January 8

Page Two

“They rove in gypsy bands, sleep in construction pipes, in rat-​infested cellars of abandoned buildings or on street corners in miserable heaps. Their beds are torn newspapers, their clothing mere scraps of cloth. Their days are spent in hustling, prostitution and petty crime. They prey upon each other as well as passersby.” Who are they? Street children who inhabit a large Latin-​American city, reports Time magazine. But they could be the homeless youth of almost any major city in the world. There are millions of them, and their number is increasing at a record rate.

Homeless Children​—Who Is to Blame?

By Awake! correspondent in Brazil

ONE night Francisco takes his wife and children to the local pizzeria. In the parking lot, a shabbily dressed boy offers to guard Francisco’s car while the family enjoys the meal. When Francisco and his family leave the restaurant, the boy eagerly thrusts out his hand to receive a few coins for his service. Late into the night on the city streets, children like him struggle to earn a living. They are not in a hurry to leave, since the street is their home.

HOMELESS children are looked upon as the outcasts of society and have been tagged “nobody’s children” or “throwaway kids.” Their number is staggering and frightful​—perhaps 40 million. An exact figure, though, is hard to come by. Unfortunately, however, all experts agree that the problem is increasing worldwide, especially in Latin America. The sight of homeless children huddled in doorways or begging for money is so pitiful that society turns them into cold statistics on a casualty list, shrugs, and moves on. But society can no longer afford to do that. According to UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund), 60 percent of the homeless between 8 and 17 years of age use hallucinatory substances, 40 percent use alcoholic beverages, 16 percent are drug addicts, and 92 percent use tobacco. And since they have no marketable skills, they often survive by begging, stealing, or prostitution. Growing up as “nobody’s children,” they are in danger of becoming outlaws, and outlaws are a threat to the security of any community.

The Brazilian newspaper O Estado de São Paulo reported concerning a gang of homeless children: “They have no family, no relatives, and no hope for the future. They live each day as if it were the last. . . . The children . . . do not lose any time: They take, in seconds, a teenager’s wristwatch, jerk off the neck chain of a woman, attack an aged man’s pocket. And they also lose no time in disappearing in the crowds. . . . Sexual intercourse starts at an early age among the . . . minors. Eleven-year-old girls and 12-​year-​old boys come together and then break up the romance in one or two months, with the same ease with which it started.”

Why They Live on the Streets

It is not easy to help homeless children. One report showed that 30 percent of the street children were so scared that they refused to give to authorities any information about their background, not even their names. But why do they live on the streets? Could it be the desire to be independent? This was the case with one Brazilian youth who said that he would not go home again because his father would not let him do what he wanted. However, according to the Mexican newspaper El Universal, the main reason for the high number of street children is abandonment by their fathers. Thus, marital breakdown can be blamed as a major cause for the rise in the number of street urchins.

In addition, some parents are irresponsible in caring for their offspring, beating them, sexually abusing them, throwing them out, or just ignoring them. As a result, the abused or neglected child often feels that he is better off by himself, even on the streets.

Yet, children need loving care and guidance. This was well expressed by James Grant, UNICEF’s executive director. Quoted in an editorial of the Latin America Daily Post entitled “Kids and Tomorrow,” he states: “By the age of three or four years, 90 percent of a person’s brain cells are already linked and physical development is advanced to the point where the pattern is set for the rest of a person’s life. Those early years therefore cry out for protection, both to defend the child’s right to develop to its full potential and to invest in the development of people so that they can more fully contribute to the well-​being of their families and their nations.”

Thus, observers are worried, blaming the economy, the governments, or the public for homeless children. The same editorial continued: “Neither the humanitarian nor the economic case for ‘investing in children’ has made much progress. . . . ‘Economic adjustment’ has often meant that subsidies on food and everyday necessities have been cut back. . . . Coming on top of rising unemployment and falling real wages, such cut-​backs have meant that the heaviest burden of recession has been passed on to those who are least able to sustain it​—the poorest families and their children.”

Without doubt, the poor economy in many countries is another reason for the increasing number of street children. Parents will push their children into the streets to earn whatever they can, however they can. Why, though, is it so hard to solve the problem of homeless children?

Homeless Children​—Why So Hard to Help?

ON OCTOBER 14, 1987, little Jessica McClure became trapped 22 feet [6.7 m] down an abandoned water well in the United States. For 58 agonizing hours, rescue workers pounded their way through solid rock to reach the 18-​month-​old girl. The incident captured the headlines and hearts of the whole nation, and television coverage kept its audience spellbound until Jessica was lifted alive out of the dark hole.

But Jessica had a home. Strangely, though, the plight of children who are homeless does not arouse the same interest. Could the reason be that their condition is linked with poverty? Analyzing the condition of the needy ones, a writer for World Health, the magazine of the World Health Organization, declared: “The poor in the cities are not real citizens of their own countries, for they have no political, social, or economic rights. The poor age rapidly and die young.” Thus, profound changes in the way governments and people view the poor are needed before a country’s economy will provide sufficient food, clothing and housing for them.

How Some Can Be Helped

The ideals expressed in the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child are indeed noble, but why do they seem unattainable? (See box.) Generally, people like children and want the best for them. Besides, children are important for the future well-​being of a nation. In the Latin America Daily Post, James Grant of UNICEF says: “After all, it is the children who must eventually lead their countries out of economic stagnation.” A report shows, continues Grant, “that spending on basic health care and primary education can lead to significant increases in productivity and economic growth.” Countries like Brazil are acutely aware of the negative image conveyed by the condition of street children and related violence. Fortunately, in Brazil efforts are being made to solve the problem by means of charity, foster homes, orphanages, and reformatories.

Some governments are seeing the value of supporting the housing initiatives of poor families and communities rather than simply building houses. In this way, the poor themselves become a resource for change.

Thus, besides receiving assistance from various agencies, poor families should be willing to do their part. A family does much better economically and socially when it sticks together and tackles its own problems. If needed, all capable members can contribute to the family budget.

How Some Have Succeeded

Some homeless children have been able to escape from that condition. Consider the example of Guillermo. Before he was born, his family lived in a small village but because of poor economic conditions moved to the capital. When Guillermo was three months old, his father was murdered; then, a few years later, his mother died, leaving the children with the grandmother. Thus, early in life, Guillermo became a street child. Day after day, for five years, he sought out restaurants and bars, asking for food and money to care for the needs of his family, walking the streets late into the night. Kind persons who got to know him on the streets taught him the basics of personal hygiene and conduct. Later, he was picked up on the street by a governmental agency and put into a children’s shelter, where he received food and schooling. Jehovah’s Witnesses helped him to see that the Creator was interested in him as an individual, and they attended to his spiritual needs. Impressed with the sincerity and friendliness of the Witnesses, Guillermo said later: “Who would help a youth who had grown up practically without direction and discipline? Only the loving brothers gave me such assistance, besides financial help.” Guillermo was baptized at 18 years of age. Now he serves as a member of the Watch Tower Society’s branch office staff in his country.

Then there is João, who while still young was kicked out of his home along with his brothers by their drunken father. But a grocer hired João. Being diligent, João prospered and soon gained the confidence of fellow workers and others. Now he is a happy man with his own family. Also consider 12-​year-​old Roberto. He too was thrown out by his family. He went to work shining shoes and selling sweets, and later he worked as a painter. Willingness to learn and to work helped both João and Roberto to overcome many barriers. They recall moments of anxiety and insecurity as homeless youths, but they were fortified by their study of the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. These few examples show that children are normally quite resilient and, with the right assistance, can eventually overcome adverse circumstances, even abandonment.

In addition, when young ones receive parental direction in harmony with God’s Word, stable families result, and problems such as abandonment and child abuse do not arise.

Why Man’s Efforts Fail

Nevertheless, the existence of millions of homeless children points up man’s failure to solve this grave problem. The director of a child welfare agency was quoted in Time magazine as saying: “A person with psychological disorders and mental impairment, a sick person​—a sick, fragile population—​cannot act as an agent of development.” The same magazine forecast that as a result of this, one Latin-​American country would be “burdened with millions of adults so undernourished, unskilled and uneducated that they will be impervious to any kind of civilizing process.”

In view of this, do you think that the effects of malnutrition, sexual abuse, and violence can be solved solely by human means? Do you feel that any man-​made program can recover all the street children after they have struggled to survive in the streets among aggressive, ruthless individuals? Can you envision a program for educating parents to act responsibly toward their offspring? Sad to say, human efforts, however sincere, cannot entirely solve the problem of homeless children.

Why? Someone or something is preventing this problem from being solved. Interestingly, Jesus identified a person, whom he called “the ruler of the world.” (John 14:30) He is Satan the Devil. (See page 12.) His insidious influence over mankind is the principal hindrance to solving these problems and achieving true happiness. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Therefore, the removal of this invisible creature and his cohorts is imperative if righteous conditions for all homeless children and underprivileged individuals are to be attained. So, then, can we count on a world without street children and misery? Is there a real, lasting hope for homeless children?

[Blurb on page 6]

‘Who would want to help a youth who had grown up without direction and discipline?’

[Box on page 7]

The UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child:

◼ The right to a name and nationality.

◼ The right to affection, love, and understanding and to material security.

◼ The right to adequate nutrition, housing, and medical services.

◼ The right to special care if handicapped, be it physically, mentally, or socially.

◼ The right to be among the first to receive protection and relief in all circumstances.

◼ The right to be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty, and exploitation.

◼ The right to full opportunity for play and recreation and equal opportunity to free and compulsory education, to enable the child to develop his individual abilities and to become a useful member of society.

◼ The right to develop his full potential in conditions of freedom and dignity.

◼ The right to be brought up in a spirit of understanding, tolerance, friendship among peoples, peace, and universal brotherhood.

◼ The right to enjoy these rights regardless of race, color, sex, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, and property, birth, or other status.

Summary based on Everyman’s United Nations

[Picture Credit Line on page 5]

Reuters/​Bettmann Newsphotos

Homeless Children​—Is There a Solution?

PEOPLE who really care for their fellowman do not want to give up as if nothing more can be done for homeless children. They realize that street children need more than a roof over their heads. Children flourish when they have peace of mind, enjoyable work, good health, and self-​confidence. Altruistic men and women offer themselves willingly in the interests of the homeless, and that is commendable. But in spite of their efforts, the problem of street children persists.

The reason is that the present system that perpetuates conditions that produce homeless children cannot be fixed. It is like a broken-​down car that is beyond repair. Realistically, should we not recognize that man’s creativity alone cannot bring about a just human society?

Happily, though, a change is possible​—but not by human hands. Only Almighty God has the capability and the wisdom to eliminate entirely what is hurtful on earth. His Word, the Bible, tells us about administration by his heavenly Kingdom and how it will fulfill man’s desire for righteous conditions right here on earth.​—Daniel 2:44.

God Cares

Do you think it possible for God to remove the present system and introduce a new way of life? If so, remember that not only man’s salvation but, above all, Jehovah God’s name is involved. Being the Creator, the superlative example of orderliness and punctuality, he assures us that he will act in his due time and manner, and this through his Kingdom. Actually, that Kingdom is not something indefinite and vague but is a heavenly government, able to provide supervision and progressive instruction to deal with man’s real needs.​—Isaiah 48:17, 18.

A homeless child can take to heart the words of David at Psalm 27:10: “In case my own father and my own mother did leave me, even Jehovah himself would take me up.” It is also encouraging to know that a low status in the world does not disqualify one from learning about God’s will. Proverbs 22:2 states: “The rich one and the one of little means have met each other. The Maker of them all is Jehovah.” Yes, the unfortunate ones, when sincere, can be sure that Jehovah God is willing to help them.​—Psalm 10:14, 17.

Jehovah is interested in our well-​being and knows how to satisfy our rightful desires. Once he asked the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah: “Is not this the fast that I choose? . . . Is it not the dividing of your bread out to the hungry one, and that you should bring the afflicted, homeless people into your house? That, in case you should see someone naked, you must cover him?” (Isaiah 58:6, 7) This is the equality and justice that God will bring about through his Kingdom government. No one will be ignored or treated as though he did not exist. Thus, Psalm 145:19 informs us: “The desire of those fearing him he will perform, and their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them.” Love for God and fellowman will be the principal force to unite the human family. As a result, the problem of homeless children will be solved. No one will be left alone!

Will Man’s Imperfection Hinder God’s Purpose?

No, man’s bad inclinations will not be allowed to hinder Jehovah’s purpose to transform the earth into a paradise of pleasure. Those who are privileged to live in God’s new world, either because they survive the battle of Armageddon, as described in the Bible, or because they are resurrected from the dead to live again on earth, will be encouraged to do their very best.​—John 5:28, 29; Revelation 16:14, 16.

No one who responds will find his work to be futile. His work will be rewarded accordingly. Note, please, God’s promise: “They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing, nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them.” (Isaiah 65:22, 23) Would you and your family not like to see the fulfillment of those words? And what a joy to know that then you will nowhere find famine, poverty, unemployment, or homeless children!

No doubt, those who presently suffer privations, as the homeless children do, will value more fully the blessings of a happy family and a comfortable home. As we read at Isaiah 65:17: “The former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” Persons privileged to live then will find that adverse conditions are gone forever and that people of all nations, languages, and races will be working together in a loving brotherhood. Family units that survive into that time will no doubt continue to give God glory. Psalm 37:11 says of that earthly Paradise: “The meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”

How Can You Prepare Yourself for the Future?

Even now, it is possible to obtain life-​giving knowledge and to cultivate desirable qualities, such as love and kindness. How so? Jehovah loves the human family, and through his Son, Jesus Christ, He ‘draws people to Christ’ by contact with His Word and His people. (John 6:44) He also has an organization on earth with a teaching program that can help you to do God’s will so that you can look forward to a happy and meaningful life forever. Thus, the good news of God’s Kingdom is preached to those in need. (Matthew 24:14) God’s Word says: “The one despising his own fellowman is sinning, but happy is he who is showing favor to the afflicted ones.” (Proverbs 14:21) It is heartwarming to know that even underprivileged ones can approach God if their motive is right. The psalmist wrote: “But I am afflicted and poor. O God, do act quickly for me. You are my help and the Provider of escape for me. O Jehovah, do not be too late.”​—Psalm 70:5.

Yes, God’s Word can give you a real hope for the future. Yet, the common use of the word “hope” does not always imply certainty. In Brazil one often hears the expression: “A esperança é a última que morre” (similar to the English “Hope springs eternal”). The idea is to remain hopeful even when there seems to be no basis for it. In contrast, the Scriptures provide solid reasons for maintaining strong faith in God and hope in his promises. We read at Romans 10:11: “None that rests his faith on him will be disappointed.” Such a Bible-based hope will not lead to frustration. Just as the wonders of our earth are real, testifying to Jehovah’s wisdom and love, so the fulfillment of Bible prophecies permits you to have a positive outlook, a genuine hope for the future.​—Romans 15:13.

God’s Kingdom is the real solution for homeless children, yes, for all who love what is right. Acquiring accurate Bible knowledge now will enable you to enjoy happiness and everlasting life in God’s new world. The anticipation of these promises is not a product of fantasy. As Proverbs 11:19 declares: “The one firmly standing for righteousness is in line for life.”

[Box on page 11]

A Temporary Solution?

An outstretched hand from a soulful-​looking waif can tug at the heart. But concerned individuals are at a loss as to how to help a homeless child. In order to feel less guilty, some people will drop a few coins into the child’s palm and quickly walk away. Yet, chances are slim that the handout will be spent on food or shelter. Rather, it may well end up being used to buy drugs or alcohol. Therefore, some civic-​minded adults are giving their attention and money to local government-​sponsored programs that they feel will assist homeless children. Other people believe that a more practical approach is to direct the homeless child to the proper agency for help. In this way, concerned citizens feel that they are trying to make their own community more humane.

[Picture on page 9]

“They will not plant and someone else do the eating.”​—Isaiah 65:22

[Credit Line]

FAO photo

[Picture on page 10]

“For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be.”​—Isaiah 65:22

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Is There Really a Devil?

WHEN you were a child, were you afraid of the dark? Perhaps you imagined a monster lurking outside your window, waiting to snatch you from your parents. Now as an adult, able to read factual information and think more rationally, your childhood fears seem absurd. “So,” some critics say, “why not go a step further and put the Devil in the same category​—no more real than a child’s imaginary monster?”

No real Devil? That is exactly what one religious pamphlet assures you: “The Bible knows nothing of such a monster of evil” and, “In the terms Devil and Satan we have the . . . principle of sin and wickedness which is inherent in human nature.” Or as a Sunday-school teacher in the United States put it: “Men are the only devils.” Does it all appear very simple​—perhaps too simple?

Explaining Human Behavior

If we humans are the only devils, then why do almost all of us show concern for our family’s welfare? For example, as individuals most people provide food for their families; they do not knowingly poison themselves, and they avoid life-​threatening dangers. Nothing devilish about that! Yet, when these same people act in concert as nations, something blocks their view of their common welfare. As nations, they let surplus food rot rather than feed their hungry populations. They pollute earth’s environment. They arm for mutual annihilation​—nuclear war. Strange, self-​destructive behavior!

What influence accounts for this blind spot in human behavior? Crowd mentality? A few irrational leaders? Surely more is involved. The Bible alone identifies someone who “has blinded the minds” of a disbelieving worldwide “system of things.” Who? “The one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth.” He manipulates organized humanity so successfully that the Bible calls him “the god” of this world system.​—2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9.

This “god” is no bogeyman hiding outside your window. But he is a powerful political strategist, an unseen spirit creature, who, in an unsuccessful bid for Jesus’ allegiance, could offer Jesus every kingdom of the world. (Luke 4:6, 7) Apparently, Satan had given such power to others before he offered it to Jesus, for the Bible book of Daniel reveals that as deputies, rebel angels had accepted authority over world empires​—with such official titles as “prince of Persia,” and “prince of Greece.”​—Daniel 10:20, 21.

Thus, Satan has built an immense organization​—as both “ruler of the [visible] world” and “ruler of the [invisible] demons.” (John 14:30; 16:11; Matthew 12:24) This insight, that the Devil heads a worldwide organization, explains a lot.

Why He Heads an Organization

Just as a boss of organized crime might oversee many illegal operations​—drugs, prostitution, theft, gambling, smuggling, and so forth—​without personally revealing himself to all his underlings, so Satan uses an organization to control far more people than he could by himself alone. His strategy? Besides harassing individuals, he and the demons treat masses of people as if they were a herd of cattle. No need to direct each one personally. Simply turn a few at the head of the herd, and the majority will follow. Then concentrate on the strays.

Yes, the Devil is real enough, but his true identity bears little resemblance to the caricature we see in cartoons or to the hazy theories of theologians. Hazy? Yes, as the book Satan, A Portrait notes: “Belief in Satan became less vivid” in the 19th century, and theologians “endeavored to explain Satan as something other than a personal spirit being.”

Who Is Telling the Truth About the Devil?

The readiness of modern religions to doubt what the Bible says about the Devil caters to a materialistic society that has become uncertain about God himself. “Today,” says Ruth Ansher in her book The Reality of the Devil, “the Devil has disappeared and . . . God himself has withdrawn to the periphery.”

By casting doubt on the Bible’s view, modern religious “experts” have disregarded the one fact that puts history in perspective. As Romanian playwright Eugène Ionesco admitted to a German newspaper: “History would be beyond comprehension if we were to leave out the demonic element.”​—Welt am Sonntag, September 2, 1979.

Does anyone have the courage to uphold the truth about the Devil’s role in today’s world crisis? Clearly, yes! Consider the “Declaration Against Satan and for Jehovah” unanimously adopted at a convention in 1928. It pledged Jehovah’s Witnesses to proclaim, like a battle cry against man’s enemy, Satan, that the great coming battle of Armageddon will soon stop Satan and his evil organization.

Truly, history testifies that the Devil is a real enemy to each of us. But, clearly, Jehovah God has not left us to ourselves. Why not learn more? It pays to know our enemy, “that we may not be overreached by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.”​—2 Corinthians 2:11.

[Blurb on page 13]

“Today the Devil has disappeared and . . . God himself has withdrawn to the periphery.”

[Picture on page 12]

The real Devil bears little resemblance to religious pictures or to hazy theories of theologians

[Credit Line]

Gustave Doré

The Stork​—A “Loyal” Bird

By Awake! correspondent in Spain

THE stork​—traditional harbinger of spring, babies, and good fortune—​has long held a special place in man’s myths and affections. Its graceful flight, its affinity for human settlements, and its useful role in controlling agricultural pests have all contributed to its popular image.

But perhaps its most endearing feature is its faithfulness​—faithfulness to its nest, to which it returns every year, and loyalty to its mate, with which it forms a lifelong bond. In fact, its name in Hebrew means “loyal one” or “one of loving-​kindness” because, as the Talmud explains, it is a creature distinguished for treating its mate with affection.

Thanks to this popular image, nearly two hundred years ago the stork was a protected species in Holland and, reportedly, tame storks could be seen strutting around the fish market of The Hague. It was later made the national bird of Germany. And nowadays, in many European towns, platforms are erected on roofs to encourage this friendly bird to nest on them. Storks are welcome neighbors!

Comings and Goings

Some European storks winter in West Africa south of the Sahara, while others travel as far as South Africa. They start the long journey south in August. As they are not strong fliers, the journey is done in stages. They prefer to migrate in groups of varying size, and often all the storks in a certain area will join up before departing on their migration. Being among the earliest migratory birds to return north, they arrive back at their nests in February or March.

Because of their size​—they have a wingspan of about six feet [1.8 m]—​and their dependability, migrating storks have always attracted attention. Large flocks punctually pass through Palestine in autumn and spring. More than 2,500 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah called attention to this fact, accurately describing the stork as a bird who “knows the time to migrate.”​—Jeremiah 8:7, The New English Bible.

The distance they travel every year​—a round-​trip of over ten thousand miles [16,000 km] in some cases—​is remarkable, all the more so considering that they glide most of the way. Like the large birds of prey, they rely on thermals, rising bodies of hot air, to gain altitude, after which they take advantage of their broad wings to glide effortlessly for long distances, only rarely beating their wings.

A unique feature of the storks’ migration is their passage across the Mediterranean. They prefer not to travel over water, where thermals are absent. Thus, every August thousands of storks congregate to make the crossing at the two points where the distance over the water is the shortest (the Strait of Gibraltar and the Bosporus). Surprisingly, the long journey across the Sahara Desert does not daunt them as much as the nine-​mile [14 km] stretch of water separating Spain and Africa, which can take them as much as five hours.

The Extraordinary Nest

Storks favor a nesting place in a prominent place, such as the top of a tall tree, although they will sometimes make do with a modern-​day counterpart, an electrical pole. In Biblical times, they often built their “house” in juniper trees.​—Psalm 104:17.

But for centuries, rooftops, churches, and chimneys throughout Europe have been favorite nesting sites. Both the male and the female bird patiently build the nest, an extraordinary structure that may well look as if it will topple off its perch at any moment. But appearances can be deceptive, and the large nests are rarely dislodged even during the most violent storms. So durable are the nests that the storks on returning each year usually just spend a week or so making minimal repairs to their home.

This repair work, which involves adding twigs and other material, is usually done by both storks as soon as they arrive from their winter quarters. And eventually, it is this repair work that brings about the nest’s demise​—it just collapses under its own weight. By that time the nest may well be as much as seven feet [2 m] high and three or more feet [a meter or more] in diameter.

Just as the parents return to their nest every spring, so the offspring try to find a site as near as possible to their place of hatching. Thus, some old buildings become host to a dozen or more enormous nests, all occupied by descendants of one original pair.

The Current Plight of the Stork

Despite attempts to make the stork feel welcome in many European towns, its future looks bleak. Last century there were some 500 nests in Switzerland, but now only a handful remain. A similar gloomy picture emerges from Sweden, Holland, Denmark, and Germany, where their numbers are decreasing alarmingly. In Spain, where they are still a common sight, occupied nests have been reduced by half in just ten years. The whole European population is now estimated to be only from 10,000 to 20,000 pairs. What is happening to one of man’s favorite birds?

Apparently, many factors are involved, but most of them are related to man’s destruction of the environment. In their wintering grounds in Africa, storks are often hunted and killed for food: an ecological tragedy, as the storks spend the winter months gorging on the locust swarms that do so much damage to vital African crops. Meanwhile, in Europe infertile eggs, caused by widespread use of pesticides, and the loss of feeding grounds have resulted in fewer offspring being reared each year. Furthermore, power lines are a lethal hazard for many large birds, and trigger-​happy hunters are responsible for the death of many others.

Conservationists are making efforts to protect the stork, but a successful program will depend on the cooperation of many nations, something that is not easy to achieve. Lovers of God’s creation trust that the time will never come when the majestic wings of the stork disappear from our skies, when spring is no longer heralded by this neighborly and loyal bird.

[Box on page 16]

Storks and Babies

For centuries, children have been told that babies are brought by storks, and storks still feature prominently on cards congratulating parents on the birth of a baby. Where did the story originate?

Apparently, the idea is based on two legends. Years ago, people noticed that storks appeared seemingly miraculously each year at the same time. Some thought that they went to Egypt during the winter months and became men, only to revert to being birds in the spring (this explained their attachment to human dwellings).

It was also noticed that storks spent most of the day feeding in marshy areas, which were said to be the dwelling place of the souls of newborn babies. As storks were birds that were most solicitous parents, it did not require too much imagination for people to link fact and fiction and come up with the notion that babies were brought by storks.

[Picture on page 14]

[Picture on pages 16, 17]

[Picture Credit Line on page 15]

Godo-​Foto

[Picture Credit Line on page 16]

Godo-​Foto

I Live With Muscular Dystrophy

THE movie over, I slowly turned in my seat and unsteadily rose to a standing position. Trying to balance on stiff legs, I took the first step. As I moved shakily into the aisle, my knees suddenly buckled, and I tumbled to the floor. It would take every ounce of determination I possessed to get back up. How relieved I was to see the tall, blond stranger with a friendly smile approaching. “May I be of help?” he asked. This chance meeting in Helena, Montana, United States, early in 1978, was the start of a new way of life for me.

You may be wondering, though, why I fell down. It all began even before I was born. Without knowing it, my mother was carrying a defective gene that she passed on to me. So on January 16, 1948, I was born with a muscular disease.

My mother first noticed that something was wrong when I was about six years of age. I started to trip over my own feet and I fell down frequently. At that time, even the doctors were puzzled. They fitted me with braces to correct my feet in hopes that I would outgrow it. However, this treatment did not work. My feet bent the braces out of shape and rendered them useless. So surgery was successfully performed to straighten both feet, but it did not cure the disease. After a total of seven years of braces, surgery, and lonely trips to a hospital over two hundred miles [300 km] away, the doctors finally released me at the age of 13. They told my mother and me that I had muscular dystrophy, a progressive muscle-​wasting disease, and that I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 20. My reaction to this prediction was: ‘That’s what you think! I will show you!’

Independent Struggle

When I was five years old, my father died in an airplane crash. My mother was left with six children, ranging in age from one to 12. She worked very hard to care for us, but it was not possible for her to give a lot of individual attention to each of us. Therefore, I was expected to do all I could for myself.

Still, I persevered in trying to enjoy life and find some meaning in it, even though I developed great shyness during my growing years, probably because of those conspicuous leg braces I had to wear. So I decided to depend only on myself. Since I found it very difficult to talk with people, friends were few. In fact, I had no true friends until my senior year in school, when I met Wayne, a black-​haired, muscular teenager. He was afflicted with epilepsy, so we empathized with each other’s plight and communicated fairly well. We became the best of friends.

Seeking Comfort Through Religion

Wayne introduced me to his religion, Christian Science. What attracted me most was the healing aspect. I was distressed by my physical limitations and desperate to find comfort and relief. So for the next two years, while attending college, I investigated this religion and found it to my liking and became fully involved in it.

After ten years of active membership, I was on the board of directors of the local branch and superintendent of the Sunday school. Yet, I had grown unhappy and disillusioned, since the healing I had expected did not take place. One of my dear friends was kidnapped and killed. And Wayne died from epileptic seizures. Also, I did not become a better person, more like Christ, as I had hoped.

I felt so depressed that I actually planned to kill myself. I believed this would end all my pain and suffering, but I kept thinking in the back of my mind: ‘There has to be a purpose for our being here. God must have some reason for all he has created. I need to find out what it is before I die.’

Desire for Life Renewed

While wondering about God and his purpose in creating man on the earth, I did not know where I fitted in. My mother raised us in the Catholic faith and regularly took us to church, where I learned to have great regard for the Bible, although we were not encouraged to read it. As a Christian Scientist, I read the Bible through several times and studied it intensively. However, the understanding of its message and the hope and comfort it contains eluded me. Where could the truth be found?

John, the tall, blond stranger who had lifted me off the movie theater’s floor, had the answer to my question. He was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, although at first I did not know it. After he had helped me get up, my sister and I invited John and his wife, Alice, to have refreshments with us at a coffee shop. During our conversation, I thought that perhaps this man could replace the friends I had lost. I sensed new hope in my heart.

Some time later I was invited to his house for dinner, and I noticed that this family used the name Jehovah in their prayers. God’s name sounded good to me; my curiosity about their belief was aroused!

The next time we got together, we discussed the Bible. John, who was fast becoming a friend, cleared up my questions and false reasonings with the Scriptures. I was favorably impressed and greatly encouraged by my newfound hope based on the Bible’s promises of a paradise earth free of all sickness and sorrow. (Revelation 21:1-5) Further discussions often lasted into the wee hours of the morning. How good I was beginning to feel! I devoured this spiritual food. Now that I was being spiritually renewed, I wanted all the refreshment I could get.

That fall I began regularly attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The friendly, encouraging association with the congregation members just warmed my heart. By the spring of 1979, I decided to dedicate my life to Jehovah God. Then, on June 23, with six brothers helping me get into a pool, I was baptized.

Many blessings have come to me since my baptism. One blessing has been my dear wife, Pam. I met her at a friend’s house, fell in love with her, and we were married in March 1981. We have settled in the city of Missoula, Montana. Pam and my four stepchildren have brought me much joy and still give me a great deal of help.

Coping With Realities

The amount of time it takes me to accomplish ordinary tasks is now the most frustrating thing I have to deal with, especially on days when we do not attend Christian meetings. On these days I take care of myself entirely so that Pam can do other things. This means that it is almost time for lunch when I have completed my stretching exercises, washing, shaving, and dressing. I try to overcome this frustration by thinking of all this strenuous activity as my job, since it is definitely hard work! I might add here that the stretching exercises I do are to keep the muscles and tendons from drawing up. This helps to keep the circulation working well and prevents much pain and possible surgery on the tendons. It also keeps the muscles toned.

Occasionally, I still get depressed. When this happens, I pray to Jehovah, and he renews my determination to continue doing what I can do and not dwell on what I cannot do. By preparing for and accepting these limitations, I can better cope with harsh realities.

Before I had to quit walking, I bought a used wheelchair in preparation for that eventuality. Consequently, I was mentally and physically equipped when I needed the wheelchair in the spring of 1980, at the age of 32​—not 20 as the doctors had predicted.

A Sense of Humor Helps

A common problem I have because of being confined to a wheelchair is getting in and out of bathrooms. The homes I visit and the motels we stay in when traveling usually are not convenient for me. Even the rooms built specifically for wheelchair accessibility are difficult to enter because I have no upper body strength as some people in wheelchairs have.

In one motel room, I could not get through the bathroom door, so I transferred from my wheelchair to a straight-​backed chair. When I was finished and back in my wheelchair, Pam tried to tip my chair back and turn it at the same time. She thus wedged the chair, with me on it, between the bed and the bathroom doorway. In order to get me out of this predicament, Pam had to pull me out of the chair and onto the bed and then fold up the chair to release it. While she was doing this, we both had a good laugh at the comical scene we must have presented.

A sense of humor helped one time when I was attempting to use my slide board to transfer from the car to my wheelchair. As my friend pulled, the board slid off the car seat, and I was dumped in the gutter. My wife was in the driver’s seat, and when she saw me falling, she jumped out of the car and ran to the other side to find me singing, “Welcome to My World.” We all had a hearty laugh.

Appreciating Help From Others

Cheerfully and gratefully accepting help from family members and friends can alleviate much frustration in difficult circumstances. I have had to cultivate this spirit of appreciation over the years, for I have at times overlooked what others have done for me. Because I needed help so frequently, it was easy to take it for granted. But this was not good for me, nor encouraging to those who rendered aid. Putting forth a conscious effort to thank those who assist me, even for the smallest things, has made me happier and has made it easier for others to deal with me.

Not only is muscular dystrophy difficult for me but it is also hard for my wife and stepchildren, two of whom remain at home. Besides the problems of adjustment that stepfamilies often have, we contend with the complication of this muscle disease. The children and Pam often have to wait for me. For example, I have to start getting ready for the Sunday morning meetings three to four hours in advance. Then, we cannot just hop in the car and leave. I need help putting on my coat, getting into the van, buckling my seat belt, and so forth. This takes time and much patience on the part of my family.

They also have to sacrifice some of their own time and activities to help me accomplish some of mine, like getting things down from the cupboards and upper shelves and lifting things for me. A number of times, I have ended up on the floor or on the ground due to one mishap or another, and Pam has had to lift my six-​foot-​two-​inch [1.9 m], 165-​pound [75 kg] frame from there to my wheelchair. Only by reliance on God have we found the strength and determination to carry on!

My friends in the congregation have gone out of their way to help me to attend meetings and enjoy recreation and social gatherings. This willingness is most encouraging to me. As one friend said, with a smile, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” So when faced with a problem, after doing all I can for myself, I let out a “squeak,” and sure enough, family members or friends come to my aid.

How You Can Assist

Do you wonder how you might assist someone in a wheelchair? I would suggest that the first thing you need to do is ask for instructions from the person in the wheelchair. Never push the chair before the person in it is ready. Please do not be offended if we feel we need to accomplish a task unassisted, and never feel obligated to help if you have personal limitations that would make it difficult for you. However, I always greatly appreciate it when someone offers to pick something up for me or hang up my coat or move obstacles out of my way. Finally, feel free to talk to us, as we have feelings, desires, and interests similar to yours, in spite of our handicaps.

Muscular dystrophy and similar diseases present many challenges. My experience has not been as difficult as that of some other people, but I am sure that everyone can benefit from knowing God’s will for the earth and its inhabitants. Having a hope for a better life in the future by means of God’s Kingdom can sustain all such people, including those with muscular dystrophy. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)​—As told by Dale T. Dillon.

[Picture on page 20]

Dale, his wife, Pam, and two of her children, Pamela and Richard

Young People Ask . . .

What About Modeling Careers and Beauty Contests?

“WHEN traveling to New York last year,” recalled 12-​year-​old Amy, “a guy running a hotel told my mom, ‘You ought to enter your daughter in a modeling school. . . . She’s pretty.’”

A number of attractive youths have had similar experiences. Fifteen-year-old Racine received a phone call from a man who tried to interest her and her younger sister in a modeling career. A young woman from South Africa was asked to participate in a beauty contest. And the lucrative offers are not limited to girls. Young Jonathan was offered employment as a male model.

Yes, throughout the world, young men and women and children of all ages are being recruited for modeling careers, beauty pageants, and the like. In the United States alone, it is reported that hundreds of thousands of beauty contests are held each year. Winners receive thousands of dollars in cash, prizes, and scholarships. For a select few, winning a beauty pageant has resulted in lucrative entertainment and modeling careers.

One young woman states: “All my life I have wanted to be a fashion model​—modeling clothing for local magazines and fashion shows. The pay ranges from $25 to $100 per hour.” Reportedly, though, some top models earn salaries of as much as $2,500 per day! Little wonder, then, some Christian youths have been tempted to cash in on their good looks. How might you respond if you were offered such a flattering opportunity?

Beauty Can Be Beneficial

It was said of the Jewish virgin Esther that she was “pretty in form and beautiful in appearance.” (Esther 2:7) In fact, you could even say that she involuntarily participated in a beauty contest of sorts. The circumstances? Persian queen Vashti had been removed from office for insubordination. In order to find a suitable replacement, King Ahasuerus collected together the most beautiful virgins from all the realm. Over a 12-​month period, he arranged for the young women to be placed on a special diet and to receive regular massages with balsam oil and myrrh. Each girl was then evaluated in turn. And when Esther’s turn came, she was selected to be the new queen!​—Esther 1:12–​2:17.

Why, though, did Esther participate? Was she a vain glory seeker? No, Esther was following Jehovah’s direction, which she repeatedly sought through her godly cousin and guardian, Mordecai. (Esther 4:5-17) A wicked man named Haman was plotting the destruction of God’s people, the nation of Israel. The ‘beauty contest’ allowed Jehovah to maneuver Esther into a prominent position where she would be able to foil this plot. Esther’s good looks thus proved to be a blessing for all of God’s people!

What about today? How one looks is definitely not the most important thing in life.a Nevertheless, when accompanied with modesty and humility, attractive looks can be an asset. Does this mean, though, that modeling or participating in beauty pageants is a prudent way to use this asset? Or are there factors to consider beyond the lure of fame, glory, or riches?

Behind the Glitter

Fashion modeling does have its glamour. Fine clothing, expensive jewelry, good pay, the prospects of travel and television appearances​—these are all quite alluring. Additionally, modeling training has helped many young women and men to walk gracefully and to speak with confidence and poise. But beyond the glamour, glitter, and glitz may lurk real dangers for a Christian.

Not that modeling in itself is bad. Some modeling serves an upright purpose: to make a product look appealing. That is one reason why lovely hands are used to display nail polish in magazine layouts and TV commercials. Similarly, well-​formed men and women are used to display articles of clothing. Presuming such clothing is modest, there may be no objection to a Christian’s being paid to model it.

Nevertheless, there are many problems inherent in modeling that are not always easy to avoid. How would you react, for example, if you were called upon to wear something immodest or inappropriate for Christians? Or if a photographer used subtle pressure to have you pose in a suggestive, alluring way? Furthermore, one cannot always be certain how photographs will be used. For example, the photos could appear in a setting that promotes false religious holidays or that has immoral overtones.

Then there is the effect that such a career could have on one’s personality, promoting the development of negative traits. The continued emphasis on one’s outward appearance rather than on “the secret person of the heart” has caused some fashion models to become exceedingly vain. (1 Peter 3:4) Also, working with expensive clothing, jewelry, and the like can cause materialistic thinking to take root.​—1 Timothy 6:10.

The fashion-​modeling profession is also notorious for exposing one to individuals, male and female, who insist on sexual favors in exchange for career advancement. As one former fashion model observed: “Frankly, you have to give in [sexually] to get anywhere.” Some further claim that homosexuality is rampant among male models. While this may not always be true, it may be more of a problem in modeling than in other professions.

Beauty Pageants

Much of the foregoing can also be said of beauty pageants. In addition, however, there is also the pressure of intense competition. This has pushed some contestants to the point of deliberately sabotaging fellow contenders. According to one report, “some competitors are so desperate for victory they are not above smearing lipstick on rivals’ swimsuits or ‘accidentally’ staining their evening gowns with Coke.”

Also, beauty pageant sponsors expect total commitment from their girls as their sales and public-​relations representatives. Often this requires socializing till dawn. One young woman was told: “Darling, you’re never tired. Just remember that. You’re the first one to arrive at a party and you’re the last one to leave.” At the very least, this can expose a Christian youth to unwholesome association and could even lead to one’s becoming romantically involved with an unbeliever.​—2 Corinthians 6:14.

Finally, there is the fact that beauty contests disregard the Bible principle at Romans 1:25, which condemns those who ‘venerate and render sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created.’ (Compare Acts 12:21-23.) On that basis alone, a Christian youth would do well to decline participation in a beauty contest even if it were on a small-​scale basis in school.

Real Beauty

The young folks mentioned earlier had to weigh these facts in making their own decisions. Although pursuing employment as a model may not be wrong in itself, Amy and Racine decided not to do so. Jonathan likewise turned down employment as a male model and is currently serving at the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, pursuing a career in the full-​time ministry. But another attractive girl entered and won two beauty contests. Today, she no longer attends Christian meetings. How true the saying: “That which is striking and beautiful is not always good; but that which is good is always beautiful.”

We are reminded again of Esther. Because of her physical beauty, she was included in the king’s lineup for a wife. However, it was her modesty, submissiveness, obedience, and lack of greed that made her really beautiful. (Esther 2:13, 15-17) She exemplified Peter’s words: “Do not let your adornment be that of the external braiding of the hair and of the putting on of gold ornaments or the wearing of outer garments, but let it be the secret person of the heart in the incorruptible apparel of the quiet and mild spirit, which is of great value in the eyes of God.” (1 Peter 3:3, 4) In the long run, cultivating these Christian qualities will be of far greater gain than the short-​lived rewards of physical beauty.

[Footnotes]

[Pictures on page 23]

Christian qualities are of greater gain than the short-​lived rewards of physical beauty

‘The Most Pervasive Form of Child Abuse’

The woman’s hands close around the baby’s throat. Then she presses​—slowly strangling the baby. The defenseless infant struggles. Just in time the woman relaxes her grip. The baby gasps for air but survives the assault. Before long, the woman grabs the tiny throat again, starting the torture all over. Again she lets go and leaves the infant gasping . . .

WHAT you just read describes suffering like that experienced by an unborn child when abused by its smoking mother.

Lifelong Damage

An overstatement? Hardly. A New York Times article reports that increasing numbers of scientific studies show that a mother who smokes regularly may impose lifelong physical and mental handicaps upon her child. Some of these injuries, says the article, “are immediately apparent while others develop more slowly.”

In what way does a mother’s smoking affect the unborn child? Dr. William G. Cahan, an attending surgeon at the Memorial Sloan-​Kettering Cancer Center in the United States and author of the Times article, explains: “Within minutes each cigarette puff introduces carbon monoxide and nicotine into the maternal blood.” As the carbon monoxide reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and the nicotine constricts the blood vessels in the placenta, “the unborn child is temporarily deprived of its normal amount of oxygen. If this deprivation is repeated often enough,” says surgeon Cahan, “it could irreparably damage the fetal brain, an organ uniquely sensitive to a lack of oxygen.”

One study, for instance, revealed that five minutes after pregnant women smoked only two cigarettes, their fetuses showed signs of distress​—accelerated heart rate accompanied by abnormal breathinglike movements.

Pack-a-Day Smokers

What, then, are the implications for an unborn child if its mother smokes 20 cigarettes, or one pack, a day? Dr. Cahan figures that an average smoker inhales five puffs per cigarette. Thus, a pack-a-day habit amounts to a hundred puffs a day. With pregnancy lasting for about 270 days, the mother subjects the fetus “to at least 27,000 physical-​chemical insults.”

Such abused babies may pay a lifelong price for their mother’s tobacco habit. Besides physical problems, says Dr. Cahan, the children may have “behavioral problems, impaired reading abilities, hyperactivity and mental retardation.” Not surprisingly, he asks: “What responsible woman can persist in a habit so threatening to her young?”

In addition, smoking parents are also a threat to growing children. Why? The booklet Facts and Figures on Smoking, published by the American Cancer Society, answers: “Children of smokers have more respiratory illnesses than those of nonsmokers, including an increase in the frequency of bronchitis and pneumonia early in life.”

Dr. Cahan therefore concludes that “this form of child abuse may be the most pervasive of all.” The question is, Do you avoid it?

The New Welsh Bible​—An Improvement?

By Awake! correspondent in Britain

“The intention is, not that Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd [The New Welsh Bible] should supplant the William Morgan Bible [above] [Artwork​—(Welsh Bible text)], but that it should take its place alongside of its classical predecessor,” says the Bible Society. Who was William Morgan, and what can be said about the Welsh language and these Bible translations?

WALES, a delightful mountainous land of some 8,000 square miles [21,000 sq km] jutting westward from the English border, has two official languages, Welsh and English. Welsh, older than English, is an ancient tongue derived from the Celtic branch of the Indo-​European family of languages. Today, the country has a population of just under three million people, but only 1 in 4 is Welsh-speaking. However, only since the 16th century have they had the Bible in Welsh.

The Book That Saved a Language

The Welsh translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was completed by 1567. It was basically the work of two scholars, William Salesbury and Richard Davies, with Thomas Huet’s translation of the book of Revelation. William Morgan, a Hebrew, Greek, and Latin scholar, later revised their translations, adding his rendering of the Hebrew Scriptures. The complete Bible was finally printed in 1588, and by means of it, the goal ‘that every Welshman could draw the truth of the Scriptures from the fountain-​head in his own language’ was realized.​—Wales—​A History, by Wynford Vaughan-​Thomas.

Following the publication of the English King James Version in 1611, revisions were made by Morgan’s successor, Richard Parry, whose edition has been in use to the present time. But as The Bible in Wales puts it: “Parry’s Bible deprived the Welsh people of some of the advantages of Morgan’s scholarship.”

William Morgan’s translation was a remarkable achievement. He also proved to be a master of prose. Yet he had no model to follow, as scarcely anything, other than poetry, had been written in Welsh up to that time. His warm, dignified style and smoothness of phrase set a standard, in both prose and speech, for the Welsh people that has endured for 400 years. But it did more than that. “If ever one single book saved a language,” says Welsh historian Wynford Vaughan-​Thomas, “that book is the Bible in Welsh.”

Something Vital Not Saved

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Welsh Bible, a new translation appeared in 1988, the culmination of 25 years of work. What are some of its features, and how does it compare with William Morgan’s Bible?

Welsh, like any other language, has changed and matured over centuries of time. It is to be expected, therefore, that Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd should be written in “idiomatic Welsh, intelligible to readers in the late 20th century.” The hope that “this new modern translation will bring a fresh understanding of the Word of God and lead the people of Wales to a new awareness of its message” is a noble one. What can be said, however, of the claim that “the translators’ chief aim has been to communicate, as accurately and faithfully as possible, the meaning of the original texts”? How valid is that claim?

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the name of God appears in the form of the Tetragrammaton, יהוה, which in Welsh is translated as Jehofa, or Jehofah. When asked what policy Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd would follow in translating this Tetragrammaton, the translating committee replied: “Regarding Jehofah, this is an artificial name! . . . It [Jehofah] may sound noble, but it does not correspond to anything in the original Bible language . . . The word [Tetragrammaton] may be in the Bible over seven thousand times, but the Jews said (the) LORD every time.” So, apparently guided by Jewish tradition, they chose not to translate the personal name of God but to substitute ARGLWYDD (LORD) instead. Although the translators take exception to the use of Jehofah, in their “Preface to the Old Testament,” they acknowledge that there is another “traditional manner of translating the divine name . . . Yahweh.” Why, then, did they not at least use that?

The New English Bible in a footnote to Exodus 3:15 states: “The Hebrew consonants are YHWH, probably pronounced Yahweh, but traditionally read Jehovah.” In the modern New Jerusalem Bible, the Tetragrammaton is translated “Yahweh” because as its Editor’s Foreword admits: “To say ‘The Lord is God’ is surely a tautology [redundancy], as to say ‘Yahweh is God’ is not.” Yet, Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd takes this very course when it translates, for example, verse 3 of Psalm 100 as “Gwybyddwch mai’r ARGLWYDD sydd Dduw [“Know that the LORD is God”].”

Although Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd translating committee stated their policy that “the Divine Name in the Old Testament . . . will appear as LORD,” they are strangely inconsistent. At Exodus 17:15, their text reads “Jehofa-​Nissi” (“Jehovah Is My Signal [Pole],”) and at Barnwyr (Judges) 6:24, “Jehofa-shalom” (“Jehovah Is Peace”). Yet, for similar expressions employing the divine name, such as “Jehovah-jireh” (“Jehovah Will See to [It]; Jehovah Will Provide”) at Genesis 22:14, “ARGLWYDD” appears, without any explanation.

In contrast with these inconsistencies in Y Beibl Cymraeg Newydd, Hebrew scholar William Morgan appreciated that the Tetragrammaton denotes personality. He used the name Jehofa, for example, at Exodus 6:2, 3 and Psalm 83:18. Interesting, too, is his use of the shortened form of the divine name, Jah, in his translation “Halelu-​Jah” (“Praise Jah, you people”) in the Christian Greek Scriptures at Gweledigaeth Ioan (Revelation) 19:1, 3, 4, and Re 19:6.

The Welsh Praise Jehovah

At the time of his death in 1604, William Morgan was still in debt from the printing of his new Bible translation, but his goal had been achieved. Thanks in great measure to his skill and loving labors, the Bible became a rich heritage for the religiously minded Welsh people.

Today, the good news of Jehovah God’s Kingdom is being proclaimed in Wales by some 6,500 of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who form over 80 congregations there. For people who have difficulty with the English language, some study aids published by the Watch Tower Society are also available in Welsh. So with the aid of whichever Bible translation is at hand, Jehovah’s name and purpose are being heralded and appreciated throughout the Principality of Wales by his loyal Witnesses.​—Isaiah 43:10-12.

Watching the World

FORGOTTEN VICTIMS

Men whose wives, or girlfriends, have been raped are being called the forgotten victims. According to London psychiatrist Anthony Bateman, these men suffer severe problems​—such as depression, guilt, and sexual difficulties—​long after the crime. They may become overprotective, escorting the victim everywhere or requiring that she ‘report in’ at certain times. Dr. Bateman is reported as saying that such men may need intensive psychotherapy if they are to come to terms with what has happened.

CONDOS FOR HORSES

In southwest Vancouver, Canada, equestrians are being offered condominiums to house their horses. A horse with a private condo can enjoy a 120-​square-​foot [11 sq m] stall featuring built-​in plumbing that automatically fills up a drinking bowl, a cedar-​shake roof and wooden siding, and access to a patio. Rising land prices and the consequent high property taxes have prompted this condos-​for-​horses project. The purchase price of $26,000 (Canadian) may appeal to some who pay “$300 a month or more to board their horses in commercial stables in the affluent Southlands area,” reports The Sunday Star.

BOMBARDED BY BRUTALITY

The Association of Teachers in Germany is urging parents and educators to counteract children’s exposure to brutality displayed by the media. “The alarming glorification of Satanism, drugs, death, and brutality” in hard rock music and on videos can make adolescents insensitive to violence and emotionally impair them, claims the president of the association. Teachers and parents seem to know very little about what videos and hard rock music contain. It is reported that one out of every two young persons does a great amount of horror-​video viewing. Young ones rate the films as either good or very good.

CRIME-​STOPPING CURFEWS

To keep young people indoors after 11 o’clock at night, a country town in Queensland, Australia, established an informal curfew. The results were positive. Police and local council members reported a definite reduction in area crime. As a result, the Queensland government is now seeking Cabinet approval for trial curfews to be placed on all young people under 15 years of age. The plan is for two trial curfews to be monitored, one in an urban area and the other in a provincial town. If results of the trial curfews prove positive in cutting down the crime rate, the government will then be asked to consider legislation imposing curfews on all young people throughout the state.

RUGBY SPINAL INJURIES

In a recent 23-​year period, one hospital in South Africa handled 88 cases of young men who sustained acute spinal injuries while playing Rugby football. Rugby injuries are sometimes caused by the flying tackle, though this usually lacks the violent impact of the American football tackle. Another danger is the scrum, that is, when players of opposing teams are locked together in a tight mass, and shove for possession of the ball. “The scenario occurs all too frequently,” reports the South African Medical Journal. “The scrum collapses and, as the players get up from the ground, one player lies motionless. First-aid personnel rush onto the field and carefully place the injured player on the stretcher and transport him to a hospital. His neck is broken, the spinal cord injured and he remains permanently quadriplegic.” In 1989 three South African schoolboys were killed while playing Rugby.

EXPENSIVE DELAYS

Air-traffic delays in Europe are estimated to cost airlines and their passengers a staggering $4 thousand million a year, according to a report from the German Airspace Users Association. The reason for the problems, the report contends, is bad use of airspace. Europe has 44 air-​traffic-​control centers, compared with 20 for the entire United States. Creating a single integrated air-​traffic-​control system for the whole of Europe would cost between $5 thousand million and $10 thousand million, but such an investment would virtually eliminate all present air-​traffic-​control delays, says the Financial Times of London. The present lack of coordination results in aircraft being given inefficient flight altitudes and routing, making the typical European flight 10 percent longer than it needs to be.

WINNING AND LOSING

Under the heading “Having Luck Can Be Fatal,” the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de São Paulo reported on the tragic experience of a recent lottery winner. As the sole winner of the lottery, he received 930,000 Novos Cruzados (about $400,000, U.S.). Afterward, however, the man also received the sad news that three of his relatives were killed by thieves who were looking for some of the lottery prize money.

WEDDINGS FOR SALE

Japanese tourists traveling to Europe have been able to purchase tour packages that include Catholic church weddings. Despite protests from the Vatican against “commercializing the holy rite of marriage,” an increasing number of non-​Catholic Japanese couples “have undergone a marriage ceremony at churches in Italy and France,” reports The Daily Yomiuri. The Vatican is upset because their priests are directed to perform weddings only for Roman Catholics or those who have received instruction in the Catholic faith. Japanese travel agencies, however, were able to circumvent church policy by choosing “less strict churches to perform such weddings.”

LONG-​RANGE LOCUSTS

Last year, when a hundred million migratory locusts invaded Caribbean islands, Guyana, and Venezuela, it raised a question among specialists: “How could locusts successfully have crossed the Atlantic Ocean?” These insects were previously unknown to those parts of the world. This four- to six-​day trip, over a distance of from 2,500 to 3,000 miles [4,000 to 5,000 km], was a real achievement when one considers that migratory locusts usually fly during the day, their flight being easier in the hot air. They land when the air cools in the late afternoon. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, researchers conclude that the locusts probably stayed in the air during their transatlantic flight, as they had nothing to land on and nothing to eat. Of one thing, however, they are certain, that more insects perished at sea than survived the ocean crossing.

“BIGGER KILLER THAN AIDS”

After studying liver disease for 15 years, the director of clinical research for a major hospital in Australia recently warned that hepatitis is “a much bigger killer than AIDS.” He added: “It’s estimated that about two million people a year die from hepatitis and to my knowledge AIDS hasn’t reached that proportion yet.” He alerts people to the deadly hepatitis C virus, which attacks the liver and for which, so far, there is no detection test. Researchers believe that every year between 10 and 15 people die in Australia from hepatitis C contracted from transfusions of contaminated blood. The Australian, a Sydney newspaper, reports that 1 in 400 bags of blood used in Australian transfusions is contaminated with the deadly hepatitis C.

EXPERT WATER-​TESTER

“The best way to test water is to bring in an expert,” says a Water Authority advertisement in Wales. The expert in question, though, is a fish​—the humble rainbow trout. Fish are naturally sensitive to water pollution. As they breathe, their gills generate minute electrical currents. Pollution disturbs the breathing and the currents as well. These electrical fluctuations can be checked and monitored by computer. An official of Britain’s Water Research Centre says that the trout “will also detect and warn you of some substances you have never dreamt of, which is a major advantage.” According to The Times of London, this monitoring technique is now attracting not only national but international interest.

From Our Readers

Special Needs Thank you for the article on helping those with special needs. (August 22, 1989) I have a severe crippling disease that affects my muscles, joints, and organs. As a result, I have had many operations and have had to use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and braces of various types. Being only 25 years old, I get many comments, directly and indirectly, that really hurt. While some people are simply curious, others are rude and thoughtless. Such an article helps not only disabled ones but also those who are blessed with good health; these learn to be more understanding.

D. H., United States

Gossip About a year ago, I fell victim to harmful gossip. I was offended and hurt at first, but my father and I tracked the rumor down and stopped it that same day. The article (July 22, 1989) helped me put this outrageous lie behind me.

P. M., United States

I am 17 years old, and some persons gossiped about me. One night I saw one of them, and I did not know what to do. When I got home, I came upon the article on gossip. I thanked Jehovah from the heart for answering my prayers. I learned how to deal with such persons and saw that I should not take myself too seriously. After all, I am not so important that they will talk about me the rest of my life, and what is more important, my real friends and Jehovah know that what they spread is not true. Thank you for being aware of the needs of youths!

L. U., Brazil

Shark Bionics I read with interest the article about artificial shark skin. (“Watching the World,” August 8, 1989) I am employed by a company that has been working on this same project for several years. Awake! articles like this that discuss the amazing creative designs found in nature have given me many opportunities to talk to others about our Creator.

M. H., United States

Profanity Recently I wrote you a letter about the problem of profanity among youths. To my great surprise, just today I received the August 22, 1989, issue with the article “What’s Wrong With Cursing Once in a While?” I know this article was prepared long before I wrote, and it is encouraging and faith-​strengthening to experience personally that my prayer for help was answered through your publications.

J. A., United States

Safe Food I serve as a traveling minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses, accompanied by my wife. We don’t like to burden our hosts with a lot of rules on food care, so we are exposed to digestive problems. You can well imagine how helpful this article (June 22, 1989) has turned out to be for us! We really want to thank you for thinking of everything that is good for God’s people.

R. P., Venezuela

Death for Sale Everything written in your article (July 8, 1989) was informative and true. I know because I smoked for more than ten years. The result: fatigue, sweating, and bad humor when I had no tobacco. I decided to stop smoking, but my resolve lasted only two months. Some time later, I began to study with Jehovah’s Witnesses and learned to apply the Bible’s counsel at 2 Corinthians 7:1, and I finally quit. Soon I hope to be baptized as a Witness.

A. P., Spain

“As Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar”

Rising steeply from the warm, blue Mediterranean waters to a height of 1,396 feet [426 m], the Rock of Gibraltar certainly looks solid. On a clear day, from miles around in southern Spain and from Morocco, across the Mediterranean, one can easily see the sharp pinnacle of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar’s history goes back to those misty periods when ancient mariners, believing the earth was flat, thought that to go through the Strait of Gibraltar would lead them to the edge of the world and the abyss of destruction. It was also viewed as one of the Pillars of Hercules, the other being Jebel Musa at Ceuta, on the African coast across the strait. Myth said that the Greek hero Hercules had split the mountains apart.

The city of Gibraltar owes its existence to the Arabs who came from North Africa in the eighth century C.E. and later founded the city in 1160. The name Gibraltar comes from the Arabic name Djabal-​Tarik, or Mountain of Tarik. Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād was an Arab leader who defeated the last Gothic king in 711 C.E.

The Spanish conquered Gibraltar in 1462, only to lose it to the British in 1704. To this day, it remains as one of the last outposts of the former British Empire. But the Rock of Gibraltar continues to be a symbol of something solid and permanent.

Two congregations (English and Spanish) of some 120 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gibraltar are offering the promise of God’s Kingdom rule to the Gibraltarians, a promise even more solid than the Rock!​—Titus 1:1, 2; Hebrews 6:17-19.

It Will Hold Your Attention

One of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Portland, Oregon, wrote regarding the effect that a Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses had on a visitor.

“A service repairman came to my home,” she said, “to fix my washer. He had gone to another room in the house, and for about 20 minutes, he was real quiet. Finally, he came out into the kitchen and asked, ‘Are you one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?’ He had picked up the Yearbook and had it in his hand. He said, ‘This is really wonderful. I want to give you a dollar. Please send one to my address.’”

Many have found the 1990 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses to be absorbing reading. It contains faith-​strengthening reports about the modern beginning and development of the Kingdom-preaching activity in Finland, Colombia, and Suriname. A copy will be mailed to you for a contribution of just $1.

Please send, postpaid, the 1990 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I enclose $1 (U.S.).