Everyday Grammar: Understanding Fast Talkers

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Oceans To Hold More Plastic Than Fish by 2050

There will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050 unless more recycling takes place. That is what a new report from the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation warns. If the current trend continues, the report said, oceans will contain one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish in 2025. By 2050, plastics will weigh more than fish, the report said. The problem is that each year at least 8 million tons of plastics end up in oceans around the world. The report said this is the same as dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. Not all plastic ends up in the ocean because someone throws a plastic bottle into the water. Plastic containers and other trash thrown onto streets and sidewalks often are swept into oceans. The debris travels from storm drains during rain storms, said the environmental group Marine Defenders. Some end up in gyres. A gyre is a big whirlpool that traps and moves the plastic in circles. Unlike other types of trash in the ocean, the plastic never bio-degrades. That means it does not break down. There is a way to slow the amount of plastics going into the oceans -- people can recycle more. That is a major recommendation of the report by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The report’s authors say that currently only about 14 percent of plastics are recycled. It said research in Europe shows as much as 53 percent of plastic could be recycled using available technology. The report says that another solution is using less plastic for packaging products. But that is not likely to happen, the report’s authors say. “Given plastic packaging’s many benefits, both the likelihood and desirability of an across-the-board drastic reduction in the volume of plastic packaging used is clearly low,” the report said. But the authors note reducing the use of plastics should be tried “where possible.” For decades, scientists warned that plastics are killing fish. The Natural Resources Defense Council said research shows that fish are dying from choking after eating plastics. Another cause of death is that plastics cause “intestinal blockage and starvation,” the environmental group said. I’m Mario Ritter. Bruce Alpert reported and researched this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   recycling – n. to make something new from something that has been used before trend – n. a general direction of change : a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common dump – v. to put (something) somewhere in a quick and careless way garbage – n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown out packaging – n. material used to enclose or contain something choke – v. to become unable to breathe usually because something gets stuck in your throat

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The World's 10 Places 'On the Rise'

  Earlier this month, we introduced you the top American destinations ‘on the rise.’ The expression ‘on the rise’ means that something is becoming better or more popular. This week, we take on the world. The travel website TripAdvisor used traveler reviews to choose its top 10 World Destinations on the Rise. The list represents 10 cities that saw the biggest increase in positive traveler reviews in the past year. 1. Tulum, Mexico. The number-one pick? Tulum, Mexico. The seaside city is on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It is known for its beaches, warm, clear waters, and Mayan ruins. Tulum was one of the last cities built by the ancient Mayans, the pre-Columbian culture in Mesoamerica and Central America. Beyond the city’s beaches and Mayan sites, Tulum is also famous for diving and snorkeling. Adventurous travelers can explore caves and underground rivers.             2. Cartagena, Columbia. The number-two destination on the rise also sits along the Caribbean coast. The Colombian city of Cartagena has a walled historic old town, beautiful colonial architecture, and famous beaches, like Bocagrande. Cartagena’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is a great place to try ceviche, a South American dish of marinated raw fish or seafood. But, there is more than the historic town and nearby beaches. Tourists can also visit a nearby mud volcano. It is a 15-meter-tall mud bath that locals believe has healing properties. 3.  Porto, Portugal. The number three world destination on the rise is also seaside city. Porto, Portugal sits on Atlantic Coast. Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Douro River flows by the city on its way to the sea. The Douro River Valley is known for its high-quality wine. Its most famous is port. Port wines are sweeter and higher in alcohol content than most wines. Above the Douro river is one of Porto’s most iconic sites. The Dom Luis bridge opened in 1886. A student of Gustave Eiffel -- of Eiffel Tower fame -- designed the bridge. The top level is for walkers; the lower level is for cars. The bridge provides beautiful views of the river and city.   4. Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The number four world pick was also America’s number one Destination on the Rise. Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country’s most-visited national park. Gatlinburg offers excellent hiking and fishing. The 100-meter-tall Gatlinburg Space Needle provides views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains. 5. Moscow, Russia. Moscow, Russia is number five. Russia’s capital city of 10 million is the political, historical and economic center of the country. The famous Red Square is just the beginning of the city’s architectural wonders. The buildings that surround Red Square include Lenin’s Mausoleum, the colorful Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and the churches and palaces of the Kremlin. A ten-minute walk from Red Square is one of the world’s most famous theaters, the Bolshoi. Visitors can attend a Russian ballet or opera performance. The Bolshoi Ballet company has performed for hundreds of years.  It was established in 1776. 6. Brighton, England. Number six is Brighton, England. This English Channel beach town is less than an hour by train from London.  The railway between London and Brighton was completed in 1841. The city soon became a popular getaway spot. Brighton joined together with the neighboring town of Hove in 1997 to form one city: Brighton and Hove. It is England’s largest seaside resort town. Visitors enjoy the water, the entertainment on Brighton Pier, and good weather.   7. New Delhi, India. The seventh world destination on the rise is New Delhi, India. British architects designed India’s huge capital in the 1930s. It is one of 11 areas of Delhi. New Delhi represents modern India. But, it also has a lot of historic sites. New Delhi’s Red Fort was the center of India’s Mughal rule from the 1600s to the middle 1800s. Today, it houses many world-class museums. Nearby is Chandni Chowk, one of the city’s largest and oldest markets.   8. Banff, Canada. Number eight is Banff, Canada. Banff is surrounded by the towering Canadian Rocky Mountains. The resort town sits within Banff National Park, Canada’s first national park. Skiers come in the winter to take on the steep slopes of the Rockies. The town is south of the picturesque, mirror-like Lake Louise, a Banff National Park icon. The area is home to wildlife like grizzly bears and elk. 9. Lima, Peru. Ninth on the list is Lima, Peru. The Peruvian capital is a mix of energy and history. Visitors can explore ancient Incan ruins, study Spanish colonial architecture, or experience Lima’s nightlife. The Pacific Ocean is nearby, as are beachside restaurants and hotels. Although it is a coastal city, Lima is actually the world’s second driest capital city, after Cairo, Egypt.   10. Iguazu Falls, Brazil. The tenth and final world destination on the rise is Brazil’s Iguazu Falls. Iguazu Falls sits along the border of Brazil and Argentina. The park area is the country’s second-most visited destination. The park's most famous waterfall, Devil’s Throat, is actually 14 falls that come together. Along with huge waterfalls, the park is home to many different animals, including howler monkeys, butterflies, endangered jaguars and big anteaters.

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Lesson 4: What Is It?

Let's Learn English is a new course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for beginners. The course continues for 52 weeks. Each week, there will be a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing. There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. We encourage you to follow the weekly lessons and share your progress with us through comments and email.   Summary Anna is new to Washington, DC. She meets her friends to go out for coffee. Anna has many things in her bag.   Conversation      ANNA: Pete, hi! Hi, we are here! PETE: Hi, Anna! Hi, Marsha! ANNA: Hi! PETE: How are you two? MARSHA: I am great! ANNA: You know, Pete, I am new to D.C. The city is big. PETE: Yeah. But you learn a little more every day. How's the new apartment? ANNA: The new apartment is great! Let's get coffee! MARSHA: Anna, do you have a pen? ANNA: Yes. I have a pen in my bag. ANNA: I have a … PETE: It is not a pen. It is a book. It is a big book. ANNA: Yes. Yes it is, Pete. I know I have a pen, though… ANNA: I have a .... MARSHA: It is not a pen, Anna ... a toy? ANNA: I have a .... PETE: And it is a pillow! ANNA: Pete, Marsha, I know I have a pen.  MARSHA: Anna, it is a map.  PETE: Why do you have a map of the world? ANNA: Pete, Marsha. Now I know I have a pen. PETE: And now you have a lamp. MARSHA: Anna. ANNA: I have a pen! Let’s get coffee!   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. This lesson's learning strategy is focus. Use this learning strategy when you need to get information from listening or reading. Decide what you need to learn and pay close attention when you listen or read.  Here is an example of how to use focus: In the video, Anna has some strange things in her bag. Watch the video for this lesson and focus on the name of each thing she takes out of her bag. After you watch the video, try to say or write all the things in Anna's bag. If you cannot say five things, play the video again. Write a comment in the Comments section about how using this strategy worked for you. At the end of the video, can you write or say all the things in Anna's bag? Focus is an important learning strategy because it helps you learn new information more quickly. See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for more details on using this strategy.   Listening Click on the video below to practice your listening skills. Each question has a video. Play the video and choose the correct answer. Speaking Practice Listen and practice saying the new words for this lesson. Practice the grammar and question structures. Pronunciation Practice Often English speakers do not say the word "and" carefully. Watch the video to learn about this reduced form in American English. Writing Download the worksheet. Practice writing the names of common objects.   New Words bag - n. a soft container used to hold money and other small things big - adj. large in size book - n. a set of printed sheets of paper that are held together inside a cover or a long written work coffee - n. a dark brown drink made from ground coffee beans and boiled water lamp - n. a device that produces light little - adj. small in size  map - n. a picture or chart that shows the rivers, mountains, streets, etc., in a particular area pen - n. a writing instrument that uses ink pillow - n. a bag filled with soft material that is used as a cushion usually for the head of a person who is lying down  toy - n. something a child plays with world - n. the earth and all the people and things on it _______________________________________________________________ For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Additional practice material: Printable Activity Worksheet on common objects.   Grammar Focus BE + Noun Be + Adjective + Noun BE + Not + Noun HAVE + Noun   Topics Greetings Names of common objects Negation

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Is There More Lying In This Election?

Did you know that U.S. General John Pershing shot 49 terrorists with bullets covered in pig’s blood? No? But presidential candidate Donald Trump told that story to at least 2,000 people at a campaign rally recently. The story is nothing more than Internet rumor, according to Snopes.com. It found “nothing that documents” the story about General John Pershing in the Philippines more than 100 years ago. Trump’s story on General Pershing is one of a large number of untrue or unconfirmed statements from the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Is this an unusual campaign season? There is no “scientific way” to know if more lies are being told in this campaign than any other, according to Dartmouth College political scientist Brendan Nyhan. “With that said, I think it is fair to say Donald Trump is” going beyond “norms for inaccuracy among top presidential candidates,” he said. Long history of telling a lie in politics Telling a lie or falsehood is not new to American politics. Even the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, known as “Honest Abe,” did not always tell the truth. He did not tell members of Congress about negotiations to end the Civil War in 1865, according to a 2014 James Conroy book on Lincoln. It is called, “Our One Common Country: Abraham Lincoln and The Hampton Roads Peace Conference Of 1865.” A newspaper backing John Adams for president in 1800 said that if his opponent, Thomas Jefferson, was elected, terrible things would happen. “Murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and practiced,” the newspaper said. That information comes from the Miller Center at the University of Virginia. Telling a lie in the 2016 campaign PolitiFact.org is a news site that studies and rates the accuracy of claims from government officials and political candidates. Among leading Republican presidential candidates, Politifact reviewed 93 statements from Trump and rated 77 percent of them as false. It rated 59 percent of Senator Ted Cruz’s 79 statements and 42 percent of Senator Marco Rubio’s 136 statements as false. Cruz is from Texas, and Rubio from Florida. On the Democratic side, the site rated 28 percent of Hillary Clinton’s 150 statements and 32 percent of Bernie Sanders’ 64 claims as false. The website also has a “Pants on Fire!” rating for the most inaccurate claims from the candidates. Trump again leads all candidates in that rating. During his victory speech in New Hampshire in February, Trump called the 5 percent unemployment rate reported by the government as “phony.” He said, "The number's probably 28, 29, as high as 35. In fact, I even heard recently 42 percent." Not true, according to PolitiFact. Trump rejected PolitiFact’s criticism. He said the group is a “left-wing group” and treats him unfairly. PolitiFact said it holds conservatives and liberals to the same fact-checking standards. During a January debate in Iowa, Senator Cruz claimed that President Barack Obama’s health care program is the nation’s “biggest job killer.” Not true, Politifact said. “Not only has the number of jobs gone up, but the number of unwilling part-timers has gone down.” In January, Senator Rubio said to the Meet the Press news program that he would not negotiate prisoner exchange with Iran. The Republican candidate said, “When I become president of the United States, … it will be like Ronald Reagan, where as soon as he took office the hostages were released from Iran." Not true. Politifact wrote, “The Carter administration negotiated the deal months before Reagan’s inauguration, without involvement by Reagan or his transition team. Rubio’s claim is an imaginative re-reading of history.” PolitiFact labeled false Hillary Clinton’s statement: “We now have more jobs in solar than we do in oil." And it also called false this statement by Bernie Sanders: “Not one Republican has the guts to recognize that climate change is real." Lou Jacobson, a senior correspondent for PolitiFact, said some voters want candidates to tell the truth and do not like it when they do not.  Other voters, however, “do not always trust or believe” reports that “their candidate” is not telling the truth, he said. Trump is not only delivering more false statements than his top competitors for president. He has been a victim of a few, as well. FactCheck.org said this about a Ted Cruz advertisement ,saying Trump bulldozed the home of an elderly widow to build a parking lot for his New Jersey casino: “The ad leaves the false impression that the widow lost her home, and she didn’t,” FactCheck said. What did happen was that a government agency, acting on behalf of Trump, tried to obtain the home. But the courts blocked them. I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or our Facebook Page. Share your views on what is being said in the U.S. presidential campaign. What do you think is untrue? _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rumor -- n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true inaccuracy – adj. not correct adultery – n. sex between a married person and someone who is not that person's wife or husband incest – n. sexual intercourse between people who are very closely related inauguration – n. to introduce a newly elected official into a job or position with a formal ceremony transition – n. a change from one government to another bulldoze – v. knock down widow – n. a woman whose husband has died

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Children in Ukraine Suffering From Conflict

The United Nations Children’s Fund says more than one half-million children have been suffering over the past two years because of the Ukraine conflict. Their rights are unprotected and their basic needs unmet, says UNICEF. And the 580,000 children living near the areas controlled by Russian-supported rebels may suffer emotional problems for the rest of their lives. Giovanna Barneris is the UNICEF representative in Ukraine. She told VOA that children are not being properly educated or housed, and cannot play. She said they have seen violence and fighting, and need psychological help. She said it is cold in eastern Ukraine. Fuel shortages and the high cost of coal put children at risk of becoming sick. And she warned that diseases could increase because the area lacks health services and medicine. She said children are also at risk of stepping on land mines or other unexploded devices. She told VOA there is no system for counting the number of children killed or hurt by these devices. She said information from the Ministry of Health is “unrealistic” and not reliable. Soon after the conflict began, the Ukrainian government stopped sending support to people living in areas controlled by rebels. People who depend on those payments are hurting. Barneris says the government has not restarted the payments, but Russia is trying to ease the suffering by giving money to people in the area. I’m Mario Ritter.   Lisa Schlein in Geneva reported this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   basic – adj. forming or relating to the most important part of something psychological – adj. of or relating to the mind unrealistic – adj. not showing people and things as they are in real life reliable – adj. able to be believed; likely to be true or correct    

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From Child of Freed Slaves to Millionaire

Hers is a “rags to riches” story. Madam C.J. Walker went from poverty -- being the daughter of freed slaves -- to being a wealthy African-American businesswoman. She was a millionaire at a time when African-American women usually cleaned houses or worked other jobs for low pay. Madam C.J. Walker made her money making and selling cosmetics to African-American women. Her great-great granddaughter, A’Lelia Bundles, researched and wrote a book about her: “On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker.” “Madam Walker for me was a woman who embodied the great American dream. A person who had an idea, and she parlayed it into a fortune. But more important, she used that fortune and she used her influence to try to make a difference in her community.” Walker made her fortune developing and creating hair-care products for African-American women. Bundles says no one else was filling that demand. So, she says, Walker took a very small idea, and turned it into a big company. Born to Freed Slaves She was the first child in her family born into freedom, in 1867 in Delta, Louisiana. Her parents had been slaves, but gained their freedom in 1865. They named her Sarah Breedlove. Sadly, Walker was orphaned at 7 years old. She married at 14, but her husband died when she was 20. In 1888, she moved north to St. Paul, Minnesota. There she worked as a poor washer woman, cleaning other people’s clothes. Bundles says it was where Walker learned some of her marketing skills, and developed her drive to succeed. She learned from women at church. They were involved in the National Association of Colored Women, and Walker learned about organizing and holding meetings, about gathering women to work together for a common cause. “She had had to survive as a washer woman. So she had to be good at marketing her skills, even then, but she took that to the next level. Marketing her products. She traveled all over the United States after she married her third husband, Charles Joseph Walker. They were in Denver and then they traveled throughout the Southern and Eastern United States.” "A Secret Formula" Like other early cosmetic businesswomen, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein, Bundles says Madam Walker embellished her stories about her products. “Well, everybody said they had a secret formula that no one else could see, but it a really basic system of vegetable shampoo and ointment with sulfur.” A’Lelia Bundles grew up using Madam C.J. Walkers’ silverware on her dining room table, but never knew her. She has studied her great-great grandmother for more than four decades. She says Madam Walker was a marketing and distribution genius. “I have to say, I’m continuously amazed, not only at the way that she can still inspire others, but at some of her really innovative approaches to advertising, to marketing, to developing products, and to having really high standards about the quality of her products.”   Marketing and Distribution Madam Walker knew how to get the word out about her products. She would advertise in the newspapers that African-Americans read. She had cards printed with her information on them. At a time without airplanes, telephones or the Internet, she traveled across the country and spread the word of her company. In each town they visited, she and her husband went to both the Black churches -- the Baptist and the AME, or African Methodist Episcopal, churches. That way she could speak with all the women in the different churches. She used “before” and “after” pictures in ads, to show how well her products worked -- something still done by companies today. Empowering Women She also employed women at the top levels of her business. That was also rare then. Walker gave women power at a time when women could not even vote in the U.S. But her factory manager, her national sales manager and her bookkeeper were all women. “So she had a much bigger vision than just selling hair products. It was empowering women. It was helping them to understand their role in the community as leaders.” And lead she did. She organized and trained women to sell her products. She had her first conference for her sales women in 1917. That management practice became well-known decades later by a later cosmetic businesswoman named Mary Kay Ash. But Mary Kay did not start her company until 1963. When Walker held her sales conferences, she gave out prizes not just to women who sold the most. She also rewarded those who gave to charity and were involved in political causes, Bundles says. Her sales agents discussed making money for buying real estate and educating their children, as well as giving to charity. By the time Walker died on May 25, 1919, she had trained thousands of women in the Walker System of Hair Culture. She left tens of thousands of dollars to charitable organizations, educational institutions and political causes.  Bundles says Walker was a “workaholic,” who was driven to succeed. When asked about the secret to her success, Walker herself said, “…whatever success I have attained has been the result of much hard work and many sleepless nights.” But she also had a sense of humor, and she loved art and music. She liked the old and the new -- opera and the new ragtime music coming out at that time. Walker owned three automobiles in 1913, when less than 10 percent of licensed drivers were women. She even shipped one of them, along with her personal driver, when she took a business trip to Central America and the Caribbean. Charity and Political Work With her fortune, Walker supported both the arts and political groups. She worked hard to end lynching. Lynching is when a mob, usually a group of white people, would kill an African-American person by hanging or setting them on fire, for a made-up crime they did not commit. The Equal Justice Initiative says that nearly 4,000 African-Americans were killed by lynching in the U.S. between 1877 and 1950.   Walker’s company still survives to this day, but it is owned by a different company, Sundail Brands. Last Tuesday, the company announced it will start selling a new line of Madam C.J. Walker hair care products. Beginning in March, they will be available at Sephora stores in the U.S. They have new ingredients, but, the company says the products carry on Walker’s spirit. Richelieu Dennis is CEO of Sundail Brands. He said these products continue Madam C.J. Walkers’ legacy to help every woman feel sure of herself. “It’s also a dream come true not just for us, but for the millions of women who have been touched by the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker and the millions more who will be inspired to reach their own levels of greatness by hearing her story.” Madam Walker “absolutely was a woman ahead of her time,” says her great-great granddaughter. She was a rich and successful businesswoman when women -- especially African-American women -- could not get high paying jobs. And, she made the hair-care products not just to build her own fortune, but also to use that money to help her community. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think about Madam C.J. Walker’s life? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and visit our Facebook page ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rags to riches – phrase. someone who was poor and then became wealthy cosmetics – n. beauty products and make-up embody – v. to represent something in a clear and obvious way parlay – v. to use something to get something else of greater value fortune – n. a very large amount of money orphaned – v. to cause a child to lose its parents embellish – v. to make something more attractive or appealing ointment – n. a smooth substance that is rubbed onto the skin to heal a wound or reduce pain or discomfort sulfur – n. a yellow chemical element used in medicine or gunpowder genius –n. a very smart person innovative – adj. introduce or use new ideas or methods bookkeeper – n. a person whose job is to keep financial records for a business workaholic – n. a person who chooses to work a lot, and always thinking about work legacy – n. something that comes from someone in the past, how the person is remembered

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Federal Government Owns Almost Half of Western US

The United States government owns nearly a third of the nation’s land, including nearly half of Western states. In the rest of the country, the federal government owns just 4 percent of the land. For most Americans, federally-owned -- or public -- land is not a major issue. But for people who live in the West, federal or public land ownership can be an issue. The federal government owns almost 47 percent in the Western states of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. In Nevada, the U.S. government owns 85 percent of the land. Farmers and ranchers who depend on land for their livelihood have clashed with government officials about how to use the land. Having land helped to create a strong federal government. But by the mid-1800s, the government was selling land in the West to encourage people to move there. The Congressional Research Service is an agency that gives information to the U.S. Congress. It says the federal government gave away or sold about 522 million hectares of federal land between 1781 and 2013. Few people live on or near federal land in the West. Much of the land is national forests, places for wildlife to live without being hunted, parks used to protect and grow plants and animals, and recreation areas. Much of the land is used for fishing, grazing, hunting and logging. The federal government still buys land. But since 1990, federal or public lands have decreased by more than 3 percent, or 9.5 million hectares. Some state lawmakers in the West want the federal government to release more land. They have written bills, or legislation, that call on their state to take control of federal lands. But fishermen and hunters who use the lands worry that if the state takes control, the land will be sold to private owners. They may then be unable to use the land. Many people have different goals and plans for the land. It will continue to be an issue for citizens, industry and politicians. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Dora Mekouar reported on this story for VOANews.com. Kathleen Struck edited this report for VOA Learning English We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   encourage – v. to make (someone) more likely to do something park – n. a large area of public land kept in its natural state to protect plants and animals recreation – n. something people do to relax or have fun; activities done for enjoyment graze – v. to eat grass or other plants that are growing in a field or pasture log – v. to cut down trees in an area for wood

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Egypt Says It Sentenced Boy, 4, to Prison in Error

The Egyptian military admitted last week it made a mistake when sentencing a 4-year-old boy to prison for life. A mistaken identity and confusion inside the Egyptian court system led to the error. A 16-year-old boy was to be sentenced for murder. But a 4-year-old was sentenced because he had a similar name. Ahmed Mansour Qurani Ali was wrongly convicted for playing a part in a Muslim Brotherhood riot in 2014. Ali’s lawyer provided documents which proved Ali was 1 year old at the time. The teenager the military meant to convict was Ahmed Mansour Qurani Sharara. Fox News reported that the military has not announced what the next steps will be for the child and his family since the error was admitted. The conviction of a 4-year-old child for the crime of murder is the latest embarrassment for the Egyptian court. The court has been accused of secrecy and too many arrests of citizens. More than 40,000 people have been imprisoned in Egypt during the past two years, the BBC reported. I’m Jim Dresbach.   United Press International reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   convicted – v. to prove that someone is guilty of a crime in a court of law teenager – n. a person aged from 13 to 19 years embarrassment – n. the state of feeling foolish in front of others

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Just Breathe

Hello and welcome to VOA Learning English’s Words and Their Stories! Every week, we bring you some common words, expressions and idioms used in the United States. Today we are going to breathe. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathing keeps us alive. Deep breathing can lower our blood pressure and calm an over-active mind. Today, we visit the seaside as we explore many expressions that have to do with breathing. Two friends are taking a much needed break from work. We join them as they sit on the beach, burying their feet deep in the sand. This morning they are taking scuba lessons. They breathe in the cleansing ocean air. And they breathe out the frustrations of the work they left behind. Let’s listen. "This is the life! I am so glad we took this vacation." "Me, too. Sitting here listening to the ocean and the seagulls, I can finally breathe easy." "No work for the next 14 days! That’s breathing easy!" "Work was killing me. Right up until I left for the airport, my boss was there … breathing down my neck the whole time. ‘Yes, boss, I finished the report. Yes, I contacted the client. Yes, I submitted the proposal.’ Advertising is such a non-stop industry." "Bosses need to know that it doesn’t help to breathe down someone’s neck. People need a little breathing room to get things done." "That is the truth. Well, I am breathing a sigh of relief to finally be away from work. Hey, how are things with your job?" "It’s better. Several months ago, I was so busy working on a political campaign that I hardly had time to breathe." "I know! I didn’t see you for months during that campaign. I wondered when you were going to come up for air." "And working with politicians … that can be challenging. They start to breathe their own fumes." "In what ways are they breathing their own fumes?" "They believe what the public and media say about them. They won’t listen to anybody and they think they know best." "I don’t have to deal with that type at my office. But one colleague of mine is really getting on my nerves. She sucks all the air out of the room. She’s loud, talks all the time, and always has to be the center of attention." "I also worked with a guy who sucked the air out of a room, too. But he left. The person who replaced him is pleasant and has many new ideas -- a real breath of fresh air." "That’s great. You know, talking about fresh air, how about this ocean air? So much better than a polluted city. I could stay here forever." "Wouldn’t it be nice if we could win the lottery? That way we could just stay here on the beach and not worry about making money." "I wouldn’t hold your breath for that to happen. The odds of winning the lottery are not in your favor. But it sounds like you need to breathe a little life into your career. Maybe it’s time to look for another job." "Well, in fact, I have a lead on a great job. But I won’t know until next month. So, don’t breathe a word to anyone about it." "I promise. My lips are sealed. But, really, would you listen to us? We want to get away from work and here we are talking about it." "Ha, you’re right. It’s time to put work talk aside. Here comes our scuba instructor. Speaking of breathing and coming up for air, let’s not forget to do that during our scuba lesson, literally." And that’s it for this Words and Their Stories. Let us know what you think of the program or practice using these expressions on our website, at LearningEnglish.VOANews.com I’m Anna Matteo.   "Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe And to love you. All I need is the air that I breathe, Yes to love you, All I need is the air that I breathe..."   Anna Matteo wrote this program for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor and joined her “on the beach.” The song at the end of the program is “The Air That I Breathe,” by the Hollies.

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Social Business Starters on the Rise

Social entrepreneurs – people who create start-up companies that would help the environment, health care or agriculture – are on the rise. These entrepreneurs use innovation to tackle important economic and social problems. They can be for-profit or non-profit entities. Funding for social entrepreneurs is increasing. This is coming from foundations, institutional investors and individuals. Kiplinger is a personal finance publication in Washington, D.C. It reported that the amount of assets in socially responsible investing – focused on companies doing good in the world – almost doubled, from $3.74 trillion in 2012 to $6.57 trillion in 2014.  Globally, interest in socially responsible investing is growing even faster. The 2014 Global Sustainable Investment Review said that between 2012 and 2014, global assets rose to $21.4 trillion from $13.3 trillion – an increase of 61 percent.    The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in Geneva, Switzerland, is an example of a foundation that advances social entrepreneurs around the world. Each year, working with the World Economic Forum, the foundation searches the globe “for outstanding social innovators, with business models that are proven to drive social and environmental change,” said their website.   Getting rich is not the primary aim of social entrepreneurs. Instead, their focus is on fulfilling their mission to improve society.  “While profits are ideally generated, the main aim is not to maximize financial returns for shareholders, but to grow the social venture and reach more people in need,” said the Schwab Foundation website. Usually, social entrepreneurs reinvest their profits in the enterprise to expand it.  Kristin Groos Richmond is co-founder of Revolution Foods and one of the social entrepreneurs selected by the Schwab Foundation. Her company, in Oakland, California, is dedicated to providing fresh food, prepared daily, for families and schools, and is active in 11 states across the U.S. and Washington, DC. Richmond said social entrepreneurs are driven by their values. She gave the following advice to aspiring social entrepreneurs: “Align yourself with a team, a board and investors who believe in your mission.” Many social entrepreneurs create novel solutions to solve world problems. Bart Weetjens, a Belgian social entrepreneur, is an example. He kept rats a childhood pets, then realized they could be put to work detecting land mines. He founded the non-profit organization APOPO in 1997. APOPO has used specially trained rats on leashes to clear more than 13,200 unexploded bombs from minefields in Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia, according to the National Geographic.    APOPO uses African giant-pouched rats, which are huge, cat-sized rats native to central Africa. They have “an extraordinary sense of smell,” said the National Geographic. The rats are lightweight enough to walk across the mines without setting them off. And their sensitive noses can sniff out explosives buried in the ground, even decades after a war has ended.             In addition, many business schools – both in the U.S. and other countries – now offer courses in social entrepreneurship. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is an example. It is ranked by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s top business schools. Wharton Online offers a five-week class on social entrepreneurship, four to six hours a week, through Coursera, a global e-learning platform. Graduates of the course receive a certificate and “learn how to develop, test and deploy high-impact solutions to society’s toughest problems,” according to Coursera’s website. Social entrepreneurs have also won increased media attention. For example, Forbes showcased “30 Under 30” – the top social entrepreneurs younger than 30 from around the world.  One honoree, Sejal Hathi, age 25, was a molecular biology student at Yale, who sought to help girls globally. She founded Girltank (www.girltank.org), a for-profit start-up, to identify and develop girls with potential to be high-impact leaders. The website refers to it as “the she lab for social entrepreneurship.” “Girltank creates a virtual tank for young women interested in social entrepreneurship to utilize the collective genius of the group to brainstorm ideas and solutions, crowd-sourcing funding for their ventures, and receive peer-to-peer mentoring,” according to the website.           I’m Mary Gotschall.                Mary Gotschall wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   start-up – n. a new business innovation – n.  the act of introducing or using new ideas or methods tackle – v. to deal with (something difficult) asset – n. something that is owned by a person, company, etc. — usually plural fulfill – v. to succeed in achieving (something) : to make (something, such as a dream) true or real maximize – v. to increase (something) as much as possible : to increase (something) to a maximum aspire – v. to want to have or achieve something (such as a particular career or level of success)  novel – adj.  new and different from what has been known before leash – n.  a long, thin piece of rope, chain, etc., that is used for holding a dog or other animal crowd-source – v.  the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community mentor – v. to teach or give advice or guidance to (someone, such as a less experienced person or a child)  

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