June 8

Page Two

The Chains and Tears of Slavery 3-8

Slavery affected the lives of millions of African men, women, and children. What happened to them? Who was responsible?

Forgive and Forget​—How Possible? 9

When someone commits a serious wrong against you, can you forgive and forget? Should you?

Why Your Body Needs Sleep 17

How important is sleep? What can be done to improve it?

Sold into Slavery

By Awake! correspondent in Africa

OLAUDAH EQUIANO was born in 1745 in what is now eastern Nigeria. Life in his village was typical of the times. Families worked together to cultivate corn, cotton, yams, and beans. Men herded cattle and goats. Women spun and wove cotton.

Equiano’s father was a distinguished clan elder and judge in the community. It was a position that Equiano was in line to inherit one day. That never happened. Equiano, when a boy, was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

Sold from trader to trader, he did not meet Europeans until he reached the coast. Years later, he described his impressions: “The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship which was then riding at anchor and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled and tossed up to see if I were sound by some of the crew, and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits and that they were going to kill me.”

Looking about him, Equiano saw “a multitude of black people of every description chained together, every one of their countenances expressing dejection and sorrow.” Overwhelmed, he fainted. Fellow Africans revived him and tried to comfort him. Equiano says: “I asked them if we were not to be eaten by those white men.”

Equiano was shipped to Barbados, then to Virginia, and later to England. Purchased by a ship’s captain, he traveled widely. He learned to read and write, eventually bought his freedom, and played a leading role in the movement to abolish slavery in Britain. In 1789 he published the story of his life, one of the few accounts (and possibly the best) written about the slave trade by an African victim of it.

Millions of other Africans were not so fortunate. Torn from their homes and families, they were shipped across the Atlantic in conditions of great cruelty. They, along with the children they bore, were bought and sold like cattle and forced to toil without pay to increase the wealth of strangers. Most had no rights and could be punished, abused, or even killed at the whim of their owners. For most of those oppressed, the only deliverance from slavery was death.

Millions Become Slaves

BY THE time Olaudah Equiano was born, ships from Europe had carried African slaves across the Atlantic Ocean for two and a half centuries. But slavery was much older than that. The enslavement of humans, usually as a result of warfare, had been widely practiced throughout the world from ancient times.

In Africa too, slavery flourished long before ships from Europe arrived. States The New Encyclopædia Britannica: “Slaves have been owned in black Africa throughout recorded history. . . . Slavery was practiced everywhere even before the rise of Islām, and black slaves exported from Africa were widely traded throughout the Islāmic world.”

What made the transatlantic slave trade different was its scale and duration. According to the best estimates, the number of slaves that crossed the Atlantic Ocean from the 16th to the 19th century was between 10 million and 12 million.

The Triangular Route

Soon after the voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492, European colonists established mining operations and sugar plantations in the Americas. In addition to enslaving the local people, Europeans began to import slaves from Africa.a The shipping of slaves across the Atlantic began as a trickle in the mid-1500’s, but by Equiano’s day, in the mid-1700’s, it had become a flood​—about 60,000 captives each year.

Ships from Europe generally followed a triangular route. First they traveled south from Europe to Africa. Next they sailed the middle passage (the middle link in the triangle) to the Americas. Finally they sailed back to Europe.

At each point of the triangle, captains traded. Ships set out from European ports heavily laden with goods​—textiles, iron, guns, and alcohol. Upon reaching the western coast of Africa, captains exchanged these wares for slaves supplied by African dealers. The slaves were crammed into the ships, which then set sail for the Americas. In the Americas, the captains sold the slaves and then loaded goods produced by slave labor​—sugar, rum, molasses, tobacco, rice, and, from the 1780’s, cotton. The ships then sailed back to Europe, the final leg of the journey.

For the European and African traders, as well as for colonists in the Americas, the trade in what they called live cargo meant business, a means to make money. For those who were enslaved​—husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters—​the trade meant brutality and horror.

Where did the slaves come from? Some were kidnapped, as was Olaudah Equiano, but most were captured in wars fought between African states. The suppliers were African. Historian Philip Curtin, a specialist on the slave trade, writes: “Europeans soon learned that Africa was far too dangerous to their own health to make direct slave raiding possible. Enslavement came to be a function performed by Africans alone . . . The stream of people fed into the slave trade at its point of origin were mainly captives.”

The Middle Passage

The journey to the Americas was a terrifying experience. Marched to the coast fettered in groups, Africans languished, sometimes for months, in stone forts or in smaller wooden compounds. By the time a slaving ship arrived bound for the Americas, the captives were often already in poor health from the abuse they had suffered. But worse was to come.

After being dragged aboard ship, stripped naked, and examined by the ship’s surgeon or captain, the men were shackled and taken below deck. Shipmasters packed as many slaves as possible into the hold to maximize their profit. Women and children were given greater freedom of movement, though this also exposed them to sexual abuse from the crew.

The atmosphere of the hold was foul, putrid. Equiano describes his impressions: “The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died . . . The shrieks of the women and the groans of the dying rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.” Captives had to endure such conditions throughout the crossing, which took about two months, sometimes longer.

In the appallingly unhygienic conditions, disease flourished. Epidemics of dysentery and smallpox were frequent. Mortality was high. Records suggest that until the 1750’s, 1 in 5 Africans on board ship died. The dead were thrown overboard.

Arrival in the Americas

When the slave ships neared the Americas, the crew prepared the Africans for sale. They loosed the captives from their chains, fattened them up, and rubbed them with palm oil to make them look healthy and to disguise sores and wounds.

The captains usually sold their captives by auction, but sometimes they organized a “scramble,” which required buyers to pay a fixed price beforehand. Equiano writes: “On a signal given, (as the beat of a drum) the buyers rush at once into the yard where the slaves are confined, and make choice of that parcel they like best. The noise and clamour with which this is attended and the eagerness visible in the countenances of the buyers serve not a little to increase the apprehensions of the terrified Africans.”

Equiano adds: “In this manner, without scruple, are relations and friends separated, most of them never to see each other again.” For families that had somehow managed to stay together through the living nightmare of the previous months, this was a particularly bitter blow.

The Work and the Whip

African slaves worked on plantations to produce coffee, rice, tobacco, cotton, and especially sugar. Others labored at mining operations. Some worked as carpenters, metalworkers, watchmakers, gunsmiths, and sailors. Still others were domestic workers​—servants, nurses, dressmakers, and cooks. Slaves cleared land, constructed roads and buildings, and dug canals.

Yet, despite the work that they did, slaves were regarded as property, and by law a master had absolute rights over his property. Slavery, however, did not survive merely by the denial of rights and freedoms. It survived by the lash. The authority of owners and their supervisors depended on their ability to inflict pain. And they inflicted plenty of that.

To discourage rebellion and to keep their slaves in check, owners administered degrading physical punishment for even minor offenses. Equiano writes: “It was very common [in the West Indies] for the slaves to be branded with the initial letters of their master’s name, and a load of heavy iron hooks hung about their necks. Indeed on the most trifling occasions they were loaded with chains, and often instruments of torture were added. The iron muzzle, thumbscrews, etc. . . . were sometimes applied for the slightest faults. I have seen a negro beaten till some of his bones were broken for even letting a pot boil over.”

Sometimes the slaves chose to revolt. Most revolts, though, were unsuccessful and were punished with ruthless ferocity.

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The dead were thrown overboard

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Culver Pictures

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As many slaves as possible were packed into the hold

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Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture / The New York Public Library / Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations

How Could They Do It?

HOW did people justify the slave trade? Historians point out that until the 18th century, few questioned the morality of slavery. The book The Rise and Fall of Black Slavery observes: “At the time when Columbus stumbled on the West Indies, neither the church nor the writings it accepted had given future settlers an indication that their use of forced labour could be considered immoral, though isolated churchmen had hinted at misgivings. . . . There was no suggestion that the institution of slavery, entwined as it was with the whole of European society, should be challenged.”

After the transatlantic trade was in full swing, many clergymen used religious arguments to support slavery. The book American Slavery states: “Protestant ministers [in America] played a leading role in the defense of slavery . . . Probably the most widespread and effective religious argument was the simple suggestion that slavery was part of God’s plan to expose a hitherto heathen people to the blessings of Christianity.”

But the often cruel and vicious treatment meted out to slaves required more justification than the pretense of offering “the blessings of Christianity.” So colonial masters as well as writers and philosophers in Europe told themselves that blacks were not the same as whites. Edward Long, a planter who was to write History of Jamaica, observed: “When we reflect on the nature of these men, and their dissimilarity to the rest of mankind, must we not conclude that they are of a different species?” The consequences of such thinking were expressed by a governor of Martinique: “I have reached the stage of believing firmly that one must treat the Negroes as one treats beasts.”

Eventually economic self-​interest and humanitarian concerns worked to end the transatlantic slave trade. From the beginning African people resisted their enslavement, and by the late 18th century, rebellions were common. Fearful owners found their situation increasingly precarious. They also came to question whether, instead of supporting slaves, it might be cheaper to buy labor when it was needed.

At the same time, moral, religious, and humanitarian arguments against slavery found growing support in Europe and the Americas. Abolition movements became strong. Despite the legal abolition of the slave trade in many countries from the year 1807 onward, the effects of slavery remained.

A television series, The Africans: A Triple Heritage, poignantly gave voice to the sons and daughters of Africa: “Long before slave days, we lived in . . . Africa. And then strangers came and took some of us away. Today, we are scattered so widely that the sun never sets on the descendants of Africa.” The presence of millions of people of African descent in North and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe is an obvious result of the slave trade.

People still debate the question of who bears the blame for the transatlantic slave trade. Basil Davidson, a specialist in African history, writes in his book The African Slave Trade: “Africa and Europe were jointly involved.”

“Let Your Kingdom Come”

There is something to be learned​—something that concerns human rulership. The wise man wrote: “I considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun,​—and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors is power.”​—Ecclesiastes 4:1, Rotherham.

Sadly, those words, written long before the African slave trade began, continue to ring true today. The oppressed and the oppressors are still with us, and in some lands so are the slaves and their masters. Christians know that soon, by means of God’s Kingdom government, Jehovah “will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper.” (Psalm 72:12) For that reason and others, they continue to pray to God: “Let your kingdom come.”​—Matthew 6:10.

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Forgive and Forget​—How Possible?

“I SHALL FORGIVE THEIR ERROR, AND THEIR SIN I SHALL REMEMBER NO MORE.”​—JEREMIAH 31:34.

THOSE words recorded by the prophet Jeremiah reveal something remarkable about Jehovah’s mercy: When he forgives, he forgets. (Isaiah 43:25) The Bible further states: “Even as Jehovah freely forgave you, so do you also.” (Colossians 3:13) So as Christians we should imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness.

However, some important questions arise. When Jehovah forgives, does he actually not remember our sins anymore? And when we forgive, must we forget in the sense of being unable to recall? Can it be said that unless we forget in that way, we have not really forgiven?

How Jehovah Forgives

To forgive involves letting go of resentment. When Jehovah forgives, he does so completely.a The psalmist David wrote: “[Jehovah] will not for all time keep finding fault, neither will he to time indefinite keep resentful. As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, so far off from us he has put our transgressions. As a father shows mercy to his sons, Jehovah has shown mercy to those fearing him.”​—Psalm 103:9, 12, 13.

The completeness of God’s forgiveness is further explained at Acts 3:19: “Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out.” The expression ‘get blotted out’ comes from a Greek verb (e·xa·leiʹpho) that means “wipe out, erase.” (See Revelation 7:17; 21:4.) The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology explains: “The image expressed by the verb here and perhaps elsewhere is most probably smoothing the surface of a wax writing-​tablet for re-​use ([compare] ‘wiping the slate clean’).” When we repent of our sins, Jehovah wipes the record clean. Does that mean that he no longer remembers our sins? Let us consider an example recorded in the Bible.

When King David committed adultery with Bath-​sheba and later tried to cover it over by arranging for the death of her husband, Jehovah sent the prophet Nathan to reprove David. (2 Samuel 11:1-17; 12:1-12) With what result? David sincerely repented, and Jehovah forgave him. (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 32:1-5) Did Jehovah forget David’s sins? Not at all! The Bible writers Gad and Nathan later recorded the whole incident in the book of 2 Samuel (completed about 1040 B.C.E.) shortly before David’s death.

So the record, or memory, of David’s sins​—as well as the record of his repentance and subsequent forgiveness by Jehovah—​lives on, for the benefit of Bible readers to this day. (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11) In fact, since “the saying of Jehovah [as contained in the Bible] endures forever,” the record of David’s sins will never be forgotten!​—1 Peter 1:25.

How, then, can it be said that Jehovah wipes the slate clean when we sincerely repent of our sins? How can we understand Jehovah’s words: “I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more”?​—Jeremiah 31:34.

How Jehovah Forgets

The Hebrew verb rendered “I shall remember” (a form of za·kharʹ) does not mean simply to recall the past. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, it can mean “mention, declare, recite, proclaim, invoke, commemorate, accuse, confess.” The Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament adds: “Quite often, in fact, [za·kharʹ] implies an action or appears in combination with verbs of action.” Thus, when Jehovah says of his wayward people that he “will remember their error,” he means that he will take action against them for their lack of repentance. (Jeremiah 14:10) Conversely, when Jehovah says, “Their sin I shall remember no more,” he is assuring us that once he forgives our sins, he will not bring them up again in order to accuse, condemn, or punish us.

Through the prophet Ezekiel, Jehovah explained the sense in which he forgives and forgets: “Now as regards someone wicked, in case he should turn back from all his sins that he has committed and he should actually keep all my statutes and execute justice and righteousness, he will positively keep living. He will not die. All his transgressions that he has committed​—they will not be remembered against him. For his righteousness that he has done he will keep living.” (Ezekiel 18:21, 22; 33:14-16) Yes, when Jehovah forgives a repentant sinner, he wipes the slate clean and forgets in the sense that he will not take action against that one for those sins at some future time.​—Romans 4:7, 8.

Being imperfect, we can never forgive in a perfect sense as Jehovah does; his thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8, 9) To what extent, then, can we reasonably be expected to forgive and forget when others sin against us?

How We Can Forgive and Forget

Be “freely forgiving one another,” urges Ephesians 4:32. According to lexicographer W. E. Vine, the Greek word rendered “freely forgiving” (kha·riʹzo·mai) means “to bestow a favour unconditionally.” When offenses committed against us are minor in nature, we may have little difficulty granting the forgiveness. Keeping in mind that we too are imperfect enables us to make allowances for the shortcomings of others. (Colossians 3:13) When we forgive, we let go of resentment, and our relationship with the offender may not suffer any lasting harm. In time, the memory of any such minor offense may well fade away.

What, though, if others sin against us in a more serious way, deeply injuring us? In extreme cases, such as incest, rape, and attempted murder, forgiveness may involve a number of issues. This would be particularly true when there is no acknowledgment of the sin, no repentance, and no apology on the part of the offender.b (Proverbs 28:13) Jehovah himself does not forgive unrepentant, hardened wrongdoers. (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26) When a wound is deep, we may never succeed in completely putting what happened out of mind. However, we can be comforted by the assurance that in the coming new world, “the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:4) Whatever we remember then will not cause us the deep hurt or pain that we may now feel.

In other instances we may need to take some initiative to settle matters, perhaps by talking to the offender, before we can forgive. (Ephesians 4:26) In this way any misunderstanding can be cleared up, appropriate apologies made, and forgiveness extended. What about forgetting? We may never completely put out of mind what was done, but we can forget in the sense that we do not hold it against the offender or bring the matter up again at some future time. We do not gossip about it, nor do we completely avoid the offender. However, it may take some time for our relationship with the offender to mend, and we may not enjoy the same closeness as before.

Consider an illustration: Suppose you confide a deeply personal matter to a trusted friend, and you later learn that he divulged it to others, to your great embarrassment or hurt. You approach him to talk things over, and he is very sorry; he apologizes and asks for forgiveness. Hearing his sincere apology, your heart is moved to forgive him. Do you easily forget what happened? Likely not; you would no doubt be very cautious about confiding in him in the future. Yet you do forgive him; you do not continually rehash the matter with him. You do not harbor resentment, nor do you gossip about it with others. You may not feel as close to him as you did before, but you still love him as your Christian brother.​—Compare Proverbs 20:19.

What, though, if despite your efforts to settle matters, the offender does not admit his wrong and apologize? Can you forgive in the sense of letting go of resentment? Forgiving others does not mean that we condone or minimize what they have done. Resentment is a heavy burden to carry; it can consume our thoughts, robbing us of peace. Waiting for an apology that never comes, we may only get more and more frustrated. In effect, we allow the offending person to control our emotions. Thus, we need to forgive others, or let go of the resentment, not only for their benefit but also for our own so that we may get on with our life.

Forgiving others is not always easy. But when there is sincere repentance, we can try to imitate Jehovah’s forgiveness. When he forgives repentant wrongdoers, he lets go of resentment​—he wipes the slate clean and forgets in that he will not hold those sins against them in the future. We too can work to let go of resentment when the offender is repentant. There may, however, be instances where we are not even obligated to forgive. No victim of extremes in unjust or cruel treatment should be forced to forgive an unrepentant wrongdoer. (Compare Psalm 139:21, 22.) But in most cases when others sin against us, we can forgive in the sense of letting go of resentment, and we can forget in the sense of not holding the matter against our brother at some future time.

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Joseph and his brothers

Does It Pay to Go Into Debt?

“NEVER spend your money before you have it.” Since going into debt is for many people a way of life today, does this advice given by former U.S. president Thomas Jefferson sound old-​fashioned?

In many lands wages remain low in comparison with prices, and inflation eats away savings. Also, the economic climate affects people’s sense of values. Yet, honesty is important. Because such things as cheating on taxes and failing to repay debts are widespread, it is indeed a challenge to maintain a good conscience. No wonder, then, that the economy is often the talk of the day, and stories on saving or making money abound in newspapers and magazines and on television as people try to figure out how to deal with economic complexities. At the same time, you are rightfully concerned about how to provide for yourself and your family.​—1 Timothy 5:8.

Since relatively few people enjoy economic stability, what can you do to avoid hardships for your family? For one thing, there is a vital lesson to keep in mind.

Avoid Too Much Debt

Why do some go into debt? Borrowing is not always due to a dire situation, such as illness. The desire to possess certain material things may be very strong. On the other hand, the inducement to go into debt may not in itself be wrong. In fact, it may be better to pay a mortgage on a house than to pay rent, or it may be necessary to buy a car. A breadwinner wants his family to be happy. He wants to be a success as a husband and father. Likely, he feels that his family is entitled to enjoy many of the material things that others possess.

Admittedly, it may be tempting to borrow money to purchase a desired but nonessential item. Acquiring things makes one feel good, does it not? Who does not enjoy a beautiful dress, a new pair of shoes, or even something like a brand-​new car? And who would not like to have a more attractive home? Yet, beware! Businessmen can be persuasive, and a lot of money is made selling items to people who do not need them and cannot afford them.

Remember, too, that keeping up on payments can cause a strain on family relationships. Disagreement and bitterness may result. Playwright Henrik Ibsen was right when he said: “Home life ceases to be free and beautiful as soon as it is founded on borrowing and debt.” If you do not make your payments on time, your good name may be tarnished. Since it is much easier to spend the borrowed money than to pay it back with interest, many discover that what they bought does not bring the joy they had anticipated.

Commonly, governments persist in borrowing more and more, increasing their interest payments. Although this may be normal, why imitate the debt-​ridden nations? Rather than creating riches for the people, too much debt can increase poverty and insecurity. As a Danish proverb puts it, “it is hard to pay for bread that has been eaten.”

Happily, stress due to the burden of debt decreases greatly when you learn to spend wisely. So take the time to plan your shopping carefully to avoid pressures to borrow. Even in countries with hyperinflation, there are ways to save money​—by shopping for bargains and by buying only necessities. It requires living within your means, being willing to wait or to do without.

Ask yourself: Will my going into debt cause hardship for my family? What about my reputation if I cannot repay the loan? It may take a long time to be trusted again! In this regard, practical, solid counsel is available. Why not examine the Bible to see whether it can help you and your family to deal with the matter of debt?

Can the Bible Help You?

Most important, the Bible can help all of us to cultivate implicit trust in Jehovah. Surely we need help in these “times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1) We are admonished: “Let your manner of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: ‘I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.’ So that we may be of good courage and say: ‘Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5, 6) How vital it is to develop strong faith in God as our Provider!

Although the Bible does not tell each person how to make a living, it does provide sound guidelines. Jesus Christ urged his listeners to care first for their spirituality: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.” (Matthew 5:3) We are also told to set goals: “Make it your aim to live quietly and to mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we ordered you; so that you may be walking decently as regards people outside and not be needing anything.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12) To live quietly and enjoy a measure of tranquillity, does it not require living within our means?

God’s Word can help us to adjust our thinking. The writer of Proverbs showed a balanced viewpoint in requesting of God: “Give me neither poverty nor riches. Let me devour the food prescribed for me, that I may not become satisfied and I actually deny you and say: ‘Who is Jehovah?’ and that I may not come to poverty and I actually steal and assail the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:8, 9) So do not feel ashamed if you have to get along with a little less, at least temporarily. Never let your happiness depend on material things, as many do, comparing themselves with others or unduly worrying about material possessions.​—Matthew 6:31-33.

In addition, the Bible can help you to cultivate good habits. Learn to be thrifty without being stingy, finding satisfaction in the things you can afford. If you are a youth, do not expect to get instantly what adults have obtained by years of work. Avoid being enslaved by materialism. Aptly, the Bible warns us about, not money, but “the love of money,” saying: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.” (1 Timothy 6:9, 10) How essential that you recognize the difference between what you really need and what you merely want!

Do you feel, however, that your income is too low? True, it is not easy to bear privations without becoming frustrated. Nevertheless, be willing to go without some nonessentials rather than going into debt for them, which may cause you heavy burdens and even financial loss. Plan carefully, and be economical. You may get practical suggestions by talking with an experienced friend. Would it help to learn a new skill? Remember: Following Bible principles, putting spiritual matters first, and trusting fully in Jehovah are vital​—whatever the circumstances.​—Philippians 4:11-13.

Yes, going into debt may not pay. It has been said: “A man in debt is caught in a net.” The burden of debt can be damaging to family life, health, and spirituality. Debt may make the borrower even more poor. Says Proverbs 22:7: “The rich is the one that rules over those of little means, and the borrower is servant to the man doing the lending.” Hence, avoid unnecessary debt. We can still benefit from the principle involved in what the apostle Paul recommended to Christians: “Do not you people be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another; for he that loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”​—Romans 13:8.

Regardless of the condition of the economy in your country, look forward confidently to God’s new world. Soon mankind will no longer be divided into lenders and borrowers. Under God’s Kingdom, no one will be poor. Jehovah’s promise will come true: “He will deliver the poor one crying for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save.” (Psalm 72:12, 13) Rather than struggling merely to survive, earth’s inhabitants will then “find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”​—Psalm 37:11.

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Thomas Jefferson

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Painting by Gilbert Stuart. Courtesy Bowdoin College Museum of Art/​Dictionary of American Portraits/​Dover

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Going heavily into debt can put a strain on your marriage

Bible Literature Appreciated in the Former Soviet Union

By Awake! correspondent in Russia

EARLY in 1991 the then existing Soviet Union was made up of Russia and 14 other republics. Since then, the republics have become independent countries. However, Russia has a greater population than the other 14 countries combined and has well over three times the land area that they do. By September 1994, there were 117,276 of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the former Soviet Union who were sharing Bible truths with their neighbors.

Today large quantities of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines in Russian are printed each month for use in the former Soviet Union. In addition, many tracts and bound books are being distributed there. That this Bible literature has been deeply appreciated is clearly seen from letters received at the Russia office of Jehovah’s Witnesses near St. Petersburg.

Colorful Magazines Appreciated

A man from central Siberia wrote: “By complete chance I saw The Watchtower in the hands of my fellow worker. I asked her to show it to me. First I simply glanced at the bright, full-​color illustrations. Then I read more and more . . . Before I realized it, I had read the magazine from cover to cover. The questions were asked in an interesting, lively, and conversational manner.”

Another man from Siberia explained: “By chance I received an issue of your magazine. I do not want to flatter you, but this is the best information that I have ever read about faith.”

A nurse from St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-​largest city, wrote: “Thank you very much for the wonderful series of articles in the January 8, 1995, Awake! on burnout. These articles did not take away my problems but gave me the support for which I had been waiting and seeking.”

A 17-​year-​old school student wrote: “I am very grateful to all who are publishing such wonderful literature. When my friends and I were leaving a movie theater, we saw a few of the magazines left on an empty seat. We picked them up. . . . As I read The Watchtower, I could not believe my eyes. Will the future really be so? Now I am reading the Gospels and trying to understand them. Your magazines very thoroughly explain what the Bible says.”

A 26-​year-​old man said: “I am very grateful for the article ‘Is Suicide the Answer?’ in the April 8, 1994, Awake! Because of my inclination toward depression and the habit of masturbation, I have many times considered suicide. But God’s Word and prayers to Jehovah held me back from ending my life. This article strengthened my belief in God’s mercy and my belief that God will help me handle my problems. He sees my repentance. He wants me to live. I thank him for his support given by means of this article.”

Regarding the same Awake! article, a 15-​year-​old girl explained: “This magazine has played a big role in my life. When I was eight years old, I started feeling that nobody needed me. My parents did not have time to speak with me, and I tried to solve my problems by myself. I withdrew into myself. I quarreled constantly with my relatives. Then the thought of suicide came into my mind. How happy I was to meet Jehovah’s Witnesses!”

A woman from the European part of Russia said: “I once overheard a Bible discussion between two young men at a bus stop. I became interested and approached them. These young men gave me a copy of The Watchtower. With pleasure and interest, I read the magazine, and I want to know more about the Bible. I would like to have contact with you by means of your magazines, and I want to learn and study the Bible regularly.”

Other Literature Appreciated

A young woman from the Caucasus wrote: “A woman came to our office and began telling about some kind of an assembly. I saw the joy and the enthusiasm that she had, and I became interested. The next day she gave me the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. I devoured it. It was something stupendous. I felt that after wandering in darkness, I had found the door that leads to light. After seeking for so long a time, I found answers to all my questions in just one book. This is a joy that is impossible to describe.”

A man from Central Asia noted: “I am a parishioner of the evangelistic Good News Church. We feel an acute shortage of spiritual literature. We urgently ask you to send us books, brochures, and booklets for study and further distribution.”

A person from Armenia, near the Black Sea, wrote: “I read the brochure Does God Really Care About Us?, and it was like a breath of fresh air. At last I have found literature that will help me to study the Bible. I kindly ask you to send me books for such a study.”

A woman from Siberia said: “One of Jehovah’s Witnesses visited our house and left a copy of the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. Although I have been an atheist since school, what I read encouraged me to meditate deeply and to start studying the Bible.”

A mother of two children expressed her gratitude for this same book about the life of Jesus Christ and explained: “It is understandable to children and of interest to them. It arouses a further desire to study the Bible and read religious literature. The book is splendidly published and made.”

Last year, 34,608 people in the former Soviet Union showed their appreciation for what they were learning by being baptized. May the Bible-​based literature published by Jehovah’s Witnesses receive a full and liberal distribution in this part of the world, and may many thousands more respond to the Bible truths that it contains!

Why Your Body Needs Sleep

“WHAT I would give for a good night’s sleep!” That complaint is common these days. Many people constantly push themselves, and the daily stress and tension of modern life takes its toll.

Doctors, police officers, fire fighters, truck drivers, workers on rotating shifts, mothers with young children, and many others are among those who are vulnerable to being robbed of the sleep their bodies need. The millions of people who experience the frustrations associated with lack of sleep are keenly interested in knowing how to get sound, refreshing sleep.

The Role of Sleep

Sleep, or at least a period of rest, seems to be universal among living creatures. If you have had pets such as cats, dogs, or birds, you have no doubt observed that cats and dogs regularly curl up and drop off to sleep and that birds become quiet and go to sleep when darkness comes. Just about all animals, birds, and insects have a need for sleep, or at least periods of reduced activity. For humans, sleep is an absolute must.

Some people think sleep is simply a period of rest. But it is more than that. “Sleep is actually a complicated process of muscles tensing and relaxing, pulse and blood pressure rising and falling and the mind churning out its own home movies,” says The Toronto Star. “When a person falls asleep,” states The World Book Encyclopedia, “all activity decreases and the muscles relax. The heartbeat and breathing rate slow down.”

Although scientists, doctors, and researchers have studied sleep for many decades, basic mysteries remain about its vital role. These investigators have not even discovered what sleep actually is or why we sleep. Says Dr. Eliot Phillipson of the sleep research laboratory at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital: “We don’t know the critical biological events that occur in sleep that restore us.”

During sleep, changes occur in the body that affect our immune system. Body parts relax and get rest, counteracting the wear and tear of the day’s activity. The general clean-​up work carried on through the bloodstream operates efficiently, and the chemical balance is restored. So sleep may be compared to a night crew that comes in to get things repaired and cleaned up for the next day.

One of the most important functions of sleep is to allow the nervous system to recuperate from its use during the day. As The World Book Encyclopedia says, “sleep restores energy to the body, particularly to the brain and nervous system.”

How Much Sleep?

Most adults need seven or eight hours of sleep every night. Some require less, others more. There are some who say that they do reasonably well on four or five hours, though some of them may take naps during the day. Infants need much more sleep than adults.

Particularly when people get older, they may find that they awaken several times during the night. Some may feel that this is a sign of the onset of serious sleep problems. However, while older people may not have the same quality of sleep that they did when they were younger, experiments have shown that waking up a few times during the night is not a cause for alarm. Usually, the waking time for most who do this is brief, perhaps only a few minutes, before they fall asleep again.

No matter what one’s age is, though, one should not expect to have the same soundness of sleep all night. Sleep works in cycles of deeper sleep alternating with lighter sleep. In the course of a night, a person may have a number of these cycles.

Dangers From Lack of Sleep

“Researchers are becoming increasingly concerned about the number of people who get far too little sleep. Chronic lack of sleep, they warn, can have dire consequences both for ourselves and the people around us,” reports The Toronto Star.

“People deprived of sleep lose energy and become quick-​tempered. After two days without sleep, a person finds that lengthy concentration becomes difficult. . . . Many mistakes are made, especially in routine tasks, and attention slips at times. . . . People who go without sleep for more than three days have great difficulty thinking, seeing, and hearing clearly. Some have periods of hallucinations, during which they see things that do not really exist,” relates The World Book Encyclopedia.

Tests have found that after four days of sleeplessness, a test subject could perform only a few routine tasks. Those tasks requiring attention or even minimum mental agility became unbearable. Loss of concentration and mental agility were not the worst factors. After four and a half days, there were signs of delirium, and the person’s visual world became quite grotesque.

Lack of sleep can lead to major problems. More than one sleepy person has fallen asleep at the wheel while driving a car and has become involved in a fatal accident. Sleeplessness can also lead to family and marriage problems, since persistent lack of sleep makes one more irritable and harder to get along with. Getting a good night’s sleep is more important than some may realize.

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep specialist Dr. Jeffrey J. Lipsitz of the Sleep Disorders Centre of Metropolitan Toronto suggests the following for getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep in secure, quiet, dark surroundings and on a comfortable bed. Do not nap late in the day, even if you slept poorly the night before; try to stay awake and to go to bed at your usual time. Avoid caffeine before bedtime. Do not use the bed for reading or watching TV. Avoid heavy exercise and large meals just before bedtime. Maintain regular sleeping hours, as this will help the body acquire a constant sleep-​wake rhythm.

Get into the routine of winding down before you go to bed. Avoid doing things that may tend to get you wound up and wider awake. For instance, avoid exciting movies, TV programs, or reading material. Having stimulating discussions just before going to bed may also tend to keep you awake.

For some, taking a warm (not hot) bath or reading light material that is not stimulating is helpful. So may be sleep-​inducing helps, such as warm milk, buttermilk, a little wine, or herb teas of hops, mint, or chamomile​—but not teas with caffeine.

It is generally agreed, however, that just winding down before going to bed may not be enough in itself. A sound, balanced life with regular exercise and that is free from the anxieties and frustrations caused by greed, jealousy, hostility, and ambition contributes to the ability to get a good night’s sleep. So does a life free from overindulgence in food and drink and a life free from the unhappiness caused by immorality.

Satisfying our spiritual need can play an important role in getting sound, restful sleep. It will help us to understand the complex world in which we live and to pursue a balanced, satisfying way of life. A wise servant of God encourages us to develop insight and to hold on to the wisdom of Jehovah, for this will lead to “a pleasant and happy life.” Then he adds: “You will not be afraid when you go to bed, and you will sleep soundly through the night.”​—Proverbs 3:21-24, Today’s English Version.

[Blurb on page 18]

Most adults need seven or eight hours of sleep every night

[Picture on page 18]

Chronic lack of sleep can have dire consequences

[Picture on page 18]

Many people have great difficulty falling asleep

Canada’s “Tainted Blood” Inquiry

By Awake! correspondent in Canada

VICTIMS of contaminated blood in Canada are dying from AIDS in growing numbers. Why the increase? More than a thousand Canadians contracted the AIDS virus from “tainted blood” and blood products in the 1980’s. These disturbing facts moved the federal government to set up a Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada. A public inquiry would determine the safety of Canada’s blood system.

One of the country’s most highly respected senior judges was named commissioner of the inquiry. The commission is holding hearings across Canada. Hearings began in Toronto on February 14, 1994, and the Honorable Mr. Justice Horace Krever of the Ontario Court of Appeal was commissioned to report his findings in due course and to recommend improvements.

A bereaved mother whose son died of AIDS from contaminated blood appealed to the judge: “They took my son and all I got was this inquiry. Please make it count.” She was anxious to see that a thorough investigation would be made so that the necessary steps would be taken to avoid the dangers associated with blood transfusions. She was not the only mother who lost a son in death from tainted blood. The commission heard heartbreaking testimony concerning this tragedy that shattered the lives of many Canadians.

Headlines in Toronto’s Globe and Mail have reported: “Anger, Tears as Victims Tell of Blood Horror”; “Blood Inquiry Hears Chilling Testimony”; “Ignorance of MDs Detailed”; and “Officials Judged AIDS Risk to Be Tiny, Blood Inquiry Told.”

Victims who contracted HIV from blood have said they were not warned about the risks. In several cases they did not know they had received a blood transfusion until they learned they were infected with the AIDS virus.

A teenager with AIDS got HIV from a blood transfusion during open-​heart surgery when he was three years old. An HIV-​positive man with mild hemophilia used blood products prior to 1984 at a time when he was playing hockey. He would have changed his life-​style had he known the risks. A mother was transfused with HIV-​contaminated blood in 1985, and now she, her husband, and their four-​year-​old daughter are all infected.

There have been heartbreaking accounts of people infected from only one or two units of blood. “Just to put a little red in his cheeks,” said one woman bitterly of the transfusion that infected her husband with HIV. Now she has the virus too.

As more witnesses testified, attention has turned to another tragedy of great proportions​—hepatitis from blood. According to The Globe and Mail, it is estimated that “as many as 1,000 Canadians a year die of hepatitis C.” The newspaper adds that “up to half of them may have contracted the disease from blood transfusions.”

One man told how he contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion during back surgery in 1961. After his surgery, he became a regular blood donor. He found out in 1993 that he has cirrhosis of the liver. “What about the people who received blood I donated all those years when I didn’t know I had this disease?” he asked the inquiry.

Justice Krever listened intently to more than a hundred Canadians whose lives have been shattered by HIV and other tragedies resulting from tainted blood. Medical experts have testified that it is impossible to make the blood supply totally safe from disease transmission and other dangers. They have admitted serious risks and misuse associated with blood. Dr. J. Brian McSheffrey, medical director of a regional blood transfusion service, testified that he draws attention to the problem by saying in lectures: “If you have to give a transfusion, you’ve either failed in diagnosis or failed in therapy.”

There have been accusations of politics and rivalry among those whom the government committee called “major stakeholders” in Canada’s $250-​million-a-year blood system. The Red Cross and government agencies have come under fire. No one seems to be in charge of the complex national blood system.

Happy Contrast

In contrast with the disheartening evidence, a happier account was put before Justice Krever on May 25, 1994, in Regina, Saskatchewan. William J. Hall, a 75-​year-​old man with severe hemophilia, told how he successfully manages his condition using alternatives to blood products. And he does not have AIDS. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mr. Hall has avoided blood and blood factors because of his religious conscience.​—See box on page 22.

More is yet to come. The government has extended the inquiry to the end of 1995. The commission could have time to examine effective nonblood treatment used in thousands of cases for adults and children who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. These alternatives apply to other patients as well.

Doctors using such alternatives have expert evidence they could share with the commission. Dr. Mark Boyd of McGill University told The Medical Post in 1993: “We really should be somewhat grateful to Jehovah’s Witnesses because they have shown us how well we can do without blood transfusions.” A U.S. presidential commission noted in 1988: “The surest preventive measure with regard to the blood supply is to eliminate the exposure of a patient to the blood of others, whenever possible.” By obeying God’s law to “keep abstaining . . . from blood,” Jehovah’s Witnesses have been blessed with the “surest preventive measure” against tainted blood and other dangers of blood transfusions.​—Acts 15:20, 29.

Education Needed

Sadly, most victims of the tainted blood transfusions were not informed about alternatives that could have prevented their tragedies. Patients were not given the choice of informed consent​—to accept the risks of blood or use safer alternatives.

Evidence before the commission reveals a need to educate doctors and the public about alternatives to blood transfusions. Such a high-​level government inquiry could have a great impact in Canada. Justice Krever’s recommendations could set the stage for needed changes in attitudes and education in Canadian medicine about transfusion practices. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry will be of interest to all who want to avoid the dangers that go with blood transfusions.

[Box on page 22]

HEMOPHILIA MANAGED WITHOUT BLOOD

William J. Hall of Nipawin, Saskatchewan, told the commission how and why he manages his severe hemophilia without blood products. Here are excerpts from the court transcript of his testimony:

◻ “My parents became aware that I was a hemophiliac when I swelled up from my toe to hip one time, and the doctors diagnosed it as hemophilia. . . . I would guess I was about one year old.”

◻ “I have never taken blood or any blood product of any kind. . . . It is against my religious beliefs to take blood because I feel it is sacred.”

◻ About his brother who also had hemophilia: “He didn’t have the same faith [religion] as I have, so he took a blood transfusion and he died from hepatitis.”

◻ For a duodenal ulcer in 1962: “The doctor said that, if I didn’t use blood, I would die. . . . I was treated fine [without blood] in the hospital.” The bleeding was brought under control.

◻ Regarding surgery in 1971 to pin a broken hip: “It was just a careful operation without blood. . . . The operation was successful.” Repeated blood tests at the time found no Factor VIII (clotting factor) present in his blood.

◻ How he manages: “Lifestyle . . . , being careful.” He includes diet, rest, exercise, and careful treatment of swellings, bruises, and bleeds.

◻ “I believe in relaxation and to meditate on the good things that our God has supplied us with and forget about our worries. This seems to help a lot.”

William Hall is 76 years old and is one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

[Picture on page 20]

Justice Horace Krever, head of the commission

[Credit Line]

CANPRESS PHOTO SERVICE (RYAN REMIROZ)

[Picture on page 21]

William and Margaret Hall drove 230 miles [370 km] to appear before the Commission of Inquiry

Your Car​—Shelter or Trap?

“After almost every disaster,” warns FEMA (U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency), “rescue teams find victims who might have survived if they had known whether to stay with or leave their cars.” Yes, a wrong decision can cost you your life. Do you know what to do in case of a disaster? Take the following quiz, and then compare your answers with those given below.

1. EARTHQUAKE

□ Stay in the car

□ Get out of the car

2. TORNADO

□ Stay in the car

□ Get out of the car

3. BLIZZARD

□ Stay in the car

□ Get out of the car

4. FLOOD

□ Stay in the car

□ Get out of the car

ANSWERS:

1. Earthquake: STAY IN THE CAR.

Although the car’s suspension system will cause it to shake violently, you are probably safest inside​—provided you are not near buildings, overpasses, or utility wires.

2. Tornado: GET OUT OF THE CAR.

In a car is likely the most dangerous place to be in a tornado. But what if there are no safe shelters nearby? FEMA says: “Lie flat in a ditch or other ground depression with your arms over your head.”

3. Blizzard: STAY IN THE CAR.

Unless you see a safe haven within a reasonable distance, it is best to await rescue. The engine may be turned on for brief periods to provide heat, but keep a window slightly open to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Leave on an inside light as a signal for rescuers.

4. Flood: GET OUT OF THE CAR.

“If a car stalls in floodwater,” warns FEMA, “get out quickly and move to higher ground. The floodwaters may still be rising, and the car could be swept away at any moment.” Do not take chances. Water can be deeper than it appears, and levels can rise rapidly.

FEMA advises that you keep this information in the glove compartment of your car. And it recommends that in all situations, “the most important rule is: Don’t panic.”

Visiting Omdurman’s Camel Market

“WHERE is the Mowaleeh?” we ask. Our four-​wheel-​drive vehicle has taken us from the capital city, Khartoum, to the western edge of old Omdurman, the largest city in Sudan.

There are no road signs, only a maze of sand tracks. So we make the above inquiry of some men who are riding their donkeys. Their beasts of burden are laden with drums of drinking water. The riders are helpful and point us in the right direction. After five more miles [8 km], we drive our vehicle over a high sand barrier and see a remarkable sight, Omdurman’s camel market, the Mowaleeh.

Why Here?

This is a far cry from the air-​conditioned shopping malls in the West. The market operates outdoors under the hot sky of the Sahara Desert. About one square mile [3 sq km] in size, with no clear boundaries, it has no trees or plants. In fact, there is sand as far as the eye can see. But you can also see camels by the hundreds and shepherds clad in the traditional national costume called jalabeeya.

As we watch fine yellowish dust blow across the unrelenting desert, we wonder, ‘Why did they put the market here?’ The answer soon becomes obvious. Breaking the monotony of the flat horizon, a huge suspended water tank that is fed from an artesian well can be seen. This source of precious water makes this an ideal location for such a market. From here, most of the beasts will be exported to Egypt and Libya.

As we approach, we are welcomed by smiling Arab shepherds. Each camel owner groups his camels together. We notice that many of the animals have their left front leg tied up in a bent position. Why do they inflict this temporary lameness on their animals? There is a superstition that the left leg belongs to Satan! Superstition notwithstanding, tying one leg does keep the animal from moving about and makes it easier for customers to examine them.

Much Sought After

Why is the camel such a sought-​after commodity? Because it is superbly equipped for the hard desert conditions; it serves well as transportation in this arid region. Its long, slitlike nostrils quickly close in a desert storm. Its ears are toward the rear of its head and are filled with hair fringes that keep sand out. Its large hump, composed mainly of fat, serves as food storage during long journeys. Callous pads on its chest and knees protect it from the hot sand and the harmful insects. Furthermore, camels are able to eat the toughest and thorniest desert plants one can find and can journey for several days without drinking water.a

Interestingly, many camels do not serve as transportation. Some are bought simply as investments. Why, until recently, camels were used to pay the bride-​price for marriages! Many of these beasts will even end up on the dinner plate. Right in Omdurman itself, a number of eating establishments specialize in grilled camel meat. Another popular dish, a salted camel dish called basturma, is often made from camel meat and is viewed as a delicacy in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries.

Little wonder, then, that the Omdurman camel market becomes a flurry of activity when these one-​humped Arabian camels are brought in twice a week, mostly from western Sudan. Buyers are virtually mobbed by Arab shepherds who are bent on displaying their respective flocks.

Intense Bargaining

A prospective purchaser will first look the animals over with a trained and critical eye. He will touch the hump to see if there is a healthy store of fat. However, camels are priced according to their size and age. One-​year-​olds are called heowar, two-​year-​olds are called mafrood, and wad laboon is the designation for three-​year-​old camels. The most valuable animals, though, are those that have reached puberty. Females do so at about four years of age, and males at about eight. These are called heek and sudaies respectively. Upon being shown one of these full-​grown beasts, the prospective buyer will examine them to determine whether the animal has indeed reached puberty.

Once a camel has won the buyer’s fancy, the bargaining begins. The ability to bargain is an indispensable skill in the Middle East! “Be esm Allah” (By the name of God) are the first words spoken. Now the war of prices begins. The discussions are carried on calmly, without any shouting, and at leisure. If buyer and seller fail to come to an agreement, they conclude simply by saying “Yeftaah Allah” (God will open another opportunity).

We have come to observe, not buy, however. Having stayed but a short time in the blazing noonday heat, we are ready to go home. The camels, though, seem unperturbed by the heat. We are reminded, therefore, of how well adapted these ‘ships of the desert’ are to their environment. No doubt this will mean continued business here at Omdurman’s fascinating camel market!

[Footnotes]

Is Your Home Earthquake Resistant?

By Awake! correspondent in Japan

“HELP me! Help me!” In the early morning darkness of January 17, 1994, a man cried out from the first floor of an apartment house into which the top two stories had collapsed and lay like a stack of pancakes. An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale had struck Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., taking the lives of 16 people in that building. The death toll in the area was over 50.

On September 30, 1993, an earthquake of slightly lower magnitude hit the state of Maharashtra in western India. It killed as many as 30,000 people. “If it had happened someplace else where . . . the houses were well-​built, there would not have been so great a tragedy,” said Sri Krishna Singh, a seismologist. Most of the houses in the affected area were made of mud bricks.

On the other hand, a quake of about the same magnitude as that in India struck Tokyo, Japan, in 1985. It was the strongest to hit the area in 56 years. Yet, there were no deaths, no fires, no large-​scale destruction of property. What made the difference?

One answer lies in the construction methods used for the buildings. Many countries in earthquake-​prone areas require structural engineers to adhere to strict building codes to make structures earthquake resistant. As an example, let us see how earthquake-​resistant structures are built in Japan.

Earthquake-​Resistant Features

Traditional Japanese buildings had earthquake-​resistant features unwittingly built into them. Since most houses were constructed of wood, a variety of joints were used. This allowed the house to give and flex under the shock of a temblor and yet not collapse. Pagodas and castles using these principles have survived from medieval times. Studies of these structures reveal that the secret lies in their being flexible rather than rigid. This idea is being put to use in modern buildings.

In high-​rise buildings, the effective use of steel determines whether a building will resist earthquakes or not. Not only may steel girders and beams be used but steel reinforcing rods are laced through concrete pillars, floors, and walls to form a strong but flexible structure. Steel supplies the flexibility that helps hold the building together when an earthquake strikes.

New research has also made it possible to learn how an earthquake moves a building. This has led to a very important consideration in designing an earthquake-​resistant building: its rate of vibration. A small building or a rigid structure has a higher, thus more destructive, rate of vibration than a taller or more flexible building. In addition, it is important that the building be designed to vibrate at a rate different from that of the ground on which it stands. This will reduce the effect of resonance, which amplifies the force of the shock.

Another consideration is the foundation. A company has successfully tested a structure built on rubber pads that use viscous dampers. These act as shock absorbers and actually decrease the seismic effects by some 60 percent in the upper part of the structure. In some cases, pilings have to be driven down to the more firm subsoil layer. Even a basement may supply enough stability to keep a building from tilting.

Putting Up an Earthquake-​Resistant Building

The Watch Tower Society’s Japan branch built a new addition to its printing plant in 1989. The building is 220 feet [67 m] long, 150 feet [45 m] wide, and six stories high, with a full basement. To make the building earthquake resistant, 465 concrete pilings were drilled into the ground.

At the site a noiseless, nonvibrating method was used to drive piles into the ground. The pilings, measuring 30 inches [80 cm] in diameter and 40 feet [12 m] in length, were tubes. After an auger with drill bits at its tip was inserted into the piling, it was hoisted to a vertical position over the spot into which it was to be driven. As the auger was turned, it removed earth through the center of the piling, and the piling was gradually forced into the tight-​fitting hole. For greater depth, another section of piling could be welded onto the piece already driven.

Once at the desired depth, the drill bits at the tip of the auger were spread out, and a larger hole was excavated at the bottom of the piling. After the auger was removed, concrete was forced down the piling and into this cavity, and the piling was secured in place when the concrete solidified.

After all the pilings were thus set in the foundation, they were tied together with beams on which the floor and walls of the basement would rest. With such a foundation, the building should be able to withstand a reasonable amount of shock.

Is your home safe in an earthquake? No design strategies or other precautions can guarantee that a building will remain unscathed in a temblor. An earthquake might be of such magnitude that even the best-​designed buildings would not withstand its devastation, as the severe earthquake in Kobe, Japan, in January demonstrated. Still, by choosing to live in a building that was conscientiously built, you can feel safer when an earthquake hits your area.

Watching the World

Counting the Stars

Have you ever gazed up at a star-​filled night sky and wondered how many stars you could see? Sky & Telescope magazine recently addressed this age-​old question, and the answer is not as simple to find as one might assume. The magazine noted that according to astronomy reference works, the average observer can see 2,862 stars in the skies over a fairly dark suburb in northern latitudes. But not all these stars are above the local horizon at any given time; many rise and set. Furthermore, many stars that are easily visible when directly overhead are invisible when nearer the horizon. That is because at such low altitudes, the star’s light must pass through more of earth’s atmosphere in order to reach an observer’s eyes. Sky & Telescope concludes that for an observer at a latitude of 40 degrees north, some 1,809 stars would be visible throughout the year.

The Leading Killers in the United States

What are the leading causes of death in the United States? A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association sought out the main external, or nongenetic, factors that contributed to deaths in one year. After an extensive survey of statistics, the study concluded that of the 2,148,000 deaths in the United States in 1990, about 400,000 were caused by tobacco; 300,000 by diet and exercise habits; 100,000 by alcohol; 90,000 by microbial agents; 60,000 by toxic agents such as environmental pollutants or contaminants in food or water; 35,000 by firearms; 30,000 by sexual behavior; 25,000 by motor vehicles; and 20,000 by illicit drug use. In all, the study found that such external factors contributed to half of all deaths in one year.

Children and War

During the past ten years, war has proved far more dangerous for civilians​—particularly children—​than for soldiers, according to a recent report from the British relief agency Save the Children. The agency’s overseas spokesman was quoted in an Associated Press report as saying: “Nine out of 10 casualties of war are civilians. Children are very often the main casualties​—and they are indeed much more likely to be casualties of war than are soldiers.” The 25-​page report tallies the past decade’s toll on the world’s children, providing the following grim statistics. Over 1.5 million children were killed in wars around the world; over 4 million were disabled, blinded, brain damaged, or maimed; over 12 million lost their homes; 10 million became refugees; 5 million were forced to live in refugee camps, and 1 million were separated from their families. One out of every 200 children in the world was traumatized by war in the past decade and needed help to overcome the emotional distress.

Iodine in the Salt

Lack of iodine in the diet affects the well-​being of at least 600 million people, estimates the United Nations Children’s Fund. Among those affected, the deficiency is believed to cause about 100,000 infants a year to be born as cretins (physically stunted and mentally deficient because of severe thyroid deficiency) and to impair the physical and mental development of another 50 million children. A lack of iodine also causes goiter, a swelling of the thyroid gland. It is easy and inexpensive to guard against iodine deficiency​—simply use iodized salt. Efforts are underway to iodize the world’s salt supplies during the year 1995 and to eliminate iodine-​deficiency disorders by the year 2000.

Stadium “Reblessed”

A football team in Pescara, Italy, recently sought help from a Catholic bishop to fight off the “bad luck” that was plaguing them, reports the newspaper La Repubblica. Tired of a long run of “bad luck” commonly attributed to the stadium, the team president requested a forceful intervention by the clergy. Some time before, a priest had blessed the stadium, and the team won its next match. Staff, supporters, and players who attended a “reblessing”​—a celebration of Mass by the bishop himself right in the stands of the stadium—​hope that this time the team will do even better. When the stadium first opened, it was blessed too, but “evidently the sprinkling of incense at the inauguration has lost its power,” says La Repubblica.

80,000 Earthquakes in 40 Years

“The seismological station at Bensberg near Cologne [Germany] has registered more than 80,000 earthquakes in all parts of the world,” reports Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. This was announced by Professor Ludwig Ahorner, head of the station, which has been tracing the earth’s quakes and tremors for 40 years. How is the station able to register earthquakes that occur in other parts of the world? By employing instruments so sensitive that they detect even the faint vibrations in the earth caused by winter storm waves breaking on the North Sea Coast, some 120 miles [200 km] away. The strongest earthquake in Germany ever registered by the station struck in April 1992. It measured 5.9 on the Richter scale.

The Great Green Wall

The Great Wall of China, which was only partly successful in repelling invading Mongol forces centuries ago, may have come into its own at last. According to Science News, ever since the 1950’s, great belts of trees have been planted along the path of the wall. This Great Green Wall, as it has been dubbed, consists of some 300 million trees. Its purpose: to act as a barrier to the dust storms that sweep into China from the Gobi Desert and other arid areas. The results? In the 1950’s, the city of Beijing was beset by 10 to 20 dust storms every spring, reducing visibility to less than half a mile [1 km] for 30 to 90 hours each month. But by the 1970’s, the number of storms had dropped to fewer than five each spring, causing milder reductions of visibility for less than ten hours a month. Science News quotes one atmospheric chemist as saying that these vast belts of forest “are probably one of the most aggressive weather modification programs in the 20th century.”

Satanism in Prison

Prison officials in Colorado, U.S.A., had denied an inmate the right to perform satanic rituals in his cell. A Federal prison rule forbade Devil worship; furthermore, the officials reasoned that some of the items that the inmate had requested for worship​—including a short wooden staff, a gong, a black robe, candles and candle holders, a chalice, and incense—​might be used as weapons. However, a Federal judge in Denver recently reversed the decision, ruling that the inmate has the constitutional right to practice his religion in prison. The judge further concluded that the rule against Devil worship was unconstitutional. According to an Associated Press report, the judge wrote in his ruling: “We ought to give the devil his due.” The inmate is serving a ten-​year sentence for kidnapping.

Undercurrents in the South Seas

A report for the Fiji-​based Pacific Conference of Churches reveals that mainstream church authorities are disturbed by the growth of what they call NRGs (New Religious Groups) in the South Pacific. Mainly, the NRGs in question are the Assemblies of God, the Seventh-​Day Adventists, the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and members of the Baha’i faith. Already about 20 percent of the islanders have joined these religions, says the report by Manfred Ernst. The churches complain that NRGs prevent political change because some among them do not join political parties or protest movements; others will not join unions. “According to Ernst,” said Mainichi Daily News, “NRGs are becoming more popular because of the unattractiveness of the traditional mainline Christian churches.”

Argentine Study on Rape

From January to October 1994, a single Argentine province, Córdoba, reported 254 cases of rape. The Buenos Aires newspaper Clarín noted that a police report from Córdoba “threw out the myth that surrounds sexual violations.” Rapists are not always just degenerates who stalk anonymous victims under cover of darkness; according to this report, 4 of every 10 persons raped are violated in their own homes by their own fathers, stepfathers, or other relatives. Other statistics in the police report show that ‘of the 254 cases reported this year, 36 percent took place in the homes of the victims; 23 percent on leaving dance halls; 13 percent on the public streets; 10 percent in vacant lots; 6 percent on construction sites; and 3 percent on football fields, in bus-​station rest rooms, in prison cells, and on excursion buses.’ The report concludes by mentioning that the police have solved 66.54 percent of the cases.

From Our Readers

Eye Surgery I had the pleasure of reading your article “Radial Keratotomy​—What Is It?” (September 22, 1994) As a refractive surgeon, having had the procedure on my own eyes and having performed over 2,000 procedures, I was very impressed with the quality and correctness of your article. Unfortunately, the information given to the public through the nonmedical media is often inaccurate and misleading. I felt your article did an excellent job of explaining the pros and cons of radial keratotomy.

R. F. B., United States

Death I want to tell you how much I appreciated the “Young People Ask . . .” articles “Why Did Daddy Have to Die?” (August 22, 1994) and “How Can I Get Over Daddy’s Death?” (September 8, 1994) Even though I still have my parents, I was recently overwhelmed by the death of two loved ones. These articles brought me great comfort and showed me how to cope with such calamity.

T. H., France

My father died at the Kingdom Hall after delivering a talk. Since then I have been battling grief and anger. I reasoned that it was not fair that anyone so well loved and so devoted to Jehovah should die so suddenly. Reading through those articles, I felt that Jehovah was reaching out to heal my broken heart.

S. A., Nigeria

My father died of cancer, and I had the most difficult time trying to deal with it. It was amazing to see how this article so clearly coincided with my own feelings. What pains me is that my father is missing everything that is going on in my life right now. I just started my lifelong dream: a career as a full-​time evangelizer. I so much wanted him to see me do that. Missing out on his wonderful guidance and wisdom is difficult at times, but knowing that there are others who care is a great comfort.

C. T., United States

Watching the World I want to congratulate you on the careful manner in which Awake! is prepared. I especially appreciate the feature “Watching the World.” Although it deals with different topics briefly, its helpful advice, curiosities, and observations have helped me to change many of my habits. “Watching the World” provides pleasant reading.

T. C. C., Brazil

Heimlich Maneuver I have been a qualified first-​aid instructor for 11 years and would like to comment on the “Watching the World” item “Choking on Food.” (August 22, 1994) You mention the so-​called Heimlich maneuver. It is common knowledge, however, that a blow to the solar plexus can take the breath away. The Heimlich maneuver could thus make matters worse in a first-​aid situation.

G. B., Austria

Some European medical authorities view the Heimlich maneuver as risky and recommend it only be used as a last resort. Doctors in the United States, however, generally feel that when it is properly administered, the Heimlich maneuver is superior to all other methods of aiding choking victims. The risk of suffering internal injuries is considered small when compared with the risk of choking to death. For example, one U.S. study claimed that only four gastric perforations related to the maneuver had been documented. Whether European and U.S. doctors will reach a consensus on this matter any time soon remains to be seen.​—ED.

“Joyful Praisers” Convention

The three-​day district conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses begin in June, with 180 scheduled in the United States alone. Enjoy motivating Bible discussions. All sessions are free.

1995 District Convention Locations

JUNE 2-4

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Memorial Coliseum, Gator Bowl Sports Complex.

LONG BEACH, CA, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

JUNE 9-11

COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum, Assembly & Blossom Sts.

COLUMBUS, OH, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Memorial Coliseum, Gator Bowl Sports Complex.

KANSAS CITY, MO, Kemper Arena, 1800 Genessee St.

NEW HAVEN, CT, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 275 S. Orange St.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Veterans Stadium, S. Broad & Pattison Ave.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.

JUNE 16-18

BEAUMONT, TX (Spanish only), Civic Center Arena, 701 Main St.

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.

COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum, Assembly & Blossom Sts.

COLUMBUS, OH, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.

CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum, 600 S.W. 26th St.

FORT WORTH, TX, Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St.

HOUSTON, TX, Astrodome, Loop 610 at Kirby Dr.

JACKSON, MS, Mississippi Coliseum, 1207 Mississippi St.

KANSAS CITY, MO, Kemper Arena, 1800 Genessee St.

LONG BEACH, CA, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.

NEW HAVEN, CT, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 275 S. Orange St.

PONTIAC, MI, Silverdome, 1200 Featherstone Rd.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

SAN DIEGO, CA, Jack Murphy Stadium, 9449 Friars Rd.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.

SOUTH BEND, IN, Notre Dame University Joyce Athletic Center, Juniper Rd.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

JUNE 23-25

ALBANY, GA, Civic Center, 100 West Oglethorpe Ave.

AMARILLO, TX, Civic Center Coliseum, 3rd & Buchanan Sts.

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.

COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum, Assembly & Blossom Sts.

COLUMBUS, OH, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.

CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum, 600 S.W. 26th St.

FORT WORTH, TX, Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St.

JACKSON, MS, Mississippi Coliseum, 1207 Mississippi St.

LONG BEACH, CA, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.

MADISON, WI, Dane County Exposition Center, 1881 Expo Mall East.

NEW HAVEN, CT (Spanish only), Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 275 S. Orange St.

OGDEN, UT, Dee Events Center, 4600 South 1400 E.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, Myriad, One Myriad Gardens.

ROANOKE, VA, Civic Center, 710 Williamson Rd. N.E.

ROCHESTER, MN, Mayo Civic Center Arena, 30 2nd Ave. S.E.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.

SOUTH BEND, IN, Notre Dame University Joyce Athletic Center, Juniper Rd.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

JUNE 30–JULY 2

AMARILLO, TX, Civic Center Coliseum, 3rd & Buchanan Sts.

BILLINGS, MT, MetraPark Arena, Hwy. #10.

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.

CLEVELAND, OH, Cleveland State University Convocation Centre, Prospect & E. 21st Sts.

COLUMBIA, SC, Carolina Coliseum, Assembly & Blossom Sts.

COLUMBUS, OH, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High St.

CORVALLIS, OR, Gill Coliseum, 600 S.W. 26th St.

DENVER, CO, McNichols Sports Arena, 1635 Clay St.

FORT WORTH, TX, Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St.

LAFAYETTE, LA, Cajundome, West Congress.

LONG BEACH, CA, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.

MADISON, WI, Dane County Exposition Center, 1881 Expo Mall East.

MEMPHIS, TN, Mid-​South Coliseum, Mid-​South Fairgrounds.

OGDEN, UT, Dee Events Center, 4600 South 1400 E.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, Myriad, One Myriad Gardens.

PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center, One LaSalle Sq.

RICHMOND, VA, Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St.

ROANOKE, VA, Civic Center, 710 Williamson Rd. N.E.

ROCHESTER, MN, Mayo Civic Center Arena, 30 2nd Ave. S.E.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.

SOUTH BEND, IN, Notre Dame University Joyce Athletic Center, Juniper Rd.

SPRINGFIELD, IL, Prairie Capital Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza.

SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center, 1277 Main St.

TACOMA, WA, Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. “D” St.

TUCSON, AZ, Convention Center, 260 S. Church St.

UNIONDALE, NY, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

JULY 7-9

ALBANY, GA, Civic Center, 100 West Oglethorpe Ave.

AMARILLO, TX (Spanish only), Civic Center Coliseum, 3rd & Buchanan Sts.

BIRMINGHAM, AL, Civic Center Coliseum, One Civic Center Plaza.

BISMARCK, ND, Civic Center Arena, 601 E. Sweet Ave.

CICERO, IL, Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.

CLEVELAND, OH, Cleveland State University Convocation Centre, Prospect & E. 21st Sts.

DENVER, CO, McNichols Sports Arena, 1635 Clay St.

FORT WORTH, TX (Spanish only), Tarrant County Convention Center, 1111 Houston St.

JERSEY CITY, NJ (American Sign Language only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2932 Kennedy Blvd.

KENNEWICK, WA (Spanish only), Tri-​Cities Coliseum, 7100 W. Quinault.

LAFAYETTE, LA, Cajundome, West Congress.

LONG BEACH, CA, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Freedom Hall Coliseum, Kentucky Fair & Expo Center, 937 Phillips Ln.

MACON, GA, Coliseum, 200 Coliseum Dr.

MADISON, WI, Dane County Exposition Center, 1881 Expo Mall East.

MEMPHIS, TN, Mid-​South Coliseum, Mid-​South Fairgrounds.

PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center, One LaSalle Sq.

RICHMOND, CA (Korean only), Richmond Memorial Convention Center, 2544 Barrett Ave.

RICHMOND, VA, Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St.

ROANOKE, VA, Civic Center, 710 Williamson Rd. N.E.

ROCHESTER, MN, Mayo Civic Center Arena, 30 2nd Ave. S.E.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Spanish only), Convention Center Arena, S. Alamo & Market Sts.

SAN DIEGO, CA (Spanish only), Jack Murphy Stadium, 9449 Friars Rd.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.

SPRINGFIELD, IL, Prairie Capital Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza.

SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga County War Memorial Arena, 515 Montgomery St.

TACOMA, WA, Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. “D” St.

TUCSON, AZ (Spanish only), Convention Center, 260 S. Church St.

UNIONDALE, NY, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

JULY 14-16

BIRMINGHAM, AL, Civic Center Coliseum, One Civic Center Plaza.

CICERO, IL (Spanish only), Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.

FRESNO, CA, Convention Center, 700 “M” St.

HAMPTON, VA, Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Dr.

JERSEY CITY, NJ (Korean only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2932 Kennedy Blvd.

LAFAYETTE, LA, Cajundome, West Congress.

LONG BEACH, CA, Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Chinese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 44-17 Greenpoint Ave.

LOUISVILLE, KY, Freedom Hall Coliseum, Kentucky Fair & Expo Center, 937 Phillips Ln.

MEMPHIS, TN, Mid-​South Coliseum, Mid-​South Fairgrounds.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Veterans Stadium, S. Broad & Pattison Ave.

PHOENIX, AZ, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1826 W. McDowell Rd.

PROVIDENCE, RI, Civic Center, One LaSalle Sq.

RICHMOND, CA (Tagalog only), Richmond Memorial Convention Center, 2544 Barrett Ave.

RICHMOND, VA, Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St.

ROCHESTER, MN, Mayo Civic Center Arena, 30 2nd Ave. S.E.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Portuguese sessions also), Cow Palace, Geneva Ave.

SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center, 1277 Main St.

SYRACUSE, NY, Onondaga County War Memorial Arena, 515 Montgomery St.

TUCSON, AZ (Spanish only), Convention Center, 260 S. Church St.

UNIONDALE, NY, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

JULY 21-23

BEAUMONT, TX (Spanish only), Civic Center Arena, 701 Main St.

CICERO, IL (Spanish only), Hawthorne Race Track, 35th & Cicero Ave.

ESCONDIDO, CA (Japanese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1873 Iris Ln.

FRESNO, CA, Convention Center, 700 “M” St.

HAMPTON, VA, Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Dr.

JERSEY CITY, NJ (French only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2932 Kennedy Blvd.

LINCOLN, NE, Devaney Sports Center, 16th St. & Military Rd.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Italian only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 44-17 Greenpoint Ave.

MONROE, NY (Portuguese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mountain & Forest Roads.

PHOENIX, AZ, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1826 W. McDowell Rd.

RICHMOND, VA, Coliseum, 601 E. Leigh St.

ROCHESTER, NY, Community War Memorial, 100 Exchange Blvd.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (Spanish only), Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

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

SPRINGFIELD, MA, Civic Center, 1277 Main St.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Spanish only), Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

JULY 28-30

BEAUMONT, TX (Spanish only), Civic Center Arena, 701 Main St.

CLEVELAND, OH, Cleveland State University Convocation Centre, Prospect & E. 21st Sts.

ESCONDIDO, CA (American Sign Language only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1873 Iris Ln.

FRESNO, CA, Convention Center, 700 “M” St.

JERSEY CITY, NJ (French only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2932 Kennedy Blvd.

LONG BEACH, CA (Spanish only), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

LONG BEACH, CA (Vietnamese only), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Japanese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 44-17 Greenpoint Ave.

ROCHESTER, NY, Community War Memorial, 100 Exchange Blvd.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (Spanish only), Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

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

SPRINGFIELD, IL, Prairie Capital Convention Center, One Convention Center Plaza.

UNIONDALE, NY, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Spanish only), Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

AUGUST 4-6

CLEVELAND, OH, Cleveland State University Convocation Centre, Prospect & E. 21st Sts.

FRESNO, CA (Spanish only), Convention Center, 700 “M” St.

JACKSON, MS, Mississippi Coliseum, 1207 Mississippi St.

LONG BEACH, CA (Spanish only), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Greek only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 44-17 Greenpoint Ave.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (French only), Bayfront Center, 400 1st St. S.

UNIONDALE, NY, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Spanish only), Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

AUGUST 11-13

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Spanish only), Memorial Coliseum, 402 S. Shoreline Blvd.

FRESNO, CA (Spanish only), Convention Center, 700 “M” St.

LONG BEACH, CA (Spanish only), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

UNIONDALE, NY (Spanish only), Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

AUGUST 18-20

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Spanish only), Memorial Coliseum, 402 S. Shoreline Blvd.

UNIONDALE, NY (Spanish only), Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Spanish only), Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

AUGUST 25-27

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Spanish only), Memorial Coliseum, 402 S. Shoreline Blvd.

LONG BEACH, CA (Spanish only), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

UNIONDALE, NY (Spanish only), Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Tpke.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Spanish only), Auditorium, 1610 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

SEPTEMBER 15-17

LONG BEACH, CA (Spanish only), Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd.

Britain

JUNE 16-18

GUERNSEY, C.I., Beau Sejour Leisure Centre, St. Peter Port.

JUNE 21-24

BRIGHTON, The Brighton Centre, Kings Rd.

JUNE 23-25

BOURNEMOUTH, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Football Club, Dean Court.

COVENTRY, Highfield Road Stadium, King Richard St.

JUNE 30–JULY 2

LEEDS, Leeds United Football Club, Elland Rd.

LONDON (Greek only), North London Assembly Hall, 174 Bowes Rd.

LONDON (Italian only), Surrey Assembly Hall, Brickhouse Lane, South Godstone.

PLYMOUTH (A), Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Home Park.

SUNDERLAND (Tentative), Sunderland Football Club, Roker Park, Grantham Rd.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, Molineux Grounds, Waterloo Rd.

JULY 7-9

LIVERPOOL, Everton Football Club, Goodison Park, Goodison Rd.

PLYMOUTH (B), Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Home Park.

JULY 14-16

CARDIFF, Welsh National Rugby Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.

NORWICH, Norwich City Football Club, Carrow Rd.

NOTTINGHAM, Nottingham Forest Football Club, City Ground.

PERTH, St. Johnstone Football Club, McDiarmid Park, Crieff Rd.

JULY 21-23

LONDON (CRYSTAL PALACE), National Sports Centre, Norwood.

JULY 28-30

LONDON (TWICKENHAM) (Spanish also), Rugby Union Ground, Whitton Rd., Twickenham, Middx.

SEPTEMBER 15-17

MALTA, New Dolman Hotel Conference Centre, Qawra, St. Paul’s Bay.

Ireland

JULY 7-9

NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre, Trim Rd.

JULY 14-16

NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre, Trim Rd.

JULY 21-23

NAVAN, Navan Exhibition Centre, Trim Rd.

Canada

JUNE 23-25

CALGARY, ALTA. (Spanish sessions also), Stampede Corral, Stampede Park, 12th Ave. & 4th St. SE.

KITCHENER, ONT. (Vietnamese sessions also), Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, 400 East Ave.

PENTICTON, B.C., Penticton Trade & Convention Centre, 273 Power St.

SUDBURY, ONT., Sudbury Arena, 240 Elgin St.

WINDSOR, ONT., St. Denis Athletic & Community Centre, University of Windsor, College Ave. & Huron Church Rd.

JUNE 30–JULY 2

EDMONTON, ALTA., Northlands Coliseum, 7300 118th Ave.

HAMILTON, ONT. (Korean sessions also), Copps Coliseum, 101 York Blvd.

KITCHENER, ONT. (Spanish only), Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex, 400 East Ave.

MONCTON, N.B., Coliseum Agrena, Killam Dr.

MONTREAL, QUE. (Greek sessions also), Maurice-​Richard Arena, 2800, rue Viau.

SHERBROOKE, QUE. (French only), Palais des Sports, 360, rue Parc.

VANCOUVER, B.C. (Sign language also), Pacific Coliseum, P.N.E. Grounds, Hastings St. E. & Renfrew St.

JULY 7-9

HAMILTON, ONT. (Sign language also; Greek sessions also), Copps Coliseum, 101 York Blvd.

KAMLOOPS, B.C., Riverside Coliseum, 300 Lorne St.

MONTREAL, QUE. (French only), Maurice-​Richard Arena, 2800, rue Viau.

MOUNT PEARL, NFLD., Mount Pearl Glacier, Olympic Dr.

NANAIMO, B.C., Frank Crane Arena, Beban Park Recreation Centre, 2300 Bowen Rd.

OTTAWA, ONT. (Arabic also), Civic Centre Arena, Lansdowne Park, 1015 Bank St.

REGINA, SASK. (Sign language also), The Agridome, Exhibition Grounds, Elphinstone St. & Saskatchewan Dr.

WINNIPEG, MAN., Winnipeg Convention Centre, 375 York Ave.

JULY 14-16

BRAMPTON, ONT. (Portuguese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hwy. 7, 1 mile W. of Mississauga Rd., Norval.

DARTMOUTH, N.S., Dartmouth Sportsplex, 110 Wyse Rd.

MONTREAL, QUE. (French only; sign language also), Maurice-​Richard Arena, 2800, rue Viau.

MONTREAL, QUE. (Italian only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 12700, boul. Métropolitain Est, Pointe-​aux-​Trembles.

QUEBEC CITY, QUE. (French only), Colisée de Québec, 2205, avenue du Colisée.

TERRACE, B.C., Terrace Arena, 3320 Kalum St.

TRAIL, B.C., Trail Memorial Centre, 1051 Victoria St.

VICTORIA, B.C., Victoria Memorial Arena, 1925 Blanshard St.

JULY 21-23

BRAMPTON, ONT. (Italian only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hwy. 7, 1 mile W. of Mississauga Rd., Norval.

HULL, QUE. (French only), Palais des Congrès, 200, promenade du Portage.

MONTREAL, QUE. (French only), Maurice-​Richard Arena, 2800, rue Viau.

MONTREAL, QUE. (Spanish only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 12700, boul. Métropolitain Est, Pointe-​aux-​Trembles.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C., Civic Centre Complex & Plaza, 855 Dominion St.

SURREY, B.C. (Chinese only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 15577 82nd Ave.

JULY 28-30

BRAMPTON, ONT. (Polish only), Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hwy. 7, 1 mile W. of Mississauga Rd., Norval.