Readers Digest Australia April 2022

Surviving And Thriving POLAR BEARS may be among one of the world’s most dangerous predators, but survival is still a challenge, particularly for the young. This month’s cover feature is a compelling depiction of the daily struggles of a mother polar bear called Nanu, who toils to keep her two young cubs fed and safe. ‘A Polar Bear’s Journey’ (page 78) is an expertly crafted extract of James Raffan’s book Ice Walker: A Polar Bear’s Journey Through the Fragile Arctic. It is a beautiful insight into these amazing animals, and the energy and smarts they need to survive – and thrive – in their naturally menacing environment. An article that particularly resonates with me, ‘3am Catastrophising?’ (page 144), looks at that irritating habit many of us share of lying awake in the…

Happy Anniversary How wonderful that your magazine is still so successful after 100 years (‘Highlights From A Century Of Reader’s Digest’, February). They were a part of my childhood and now I eagerly await their arrival in my own mailbox each month. Over the decades there have been numerous times when I’ve had to wait – for my husband, children, mechanics, doctors. The magazine’s compact size makes it ideal to pop into my handbag before heading off on such occasions, and easy to keep in the glovebox for emergencies. So while I thank you for all the years of entertainment and education you have provided, I especially thank you for all those times when rather than growing annoyed, I’ve presented the illusion of endless patience as I quietly enjoy the treat of…

Almost half a billion people in India depend on the 2500-kilometre-long Ganges for bathing, drinking and religious rituals. One of the largest river systems in the world, the Ganges is also a massive health and environmental concern; it has long been a repository for pollution such as raw sewage, agricultural runoff, plastics and flowers. As part of Hindu ceremonies, worshippers offer blooms at temples and dispose of them in rivers, like the Ganges, deemed sacred by believers. Every year, close to eight million tonnes of floral waste ends up in India’s waterways, where it contributes to the already significant human and industrial pollutants. “All the pesticides and insecticides that were used to grow these flowers mix with the river water, making it highly toxic,” entrepreneur Ankit Agarwal told Reuters TV. To help…

I was standing in the main street of Pompeii, Italy, on a cool November day in 1992. The Via dell’Abbondanza – the street of abundance – a broad avenue running north-south through the ruined city, was completely empty save for me. There was not a single person between the brooding hulk of Mount Vesuvius off in the distance and me. It felt more abandoned than abundant, but I didn’t mind. I’d first read about the city of Pompeii as a ten year old. An ancient Roman city smothered one night in 79 CE in a thick blanket of ash when Vesuvius erupted and killed most of its inhabitants. It had seemed like a mythological place, not a place I would ever get to visit myself. Years later, here I was. The…

Nurse Charlie MARK KELLY Six months ago I shattered my pelvis and required surgery. My wife, Geraldine, tells me that for the three days I was in hospital our faithful dog lay at the front door waiting for my return. Charlie, our four-year-old black Labrador, is my constant companion. When I go out and can’t take him with me, he patiently waits at the front door for me. Geraldine says that sometimes he will not leave his post even when tempted with food – very unusual for a Labrador. After I returned home from the hospital, Charlie must have sensed that there was something different about me. He did not jump up to greet me and kept a safe distance, although his wagging tail and excited howls were a clear sign that he was…

Our regular pet columnist, Dr Katrina Warren, is an established and trusted animal expert. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION about the health risks associated with our increasingly overweight human population. Unfortunately, our pets seem to be suffering a similar fate. They’re getting fatter and it’s making them prone to a raft of health issues. WHAT IS THE OPTIMAL WEIGHT FOR MY PET? Your vet can provide advice about the ideal healthy weight range for your pet. Make sure you weigh your pet whenever you visit the vet to help keep track of whether your pet is gaining or losing weight. To assess whether your pet is overweight, stand over your pet and look down at it. It should taper at its waist (between abdomen and hips). You should not be able…