30. ICE

31. EVE

32. NEEDED

34. IMPALEMENT

35. BENO

36. REGISTRATION

Answers Down

1. CIRCUMCISION

2. GEHAZI

3. EMBERS

4. ARTEMAS

5. INSIDE

6. NEEDLE

7. FROG

11. ONLY-BEGOTTEN

15. ANNAS

18. ZINA

19. MEDIA

20. ZIHA

23. CLEOPAS

25. TADMOR

26. RIDING

28. DEALER

29. HELMET

33. EBEZ

Alpine Flowers​—Amazing Survivors

THE lofty peaks, the invigorating air, and the unspoiled scenery attract millions of vacationers every year to that ultimate refuge from man’s encroachment​—the mountains. But the beauty of the mountains may be minute as well as majestic, close at hand as well as on the distant horizon.

In late spring and summer, alpine flowers cover the mountain slopes with every hue, converting bare grassland into a tapestry of blues, reds, and yellows. This alpine flora can be found growing in mountain ranges throughout the world, from heights of over 18,000 feet [5,500 m] in the Himalayas down to sea level in Alaska and other frigid regions.

Strictly speaking, alpine flowers are those that grow above the tree line, but often the term “alpine” refers also to mountain flowers found in the woods and meadows at a somewhat lower altitude.

What makes alpine flowers unique is their ability to withstand extremes of climate that other plants are unable to resist.

Life at the Top Is Difficult

Extremes of temperature. The extremes of temperature that some alpine plants are able to resist are extraordinary. High up in the mountains, air temperature can drop some 30 or 40 degrees Fahrenheit [15° or 20° C.] during the night. The plants that grow on rocky surfaces may endure a temperature variation of as much as 120° F. [70° C.] in 24 hours. Winter temperatures may be particularly severe.

Many alpine plants huddle together, close to the ground, where the temperature is not as severe. Others have their own antifreeze: Their sap contains a high concentration of certain salts that permit them to survive at temperatures that would kill most plants. Because of such internal chemistry, one alpine species grows over 1,200 miles [1,900 km] north of the Arctic Circle.

Lack of water. Although precipitation in the mountains is generally quite high, during a considerable part of the year, it falls as snow. The water is not available to the plant until the snow melts. Some mountain plants may thus have to withstand six months or more without water. Therefore, many of these plants have a water-retaining capacity similar to desert plants.

When the snow melts in the spring, a new problem may arise: too much water! Thus, many alpine flowers thrive on inclines where the water drains off quickly. Alpine plants must flower quickly during the short season when water is available and the temperature rises. Some generate heat when germinating, which enables them to push through the snow and bloom even before the snow completely melts.

Strong winds. Apart from the physical damage that strong winds can cause, they also greatly reduce the humidity of the air and contribute to the erosion of the soil. As a protection, some alpine plants grow in the form of cushionlike bushes, while others hug the ground.

Harmful ultraviolet light. Just as too much ultraviolet light can burn the skin of the unwary, so it can harm the alpine flora. The main effect is to slow down the growth of the plant, and as a result, alpine flowers tend to be a lot smaller than related species that grow at lower altitudes.

Despite these formidable problems, the alpine flowers can count on two invaluable allies.

Snow. Snow forms a thermal blanket that protects them from icy temperatures in the winter months. In one area the temperature beneath a 20-inch [50 cm] layer of snow was found to be nearly 30° F. [over 15° C.] warmer than that above. The snow also forms an enormous reservoir of water that becomes available precisely when the plants need it, in the spring when growth is renewed.

Mist. The mist, which is feared by walkers and climbers alike, helps alpine flowers by keeping the atmosphere moist. At the same time, the mist softens the strong sunlight, providing more uniform, diffused lighting to those areas that are in the shade.

Slow Down, Enjoy Them

Where can the flowers be found? Almost everywhere. Some are small and go unnoticed by the casual observer. But an unhurried look at the ground on the higher slopes will often reveal small blooms of delightful color and design. At times a whole field may be carpeted by one specimen, while other meadows are host to many varieties, whose diverse colors form an unforgettable mosaic. Cascading from nooks and crannies are other alpine flowers whose wiry roots enable them to cling tenaciously to tiny cracks in the rocks.

With the help of a field guide, it is not difficult to identify the flowers, and this will add to your enjoyment. The time spent observing them will give you new insight into the unique beauty of the mountains. Their floral adornment reminds us of the psalmist’s words: “Praise Jehovah . . . you mountains and all you hills.” (Psalm 148:7, 9) In his wisdom, the Grand Creator has clothed even the alpine heights with beautiful flowers, just as he has the deserts and fertile plains.

Can You Really Care for a Pet?

By Awake! correspondent in Denmark

RESEARCH on human life expectancy after heart attacks indicates that individuals who had a pet fared better than those who had no pets. It seems that the company of noncritical animals has a calming effect. Animals also seem to have a favorable influence on the physically and mentally handicapped and on persons with nervous disorders.

Before you decide to have a pet, there are questions that need consideration​—for your good, for the good of those around you, and for the good of the animal. Objective answers will help you avoid making a costly mistake.

Does your life-style allow for the proper care of an animal? Are you absent from home for long periods of time? Are your children old enough to understand what it means to have a pet? Do you have adequate space for the type of pet you have in mind, or would it have to be cooped up in close quarters most of the time? Think about these questions before you acquire a pet.

In ancient Israel, God held the owners of animals responsible for the way they cared for them.​—Exodus 23:4, 5; Deuteronomy 22:10; 25:4; Proverbs 12:10.

Should Johnny Have a Pet?

‘It is good for children to learn to deal with animals’ is a sentiment often expressed. The key is the word “learn”​—the child must be old enough to learn.

Very young children do not realize that their pressing and squeezing may be painful to an animal and that it may result in permanent harm. Thus, the mother of a three-year-old boy who wanted to have a guinea pig was told by a veterinarian that the child was too young to have such a helpless animal. The vet recommended that the mother wait a few years before giving the child a pet.

Parents may think that they can easily supply guidelines for their child in dealing properly with a pet. This, however, takes more time and patience than they may have bargained for, and often the price for the experiment is paid by the pet!

As parents know, children can be persistent when they want something. Therefore, in many cases parents give up: “All right, you can have a pet, but you must look after it yourself.” Children are prone to forget, however, even as they often forget to wipe their feet on the doormat before coming into the house. It would be a risky venture to leave the welfare of a living creature in the hands of a small child without proper adult supervision.

What can happen was illustrated in one family when the children were allowed to keep rabbits. One day their grandfather passed by the cages and saw that the rabbits had not been fed and the cages had not been cleaned out for a long time. One rabbit had worn her teeth down trying to gnaw her way out of the cage in order to find food.

What is the lesson to be learned? That if you consider giving your child the responsibility of a pet, keep in mind that however charming a kitten or a puppy may be and however pleading the eyes of your child​—it is still the adult who must be finally responsible for the pet. A youngster’s enthusiasm may swiftly wane.

Cats and Dogs​—And You

Not all adults consider the consequences of accepting another “member” into the family. They do not always foresee the inconveniences and responsibilities that a pet can bring. This may especially be true of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who lead such busy lives in their Christian ministry and are often away attending meetings and Christian conventions. Then the problem of finding someone to care for the pet arises. Certainly, it would not be appropriate to miss Christian activities because of an overly sentimental attachment to animals.​—Hebrews 10:24, 25.

Today, when many husbands and wives are out all day at their secular work, lonely cats and dogs in city apartments are a growing problem. For example, one woman went to a vet to have her cat put to sleep because it had been acting strangely. When the vet discovered that the cat had been shut up in an apartment many hours a day, he concluded that this was the probable cause of the behavior. Even though cats tend to lead placid lives, they still need contact with their human “family.” Other animals have suffered when locked in a vehicle without adequate ventilation.

Dogs also bring responsibility. They require exercise. It is not enough to take a dog for a walk once a day and then leave it alone in a dark basement (where it has already spent the night) or chain it on a short leash. One family in England had an active sheepdog but no sheep! That dog became neurotic and had to be given away to a farmer.

Hence, anyone who really wants a pet should consider whether he is willing to make the daily sacrifices necessary for a healthy pet. Does he have the facilities for proper care and attention? And remember, animals eat and big animals eat a lot! That can make quite a dent in your pocketbook​—yet another factor to take into account. Animals do get sick, and medical costs may take you by surprise.

Another factor is hygiene. The tongue of many animals is also their washcloth, which they use for all parts of their body! While animals are equipped to handle the germs that they ingest, children may not be. So do not encourage your child to kiss an animal. Even allowing an animal to lick your child’s face and hands may expose the child to health problems, possibly including worms. When it happens, washing with soap and water at once may prevent infection. Pets should have their own feeding dishes and should not be allowed to lick plates used by humans. Animals can bring fleas and other “undesirables” into the home. Some owners of dogs wisely do not allow them in their houses.

Birds and Fish​—And You

‘But then, what about a bird?’ you say. ‘That is much easier​—you keep it in a cage and feed it now and then.’ Budgerigars or parakeets are very popular and can be trained to say some words and phrases. Canaries too are a delight with their joyful song. But birds also require considerable care.

One consultant wrote: “The budgerigar is a living creature and a happy one at that. . . . The moment you acquire a bird, you have taken on a responsibility for its well-being. Insufficient knowledge of feeding, space needs, etc., and lack of understanding of the nature and characteristics of the bird have over the years caused countless budgerigars to live miserable lives, being mishandled, leading to a much too early death. So think carefully before you go to the pet shop.”

What has been said about animal hygiene also applies to birds. Their beaks are their washcloth. Certainly it would not be wise to have a budgerigar walking around on a table pecking at the sugar and other foods; nor would it be prudent to have a bird feed from your mouth or your plate. And a bird on the loose in the house may leave its droppings in the most embarrassing places.

What about fish? Many families like to have an aquarium of tropical and exotic fish in the living room. They are relaxing to watch. But are they cause for less worry? On the contrary, one small error in water-temperature control, oxygenation of the water, lighting, cleaning, or feeding, and you may find yourself with a tank full of dead fish. Yes, fish also require intelligent care.

Common Sense and Balance

If you do consider having a pet or already have one, then obviously a basic knowledge of its food and health needs is essential. A few minutes’ instruction is not enough. Most public libraries contain literature on the care of domestic animals and pets, and pet stores usually have helpful publications about animal care.

Certainly, if we want to have pets, it is worth the extra effort to get to know what they need. Then the association can be gratifying​—for the owner and for the pet.

[Picture on page 19]

A kitten is a delight, but kissing it is unhygienic

Are You Always Late?

TWO boys wrote invitations for a gathering to be held at their home on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Remembering that two of their friends were usually late arrivals, one boy said: “Why don’t we just write 1:00 on their invitations? They’ll probably come at 2:00, right on time.” And that is exactly what happened!

Not all problems with punctuality are solved that easily. In fact, failure to be on time can cause serious difficulties for the latecomers as well as for any who are forced to wait for them. True, not all cultures place great stress on punctuality. But regardless of where you live, likely you need to be concerned with being on time for such things as airplane flights, formal meetings, business appointments, and even some social events.

So if you are frequently late, what can help you be on time? And if you are often kept waiting by others, what can help you effectively cope with this prevalent human shortcoming?

Are you habitually late? Try first to identify the cause. Are you easily distracted? Do you have great difficulty organizing yourself or your family? Such influences toward lateness can be overcome by conscious effort. For example, time your routine activities and plan accordingly, allowing more than enough time for everything. Check the time every hour or so. Instead of trying to be exactly on time for important commitments, aim to be there earlier than expected. However, might your lateness problem be more deeply rooted?

Psychological Causes

Sometimes there are hidden motives behind lateness​—that of avoiding unpleasant activities, showing one’s own importance, getting attention, or avoiding the need to wait for others.

Dr. Dru Scott comments on an even more subtle cause of lateness: “A salesman who gets himself all set to leave the office on time for an important client meeting turns back at the door to make ‘just one more phone call.’ A lawyer on the way to catch a plane feels compelled to delay her departure by dictating ‘just one more memo.’ They get negative stimulation from this form of procrastination. It automatically creates a need for that exciting last-minute rush.”

Yes, last-minute excitement​—though unpleasant—​can actually serve the purpose of providing needed stimulation. If you suspect that you may be “addicted” to this kind of excitement, how can you overcome it? Dru Scott suggests: “Stimulation is a basic need, one we all share. It doesn’t show lack of maturity to seek it. Healthy human beings recognize the need. They learn how to take care of it productively.”

In other words, look over your weekly plans. Have you included some positive activities to fill your own need for excitement or stimulation? Or is your schedule one list of monotonous, mediocre routines? Nobody has complete control over his activities, but if you make it a point to provide stimulation where you can, you may more easily tolerate the routine aspects of life without having to resort to lateness to provide excitement.

“But I Perform Best Under Pressure!”

Some people claim that when they wait until the last minute, they perform better. And if that is really true in your case, well and good. But be honest with yourself. Do you really do your best when you wait until the last minute?

In his book Working Smart, Michael LeBoeuf observes: “Few, if any of us ever do our best work under pressure, despite what we would like to believe. . . . First, if you are forced to work at an accelerated pace, you increase the odds of making mistakes. . . . Second . . . , something may come up that’s extremely urgent and rob you of those few precious moments you allocated to doing the job. . . . Third, assuming all went well and you did get a lot done in a little time, it only means you know how to be effective but don’t choose to unless you are under pressure. You are cheating yourself by failing to become more of what you are capable of.”

Do You Hate to Wait?

Perhaps you are punctual but are repeatedly forced to wait for others who are not on time. How can you help or at least cope with family members, friends, or associates who are habitually late?

You may be able to help habitual latecomers by reminding them in advance of their appointments or by having an honest talk with them about the problem. It may be that some latecomers, because of their background or personal weaknesses, do not respond to help and continue to inconvenience others by failing to show up on time. If your circumstances require that you live or work with such individuals, you can accept their lateness as a fact of life and develop strategies to cope with it effectively.

For example, you can anticipate waiting time and prepare for it. Perhaps you can arrange to meet in a place where waiting is enjoyable, such as a store or a restaurant. Or bring some work or reading material with you to keep you productively occupied while you wait. Set your appointments with them early so that their probable lateness will not cause you to miss your own deadlines. In certain instances, your good judgment may dictate that you not include habitual latecomers in your plans.

Reward Your Good Behavior

If you do have difficulty with being on time, do not excuse this weakness or apathetically tolerate it, expecting others to wait for you. This would be inconsiderate of the lives and feelings of others. Consider the case of a bride who was three hours late for her wedding. As a result, the ceremony had to be hurriedly moved to a private home, resulting in great inconvenience to the more than 200 in attendance. Certainly, being thoughtful of others should move us to be punctual!

No doubt your efforts at punctuality will result in your being not just on time but early for many appointments and activities. When this happens, reward yourself! Says Dr. Scott: “Found time is like found money. Don’t put it into your everyday budget; spend it on something you enjoy. Think about all the things you’d like to do if you had an extra ten minutes each morning, or a half hour in the evening, or just a few minutes here and there during the day. Have some ideas ready, so you can give yourself an enjoyable reward whenever you are early.”

[Box/​Pictures on page 23]

Ways to Overcome Waiting Until the Last Minute

1. Break large, overwhelming tasks into small doable activities.

2. Take a physical step toward accomplishing a job. For example, if you are putting off reading a book, take the book off the shelf and place it near your favorite reading chair.

3. Make a commitment to someone. Tell a friend or supervisor that you will complete a certain project by a specific time.

4. Give yourself a reward as you complete each stage of a large project.

5. When you catch yourself procrastinating, admit to yourself, ‘I’m wasting my time.’ This reminder can eventually lead to taking control and deciding to stop procrastinating.

6. Consider the price of delay: Will the workload increase? Will the financial cost increase? Suppose you get sick when the last minute arrives? What if the project takes longer than you expected? Might there be a series of interruptions? Will the quality of your last-minute work suffer?​—From How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life, by Alan Lakein.

[Pictures]

Do you feel a need to do ‘one more thing’ before leaving for an appointment?

Do you really do your best under pressure?

Use waiting time to relax or to accomplish something you want to do

Religion’s Future in View of Its Past

Part 11​—2 B.C.E.–100 C.E.​—The Way of Faith, Hope, and Love

“The greatest truths are the simplest: and so are the greatest men.”​—19th-century British authors Julius and Augustus Hare

SOME 320 years after the death of Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, a greater world conqueror was born. He would differ from Alexander in two major ways, as foretold at Luke 1:32, 33: ‘He will be called Son of the Most High, and there will be no end of his kingdom.’ Jesus Christ was this Ruler, and he was destined to live on in more than just the dusty pages of history books.

Jesus was a simple man who lived a simple life. He did not own a palatial home. He did not surround himself with the rich and powerful; neither did he have troves of earthly valuables. Jesus was born about October 2 B.C.E., into an unpretentious Jewish family under very simple circumstances in the small village of Bethlehem. His early life was uneventful. He was trained in the carpentry trade, “being the son, as the opinion was, of Joseph.”​—Luke 3:23; Mark 6:3.

Even people who scoff at the idea of Jesus’ being God’s Son cannot deny that his birth introduced a new era, nor can anyone successfully dispute the statement made by the World Christian Encyclopedia that “Christianity has become the most extensive and universal religion in history.”

Not New but Different

Christianity was not a totally new religion. Its roots lay deep in the religion of the Israelites, nourished by the written Law of Jehovah God. Even before Israel became a nation, worship of Jehovah was practiced by their forefathers Noah, Abraham, and Moses and was actually a continuation of the oldest religion in existence, the true worship of the Creator as initially practiced in Eden. But the national and religious leaders of Israel allowed false religion with Babylonish overtones to seep into their worship and thus pollute it. As the World Bible notes: “The Jewish congregation at the time of the birth of Jesus was fouled with hypocrisies and cluttered with a formalism that obscured the underlying spiritual truths uttered by the great Hebrew prophets.”

Compared to the human complexities tacked onto the Jewish faith, Jesus’ teachings were marked by simplicity. Paul, one of Christianity’s most energetic first-century missionaries, showed this when he spoke of Christianity’s main qualities: “There remain faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) Other religions speak of “faith, hope, and love” too, and yet Christianity is different. How?

Faith in Whom and in What?

Jesus emphasized the need to “exercise faith in God,” the One he described as the Creator. (John 14:1; Matthew 19:4; Mark 13:19) So Christianity differs from Jainism and Buddhism, both of which reject the idea of a Creator, claiming that the universe has always existed. And since Christ spoke about “the only true God,” he clearly did not believe in a multitude of true gods and goddesses as the religions of ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome taught, or as Hinduism still teaches.​—John 17:3.

The divine purpose, Jesus explained, was that he give ‘his soul as a ransom in exchange for many,’ to “save what was lost,” so that “everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (Mark 10:45; Luke 19:10; John 3:16; compare Romans 5:17-19.) Belief in a sacrificial death to accomplish atonement from sin differs from Shintō, which refuses to acknowledge that original or inherent sin exists.

Jesus taught that there is just one true faith. He advised: “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.” (Matthew 7:13, 14) The book Imperial Rome says: “[Early] Christians insisted that they alone possessed the truth, and that all other religions . . . were false.” This obviously differs from the Hindu-Buddhist attitude, which sees all religions as having merit.

What Kind of Hope?

Christian hope is centered in the Creator’s promise that his government will solve world problems. So from the start of Jesus’ ministry in 29 C.E., he encouraged people to “have faith in the good news” that “the kingdom of God has drawn near.” (Mark 1:15) Unlike Eastern religions, such as Ch’ŏndogyo, Jesus’ teaching did not stress nationalism as a way of realizing the Christian hope. In fact, Jesus rejected all suggestions that he enter politics. (Matthew 4:8-10; John 6:15) Obviously, he did not conclude, as some Jewish leaders do, that “humankind must actively help God bring the Messiah.”

The Christian hope includes the prospect of enjoying eternal life on earth under righteous conditions. (Compare Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:1-4.) Is that not simple and easy to grasp? Not for many whose minds are clouded by the Buddhist concept of Nirvana, which The Faiths of Mankind refers to as “cessation” and yet “not annihilation.” This book asserts that, in reality, Nirvana is “not possible to describe.”

Love​—For Whom and of What Kind?

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is: “You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.” (Mark 12:30) How different from religions that put top priority on human salvation, while slighting divine interests. Second in importance, Jesus said, is positive love of neighbor. “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you,” he advised, “you also must likewise do to them.” (Matthew 7:12; 22:37-39) But notice how this differs from the negative teaching of Confucius: “What you do not wish to yourself, do not do to others.” Which love do you consider superior, the kind that prevents people from doing harm to you or the kind that motivates them to do good to you?

“The first test of a truly great man is his humility,” observed 19th-century English writer John Ruskin. In humbly offering his life in the interests of his Father’s name and reputation and, second, in behalf of man, Jesus showed love for both God and man. How different from the self-centered aspirations to godship of Alexander the Great, of whom Collier’s Encyclopedia says: “Throughout his life, which he repeatedly risked, there is no evidence that he ever gave a thought to the question of what was to happen to his people after his death.”

Also illustrating the love he had for God and man, Jesus, unlike his Hindu contemporaries in India, did not subscribe to a discriminating caste system. And unlike the Jewish groups that allowed their members to take up arms against unpopular rulers, Jesus warned his followers that “all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.”​—Matthew 26:52.

Faith Proved by Works

Early Christianity’s preoccupation with faith, hope, and love manifested itself in conduct. Christians were told to “put away the old personality” common to sinful mankind and to “put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) This they did. Interestingly, the late Harold J. Laski, English political scientist, said: “The test, surely, of a creed is not the ability of those who accept it to announce their faith; its test is its ability to change their behavior in the ordinary round of daily life.”​—(Italics ours.) Compare 1 Corinthians 6:11.

Imbued with unshakable faith and well-founded hope and motivated by true love, the early Christians set out to obey Jesus’ final command to them before his ascension to heaven: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them . . . , teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”​—Matthew 28:19, 20.

At Pentecost 33 C.E., God’s spirit was poured out upon 120 Christian disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. The Christian congregation had been born!a Its members were miraculously endowed on that day with the ability to speak in foreign languages, thus enabling them to communicate with the Jews and proselytes from other countries who were in Jerusalem attending a festival. (Acts 2:5, 6, 41) And with what result! On a single day, the number of Christians jumped from about 120 to over 3,000!

Jesus limited his preaching largely to the Jews. But shortly after Pentecost, the Christian apostle Peter was used to open “The Way” for Samaritans, who observed the first five books of the Bible, and later, in 36 C.E., for all non-Jews. Paul became “an apostle to the nations” and embarked on three missionary journeys. (Romans 11:13) Congregations were thus formed, and they flourished. “Their zeal in spreading the faith was unbounded,” says the book From Christ to Constantine, adding: “Christian witnessing was both widespread and effective.” Persecution of Christians backfired, helping spread the message, as wind fans a flame. The Bible book of Acts relates an exciting history of unstoppable Christian activity during Christianity’s youth.

‘That’s Not the Christianity I Know!’

Is that your reaction upon hearing this description of Christianity’s early days? Have you found that instead of possessing strong faith, many professed Christians today are full of doubt, unsure of what to believe? Have you found that instead of hope, many of them are gripped with fear, uncertain as to the future? And have you found, as 18th-century English satirist Jonathan Swift expressed it, that “we have just religion enough to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another”?

Paul foretold this negative development. “Oppressive wolves”​—leaders Christian in name only—​would “rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29, 30) How far-reaching would this be? Our next issue will explain.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 24]

A Christian has faith in a living God

[Picture on page 25]

Christian hope looks forward to a restored earthly paradise

[Picture on page 25]

Christian love is impartial in helping others to serve God

Watching the World

MILITARY SPENDING

“Does military spending encourage or prevent economic growth?” asks the UN Chronicle. The Chronicle’s report on a study prepared by experts from 13 countries notes that “the long-term costs of high military spending are almost invariably negative.” Even where jobs and demand are initially created, military spending ends up being detrimental to a nation’s economy “because it syphons off huge amounts of investment capital from other productive areas,” such as housing construction. While welfare and social security systems have managed to stay afloat in most Western nations, the crush of military spending has been devastating to these services in developing countries. “The poorer the country, the more negative the impact of military spending on its economy, let alone its welfare,” notes the Chronicle. It adds: “Every three hours, the world spends $300 million for military purposes. With that amount every single child on the planet could be immunized against deadly diseases.”

SCIENTIFIC ILLITERACY

“Well under half of the American public and only one-third of the British know that the earth revolves around the sun once a year,” reports Oxford University professor John Durant concerning surveys of over 2,000 American adults and 2,000 British adults. For example, in the American survey, conducted by Jon D. Miller of Northern Illinois University, 21 percent thought the sun revolves around the earth, and 7 percent said they did not know. Of the 72 percent who correctly replied that the earth revolves around the sun, 17 percent said it happens in one day, 2 percent said it took a month, and 9 percent did not know. The surveys, which asked about 75 questions testing basic knowledge of science, showed that “only 6% of Americans and 7% of British meet [the] standard for science literacy,” says Science magazine.

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES

The evidence proves that seat belts really do save lives, concludes a study of mandatory seat-belt use in the United States. The study published in the medical journal JAMA found “significant reductions in severe and fatal injuries in crashes among front-seat car occupants” who obeyed the seat-belt law. So next time you get into a car, buckle your seat belt; you may save a life​—your own!

HIGHRISE TOMBS

Although Japan is tiny in comparison with the United States, the book value of all its land was calculated last year to be the equivalent of $13.47 trillion​—more than the value of all U.S. land. Land cost, and shortage, is especially high in the Tokyo metropolitan area and, according to Tokyo newspaper Asahi Shimbun, has created a “very serious” cemetery space shortage. It is reported that space for new tombs where ashes can be placed will run out within five years. To ease the problem, Buddhist temples have taken to expanding upward. One temple built a six-story apartment-type cemetery that allows tombstones to be put up on each floor. Another built a three-story building with a two-story basement containing lines of altars where people can consign cremation ashes. Although costs for these are high, 2.6 million yen ($20,000) each, about a thousand have already been sold.

“TERRAFORMING” MARS

Mars is a dead and frozen planet. “Anyone foolish enough to stop by without a space suit would be done in by radiation, blood-boiling atmospheric pressure and poisonous air,” says The Wall Street Journal. Still, a band of scientists are seriously considering transforming it​—“terraforming,” in their words—​into a living planet suitable for human life by use of nuclear warheads, pollution, and bacteria. “We’re playing God, and it’s great,” exults astrophysicist Christopher McKay. Time calculations for transforming the planet range from a few centuries to over a hundred thousand years. The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration has allotted $10,000 toward a terraforming conference this year in California. Not all scientists agree, however. Says astronomer Carl Sagan: “We’ve done such a rotten job managing our own planet, we should be very careful before trying to manage others.”

UNBEATABLE BARGAIN

For the price of an economy air ticket from Tokyo to London​—under $3,000—​a young Japanese woman received exclusive use of a Boeing 747 airplane flight that cost British Airways about $25,000 in fuel and wages. Mrs. Yamamoto, the sole passenger on the jumbo jet’s 8,000-mile [13,000 km] trip had her choice of 353 seats, six films, a gourmet menu, and the undivided attention of 15 cabin attendants. With the flight delayed for 20 hours, all other passengers had been rebooked on other carriers. Since the plane had to return to Britain to get back into schedule, the waiting Mrs. Yamamoto was offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Mrs. Yamamoto will come back to earth hard if she returns to Tokyo expecting an empty commuter train,” comments Asiaweek.

IMPROVING SERVICE

“Service in China has been bad for a long time because the state has guaranteed everything to workers,” states Xiao Xingcai, general manager of the Xian department store. With employment guaranteed and firing not considered an option, the store has come up with a novel approach to improve workers’ performance: humiliation. It has publicly named the “40 Worst” of its 800 employees, even hanging a plaque complete with picture at each transgressor’s workplace. The selected 40, culled from ballots from shoppers given the opportunity to vote for the worst salespeople, were guilty of offenses that ranged from ignoring customers to actually throwing things at them. Those chosen not only lost their monthly bonuses, a substantial part of their income, but also had to write self-criticisms regarding their shortcomings.

OYSTERS OR BARNACLES

“In the past few years, the oyster population at Arcachon, [France] has been reduced by three quarters,” reports the French magazine Science et Vie. Why is this? Heavy-metal-based paints, used to prevent barnacles from fastening themselves to the hulls of ships, dissolve in the water where the ships are anchored and the oysters live. These special paints are beneficial to boat owners because barnacles cause friction, thus lowering speed and raising fuel use for engine-driven vessels. But the paints are harmful to oysters. Therefore, many European countries are now limiting the use of these paints. Researchers are hoping that a nontoxic Teflon-based coating will solve the problem, since barnacles could then be simply brushed off the hulls, and the oysters would not be harmed.

WORLDWIDE TREMORS?

What would happen if Tokyo were struck today by an earthquake on the huge scale of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake? The Tokai Bank of Japan recently released a report that addressed that question. A summary of the report in Tokyo’s Mainichi Daily News notes that besides the horrendous cost in human lives, Japan would be brought to a virtual standstill, since administrative offices are concentrated in the capital. Rebuilding the Tokyo area would cost an estimated $975 billion, which would force Japan to cut back on its investments in the United States. That could cause a drop in the U.S. stock market, force interest rates up, and step up the pressure on nations in debt. The bank further predicts that since the world’s financial markets are so close-knit, such a quake would lead to a curtailment of global economic growth over several years.

COMFORTABLE CRIMINALS

The Citizens Against Crime Association of Western Australia claims that prisoners are treated more leniently and are better off now than they were in 1965. Yet since then, serious crime in the state has increased by a staggering 1200 percent! The association’s president told the West Australian newspaper that today’s “low risk of imprisonment and relatively comfortable prison conditions” would not deter future criminals. He also says there is some truth in the claim that “prisons are only a school for crime.” He expressed concern that many offenders now seem to be evading imprisonment, for the figures show that the imprisonment rate has not kept pace with the rocketing crime rate.

From Our Readers

Breaking Up I was in a dilemma as to continuing a flawed courtship when I came across your article. (“Should We Break Up?” July 22, 1988) It was advice given at the appropriate time. I feel as if a burden has been taken off me. I now know what to look for and what to do during a courtship. I have never come across any organization that thinks about its youngsters as you do. Keep it up.

E. E., Ghana

Mary Recently Awake! had an article on Mary (November 8, 1988) and belittled the value we place on her. We greet Mary as did Gabriel. We call her ‘blessed’ and ‘Mother’ as in the Scriptures. We are happy and want to stay that way.

M. P. M., Brazil

Understandably, the subject of Mary is very close to the heart of Catholics, and we agree that Mary was highly favored by God. Nevertheless, our article showed that there is no Biblical support for the many traditions that have developed in connection with her, such as the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, or her role as mediatrix. (Leviticus 12:6-8; Luke 2:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:50; 1 Timothy 2:5) The issue facing Christians, therefore, is not whether they are worshiping in the way they prefer but whether they are ‘worshiping in truth.’ (John 4:23)​—ED.

Papal Infallibility I was shocked at your February 8, 1989, issue. (“Are Popes Infallible?”) I deeply believe that all true lovers of God should value what they have in common and work together in unity. But this is a base attack, ill-founded, poorly conducted, and poorly researched. What was your point?

E. S., United States

For the most part, we simply reported what Catholics themselves are saying regarding the doctrine of infallibility. Indeed, the articles were based almost exclusively on Catholic sources, many of them bearing the imprimatur of the Catholic Church. We further endeavored to help our readers scrutinize this doctrine in the light of the Scriptures. Such an objective examination of religious beliefs, though perhaps painful, is of great value to any sincere truth seeker.​—ED.

Hurricane Gilbert I get the distinct impression in your article (March 22, 1989) that relief supplies were sent only for Witnesses in that area of Mexico. What about the neighbors who are not Witnesses? There was also an undertone of ‘showing off’ when the article went on to say how ‘neighbors were very impressed’ by your relief efforts.

C. T., United States

By no means do Jehovah’s Witnesses ignore the plight of others when disasters occur. Previous articles have demonstrated how willing Jehovah’s Witnesses are to assist their neighbors during such times. See, for example, the article entitled “The Levee Has Broken!” (October 8, 1986) We thus endeavor to “work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.” (Galatians 6:10) While our motive is not to impress others, such fine works often move observers to offer words of commendation. (1 Peter 2:12)​—ED.

Handicapped I greatly appreciated your article “Handicapped but Successful.” (October 22, 1988) Because I have cerebral palsy, people sometimes insist on treating me as if I can’t do anything. They say: ‘You can’t do this. Here, let me help you!’ just as your article pointed out. I find, though, that when I try, I can!

C. S., United States

Are Self-Hypnosis Cassettes the Answer?

Do you have trouble sleeping? Are you too fat? Are you trying to overcome bad characteristics? If so, help is only as far away as your cassette recorder, claim the makers of self-hypnosis cassettes.

One side of the cassette contains the day version and the other side the night version. The day version contains music composed for your particular problem and should be played often, say the manufacturers, even when a person is not consciously listening. Its purpose is to make the mind more receptive to the message of the night version.

The night version, it is suggested, should be played only when one can relax, preferably upon retiring at night. After a short time, the voice of a hypnotist will lull you into deep sleep. Your subconscious mind never sleeps, says the advertisement, so it will be receptive to his messages even while you are asleep.

However, Alan Baddeley, director of the British Medical Research Council’s Applied Psychology Unit in Cambridge, England, writes that the subconscious mind is limited in what it can accomplish. He says that tests disprove the effectiveness of these so-called sleep-teaching systems. His conclusion: “It appears then that if you wish to learn, it is advisable to be conscious at the time.”

An even more important aspect to be considered is the connection of such cassettes with hypnotism. Surrendering one’s mind and will to another person, in this case the hypnotist, can be dangerous. The answer to overcoming weaknesses does not lie in allowing our mind to be manipulated by music and the voices of unseen people. The answer is in gaining an accurate knowledge of God’s Word and then following the leadings of his holy spirit. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24) Above all, it will give us the hope of endless life in God’s problem-free new system of things now near.​—Revelation 21:3-5.

“Godly Devotion” District Convention​—Do Not Miss It!

Beginning this month and continuing through July and into August, over 130 district conventions are scheduled in the United States alone. All sessions are free. Attend a convention near you at any location below.

Convention Locations United States

JUNE 9-11

AMARILLO, TX, Civic Center Coliseum.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL, The Ocean Center.

LUBBOCK, TX, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

MADISON, WI, Dane County Memorial Coliseum.

NEW HAVEN, CT, Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

ST. LOUIS, MO, The Arena.

SAN DIEGO, CA, Jack Murphy Stadium.

TUCSON, AZ, Community Center.

JUNE 16-18

BILLINGS, MT, MetraPark Arena.

KNOXVILLE, TN, Thompson-Boling Assembly Center.

MADISON, WI, Dane County Memorial Coliseum.

NEW HAVEN, CT, Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

PITTSBURGH, PA, Three Rivers Stadium.

PONTIAC, MI (Sign Language also), Silverdome.

ST. LOUIS, MO, The Arena.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center.

SOUTH BEND, IN, N.D.U. Joyce Athletic Center.

TUCSON, AZ (Sign Language also), Community Center.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium.

WICHITA, KS, Kansas Coliseum.

JUNE 23-25

BIRMINGHAM, AL, Civic Center Coliseum.

COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum.

CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum.

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Sign Language also), The Ocean Center.

DENVER, CO, McNichols Sports Arena.

GREENSBORO, NC, Coliseum.

HOUSTON, TX (Sign Language also), Astrodome.

KANSAS CITY, MO, Kemper Arena.

LANDOVER, MD, Capital Centre.

LOS ANGELES, CA, Dodger Stadium.

MACON, GA, Coliseum.

NEW YORK, NY, Yankee Stadium.

OGDEN, UT, Dee Events Center.

PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace.

SOUTH BEND, IN, N.D.U. Joyce Athletic Center.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium.

JUNE 30–JULY 2

COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum.

CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum.

CROWNSVILLE, MD (Korean only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

DENVER, CO (Sign Language also), McNichols Sports Arena.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (French only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

FRESNO, CA, Convention Center.

GREENSBORO, NC, Coliseum.

LANDOVER, MD (Sign Language also), Capital Centre.

LITTLE ROCK, AR, Barton Coliseum.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Coliseum, Kentucky Fair & Expo Center.

MACON, GA (Sign Language also), Coliseum.

MADISON, WI, Dane County Memorial Coliseum.

OGDEN, UT, Dee Events Center.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, Myriad.

PINE BLUFF, AR, Convention Center Arena.

PITTSBURGH, PA, Three Rivers Stadium.

PROVIDENCE, RI (Sign Language also), Civic Center.

RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena.

ROANOKE, VA, Civic Center.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Sign Language also), Cow Palace.

SOUTH BEND, IN, N.D.U. Joyce Athletic Center.

SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga Co. War Memorial Arena.

TUCSON, AZ, Community Center.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium.

JULY 7-9

BILOXI, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

BISMARCK, ND, Civic Center Arena.

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track.

CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum.

FORT WORTH, TX, Tarrant County Convention Center.

FRESNO, CA, Convention Center.

HAMPTON, VA, Coliseum.

LAFAYETTE, LA, Cajundome.

LANDOVER, MD, Capital Centre.

LINCOLN, NE (Sign Language also), Devaney Sports Center.

LITTLE ROCK, AR, Barton Coliseum.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Japanese only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Korean only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall, Woodland Hills.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Sign Language also), Dodger Stadium.

LOUISVILLE, KY (Sign Language also), Coliseum.

MACON, GA, Coliseum.

MOBILE, AL, Municipal Auditorium.

NASHVILLE, TN, Municipal Auditorium.

NEW YORK, NY (Sign Language also), Yankee Stadium.

PINE BLUFF, AR, Convention Center Arena.

RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena.

ST. PAUL, MN, Civic Center.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace.

SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center.

SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga Co. War Memorial Arena.

TACOMA, WA (Sign Language also), Tacoma Dome.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, West Palm Beach Auditorium.

JULY 14-16

BILOXI, MS, Mississippi Coast Coliseum.

BROOKLYN, NY (Italian only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

CICERO, IL (Sign Language also), Hawthorne Race Track.

FORT WORTH, TX (Sign Language also), Tarrant County Convention Center.

FRESNO, CA, Convention Center.

HAMPTON, VA, Coliseum.

HIALEAH, FL (Spanish only), Hialeah Park Race Track.

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Memorial Coliseum.

JERSEY CITY, NJ (French only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Chinese only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

MACON, GA, Coliseum.

NASHVILLE, TN, Municipal Auditorium.

NATICK, MA (Portuguese only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall.

PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center.

RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena.

ROCHESTER, MN, Mayo Civic Center Arena.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace.

SPRINGFIELD, IL, Prairie Capital Convention Center.

SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center.

SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga Co. War Memorial Arena.

TACOMA, WA (Spanish also), Tacoma Dome.

JULY 21-23

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track.

EL PASO, TX (Spanish only), Special Events Center.

FRESNO, CA (Spanish only), Convention Center.

HIALEAH, FL (Spanish only), Hialeah Park Race Track.

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Memorial Coliseum.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Greek only), Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly Hall. LOS ANGELES, CA (Spanish only), Dodger Stadium.

NEW YORK, NY (Spanish only), Yankee Stadium.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Veterans Stadium.

RENO, NV, Reno-Sparks Convention Arena.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace.

SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center.

JULY 28-30

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track.

EL PASO, TX (Spanish only), Special Events Center.

HIALEAH, FL (Spanish only), Hialeah Park Race Track.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Spanish only), Cow Palace.

AUGUST 4-6

CICERO, IL (Spanish only), Hawthorne Race Track.

Britain

JUNE 16-18

GUERNSEY, C.I., Beau Sejour Leisure Centre.

JUNE 23-25

NOTTINGHAM, Nottingham Forest Football Club.

SOUTHAMPTON, Southampton Football Club.

JUNE 30–JULY 2

LEEDS, Leeds United Football Club.

PLYMOUTH, Plymouth Argyle Football Club.

JULY 7-9

EDINBURGH, Rugby Union Ground.

MANCHESTER, Manchester City Football Club.

STOKE, Stoke City Football Club.

JULY 14-16

COVENTRY, Coventry City Football Club.

NORWICH, Norwich City Football Club.

JULY 21-23

CARDIFF, Welsh National Rugby Ground.

CRYSTAL PALACE, National Sports Centre.

LONDON (Greek and Spanish also), Rugby Union Ground.

AUGUST 4-6

LONDON (Italian only), North London Assembly Hall.

Ireland

JULY 14-16

NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre.

JULY 21-23

NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre.

Canada

JUNE 30–JULY 2

EDMONTON, ALTA. (Sign language also; Ukrainian sessions also), Edmonton Northlands Coliseum.

KAMLOOPS, B.C. (Sign language also), Kamloops Exhibition Association.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. (Sign language also), Kin Centre.

VICTORIA, B.C. (Sign language also), Victoria Memorial Arena.

WINNIPEG, MAN. (Sign language also; Ukrainian/​Polish sessions also), Winnipeg Convention Centre.

JULY 7-9

BRAMPTON, ONT. (Spanish only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

CASTLEGAR, B.C. (Sign language also), Castlegar & District Community Complex.

HAMILTON, ONT. (Sign language also; Hungarian sessions), Copps Coliseum.

KITIMAT, B.C., Tamitik Arena.

NEWCASTLE, N.B. (Sign language also), Miramichi Civic Center.

NORTH BAY, ONT., Memorial Gardens Sports Arena.

OTTAWA, ONT. (Sign language also; Arabic and Armenian sessions also), Civic Centre Arena.

SASKATOON, SASK. (Sign language also; Ukrainian sessions also), Saskatchewan Place.

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Sign language also; Portuguese sessions also), Pacific Coliseum.

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Chinese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

JULY 14-16

BRAMPTON, ONT. (Portuguese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

HALIFAX, N.S. (Sign language also), Halifax Metro Centre.

HAMILTON, ONT. (Sign language also; Arabic, Korean, and Ukrainian/​Polish sessions also), Copps Coliseum.

MONTREAL, QUE. (French only; sign language also), Olympic Stadium.

MONTREAL, QUE. (Italian only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

ST. JOHN’S, NFLD. (Sign language also), Memorial Stadium.

SUMMERLAND, B.C., Summerland Recreation Centre.

JULY 21-23

BRAMPTON, ONT. (Greek only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

CAMPBELLVILLE, ONT. (Italian only), Mohawk Raceway.

MONTREAL, QUE. (Spanish only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

QUEBEC CITY, QUE. (French only; sign language also), Colisée, Parc de l’Exposition.

JULY 28-30

CALGARY, ALTA. (Sign language also; French and Spanish sessions also), Stampede Corral, Stampede Park.

HULL, QUE. (French only), Hull Arena.