June 22

Table of Contents

June 22, 2003

Who Will Save the Rain Forests?

The world’s tropical forests are vanishing at an alarming rate. But why should you care? And what can be done about the situation?

3 Rain Forests​—Can They Be Saved?

5 Rain Forests​—Can We Use Them Without Destroying Them?

10 Rain Forests​—Who Will Save Them?

15 A Gorgeous Bird With Plumage Full of Eyes

23 Madrid​—A Capital Built for a King

28 Watching the World

30 From Our Readers

31 “Jehovah Is My Solace”

32 Will Humans Ruin Our Beautiful Earth?

How Can I Cope When Tragedy Strikes? 12

Sudden disasters can bring young people face-to-face with some of life’s toughest questions. Here is a quick and reassuring guide to some key answers.

How My Spiritual Thirst Was Satisfied 18

Read about a nun who was spiritually unfulfilled​—until she began to learn Bible truths that changed her life.

[Picture Credit Lines on page 2]

COVER: © 2000 FRANS LANTING; forest fire: Philip M. Fearnside

Rain Forests​—Can They Be Saved?

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN BOLIVIA

RAMIRO owns a valley that is blanketed with tropical cloud forest.a Situated in the foothills of South America’s Andes Mountains, this valley is one of the few in the region where ancient trees still stand. All around, the hills are denuded of forest. Scientists come from far and wide to study the wildlife in Ramiro’s cloud forest, and they have discovered several species never described before. Ramiro is intensely interested in preservation. He declares: “There will be no logging in my forest.”

On the other hand, Roberto manages 2,000 square miles [5,600 sq km] of tropical rain forest in the lowlands of the Amazon basin. He is a professional forester who harvests and sells tropical timber for the world market. But Roberto is also intensely interested in protecting tropical forests and their wildlife. “Tropical timber can be harvested without doing permanent damage to the diversity of life,” he insists.

Different though they are, Ramiro and Roberto share a profound concern for the fate of tropical forests. And they are far from being alone. In recent decades the reckless destruction of tropical rain forests has accelerated alarmingly.

Is such concern overblown? After all, people cleared much of the forests in temperate regions in centuries past, largely to make way for agriculture. So why worry if people in the Tropics now act similarly? There are key differences. For instance, tropical rain forests often grow on infertile land, where agriculture is a poor alternative. Also, the diversity of life in tropical forests is much greater; its loss affects all mankind.

The Cost of Deforestation

More than half the world’s species of living things are found in tropical forests. From spider monkeys and tigers to uncommon mosses and orchids, from snakes and frogs to rare butterflies and parrots​—the number of species is just too great to be cataloged.

Various forms of life thrive in many types of tropical forest. There are slow-growing mountain cloud forests, dark rain forests with dense canopies, tropical dry forests, and open woodlands. Most people, though, have never visited a tropical forest. Perhaps you have not. Why, then, should you care about such places?

The preservation of tropical rain forests is vital to you because so many of the domestic and commercial plants that you rely on depend, in a way, on their wilder ancestors that still thrive in such forests. These wild strains are used at times to breed newer strains that are more resistant to diseases and pests. The genetic diversity found in wild varieties is therefore essential.

Also, researchers are constantly deriving useful products from tropical forests. A large proportion of the medicines now in use, for example, were developed from tropical plants. Thus, the diversity of life in tropical rain forests is often likened to a living library, but it is one in which most of the “books” have yet to be opened.

A Fragile Web of Life

The humid tropical-forest environment is fragile and extremely complex. The myriad life-forms depend on one another. For example, most plants depend on particular birds, insects, or animals for pollination and seed dispersal. In an intricate cycle of life, the forest efficiently recycles all the living material it contains, including the plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms. Remarkably, this whole complex ecosystem usually stands on poor-quality soil. Once destroyed, it may be difficult or impossible for such a forest to recuperate.

Many people earn their living from tropical forests. Besides providing a field for scientific research and for tourism, tropical forests are commercially important for such products as timber, nuts, honey, palm hearts, rubber, and resin. But tropical rain forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. The figures are disputed, but one fact is clear: The forests are shrinking fast.

What makes this environmental loss especially sad is that tropical rain forests are often destroyed for little permanent benefit. Many of these woodlands have been converted to grazing land for cattle. Often, though, the land soon fails to sustain the needed pasturage and is abandoned. In Brazilian Amazonia, 63,000 square miles [165,000 sq km] of land has reportedly been abandoned in this way.

What hope is there for the rain forests and their teeming wildlife? Ramiro, Roberto, and many others like them are struggling to defend tropical rain forests against the forces of international commerce, overpopulation, trappers for the pet trade, and illegal hunters and loggers. But what are the real, underlying causes of deforestation? Is there any way to use the vast resources of rain forests without destroying them?

[Footnote]

[Blurb on page 3]

The majority of the world’s animal species are found in tropical forests, together with an immense variety of plants

[Pictures on page 4, 5]

Loggers and the roads they build can destroy the rain forest

Rain Forests​—Can We Use Them Without Destroying Them?

DO YOU feel that the logging industry has a right to destroy the world’s tropical rain forests? Likely you would answer no! However, some ecologists might insist that many who would say no have already, in effect, said yes​—for instance, by purchasing furniture made from beautiful and popular tropical timber that comes from wild rain forests rather than from plantations.

Logging is often equated with deforestation. And, indeed, many forests are destroyed by logging. It is claimed, though, that other forests have been harvested with only minimal damage. Can tropical rain forests and their wildlife really survive logging? Let us first examine how logging can destroy a forest.

How Logging Can Destroy Forest and Wildlife

Here is one scenario: The story begins with bulldozers cutting roads deep into a forest. Loggers wielding chain saws are soon in action. The logging company has only short-term permission to cut lumber, so the workers are directed to take everything of value. As the marketable trees fall, they damage or destroy neighboring trees to which they are connected by vines. Next, heavy, track-laying vehicles break through the dense vegetation to haul out the logs, compacting the thin soil until it is virtually useless.

Logging company employees generally eat more meat than do local villagers. The forest is scoured for game; often more is killed than is really needed. The roads that loggers leave behind open up a previously inaccessible region. Hunters can now enter with vehicles and guns to finish off whatever wildlife is left. Trappers take the smaller animals and birds for the lucrative pet trade. Then come the settlers, landless thousands seeking an opportunity to eke out a living on the newly accessible land. Their slash-and-burn farming method finishes off the remaining trees, allowing heavy rains to wash away the thin topsoil.

In effect, the forest has been left for dead. Logging was merely the first step. But does harvesting tropical rain forests have to be so destructive?

Low-Impact Logging

In recent years there has been renewed interest in the concept of low-impact logging and the sustainable management of forests. The idea is to harvest timber in such a way that doing so inflicts minimal damage on the forest and its wildlife. The forest gradually recovers, permitting another harvest a few decades later. Faced with pressure from conservationists, some traders now advertise their timber as originating from forests that have been certified as being sustainably managed. Let’s take a look at how low-impact logging works.

A professional forester and a group of assistants push their way through the undergrowth. They form one of several groups that will spend perhaps six months in the jungle, conducting a forest inventory. The logging company has a long-term concession here, so the workers have the time to take this tree census for the sake of preserving the forest for future use.

The forester marks each tree with a registration number and identifies the species. There are hundreds of varieties, so he must have considerable expertise. The next step, however, requires modern technology.

Using a hand-held device that communicates with satellites of the Global Positioning System, the forester keys in the tree’s size, species, and registration number. Then when he hits the enter button, all the details of that tree, including its exact position, are instantly sent from the forest to a computer in a bustling city far away.

Later the forest manager has his computer print out a map detailing every tree of value in the forest. He chooses precisely which trees may be felled in harmony with official regulations. In the case of many species, it is permissible to fell only 50 percent of the trees larger than a certain diameter specified in the concession. The oldest and healthiest trees must be left standing as seed bearers.

How, though, can you fell trees without damaging the forest? Awake! put that question to Roberto, the forester mentioned in the preceding article. He explained: “The map is the key. With the tree map, we can plan the harvest so as to cause minimum damage to the forest. Even the direction of felling can be planned to minimize collateral damage.

“We can also plan the extraction of logs with winches, instead of using bulldozers to break through to every tree felled. Before felling, loggers cut the vines that connect crop trees to their neighbors​—again to reduce collateral damage. We work the concession in rotation, each year mapping and harvesting a section so that we will not return to plots until at least 20 years have passed. For some forest areas, it’s 30 years.”

However, Roberto is employed by a logging company. Awake! thus asked him: “How much interest do loggers really have in protecting wildlife?”

Protecting the Animals

“You can’t have a healthy forest without animals,” Roberto notes. “They are vital for the pollination and dispersal of seeds. We make every effort to reduce the disturbance to wild animals. For example, we carefully plan access roads so that they are few and far between. Wherever possible, we make roads narrow enough to permit the tree canopy to close over them. This allows animals such as sloths and monkeys to cross the road without descending from the trees.”

Roberto points to some colored areas on his map. These are to be left completely untouched. A protected corridor on each side of every stream, for example, permits animals to move from one area to another in undisturbed jungle.

“Besides the vital streamside habitats,” he explains, “we also protect caves, outcrops of rock, ancient trees with cavities, trees bearing fleshy fruits​—in fact, any area vital to the survival of a certain species. To prevent illegal hunting, we forbid our employees to have guns, and so that they won’t need wild meat, we fly beef and chicken into the lumber camp. Then, when we have finished a section, we carefully block or control the roads to prevent hunters or illegal loggers from entering the forest.

“Personally, I’m happy to do all this because I believe in conserving God’s creation. But nearly all the measures I’ve described are required by international regulations for a certified, sustainably managed forest. To get a certificate, a company has to satisfy inspectors from international organizations.”

Are sustainably managed forests profitable? Aside from a few enthusiasts like Roberto, loggers as a rule do not receive plans to conserve wildlife with much enthusiasm. Such restrictions are often perceived as a threat to profit.

Nevertheless, studies carried out in eastern Amazonia in the late 1990’s found that the cost of tree mapping, vine cutting, and planned log extraction was more than recovered, thanks to the increased efficiency achieved. Fewer logs were lost, for example. Often, without such mapping, a chain-saw crew will fell a tree that the extraction crew cannot find in the dense jungle.

Also, timber independently certified as originating from a sustainably managed forest may be easier to sell. But does low-impact logging really protect biodiversity? How much wildlife survives such a rain-forest harvest?

Can Forest Wildlife Survive Logging?

Granted, tropical rain-forest ecosystems are fragile and complex. Yet, they can prove surprisingly resilient under certain conditions. For example, if some untouched forest remains near a harvested area, saplings of the harvested species will gradually grow to fill the gaps left in the canopy. But what about the animals, birds, and insects?

A few species are affected seriously, and most logging operations reduce the number of bird and animal varieties in the area. However, low-impact logging often has very little effect on the majority of species. In fact, the opening of gaps in the canopy may actually encourage some species. Recent research has suggested that the presence of humans​—even when some of them are there for selective logging—​may increase the biological diversity of rain forests.

There is considerable evidence, then, to suggest that tropical rain forests can be harvested responsibly, without doing permanent damage to the diversity of life. London’s Economist said: “Just 10% of the remaining forest, managed sustainably, could meet all the existing demand for tropical hardwood. Much of the rest might then be declared untouchable.”

An example of total protection is the forest referred to in the opening article. Ramiro protects it because scientists have identified several endangered species there. Such cloud forests are rare and contain an unusually high diversity of life. “The key to conservation has been education,” explains Ramiro. “Once the local villagers realized that their water supply depends on the forest, they became interested in preserving it.”

Ramiro adds: “Ecotourism is also important because visitors learn why the different trees and plants they see are worth protecting. They leave with an increased appreciation for the forest and its wildlife.”

The examples of Ramiro and Roberto illustrate that it is possible for man to make use of the tropical rain forest without destroying it and its wildlife. But the fact that it is possible does not make it probable. Some people today can make sure that the tropical timber they buy comes from a certified, sustainably managed forest. For others, though, no such service is available. So, will conservation efforts save the forests’ striking diversity of life?

[Maps on page 7]

(For fully formatted text, see publication)

BOLIVIA

The map at right gives details about each tree; as the above shows, the map represents only a tiny region of Bolivia

[Credit Line]

All maps except top left: Aserradero San Martin S.R.L., Bolivia

[Pictures on page 7]

Each tree is individually numbered, and its species identified. Then, with the help of a Global Positioning System monitor (above), its exact location is recorded

[Picture on page 7]

‘The forest inventory map is the key to planning a forest harvest that will not permanently damage the forest or its wildlife.’​—Roberto

[Picture on page 8, 9]

“The key to conservation has been education.”​—Ramiro

[Picture Credit Line on page 9]

Foto: Zoo de Baños

Rain Forests​—Who Will Save Them?

ANYONE wanting to remedy the problems afflicting tropical forests must first treat the causes for them. What are they? The culprit is not simply the press of human overpopulation. The fertile regions of the earth can easily sustain the world’s population​—and more besides.

In fact, governments in some countries are concerned about overproduction on farms, which causes food prices to sag. Some governments encourage farmers to change their land to leisure uses, such as campgrounds, golf courses, or wildlife parks.

Why, then, are the world’s forests shrinking? We must look to causes deeper than those we have mentioned thus far.

The Root Causes of Deforestation

Long before the present population explosion, many governments pillaged forests in their quest for power and riches. For instance, the British Empire’s need for timber to build ships led to the destruction of Britain’s own oak stands and then the teak forests of Burma and Thailand. The same empire denuded forests in India to fuel iron foundries. Other forests were cleared for rubber, coffee, and cocoa plantations.

After the second world war, however, chain saws and bulldozers made it possible to clear-cut forests on a new scale. More and more, fragile forests were exploited as a resource.

Large companies bought up huge tracts of fertile land and used mechanized equipment to harvest cash crops. Thrown out of work, thousands of rural people moved to the cities. Others, though, were encouraged to move to the rain forests. Such terrain was sometimes billed as “a land without people for people without land.” By the time people realized how difficult it is to farm in such places, it was often too late​—a vast stretch of forest was gone.

Official corruption too has written death warrants for many forests. A logging permit is worth big money. For a bribe, some dishonest officials have been known to give short-term concessions to companies that plunder the timber with no regard for conservation.

The biggest threat to the wildlife in forests, however, is, not logging, but changing woodlands over to agriculture. When the land is fertile, in some cases such a changeover may be justified. But often, corrupt or incompetent officials have needlessly signed away forests that can never be recovered.

Criminals too damage forests. Illegal loggers clandestinely cut valuable trees, even those in national parks. Sometimes they saw logs into planks right there in the forest​—a wasteful and illegal practice. Local people are paid to carry the timber out on bicycles or even on their backs. Then, to avoid checkpoints, trucks take it away on quiet mountain roads after dark.

Deforestation and loss of wildlife, then, are not the inevitable result of increasing population. They are often the result of mismanagement, greedy commerce, crime, and corrupt government. That being so, what hope is there for conserving the immense diversity of life that is found in tropical rain forests?

What Hope for the Rain Forests?

“Only a fraction of the world’s tropical forests are being well managed,” declares the book The Cutting Edge: Conserving Wildlife in Logged Tropical Forest. It adds: “At present, few (if any) forests are successfully managed in a sustainable manner.” Sustainable management is certainly possible, but the reality worldwide is rapid deforestation.

It has been said that a remarkable exception in this regard is Bolivia, with 25 percent of its tropical rain forest certified as being sustainably managed. However, worldwide the figure may be less than one percent​—a discouragingly tiny fraction. Most tropical forests are ruthlessly exploited. Selfishness and greed are the true driving forces behind such destruction. How reasonable is it to hope that the world’s traders and politicians will stem the tide and turn to protecting mankind’s irreplaceable heritage?

The book Forests of Hope concludes with this ideal for mankind: “To discover and pursue a lifestyle that is appropriate for people the world over, and that does not ravage the earth and its resources.” That goal is appealing​—but is it realistic?

What did our Creator intend for the earth and mankind? He commanded the first human pair: “Fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) So God does allow mankind to make use of creation. But “subjection” is not a license for ruination.

The question, then, is, Can mankind really change its life-style, on a global scale, to one that “does not ravage the earth and its resources”? Those words imply a level of love for neighbor and a respect for God’s creation that are rare in today’s world. To hope that mankind’s leaders will adopt and promote such a life-style is to hope in a fantasy.

Nevertheless, God’s Word foretells a time when the earth will be filled with people who love their fellow humans and their Creator. The Bible says: “They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea.” (Isaiah 11:9; Psalm 37:29; Matthew 5:5) Notice that it is because they have come to know and love Jehovah, the Grand Creator, that God’s people refrain from doing “any harm” or causing “any ruin.” There can be no doubt that such people would avoid ruining the earth.

This is no mere dream. Even now, Jehovah is gathering sincere people and teaching them. By studying God’s Word, millions earth wide have learned of a life-style that is based on self-sacrificing love for others. (John 13:34; 1 John 4:21) This journal, along with its companion, The Watchtower, is published to help people learn more about that life-style and how to adopt it. We invite you to keep learning. No subject could prove more rewarding.

[Pictures on page 10]

Man will tend the beautiful earth rather than ruin it

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Cope When Tragedy Strikes?

“Why did the terrorists have to kill my mom?”​—Kevin.a

“[Before September 11], I used to love tunnels. Now I imagine dying in a tunnel because of its being blown up.”​—Peter.

KEVIN’S mother was killed in the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Peter did not suffer a similar terrible loss, but he was still greatly affected by the events.

One news report says: “Thousands of children living in New York are struggling with mental problems related to [the attacks on] September 11 that in many cases will last into adulthood.” Alarmingly, signs of emotional trauma were “just as prevalent in children who were nowhere near ground zero as in those who had witnessed the attacks first hand.”b

The same might be said regarding other tragedies, such as suicide bombings in Israel and random shootings elsewhere. Regarding such shootings one expert on the effects of trauma said: “Even if [the children] live 2,000 miles away, these events can still increase [their] anxiety.”

The reason? When disastrous events take place, young ones are exposed to a flood of graphic media coverage. Frightening images of terrorist bombings, school shootings, and natural disasters are repeated over and over again, making it difficult for many youths to erase the pictures from their minds. Little wonder that a survey conducted for the New York City Board of Education revealed: “Six months after the World Trade Center collapse, 76 percent of 8,266 public school students still thought frequently about the terrorist attacks.”

We live in what the Bible calls “terrible times.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, New International Version) How can you cope when terrifying tragedies occur?c

Why Bad Things Happen

One way of dealing with emotions that seem to overwhelm you is to arouse your “clear thinking faculties.” (2 Peter 3:1) Try to look at things from a rational, godly point of view. For example, you may need to remind yourself that many tragedies are simply the result of “time and unforeseen occurrence.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Jesus Christ gave an example of this when he spoke of the collapse of a tower in Siloam. Eighteen people were killed in that local disaster. However, Jesus made it clear that the victims were not being punished by God. They died simply because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. (Luke 13:1-5) Meditating on this fact may help you to put disasters in perspective.

Clear thinking can also prevent you from becoming “enraged against Jehovah himself” and blaming him for the sad events. (Proverbs 19:3) Far from causing our misery, Jehovah is “the God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3) When tragedies occur, we need to draw close to him​—not pull away in anger. Meditate on the Bible’s words at James 1:13: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.”d

A tragic event that occurred centuries ago in the Middle East may serve to illustrate this point. The Bible tells us that the sole survivor of that catastrophe reported: “The very fire of God fell from the heavens and went blazing among the sheep and the attendants and eating them up.” (Job 1:16) What a horrible calamity! And this terrified man obviously thought that God was responsible for it. Yet, God was not. Job 1:7-12 reveals that the fire was sent, not by God, but by God’s Adversary​—Satan the Devil!

That was a unique situation: Jehovah had given Satan special permission to test Job’s integrity. So don’t conclude that Satan is directly responsible for natural disasters such as storms and floods.e Even so, the Bible does say that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Hence, he can use human agents to wreak havoc and destruction.

Still, we do not need to feel helpless. Consider another incident, recorded in the Bible at 1 Samuel 22:12-23. There we learn of the vicious massacre of a group of faithful priests and their families. No doubt Satan had some role in spurring wicked King Saul on to commit this brutal act. However, faithful David, who later became king himself, wrote Psalm 52, in which he expressed confidence that God would annihilate the wicked men responsible for the calamity.​—Psalm 52:5.

Similarly today, you can be sure that God will not forever tolerate Devil-inspired acts of murder and violence. Why, the Bible promises that God will soon use his Son, Jesus, to “break up the works of the Devil”! (1 John 3:8) Eventually, there will be no traces left of the damage Satan has done. By means of a resurrection, God can even restore to life individuals who have died in tragic acts of violence or terrorism.​—Acts 24:15.

Practical Ways to Cope

This Bible-based hope can help you to avoid being overwhelmed by fear. But there are also some practical steps you can take. For example, note the Bible principle at Proverbs 12:25. Only by sharing your feelings with others can you receive the “good word” of encouragement. Doing so will also help you to realize that you are not going through your ordeal alone. So if you are feeling distressed, try opening up to your parents or to a mature member of the Christian congregation.f

Another suggestion: Don’t overdose on graphic media coverage of tragic events. Doing so only makes it harder to erase troubling images from your mind.​—Psalm 119:37.

Are you a Christian? Then stick with your routine of Christian activities. (Philippians 3:16) Such activities include attending meetings with fellow Christians and sharing your faith with others. (Hebrews 10:23-25) That will help to keep you from dwelling on negative thoughts. Isolating yourself would only damage you​—emotionally and spiritually.​—Proverbs 18:1.

Continuing to read the Bible daily can be particularly helpful in any stressful situation. The mother of a youth named Loraine was dying of cancer. Note how Loraine coped with this tragic situation: “I remember reading the book of Job several times during the ordeal. The book of Psalms also provided me with much comfort. As I read the comforting words from the Scriptures, I felt as if Jehovah were embracing me.” Her sister Mishael likewise recalls: “If there was a day I skipped reading the Bible, I felt it. My mind would automatically go back to thinking negative thoughts. Reading the Bible gave me the spiritual nourishment I needed to get through each day.”

If you have suffered loss​—especially the death of a loved one—​reading the brochure When Someone You Love Diesg can be very comforting. Take the time to read and meditate on all the cited scriptures. Meditate, too, on the hope of the resurrection. “I would literally envision my mother coming back in the resurrection,” says Loraine. “I would imagine hearing her say: ‘I’m back. Now what did you cook for dinner?’ That would make me smile.”

Leaning on Jehovah in prayer can also give you the strength that you need to endure the worst of tragedies. Loraine recalls: “I was in the room when my mother took her last breath. I immediately asked Jehovah to give me the strength to endure and to get through this. I immediately felt the peace of God.” Be specific in your prayers to Jehovah. Let him know exactly how you feel. “Before him pour out your heart,” urges the psalmist.​—Psalm 62:8.

As time passes, distress on earth will likely increase. (2 Timothy 3:13) Still, the Bible promises: “Evildoers themselves will be cut off . . . But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” (Psalm 37:9-11, 29) Clinging to this hope will help you to cope successfully when tragedies occur.

[Footnotes]

[Picture on page 14]

It may be wise to limit your exposure to distressing media images

A Gorgeous Bird With Plumage Full of Eyes

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN INDIA

YOU may have guessed from the title that we are speaking about the peacock. To be sure, the male peafowl has a train that is world famous.a Have you ever wondered, though, what purpose is served by such extravagant plumage and if there is more to this creature than its beauty?

A member of the pheasant family, the peafowl comes in three varieties. We will deal here with the Indian, or common, peacock, which is primarily blue-green and measures 80 to 92 inches [200-235 cm] in length, including a 60-inch- [150 cm]long train. The feathers of the train are green and gold with markings that resemble eyes of blue and bronze. The feathers on the body are mostly a metallic blue-green.

Officially designated the national bird of India, the peacock certainly has a regal appearance. Perhaps that is why the expression “proud as a peacock” is used to describe haughty humans. However, this bird is not as aloof as its appearance suggests. In fact, it is easily tamed. Some consider the peacock sacred. For this reason, village farmers in India sometimes just endure it when the birds menace their grainfields.

Their Magnificent Performance

Of course, peacocks are most famous for the magnificent show they put on by spreading their train into a dazzling fan. What is the purpose of this showy display? Evidently it all has to do with impressing females.

The peahen is somewhat fussy, but she has a weakness for show-offs. The peacock’s wide fanned train, covered with brilliantly colored eyes, gets the peahen’s full attention. She tends to choose as a mate the peacock with the most impressive display.

The display of the train, though, is just part of the show. The male first fans out his long train, bending it forward. Then he commences his strutting dance. His chestnut wings hang down at his sides as he shakes his body, causing the upright feathers to make a rustling noise. He also lets out a loud cry. It is hardly musical, but at least it lets the peahen know that he is interested in her.

Occasionally, the peahen will attempt a pale imitation of the male’s antics, but most of the time, she appears uninterested. Nonetheless, the most outstanding show-off will win her over. A peacock may accumulate a harem of up to five hens and father as many as 25 chicks in one year.

Family Life of the Peacock

After the breeding season, it is time to shed the feathers. On average, an adult peacock’s full train consists of over 200 feathers. Indian villagers used to collect them for export to Western lands, until such export was prohibited to protect the species. Locally, of course, the feathers are still made into fans and other attractive items.

In the evening peacocks slowly climb up tall trees to find an appropriate location for roosting. In the morning they reverse the process by slowly climbing down. These creatures may please your eyes with their beauty, but do not expect their singing to reach a similar standard. Their plaintive calls shatter the evening quiet until the birds begin to search for food.

Peacocks are omnivorous​—they eat just about anything. That includes insects, lizards, and sometimes even small snakes, as well as seeds, grains, lentils, and tender roots of crops.

For all its apparent vanity, the peacock can be very protective. Quick to detect dangers, such as a prowling cat, the peacock responds by running through the forest with loud cries to warn of impending danger. Other males join the action. They run surprisingly fast, one behind the other. Peahens, however, refuse to abandon their chicks, even in the face of the gravest danger.

The long train of feathers does not seem to slow a peacock down, although the appendage appears to be a bit inconvenient when the bird takes to flight. Once the peacock takes off, though, it flies at great speed, flapping its wings very rapidly.

When they are eight months old, chicks are ready to leave their parents and begin caring for themselves. Their departure helps the mother to prepare for her next stint at raising offspring. The young males begin to grow their characteristic train at about eight months of age, but it is not until they are four years old that they attain the full male plumage. Then they are ready to begin their own family.

The Peacock in History

Live peacocks graced the gardens of ancient Greece, Rome, and India. In art and ornament, peacocks were featured in the royal courts of India for thousands of years. Indeed, the Peacock Throne was considered one of the most important examples of the riches of India. Encrusted with numerous diamonds, it reportedly had 108 rubies and 116 emeralds embedded in it. There was a golden peacock on the canopy, and from this came its name. The throne was assembled and occupied only on important ceremonial occasions.

Bible history shows that peacocks were among the valuable imports of King Solomon. It is interesting to imagine peacocks strutting about in his royal gardens. (1 Kings 10:22, 23) These birds surely tell us that there is an intelligent Designer. When the peacock dances with its outspread train of dazzlingly colored feathers, one cannot help but marvel at the artistic abilities of Jehovah, the God who “created all things.”​—Revelation 4:11.

[Footnote]

[Picture on page 16]

The peahen is not always impressed by the male’s dance

[Credit Line]

© D. Cavagnaro/Visuals Unlimited

[Pictures on page 17]

Peahens make good mothers

[Credit Line]

© 2001 Steven Holt/stockpix.com

[Picture Credit Line on page 15]

Peacock: Lela Jane Tinstman/Index Stock Photography

[Picture Credit Line on page 16]

John Warden/Index Stock Photography

How My Spiritual Thirst Was Satisfied

AS TOLD BY LUCIA MOUSSANETT

NESTLED in the mountains of the northwest corner of Italy, near the Swiss Alps and close to France’s famous Mont Blanc, is the region of Valle d’Aosta. I was born there in 1941 in the small community of Challant St. Anselme.

I was the oldest of five children; my four siblings were boys. Mother was a hard worker and a devout Catholic. Father also came from a religious family. Two of his sisters were nuns. My parents made many material sacrifices for me, including making it possible for me to have an education. There were no schools in our small community, so when I was 11, my parents sent me to a boarding school run by nuns.

There I studied Latin and French, along with other subjects. Then, when I turned 15, I began to think seriously about how to serve God. I reasoned that entering a convent would be the best way to do it. My parents, however, did not like this idea, since Mother would be left with the care of my brothers. My parents had hoped that my education would lead to a good job and economic help for the family.

Though my parents’ reaction saddened me, I wanted a real purpose in life and felt that God should have first place. So, in 1961, I entered a Roman Catholic convent.

My Life as a Nun

For the first months, I studied the standards and rules of the church and did physical work around the convent. In August 1961, I began my novitiate, or apprenticeship, and started to wear the standard dress of nuns. I also proposed a new name for myself, Ines, my mother’s name. When it was accepted, I became known as Sister Ines.

Although most novitiates worked around the convent, I had enough schooling to work as an elementary-school teacher. Two years later, in August 1963, I took my vows, becoming a nun in the order of the Sisters of San Giuseppe in Aosta, Italy. Later, the convent supported my further education by sending me to the University of Maria Santissima Assunta in Rome.

When returning to Aosta in 1967 after finishing my studies in Rome, I began teaching in a high school. In 1976, I was offered the position of director of the school. Although I still taught some classes, I was assigned to the school administration and became a member of the Valle d’Aosta regional school board.

My real desire was to help the poor. My heart went out to them. So I organized a variety of social programs, including one for assisting the terminally ill who did not have families. I also set up a program to tutor children of immigrants. In addition, I found work and housing for the poor and became involved in providing medical assistance for those in need. I tried to live my life in harmony with the religious principles of the church.

At the time, I accepted Catholic theology, including such church teachings as the Trinity, immortality of the soul, and the Catholic views regarding man’s eternal future. By then, Catholic theology also allowed for such views as the plurality of faith, which meant accepting and coexisting with other religions.

Matters That Began to Bother Me

Yet, some activities within the Catholic Church bothered me. For example, before baptism and confirmation, parents and children were supposed to study what these steps mean. However, most never came to classes, and others didn’t make an effort to study. Moreover, some who were not accepted for baptism and confirmation at one parish would simply go to another parish to get baptized or confirmed there. To me, that was superficial and hypocritical.

Sometimes I would ask myself and fellow nuns, “Shouldn’t we preach the Gospel instead of dedicating ourselves to all kinds of other activities?” “We preach by doing good deeds,” was the answer I was given.

In addition, I had a hard time believing that I had to go to a priest to confess my sins. I reasoned that I should be able to talk to God about such personal matters. Further, the idea of memorizing and repeating prayers was difficult for me to accept. I also had a hard time believing that the pope was infallible. In time, I reasoned that I would maintain my own beliefs on such matters and simply carry on in my religious life.

Desire for Bible Knowledge

I always had a deep respect for and desire to know the Bible. Whenever I had to make a decision or felt the need of God’s support, I read the Bible. Though we never studied it in the convent, I read it on my own. The account at Isaiah 43:10-12, where Jehovah God said, “You are my witnesses,” always impressed me. At the time, however, I did not understand the full meaning of those words.

When attending the university in Rome in the mid-1960’s, I had taken a four-year theology course sponsored by the Vatican. But the Bible was not included as one of the textbooks. After returning to Aosta, I attended many ecumenical conferences, even those sponsored by interdenominational and non-Catholic organizations. That made me hungrier to know the teachings of the Bible. There was so much confusion among groups that claimed to be teaching about the same book!

Learning More About the Bible

In 1982, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses came by the center where I did social work and tried to draw me into a conversation about the Bible. Although I was very busy, the thought of learning about the Bible interested me. So I said, “Please come by my school, and when I have a free hour, we can talk.”

Although the woman did visit me, there was no “free hour” in my schedule. Then my mother learned that she had cancer, so eventually I took a leave of absence to help her. After her death in April 1983, I returned to my work, but by then the Witnesses had lost contact with me. Shortly thereafter, however, another Witness, in her mid-20’s, came by to speak about the Bible. I had been reading the Bible book of Revelation on my own. So I asked her, “Who are the 144,000 mentioned here in Revelation chapter 14?”

I had been taught that all good people would go to heaven, and so I could not see the logic of 144,000 of these apparently being separated from the others in heaven. I wondered, ‘Who are these 144,000? What do they do?’ These questions kept running through my mind. The Witness continued to try to find me, but I was on the move so often that she never succeeded.

Eventually, the Witness gave my address to Marco, an elder in her congregation. Finally, in February 1985, he found me. We spoke for only a few minutes, since I was busy, but we made an appointment. Later he and his wife, Lina, visited me regularly, helping me to understand the Bible. In a short time, I could see that such basic Catholic teachings as the Trinity, immortality of the soul, and hellfire simply were not based on the Bible.

Association With the Witnesses

When I went to a meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses at their Kingdom Hall, it was obvious that things there were quite different from the Catholic Church. Everyone, not just a choir, sang. Then they participated in the meeting itself. I also began to see that the whole organization was made up of “brothers” and “sisters.” They all truly cared about one another. These things impressed me.

During that time, I attended meetings in my nun’s habit. Some were visibly touched to see a nun at the Kingdom Hall. I felt the joy and satisfaction that comes from being surrounded by the love of a large family. Also, as I studied, I began to see that many of the principles on which I had founded my life were not in harmony with God’s Word. For example, the Bible says nothing about servants of God wearing special garb. Church hierarchy and pomp were quite different from what the Bible teaches about humble elders taking the lead in the congregation.

I felt as though I were standing in quicksand, with no solid ground under my feet. It seemed impossible that I had lived in error for 24 years. Yet, I clearly recognized the ring of Bible truth. I was scared to think that at 44 years of age, I had to start my life all over again. But how could I continue to walk with my eyes closed now that I had seen what the Bible really teaches?

A Momentous Decision

I knew that leaving the convent would mean that I would have nothing economically. However, I remembered David’s words about the righteous ‘never being left nor their offspring having to beg for bread.’ (Psalm 37:25) I knew I would lose a measure of physical security, but I put my trust in God and reasoned, ‘What do I really need to fear?’

My family thought I was crazy. Although that bothered me, I remembered Jesus’ words: ‘Those who love father or mother more than me are not worthy of me.’ (Matthew 10:37) At the same time, simple gestures by Witnesses encouraged and strengthened me. As I walked down the street in my nun’s garb, they went out of their way to greet me. This made me feel even closer to the brotherhood and part of their family.

I finally went to the Mother Superior and explained why I had decided to leave the convent. Although I offered to show her in the Bible why I had made this decision, she refused to listen, saying: “If I want to understand anything in the Bible, I can call a Bible expert!”

The Catholic Church was shocked by my decision. They accused me of being immoral and of losing my mind. Yet, those who knew me knew that the accusations were false. People with whom I had worked reacted in different ways. Some saw what I was doing as an act of courage. Others were pained, thinking that I was heading out on a wrong course. Some even pitied me.

On July 4, 1985, I left the Catholic Church. Knowing how others had been treated for taking such a course, the Witnesses feared for my security and hid me for about a month. They picked me up for meetings and then drove me to where I was living. I stayed out of sight until things simmered down. Then, on August 1, 1985, I began to share in the ministry with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

When I attended a District Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses later that August, the news media got hold of the fact that I had left the church and published the story. When I was eventually baptized on December 14, 1985, the local television station and newspaper thought that it was so outrageous that they ran the story again, making sure that everyone would hear about what I had done.

When I left the convent, I had absolutely nothing materially. I had no work, no home, and no pension. So for about a year, I worked taking care of a paralyzed person. In July 1986, I became a pioneer, as full-time ministers of Jehovah’s Witnesses are called. I moved to an area where there was a small, newly formed congregation. There I gave private language lessons and did other tutoring, thus taking advantage of my schooling. This gave me a flexible schedule.

Serving in a Foreign Field

Now that I had learned Bible truth, I wanted to share it with as many people as possible. Since I spoke French, I thought about serving in some African land where French is spoken. But then in 1992, Jehovah’s Witnesses received legal recognition in the nearby country of Albania. At the end of that year, a small group of pioneers from Italy was assigned there. Among them were Mario and Cristina Fazio from my congregation. They invited me to visit them and to consider serving in Albania. So after careful thought and prayer, at 52 years of age, I again left relative security to plunge into a completely different world.

That was in March 1993. Upon my arrival I immediately saw that even though I was not geographically far from my home country, I was in another world. People walked wherever they went, and they spoke Albanian, a language totally incomprehensible to me. The country was making massive changes, going from one political system to another. Yet, people were thirsting for Bible truth, and they loved to read and study. Bible students made rapid spiritual progress, and this warmed my heart, helping me to get adjusted to this new environment.

When I arrived in Tiranë, the capital city, in 1993, there was only one congregation in Albania and there were only a little more than 100 Witnesses scattered throughout the country. That month, at the first special assembly day held in Tiranë, 585 were present and 42 were baptized. Even though I did not understand anything, it was touching to hear the Witnesses sing and to see that they were so attentive. In April came the observance of the Memorial of the death of Jesus Christ, and 1,318 were present! From then on, the growth of Christian activity blossomed in Albania.

I used to look out at Tiranë from my fourth-floor balcony and wonder, ‘When will we ever be able to reach all these people?’ Jehovah God took care of that. There are now 23 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Tiranë. In the whole country, there are 68 congregations and some 22 groups, with 2,846 Witnesses. All that growth in such a few years! And we had 12,795 present at the Memorial in 2002!

During these ten years in Albania, it has been my great privilege to help at least 40 individuals to the point of baptism. A number of them now also serve as pioneers and in other features of full-time service. Through the years, six groups of Italian pioneers were assigned to help with the work in Albania. For each group a three-month language course was set up, and I received an invitation to teach the last four classes.

When friends first learned about my decision to leave the church, their reactions were highly dramatic. After all these years, however, their attitude has softened, as they see that I am calm and at peace. Happily, my family, including a 93-year-old aunt who is still a nun, are also much more supportive.

Ever since I came to know Jehovah, he has taken care of me through so many different circumstances! He directed my feet to his organization. As I look back, I remember my longing to help the poor, underprivileged, and needy and my wish to be fully absorbed in service to God. That is why I thank Jehovah, for he has seen that my spiritual thirst has been satisfied.

[Picture on page 21]

An Albanian family with whom I have studied the Bible. Eleven have been baptized

[Picture on page 21]

Most of these women with whom I studied the Bible in Albania are now in the full-time ministry

Madrid​—A Capital Built for a King

BY AWAKE! WRITER IN SPAIN

SOME capital cities of the world sprang up near natural harbors and have long served as bustling ports. Others are situated at well-used river crossings and grew to prominence almost inevitably. Many European capitals have been important cities since Roman times. But Madrid, the capital of Spain, is an exception. The town had fewer than 10,000 inhabitants in 1561 when it suddenly rose to prominence.

The reason was simple. Philip II, king of Spain and of a vast overseas empire, had grown weary of moving his court from one city of Castile to another. A keen hunter, he wanted to have his permanent court located at a convenient distance from his favorite hunting grounds. Madrid met that requirement admirably, and the town also had good water, room for expansion, and fertile farmland in the vicinity.

Once the decision was made, Philip initiated a building program to make Madrid a suitable capital. Later Spanish kings also embellished the city, creating a unique connection between Madrid and the monarchy. By the 17th century, Madrid had become the largest city in Spain. Today it is a thriving modern metropolis of over three million people.

Because of Madrid’s close connection with Spain’s royalty, many of its historic buildings are related to the two main dynasties. The oldest part of the city is called Madrid of the Austrias, dating from the Austrian, or Habsburg, dynasty of the 16th and 17th centuries. Subsequent additions became known as the Madrid of the Bourbons, the present dynasty that dates from 1700.

Over the centuries, Spanish kings promoted or financed the construction of many of the capital’s stately buildings. Their priceless collection of paintings now forms the nucleus of Madrid’s national art gallery. And extensive royal property in the Madrid area eventually became the city’s principal parks and leisure areas.

A Green City

Because of the royal interest in hunting and gardens, an ample greenbelt was already conserved when Madrid began its modern expansion. Despite rapid urban growth in recent decades, a huge wedge of parkland extends southward from the sierra practically to the gates of the city center.

One of Madrid’s parklands, a former royal hunting ground called the Casa de Campo, is located near the royal palace, and it now houses a modern zoo. To the north of Madrid lies a vast area of indigenous oak forest known as the hill of El Pardo, which reaches to within six miles [10 km] of the city center.

Philip II established the limits of this game park not long after making Madrid his capital. A royal hunting lodge, first erected by his father, still graces the park. Now this forested area has become a regional park that offers protection to two of Europe’s most endangered species, the Spanish imperial eagle and the European black vulture.

Retiro Park was formerly a spacious royal garden in the center of Madrid, where the royal family staged bullfights and even naval battles. The public were allowed access to the park in the 18th century, provided they were suitably attired. Now, of course, the dress code has been relaxed, and Madrileños (citizens of Madrid) throng this popular retreat every weekend. A crystal palace, built of wrought iron and glass, and a semicircular colonnade overlooking a boating lake are just two of its attractive features.

Charles III, an 18th-century king who took a keen interest in art and science, established the Royal Botanic Gardens alongside Retiro Park. For the last two and a half centuries, the gardens have specialized in the flora of Central and South America.

The Avenue of Art

Thanks to the generosity of the Spanish royalty, Madrid also houses one of the most important art galleries in the world. The Prado Museum was erected on the orders of Charles III, known to history as a notable mayor of Madrid. The art collection is essentially that of the Spanish monarchs, who began collecting artwork over four centuries ago.

In the 17th century, the court painter Velázquez not only painted masterpieces himself but also scoured Europe to buy up fine paintings for his royal patron, Philip IV. In the following century, Francisco de Goya became the official court painter. Not surprisingly, the Prado owns many masterpieces painted by these two renowned artists.

Two other highly regarded art collections​—the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía National Museum—​stand on the same tree-lined avenue as the Prado. This elegant street, dubbed the Avenue of Art, is also studded with many of Madrid’s famous statues.

Like many cities, Madrid has seen its ups and downs. The capital was under siege for most of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), and some of the bullet marks of that conflict can still be seen on the monumental arch known as the Puerta de Alcalá. Nevertheless, from the outset, the city’s founders wanted Madrid to be a cultured town where people could get along together.

Madrid’s charter, dating back to 1202, stipulated among other things that citizens could not engage in duels, bear arms, or utter profanities or insults. They were also expected to keep the town clean, to avoid defrauding fellow citizens, and to keep wedding expenses reasonable. In line with such wishes, Madrid today is a clean city​—although wedding feasts have become somewhat costly! Visitors who want an inexpensive meal may want to try some typical tapas, small morsels of tasty food that are served with a cold drink in many establishments.

In recent years Madrid has expanded considerably. It now has an efficient transportation system and all the necessary infrastructure to take care of the millions of tourists who visit each year. Thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Spain and other countries will visit the city in July and August. The Witnesses plan to hold an international convention in one of Madrid’s large soccer stadiums. Many of those who attend will thus have an opportunity to see for themselves the capital that was built for a king.

[Box/Pictures on page 24, 25]

PALACES FIT FOR A KING

The Royal Palace. Probably the most impressive building of Madrid, this palace stands on the site of an ancient Moorish citadel around which Madrid was first built. It serves important State functions, although since 1931 it has not been used as a royal residence. Formal gardens stretch from the palace down to the river below.

Aranjuez Palace. Aranjuez lies about 30 miles [50 km] south of the capital, alongside the river Tagus. Its fertile surroundings and milder climate made it a favorite site of Philip II, who initiated the palace construction. The palace and its attractive gardens were completed in the 18th century by Charles III.

El Escorial. Philip II began construction on this huge monastery, library, mausoleum, and palace complex soon after he made Madrid his capital. Over 20 years in construction, it became the hub of Philip’s empire, an austere retreat where he could work undisturbed. It conserves one of Spain’s most important collections of manuscripts, including some medieval Spanish versions of the Bible.

El Pardo Palace. This royal hunting lodge is located within the regional park that adjoins Madrid. The father of Philip II built the original structure, and the interior patio dates from that period.

In La Granja de San Ildefonso, 50 miles [80 km] to the north, lies a more sumptuous palace. It was built by Philip V in imitation of the Palace of Versailles, where he spent his infancy. Its elaborate gardens and fountains contrast with the vast pine forests that cover the surrounding mountains.

[Credit Line]

Foto: Cortesía del Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid, España

[Box/Pictures on page 26]

SOME OF MADRID’S FAMOUS MONUMENTS

Plaza Mayor (1). For over three centuries, this square has served as a marketplace and as the principal site for such public events as bullfights, coronations, and executions of so-called heretics. A painting in the Prado Museum (2) depicts a vivid panorama of the Plaza Mayor during a large auto-da-fé, or public trial of heretics, held in Madrid in 1680.

The town hall stands in the Plaza de la Villa, the charming ancient square where the first official town meetings were held. The square is ringed by ancient buildings and still preserves the flavor of 16th-century Madrid. Not far away, the visitor can see the Puerta del Sol, the busiest square of the city and the starting point for all roads radiating from Madrid to the provinces. Such landmarks belong to the oldest part of the city.

As Madrid expanded, kings of the Bourbon dynasty​—notably Charles III—​built or promoted other monuments, often following the architectural styles of the Bourbons’ native France. Some examples are the Royal Palace, the National Library (3), the Municipal Museum (4), the Fountain of Cybele (5), the Fountain of Neptune, and the Puerta de Alcalá (6).

[Credit Lines]

Picture 2: MUSEO NACIONAL DEL PRADO; pictures 5 and 6: Godo-Foto

Watching the World

Wolves Go Fishing

For years it was thought that a wolf’s diet consisted exclusively of land animals such as deer. According to Canada’s Vancouver Sun, however, wolves dwelling in the rain forests along the central coast of British Columbia have been observed eating mussels, clams, barnacles, and even salmon​—“as many as 20 in one hour.” They stealthily watch a fish, and then “in one swift and lethal move, they plant all four feet firmly in the water and strike,” making a catch about 4 times out of 10. Puzzling to researchers, however, is the wolves’ habit of eating just the head of the salmon. Researcher Chris Darimont suggests that the head may contain preferred nutrients or that the body of the salmon may harbor harmful parasites. “These wolves are continually surprising us. It makes me wonder how many more mysteries there are in the rainforest,” says Darimont.

Trained to Be Young Tyrants

“Children rule in our homes!” says the Polish weekly Wprost. “It is mostly for them that we buy expensive clothes, cosmetics, and modern gadgets. In lower- and medium-income families, up to 80 percent of the household budget is spent on teenagers.” Commenting on research conducted by Małgorzata Rymkiewicz of the Warsaw University for Parents, the report points to some of the symptoms of despotic behavior in children. For example, instead of being thankful to their parents, “they demand more and more, are unhappy with what they get, are aggressive, [and] have no consideration for others.” Says Rymkiewicz: “We make terrible mistakes in child-rearing, allowing even small children to do everything they want.” The Polish Association of Psychologists agrees, saying: “The boundaries a teenager recognizes depend on the boundaries that were imposed on him when he was between one and four years of age. . . . By yielding to all teenagers’ acts of protest and aggression, we simply raise tyrants.”

Marriage Breakers Incorporated

Some unhappily married people in Japan are paying agencies to break up their marriages, says a report in Tokyo’s IHT Asahi Shimbun newspaper. If a husband wants to be rid of his wife but has no grounds for divorce, he can pay a ‘couple-buster’ agency to send out a good-looking man who will “accidentally” meet the client’s wife and start an affair with her. Before long, the wife agrees to a divorce. His job done, the hired lover disappears from the scene. When a wife wants to be rid of her husband, the firm sends out an attractive young woman to lure him into bed. According to one 24-year-old female, the men she approaches “almost never say no. I’d say I succeed 85 to 90 percent [of the time].” The president of one agency fires employees who fail 3 times out of 5, says the paper. “They have to succeed,” he said. “It’s a business.”

Street Children​—Why?

“Domestic violence is the chief reason children and adolescents abandon home and live on the streets,” says Brazil’s newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo. A recent survey of 1,000 street children sheltered at Rio de Janeiro’s Foundation for Children and Adolescents revealed that 39 percent had suffered abuse or had witnessed conflicts at home. “These children are in search of dignity and are under the illusion that they will find it on the streets,” said sociologist Leni Schmitz. The study revealed that 34 percent of the children had taken to the streets to do odd jobs or beg, 10 percent had done so because of involvement with drugs, and 14 percent simply said that they wanted to. According to researchers, the last reason often conceals other reasons, such as sexual abuse at home. About 71 percent lived with other street children, creating “their own family hierarchy, identifying other street children as brothers, uncles, fathers, or mothers,” said Schmitz.

Missionaries Forgo Christ for Philanthropy

“Too many missionaries neglect Jesus.” Thus ran a quote recently in the Italian newspaper La Stampa. Rather than preach Christ, such missionaries reportedly give priority to social programs designed to alleviate poverty and suffering. According to a Vatican City Web site, cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said of Catholic missionaries: “The great temptation in recent decades . . . has been to neglect the explicit proclamation of Christ and the spiritual dimension of mission ad gentes [toward the peoples]. This has led some missionaries to reduce their work to a sort of philanthropy void of spirit, a sort of social activity that, although useful, lacks the apostolic dimension that the Acts of the Apostles makes resound.”

More Tobacco Hazards

“Women who smoke as few as three cigarettes a day can double their risk of heart disease and premature death,” reports The Daily Telegraph of London. A 20-year study of 12,000 Danish men and women revealed for the first time that smoking only a small number of cigarettes a day is hazardous. Even smokers who do not inhale had an increased health risk. Amanda Sandford, spokeswoman for Action on Smoking and Health, said that in view of the facts revealed by this study, “smokers should aim to stop smoking completely.” In another study, reported in The Times of London, doctors at the University of Athens School of Medicine in Greece found that regular exposure to someone else’s tobacco smoke for only 30 minutes a day (estimated to be the equivalent of smoking one cigarette) can increase the risk of heart disease by 47 percent in nonsmoking men, and 56 percent in women.

Exclusive Beaches for Endangered Seals

Since 1996 the Mediterranean monk seal has been among the world’s ten most threatened animals, reports the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Between 400 and 600 of these seals still survive in the wild. Their numbers declined when they became the target of hunters and were incidentally killed by fishermen. Later, they suffered habitat destruction as a result of tourism and development, explains the Spanish newspaper El País. Hence, the seals sought shelter in caves. But pounding waves during storms turn the caves into death traps for seal pups. Now the governments of Spain and Mauritania are collaborating to create a protected area of beach near the caves and cliffs at Cabo Blanco on the Atlantic Coast of Western Sahara. This area is home to 150 monk seals, the largest group. Human interference will evidently be kept to a minimum.

Plastic Currency

In October 2002, Mexico joined the countries that use currency made of plastic. Little by little, paper bills are being replaced by their plastic equivalents. According to the newspaper El Universal, plastic currency is already being used in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and Romania. We owe the use of paper money to the Chinese, but it was the Australians who developed the polymer from which these new bills are manufactured, reports the newspaper. Plastic bills have several advantages. Besides being cleaner, they “last four times longer than paper ones, are more resistant to common usage, . . . are more difficult to falsify, and can be recycled at the end of their useful life.”

From Our Readers

Awake! Praised You are doing a very good work in publishing Awake! You give people hope. My first two copies of Awake! were given to me by a neighbor when my husband died. I was feeling bad, not wanting to see anyone. But after reading your magazines, I calmed down and realized that this was not the end of my life. Later on, my daughter brought me two more issues, which a nurse had given her while she was in the hospital. Then I was given a few copies on the street by some local Witnesses. I have only a few copies of Awake! but I read and reread them when I am feeling down. They teach people what is good and help them to understand the reasons for our behavior.

I.Y.A., Russia

Weaknesses Thank you for writing the article “The Bible’s Viewpoint: Will God Overlook Our Weaknesses?” (November 8, 2002) Without a doubt, it is the best help I have received. It was a great help to understand how God sees our weaknesses.

E. C., United States

I have been praying to Jehovah about a personal problem and hoping for an answer. And then you published this article. When I finished reading it, I offered a prayer of thanks.

M. S., Japan

Keyboards I had to write a note of gratitude for the article about piano keyboards called “Can You Tell the Difference?” (November 8, 2002) I’ve always loved music​—especially piano. And I would like to learn some of the songs we sing at the Kingdom Hall. So I’m going to give it a try and start practicing on the synthesizer I’ve had in the corner for several years.

V. T., United States

Being a clarinetist and a music lover, I wanted to explore the keyboard world of music. Six years ago, I started studying the piano, which would not have been financially possible without the use of a digital piano. It simulates the sounds of both a piano and a harpsichord.

S. T., Scotland

I’ve been studying music at school. I had learned a little about keyboard instruments, but I couldn’t understand how they were made or what their characteristics were. This article, with its easy-to-understand explanations and interesting pictures, helped me to deepen my understanding of the subject. Thank you very much.

A. M., Japan

Crazy Horse Thank you for the article “Crazy Horse​—Transforming a Mountain Into a Monument.” (November 8, 2002) It came just in time for me to prepare a report for school about the Sioux and Cheyenne and how they lived. My teacher praised my work! Thank you.

F. V., United States

Reunion I just finished reading the article “A Unique Reunion After 30 Years.” (October 22, 2002) I am all choked up with appreciation, gladness, and sadness. I’m happy for Mark Ruge and Dennis Sheets, who found their way to Jehovah. I’m sad, however, that some of my five children have not, although they were raised as Christians. How much pain they could avoid if they could just find their way to God! My constant prayer is that they eventually will. Thank you for the article. It filled a real need.

M. O., United States

“Jehovah Is My Solace”

THE words above are a translation of the official royal motto of King Charles IX of Sweden. In Latin it reads: “Iehovah solatium meum.” This king was one in a line of several generations of rulers in Sweden, from 1560 to 1697, who highlighted God’s name in Hebrew or Latin characters on coins, on medals, or in personal mottoes. Charles IX also instituted the Royal Order of Jehovah. On the day of his coronation in 1607, Charles wore a necklace called the Jehovah chain.

What led these monarchs to such practices? Scholars believe that the Calvinist movement in Europe at that time, coupled with respect for the Bible, influenced them. As well-educated Renaissance sovereigns, they were evidently familiar with the Latin version of God’s personal name, Jehovah. Some no doubt realized that the name appeared thousands of times in the original Hebrew Bible text.

It is well documented that in various parts of Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Jehovah often appeared on coins and medals as well as in public buildings and churches. God’s own statement, quoted at Exodus 3:15, was evidently commonly accepted and respected: “Jehovah . . . is my name to time indefinite.”

[Pictures on page 31]

CHAIN AND BADGE OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF JEHOVAH, 1606, made of gold, enamel, rock crystal, and garnets

KING ERIK XIV 1560-68

KING CHARLES IX 1599-1611 (brother of Erik XIV)

KING GUSTAVUS II ADOLPH 1611-32 (son of Charles IX)

QUEEN CHRISTINA 1644-54 (daughter of Gustavus II Adolph)

[Credit Lines]

Chain: Livrustkammaren, Stockholm Sverige; coins: Kungl. Myntkabinettet, Sveriges Ekonomiska Museum

Will Humans Ruin Our Beautiful Earth?

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