a christian perspective on the world today
In this issue June 2024 WHAT IN THE WORLD 04 EATING LIKE EDEN 06 FUDGE IT OR BUDGET? 12 WHY ON EARTH WOULD I READ THE BIBLE? 20
BURMA TO BRISBANE: ESTHER MOO’S STORY One refugee’s courageous journey PAGE 32
HOPE MATTERS 26 UNEXPECTED GRATITUDE AT 40,000 FEET 38 ARE HUMANS BASICALLY GOOD? 40 THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF ENERGY DRINKS 46
ASK PASTOR JESSE 52 06
FINDING MEANING IN THE MULTIVERSE 54 THE PERFECT SMOOTHIE 60 SUDOKU AND CROSSWORD PUZZLE 62
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54 FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2
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@SIGNSMAG
A Nation of Refugees In 1843, Friedrich Stackelroth married Caroline Brettig at a church in Hahndorf, South Australia. Caroline’s family had travelled with a group of German immigrants from Prussia to find freedom to worship in a manner they were convicted was right. They were some of the earliest European “refugees” to land on Australian shores seeking freedom. Discovering more about the early immigrants in my own family has given me an appreciation for my heritage and some of the challenges my forebears faced, as well as compassion for those facing displacement today. June 20 is World Refugee Day. According to the United Nations the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached more than 110 million in 2023. It can be hard for us to put ourselves in the shoes of those who have fled abuse, war, poverty and death. One thing we can do is listen to their experiences. In this issue you can read the story of Esther Moo, a refugee from Burma (Myanmar) (p32). But there’s more we can do. In the Bible, there are many reminders to treat minorities with respect. “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34). This command reflects on the Israelite experience of being slaves in Egypt. They were persecuted and oppressed and God here reminds them to “treat others as they’d like to be treated”. It is very easy to feel a great distance from the suffering of those who are displaced by war and natural disasters. But we must not allow our hearts to be hardened. Instead we should extend kindness, listen to understand and practise gratitude. JARROD STACKELROTH Editor
VOL 139 NO 5
ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford ASSISTANT EDITOR Zanita Fletcher COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau’u Talia Valderrama PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A28/$NZ30; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS COLLAGE
WHAT IN THE WORLD
Walking with Amal AUSTRALIA/SYRIA
Washed up war remains MARSHALL ISLANDS
While the Marshall Islands are a picture of tropical beauty in the Pacific Ocean, they are littered with unexploded munitions from World War II. Millions of dollars are being spent by the US and Pacific nations to identify, remove and destroy dormant bombs, which can still detonate if disturbed. Some estimate the number of bombs in the region, including in Fiji, Palau and Solomon Islands, could be in the hundreds of thousands.—The Guardian 4
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COTTONBRO STUDIOS, KEVIN MALIK, CATRINA SOUSA, JIM RITCHTER—PEXELS
Amal, whose name means hope in Arabic, is a 3.5-metre-high puppet who represents a 10-year-old Syrian refugee on a long journey. Controlled by a dozen people, she began her walk on the Syria-Turkey border in 2021 and has since traversed 15 countries and visited 90 cities, including Australia in 2024. She is a symbol of human rights for millions of refugees around the world and is highlighting the plight of displaced children fleeing war zones. Her walk is raising money for education, food, shelter, medical care and legal assistance for refugees and displaced children.—The Guardian
Legal personhood for whales NEW ZEALAND
Māori and Pacific leaders have signed a declaration seeking to give tohorā (southern right whales) legal personhood and inherent rights. Whales play a vital role in the health of marine ecosystems and their decline disrupts the balance that sustains all life in the Pacific Ocean. Māori leader Kiingi Tuheita said, “we must act with urgency to protect these magnificent creatures before it’s too late”.—Radio New Zealand
Solar panels in your eyeballs AUSTRALIA
Engineers at the University of New South Wales are examining ways tiny solar panels can be implanted in the human retina to restore sight for those with degenerative eye diseases. The panels would be self-powered and portable, doing away with the need for wires into the eyes. The research is still in the proof-ofconcept stage and has a long journey before it will be implantable.—UNSW
Farmer feeds hungry teens JAPAN
Sharing space with Tokyo’s chic cafes is a tiny fruit and vegetable stall with produce costing close to nothing compared to what else is available. A handwritten note from the owner under the honesty-payment box says, “I came here from Hiroshima with nothing. I lived on watermelon for a month . . . Thirty years on, I grow plenty of vegetables. Tomochan is on your side, so don’t worry about the future.” She says she runs the stall because she “hate[s] the idea of young people walking around hungry”.—CBS News JUNE 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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Eating Like Eden How science increasingly supports a vegan diet. SISI TORO
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GUSTAVO FRING— PEXELS
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W
hen I first decided to cut out meat from my diet 15 years ago, it wasn’t simply a matter of choosing beans over beef or finding the right tofu scramble recipe. Back then, embracing a plant-based lifestyle was a radical act, a personal revolution against the status quo of food culture. My decision was driven by a growing understanding that the choices I made at the dinner table rippled outwards, affecting animals, the environment and my own health in profound ways. I acknowledged the suffering of animals in industrial farming, recognised the toll that livestock farming takes on our planet’s ecosystems and welcomed the physical benefits of nourishing my body with whole, plant-derived foods The deeper I delved into the world of plant-based eating, the more I discovered its benefits and the more attuned I became to its ethical and environmental implications. But my commitment found its deepest roots in a spiritual connection. I was drawn to the concept of returning to the purity of humanity’s origins—the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 2-3)— where a diet devoid of animal products was not only the norm but was the initial intention for humanity. It seemed to me that this ancient diet, rich in fruits, grains, nuts and legumes, was designed to sustain not just our bodies, but our souls as well.
getting technical
Fast forward to the end of 2023, I
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stumbled upon a Stanford University study1 that confirmed my decisions. As someone who geeks out on analysing studies, I was thrilled about the quality of the research done and its focus on veganism. The study enrolled 22 pairs of adult twins. In each pair, one twin was randomly assigned to follow a vegan diet, while the other continued with an omnivorous diet. Remarkably, 78.6 per cent of these twins lived together during the trial, minimising environmental variation. This eight-week trial was divided into two phases. In the first four weeks, participants received three free meals daily, complemented by additional food or snacks as needed to meet their caloric requirements. They also participated in educational sessions focused on selecting healthy foods. For the remaining four weeks, participants took control of their diets, applying the knowledge from the educational sessions to their meal planning. Researchers assessed their nutritional intake at several points throughout the study, offering a comprehensive look at the dietary impacts. During the self-managed phase, notable differences emerged between the diets of the vegan and omnivorous participants. On average, vegans consumed 174 fewer calories, 10 grams more fibre, 309 milligrams less cholesterol and 9 grams less saturated fat in their diets. They also had higher iron intake but significantly lower vitamin B12 and
you have the power to change
This study felt like validation, a scientific nod to the significance of my dietary choices, affirming that eating habits have profound effects that go beyond genetics. This study is also a testament to the power of diet over genetic predispositions. By meticulously controlling for genetic
and environmental factors, the research provides compelling evidence of the cardiovascular benefits of a vegan diet. The implications are profound, especially in a Western society grappling with rising rates of heart disease and obesity. It challenges the notion that genetics are destiny, offering a blueprint for mitigating risk through dietary choices. The dietary differences observed in this study shed light on key JUNE 2024 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
FERNANDO ANDRADE—UNSPLASH
protein levels. The study noted the importance of B12 supplements for those on a vegan diet long-term and suggested the potential need for increased protein intake, given that the vegan participants’ intake hovered around the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The results of this innovative study were striking. The vegans had LDL-cholesterol levels that were 13.9 mg/dL (0.36 mmol/L) lower than their omnivorous twins. This reduction translated to a roughly 20 per cent decreased risk of cardiovascular disease if maintained throughout a lifetime. The vegan participants also exhibited lower fasting insulin levels and experienced a weight loss of 1.9 kg compared to their siblings on the omnivorous diet. Across all measured biomarkers, the vegans did not fare worse than the omnivores, suggesting that a healthy vegan diet can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk factors, even when genetics are meticulously controlled.
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nutritional considerations for anyone considering a vegan lifestyle. The critical takeaways were the importance of fibre (which plays a critical role in heart health) and the attention to nutrients that may be lower in a vegan diet (such as vitamin B12 and protein). These findings underscore the necessity of thoughtful dietary planning to ensure nutritional balance and health benefits. As the conversation around plantbased diets and health continues, this study adds a critical piece to the puzzle. Not only does it confirm the health benefits of a vegan diet, but it also highlights the importance of dietary education and planning. For individuals considering a transition to a vegan lifestyle, this research offers both motivation and a cautionary note about the need to address potential nutritional gaps.
It seemed to me that this ancient diet, rich in fruits, grains, nuts and legumes, was designed to sustain not just our bodies, but our souls too 10
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more than just a trend
The study’s findings are particularly relevant in today’s health-conscious society, where diet plays a pivotal role in preventive health care. As more people look to dietary changes to improve their health outcomes, the insights from this trial provide a valuable guide. The emphasis on a well-planned vegan diet, rich in nutrients and balanced in calories, offers a roadmap for those seeking to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and other health issues. Intriguingly, Netflix has since launched a docu-series titled You Are What You Eat, spotlighting this very study. While I’ve yet to view it, lacking a Netflix subscription, its existence signifies the study’s impact and the growing public interest in the nexus between diet and health. It’s a testament to the power of diet
guardianship, honouring the sanctity of all life. After all, it was in Genesis 1:29 where God said He had given humanity every fruit and herb that yields seed to eat, hinting that this is the way we were meant to eat all along. If you’re not already practising a plant-based lifestyle, I hope that you will consider these studies and move closer towards a lifestyle that is in line with Eden’s original diet. As we each individually navigate these decisions, may we do so with mindfulness and compassion, guided by ancient wisdom that both our bodies and the earth are sacred, gifted to us by God to both cherish and protect. Sisi Toro is a Hawaiian-based health educator and speaker who promotes a plant-based life. She enjoys creating recipes, hiking mountains and going to the beach. 1. <pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38032644/>
VAASEENAA—GETTY IMAGES
to shape personal health outcomes and a broader societal understanding. The Stanford twin study scientifically substantiates the health advantages of a vegan diet, yet for me, it embodies more. It affirms a chosen path, not solely for physical wellbeing but for spiritual fulfilment and divine connectivity. It strengthens the notion that our dietary selections can mirror our innermost values, marrying physical health with spiritual wellness. As we each tread our paths— whether drawn to veganism for health, ethical, environmental or spiritual motives—it’s vital to remember that our choices wield the power to not only shape our existence but also the world at large. By adopting a plant-based lifestyle, we align with a divine ethos of compassion and
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