October 22

Page Two

A New World That Satisfies All 3-11

Responding to mankind’s yearning for a new world, politicians are talking about creating one. Can they? If not, does it mean that the yearning for such a world will never be satisfied? You will find the evidence that a new world really is at hand heartwarming and encouraging.

Rescued From Near Death by Nonblood Treatment 12

Many today are requesting nonblood treatment of medical emergencies. Read how a patient received such lifesaving treatment.

Breeding the Coastal Giants 25

So important are trees that scientists are looking for ways to improve the yield of the forest. Learn how cuttings are used to duplicate the tree from which they have been obtained.

Mankind Yearns for a New World

THE yearning for a new world has never been greater than now. The past eight decades of wars, riots, famines, pestilences, crime, and pollution have been a nightmare. Humanity wants to awaken to a new world of peace. Responding to this desire, world leaders have begun speaking about creating such a world.

No doubt you have heard or read speeches by prominent men proclaiming that a new world is on the horizon. U.S. president George Bush said in a speech in September 1991: “Tonight, as I see the drama of democracy unfolding around the globe, perhaps​—perhaps we are closer to that new world than ever before.”

As evidence that a new world is near, world leaders point to the end of the Cold War between Eastern bloc and Western bloc nations. Indeed, the world breathes a little easier as disarmament programs are implemented. The reduction of nuclear weapons strengthens the hope of many people for a new world of peace and security.

In April of this year, George McGhee, under secretary of state during the administration of the late U.S. president John F. Kennedy, declared: “We now have the chance​—indeed, the necessity—​to draw up a blueprint for a new world system based on new security concepts.” He added: “The most promising hope for a successful new world system lies, I believe, in strengthening the bonds of the international community.”

McGhee said that France’s suspension of nuclear tests through the end of 1992 was “a bid to persuade other nuclear powers to follow suit.” He also pointed to Russian “initiatives in downsizing nuclear arsenals and standing down from the razor’s edge of operational readiness for strategic nuclear forces.”

Further, at a meeting of world leaders in London in July 1991, seven of them declared that the Persian Gulf war coalition “affirmed the international community’s ability to act together ‘to restore international peace and security and to resolve conflict.’”

What Kind of New World?

All of this sounds encouraging. But ask yourself, What kind of new world do the nations hope to create? Is it a weapons-​free, war-​free world?

McGhee answers: “America must retain enough armed might to contribute its share to any future united military effort, or prevail if war is unavoidable.” So world leaders are not advocating total disarmament, nor are they ruling out military effort if, as McGhee said, “war is unavoidable.” Governments simply cannot promise a war-​free new world. Realistically, they know that they cannot create such a world.

For example, look at what has already happened. Under the title “The New World Order” in the May 17, 1992, New York Times, columnist Anthony Lewis wrote: “Watching the television pictures of shells falling on [Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina,] and civilians huddling in fear, I thought that civilization had not advanced since Nazi bombs fell on Rotterdam. Some new world order.”

Yet, besides the elimination of war, there are many other problems that need to be solved in order to create a satisfying new world. Consider the insidious pollution that is slowly ruining our air, land, and seas; the powerful crime syndicates and drug cartels that rob millions of their possessions and health; the wanton destruction of rain forests that contributes to soil erosion and eventually leads to floods that destroy crops.

Moreover, still awaiting cures are terrible physical afflictions, including heart trouble, cancer, AIDS, leukemia, and diabetes. And what about the problems of poverty, homelessness, food and water shortages, malnutrition, illiteracy, and depletion of the ozone layer? Indeed, the list goes on and on. These critical problems are like a pile of ticking time bombs. Man must defuse them now before they explode in a chain reaction of disasters that could lead to his extinction. Can he set up a new world in time to do this?

For years organizations and conferences have been working hard to remedy earth’s problems. Yet, not only have the problems escalated but newer and more complicated ones have developed. Does man’s inability to solve these mean that mankind’s yearning for a peaceful, secure new world is in vain? We can confidently answer no! Please consider why we say this.

A New World Satisfying to All

AS HARD as it may be to believe, a new world actually is at hand. It will arrive in time to rescue our earth before its ability to sustain life is completely destroyed. And this new world will remove all the dangers threatening human existence. How will it do this?

After pointing to the criticalness of the world situation, historian Arnold J. Toynbee years ago asked: “What shall we do to be saved?” Answering his own question, he said: “In politics, establish a constitutional co-​operative system of world government.”

However, though being a “co-​operative system,” the coming new world will not be “in politics.” It will not embrace democracy or any other man-​made political ideology. This new world will achieve its goals because only one government will rule over it. In an astonishing series of moves, this global government will quickly eradicate all the problems facing humanity today. How? By abolishing the causes of these problems and the obstacles that so often frustrate efforts to correct them.

Realistically, how could that ever be accomplished? Would not imperfect people still be ruling, people who have proved to be corrupt and incapable of solving man’s problems? Well, just imagine if there were perfect rulers of this world government, with the interests of their subjects unselfishly at heart. Then consider how problems could be solved.

Simultaneous Solutions

With a global government of perfect rulers, no longer would each nation and its particular form of government exist. Statesmen, ambassadors, and other politicians would no longer exercise authority over the many nationalities, tribes, and races of mankind. Many local and national capitals, along with their buildings and official residences, would not be needed. This would end the costly upkeep of such edifices, as well as travel expenses of officials attending sessions, committee meetings, and national and summit conferences. Gone, too, would be all the wasteful government bureaucracies, with their numerous assistants, secretaries, and clerks, along with the red tape that impedes progress.

Peace would become a reality because divisive nationalism would be gone, replaced by a unified global authority. Armies, navies, and air forces, with all their weapons, staffs of high-​ranking commanders, and subordinate officers, would no longer be needed to protect each nation’s sovereignty. Nor would there exist any espionage systems. Under a global government with perfect rulers, there would be no open or black markets in which weapons could be bought or sold; neither would there be any disputed territories. All the peoples of the earth would be one indivisible brotherhood. Therefore, nationalism would disappear.

Consider further benefits that would accrue to the people under one undivided government with perfect rulers. Powerful businessmen, such as armaments manufacturers, would have no way of influencing politicians so that they could continue to produce and sell their destructive products. There would be no more clever lobbyists manipulating officials on certain laws or bills affecting purely local interests; no more tangle of specialized government departments working at cross-​purposes, spending huge sums of money on useless projects that benefit only a few; no blocking of solutions to pollution problems for selfish commercial reasons (to keep profits high); no defeating of laws that would protect endangered species by powerful special interests.

Other Problems Corrected

Such a perfect world government would not tolerate injustice. Upon taking control, it would see that criminal acts were dealt with in a proper, just manner. Thus, citizens would be freed from the fear that more dangerous murderers might go on killing sprees.

And what about the globe-​encircling network of organized crime syndicates and powerful drug cartels? A perfect world government could end these completely. National extradition laws would no longer be a safe haven for such international criminals. The shrewd use of loopholes in local laws and influential political connections by these lawbreakers would be a thing of the past. The single act of eradicating crime would also rid the earth of many other social blights, such as gambling, gang wars, pornography, prostitution, and smuggling. What an efficient and economical correction!

Yes, all the perplexing, knotty, and thorny problems that are baffling the most brilliant minds of mankind today would be completely solved in such a new world. And each one would be corrected permanently​—once and for all. Later generations would never have to suffer them again.

Not a Pie-​in-​the-​Sky Dream

‘But,’ you may ask, ‘from where will the perfect rulers come to rule over such a new world?’ Man’s Creator will provide them! Does this seem too good to be true? Well, just consider: If you had the power to do so, would you not bring to an end all the conditions on earth that cause so much distress? Of course you would! Should we think, then, that our Creator will do any less?

The fact is, our loving Creator purposes to create a new world, and the means for ushering it in is a righteous world government. This is what his Son, Jesus Christ, taught humans to pray for with the words: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.”​—Matthew 6:10.

That Kingdom is a real government, a world government. Its King, Jesus Christ, “will have subjects from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 72:8) And it will soon replace all human governments, as God’s Word promises when it says: “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom [the government ruled by God’s King, Jesus Christ] that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these [present-​day] kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite.”​—Daniel 2:44.

Since this world government set up by the God of heaven will be administered by superhuman rulers, it will accomplish all the good things human rulers are unable to do. The Bible describes God’s government as a celestial monarchy that will consist of the King, Jesus Christ, assisted by a staff of 144,000 spirit persons. All these rulers will be trustworthy persons who showed impeccable integrity during their life on earth before they were resurrected to life in heaven. All of them will be in an excellent position to work for the good of humankind because they experienced the needs of humans while they lived on earth.​—Revelation 14:1-3.

Think of the problems this eliminates. Because of having immortality, these spirit rulers will never weary or die. (1 Corinthians 15:50, 53) And they cannot be corrupted by temptations to pervert justice or to show favoritism in exchange for gifts. After all, what can one slip as a bribe to an immortal spirit person? Money, a case of expensive liquor, a trip to an exotic island, or tickets to some show or concert? These material things may tempt flesh and blood but not these spirit creatures. So the people governed by these rulers will not suffer the corruption of governments so common today.

The New World Will Satisfy You

Are you an older person? Think of all the knowledge, skills, and experience you have acquired over the years. But have you noticed that while your mind or mental faculties may be fine, there is a gradual but steady weakening of your physical abilities? Your body no longer responds to your mental commands as it once did. Yes, your reflexes are slowing down, your strength is waning, and your endurance is lessening. Your eyesight and hearing are getting poorer and your muscles are getting weaker while pains are getting more frequent.

But try to imagine wisdom acquired over many years of life within a young body even better than the one you had when you were in your 20’s​—yes, your physical abilities being on a par with your mind. Think of the many things you could do with your healthy physique! Why, with such a well-​tuned body responding to your mature mind, you would find that any work you tackled would be very enjoyable. Your experience would enable you to do things much more efficiently, which would add so much to your satisfaction. And if you are a young person, imagine the exhilaration of keeping your youth and strength while gaining wisdom, knowledge, and experience forever.

Now, take this a step further, and think of your colleagues and friends, companions and relatives, all in this same condition. Imagine what all of you could accomplish in the way of construction, building, or crafts. Oh, what marvelous prospects this would hold for talented people, such as artists, musicians, designers, landscapers, gardeners, and botanists! Their works would be amazing. The exquisite paintings, homes, gardens, parks​—yes, the production of fine musical instruments and the art of mastering them are just a few.

This new world government has as one of its aims the rejuvenation of the human race to bodily perfection. Your vision, hearing, and other senses would be operating at their peak. For how long? Well, if a human government offered you therapy that guaranteed a 50-​percent renewal of all your bodily functions for a year for just a nominal fee, would you not be first in line to get it? This new world government guarantees a full, 100-​percent rejuvenation for free​—not for one year, 5 years, or 50 years, but for all eternity.

Do not dismiss as unbelievable this marvelous prospect that is certain to be enjoyed by humans on this very earth. Consider, on pages 7 to 10, some of the blessings lovers of God will enjoy.

[Box/​Pictures on page 7-10]

What the New World Will Bring

An End to Crime and Violence

“As regards the wicked, they will be cut off from the very earth.”​—Proverbs 2:22.

An Elimination of War

“They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”​—Isaiah 2:4.

Plenty of Good Things for All to Eat

“There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of the mountains there will be an overflow.”​—Psalm 72:16.

Fine Homes and Enjoyable Work for Everyone

“They will certainly build houses and have occupancy . . . They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating.”​—Isaiah 65:21, 22.

Peace Between People and Animals

“The wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, . . . and a mere little boy will be leader over them.”​—Isaiah 11:6.

No More Sickness, Old Age, or Death

“He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”​—Revelation 21:4.

A Resurrection of Dead Loved Ones

“The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [Jesus’] voice and come out.”​—John 5:28, 29.

Choose Life in That New World

OBVIOUSLY, God had a purpose in creating this unique little gem of a planet. And he destined humanity to play a key role in it. (Isaiah 45:18) The terrible condition into which our earth has fallen brings no credit to God. But do you really believe he will allow this situation to continue? Surely not!

Man’s yearning for a new world is actually in response to a longing for something mankind once possessed. That was a real, tangible, earthly paradise. The first human couple were placed in such a home, and it was the Creator’s original purpose for humankind to enjoy that Paradise on earth forever.​—Genesis 1:28.

Jehovah God is now offering you an opportunity for life in his new world, where he will bless faithful people with the desires of their hearts. (Psalm 10:17; 27:4) Will you choose to live there?

You Have a Choice

The Israelites who heard Moses’ farewell speech had a similar decision to make. They had to choose either God’s rule or that of the nations of that time. Here was Moses’ advice: “I have put life and death before you . . . You must choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring, by loving Jehovah your God, by listening to his voice and by sticking to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) Yes, your choice is also a life-​and-​death matter.

This is why these articles on God’s new world are published— to touch your heart so that you may choose it rather than put your hope in the vain promises of humans to create a new world. There are many wonderful things you need to learn about God’s new world.

For example, what evidence is there that this new world is near at hand? How will it replace all the governments of the earth? What events will lead up to this? How can we be sure that what the Bible promises will come true?

The answers to these questions and many others are available. Jehovah’s Witnesses would be happy to show you the verses in your copy of the Bible that not only describe the blessings of God’s new world but also indicate just when and how God’s government begins its rule and eventually expands that rule to govern the entire earth.

You are urged to respond as did the Beroeans of the first century who listened to the apostle Paul. They spent time “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11) Wisely, you should do the same. Be assured that your Bible discussions with Jehovah’s Witnesses will bring you great spiritual satisfaction as you learn about the delightful future that God promises us.

You need to make a choice​—either to serve God and the interests of his Kingdom government or to put your trust and hope in human efforts at self-​rule. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about God’s promises so that your decision will be an informed one. Acquiring Bible knowledge not only will enliven your hope for the future but will help keep you spiritually alive through the final days of human rule.​—2 Timothy 1:13.

Man’s many years of yearning for a new world are almost over. Jehovah’s Witnesses want you to gain admittance into that new world and enjoy life forever. That is what God wants too. It is sincerely hoped that you will choose God’s new world. If you do, then you will see that mankind’s yearning for a new world was never in vain.

Rescued From Near Death by Nonblood Treatment

As told by a staff member of the world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses

IT SEEMED ironic. In February 1991, I had gone to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to help conduct seminars on the use of alternatives to blood transfusions. And now I was near death, bleeding severely internally.

The problem began the week before, when I was in Mexico. I felt some abdominal pain but didn’t think it was serious. A local doctor said that it was common for Americans to encounter stomach problems while visiting the area. He offered medicine to soothe the pain.

While I was flying to Buenos Aires the next day, the pain increased. I felt a burning sensation in the abdomen, and two days later it was like a blazing fire. An injection was administered to combat the pain. This enabled me to finish handling my lectures in the seminar. Afterward, I was taken from the branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses, where my wife and I were staying, to a local hospital. There I was diagnosed as having an ulcer that apparently had recently stopped bleeding.

The diagnosis was somewhat puzzling, since I had never had an ulcer or even the symptoms of one. Anyway, it was hoped that I would recover with bed rest, antacids, and a diet of bland foods. Unfortunately, after returning to the branch infirmary, the bleeding started again.

My stools were black, saturated with blood, and I was as white as a cadaver. Finally, I fainted, accidentally pulling the intravenous tube from my arm. My wife ran down the corridor calling for the nurse.

Surgery or Not?

Two doctors were soon at my bedside. Through an interpreter, they informed me that my hemoglobin had dropped to 6.8 grams per deciliter (normal is about 15). They said they were consulting via telephone with a specialist in nonblood surgery. He was recommending an emergency operation. I inquired about alternatives to surgery.

A gastroenterologist was contacted. He said it was possible to run a scope down my throat to the perforation located in the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Once at the bleeding site, a chemical hemostat could be dropped onto the wound in an effort to stop the bleeding.

“What are the chances of success?” I asked.

“About 50-50,” he responded. However, the surgeon said that if the use of the hemostat failed, the delay and loss of blood would probably make it impossible to proceed with the surgery. It seemed I had no choice but to have the operation.

Emotions ran high. My wife and I embraced. Before I left by ambulance for the hospital, a will was made out for me, and I signed it. Our friends felt that I probably wouldn’t survive the surgery.

The Operation

In the operating theater, I was placed on what appeared to be a large glass table. Light pierced from beneath and glared down from above. My anxiety mounted, which must have been obvious, since one of the surgeons approached me. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be all right,” he said. His warm concern was comforting. Anesthetic was administered through inhalation, and in what seemed a second, I went from dazed, to numb, to unconscious.

I awoke as they were transferring me from a gurney to a regular hospital bed. I began to panic when I felt the extreme pain from the incision and from the tubes in my nose and throat. My wife, along with a friend, comforted me. My raging thirst was lessened by their rubbing water across my lips. I was glad to be alive.

Although I was assured that the operation was a success, my blood count continued to drop. What could be wrong? Examination of my stool revealed that I was still hemorrhaging. The surgeons were sure it was not from the site they had just repaired​—but from where, then?

The doctors felt that I must have ingested some toxic substance that caused a perforation, perhaps in the colon. They said I was too weak to undergo surgery again.

Pressure to Accept Blood

As my blood count kept dropping, the pressure to accept a blood transfusion intensified. The attending nurse said that if she were a doctor, she would just go ahead and give me blood without asking. At about three in the morning, a doctor came to me and said: “You must take blood if you are going to live.”

I explained to him that I was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and that for both religious and medical reasons, I was not going to accept a blood transfusion. (Leviticus 17:10-14; Acts 15:28, 29) He was visibly upset, but I attributed his attitude to his not understanding and respecting my firm position.

Because of the mounting pressure, as well as other conditions in the hospital, I asked to be discharged. Soon I was returned by ambulance to the infirmary at the branch.

Successful Lifesaving Treatment

I asked the doctor there, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, to confirm to me that he had administered EPO (erythropoietin), a synthetic hormone that stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells at an accelerated rate. He said that he had. Of course, the body still needs the basic building blocks in order to produce healthy red blood cells. These building blocks are folic acid, vitamin B, and especially iron. Iron dextran (Imferon) administered intravenously is the fastest way to supply needed iron, and I asked for it.a

However, Imferon was not available in Argentina. It was difficult to locate even in the United States, since most of it had been shipped to the Middle East because of the Persian Gulf war. Yet, some was finally located, and immediately it was entrusted to one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who was on his way to Argentina.

By this time my hemoglobin measured only 4. Knowing that taking excessive blood samples can contribute to anemia, I told the medical technician who came to the branch that I would no longer allow him to take blood. He objected: “We must take it if we are to know what is going on.”

“You know what is going on,” I replied. “I’m bleeding, and what is the most precious substance in my body?”

“Blood,” he acknowledged.

“And I’ve decided for now not to give any more of mine,” I responded. How much lower my blood count fell is not known.

That night I prayed fervently to Jehovah, petitioning his direction and expressing my hope to awake the next day. I did, but I sensed that my life-​force was leaving me. Death seemed imminent. My hemoglobin count normally is about 17.2 grams per deciliter, being at the high end of the acceptable range, so I had lost more than 75 percent of my blood. Something further had to be done.

That morning I requested a discussion regarding my treatment with doctors caring for me. Vitamin K, important for blood coagulation, was not being administered, but now they immediately agreed to begin giving it. Next I asked: “Could any of the drugs you are administering be causing or contributing to the bleeding?”

“No,” they responded.

“Are you sure?” I pressed.

Early the following morning, one of the surgeons came to me and said that upon further investigation they found that one of the drugs could very well be contributing to the bleeding. Its use was suspended immediately. The doctors’ willingness carefully to listen to me as a patient and analyze my treatment increased my respect for them.

At my request, medical literature was brought to my bedside, and my wife and I began to research it. One article spoke of a chemical hemostat, a medicine that arrests the flow of blood. No sooner had we located it than Dr. Marcelo Calderón Blanco, a fellow Witness, came in and announced his desire to use a similar product! The preparation was administered to me in the same fashion that an enema is given. About the same time, the Imferon arrived from the United States and was given to me intravenously.

Now we could only wait. Within the day, I began to feel stronger. Three days later I allowed them to take some blood. Amazingly, the hemoglobin had risen to 6! Yet, when it had been checked five days earlier, it was 4 and still dropping! The doctors were skeptical. They ordered another test. It confirmed the first one. The EPO and Imferon were working!

The technician at the clinic who had tested my blood called and said that the doctor must have administered a blood transfusion. “No one’s blood count can rise that fast without a blood transfusion,” he insisted. The doctor assured him that no blood had been given. “What regimen is being followed that elevates the blood level that quickly?” he wanted to know. He was informed about the use of EPO and Imferon.

Dr. Amilcar Fernández Llerena, one of my non-​Witness doctors, visited me the day the blood test was received. After examining me, he said in amazement: “I give you a new name​—Lazarus.” (Compare John 11:38-44.) I had to muster all my strength to hold back the tears.

Dr. Llerena said: “You can thank your God, Jehovah, for being alive.” I asked him what he meant. “If you had been a smoker, drug abuser, or heavy drinker,” he answered, “you would not have survived the operation. But since your body is clean and strong from obeying God’s law, you survived.”

The information I used in my case was mostly what we had been teaching the Hospital Liaison Committees at seminars in North America, Europe, and Latin America. The emphasis of the program is on successful alternatives that can be used in nonblood medical management. Happily, information regarding these alternatives is available to physicians through a Hospital Liaison Committee, more than 800 of which now exist around the world.

I am hopeful that my experience will help other Witnesses who seek nonblood treatment. The hospital where I received surgery later contacted the Argentina branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses and said that they now realized we had a successful regimen for treating patients with nonblood products and that they would be happy to cooperate with us in the future.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 13]

Leaving the hospital after my surgery

Wyndham’s Faith​—How It Has Affected Others

AWAKE! magazine of August 22, 1991, published an article about Wyndham Cook’s faithfulness to the law of God that commands Christians to abstain from blood. (Acts 15:20; 21:25) Wyndham had varicose veins in his throat, and he was a partial hemophiliac. The article reported that he survived several bleeding incidents, one in which his hemoglobin blood count dropped below 2. Sadly, a footnote to the article observed: “As this magazine was going to press, Wyndham died after suffering another bleeding incident.”

Effect on Fellow Youths

Many young people in the United States wrote Awake! expressing appreciation for the article and describing the effect that it had on them. One from Clinton, Iowa, said: “When I read how this 15-​year-​old boy stood up to the doctors and patiently explained to them why he refused blood, it made me question my own faith and ask myself what I would have done. Wyndham’s faith and endurance made me feel more determined than ever that if I was in a life-​and-​death situation, I would take a stand the way he did.”

A letter from a 15-​year-​old from Maiden, North Carolina, said: “After reading about Wyndham’s sufferings and his reliance upon Jehovah even to death, I cried. I asked myself that heart-​searching question, ‘Would I under such circumstances put my life in God’s hands and put complete trust in him to remember me?’

“I’ve reread the article many times, and I intend to refer to it any time I feel sad because of this oppressive world. Wyndham’s faith supplies encouragement. I look forward to meeting him in Jehovah’s promised new world.”

Another youngster, from New York City, wrote: “I often imagine myself being in a situation similar to Wyndham Cook’s and wonder what I would say if my doctor told me that I was going to die if I did not accept a blood transfusion. I am always filled with courage and strengthened by powerful examples, like Wyndham’s, to do my utmost in service to Jehovah.”

A youth from Kent, Washington, explained: “I picked up the magazine from my post office yesterday and had it read before I returned home. I called many friends from the congregation to recommend the article. Then that evening we studied it for our family study.” Noting the effect it had on her, she said: “It not only proved to be encouraging and faith strengthening but made me, at age 17, ask myself if I would be able to stand up to such a test.”

A youngster from North Berwick, Maine, wrote: “I could relate to Wyndham because I too am 15 years old. I can’t say how much his endurance and courage has moved me to do my utmost in Jehovah’s service. If he could do so much to please God even in his weakened state, then what reason do I have for holding back?

“When I finished reading the beautiful article, my eyes were filled with tears. I felt that I had known Wyndham all my life. I wish I had. Then I looked at the picture of him and his parents and thought of how I couldn’t wait to see his beautiful smile again after the resurrection when he’d suffer no more pain.”

Another 15-​year-​old wanted to let Wyndham’s parents know how she felt about the article. She wrote: “Wyndham’s courage helped me to see that I need to be prepared to stand up for my beliefs. At any time I could be in a similar situation. I just wish that if the time should ever come when I need to take a stand, I will be as courageous and determined as Wyndham was in following what the Bible says.

“I never knew Wyndham, which I’m sure is a loss in itself, but I am really looking forward to knowing him when the new world will be here. His story has inspired me to do all I possibly can in Jehovah’s service and do it down until the end.”

Faith Strengthening to All

A parent from Newark, New Jersey, explained: “I’ve been one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 22 years but attended meetings before that time. I have on a regular basis read all my magazines, but I’ve never read a story that was more touching and encouraging than that of Wyndham Cook.

“Now I can only continue to fulfill my God-​given role as a parent by helping my ten-​year-​old daughter stand strong and make a defense for the faith as Wyndham did. Whether it be the blood issue, drugs, sex, or any of the vices that Satan brings on all of us, especially our young, we must continue to remain strong by building up our faith.”

A Witness from Cadiz, Kentucky, expressed similar sentiments, writing: “This is one of the most touching articles I’ve ever read. Wyndham was such an excellent example for all young ones to follow. I cried as I read what this fine young Witness had to go through. I realized how all of us, young and old alike, should follow his courageous stand. Wyndham’s example made me reexamine myself. It has made me try even harder to work whole-​souled for Jehovah, always trying to set a fine example, like Wyndham, to sanctify Jehovah’s name.”

Another Witness, from Palm Springs, California, wrote: “This article particularly touched my heart. I have five children, and I would hope and pray that if ever faced with this kind of ordeal, they would have the strength of faith that Wyndham had. . . . Wyndham is a fine example for our youths.”

Genuine faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for even though one has not yet seen or experienced these things. (Hebrews 11:1) Wyndham had faith in God’s new world and the resurrection of the dead because of accurate knowledge of the Bible’s promises. (Acts 24:15; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:3, 4) Such faith, demonstrated even in the face of death, surely is strengthening to the worldwide brotherhood.​—1 Peter 5:9.

New Zealand’s Fuzzy Little Fruit

By Awake! correspondent in New Zealand

WESTERNERS called it the Chinese gooseberry. But when it began being cultivated in New Zealand, promoters capitalized on the resemblance this fuzzy fruit bore to New Zealand’s famous kiwi bird. Thus, it became known the world over as kiwifruit.

For decades the economic livelihood of this South Pacific land depended solely upon its wool, meat, and dairy products. But now kiwifruit has emerged as a source of income as New Zealand’s main horticultural crop. This has made it possible for kiwifruit to tease the taste buds of millions. Its versatility, limited only by the imagination, has resulted in a great variety of delightful dishes.

But just what is this fuzzy little fruit? Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is really a berry that grows on a vine. Thriving in a mild climate, kiwifruit was originally grown in the Yangtze Valley of southern China. However, in 1934 the first commercial planting was made in New Zealand at Te Puke, a town of 5,500 inhabitants on the east coast of North Island. Soon kiwifruit cultivation was established in other parts of the country. But it is Te Puke, with its ideal climatic conditions, that has come to be called the “kiwifruit capital of the world.”

Growing kiwifruit is quite an undertaking. It takes from three to five years for a newly planted vine to bear fruit. Furthermore, constant pruning of the vines is necessary to ensure that sufficient light reaches the fruit. Permanent support structures for the vines​—T-bar or pergola trellises—​must be constructed. And when harvest season commences, hundreds of skilled workers are required to hand pick millions of pieces of fruit that are about the size of a lemon or a small orange. It takes about four large kiwifruit to make a pound, and tens of thousands of tons of the fruit are harvested each year.

All of this might seem like a lot of trouble to grow a fruit that The Wall Street Journal once described as looking about as impressive as “an old tennis ball.” But don’t let its dull looks deceive you. “Cut the kiwifruit open,” continued the Journal, “and it comes to life. Suddenly all is electric green and fragrant, with a violet-​ringed yellow sunburst at the centre.” And taste it by scooping it out with a spoon! Its pulp has a sweet, fruity flavor. In addition, this tiny fruit packs a powerful nutritional punch. Besides having significant amounts of vitamins C and E, the fiber content of a large kiwifruit is nearly four times greater than that of a cup of chopped celery. One fruit has more potassium than a banana and may supply from 20 to 70 percent of the body’s daily need for chromium.

Kiwifruit is also quite versatile in the kitchen and is easily adapted to a wide range of diets. Assuming it is available locally, you might want to try the accompanying recipe. You too may become a lover of New Zealand’s fuzzy little fruit!

[Picture Credit Line on page 17]

New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board

[Box/​Picture on page 18]

Kiwifruit Ice Salad:

1 can of litchis (500 grams or 1 pound) or other fruit

4 peeled kiwifruit

1 cup of sugar

1 can of mandarin segments (250 grams or 1/2 pound)

1 tablespoon [15 ml] of orange liqueur

1 tablespoon [15 ml] of lemon juice

2 cups [0.5 L] of water

1. Pour water and sugar into pan. Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Boil for three minutes. Allow to cool.

2. Pulp two kiwifruit in blender.

3. Add pulped kiwifruit, mandarin juice, lemon juice, and liqueur to sugar. Stir until well mixed. Freeze mixture in shallow tray. Scrape with a fork to produce flakes.

4. Chill remaining kiwifruit, and cut into slices.

5. Stuff litchis with mandarin segments and, along with sliced kiwifruit, place in medium-​size brandy glasses or serving dishes.

6. Spoon any remaining litchi and mandarin juice over fruit.

7. Sprinkle prepared ice flakes on top of the fruit when ready to serve.

Serves 4-6 persons.

Young People Ask . . .

What if My Parent Has Disgraced Us?

JACOB’S dad used to be a respected Christian overseer in an African land. But when he left Jacob’s mother to live with another woman, Jacob’s father was expelled from the Christian congregation. Matters went from bad to worse when he then began to drink heavily. “In this state,” recalls Jacob, “he would come to school and embarrass me in front of my teachers and schoolmates.”a

Another African youth, whom we will call David, likewise saw his father expelled from the Christian congregation as an unrepentant wrongdoer. “I could not believe it,” says David. “I always looked upon him as my model. My worst fear was that no one would want to associate with the family of a disfellowshipped person.”

When a parent drags the family name through the mud by getting involved in scandalous conduct, or even by getting arrested, it is not at all unusual to feel disgraced, humiliated, and afraid of the future. You may sometimes feel like the psalmist who wrote: “All day long my humiliation is in front of me, and the shame of my own face has covered me.”​—Psalm 44:15.

As a result of your parent’s conduct, you may feel awkward and embarrassed in the company of friends and acquaintances. Some of them may likewise seem to be ill at ease in your presence. Certain cruel youths may even take delight in teasing you about your parent’s predicament, or adults may soberly warn you that you could very well turn out the same way.

Not Your Fault!

A popular saying in ancient times declared: “The parents ate the sour grapes, but the children got the sour taste.” (Ezekiel 18:2, Today’s English Version) Youths today may likewise feel they are being made to taste the fruits of their parent’s misconduct. After his father was expelled from the congregation, young David felt very hurt and wondered whether God was punishing him.

But was he? True, God warned the nation of Israel that he was “bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons.” (Exodus 20:5) At one point, for instance, Jehovah sent the entire nation into exile in distant Babylon. While this was due primarily to the misconduct of grown-​ups, the exile no doubt brought hardship upon the Israelite children. Still, God continued to favor Israelite youths, such as Daniel and his companions, who faithfully continued worshiping him.​—Daniel 3:28, 30.

So while your parent’s deflection may cause you much grief and pain, you need not fear that you have lost God’s favor or blessing. Consider the words of Jehovah at Ezekiel 18:14, 17 that followed the earlier-​quoted saying about bitter grapes: “Look! one has become father to a son, who keeps seeing all the sins of his father that he has done, and he sees and does not do things like them. . . . He himself will not die because of the error of his father. He will positively keep living.”

Note, though, that in order to keep living, you must chart a course different from the one followed by your wayward parent. “Let each one prove what his own work is,” urges the Bible, “and then he will have cause for exultation in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.”​—Galatians 6:4.

Proving Yourself to Be Different

Consider, for example, the young king of ancient Judah named Josiah. Both his father and his grandfather were notorious idolaters. Yet, Josiah himself “proceeded to do what was right in Jehovah’s eyes.” (2 Kings 21:19, 20; 22:1, 2) King Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, was another king who set a wretched example. Ahaz closed the doors of Jehovah’s temple and offered up his own sons in sacrifice to a pagan god! (2 Chronicles 28:1-3, 24, 25) Hezekiah, though, proved to be different from his father. At age 25 he began to rule and immediately began restoring true worship in Judah.​—2 Kings 18:1-5.

The sons of Korah set a similar example. Prior to the nation of Israel’s entry to the Promised Land, Korah, a prominent Levite, led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. The revolt, however, was quickly squashed when Korah and his followers were executed by an earthquake and by fire from heaven. Interestingly, though, Korah’s sons survived. (Numbers 26:9-11) It seems that they did not side with their father in this rebellion. No doubt these sons of Korah felt disgraced by their father’s wicked course. But Jehovah blessed Korah’s descendants because they stuck to his Law. Among the most beautiful expressions found in the Bible are words penned by the sons of Korah.​—See Psalms 45, 48, 84, 85, 87, and Ps 88.

Like Josiah, Hezekiah, and the sons of Korah, many Christian youths today have proved to be different from wayward parents. Consider a teenager we will call Maxwell. His parents were once faithful Witnesses of Jehovah but became apostate opposers of Christianity. On one occasion his parents carried banners and demonstrated outside the grounds of a Christian convention that Maxwell was attending. “It was very embarrassing,” he explains. “Some who didn’t know that they were my parents said to me, ‘Have you seen those stupid apostates outside?’” However, Maxwell did not follow his parents’ rebellious course. And with the support of faithful family members and other Christian associates, he has been able to cope with feelings of embarrassment and shame.

Maxwell, Jacob, and David (mentioned earlier) have indeed risen above their family situation. All currently serve as ministers at a branch office of the Watch Tower Society in Africa. “I know that I may still have to face embarrassment from my parents in the future,” says Maxwell, “but I also know that if I rely on Jehovah, he will give me strength to endure.”

Dealing With Feelings

Help may particularly be needed to cope with the distressing feelings evoked by your parent’s shameful conduct. “When I see my mother [drunk],” wrote 15-​year-​old Charmaine, “it is as if something inside me is dying . . . I get so angry . . . My friends must never find out about my mother’s problem, because I still have my pride.” (Alcohol Abuse​—The Incredible Lie! by Henri Naudé) An English proverb reminds us, however, that “a sorrow shared is but half a trouble.” For one thing, your parent’s problem may be common knowledge anyway. So why treat it as some unutterable secret? And even where discretion is prudent, does it make any sense to allow your hostile feelings to build up? Would it not help to find a mature Christian in whom you can confide? In this way you could receive good words of encouragement.​—Proverbs 12:25; 16:24.

Reflecting on Bible principles is another effective way of dealing with negative feelings. Admits Jacob: “The things my father did created hatred for him in my heart.” However, hatred will not improve the situation, nor is it in harmony with the Bible’s command to honor one’s father and mother. (Ephesians 6:1-3) Rather than hate your parent personally, you should have a healthy hatred of your parent’s wrongdoing. (Compare Proverbs 8:13; Jude 23.) It is even proper to obey and show respect for a wayward parent. Manifesting and expressing your continued love may help move that parent to make needed changes.

Young Jacob had another common problem​—the tendency to compare himself with other youths whose circumstances were better. However, he came to realize how fruitless such thinking is. “Rather than dwelling on such thoughts,” says Jacob, “it is more helpful to concentrate on ways of coping with the situation.” Jacob found that reading Bible literature and meditating on the life course of faithful Christians was a great help.

Close association with the Christian congregation can also prove helpful. There you can find spiritual “brothers and sisters and mothers.” (Mark 10:30) Young David feared that members of the congregation might avoid him because of his father’s disfellowshipping. But he found that his fears were totally unjustified. “In the congregation,” he explains, “we weren’t made to feel like outcasts, as I thought would be the case. Friends still came to visit us. All of this convinced me that the congregation really cared.”

There is no question that having a wayward parent can be painful and devastating. But you need not despair. Think about the experiences of those mentioned here. Seek the help of loving friends. Do not show disrespect for your parents; your faithful course may eventually move them to change. (Compare 1 Peter 3:1, 2.) And regardless of what happens, remember that your standing before God does not depend on the conduct of your parents. It depends on you!

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 20]

You do not have to follow your parent’s wayward course

A Day at Asia’s Largest Animal Fair

By Awake! correspondent in India

MAHARAJAS riding atop beautifully decorated elephants or a humble farmer driving a pair of great horned bullocks​—such scenes are often photographed here in India. But where are such large and valuable animals obtained?

To find out, come with us to Sonepur in the state of Bihar, in northeastern India. There we can visit a fair probably unlike any you have seen before. It is reportedly the largest animal fair in Asia, possibly even in the world. It is held for about two weeks during October and November.

A Fascinating Event

What crowds! Women are decked out in bright saris, with plentiful jewelry. Married women particularly stand out with red powder rubbed into the parting of their hair. Most of them have a baby in their arms, and another child or two clutches at their saris as they hurry to keep up with their husbands.

With such immense crowds, we wonder how children manage to keep from getting lost. The fact is, many don’t. In just one week, we learned, 50 children were lost, and only 17 of them were recovered. We shudder to think what happens to the missing ones, since we have heard that unscrupulous persons often seize them and force them into begging and immoral practices.

Roadside stalls add to the congestion but are interesting to see. At one stall, when a coin is contributed, a little bird comes out of its cage and picks up a card. The man in charge interprets one’s future from it. Need a quick shave? Then simply squat in front of the barber, and his long, sharp razor glides steadily over your lathered face. In just three minutes, you receive a shave that is perhaps closer than one any modern equipment can provide.

Stalls offer a vast assortment of decorative bangles, which Indian women enjoy wearing on each arm, color coordinated to match their saris. The experienced merchant slips bangle after bangle on and off till he finds the right size and style. On each arm a typical Indian woman may wear a dozen or so bangles, made of glass, metal, or plastic.

Stalls also sell trinkets for animals. After all, this is an animal fair. Business here is brisk because the villagers are fond of decorating their animals. Adornments include beads for the animals’ necks as well as colorful bells of different sizes.

Who is that crying out? Why, a beggar! Shriveled and covered with dust, he crawls on the road and pushes along his beggar’s bowl. Considering the crowd, it’s a wonder he escapes being trampled! During the fair, people are generous to beggars, so this man’s bowl is already half full of coins. Near the temple are hundreds of beggars asking for alms​—the lame, the blind, and the leprous. Some are cursing their fate, others invoke the names of gods, and some shower blessings on those who give.

Also heading for the fair are animals of many kinds. The elephants are painted and gaily decorated. Each has a rider on top who gives brisk commands to move on or to slow down, using an occasional nudge with a stick behind the elephant’s ears. Water buffalo, heads held high, move ever so slowly, completely oblivious of the traffic that piles up behind them.

En route we also see many cows and a few camels. Monkeys are plentiful, mostly of the langur type. These have bushy eyebrows and tufted chins. Feathered creatures abound as well, from ornate peacocks and parrots to parakeets and pigeons. All have come to the fair from far and near.

Some Feature Attractions

The prize cows that come from the Punjab are among the feature attractions. Some yield about seven gallons [25 L] of milk twice a day. Truly, they are beautiful animals! Many folk come just to look at them, whereas others are serious buyers. Whenever a sale is made, the owner cries out, “Bolo Hariharnath Ki,” thus hailing a local deity, and the crowd responds in agreement, “Jai.” The average cost of an Indian cow may range from 3,000 to 5,000 rupees, but these prize foreign breeds sell for 20,000 to 40,000 rupees.a

This year there are only 15 camels for sale at the market. These “ships of the desert” cost 5,000 rupees each. They can work for long hours and can take heat and cold and thirst and hunger in their stride. Camels can be used to pull carts and plows and to turn waterwheels, work usually done by bullocks, or oxen.

The most popular animals are the bullocks. It is almost impossible to travel Indian roads without seeing the ever-​dependable bullock cart hauling the farmer’s goods and family to town. One enterprising seller has put up a sign saying “Superstar Bullocks.” And they really do look like superstars! Lest anyone get an idea of cheating or robbing him, he has two decorated rifles ready. A superstar sells for 35,000 rupees.

The neighing horses catch our attention next, and what lovely animals they are! Some are mounts for the police or the army, while others are intended for racing. Ponies for riding and for pulling a carriage are also available. In one stall a brass band is playing, to the delight of a trained horse, which dances in step with the music.

We move on in the direction of loud trumpeting. There, in the midst of a mango grove, are the elephants, all 250 of them. What majestic creatures! They have come from all over India and Nepal. They seem restless, however, possibly because of the large crowd as well as the presence of so many others of their kind.

Here we meet Harihar Prasad, a 25-​year-​old male elephant that is trumpeting wildly. His owner, Gangabux Singh, has just sold him for 70,000 rupees. Considering the present market rate of 130,000 rupees for a good jumbo, the price is quite low. But Harihar is a bit difficult to handle.

Harihar walked for 22 days to reach the fair, and now his owner is sad to part with him. But business is business, and emotional ties have to be cut. We wondered if Harihar too is sad to leave his old mahout (trainer). When his new mahout tried to handle him, Harihar broke his ropes, so he is in chains.

To calm him and to effect a smooth transition, his previous mahout will travel with him to his new home. There, both handlers will work together until the new one gets used to Harihar and his moods. We learn that the new owner does not intend to keep Harihar for long. So he may be brought back to Sonepur and sold again next year.

It may be that Harihar will be bought by people from Rajasthan to become a temple elephant in some faraway place. Then he would be fully decorated and used in pulling a temple chariot. Or he might end up hauling timber in the remote jungles of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, way out in the Bay of Bengal.

A Fair With a Long History

Although no one seems to be sure as to when or how the animal fair actually got started at Sonepur, it appears to have come into prominence during the reign of Mogul emperor ‘Alamgīr (1658-1707). Rajeshwar Prasad Singh, a local landlord, says that his family has been renting out the fairgrounds for the horse market since 1887. From the 19th century on, indigo planters of the British Raj gathered here during the fair for polo playing, horse racing, and dances.

The maharajas who came to the fair with large entourages and lived in special tents added luster to the fair in earlier days. Yet, as long as demand for animals persists, the Sonepur fair will continue to be held. We were happy to have spent some time at this vastly different fair, where animals of all sorts are the star attractions.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 23]

Decorated steed being displayed to onlookers

[Picture on page 24]

Harihar Prasad after he was sold

Breeding the Coastal Giants

By Awake! correspondent in Canada

A WALK in a towering grove of trees is surely one of the most impressive, even awesome, experiences one can have. Seeing the streams of light and colors, breathing the cool, fresh air, and feeling the stillness and peace is indeed inspiring.

North America’s Pacific Northwest is well-​known for its vast woodlands. The mountains, valleys, and fjords are covered with prolific growths of the famous coastal giants​—cone-​bearing softwood trees. Hemlock, balsam, pine, cedar, spruce, and fir all grow tall here. The renowned Douglas fir can reach nearly 300 feet [90 m] in height!

There is much more to these trees than their magnificence, however. They are of importance to the livelihood of loggers, truckers, road builders, mill hands, towboat operators, and others. And from the trees are produced the raw material for thousands of manufactured goods to satisfy consumers. So important are trees that scientists and forest managers are endeavoring to find ways to speed up their growth and to improve the yield of the forest. To do this, they have turned to the science and art of tree breeding.

Why Tree Breeding?

Trees in a forest, like faces in a crowd, are distinctive. Each one is a little different from another in height, foliage, and limbs. And it may also differ in ways that you cannot see.

Some trees grow faster than others. Some yield wood of greater strength, density, and clarity (freedom from knots) than others. And some have greater resistance to pests and diseases. All these things matter greatly to the forest industry.

Forest managers naturally want trees that grow fast, resist disease, and yield high-​quality wood. And for ease in logging, transporting, and milling, trees of fairly even size are most desirable. But trees that fill the bill​—the old growth that stood here when the first loggers arrived in the mid-19th century—​have already been harvested. The trees that are cut today, second-​growth trees, are smaller, grow more slowly, contain less wood, and are of uneven quality. It is the tree breeder’s job to produce trees that possess the desirable characteristics. This has led to the tree-​improvement programs now operating in the Pacific Northwest.

How It Is Done

Tree breeding begins with selection. In the area where reforestation is planned, a team of technicians goes cruising among stands of trees in search of plus trees​—trees that appear to offer the greatest genetic potential for breeding.

If stand cruising sounds like a pleasant drive through the woods, it is at best half true. It is a painstaking search. Each prospective plus tree must match a checklist of characteristics​—good cone production, fast growth, straight stem, absence of disease, and so forth. But in this job, appearances can be misleading. That splendid, healthy, 130-​foot [40 m] fir may be taller, but did it grow faster or is it simply older? Does it happen to have better exposure or drainage, or is its size really due to superior hereditary endowment?

Once a satisfactory specimen is found, it is tagged and numbered. But, now, how can it be bred to produce other superior trees? Nothing would be gained by uprooting and replanting it elsewhere. Nor would it be of benefit just to take its seeds and plant them. This is because there is no way of knowing which one of the surrounding trees pollinated the seeds, thus making them genetically impure. What is needed is a cutting from the tree. Yet how can it be obtained?

The lowest branch is high above the ground. So a sharpshooter raises his rifle and fires. Down glides the tip of a healthy branch. This cutting, called a scion, is then taken and grafted on to the rootstock of a young tree in a seed orchard. There the grafted scion will grow into a genetic duplicate of the parent tree​—a clone.

The site of the seed orchard is carefully chosen so that the grafted clones will not be pollinated by trees in the wild. When the clones mature, the reproductive flowers, protected from airborne pollen by paper envelopes, are pollinated artificially with a hypodermic needle. From the resulting seeds will come a new generation of seedlings, or young plants. For every step along the process, and for each seedling, detailed information must be kept so that the origin of the plus tree, the source of the pollen, and a host of other information can be traced.

The seedlings are then taken to a site near the plus tree and planted to see how they perform. Like human offspring the trees may reflect favorably or unfavorably on their parents. If they do well, their scions may form the basis for a second-​generation seed orchard. The seeds from these scions may be sold commercially for up to $260 (U.S.) per pound [58 cents per gram]. But if they do poorly, their parents, the clones, may be uprooted from the orchard, and the plus trees from which they derive will be stricken from the program. New plus trees must be found, and the painstaking process starts all over again.

All of this takes a great deal of time. A breeder of trees may not expect to see even one full-​grown generation resulting from his work. It takes up to ten years for a seed orchard to produce seeds in usable quantities. It takes another ten years to test the offspring of the orchard’s trees. Finally, it takes another 50 to 60 years for the trees to reach harvestable size.

There Are Dangers

As noted before, if the grafted scions do poorly, years of work can be lost. Thus, the temptation is great to stick to only a tiny number of the finest and proved plus trees. But there are hazards in doing this. What are they?

Each tree, like each person (with the exception of identical twins or triplets), is genetically unique​—a genotype. The fewer the genotypes in a tree-​breeder’s gene pool, the fewer the different genes in that pool, and the greater the hazard that some disease or pest will wipe out a whole generation of trees, even an entire forest.

Therefore it is wise to have a bigger gene pool, even though some of the plus trees used are not as fast-​growing or as straight. Using a number of plus trees reduces the risk of wholesale destruction.

Future of Tree Breeding

Though it may be another 50 years before results from tree breeding done today will be forthcoming, the bonus is that forests planted with improved seeds will be marketable in 10 to 20 percent less time than those planted with ordinary seeds. And some experts are predicting that tree breeding could increase the volume of harvested timber by up to 25 percent on a given piece of land. This benefit, along with better resistance to disease and pests, stronger and cleaner wood, and better seed production, makes tree breeding a vital part of forest management in the Pacific Northwest.

Time remains the tree breeder’s enemy. It takes too long to see results, to make decisions, to press on with the next step. Trees, and especially the conifers, have always outlived us. But the Bible points forward to the time when that will no longer be so. “Like the days of a tree will the days of my people be,” it promises. In fact, God promises that his people will live forever. (Isaiah 65:22; Revelation 21:3, 4) Then humans will have time to explore the fascinating genetic potential that still lies hidden in plants and animals.

[Pictures on page 26]

Shooting down a cutting from a tree

Watching the World

A Turning Point for the UN?

“The United Nations may never be the same after the Earth Summit,” commented Charles Petit, a science writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. He added: “The world body finally seems to be gaining the stature assigned to it when its charter was signed 47 years ago in San Francisco.” The UN-​sponsored Earth Summit meeting, which took place in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, attempted to address some of the environmental problems now facing the world; many are clearly too large in scope for individual nations to solve. Hilary French of the Worldwatch Institute commented: “Nations are, in effect, ceding portions of their sovereignty to the international community and beginning to create a new system of international environmental governance.”

Women in the Workplace

More and more women in the world are becoming “economically active,” or working at paying jobs, but they still face enormous hurdles, according to Finance & Development, a journal published by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The journal estimates that some 830 million women worldwide are economically active, and that 70 percent of them live in developing countries. In Africa and parts of Asia, far fewer girls than boys are enrolled in secondary school, so it is not surprising that some 75 percent of women 25 and over are illiterate and that it is often harder for such women to find a decent job. Although far fewer women than men are economically active, this hardly reflects whether the women are working since the statistics deal only with formal employment and not work done in households or family-​run activities. Studies have shown that in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, the average woman works some 12 or 13 hours more each week than the average man.

“Hell Exists”?

“Hell exists; it is eternal.” So affirm the Italian Jesuits in their Vatican-​approved periodical La Civiltà Cattolica. They are evidently concerned about a trend within the Catholic Church to mute the supposed reality of hellfire and its torments. For example, they criticize a catechism for young people that fails to devote even one page “to the mystery of the retribution of the evil.” The Jesuits insist that the “fire” of hellfire is no mere “exclusion from the presence of God or the remorse of the damned” but, rather, involves pain as a punishment for earthly sins. They exhort theologians, priests, and catechists to speak about hell, particularly to young people. Yet, the Bible does not teach such a doctrine, stating that the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.”​—Ecclesiastes 9:5.

Sexual Assaults Blamed on Comic Books

Police in Tokyo, Japan, recently charged a 16-​year-​old high school student with 25 counts of sexual assault. The youth laid the blame on obscene comic books. In one incident he allegedly got a sexually explicit comic book at a convenience store and then took a ten-​year-​old girl into a restroom and forced her to join him in acting out one of the book’s lewd scenes. He admitted to police that he had carried out 24 similar assaults, and that most of them were likewise inspired by dirty comics. The Daily Yomiuri reports: “Last year, 86 sex crimes involving minors believed to have been inspired by obscene comics were reported in Tokyo.”

The Oldest Bakery?

Archaeologists working near Egypt’s pyramids have uncovered what may well be the oldest bakery in the world, according to an Associated Press report. Evidently the bakery was used to provide bread for the workers building the pyramids. Mark Lehner, an Egyptologist and one of the directors of the excavation, said: “We’re talking colossal baking here, easily enough to feed 30,000 people a day.” Lehner figures that the working conditions in the bakery must have been nightmarish, with intense heat and thick black smoke. “These rooms would have been like a night sky filled with rain,” he says. “We’ve dug through 1 1/2 feet [45 cm] of black-​velvet, built-​up ash.” The bakery is believed to date from the pyramid-​building days.

Acid Rain in Japan

Acid rain in Japan has reached levels similar to those found in Europe and the United States, reports The Daily Yomiuri. The paper notes that when the pH level (a measure of acidity and alkalinity) of rainwater drops below 5.6, the rain may be considered acid. A study committee appointed by Japan’s Environment Agency measured the average acidity of rain during recent years and found levels as low as 4.3, well down in the acid range. Although it is not yet known whether acid rain is the cause, the committee’s report found that a number of cedar and pine forests in Japan are deteriorating.

Forests and Atmosphere Control

Ammonia is an important part of the earth’s atmosphere. An alkaline chemical, it can buffer the acidity in acid rain. But too much of it contributes to the ugly brown clouds of smog that hang over many cities. New studies suggest that forests help the atmosphere maintain the right balance of ammonia. The Denver Post reported that scientists measured the amounts of ammonia in winds that blew over forests in Colorado, U.S.A. When the wind contained less ammonia than the natural level found in leaf cells, the plants of the forest emitted the chemical into the air. But when the wind was already laden with higher ammonia levels, the forest flora absorbed ammonia instead of emitting it. Andrew Langford, one of the scientists who performed the experiments, said: “The entire forest is strong enough to control the atmosphere as long as it’s not overwhelmed by (unnatural) sources.”

Tomb of Caiaphas Found?

What appear to be the tomb and remains of Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest who was instrumental in the death of Jesus Christ, have been found in Jerusalem, reports The Star, a newspaper of Johannesburg, South Africa. The find consisted of an ossuary, or container for bones, with the inscription “Yehosef bar Caiapha.” Caiaphas became high priest in about 18 C.E. and persecuted not only Christ but also Christ’s followers. He was removed from office about 36 C.E. Mentioned also by the Jewish historian Josephus, Caiaphas is one of the few such ancient figures whose remains have been documented. The Star quotes one archaeologist as saying: “Of over a thousand ossuaries found in Jerusalem, we’ve recognised the names of maybe five.”

Alcohol and Fat?

It is hardly news that people who drink too many alcoholic beverages tend to get fat. But why? A recent study at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, came up with an interesting possibility. Apparently it is not just the calories in alcohol that make it so fattening but also the way alcohol affects the body’s ability to burn fat. Nutritionists have long known that the body is a bit sluggish when it comes to burning fat, tending to store it while burning sugars and carbohydrates more readily. But alcohol makes the body burn fat even more slowly. In an experiment, men were placed on diets that included three ounces [90 ml] of pure alcohol per day​—about the equivalent of six beers. On this diet, the men burned about one-​third less fat than usual. Of course, the more fat in one’s diet, the more pronounced this effect tends to become.

“A Sad Record”

The French daily Le Figaro reports that 1991 was the worst year of crime in the history of France. French law enforcement agencies have made public the latest crime statistics, which show that over 3.7 million crimes were reported in France last year​—an increase of more than 7 percent above 1990. Over a fourth of all these crimes took place in the Paris region. There were “significant increases in almost every category of crime,” from “unprecedented violence in the suburbs” to “white-​collar crime, particularly among politicians,” says the newspaper. These latest figures reveal that France’s crime rate is now seven times higher than it was 40 years ago. “A sad record,” concludes Le Figaro.

Passive-​Smoking Lawsuit

The New South Wales District Court in Australia recently awarded heavy damages to a 64-​year-​old woman who had sued her previous employers for serious health problems she claims to have suffered after working in a smoke-​filled environment for about a dozen years. Previously, such cases have been settled out of court, but in this landmark decision, the court awarded $85,000 (Australian) to the claimant. The Australian newspaper reported that this is the first time a jury has ruled that a smoker can harm the health of nonsmokers who breathe the smoke-​laden air. Some feel that this ruling might have widespread effects on restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, and other workplaces where nonsmoking employees could sue for heavy damages if smoke-​free work areas are not provided for them.

Precocious Sex and Psychological Turmoil

Sexual intercourse can cause numerous problems for youngsters besides venereal disease. According to Italian newspaper La Stampa, one underappreciated risk is that a premature sex life can give rise to “psychopathologies that create turmoil in youngsters’ minds and in their personal relationships, to the point of causing deviant behavior patterns, alcohol and drug abuse, and crime.” At a convention held in Rome, organized by the Center for Psychosocial Studies and the Italian Ministry of Justice, it was affirmed that young people are beginning to have sexual intercourse at an increasingly early age. The average age, according to one consultant, is 17.

From Our Readers

Gambling Your series “Gambling​—Does It Pay?” (June 8, 1992) was excellent in showing the effects of compulsive gambling, but it was not balanced. To illustrate: Drunkenness is wrong, but drinking is not wrong in itself. Similarly, gambling can be a legitimate activity when it’s done in a balanced way. The occasional gambler is not necessarily lazy or desirous of dishonest gain.

J. R., United States

We do not agree that occasional gambling can be compared to moderate drinking. The latter is not condemned in the Bible. However, the Bible categorically condemns both greed and any appeals to “the god of Good Luck.” (Isaiah 65:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) A person who gambles even on a casual basis [occasionally] may still be motivated by the greedy desire to get something at the expense of others. Indeed, experience shows that compulsive gambling often begins as a casual pastime. Christians therefore wisely avoid all forms of gambling.​—ED.

Dowsing I’d like to express my gratitude for the excellent article “Dowsing​—Scientific or Occult?” (April 22, 1992) My father did occasional water witching. Each bob of his rod would indicate one foot of the total depth to the water source. While in South America, I saw dowsing performed similarly. However, there each bob indicated one meter. Why the change to metric? Obviously, the hidden intelligence is likely of demonic origin.

W. B., United States

Aliens Thank you for the series “Help!​—We Are Aliens.” (May 8, 1992) Three years ago I decided to move to Japan but was unable to do so. I have always felt it would have been best if I had made the move. After reading your article, though, I realize that I was not prepared, as far as knowing the language and culture was concerned.

D. G. A., Brazil

The article reminded me of my own experience. Although I am native to the United States, several years ago I moved to an area of that land in need of evangelizers. I experienced some of the problems aliens go through in adjusting. I had to learn to broaden out and not compare my new home to the one where I grew up. I even learned about local plant and animal life. The article was a great help to me, and I’m sure it touched many others.

K. H., United States

Unbelieving Parents I was encouraged by the article “Young People Ask . . . What if My Parents Don’t Support Me in My Faith?” (January 8, 1992) My parents are ardent ancestor worshipers and want me to quit being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I’ve often been discouraged, but when I saw the opening words of the article, I realized I’m not the only one in this situation.

Y. M., Japan

My parents are Catholic and do not allow me to attend meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They’ve even threatened to kick me out of the house. I was therefore thrilled when a friend brought the article to school for me to read. It gave me the strength to persevere, and now I am confident that my efforts are not in vain.

H. W., United States

The article couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time. Being the only one in my family who is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I’ve experienced many trials from my parents. Your article helped me appreciate the support of my Christian brothers and sisters and how they help me to maintain my spirituality.

D. H., United States

Are You a Warm Parent?

DO YOU love your children? Are you proud of them? Do you feel that each one is a special, unique, irreplaceable individual? Most parents do. But do you tell your children that you feel this way? Do you praise them specifically when they do something well? And do you express warmth in other ways​—with gentle play, reassuring touch, loving hugs?

“But that is just not my way,” some may object. “I’m not that open with my feelings.” True, not everyone is demonstrative by nature. However, showing warmth to your children may be more important than you ever realized.

A group of scientists recently followed up on a 1951 study of 400 kindergarten children. Among the 94 men and women they were able to track down, they found some telling patterns. According to The New York Times, those children who had warm, affectionate parents tended to fare better in their adult life. They had basically successful marriages, raised children, enjoyed their work, and sustained close friendships. Dr. Carol Franz, who led the study, told the paper that they “showed psychological well-​being, a sense of zest and satisfaction with themselves and with their lives.”

In contrast, Franz found that “those with cold, rejecting parents had the hardest times in later life across the board​—in work, in social adjustment, and in psychological well-​being.” In fact, the study suggested that a lack of parental warmth may even be more damaging to children in the long run than parents’ divorce, alcoholism, or poverty.

This should not be surprising to sincere students of the Bible. They well know how Jesus treated children. He valued them, drew them to himself, and let his affection for them show. (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 9:46-48; 18:15-17) Of course, he was only imitating his heavenly Father in this respect​—the One who becomes Father to the fatherless boy. (Psalm 68:5) Jehovah is the perfect Parent; happily for those who love him, he can make up for any lack in imperfect human parents.​—2 Corinthians 6:18.

‘You Practice What You Preach’

Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain branch offices in nearly a hundred countries throughout the world. In South Africa last year, a man from Beacon Bay wrote a letter of appreciation to the Watch Tower Society’s branch office in that country. He said:

“I am not a Witness but regularly read the Watchtower and Awake! magazines. I really find reading them very uplifting. You cover a great variety of topics in these magazines and present your material very clearly and professionally.

“I think very highly of Witnesses’ morals and behaviour. You are the only variety of Christianity I’ve come across whose members consistently practise what they profess. May your work prosper.”

In recent years the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses has prospered to the extent that over 30 of their branches earth wide now print The Watchtower and Awake! Altogether, almost 700 million copies of these magazines were printed last year, nearly 16 million copies of each issue of The Watchtower and over 13 million copies of each issue of Awake!

If you would like to have further information or a free home Bible study, please write to Watchtower, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201, or to the appropriate address listed on page 5.