Juno Spacecraft Enters Jupiter Orbit

American scientists cheered loudly as their spacecraft, called Juno, entered Jupiter’s orbit Monday night. “Juno, welcome to Jupiter!”  The scientists are with the U.S. space agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. They carefully watched the spacecraft make it safely into orbit around the fifth planet in our solar system. Operating on solar power, Juno had traveled 2.8 billion kilometers over five years to get to Jupiter. It was a proud -- and emotional -- moment for NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Diane Brown is NASA’s Juno program executive. “I mean it’s overwhelming -- the team, the amount of time and effort everyone put into this and the risks that were overcome. It’s amazing. I mean, the more you know about the mission you know just how tricky this was and (to) have it be flawless, I mean I can’t really put it into words.” NASA scientists said Juno hit its target almost perfectly. Aiming for an area that was just tens of kilometers wide, Juno was only one second off its target. The spacecraft is relatively small — the size of a basketball court — but Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is called a “gas giant” because it does not have a solid surface. Scott Bolton, the principal investigator of Juno, is from the Southwest Research Institute in Texas. He explained the importance of Jupiter and its more than 60 moons. “This is the king of our solar system, and its disciples going around it. It’s also representative of nature. This is how we look, that’s a mini solar system.  And so, I think, to me it’s very significant because we’re finally able to see, with real video, real pictures, this motion. And we’ve only been able to imagine it up until today.” Juno will make 37 trips around Jupiter over the next 20 months. It will produce maps of the huge planet and study its surface from just 4,667 kilometers above its clouds. NASA says it hopes the data from Juno will tell scientists more about the planet's beginnings, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere. Scientific equipment on Juno will examine Jupiter’s very active atmosphere, which is covered by thick clouds. They will also record information about the planet’s gravitational pull. And they will gather information about its magnetic field, which is 20,000 times stronger than that of Earth. Dangerous Radiation One danger Juno faces is intense radiation from Jupiter. Over the planned lifetime of its mission, Juno will face the same amount of radiation as a dental patient would experience in over 100 million X-rays. So scientists protected the spacecraft’s computer with strong titanium walls that are almost 1.27 centimeters thick and weigh 172 kilograms. Scientists hope this thickness will protect it from the extreme radiation.   Without that protection, experts say the spacecraft’s electronic brain would likely be destroyed before the end of the very first orbit around the planet.   Scientists say Jupiter is mostly composed of two gases, hydrogen and helium, like the sun. They say the levels of oxygen and water in the atmosphere may tell how the planet and our solar system were formed. Researchers also hope to learn if Jupiter has a solid center. In addition to carrying scientific instruments, the spacecraft has a camera. It has already sent back images of the planet’s larger moons. NASA says it will work with the public and take suggestions on where to point the camera. Many people will want a closer look at the colorful orange, red, white and brown clouds moving quickly across the planet. Scientists will also get a close-up view of the “giant red spot” Jupiter is famous for -- it is a storm larger than the size of Earth. Juno will and begin sending information from its seven instruments to NASA next month.  Steve Levin, a Juno project scientist, said he wants to see that data. “What I’m really looking forward to is getting up close and personal with Jupiter, in about 53 days on August 27 with all of our science instruments on and taking data, and uh, see what we can find.” Juno is the second NASA spacecraft to reach Jupiter. The Galileo spacecraft orbited Jupiter from 1995 to 2003. Galileo studied the planet and its four largest moons -- Europa, Ganymede, Io and Callisto. Earlier spacecraft flew by Jupiter as they traveled to the outer parts of our solar system.   Juno will circle and study Jupiter until 2018, when it will enter the planet’s atmosphere. That action is expected to destroy the spacecraft. I’m Anne Ball. VOA Correspondent Mike O’Sullivan reported this story from Pasadena, California. VOA’s Richard Green in Washington provided additional reporting. Christopher Jones-Cruise and Anne Ball adapted their reports for Learning English. George Grow 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   solar - adj. relating to the sun orbit – n. a circular path flawless – adj. without any mistakes disciple – n. someone who spreads the teachings of a famous person significant – adj. important magnetosphere – n. an area of space surrounding an object in space that is dominated by the object’s magnetic field

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Chinese Navy Training in Disputed Area Ahead of Court Ruling

China has started a week of military training in a large disputed area of the South China Sea. The Chinese government did not give details about the training. But it said the exercises would end one day before an international court rules on the dispute. China and the Philippines both claim territorial rights to the area. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is currently considering the case. It is to announce its ruling next Monday, July 12. The disputed territory is east of China’s Hainan Island, down to and including the Paracel Islands. The Paracels include about 130 reefs and islands. It is believed the court will rule in favor of the Philippines next Tuesday. That could remove any legal basis for China’s claims over almost all of the South China Sea. 'Court has no jurisdiction'  China has repeatedly rejected the idea that the court has power in the area. Chinese Foreign Ministry official Hong Lei spoke at a press conference Monday. He said the court has no jurisdiction over the South China Sea dispute. He said the ruling will be “illegal and invalid.”              Hong also told reporters China has every right to claim the disputed area. He accused the former Philippine government that requested the legal action of lying. Tang Siew Mun is an expert with the Singapore-based research organization ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. He communicated with VOA over email. He wrote that the Chinese military training, in his words, “could serve as a reminder of China’s military power and its willingness to deploy such means to protect its national interest.” Expert: China will ignore ruling Tang also wrote that China would ignore the court ruling. He said it will use economic offers to influence the new president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte. And, the researcher wrote, China will urge its southeastern Asian allies not to release statements on the ruling. Last month, China pressured the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations about a statement it planned to make. The statement warned that recent developments about the South China Sea “may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability.” ASEAN withdrew the statement after its release. Some experts say it is meaningful that China took its training to the Paracels area. The islands are under its control. It did not take the training to the Spratley Islands, where the Philippines has a presence. However, James Nolt says the meaning is not clear. Nolt is an expert with the research organization, World Policy Institute. He told VOA that the chosen training area could simply serve the Chinese navy best. But he said it could also be a political statement to show the, in his words, “ability and intent to intervene, but not too provocative.” US remains watchful The United States said it will continue to watch the South China Sea situation. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan spoke about the issue last week. In his words, “The U.S. treats this region of the world very seriously, and we have very important national-security interests that we’re not going to step away from.” I’m Caty Weaver.   Joyce Huang wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted it  for Learning English. Caty Weaver 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   region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way arbitration – n. a process of settling an argument or disagreement in which the people or groups on both sides present their opinions and ideas to a third person or group reef – n. a long line of rocks or coral or a high area of sand near the surface of the water in the ocean invalid – adj. having no force or effect jurisdiction – n. the power or right to make judgments about the law, to arrest and punish criminals, etc.​ intent – n. an aim, goal or purpose​ provocative – adj. causing discussion, thought, argument, etc.​  

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FBI Director Calls for No Charges in Clinton Email Investigation

The investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state appears likely to end with no criminal charges. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey announced on Tuesday that the FBI found no evidence Clinton intentionally used the server to send or receive classified information. “Our judgement is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case,” he said. The announcement comes a little more than three weeks before the Democratic Party is set to officially nominate her as its candidate for president. But it was not all good news for her. Comey criticized Clinton’s actions, saying they were “extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.” And Republican Party leaders said they would continue to make her use of the private email server a campaign issue. The FBI’s call for no criminal charges against Clinton is likely to stand. “Although the Department of Justice makes final decisions on matters like this, we are expressing…our view that no charges are appropriate in this case," Comey said. Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced last week she would accept the decisions of the FBI and career prosecutors in the Justice Department. A career prosecutor is a lawyer who remains in his or her government job no matter which party controls the presidency. Donald Trump, the likely presidential candidate of the Republicans, criticized Comey’s announcement. He tweeted, “No charges Wow!” In an earlier tweet, he said, “Very, very unfair. As usual, bad judgment.” Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said her campaign is “pleased that career officials” have “determined that no further action by the department is appropriate.” He added that Clinton has already said it was a “mistake to use her personal email and she would not do it again.” The FBI’s announcement came on the same day Clinton campaigned for president with President Barack Obama for the first time. They traveled on Air Force One together to North Carolina, a state that Obama won in 2008 but lost in his 2012 re-election. Trump also campaigned in North Carolina on Tuesday. "It was no accident that charges were not recommended against Hillary the exact same day as President Obama campaigns with her for the first time,” Trump said. He said the system is “rigged,” suggesting it helps some people, but not others. “The normal punishment, in this case, would include losing authority to handle classified information, and that too disqualifies Hillary Clinton from being President,” Trump said. Last Saturday, Clinton met with FBI agents in Washington for over three hours – a sign that the long investigation was nearly over. Last week, Attorney General Lynch said she would not make a decision on possible criminal charges in the case. Lynch made the statement after she was criticized for meeting with former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton’s husband, while both were at an airport. Lynch said the investigation did not come up during her 30-minute talk with Bill Clinton. But Republicans and some Democrats said such a meeting was a mistake – while an investigation was continuing. At his press conference, FBI Director Comey said it is possible that foreign enemies of the United States read Clinton’s emails. He said the FBI found no evidence that Clinton or her staff intentionally removed emails. But he noted that agents did find “several thousand work-related e-mails” not given by the State Department. He reported that FBI agents investigated for a year, talked to many people and looked at over 30,000 emails. Clinton has said that she did not receive or send emails that were classified – at least at the time they were sent or delivered. But Comey said 110 emails contained classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight, he said, were “top secret.” He said Clinton and other State Department officials “should have known that an unclassified system was no place” to send and receive emails. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, criticized the FBI finding against criminal charges. "While I respect the law enforcement professionals at the FBI, this announcement defies explanation,” he said. “No one should be above the law.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   Ken Bredemeier reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   intentionally – adv. in a way that is planned or intended classified -- adj. kept secret from all but a few people in the government appropriate -- adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation qualified -- adj. having the necessary skill, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job or activity prosecutor – n. a lawyer working for the government defies – v. openly resist;

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Television Viewers Complain About Fireworks Broadcast

This is What’s Trending Today… Monday was Independence Day in the United States. July 4 is an important holiday every year. On that date in 1776, 13 British colonies in North America joined together to declare their independence from Britain. Fireworks shows are a big part of the Fourth of July celebration. In many cities, crowds gather in large open spaces or along rivers to watch small rockets being fired into the air. The rockets explode high in the sky, often leaving red, white and blue streaks -- the colors of the U.S. flag. Some Americans say July 4 is a perfect time for fireworks because of the U.S. national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. The song has words like “…and the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there...” But this Monday was a rainy day in the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C. There were low clouds in the sky over the National Mall and the Capitol Building, the site of a major fireworks show. The clouds made it hard for crowds to see the fireworks. PBS produces a television show of musical performances and fireworks on the Fourth of July. But when the show had images of fireworks exploding against a clear, night sky, people were confused. Especially people who knew it was a cloudy, rainy night in Washington. And those people reacted on Twitter. One person wrote: “The fireworks from my apartment window don’t look like @pbs #fake?”  Someone else added “not cool… those shots are clearly not from tonight”  Finally, the producers of the show released a statement. They called editing the TV broadcast, “the patriotic thing to do.”  One person wrote: “If I wanted that, I’d watch YouTube.” Eventually, the producers apologized for not being honest with TV viewers. They wrote that the edits were made to make the “best possible television viewing experience. We apologize…”  But that was not the end of it. One Twitter user joked: “only in D.C. could a PBS show become a scandal.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about the fireworks editing? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong edit – v. to change, move, or remove parts of (a film, recording, photo, etc.) patriotic – adj. having or showing great love and support for your country : having or showing patriotism cool – adj. very fashionable, stylish, or appealing in a way that is generally approved of especially by young people confuse – adj. difficult to understand : not clearly organized, expressed, etc. glare – n. a harsh, bright light streak – n. a long, narrow area or flash of light viewers  – n. a person who watches television

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Two Years After Legalizing Marijuana Sales, What Has Happened?

  Two years ago the U.S. states of Washington and Colorado became the world’s first legal marketplaces for recreational marijuana. In other words, people in those states can now legally use marijuana for pleasure, not just for medicine. A man VOA is calling “Ryan” is one of them. He is at a marijuana store in Denver. He shows a store worker a document that shows he is over 21 years old. Ryan is buying about a small amount of marijuana. It will be placed in a container that is difficult for children to open. Almost everywhere else in the United States, Ryan could be arrested for buying marijuana. And workers at the store could be arrested for selling it to him. “In the past, I would have to go to the black market. But now I can freely go to any shop that I please and I can really pick someone that I feel comfortable with as opposed to going and calling a random number that I would have no idea where it’s going.” One of the effects of making marijuana legal, Ryan says, is that buying it feels safer and more comfortable. Pot problems Police, advocates and researchers also want to know the effects of making recreational marijuana legal. VOA spoke to a leader of the Boulder County Sheriff’s group that fights illegal drugs. He says that if they follow the rules like any other business, marijuana stores do not cause problems. But those who grow marijuana illegally do. The police officer works undercover, so he did not want VOA use his real name or voice. But he explained that his office receives many reports of people illegally smoking marijuana in public, driving after they have smoked, or selling the drug to people younger than 21. The officer also says criminals come to Colorado, rent several houses to grow marijuana, then transport the drug out of the state to earn a higher price. And, he says, many people call to complain about their neighbors growing or smoking so much pot that the smell disturbs them. The officer says these marijuana-related problems add to the problems police already deal with, and stretch the resources of the department. More pot = more crime? Yet federal law enforcement agencies have found that marijuana-related arrests in Colorado have dropped by almost 50 percent since selling the drug became legal. And, they say, the overall crime rate in the state has not changed much. These reports show that Colorado’s experience is a success, some advocates say. Jason Thomas is a spokesperson for a group called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. He and his group want to make all drugs legal across the country. He says current federal laws punish non-violent drug users too severely. Does it seem fair, he asks, that having or selling a drug like marijuana could result in being put in prison for years? Thomas suggests that some drugs should be sold at a store and others should be more regulated. For example, he says marijuana should be treated differently than cocaine. And similarly, he says, marijuana-related crimes should be treated differently than cocaine-related ones. People and money Researchers are also watching Colorado’s experiment with legalizing marijuana. They want to know if more young people are using pot now that it is legal. A study by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, reported by The Washington Post newspaper, says no. The study found that, before marijuana became legal in Colorado, 1 in 4 teenagers there reported using it within the last month. After the drug was legalized, 1 in 5 teenagers reported using it within the month. In other words, the rate did not change much. If anything, it went down. And, researchers note the current rate is also slightly below the national average. However, experts say more adults -- about 1 in 7 -- use marijuana in Colorado now that it is legal.  And what about the money? Time magazine reports Colorado has collected an estimated $70 million in taxes on marijuana sales in the past two years -- that is a lot of money. And there is some evidence that some people are traveling to the state, and spending tourist dollars, because they can legally buy marijuana there. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Correspondent Shelley Schlender reported this story from Denver, Colorado. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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   recreational – adj. used for pleasure instead of for medical purposes container – n. an object (such as a box or can) that can hold something black market – n. a system through which things are bought and sold illegally random – adj. chosen or done without a particular plan or pattern undercover – adj. done or working in a secret way in order to catch criminals or collect information stretch – v. to cause or force (something) to be used for a longer time or for more purposes than originally planned or expected prohibition – n. the act of not allowing something to be used or done  

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A Beautiful Planet in IMAX 3D

A new IMAX film shows our planet, Earth and our human influence on it.

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A Child’s Growing Brain Needs Love as Much as Food

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Fewer babies and very young children are dying today compared to 20 years. Over that period, the number of infant deaths has dropped sharply -- from about 12 million to six million worldwide. Infant child mortality has been cut thanks to billions of dollars in aid and the work of many countries. However, a group of experts say that is not enough. For children to grow and develop fully, they need more than a nutritious diet and access to medicine. That is the opinion of a team of social scientists and public health experts. They found that about 200 million children are failing to meet their developmental potential each year. What is lacking, say the experts, is social interaction with the children and involvement by their caretakers. The U.S. National Academy of Medicine set up the group of 32 academic experts. They provide strong evidence that just as a poor diet can harm children, violence and lack of care can damage a child’s brain. And that, they say, leads to physical and social stunting, even when aid programs are available. Stunting is when a person fails to grow and develop normally. Neil Boothby is with the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York. He likens social interaction to "investing in young children.” He adds that "it's vital to ensuring international peace and security." Boothby says that providing good, positive social interactions is as big a part of development as providing food and water. And these positive social interactions must be consistent and not, what he calls, episodic.  He calls the wiring in the brain, circuitry. And he calls the structure of the brain, 'brain architecture.' Here is Boothby. "This becomes part of actually strengthening the circuitry in the brain. When the response isn't there, or it's episodically there, then (that) same circuitry, that same brain architecture is weakened. So it is not just micronutrient, it is also social care." Boothby says studies have shown that international aid programs alone are not enough to help children reach their full ability. The Columbia University researcher just returned from Uganda. In that country, he says, more than a third of the population suffers from stunting. Signs of stunting include smaller physical growth and lower than average scores on intelligence tests. "For example, I met with some parents on this last trip. Fathers were saying, ‘Ah, you know I don't really engage with the child until she or he is three months old because they’re too little.’ I mean that's counter to what they should be doing because holding, talking, caressing, etc., is all part of brain health." The paper, says Boothby, is a call for social interaction to be added to the list of health and nutrition assistance programs and concerns. "You know, we teach parents when they go to clinics about water and sanitation. We teach them about the kinds of foods children should eat. Why aren't we teaching them the things that make brains grow?" Boothby adds it is time for international aid policies to catch up with scientific research. Aid policies, he says, must combine the neurobiology of caring with other forms of assistance. I’m Anna Matteo.   Jessica Berman wrote this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   circuitry – n. the system of interconnected neurons in the nervous system and especially the brain; stunt – v. to restrict the normal growth, development, or progress vital – adj. needed by your body in order to keep living episodic ­– adj. appearing, or changing at usually irregular periods brain architecture – n. the basic structural form of the brain micronutrient – n. an organic chemical compound (as a vitamin) that is important in small amounts to an organism's growth and health counter – v. going in a different or opposite direction caress – v. to touch in a gentle way sanitation – n. the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection or disease by removing waste neurobiology – n. a area of study that deals with the nervous system

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Muslim American Mayor Talks Religion & Tolerance

  Mohamed Khairullah describes himself as “an American mayor who happens to be Muslim.” Khairullah was born in Syria. He settled in the small American community of Prospect Park, New Jersey when he was 16 years old. He was always interested in politics and decided to seek elected office after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2001. He won a seat on the Prospect Park City Council and has served as mayor for 10 years. Khairullah says his religion has never been much of an issue for voters in this town of 6,000 people. “Despite our differences, we don’t attack each other based on religion or ethnicity, you know? Our ethnicity is for us, for our families, for people we are raised with. And our religion is in the house of worship. That’s where it goes.” He says his religious beliefs provide a basic moral foundation. “I don’t impose my religion when it comes to running the town. But my religion imposes on me the moral values that I operate with...” His term in office lasts until the end of 2018. The mayor is not seeking re-election this year, but two council members are. So he spends some of his time campaigning for them. He likes to communicate with Prospect Park residents by telephone and through social media. Khairullah once worked as a teacher. Intashan Cowdhury, a former student of his, describes him as a dedicated family man. “It’s a family-oriented community. And you need family-oriented people, like Mayor Khairullah.” Another former student, Priscilla Nunez, said he has good demeanor to be a teacher as well as mayor. “He’s very calm, I have to say, reminds me of my dad. Always spoke to us with respect...” While Khairullah seems at ease in his job as a politician, he has not forgotten his Syrian roots. He has visited Syria several times over the years. He says the trips were made to take food and medical supplies to people in need. “It’s a challenge to the dictator and to people who support that dictator that despite all of the dangers, we are going to continue to support those people who have been abandoned by the international community and the world.” He involves his children in the humanitarian projects. He says he wants to teach them that humanity is more important than ethnicity or religious beliefs.    Khairullah has come a long way since arriving as a young man and having no idea he would someday be mayor of the town. But he still remembers an early hint at his political future.  “I remember walking to high school here and seeing a sign that has an Arabic name on it, a political sign. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is crazy, amazing.’ So it planted a seed in my head.” I’m Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.   Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   city council – n. a group of people who make and change the laws of a city worship – n. the act of showing respect and love for a god foundation – n. something that provides support for something demeanor – n. a person’s appearance and behavior abandoned – n. left alone without needed protection or care

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Record Number of Environmental Activists Killed in 2015

  Global Witness says 2015 was the most dangerous year yet for environmental activists. The group reports that 185 people across 16 countries were killed last year while defending the environment. Global Witness is a non-profit organization that follows environmental issues and corruption around the world. The organization released a report called “On Dangerous Ground” in June. The report says that on average, more than three activists were killed every week last year while defending the environment and land rights. Global Witness campaign leader Billy Kyte spoke to VOA. He said the number of killings increased by almost 60 percent from 2014 levels. He blamed industrial growth for the problem. "So we are seeing industries like mining, dam and agribusiness encroaching more and more into previously untouched areas rich in resources and coming into conflict with local communities..." The Global Witness report said 42 deaths were related to the mining industry. Brazil had the largest number of deaths, with 50 killings last year, the report said. The Philippines had 33 killings, the second largest number. Colombia had 26 killings. Peru and Nicaragua each had 12, while the Democratic Republic of Congo reported 11 killings. Global Witness is not the only group following environmental killings. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, or IACHR, follows human rights in South and Central America. It reported that at least six land activists were killed in Brazil in early 2016. Billy Kyte says the true number of killings has not been accurately reported because of fear and threats of possible attack. He blamed what appeared to be close ties between big business and government. "So, in Africa it has been more difficult to get information. This may be because of oppressive regimes, which means it is harder to get data on how many people are being killed or threatened..." Activists with a lot of media attention are often targets for violence or police action. Nasako Besingi of Cameroon was threatened with jail time for opposing palm oil companies. In India, journalist Sandeep Kothari was beaten and burned to death for criticizing mining. Global Witness is demanding better protection for environmental activists from governments. The group also asks for increased legal action against these crimes. I’m Patrick Merentie.   Anita Powell reported this story for VOANews.com. Patrick Merentie adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Are environmental activists active in your country? Does the government protect the environment or environmental activists? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   agribusiness – n. the business or industry of farming or agriculture encroach(ing) – v. to gradually take or begin to use or affect something that belongs to someone else or that someone else is using accurately – adv. done without mistakes or errors regime(s) – n. a particular government palm – n. a kind of tree that grows in tropical regions and has a straight, tall trunk and many large leaves at the top of the trunk  

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Ghana Women in Business

  In Ghana, some people believe certain jobs are only for men. But some Ghanaian women are starting to do traditionally male work, such as carpentry or jobs that require physical strength. And they are proving that men are not the only ones who can be tough. Esenam Nyador is one of those women. She is one of three female taxi drivers in Accra. She is also a wife, mother of two and a student at the University of Ghana. Nyador says she has gotten used to the strange looks she gets when she drives her taxi around town. She calls herself “Miss Taxi.” She says the loan company and the taxi union originally rejected her when she first began her business. “They weren’t sure I would even be able to make up sales or have a good business to pay back their car, just because I am a woman. So they were like concerned about whether I wouldn’t be open to car hijacking and they’ll end up losing their assets in the long-term." Nyador now has regular customers, many of them women. And she is finding creative ways to grow her business. For example, she books her clients via social media, email or text message. And unlike most male taxi drivers, she charges set prices instead of haggling with her customers. Selina Adjeley Annan also works in a male-dominated field. Annan, a single mother, works as an electrician at Teshie. She remembers the day she applied for a job. The company she was applying to took apart a fluorescent tube and asked her to fix it. They took Annan more seriously when they saw that she was able to fix the tube. Annan says that, now, salesmen have started sending clients to her. Like Nyador, Annan has found that some people would rather work with a woman. Annan says that when customers see her instead of a male electrician, they are surprised and often say, “I have never seen a woman electrician before.” All of the people Annan works with are men. Eric Adjetey Otenkorang is one of her supervisors. He says there are limits to what Annan can do because she is a woman. Otenkorang says that if “the job is a little bit risky,” he has the men handle it instead of Annan. He explains that some work is too heavy for a woman to do. Taxi driver Esenam Nyador does not allow talk about women’s limits slow her down. She says men are just used to being the only ones who work in certain jobs.  "It all started with men…so I guess they have developed this sort of entitlement attitude.”  But, Nyador says, that way of thinking is just a habit. She says in reality, there is no such thing as “man’s work.” I’m Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.    Francisca Kakra Forson wrote this story for VOANews.com. Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   haggling – v. to talk or argue with someone especially in order to agree on a price  entitlement – n. the condition of having a right to have, do, or get something: the feeling or belief that you deserve to given something  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.    

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Traveling Religious Workers in Rural America

  In the early years of American life, traveling religious workers called preachers helped to spread Protestant Christianity westward as the territory of the United States expanded. Many of these preachers traveled on horses to lead religious services in small towns and places where only a few people lived. Today’s traveling preachers arrive in rural communities in cars. It is Sunday morning in Unionville, Tennessee. Dan Sweet is leading services at the tiny Zion’s Hill United Methodist Church. It is 150 years old. Sweet is one of a growing number of pastors who travel to small Methodist churches in rural areas of the United States. During the week, Sweet works at a large engineering company that designs and builds government projects. He says he has two full-time jobs. “I do this job seven days a week. The other job is five. The other job pays a whole lot better and it pays the bills. This is more a labor of love and it's a labor of what God has asked me to do.” Barbara Waterson has been attending religious services at Zion’s Hill Methodist Church since the 1960s. She is now one of just 20 remaining members. “I’m just a small-church person. I love big churches, but I just love the fellowship of the small churches. Everybody’s just a loving, spiritual family, and everybody gets along.” When the religious service ends at Zion’s Hill, Sweet drives 10 minutes to another church, Hickory Hill United Methodist Church. He leads another service there. Methodists have been worshiping at Hickory Hill since before the Civil War. Sweet is helping them keep the church alive. He says he is surprised by the role he is in. “Early on in my life I did not attend regular worship services and actually it wasn’t until about 10 or 12 years ago that I started where God really impressed upon me that it was time. He’d let me goof-around, goof-off long enough and it was time now to start doing His will.” The Pew Research Center says the number of Americans who attend church services regularly has been slowly decreasing for many years. The decline is especially sharp in the country’s older, traditional Protestant churches, like the Methodist churches Sweet visits each week. Mark Chaves is a sociologist at Duke University. He researches religious trends in the U.S. He says other Christian churches should pay attention to what is happening to attendance at Methodist churches. Chaves says other Christian groups, such as Southern Baptists, could see a similar decrease in attendance in the future. Sweet says that unless new members join his small churches, the churches may have to close. But he says that it is not something he can control. “I’ve only been facing it with them for about two years now. They’ve been facing it for quite a while, a longer while, and God always seems to bring in new people.” The United Methodist Church is based in Nashville, Tennessee. It says the number of traveling preachers serving Methodist churches is growing. I’m Marsha James.   Mike Osborne reported this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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   pastor - n. a Christian clergyman serving a local church bill - n. a statement showing the cost of goods sold, services performed or work done fellowship - n. friendly relations between people gets along - v. to be or remain on good terms worship - adj. of or related to religious services goof around - v. to spend time doing playful things trend - n. something is currently popular decline - n. a drop or decrease in something

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/29hsSCD
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