Despertad Septiembre 2011

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    !"#2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1

    HOW TOHOW TOMANAGEMANAGEMONEY MONEY

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    !"#2AVERAGE PRINTING39,913,000PUBLISHED IN83 LANGUAGES

    HOW TO MANAGEMONEY

    3 Hit by the Great Recession

    4 Why Save Rather Than Spend?

    7 How to Manage Your Money

    8 Seven Wise Sayings

    10 The Bibles ViewpointA Weekly Holy DayIs It Required?

    12 A Birds-Eye View of Fishing

    14 A Traditional Form of Russian WoodPainting

    15 I Did Not Die

    16 Murchison FallsUgandas

    Unique Piece of the Nile18 Write to Anton!

    19 Young People AskWho Are My True Friends?

    22 The Domesday BookAn Extraordinary Survey

    24 TatarsTheir Past, Present,and Future

    28 Was It Designed?The Birds Egg

    29 Watching the World30 For Family Review

    32 How to Be Gods Friend

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    Awake! September 2011 3

    THE worst economy in a generation. That is how Ency- clopdia Britannica Online described the recession thathit the world recently. The economic downturn that start-ed in the United States in 2007 has been so severe and hasaffected so many countries that it has been given a uniquename, the Great Recession.

    What caused it? Newsweek magazine put the answer sim-ply: A frenzy of irresponsible borrowing. But why thefrenzy to borrow on credit, to buy things for which peopleare unable to pay?

    You will likely agree that the worlds economic system,which cultivates greed, did precisely that. The messagewas, in effect: Buy! Buy! Buy! whether you can pay for itor not. A generation has learned the hard way the dangers

    of borrowing too much, explains economistChris Farrell in his book The New Frugality.

    Many countries were sent reeling from theblow of the Great Recession. Despite signsof recovery, stated a front-page headline of the South African newspaper Sunday Timeslast year, consumers . . . are still strugglingto put food on the table. The newspaper re-ports that almost 3 000 000 consumers [inSouth Africa] are more than three monthsin arrears on their bills; and about 250 000middle-income earners have lost their jobs inthe past two years.

    Job losses have numbered into the tens of millions in recent years. As for reports of signs of recovery in the United States, the Financial Times quipped: The recovery since

    June 2009 could be called the Great Disappointment.The paper added: Many economists think that the needto pay down debt will hold back consumption growth forseveral years to come.

    If you are a victim of the Great Recession, no doubt youcan relate to what author David Beart wrote in an essay:

    It seems there is a lot of discussion about the worldsnancial problems, but little information offered abouthow to solve these issues.

    The following articles have been designed to help peo-ple struggling with debt. These questions will be consid-ered: What are the benets of saving? What can you do if you are in debt? How can you learn to manage your mon-ey better?

    H IT B Y T H E

    G R E A T R E C E S S I O

    N

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    4 Awake! September 2011

    THIS JOURNAL IS PUBLISHED for the enlightenment of theentire family. It shows how to cope with todays problems. It reportsthe news, tells about people in many lands, examines religionand science. But it does more. It probes beneath the surface andpoints to the real meaning behind current events, yet it alwaysstays politically neutral and does not exalt one race above another.Most important, this magazine builds condence in the Creatorspromise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about toreplace the present wicked, lawless system of things.

    !"#$ This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwideBible educational work supported by voluntary donations. Unless oth-erwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-languageNew World Translation of the Holy ScripturesWith References.

    Awake! (ISSN 0005-237X) is published monthly by WatchtowerBible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; M. H. Larson, PresidentG. F. Simonis, Secretary-Treasurer; 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY11201-2483, and by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ofCanada, PO Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4. PeriodicalsPostage Paid at Brooklyn, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Awake!,1000 Red MillsRoad, Wallkill, NY 12589-3299. 5 2011 Watch Tower Bibleand Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved. Printed inCanada.

    Vol. 92, No. 9 Monthly ENGLISH

    S AVING is a bore, many say. Buyingclothes, electronic gadgets, and suchthings is fun.

    Whether you have been affected by the de-cline in the worlds economy or not, you canbenet from considering ways you can saveas well as ways you can spend wisely. Notethe advice of an authoritative source that hashelped millions of people through the centu-ries to cope with their nancial problems.

    Three Ancient Wise SayingsIn one of his parables, Jesus of Nazareth

    pointed to an important nancial principle.In it a master admonished his servant: Youought to have put my money in the bank, andon my arrival I would have received my mon-

    ey back with interest. (Matthew 25:27, New American Standard Bible ) What Jesus saidthen has special relevance today. Lets consid-er why.

    In recent times in some countries, the in-terest earned in about ten years exceeded theoriginal amount of money invested. Althoughtoday not many banks offer such attractive in-terest rates and interest on investments is notalways as high as investors hoped it would be,it is wise to have savings on hand for emergen-cies.

    The Bible highlights that fact, saying: Wis-dom is for a protection the same as mon-ey is. (Ecclesiastes 7:12) But money cannotprotect you if you have not saved any! Let

    each of you, the Bible encourages, set some-thing aside in store as he may be prospering. 1 Corinthians 16:2.

    How You Can SaveFirst, before buying an expensive item, con-

    sider whether it is really necessary.Second, if you need something, search for

    new items that are on sale or for good useditems. Espen and Janne, who are parents liv-ing in Norway, needed a carriage for their

    baby boy, Daniel. They bought an almost newone for half price. When Daniel outgrowsit, Espen says, Im sure we will be ableto sell it for a good price. But he warns:Looking for good deals can take a lot of time. 1

    1 To be sure that you are not buying stolen goods, it is wiseto get a receipt with the sellers name and address.

    WHY SAVERATHER THANSPEND?

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    making lunch 2-365866.psd

    Languages: Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian,Bislama, Bulgarian, Cebuano, Chichewa, Chinese (Simplied), Chinese(Traditional)7 (audio Mandarin only), Chitonga, Cibemba, Croatian,Czech,7 Danish,7 Dutch,67 English,67 Estonian, Ewe, Fijian, Finnish,7

    French,687 Georgian, German,67 Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hiligaynon,Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Igbo, Iloko, Indonesian, Italian,67 Japa-nese,67 Kannada, Kinyarwanda, Kirghiz, Kirundi, Korean,67 Latvian, Lin-gala, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malagasy, Malayalam, Maltese, Myanmar,Norwegian,67 Polish,67 Portuguese,687 Punjabi, Rarotongan, Roma-nian, Russian,67 Samoan, Sepedi, Serbian, Sesotho, Shona, Silozi, Sin-hala, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish,67 Swahili, Swedish,7 Tagalog,7 Tamil,Thai, Tok Pisin, Tongan, Tsonga, Tswana, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Viet-namese, Xhosa, Yoruba, Zulu

    6 CD also available.8 MP3 CD-ROM also available.7 Audio recordings also available at www.jw.org.

    Would you welcome more information or a free home

    Bible study? Please send your request to Jehovahs Witnesses,using one of the addresses below. For a complete list of addresses,see www.watchtower.org/address. America, United States of: 25 Colum-bia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483.Australia: PO Box 280, Ingleburn, NSW 1890.Bahamas: PO Box N-1247, Nassau, NP.Britain: The Ridgeway, London NW7 1RN.Canada: PO Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4.Germany: 65617 Selters. Guam:143 Jehovah St, Barrigada, GU 96913.Jamaica: PO Box 103, Old Harbour, St. Cather-ine. Japan: 4-7-1 Nakashinden, Ebina City, Kanagawa-Pref, 243-0496.Puerto Rico:PO Box 3980, Guaynabo, PR 00970.South Africa: Private Bag X2067, Krugersdorp,1740. Trinidad and Tobago: Lower Rapsey Street & Laxmi Lane, Curepe.

    Awake! September 2011 5

    Third, dont be impulsive; sleep on the mat-ter. If you still feel that the item is vital, youmay consider looking for something similarin a discount or secondhand shop. Also, youcan often save money if you do not feel com-pelled to buy popular name brands. Further,rather than buy the latest styles of childrensclothes at expensive stores, why not use hand-me-downs?

    Similarly, a new mother may consider us-ing cloth diapers that can be washed. Thebook BudgetingPersonal Spending and Money Management a Key to Weathering the Storm,by Denise Chambers, states: Disposable dia-pers will cost you about $2,000 or more for2 years. Cloth diapers . . . $300-500 over those

    same 2 years. She added: Modern cloth dia-pers are so much easier to use and youll ben-et the planet too!

    Fourth, consider that it usually costs less tobuy ingredients and cook meals than it doesto eat out. If you have school-age children,why not teach them to prepare sandwich-es instead of giving them money to buy moreexpensive food? And rather than buyingexpensive beverages, drink water instead. Itis much healthier and easier on your pocket-

    book. Not long ago families had their own veg-

    etable gardens. Have you considered grow-ing some of your own food? Many, includingthose living in apartments or small houses,have an area they can use for gardening. Youmay be amazed at how much food a personcan grow in a limited amount of soil!

    WAYSTO SAVEMONEY Search for items

    on sale

    Buy clothes from discount or secondhand stores

    Teach your childrento prepare food

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    6 Awake! September 2011

    Consider further: If you need to have a cellphone, can you use it for emergencies onlyand pay in advance for a limited amount of calling time? Or if you have a clothes dryer,have you thought about limiting its use? Per-haps you can hang some of your washor,at times, even all of iton a clothesline. You

    might also be able to limit your use of airconditioners and heaters. Before switchingon such devices, ask yourself, Is the weatherreally that extreme? You might also talk toothers to learn how they limit the use of elec-tricity.

    It is also helpful to open a savings account.In addition, Hilton, a volunteer worker inSouth Africa, explains: Its wise not to haveall your eggs in one basket. At times, banksand nancial institutions fail. We have hadthat experience. So wisely select a bankwhere your savings are guaranteed by the gov-ernment in the event of bank failure.

    How to Get Out of DebtFirst, try to pay more than the minimum

    monthly amount required on each bill, creditcard, or other commitment.

    Second, concentrate initially on paying thedebt that carries the highest interest.

    Third, curb your spending habits. This is es-pecially important.

    Have you been enticed by seductive adver-

    tising? Danny, a family man in Sweden, ad-mits that he has. He had a good business buthad to sell it to pay off his credit-card debt.He learned a lesson and is now in controlof his money. He gives this advice: Bewareof greed. Find contentment by living within your means.

    Legitimate DebtFew people are in a position to pay the

    full price of a house or an apartment. So,

    many buy a house by obtaining a loan froma bank. The monthly sum they pay to thebank for this loan can be viewed as rent fora house. But when they have paid back theloan over an extended period, they own thehouse!

    Many people also nd it helpful to takeout a loan to purchase a fuel-efficientmotor vehicle. By paying off the loan asquickly as possible, the car turns into a valu-able asset, another form of saved money. 1

    Some have found it wise to buy a used carthat is in good condition and has relative-ly few miles on it. Others save money by us-ing public transportation or even riding abicycle.

    Whatever the case, be modest and realis-tic about what you buy, and make your de-cisions carefully. Being a carefree spendercan become addictive and can lead to heart-ache. So work on being a cautious and pru-

    dent spender, which can put you in a posi-tion to enjoy lasting happiness.Further, to be a happy saver, you must

    know how to manage your money. That isthe subject of the next article.

    1 Bear in mind that if you lose your income and are unableto make your payments, you may lose the house or the car andall the money you have paid up to that point.

    Lower food costs by growing a small vegetable garden. Save money by drying laundry outside

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    Awake! September 2011 7

    B ASICALLY there are three ways to man-age money: (1) Spend it, (2) save it, or(3) give it away. Let us rst discuss how tospend money wisely.

    If the Great Recession has highlightednothing else, it has shown the wisdom of liv-ing on a well-planned budget. What is a bud-get? Simply put, it is an estimate of how in-come will be used, whether by an individual,a family, a business, or a government.

    A Family ProjectHow can you plan a budget? All family

    members, says the book Budgeting, by Den-ise Chambers, should be included in draw-

    ing up the plan so that all have a commitmentto the family budget. Periodically, all shouldget together to see how their budget is work-ing. Creating a successful budget can becomea rewarding family project as each one ndsways to live within the familys income.

    To work out a budget, some people use acomputer program. Others simply use a pen-

    cil and a sheet of paper, which they divideinto two columns. One column is for income,and the other for expenditures. It is also im-portant to include in the budget a monthlyamount to cover once-a-year expenses, suchas income tax and perhaps a vacation.

    A time-tested method of budgeting is basedon the use of envelopes or folders labeledFood, Rent, Transportation, Electrici-ty, Medical Bills, and so forth. In the past,people put cash for those expenses in the en- velopes each month. Now many feel it is saf-er and easier to deposit money in a bank ac-count and withdraw it as needed.

    Jonathan and Anne, who live in South Af-

    rica with their two daughters, often use thefolder method of budgeting. If your salary isdeposited in a bank account, says Jonathan,it is just as important to be strict about how your money is divided. For example, if yourun out of your monthly allowance for meat,then you should not take money set aside forsavings to buy more meat.

    HOW TOMANAGE YOURMONEY

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    8 Awake! September 2011

    Jonathan used to run a business, butnow he and his family have chosen tobe volunteer workers and are involved inbuilding places of worship. Because theytreasure this life of giving, they need to liveon a budget more than ever. The familyregularly have discussions to see how theirbudget is working and to make needed ad- justments.

    The Greater HappinessStudies show that giving of resources to

    others, including time and energy as well as some money, brings a greater happiness. Tothe extent your resources allow, it can bethe best of the three options mentioned in

    the introduction.Chris Farrell, in his book The New Fru- gality, says that savings are a means of sup-porting spending. He recommends: Oneof the most valuable and sensible things you can do with your money is give itaway. 1 Farrell adds: When you thinkabout what matters most, its usually re-lationships, experiences, and the sense of making a difference, not money and pos-sessions.

    Michael Wagner, an economist, seemsto agree. In his book, Your Money, DayOne, aimed at motivating youths to save,he states: When you take it upon yourself to help those who are less fortunate, thatkindness and generosity will come backto you in a variety of positive ways, butmost rewarding is the feeling you will expe-rience in your heart by helping your fellowman.

    The Bible acknowledges that giving re-sults in happiness. As discussed earlier, theBible contains sayings that can help youmanage your resources wisely. Now, con-sider seven more of these wise sayings.

    1 Money can be given away in the form of gifts or hospi-tality such as preparing meals for friends and family.

    THE sayings below are found in an ancientbook lled with maxims that have provedto be practical and up-to-date. Considerhow these may be helpful in managing yourmoney.

    1. A mere lover of silver will not be satisedwith silver, neither any lover of wealth with in-come. (Ecclesiastes 5:10) Those are not thewords of an envious man of little means. One

    of the richest men who ever lived, King Solo-mon of Israel, wrote them based on his per-sonal experience and observation. Wealthymen of more recent times have made similarremarks.

    2. If we have food and shelter, we will besatised with that. Those who long to be rich,however, stumble into temptation. (1 Timo-thy 6:8, 9, NET Bible ) Those words were writ-ten by the apostle Paul, who gave up a prom-inent career and became a follower of Jesus

    Christ. Unlike some religious leaders today,Paul rmly resisted any temptation to takematerial advantage of his students or asso-ciates. Instead, he could honestly say: I havecoveted no mans silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands haveattended to the needs of me and of those withme.Acts 20:33, 34.

    SEVEN WISESAYINGS

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    Awake! September 2011 9

    3. Who of you that wants to build a towerdoes not rst sit down and calculate the ex-pense, to see if he has enough to complete it?(Luke 14:28) Jesus illustration might be ap-plied to a situation you may face: When mak-ing a purchase, especially with a credit card,will you buy impulsively or be patient andcount the cost? Do you really need the item,and can you afford it?

    4. Those who borrow are slaves of money-lenders. (Proverbs 22:7, Contemporary En- glish Version ) The recent world nancial cri-sis has exposed the folly of credit-card andother forms of debt. It is common for a per-son today to have, on average, over $9,000 incredit card debt on four or more credit cards,states Michael Wagner in his 2009 book Your Money, Day One.

    5. The wicked one is borrowing and doesnot pay back, but the righteous one is showing

    favor and is making gifts. (Psalm 37:21) De-claring bankruptcy is viewed by some as aneasy way out of paying back what they owe.On the other hand, those who value a goodrelationship with God are not only conscien-tious about paying back what they owe, if theycan possibly do so, but also generous withwhat they have.

    6. A young man I used to be, I have alsogrown old, and yet I have not seen anyone righ-teous left entirely, nor his offspring looking forbread. (Psalm 37:25) Those words were writ-ten by a man who suffered unjust treatment.For years he was a fugitive, sometimes livingin caves and sometimes seeking refuge in aforeign land. Eventually, this fugitive, David,became ancient Israels king. During his life

    he experienced for himself the truthfulness of the above words.7. There is more happiness in giving than

    there is in receiving. (Acts 20:35) Thosewords were spoken by the greatest man whoever lived. For the joy that was set beforehim, Jesus spent his life on earth in the ser- vice of others. Now he enjoys immortal spiritlife in heaven at the right hand of the hap-py God, Jehovah.Hebrews 12:2; 1 Timothy1:11.

    We can have no greater purpose in life thanto imitate the example of Jesus by doing allwithin our power to be in a position to servethe interest of others. No doubt you will agreethat it is better to be a cautious saver, so as tobe able to be a generous giver, than to be aselsh spender.

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    10 Awake! September 2011

    AROUND the earth, millions of Muslims,Jews, and professed Christians have setapart one day each week for special reli-gious activities. Why? Ibrahim, for example,a devout Muslim who visits a mosque everyFriday to pray and hear a sermon explains:I want to feel close to God and nd peace of mind.

    Does the Bible teach that God requires usto observe a weekly holy day? Is worshippingon a particular day the key to nding truespiritual refreshment?

    A Temporary ArrangementMore than 3,500 years ago, God used the

    prophet Moses to provide a special set of laws. That Law included a system of rest days,or Sabbaths, that were set aside for worship.The most frequent rest day was the weeklySabbath. It began at sunset on Friday andcontinued until sunset on Saturday.Exodus20:8-10.

    Were people of all nations to observethat weekly rest day? No, they were not. TheLaw of Moses was given exclusively to theIsraelites and their proselytes. God said toMoses: The sons of Israel must keep the sab-bath . . . Between me and the sons of Israel

    it is a sign to time indenite.1

    Exodus 31:16, 17.The Bible says that the Mosaic Law was a

    shadow of the things to come. (Colossians2:17) Hence, the Sabbath was part of a tem-

    1 The Bible expression time indenite does not necessari-ly mean forever. It can also mean a lengthy, undened periodof time.

    porary arrangement for worship that point-ed forward to a future, superior arrangement.(Hebrews 10:1) The Bible shows that from

    Gods standpoint, the Law given to Israel, in-cluding the requirement to observe a weeklySabbath day, came to an end at Jesus death.(Romans 10:4) What replaced it?

    A New Way of WorshipThe form of worship acceptable to God af-

    ter the Mosaic Law had fullled its purposeis clearly described in the Bible. Does it in-clude worshipping on a specic day eachweek?

    The Scriptures indicate that some com-mands given to Israel also applied to thosein the Christian congregation. These includ-ed the commands to abstain from idolatryand fornication, as well as from eating blood.(Acts 15:28, 29) Signicantly, the commandsregarding the weekly Sabbath were not includ-ed among the ones that Christians were re-quired to obey.Romans 14:5.

    What else does the Bible tell us about how

    rst-century Christians worshipped? Theyregularly met together to pray, read scrip-tures, listen to talks, and sing songs praisingGod. (Acts 12:12; Colossians 3:16) At suchmeetings, Christians received instruction,strengthened their faith, and gave mutual en-couragement to one another.Hebrews 10:24, 25.

    THEBIBLES VIEWPOINT

    A Weekly Holy DayIs It Required?

    T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y

    1

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    Awake! September 2011 11

    Nowhere does the Bible say that Christianmeetings were to be held on Sunday or anyother particular day of the week. So, then,

    why do many professed Christians observeSunday as a holy day? The custom of wor-shipping on Sunday arose after the Bible wascompleted and a variety of beliefs and tradi-tions not based on the Bible had begun to ap-pear.

    Did God later reestablish a weekly day forcommunal worship? No. The entire patternfor true worship is laid out in detail in the Bi-ble. No other inspired writings have been add-ed to the Holy Scriptures. The apostle Paulwas inspired to write: Even if we or an angelout of heaven were to declare to you as goodnews something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed.Ga-latians 1:8.

    Refreshing Worship That Pleases God Although the religious leaders of Jesus day

    scrupulously observed a weekly holy day,their worship was not acceptable to God be-cause their hearts were wicked. They loved

    money and looked down on common, hum-ble people. They desired prominence, theywere corrupt, and they were deeply involvedin the political struggles of their day. (Mat-thew 23:6, 7, 29-33; Luke 16:14; John 11:46-48) They claimed to represent God. Yet theyturned the Sabbath, which God had intendedto be a source of refreshment, into an oppres-

    sive system of man-made rules.Matthew 12:9-14.

    Clearly, observing a weekly holy day is not

    in itself the key to worship that pleases God.What is needed? Jesus gave this appealinginvitation: Come to me, all you who aretoiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. (Matthew 11:28) Worship that is trulybased on Jesus teachings is indeed refresh-ing. It is free of hypocrisy and burdensomerituals.

    Around the world, Jehovahs Witnessesclosely follow the pattern of worship prac-ticed by Jesus early followers. Witnesses en- joy a weekly program of Bible instruction.The days on which their meetings are heldare determined by local circumstances, notby unscriptural traditions. Why not visit sucha meeting in your community and experiencethis refreshing worship for yourself?

    HAVE YOU WONDERED?

    Must you worship God on a specic day

    of the week? Romans 10:4; 14:5. Why should we meet together for

    worship? Hebrews 10:24, 25. What is the key to worship that is truly

    satisfying? Matthew 11:28.

    S D AY F R I D AY S A T U R D AY S U N D AY

    2 3 4

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    ow reso ution commerica image

    ted, they fold their wings and dive steeplytoward the water, realigning their swoop asnecessary before snatching the sh with theirtalons. This technique requires perfect tim-ing and excellent eyesight.

    Sometimes the African sh eagle discoversthat the sh it has captured with its talons istoo heavy to lift. The sh may weigh up tosix pounds (2.7 kg)! What does the eagle dothen? Naturalists have observed some solv-ing the problem by paddling to shore usingtheir wings!

    Diving for DinnerGannets and boobies also dive for sh, but

    they use a vertical dive. Small ocks y to-gether searching for shoals of sh that swimnear the surface. The silvery bodies of thesesh change the color of the sea from darkblue to pale green when viewed from above.This telltale patch of green sets gannets andboobies in motion.

    After locating a shoal of sh, gannetsplunge like arrows into the water at speeds of up to 60 miles (96.56 km) an hour. The birdscreate a spectacle one might compare to anOlympic diving competition. Other ocks

    soon notice the activity and quickly arrive atthe spot to share in the feast.Unlike herons, boobies and gannets do not

    spear the sh when their head enters the wa-ter. The force of their dive carries the birds toa depth of several feet. Then, as they swim to

    the surface, they catch the sh and swallow itwhole.

    Terns are also procient divers, but theyswoop and hover much closer to the wa-ter. The Handbook of the Birds of the World explains that rather than dive-bombing asboobies and gannets do, terns depend onskill, grace and agility in ight. They willscoop a sh from the surface. Only brief-ly, on occasion, do they pursue a sh underwater.

    Fishing as a TeamPelicans may look ungainly because of

    their huge beaks, but they are accomplishediers and shermen. Brown pelicans usual-ly dive for their dinner, and they may alsosnatch sh from local shermen as they haulin their nets. But pelicans really excel at col-lective shing.

    By nature, pelicans are gregarious. A re-markable trait is their habit of coordinatingshing efforts. Typically, a ock of a dozenbirds alight on the water and form a semi-circle. Swimming slowly, they herd a shoal of sh into a convenient shallow area. As theydo, they all open their wings and submerge

    their heads in unison, gulping sh into theirbeaks.Of course, like any human shers, birds of-

    ten fail in their attempts. But their successrate is generally much higher than that of their human competitors.

    Northern gannets Common tern

    Australian pelicans

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    Most visitors to Russia enjoy buy-ing handicrafts of some kind, such asmatryoshka dolls. In early times mostof such items were crafted from woodby skilled village craftsmen. A tradition-al form of wood painting is calledkhokhloma.

    For centuries Russians ate frommeticulously carved and painted bowls,and they used spoons, cups, and othervessels made of wood. The designs ap-pearing on these were usually of plantor animal life. Entire villages might bedevoted to making wooden objects ofone kind or another.

    Villagers would work on these proj-ects during long, cold winters, when therewas little farmwork to do. Producing suchhandicrafts became very protable insome towns and villages two hundred ormore years ago. For example, at one time, the entire population of Sem

    enov stopped

    farming and produced nearly two millionwooden bowls, platters, cups, and spoonsin a single year.

    Villagers near the town of NizhniyNovgorod invented a technique for

    producing a hard, gilded nish for theirpainted vessels. Heat-resistant paintsand varnishes were developed, andprepared objects were red in a kiln.High temperatures gave the silver-colored surface an even, golden tone.The process is still used today in khokh-loma factories around Nizhniy Novgorod.

    Khokhloma designs include owersand plants found in Russian forests andmeadows, as well as birds and sh.

    Often featured are curling tendrils ofgrass and leaves mixed with fruits, suchas berries of various kinds. The colorsare usually red, black, gold, and green.Today, through khokhloma handicrafts,dining tables of people in many placesaround the world are decorated with pret- ty colors of the Russian countryside.

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    Awake! September 2011 15

    Do you know this poem? Have you heardit sung? During the last few decades, this

    poem has brought comfort to people around the world. It has been attributed to differentpoets over the years. Some have even claimed that it is a Navajo burial prayer. In English it isknown, not by its closing lines mentionedabove, but by its rst line: Do not stand at my grave and weep.

    The poem became a major hit song in Ja-pan a few years ago, but it also caused a lotof confusion. The Japanese often visit their fam-ilys grave to pay respects to relatives presumed

    to be still alive there. As a result of this song teaching otherwise, many have asked, Justwhere are the dead?

    Japanese Buddhists have long held funerals,wakes, and memorial services. But most Bud-dhists are unable to answer the question,Where are the dead? Or other questions, suchas: Do the dead of other religions and nationali- ties go to the same place? Why do the dead notrespond?

    Many feel that such questions are unanswer-able and that it is a waste of time even tosearch for the answers. Still, you may wonder,What happens when we die? Just where mightanswers be found? The Bible says that Godcreated the rst human couple perfect and gave them a beautiful garden home. They had theprospect of living forever in Paradise on earth if they obeyed God. But they did not.

    So God took action. He expelled the couplefrom their Paradise home and stopped sustain-ing their lives. He explained the consequencesof their disobedience: For dust thou art, andunto dust shalt thou return. Man was madefrom the dust, and eventuallyat deathhe re- turns to it.Genesis 2:7; 3:19, King James Ver- sion.

    A man in Kofu, Japan, who tends a large

    grave noted: The urns are full of ashes andbones when I put them in the grave. After aboutve years, they are half empty. After ten years there is absolutely nothing left in many of theurns. Our bodies are composed of elementsin the soil, and in time they disintegrate to dustagain. So, what is left?

    Although all consciousness ends at death,our Maker, who is even aware of each sparrow that dies, lovingly remembers us. (Matthew10:29-31) As he has promised, he will resurrect

    us, yes, bring us back to life. He will call us forthfrom the sleep of death.Job 14:13-15; John11:21-23, 38-44.

    If you would like to know more about thissubject, you are invited to write to the publish-ers of this magazine, who will be glad to fur-nish further information, or visit our Web siteat www.watchtower.org.

    I Did Not DieDO NOT STAND ATMY GRAVE AND CRY,

    I AM NOT THERE.I DID NOT DIE.

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    WATERFALLS have always captured the at- tention and admiration of people. The therapeutic sound of the waters crashing on therocks below and the soft, cool mist that oftenascends from the falls provide countless visi- tors with hours of relaxation.

    Murchison Falls 1 in Uganda is no exception.The Nile River extends over 4,000 miles(6,400 km), and some call these falls the riv-ers most spectacular feature. True, they do nothave the height of Angel Falls in South Americaor the water volume of Victoria Falls in Africaor Niagara Falls in North America. Yet the beau- ty and power of Murchison Falls leave a lastingimpression.

    A History of Murchison FallsMurchison Falls is just one feature of the

    1,483-square-mile (3,841 sq km) area thatmakes up Murchison Falls National Park. Thepark, located in northwestern Uganda, wasestablished in 1952. The falls were visited by

    1 Also known as Kabalega or Kabarega Falls.

    Baker in the early 1860s. In his book The Albert Nyanza, he describes his rst view of the falls.

    Upon rounding the corner, he wrote, a

    magnicent sight burst suddenly upon us. . . .The fall of water was snow white, which had asuperb effect as it contrasted with the darkcliffs that walled the river, while the gracefulpalms of the tropics and wild plantains per-fected the beauty of the view. This was thegreatest waterfall of the Nile. Baker originallygave the falls the name Murchison Falls in hon-or of the president of the Royal GeographicalSociety.

    Ways to View ThemA ne way to view the falls is by boat. The ride

    originates at the Paraa launch site and providesvisitors with the thrilling experience of cruising the Nile while observing wild animals from acomfortable distance. Hippopotamuses arecommonly sighted but so are large African ele-phants, crocodiles, and buffalo. The magnicentNile wildlife may even cause a visitor temporari-

    Murchison Falls Ugandas UniquePiece of the NileThis was the greatest waterfall of the Nile. English explorer Sir Samuel White Baker.

    A l l ph o t o s p a g e s 1 6 an d 1 7 : C o ur t e s y of t h e U g an d aWi l d l i f eA u t h or i t y

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    Awake! September 2011 17

    ly to forget his goal of seeing the falls. But oncehe reaches the snow-white waters that seem-ingly explode through the rocks, he understandswhy Baker was so impressed.

    Although many visitors thoroughly enjoy theview of the falls from a boat, the view fromabove has its own special enchantment. Someconsider it the best. From there one can see the 160-foot-wide (49 m) Nile forced into anopening approximately 20 feet wide (6 m) and then cascade 130 feet (40 m). This has beendescribed as one of the most powerfulsurges of water found anywhere in the world.Visitors at times feel a slight tremble in the

    ground as the water gushes through to the oth-er side.

    Baker tells about his impressions just prior to seeing the falls. He said he heard thunder-ous sounds while out for an early morning walk.He assumed that the sounds were coming from

    distant thunder but was surprised to discover that they were coming from the falls.

    Each year, like Baker, thousands are thrilledby the breathtaking beauty and power of thisspectacular sight. Seeing the force of thesewaters as they cascade to the depths below isan experience not readily forgotten. Murchi-son Falls is indeed a unique part of the Nile.

    A 1969 census found that some 14,000 hip-popotamuses, 14,500 elephants, and 26,500buffalo lived in the park. In the decades thatfollowed, a dramatic decline in the populations

    of such animals occurred. Recently, as a resultof conservation efforts, they are making a come-back. Now the forests are also home to manyprimates, such as chimpanzees and baboons,while the savannas provide grazing for animalssuch as giraffes and Jacksons hartebeests.In fact, over 70 mammal species and over 450bird species have been identied inside the park.

    Murchison Falls National Park

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    18 Awake! September 2011

    A teenage Witness of Jehovah named Antonlived in the remote village of Schelkan in Stavro-pol Kray, Russia. In childhood he had been di-agnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, anincurable disease that rapidly wastes the mus-cles and usually leads to death before age 20.By the time Anton was nine, he could no longerwalk or lift himself up.

    When on a visit to a congregation of Witness-es, Yevgeny, accompanied by his wife, Diana,met Anton. Anton was incredibly fragile physi-cally, Diana explained, but was strong spiritu-ally. Since his older brother died of the samedisease at 19, Anton knew he didnt have much time left. Still, he was happy and optimistic.

    Both Diana and her husband encouragedAnton to expand his ministry by writing letters to people in other isolated villages. In 2005,he wrote about 500 letters and sent them toaddresses in nearby villages. However, to hisdisappointment, he did not receive a singlereply. Although he felt discouraged, Antoncontinued to write letters, and he prayed ear-

    nestly for direction as to how he could be a pro-ductive minister despite his circumstances.

    When reading a newspaper one day, Antoncame across a letter from a sick woman whowas in need of comfort. Anton wrote a letter toher, and part of it was printed in the samenewspaper: Although my disease is incurable,reading the Bible helps me to look at the futurewith condence, he wrote. I love to receive let- ters and always wait for them.

    Deeply moved, the woman wrote a letter to the same newspaper. It was printed in a col-umn entitled Write to Anton! The woman ex-pressed appreciation for the spiritual thoughtsexpressed in Antons letter and added: Letshelp Anton! Respond and write to him. Theyoung man is in such need of kind words!Antons address was provided.

    Letters to Anton began arriving at the small

    post office in his villageup to 30 a day! Theycame from all over Russia, as well as the Bal- tics, Germany, and even France. He receivedhundreds of letters from the newspapers read-ers. Anton was just ecstatic! remembersDiana. Now he had hundreds of people hecould write to and share his Bible-based beliefswith.

    Anton spent over a year corresponding with those who had written to him, and he sharedBible truths with them. Gradually, as his hands

    weakened, he began to dictate his letters.In September 2008, Anton died at 20 years ofage. Although he was extremely fragile physi-cally, Antons faith and love for the ministryopened up opportunities for him to touch hun-dreds of lives.

    WRITE TO

    ANTON!

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    Awake! September 2011 19

    I AM surrounded by friends but have no

    friends. Thats how 21-year-old Shayna de-scribes the experience of being around a lotof people but not feeling particularly close toany of them. That feeling might be especiallycommon among those on a social network.You could have a huge friends list and lookpopular and awesome, says 22-year-old Se-rena, but in reality that list might be full of meaningless contacts. 1

    Which would you rather havehundreds of contacts or a few genuine friends? Although

    both have advantages, a true friend can help you through challenges and can even encour-age you to be a better person. (1 Corinthians16:17, 18) Use the following criteria to help you determine who among your acquaint-

    1 For more information on social networking, see theYoung People Ask articles in the July and August 2011 issuesof Awake!

    ances might already be displaying the quali-

    ties of a true friend.A TRUE FRIEND IS TRUSTWORTHY My friend would tell me her secrets, and be-

    cause of that, I thought I could trust her withmine. So one day I told her that I had a crushon a boy. Wow, was that a mistake! She went right out and told others about it!Beverly.

    I can tell my friend Alan anything, and I know he wont go around repeating it.Calvin.

    Which of the above youths had a truefriend? Which of

    your friends would you feel

    comfortable conding in? 1 The Bible saysthat a true companion is loving all the time. Proverbs 17:17.

    1 Sometimes keeping a condence is unwisefor example, if a friend has committed a serious wrong, has suicidal thoughts,or is involved in some type of self-destructive behavior. Formore information, see the Awake! issues of December 2008,pages 19-21, and May 2008, pages 26-29.

    YOUNGPEOPLE ASK

    Who are my truefriends?

    Cori has expanded my horizons. When Imwith her, I meet new people, try new things,and have fun every step of the way. Corisfriendship has literally changed my life! Tara. 1

    Does that kind of friendship sound toogood to be true? If so, dont be discouraged.Potential friends are all around you. This

    article will help you discover who they are.1 Some names in this article have been changed.

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    20 Awake! September 2011

    Below, write the names of two friendswhom you have found to be trustworthy.1

    2

    A TRUE FRIEND IS SELF-SACRIFICINGAt some point in any friendship, one person

    is stronger than the other. A true friend recog- nizes when you are the weaker one and then steps up to the plate and helps you. Of course,

    that friend trusts that you will do the same thing when she needs help.Kellie.When my mother died, I had a new friend.

    We werent very close yet, but we had planned to go to a wedding together. As it turned out, mymothers memorial service was to take place onthe same day as the wedding. To my surprise,my friend showed up at the memorial service in- stead of going to the wedding. At that moment, I knew she was a true friend!Lena.

    Who among your friends shows a self-sacricing spirit? A true friend will keepseeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person.1 Corinthians 10:24.

    Below, write the names of two friends whohave shown themselves to be self-sacricing.1

    2

    A TRUE FRIEND HELPS YOU TO BECOME ABETTER PERSON

    Some people expect me to be loyal to themor agree with them even if it means compro- mising my values or doing something against my conscience. Those arent true friends.Na- deine.

    My sister is my best friend. She pushes me todo things outside of my comfort zone and helpsme to be more outgoing. She tells me the trutheven if it isnt what I want to hear.Amy.

    When I went through a rough patch, my best friends were the ones who didnt coddle me; they gave me honest advice. The others either waited for me to come out of it or tried to distract me.They didnt acknowledge that something was

    wrong.Miki.My friend sees potential in me as no one elsedoes, and she encourages me to accomplish my goals. Shes brutally honest with me when sheneeds to beand I love it!Elaine.

    Do your friends help you to reach your po-tential, or do you have to lower your stan-dards to t in with them? Proverbs 13:20 says:He that is walking with wise persons will be-come wise, but he that is having dealings withthe stupid ones will fare badly.

    Below, write the names of two friends whohave helped you become a better person.1

    2

    Look at the names that you wrote in thethree sections above. If one persons name ap-pears in all three, that is a true friend! On

    TICKET TO TRUEFRIENDSHIP1. Aim for quality, not quantity. Its nice to

    know a lot of people, but even in a biggroup, you tend to search out those fewthat you relate to most.Karen.

    2. Be a true friend. I expect loyalty andtrust from my friends, so I try to givethem the same.Evelyn.

    3. Express appreciation. When I appre-ciate someones friendship, I let themknow with a card or a gift.Kellie.

    WHY NOT ASK YOUR PARENTS?

    When you were my age, what expe-riences did you have with friendships?Were you ever betrayed by a friend? Ifso, what did you learn from the experi-ence? Who proved to be loyal friends,and how did you nd them?

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    Awake! September 2011 21

    the other hand, if you had trouble thinking of anyone who meets the above criteria, dontbe discouraged. You could very well havepotential genuine friends all around you. Itmay just take more time to nd them. 1 In themeantime, do your best to be a good friend.I always try to be there for my friends, says20-year-old Elena. When they need some-thing done, I offer my help. When they needto talk, I offer my ears. When they need to cry,I offer my support.

    True, you might have many acquaintances,and thats better than being part of a clique.(2 Corinthians 6:13) But wouldnt you alsolike to have a few true friends who are bornfor when there is distress? (Proverbs 17:17)

    Its good to know a lot of people, says 20- year-old Jean, but thats like having a closetfull of clothes that look nice on the hangersbut dont all t. You always go back to the fewitems that you know work for you. And thatswhat you do with close friends too.

    1 For more information, see the March 2009 Awake! article,Young People Ask . . . Do I Need Better Friends?

    FOUNDATION FOR FRIENDSHIPA good friendship is built on the foun-

    dation of common values. That meansyour friend shares your spiritual, moral,and ethical convictions.

    The next factor, matching traits, isless important.

    And quite often, similar interestsmatter least. After all, you can befriends with someone whose hobbies

    and talents are different from yours.Warning: Be cautious about friendships

    that are founded on similar interestsalone. If that friend doesnt share yourvalues, the relationship will likely totteror worse, it may get you into trouble.

    More articles from the Young People Askseries can be found at the Web sitewww.watchtower.org/ype

    WHAT YOUR PEERS SAY

    If your standardsare too high, you wonthave friends because youll expect too muchfrom people. If your standards are too low, youll settle for justanyoneand thatsnot good either.

    Some people on

    social networks seemto care more about thenumber of friends they list than the relationshipthey have with thosefriends. When it comesto friendship, quality ismuch more importantthan quantity.

    When a person gos- sips to me about her other friends, I know that she also might be saying things about me to them.That makes me uncom-fortable. A true frienddoesnt gossip.

    Dominique

    Lianne

    Brieanne

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    W ILLIAM landed near Hastings, En-gland, in September 1066. There, onOctober 14, he defeated the army of EnglishKing Harold, who was killed. On ChristmasDay 1066, William, later known as the Con-

    queror, was crowned in Londons Westmin-ster Abbey. How would the English fare un-der their new king?

    The Great SurveyKing William I ravaged the north of the

    country and depopulated vast tracts of land.Even by the fairly barbaric standards of theage, writes former Oxford University staff tutor Trevor Rowley, the harrying of the North (1068-70) must be judged as sav-

    age. William faced constant uprisings, andhis army of occupation, numbering ten thou-sand or less, lived amid a hostile populationof perhaps two million. The people of Nor-mandy eventually built over 500 forticationsthroughout the countrythe most famous be-ing the Tower of London.

    In December 1085, 19 years after his inva-

    sion, William spent ve days with his courtofficials at Gloucester, England, planning asurvey of the country, excluding London andWinchester. Early the following year, royalcommissioners were sent simultaneously to

    each of seven different regions to questioncounty representatives and assess the coun-trys wealth.

    The king had to raise money to pay hisarmy of occupation. He also needed to set-tle disputes over land ownership. Achievingthese goals would ensure that people from Normandy and other parts of France wouldsettle in England, and thus Norman suprem-acy would be maintained.

    DomesdaySoon after his victory over the English,King William gave Norman barons the hold-ings of English nobles. Williams survey of England revealed that half of the value of thewhole country was by then in the hands of fewer than 200 men, only 2 of whom were En-glish. Of the 6,000 or so English subtenants,

    The Domesday BookAn Extraordinary Survey

    William, the duke of Normandy (a region of France), conqueredEngland in 1066. Nineteen yearslater he commissioned a survey of his new realm. Compilationsof this survey came to be calledthe Domesday Book. Why is

    it still one of Englands most important historical records?

    E N G L A N D

    LONDON

    Hastings

    NORMANDY

    E n g l i s h

    C h a n n e l

    B o ok : M ar y E v an s / T h eN a t i on al A r c h i v e s ,L on d on ,E n

    g l an d

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    many had no alternative but to lease land theyhad rightfully owned before 1066, while thepoor and dispossessed managed as best theycould.

    The survey legalized the takeover of prop-erty by the Normans. It also revalued fortax purposes land and tenancies, along withwoodlands and meadows. Even individualanimalsan ox, a cow, a pigwere includedin the survey. The oppressed English viewedthese ndings with apprehension, knowingthere was no appeal possible. They likenedthe great survey to the Day of Judgment,or the Day of Doom. Later, therefore, it wasnamed the Domesday Book survey.

    The Domesday Book is composed of two

    volumes written on parchment in Latin.Great Domesday, larger in page size, has413 leaves; and Little Domesday, 475 small-er ones. 1 It was left uncompleted when Wil-liam died in 1087. How was all of this accom-plished in one year?

    The Normans inherited from the English agovernmental structure with some details of owners and tenants, as well as scal and taxrecords. Using this foundation, the Normansthen made new tax assessments by sending of-cers to each county to conduct a public in-quiry.

    The Book TodayDuring the Middle Ages, the Domesday

    Book often traveled with the royal household.It was rst used mainly to settle land claims;however, in the 18th century, the noted En-glish jurist Sir William Blackstone referred toit to determine the right of certain tenants to vote. It has been stored in various locations,

    but it is now in The National Archives of theUnited Kingdom.To mark its 900th anniversary in 1986, it

    was rebound into ve volumes. A revisedtranslation of its text into English is available

    1 Great Domesday contained abbreviated lists of taxableproperty, whereas Little Domesdays were left unabbreviatedand were not incorporated into the larger volume.

    for scholars and historians. A BBC commen-tary called it the foundation document of thenational archives and . . . still valid as evi-dence of title to land. In 1958 it was used to

    verify the right of an ancient town to hold itsmarket. Archaeologists continue to consult the

    Domesday Book to locate medieval Englishand Norman settlements. It remains a unique-ly valuable source of information that laid thefoundation for the development of the En-glish nation.

    William suggested that the popeelevate Williams invasion to that ofa crusade, promising in return greaterpapal control over an errant Englishchurch. The pope readily agreed.This was a triumph of diplomacyfor William, writes Professor DavidC. Douglas. Another noted historian,George M. Trevelyan, in his History of England, concludes that the Papalbanner and blessing were a useful as-set to William in an undertaking that

    otherwise looked more like a robberyunder arms than a crusade.

    WILLIAMS CRUSADE

    5 The Bridgeman Art Library

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    F ROM childhood I had heardthe saying: Scratch a Russianand you nd a Tartar [Tatar]. I alwaysconsidered myself Russian, but not longago my relatives told me that my grandfatherwas a Tatar.

    1

    When I tell my friends this,some say that they too have Tatar roots.

    It has been interesting for me to learnabout famous Tatars and their achievementsin art, sports, and other areas. For example,ballet master Rudolf Nureyev, who had a pro-found impact on dance, was born into a Ta-tar family in Russia. About seven million Ta-tars live in the countries of the former SovietUnion. Let me tell you what I have learnedabout Tatars.

    Their PastTatars have been mentioned in connection

    with Mongolian and Turkish peoples formany centuries. In the 13th century, theytook part in military campaigns initiated byGenghis Khan, the Mongolian leader. 2 Hisempire spread over an immense area, com-parable in size to the former Soviet Union.In 1236, about 150,000 of his warriors head-ed toward Europe, which begins west of theUral Mountains. Here, they rst attackedRussian cities.

    When the Mongols conquered Russia notlong after that, they founded a mixed

    1 The Tatars are a large Turkic ethnic group found mainly inRussia.

    2 See the article Asian Nomads Who Forged an Empire,in the May 2008 issue of Awake!

    Mongolian-Turkish state, the western part of which some call the Golden Horde. Its capi-tal, Sarai Batu, was located on the lower Vol-ga River. This state included part of Siberiaand its Ural Mountains, as well as the distantCarpathian and Caucasus mountain rangesin Ukraine and Georgia. Russian principali-

    ties were made to pay tribute to the Horde. Inthe 15th century, the Horde broke up into ju-risdictions, such as Crimea, Astrakhan, andKazan.

    Tatarstan and Its Capital, KazanToday about four million people live in the

    multinational Republic of Tatarstan, locatedin the far eastern part of European Russia.Its territory is about 26,255 square miles (68,-000 sq km), and it is reputed to be among

    the most economically developed subjects of the Russian Federation. Tatarstan is a lead-ing Russian producer of oil and gas. Its indus-tries produce airplanes and automobiles, andthe republic has several airports.

    Kazan is a modern city of a million peo-ple, where the Volga and the Kazanka riv-ers meet. It is one of the many cities in Rus-

    TatarsTheir Past,

    Present, andFuture

    St. Petersburg

    MOSCOW

    Kazan

    REPUBLIC OF

    TATARSTAN

    V o l g aR i v e r

    UR

    AL

    MO

    U NT

    AI N S

    R U

    S S I A

    24 Awake! September 2011

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    sia that have built beautiful subway systems. 1Every station has a theme. Some are mod-ern in design, and others have an oriental ormedieval feel. One Kazan station is decorat-ed with 22 mosaic frescoes representing tra-ditional Tatar fairy tales.

    Kazan Federal University was founded in1804 by Russian Czar Alexander I and hasone of the largest libraries in Russia. It isan inuential educational and cultural centerand is a forerunner of other universities in Ta-tarstan. Among the librarys 5,000,000 publi-cations are 30,000 ancient manuscripts, someof which date back to the ninth century C.E.

    It is enjoyable towalk along Bauman Streetin the city center. The area is lled with at-

    tractive stores and caf es. When visiting thererecently, my wife and I enjoyed a relaxing

    cruise on the Volga River after our city tour. Among the highlights of Kazan is its fa-

    mous kremlin. This old fortress, with itsbuildings dating back to the 16th centu-ry, is the only Tatar fortress in Russia tosurvive to the present. Within the stone wallsof the Kazan Kremlin are the SyuyumbekiTower, buildings of the Tatarstan govern-ment, a mosque, and an Orthodox church.

    1 Other Russian cities with subway systems include Yekater-inburg, Moscow, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novosibirsk, St. Peters-burg, and Samara.

    In 2000, the Kazan Kremlin became a

    UNESCO World Heritage site. At night thearchitecture of the kremlin complex looks es-pecially majestic. This is made possible bylights that reect in the river.

    The People and Their LanguageThe Tatars are the largest population of

    Turkic peoples in Russia and are said to to-tal some 5,500,000. But it is not known howmany there really are throughout this vastcountry.

    The Tatar language belongs to the Turk-ic family of languages. This language familyalso includes Azerbaijani, Bashkir, Kazakh,

    The Kazan Kremlinon the Kazanka River

    5Mi c h el S e t b o un

    / C O R B I S

    The book Dinnr Tarixb (Religions of theWorld) written by Tatar author M. Khuzha-yev, states that Adam was created by

    Yakhve Allah, or Jehovah God. Also, theTatar edition of the Pentateuchthat is, therst ve books of modern Biblescontainsa footnote at Genesis 2:4 that says ofGods name: It is possible that this namewas pronounced by ancient Hebrews as Yahveh.

    GODS NAME IN THETATAR LANGUAGE

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    Kirghiz, Nogai, Turkish, Turkoman, Tuvinian, Uz-bek, and Yakut. Some of these languages are similarenough that, to some degree, speakers can under-stand each other.

    Turkic-language speakers in the world numberinto many millions. On streets of cities through-out Tatarstan, people use both Tatar and Russian,as do newspapers and books, radio, and television.Theaters in Tatarstan feature Tatar-language plays,which revolve around Tatar history, folklore, anddaily life.

    Storefront and street signs in Kazan and other cit-ies are in both Russian and Tatar. Russian has manywords of Tatar origin. In the Soviet Union, writtenTatar underwent a change from the Arabic alphabetto the Latin alphabet in 1928. Since 1939, Tatar has

    been written in a form of Cyrillic similar to the Rus-sian Cyrillic.

    National TraditionsTatars were once hunters and stock raisers. Even

    today, traditional cooking includes many meat dish-es. One is belesh, a favorite of many Tatar families. Itis usually made like a pie, with a lling of potatoes,meat, onions, and spices. This is baked for about twohours. Then the pie is cut up at the table in frontof everyone as steam rises from the top.

    Belesh is a favorite dishof many Tatar families

    Jehovahs Witnesses in Russia hold classesto teach the Tatar language because theyhave a strong desire to tell people about thegood news of Gods Kingdom. A woman inTatarstan said: Knowledge about God in mynative language has touched me even to thepoint of tears.

    In 1973 a small group of Tatar JehovahsWitnesses began to hold meetings for Biblestudy in the Tatar language. In the 1990s,Jehovahs Witnesses began publishing Bibleliterature in Tatar. 1 Then, in 2003, the rst

    1 The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society has producedBibles and Bible-based publications in over 560 languages.

    Tatar-language congregation of Jehovahs Wit-nesses was formed in Naberezhnye Chelny, inTatarstan Republic. Today, there are 8 Tatar-language congregations and 20 such groupsin Russia.

    In 2008, delegates from Astrakhan, theVolga Region, the Ural Mountains, West

    Siberia, and the far north attended theTatar-language district convention. Now inTatarstan there are 36 Tatar-, Russian-, andRussian-Sign-Language congregations andgroups, where over 2,300 people are activelyengaged in teaching people the truth aboutGod.

    JEHOVAHS WITNESSES IN TATARSTAN

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    Among Tatars national holidays, probablythe oldest and most famous is Sabantui. Itis based on a pagan custom in which peopleprayed together and offered sacrices to thesun-god and the spirits of ancestors. The par-ticipants believed that such sacrices wouldensure that their bloodline would continue,their animals would reproduce, and their landwould be fruitful.

    Tatars love horses. They are an importantpart of their traditional culture and are linkedto their nomadic past. Kazan has one of the nest hippodromes in the world, with 12stables and a veterinary clinic. A swimmingpool is even provided for the horses!

    What the Future Holds

    The Koran says: Certainly We wrotein the Psalms, after the Torah: IndeedMy righteous servants shall inherit theearth. (Sura 21, Al-Anbiy a [The Prophets], verse 105). Evidently this was taken from thepsalms of David that were recorded in theBible over 1,500 years earlier. Psalm 37:29reads: The righteous themselves will possessthe earth, and they will reside forever uponit.

    From which nation and ethnic group willthese happy, righteous people come? Aprophecy from the Injil (the Christian Gos-pels of the New Testament) says: A greatcrowd, which no man was able to number,out of all nations and tribes and peoples andtongues. (Revelation 7:9) What a wonderfullife it will be in the future to live among amultinational and colorful brotherhood thatwill ll the earth! 1

    1 More information on Gods purposes is found in the bro-chure The Guidance of GodOur Way to Paradise, published byJehovahs Witnesses.

    Pyotr Markov was born in a village

    in Tatarstan in 1948. For 30 years hewas well-known locally for his wres-tling and weight-lifting abilities. Oncehe lifted a 70-pound (32 kg) weight130 times. Now, since he became oneof Jehovahs Witnesses, he is well-known for talking to people about Godin the Tatar and Russian languagesand providing them with help for cop-ing with lifes problems.

    Thereby Pyotr imitates the caring

    Creator, about whom it is said at Isaiah40:11: Like a shepherd he will shep-herd his own drove. With his arm hewill collect together the lambs; and inhis bosom he will carry them. Thosegiving suck he will conduct with care.

    AN ATHLETE BECOMESA SHEPHERD

    Pyotr now serves

    as a spiritual shepherd

    1 . N u m b e r o f l a m p s o n t h e l a m p s t a n d . 2 . N u m b e r o f l o a v e s o f s h o w b r e a d . 3 . H o r n s e x t e n d i n g o u t o f t h e i n c e n s e a l t a r . 4 . A . 5 . 2 , 5 0 0 . 6 . D .

    A N S W E R S T O P A G E S 3 0 A N D 3 1

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    The birds egg has been called amiracle of packaging. Why?

    Consider: While it appears solid,the calcium-rich shell of a chicken eggcan have up to 8,000 microscopic pores.These allow oxygen to enter and carbondioxide to escapean important ex-change if the embryo is to breathe. Yet,the shell and several membranes pre-vent bacteria from infecting the embryo.Albumena gelatinlike substance witha high water contentgives the egg itsability to absorb shock.

    Researchers would like to imitatethe structure of the egg to create prod-ucts with better shock protection and alm coating that could protect fruit frombacteria and parasites. However, copy-ing nature is not so easy, writes Mari-anne Botta Diener in Vivai magazine.Attempts thus far, she notes, have notbeen environmentally friendly.

    What do you think? Did this mir-acle of packaging, the birds egg, comeabout by chance? Or was it designed?

    WAS IT DESIGNED?

    The BirdsEgg

    INSIDEAN EGG

    Shell

    Yolk

    Chalaza(anchors yolk)

    Outer membrane

    Inner membrane

    Germinal disc(where embryo starts)

    Thin albumen

    Thick albumen

    Air space

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    Awake! September 2011 29

    Light Kills Superbugs A novel technology, which uses high-

    intensity light to eliminate stubborn bacte-ria from hospitals, has been developed at the

    University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.The new decontamination technique is sig-nicantly more efficient in reducing patho-gens than cleaning and disinfecting alone. Itworks by using a narrow spectrum of visible-light wavelengths to excite molecules con-tained within bacteria, explains microbiolo-gist Professor John Anderson.

    Forest Clearing and MalariaThe clearing of tropical forests is linked to

    an almost 50 percent increase in cases of ma-laria. So say researchers who have studieddata from 54 of Brazils health districts alongwith satellite images that document log-ging operations. The main carrier of malariain the region studied is a mosquito known as Anopheles darlingi. The deforested landscape,with more open spaces and partially sunlitpools of water, appears to provide ideal habi-tat for this mosquito, says Sarah Olson, leadauthor of the report. Malaria hot spots werefound to correspond to areas in which there isthe greatest destruction of the forest.

    Flying SquidPhotographic evidence has recently conrmed

    that some species of squid y using jet propulsion.Marine biologists observed that squid as small as20 centimeters [8 inches] could launch themselvesas high as two meters [6.6 feet] above the wa-ter and propel themselves, actively apping theirns and spiraling their tentacles, for a distance asgreat as 10 meters [33 feet], says Scientic Ameri- can. By taking in water and then forcing it out in a jet, the mollusks generate enough thrust to leapright out of the sea. Photos seem to indicate that inight they use their ns as wings.

    WATCHING THE WORLD

    A poll conducted by the British Broad-casting Corporation among 13,000people in 26 countries suggested that

    corruption is the worlds most talked about problem. However,poverty was considered the worldsmost important problem. BBC NEWS,BRITAIN.

    Churches throughout the U.S. are at-taching GPS tracking devices to theirnativity statues of the baby Jesus. Inrecent years, theres been a nation-wide spate of thefts of nativity

    statues. THE WEEK,U.S.A.

    An advisory committee to the [U.S.]Food and Drug Administration isrecommending that people withchronic fatigue syndrome bebarred from donating blood,amid concerns a retrovirus may belinked to the disease. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL,U.S.A.

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    FOR FAMILY REVIEW

    What Is Different?Can you identify the three differences betweenpicture A and picture B? Write your answers on thelines below, and complete the pictures by coloringthem. CLUE: Read Exodus 25:23, 30, 31, 37; 30:1-7;Leviticus 24:5, 6.

    1

    2

    3

    4. Which picture is correct, picture A or picture B?

    A.

    B.

    FOR FAMILY REVIEW answers on page 27

    FOR DISCUSSION: What did the priestshave to do before serving in the tabernacle?CLUE: Read Exodus 30:17-21. If you wantto please your parents and Jehovah, howimportant is your cleanliness? In addition

    to being physically clean, how else can yoube clean? CLUE: Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11;2 Corinthians 7:1.

    FAMILY ACTIVITY:Have each family mem-ber research facts about the Holy Placein the tabernacle. (Hebrews 9:2) Then cometogether and report one new fact that youhave learned. CLUE: Read Psalm 119:105;141:2; Matthew 4:4; John 4:34; Revelation8:4.

    30

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    Collect and Learn Cut out, fold in half, and save

    J E R E M I A H

    B I B L E

    C A R D

    9

    J E R E M I A H

    PROFILE Selected before his birth to be aprophet. (Jeremiah 1:1-5) Jeremiah servedGod faithfully for over 65 years. ThoughJeremiah felt inexperienced and afraid tospeak, Jehovah told him: Do not be afraid. . . , for I am with you to deliver you. Jeremiah 1:6-8.

    QUESTIONSA. Jehovah used Jeremiah to write whatfour Bible books?B. True or false? Jeremiah remainedsingle.C. Complete Jeremiahs statement:In my heart [the word of God] proved to be like . . .

    ANSWERSA. First and Second Kings, Jeremiah, andLamentations.B. True.Jeremiah 16:1-4.C. . . . a burning re shut up in my bones.Jeremiah 20:9.

    Peoples and Lands5. My name is Geoffrey. I am nine years old, andI live in Fiji. About how many of Jehovahs Witness-es live in Fiji? Is it 500, 2,500, or 10,500?

    6. Which dot shows where I live? Circle it, drawa dot where you live, and see how close you areto Fiji.

    ChildrensPicture SearchCan you nd these pictures inthis issue? In your own words,describe what is happening ineach picture.

    4 0 2 6 B

    . C . E .

    A d a m

    c r e a t e d

    L i v e d c i r c a

    6 5 0 B

    . C . E .

    1 C

    . E .

    9 8 C

    . E .

    L a s t B i b l e

    b o o k w r i t t e n

    EGYPT

    Jerusalem

    E u p h r a t e

    s

    Lived in Jerusalem. Traveled tothe Euphrates River and to EgyptJeremiah 13:1-9; 43:8-13

    A

    B

    CD

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    That is what the 32-page brochure You Can BeGods Friend! teaches us. Its appealing lessonsinclude God Invites You to Become His Friend andGod Is the Best Friend You Could Ever Have. Thebrochure is designed to help the reader learn thebasic teachings of the Bible.

    In its lesson Gods Friends Will Live in Paradise,the brochure clearly explains Gods purpose for ourearth. Yet, to enjoy the Paradise that the Bible promis-es, we need to learn how God wants us to servehim. Such lessons as How to Find the True Religionand Reject False Religion! will help you to becomeGods friend and to enjoy his favor. We are sure thatyou will nd reading this brochure rewarding.

    You may request a personal Bible study, as wellas a copy of this brochure, by lling in the accompany-ing coupon and mailing it to an appropriate addresslisted on page 5 of this magazine.

    How to BeGods Friend

    Q Without obligation,I request a copy of thebrochure shown here.

    Indicate which language.

    Q Please contact meconcerning a free home

    Name

    Address

    City

    YOU CAN BE

    G ODS F RIEND!