Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fatherless
Families
BREAKING
THE CYCLE
Fatherless Fam ilies
B reaking the Cycle 3-11
Increasing numbers of children are being
raised without fathers. What is behind this
Average Printing 20,381,000 disturbing trend? How can families be
Published in 82 Languages helped to remain intact?
Fatherless Families
Stairway to A Sign of the Times 3
the Sky 16 Fathers Why They Are Disappearing 4
The rice terraces of Fatherless Families
the Cordillera Central Breaking the Cycle 8
sjjF % % ; w _
have been called the
Crossword Puzzle 12
eighth wonder of the
world. Find out why. Try a Pair of the Quick Ones! 13
W significant social problem of the of a father. Today, says w riter David Blank-
day? Alm ost 80 percent of those enhorn, the principal cause of fatherless
polled in a U.S. G allup survey believeness
thatisit paternal choice. Indeed, as we will
is the physical absence o f the father from see, the rising num ber o f fatherless children
the hom e. According to G allup, over 27 mil gives evidence that m any people today are
lion children in the U nited States live apart w ithout n atu ral affection. A ccording to
from their biological fathers, and that num the Bible, this is just one m ore proof that we
ber is rapidly increasing. A report by the are living in the last days.2 Timothy 3:
United Nations C hildrens Fund states that 1-3.
about 50 p e rcen t o f w hite children born For young children, however, the disap
in the U nited States since 1980 will spend pearance of a father from their lives is a per
some part of their childhood in a singlepar sonal tragedy. It initiates a cycle of pain and
ent family. For black children the propor devastation that can have long-lasting conse
tion is about 80%. USA Today thus designat quences. Therefore, in this series we will dis
ed the U nited States the world leader in cuss this cycle, not to dishearten readers, but
families w ithout fathers. to provide inform ation that can help fami
N evertheless, an article in The Atlantic lies to halt this destructive trend.
Monthly observes: T he rise in family dis
ruption is no t u n iq u e to A m erican soci
ety. It is evident in virtually all advanced na
tions, including Japan. And while statistics
are hard to come by, m any developing lands
seem to be facing a sim ilar crisis. Accord
ing to the magazine World Watch, men
[in poor countries] often aban
don th e ir w ives and c h il
dren because of increasing
econom ic p re ssu re s. In
deed, a survey in a Carib
bean country revealed that
only 22 percent o f fathers with
eight-year-old children actually lived
with their children.
Fatherless children were com m on even in
Bible tim es. (D eu tero n o m y 27:19; Psalm
94:6) Back then, however, the main reason
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a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.
Unless otherwise indicated, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures With References is used.
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* Audiocassettes also available. St. Catherine Avondale
10
Surrogate Fathers Nowadays, many children have fathers in
W hat if the father is entirely out of the the house and yet can still be called father
picture? Experts say that children can ben less. C laim s one ex pert in fam ily issues:
efit from having m ale association. W hile The biggest problem facing . . . children to
the kindly interest th at an uncle or a neigh day is a lack of time with and attention from
bor takes in a child can do some good, he their parents. G ods Word addresses this is
will p articu la rly benefit from the w hole sue head-on. It comm ands fathers regarding
some male association th at exists within the their children: Give them the instruction,
Christian congregation. Jesus promised that and the correction, which belong to a Chris
the congregation would be like a supportive tian upbringing. (Ephesians 6:4, New English
family.M ark 10:29, 30. Bible; Proverbs 24:27) W hen fathers follow
In Bible times young Timothy grew up to the Bibles advice, children have no fear of be
be an outstanding m an of God, w ithout the ing abandoned.
support of a believing father. The Bible gives Is it realistic to believe, though, that peo
m uch o f the cre d it for this to his loving ple will turn to the Bible on a large scale?
m other and grandm other. (Acts 16:1; 2 Tim Hardly. (M atthew 7:14) But Jehovahs Wit
othy 1:1-5) However, he also benefited from nesses have helped millions to find happi
association with a C hristian m anthe apos ness in their family life through a program
tle Paul. Paul called Timothy his beloved of home Bible study* O f course, the Bible
and faithful child in the Lord. (1 C orin warns that all m arried couples will suffer
thians 4:17) Similarly today, Jehovahs Wit tribulation in their flesh because of im per
nesses are encouraged to heed the Bibles fection. (1 C orinthians 7:28) But those who
counsel to look after orphans and widows. truly respect G ods Word seek to work out
(James 1:27) They are urged to rescue fa their problems, not to divorce at the first sign
therless boys by taking a sincere, balanced of trouble. Admittedly, there are times when
interest in such ones. (Job 29:12) A young a Christian may appropriately consider sepa
woman named A nnette recalls the healthy ration or even divorce. (M atthew 5:32) How
interest a C hristian elder took in her when ever, knowing the possible im pact this could
she was young, saying: He was the only real have on his or her children will move a Chris
father figure I ever had. tian to seek ways to salvage the marriage if at
all possible.
Breaking the Cycle
Follow ing th e Bible will do m ore th an
These principles can help fatherless chil
save your family now. It can make it possi
dren to succeed. In spite of their disadvan
ble for all of you to live forever! Jesus said:
taged childhoods, they can become balanced,
This means everlasting life, their taking in
productive adults as well as loving, faithful,
knowledge of you, the only true God, and of
and com m itted parents. Even so, prevention
the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.
is far better than any cure. And ultimately,
(John 17:3) Reading and applying the coun
the cycle of fatherless families can be broken
sel found in G ods Word is one of the best
only when men and women make a com m it
ways to make sure that your family will re
m ent to apply the Bible in their livesfor
main intact forever.
example, by adhering to the Bibles prohibi
tion on sex before marriage and by following * The book The Secret of Family Happiness (published by
the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.)
the standards the Bible sets for husbands and has much Bible-based advice that can help families. It can be
wives. 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 5:21-33. obtained by contacting Jehovahs Witnesses locally.
Clues Across assigned this lowly position 9. Name given an army officer
1. Expression often used by [3 words] (Joshua 9:27) in charge of a hundred men
Jesus to impress on hear Clues Down (Luke 7:6, K in g J a m e s Ver
ers the accuracy of his state sio n )
1. Designation given the disci
ments [5 words] (Matthew ples whom Jesus personally 14. Ezekiel said that the ex
5:18) selected [2 words] (Matthew panse over the heads of
7. One of 11 swift and coura 10:2-4) the living creatures sparkled
geous mighty men of the 2. Jesus told his disciples that like this (Ezekiel 1:22)
tribe of Gad who joined Da they should not be called 15. A fluid found in plants
vid in the wilderness this (Matthew 23:10) (Job 8:16)
(1 Chronicles 12:12)
3. The land where Paul wrote 18. One of the territories com
8. The mother of Joab, Abish- the book of Hebrews prising the domain of Phil
ai, and Asahel, valiant fight (Hebrews 13:24) ip, the son of Herod the
ers for David (2 Samuel Great (Luke 3:1)
2:18) 4. Job said that he barely
10. To place full confidence in escaped death by the skin 20. A son of Gilead and great-
of these (Job 19:20) grandson of Manasseh
someone (Psalm 37:5) (Joshua 17:2)
11. Tall (Matthew 4:8) 5. Of less age (1 Timothy 5:1,2)
6. Place in ancient times where 23. State of being free from dis
12. One must endure until this turbance (Job 21:9)
to be saved (Mark 13:13) grain was separated from
the stalk and the chaff 24. In Josephs dream, his alone
13. One of Hamans ten sons, [2 words] (Ruth 3:3) stood erect (Genesis 37:7)
killed by the Jews (Esther
9:9)
15. A spirit creature of this type
touched Isaiahs lips with a
glowing coal so that Isaiah
could fulfill his prophetic as
signment (See Isaiah 6:6,7.)
16. Herods man in charge
(Luke 8:3)
17. A position of responsibility
(1 Timothy 3:1)
19. One of four rivers branch
ing out from the river issu
ing out of Eden (Genesis 2:
10, 11)
21. A liquid measure (Exodus
29:40)
22. Paul pointed out that a little
leaven will ferment all of
this (Galatians 5:9)
24. One of Noahs three sons
(Genesis 9:18)
25. The prophet Samuels
father (1 Samuel 1:19,20)
26. Many decisive battles were
fought around this strategic
city overlooking the Jezreel
Valley (Judges 5:19)
27. The Gibeonites were
ROM the look o f sheer delight on her In these days o f mass pro
I China. Some say that if its sections were placed end to end,
it would reach 14,000 milesor halfway around the earth!
Some even call it the eighth wonder of the world. Nevertheless,
many people have never heard of this awesome sight
ordillera
ftordi]
in the Philippines. W hat is it? The stairway to the Centr;
ntral
sky, the rice terraces of the Cordillera Central.
Tucked away in the heights of Luzon, the terraces
are an amazing display of beauty and ingenuity.
Why were they built? The precipitous m oun
tains of the Cordilleras are so steep that they
could normally not be used for farming. The
incline of some slopes exceeds 50 percent.
But ancient farmers were not deterred by this. At
an elevation of 4,000 feet or more, they carved /
thousands of terraces into the sides of the verdant mountains.
Sometimes 25, 30, or more are stacked like a stairway reaching
skyward. And each terrace is a cultivated pond field, lined with
earthen dikes and retained with stone walls. M ost are planted
with rice and follow the contour of the mountains; some slopes
are concave, others convex.
O f course, agricultural terraces are hardly unique to the Phil
ippines. Terraced fields are found in other countries too, partic
ularly in Southeast Asia, South America, and some parts of Af
rica. But in many ways the rice terraces of the Philippines are
unique. M ario Movillon, of the International Rice Research In
stitute, told Awake!:The Philippine rice terraces are on a much
larger scale than terraces in other countries. They cover a big
part of the mountains of the Cordillera. A large proportion are
in Ifugao Province. One cannot help but be impressed by the
sheer num ber of terraces. They add a sculptured beauty to the
natural flow of the mountains. y
A Wonder of the World?
Is it an exaggeration to call them the eighth wonder of the
world? Well, consider this fact: They may be the largest single
Saving the Terraces D e s p ite th e s e ctio n s o f th e te rra c e s w h e n w h o le m o u n ta in
p re s e n t b e a u ty o f th e te rra c e s , th e ir co n tin u e d sid e s cam e tu m b lin g dow n.
e xiste n ce is th re a te n e d . M a n y o f th e you n g e r S te p s a re b e in g ta k e n , th o u g h , to fo re s ta ll
g e n e ra tio n o f m o u n ta in in h a b ita n ts are shying th e d is a p p e a ra n c e o f th e te rra c e s . An e x e c
aw ay fro m p la n tin g rice a n d are lo o kin g fo r em u tiv e o rd e r w a s is s u e d in 1 9 9 6 to c re a te
p lo y m e n t in o th e r a re a s . T h is c o u ld c re a te a th e Ifugao Terraces C om m ission. Its ta s k ? The
s h o rta g e o f s k ille d fa rm e rs to m a in ta in th e te r m a in te n a n ce o f th e te rra ce s, in c lu d in g th e s u p
races. p o rtin g w a te r system and th e a re a s c u ltu re , as
A u rora A m m ayao, a n a tive o f Ifugao asso ci w ell as th e re s to ra tio n o f any da m a g e d areas.
a te d w ith th e In te rn a tio n a l R ice R esearch In T h e in c lu s io n o f th e te r r a c e s in th e
s t it u t e , to ld Awake! o f a n o th e r d a n g e r: W orld H eritage L ist o f th e U nited N atio ns Edu
T h e te rra c e s s h o u ld a lw a ys be k e p t w et, b u t c a tio n a l, S c ie n tific , a n d C u ltu ra l O rg a n iz a tio n
now th e re is a w a te r s h o rta g e as a re s u lt (UNESCO) fu rth e r c o m m its th e P h ilip p in e
o f d e fo r e s ta tio n . T h e d ry in g u p g o v e rn m e n t to p re s e rv in g th e site .
o f th e w a te rsh e d w o u ld m ean And a cco rd in g to Jean Tuason,
th e d e s tru c tio n o f th e te r- d e p u ty e x e c u tiv e d ir e c to r
races. a t U N E S C O s M a n ila o f-
H iS a k fice, UNESCO m ay a lso
N a tu ra l d is a s te rs oc- p ro v id e te c h n ic a l a n d
c a s io n a lly c a u se prob- p P j L fin a n c ia l a s s is ta n c e
le m s to o . In 1 9 9 0 1 * ^ & > -&! fo r th e p ro tection and
a n e a r th q u a k e d e - c o n s e rv a tio n o f th e
s tro y e d a n u m b e r o f .J iM B M B iB W rice te rra c e s .
Lying
-I s It Ever Justified?
A LITTLE INACCURACY SOMETIMES SAVES TONS OF EXPLANATION.
H E Mongols were besieging the for more than the disease itself. A num ber of
S tified Genoese trading post of Kaffa, factors worked to exacerbate this disaster,
now called Feodosiya, in the Crimea. Deci
one of them being religious fervor. The doc
mated by the mysterious disease themselves, trine of purgatory is one example. By the
the Mongols called off their attack. But be end of the 13th century, purgatory was every
fore withdrawing, they made a deadly parting w here, says French h isto rian Jacques le
shot. Using giant catapults, they hurled the Goff. Early in the 14th century, D ante pro
still-warm bodies of plague victims over the duced his influential work The Divine Come
city walls. W hen a few of the Genoese de dy, with its graphic descriptions of hell and
fenders later boarded their galleys to escape purgatory. A religious clim ate thus devel
the now plague-ridden town, they spread the oped where people were inclined to meet the
disease to every port they visited. plague with surprising apathy and resigna
W ithin m onths the whole of Europe was tion, viewing it as a punishm ent from G od
rid d led w ith d eath . R apidly it spread to himself. As we will see, such a pessimistic
N orth Africa, Italy, Spain, England, France, mind-set actually fueled the spread of the
A ustria, H ungary, Sw itzerland, G erm any, disease. Nothing could have provided more
Scandinavia, and the Baltics. In a little over promising material on which a plague might
two years, more than a fourth of the popula feed, notes the book The Black Death, by
tion of Europe, some 25 million souls, fell vic Philip Ziegler.
tim to what has been called the most brutal Then, too, there was the problem of repeat
demographic catastrophe hum anity has ever ed crop failures in Europe. As a result, the
knownthe Black Death.* continents burgeoning population was mal
Setting the Stage for Disaster nourishedill-equipped to resist illness.
The tragedy of the Black D eath involved The Plague Spreads
* People of that time called it the great pestilence or the According to the personal physician of
epidemic. Pope C lem ent VI, G uy de C hauliac, two
among the educated class in England. The on art, death becoming a comm on artistic
death o f num erous French teachers, how theme. The fam ous danse m acabre genre,
ever, helped the English language to gain as commonly representing skeletons and corps
cendancy over French in Britain. Changes es, became a popular allegory o f the power of
also came in the religious sphere. As French death. Unsure of the future, many survivors
historian Jacqueline Brossollet notes, b e of the plague threw all restraint to the wind.
cause of the shortage of candidates for the Thus morals sank to shocking depths. As for
priesthood, the Church too often recruited the church, because of its failure to prevent
ignorant, apathetic individuals. Brossollet the Black D eath, medieval m an felt th at
asserts that the decadence of [church] cen his Church had let him down. ( Black
ters of learning and faith was one of the caus Death) Some historians also say that the so
es of the Reformation. cial changes that followed in the wake o f the
The Black D eath certainly left its mark Black D eath fostered individualism and en-
BY AWAKE! CORRESPONDENT IN
Costa Rica
OSTA RICA c o v e rs le s s
C th a n 0 .0 3 p e rc e n t o f
th e e a rth s s u rfa c e , yet it
is h om e to 8 7 5 registered
s p e c ie s o f b ird s . A c c o rd in g to o n e
s o u rc e , th a t is m o re th a n th e n u m
be r fo u n d in C anada a n d th e U nite d
S ta te s c o m b in e d . It is, th e re fo re , n o t
s u rp ris in g th a t Costa Rica has becom e
a p rin c ip a l d e s tin a tio n fo r b ird -w a tch in g
e n th u s ia s ts . L e t us s h a re w ith you o u r
jo u rn e y to view one o f th e s e birds, th e re
s p le n d e n t q uetzal.
In th e e a rly 1 5 0 0 s, th e S p a n ish c o n q u is ta
d o r H e rn a n C o rte s a rriv e d in M e xico . T h e re , as
a g ift fro m th e Aztecs, he re ce ive d a h e a d d re ss o f
quetzal fe a th e rs. Only Aztec royalty had th e privilege o f
w e a rin g such h ighly e ste e m e d a d o rn m e n ts . The ja d e -
g re e n p lu m e s o f th e q u e tz a l m ay have be e n c o n s id
ered m ore v a lu a b le th a n gold.
Today th is e x tra o rd in a rily b e a u tifu l bird cla im s as its
h a b ita t a v a s t te rrito ry fro m M e x ico to P a n a m a. The
quetzal can be fo u n d in cloud fo re s ts a t a ltitu d e s o f be
tw e e n 4 ,0 0 0 a n d 1 0 ,0 0 0 fe e t. The c lo u d s in th e fo r
e sts are th e p ro d u c t o f ris in g w arm a ir co o lin g quickly.
26 Awake! February 8, 2000
The re s u lts a re y e a r-ro u n d lu s h U pon re tu rn in g to th e re s e rv e cro sse d its p a th . The fe m a le s its
v e g e ta tio n in v e rd a n t to n e s a n d o ffice , w e h e a r a n o th e r q u e tz a l. ju s t above us, g iv in g us a s c o ld in g
m assive tre e s th a t reach one h u n G lid in g g ra c e fu lly an d tra ile d by look fo r in tru d in g .
dred fe e t o r m ore in to th e fog. its green stre a m e rs , it lands on a W e a re a ls o to ld th a t a n o th e r
A b o u t 1 0 0 m ile s n o rth o f S an lim b n o t m o re th a n 1 6 fe e t fro m f r u it th e y e n jo y is th e b la c k b e r
Jose is th e S a nta Elena Forest Re w here we are s ittin g ! The guide in ry, w h ic h g ro w s on th o rn y b u s h
servea good lo ca tio n to o b se rve fo rm s us th a t a c h ic k has d is a p es. As th e q u e tz a ls s w o o p d ow n
th e quetzal in its n a tu ra l e n v iro n peared fro m its nest. The fa th e r is to g ra b th e fru it, th e y s o m e tim e s
m ent. W ith th e h elp o f a g uide, we g o in g fro m tre e to tre e in s e a rc h get th e ir s tre a m e rs c a u g h t in th e
begin our q u e s t to s ig h t a re s p le n o f its o ffsp rin g . We learn th a t only th o rn s a n d lo s e th e m . E v e n tu a l
d e n t quetzal. B e cau se o f its ja d e a b o u t 2 5 p e rc e n t o f eggs su rvive ly, th o u g h , th e ir ta il fe a th e rs grow
like coloring, th e bird is d iffic u lt to to m a tu rity . T h e re s t a re lo s t to back.
su ch p re d a to rs as s q u irre ls , e m
see, a s it b le n d s in to th e fo re s ts In th is way th e bird can live up
e ra ld to u c a n e ts , b ro w n ja y s ,
foliage. O ur gu id e b egins to m im to its n a m e . Q u e tz a l is ta k e n
w e a s e ls , a n d ta y ra s . A n o th e r
ic its so ft, m e llo w call. The so u n d fro m th e A z te c w o rd quetzaUi,"
ch a lle n g e to th e q u e tz a ls s u rv iv
is s im ila r to a w h im p e rin g pup. In m e a n in g p re c io u s o r b e a u ti
al in v o lv e s th e lo c a tio n o f th e ir
fa c t, upo n h e a rin g th e q u e tz a ls fu l. U n fo rtu n a te ly, its beauty has
n e s ts , w h ic h a re w o o d p e c k e r
re s p o n s e , o n e w o m a n in o u r p o s e d a t h r e a t to th e q u e tz a ls
like holes th a t q u etzals m ake be
group a c tu a lly th in k s th a t th e re is su rv iva l. In fa c t, th e quetzal is list
tw e e n 1 0 a nd 6 0 fe e t above th e
a dog lo s t in th e fo re s t! ed a s an e n d a n g e re d s p e c ie s .
g ro u n d in o ld d e c a y in g tre e
Soon, so m e 5 0 fe e t up, a m a le tru n k s . W hen heavy rain fa lls , th e They have b e e n h u n te d fo r th e ir
shyly co m e s o u t on a b ranch to in holes can flood or collapse. s k in s , w h ic h h a v e b e e n s o ld as
ve s tig a te . Throu gh b in o c u la rs its sou ve n irs. S om e o f th e birds have
We also learn th a t th e q u e tz a ls
ra d ia n t c o lo rs a p p e a r even m o re been ca p tu re d a live to be sold as
fa v o rite food is th e w ild avocado.
s p e c ta c u la r th a n w e h a d im a g p e ts . H o w e v e r, a c c o rd in g to
It w ill s it on a lim b eyeing an avo
ined. Its b re a s t is a d e e p crim so n - o u r guide, th e quetzal now enjoys
cado th a t dangles from th e branch
red, c o n tra s tin g w ith its ja d e lik e s o m e le g a l p ro te c tio n fro m such
o f a ne ig h b o rin g tree. Then, w ith a
fe a th e rs . A d d in g to its s tu n n in g flu rry o f bea tin g w ings, it w ill zero p lu n d e rin g .
s p le n d o r a re its w h ite ta il fe a th in on its target, grab th e fru it w ith Yet a n o th e r th re a t to its su rv iv
ers, w hich c o n tra s t w ith its tw o ir its m o u th , and return to its roost. al is d e fo re s ta tio n , w h ic h re s u lts
id e s c e n t g re e n o n e s . K n o w n as It s w a llo w s th e f r u it w h o le a n d in loss o f h a b ita t. For th e p ro te c
s tre a m e rs , th e y m e a s u re s o m e som e 2 0 to 3 0 m inutes later regur tio n o f th is re s p le n d e n t bird and
2 4 in c h e s in le n g th . To s e e th e g ita te s th e avocados large seed. o th e r w ild life , a b o u t 27 p e rc e n t o f
quetzal s ittin g high on a lim b w ith In th e ir s e a rc h fo r w ild a v o c a C osta Rica has been s e t a side as
its lo n g s tre a m e rs flo w in g g e n tly d o s, q u e tz a ls w ill m ig ra te to d if prese rve d areas.
in th e breeze is a s ig h t o f tra n q u il fe re n t s lo p e s o f th e C o n tin e n ta l O ur jo u rn e y to view th e quetzal
beauty. D ivide. For e x a m p le, fro m July to h a s tr u ly b e e n re w a rd in g . T ru e ,
A q u e tz a l s ig h tin g is a u n iq u e S e p te m b e r, th e y are a t h o m e on you c a n s e e th e h e a d d r e s s o f
e x p e rie n c e . In fa c t, o u r g u id e th e Pacific slope. Then in O ctober q u e tz a l fe a th e rs given to H ernan
m e n tio n e d t h a t it o fte n ta k e s th e y m ove to th e C a rib b e a n s id e C o rte s in th e B ritis h M u s e u m in
m o re th a n o n e t r ip in to th e f o r to fe e d on a n e w c ro p o f a v o c a London. B u t q u etzal fe a th e rs are
e s t to se e o n e . T h e b e s t tim e to dos. fa r m o re in te re s tin g w h e n s e e n
o b s e rv e q u e tz a ls is d u rin g th e ir As w e c ro s s a s u s p e n d e d on a livin g bird in th e w ild ! For th e
n e s tin g se a so n , w h ich ru n s fro m b rid g e a b o u t 1 0 0 fe e t above th e tim e being, a t least, w ild q u e tza ls
M a rc h to J u n e . D u rin g th is tim e fo re s t floor, a quetzal a lm o s t flie s c o n tin u e to e n jo y fre e d o m a n d
they m ay have tw o b ro o d s o f tw o into us! It se e m s th a t th is bird w as re la tive s a fe ty in th e cloud fo re s ts
eggs each. in p u r s u it o f its lu n c h w h e n w e o f C entral A m erica.
Awake! February 8, 2000 27
W A T C H I N G THE W O R L D
More Mummies Discovered bonic plague respectively. Lep will satisfy most peoples water
Archaeologists in Egypt rosy is still a problem in Congo, needs.
have announced the discovery Ethiopia, Mozambique, Niger,
and Nigeria. All of this, add Napping on the Job
of at least 200 mummies, some
of them with golden masks, in a ed to the fact that malaria is Some Canadian businesses
huge cemetery in the Western rampant throughout much of are waking up to the benefits of
Desert, says a BBC News dis the continent, is causing serious napping on the job, says the To
patch. The burial area is near concern because, as Cameron ronto Star newspaper. Employ
a desert oasis and within the remarked, borders are no bar ers have introduced alertness
city of Bawiti, some 185 miles rier against disease. recovery rooms for night-shift
southwest of Cairo. According workers. The rooms are dim
Most Vital Substance to Life
to Egypts Middle East News ly lit, cool, quiet and equipped
Agency, the cemetery may con with alarm clocks, couches or
tain over 10,000 mummies. It reclining chairs, says the Star.
has been renamed Valley of But old perceptions die hard.
the Mummies. The six-mile- Companies that provide nap
long cemetery dates back 2,000 ping areas dont tend to broad
years, to the early Graeco- cast it. Mary Perugini, a sleep
Roman era. Some of the mum clinician at Royal Ottawa Hos
mies excavated so far were cov pitals Sleep Disorders Centre,
ered in linen or coated with states: Were working more
plaster, and a number wore hours, our stress levels are high
golden masks with magnif Water is the most vital sub er and we keep taking on more.
icent designs of ancient Egyp stance to life, because the body Being able to devote 20 minutes
tian divinities on their chests, is mostly fluid, reports the To a day to sleep would be benefi
says antiquities director Zahi ronto Star newspaper. Even a cial. It would definitely increase
Hawass. 20-per cent drop in body wa productivity (and) keep stress
ter can be fatal. Water not levels down.
Pestilences Plague Africa only regulates our body tem
A ttem pts by the World perature but also carries nu Threat From Shrinking Glaciers
Health Organization to have trients and waste products to The worlds largest body of
polio completely eradicated and from the organs through ice outside the polar regions
in Africa by the end of the the bloodstream and body sys will disappear within 40 years
year have been thwarted, re tems. It also lubricates the if the current rate of melting
ports the Cape Times. The war joints and colon, helping pre continues, reports The Sunday
in Angola has resulted in po vent constipation. An aver Telegraph of London. A com
lio reaching epidemic propor age adult requires two to three bination of rising global tem
tions in that country. Accord quarts of water daily. Drink peratures and the relatively
ing to Neil Cameron, director ing coffee, pop, or alcohol may low latitude of the Himalayas
of communicable disease con actually increase the need for threatens the regions 15,000
trol at South Africas Depart pure water because they can glaciers. The Gangotri glacier,
ment of Health, it could be contribute to dehydration. Ac which is one of the sources of
another ten years before polio cording to one dietitian, thirst the Ganges River, has shrunk
is eradicated in Angola. In ad should not serve as a reminder by almost one third of its length
dition, Angolas neighbors, Na to take in water because by the in the past 50 years. Syed Has-
mibia and the Democratic Re time you feel parched, you are nain, a scientist who monitors
public of Congo, are trying to likely already dehydrated. The the glaciers, warns that if the
cope with outbreaks of Ebola- paper states that drinking a current rate continues, rivers
like hemorrhagic fever and bu glass every hour during the day such as the Ganges, the Indus
Too Short? Im a neurosurgeon, and I no Universe I want to thank you very much
ticed something wrong with a picture that for the series Our UniverseMade for a
appeared in the article Your BrainA Purpose? (June 22, 1999) As an am ateur
Marvel of Intricacy. (May 8, 1999) You astronomer, I loved these articles. The won
showed a cross section of the brain with a derful spectacle that takes place every night
dotted line pointing to the pituitary gland. invites us to reflect on the immense power,
It appears to me that the line is too short knowledge, and love of our Creator.
and that this line is pointing toward the op V V., Spain
tic chiasma.
The articles were easy to understand, even
A. W., Japan
for the nonscientific mind. T hank you for
Oursharp-eyed reader is correct, and we apol helping me to get to know Jehovah better.
ogize for the error.ED. After 58 years of marriage, my wife recently
died. So this enlightening understanding of
Hurricane Mitch Thank you for the stir our Creator couldnt have come at a more ap
ring article Rescue From the Killer propriate time in my life.
Storm! (June 8, 1999) I often receive infor E W., United States
mation via E-mail regarding disasters that
have afflicted our brothers, but I never Women Construction Workers Thank you
know how much of the information is reli so much for the article The Women Have
able. The way the information was present Had a Large Share. (June 22, 1999) About
ed in the article was very encouraging and a year ago, I moved from California to
upbuilding. It served as a sober reminder of Thailand. We recently had the privilege of
the critical times in which we live. constructing our own Kingdom Hall. Like
the women in Zimbabwe, our sisters helped
C. P, United States mix cement, tie steel rods, lay tile, and care
for numerous other construction jobs. With
I realize that many lost all their belong
Jehovahs help we got the work done in
ings in this catastrophe, b u t it was th rill about three months. Thank you for ac
ing to read about our worldwide b rother knowledging the share women have had in
hood going into action, even in the face of the worldwide construction work.
great danger. The picture of the brother in
front of his destroyed home gave me food for R. G., Thailand
thought. W hat right do I have to complain My parents and I had the opportunity to
about things? help at a quickly built Kingdom Hall proj
R.C.N., Brazil ect for the first time. You can imagine how
happy I was when I saw how women all over
Guarana Your article Coffee, Tea, or Gua- the world are contributing to the worldwide
rana? (June 8, 1999) was enlightening. As a construction of branch offices and Kingdom
full-time minister serving along the banks Halls of Jehovahs Witnesses. Construction
of the Amazon River, I work near areas projects like the one in Zimbabwe are prep
where guarana is cultivated. I often see it aration for the work we will do in the new
being prepared. The next time somebody world. If we can enjoy such projects now,
offers me guarana, I know what my answer imagine what it will be like when all mankind
will be. is perfect and united in serving Jehovah!
J.R.S.M., Brazil S.W.S., Brazil
T
in g
o ld g irl n a m e d M a ria
fro m th e c ity o f C h e re
p o v e ts s a id r e g a r d
th e b o o k Questions
Young People Ask Answers
That Work. S h e w ro te th e
fo llo w in g to th e b ra n c h o ffic e
o f J e h o v a h s W itn e s s e s n e a r
St. P e te rs b u rg , R u s s ia , s o m e
2 5 0 m ile s fro m C h e re p o v e ts .
T h is p u b lic a tio n h a s h e lp e d
m e to e x a m in e m y s e lf, m y
g o a ls , a n d p e o p le a ro u n d m e.
I fo u n d a n s w e rs to th e q u e s
tio n s th a t c o n c e rn m e m o s t of
a ll. W h ile I w a s r e a d in g th e
b o o k , te a r s o f t h a n k f u ln e s s
ro lle d d o w n m y c h e e k s ."
M a ria a d d e d : It fe lt a s if a
v e il h a d b e e n ta k e n o ff m y
e y e s , w h ic h w e re w id e o p e n
w ith e x c ite m e n t. T h is b o o k is
th e b e s t o n e I h a v e re a d in m y
e n tire life. N o o th e r o n e c o m
p a r e s to it, s in c e it is b a s e d
o n th e B ib le a n d th e a d v ic e o f
J e h o v a h G o d is th e b e s t.
g O O -E 2/8