China Places a New, and Higher, Tax on Pollution

Recently, dangerous levels of air pollution spread over several major cities in China. The problem shows that China has much to do to fight pollution. But China is also changing the way it deals with the problem. In the past, local governments, including officials in the capital Beijing, would have denied the problem. But, during the recent period of smog, schools and some polluting factories were closed. Also, the number of cars permitted on city streets was limited.  Environmental groups say the number of clear days is increasing. More people are paying attention to the deadly effects of microscopic air pollutants called PM 2.5. These small particles can harm human lungs.   During the five-day pollution crisis, state-run Xinhua news agency reports that 15 million face masks were sold online. Recently, China’s National People's Congress passed a new environmental tax. The tax affects polluters of air, water and solids. Noise pollution is also among the things that can be taxed.  The new law aims to pressure polluters and give the government more enforcement power.   Weak local enforcement The law aims to deal with the failure of local governments to watch, enforce, and punish polluters. For nearly 40 years, China has been collecting fees from polluters. However, the system did not work well.  Under the old pollution fee law, local governments placed more importance on economic growth than the environment. Yuan Ying works for the Climate and Energy Unit of Greenpeace East Asia in Beijing. She said a pollution tax is a good step. She said the new policy will help cause local governments to make tougher rules for companies that pollute. In the past, local officials from China's Ministry of Environmental Protection were responsible for collecting pollution fees and the system was easy to abuse. Earlier this month, state media reported that investigations this year have led to the punishment of more than 3,700 officials for not effectively protecting the environment. Now, local tax officials will send the money directly to the local governments, instead of local environmental protection departments. Environmental officials will be responsible for monitoring polluters. War on Pollution For years, China has been criticized for not limiting pollution because of the effect it could have on economic growth. Critics of China include Peter Navarro, the man President-elect Donald Trump has appointed as the head of what he is calling the National Trade Council. These critics argue that weak enforcement is unfair because China uses it to cut costs for its companies. These savings can make their products more competitive. But, in recent years, public awareness and opposition has grown.  Pressure to clean up the environment has increased. Chinese leaders see the problem affecting not only the country's water, soil and air, but social stability too. ​ Too little, too slow The effect of the tax is not yet known. The new law does not take effect until January 2018. Information released by state media shows that few companies will feel pressure to pollute less. For example, the tax on one ton of dangerous waste is about $144. Coal mines and users are expected to pay less than one dollar for one ton of waste. And the cost for releasing one kilogram of the chemical sulfur dioxide is about 17 cents.  But officials say the increase in money received from the tax will be large. Last year, under the old system, officials collected $2.5 billion from about 280,000 polluters. The new tax law is expected to collect as much as $50 billion during its first year. Greenpeace's Yuan Ying said that based on their estimates the current rate is still too low, especially for coal-burning power plants. She said the current cost to polluters is not enough to limit or pay for the environment costs.   I’m Alice Bryant.   William Ide reported this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story smog - n. fog mixed with smoke : a cloud of dirty air from cars, factories, etc., that is usually found in cities microscopic - adj. able to be seen only through a microscope; extremely small mask - n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth ton - n. a unit for measuring weight that equals 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) monitor - v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time stability - n. the quality or state of being stable power plant - n. a building or group of buildings where electricity for a large area is produced

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Have You Met the Perfect Tenses?

Editor’s note: This is the third episode of four-part series on verb tenses. Be sure to listen to part one and part two first. For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going to talk about the perfect verb tenses. Perfect tenses generally focus on how a past action affects the present.For example, “I have already eaten.” The suggestion is that the speaker is not hungry. Perfect verb tenses are the most difficult for English learners. The term “perfect” can be confusing. What does grammar have to do with not making mistakes? When you are talking about grammar, perfect has a different meaning. It comes from the Latin word perfectum, which means “complete.” The most important thing to remember is the perfect tenses always refer to completed actions. If you get confused, try replacing “perfect” with “completed” and the time relationship should become clearer.     Present Perfect Past  Perfect Future Perfect PERFECT TENSES I have driven in snow many times. Have/has + past participle verb It had already snowed before I left. Had + past participle verb It will have snowed 6 inches by the end of the day. Will have + past participle verb   Present perfect We will start with the present perfect. You form the present perfect using has or have followed by a past participle verb. For example, “I have seen Star Wars.” The use of the present perfect here gives us three pieces of information. First, it tells us that the event is finished. Second, it tells us that the exact time of the action is unknown or unimportant. Third, it suggests that the experience of seeing Star Wars has some effect in the present. One of the most difficult distinctions for English learners to make is the difference between the simple past and present perfect. Remember, when there is a specific time, you use the simple past. In the sentence “I saw Star Wars last night,” the adverb last night is a specific time. You cannot say “I have seen Star Wars last night.” But, you could say, “I have seen Star Wars before” or “in the past” or “three times.” You should also use the present perfect to refer to a repeated action in the past. For example, “I have taken that test four times.” The exact time of each action is not important. You can also use the present perfect to describe an action that did not happen, using the adverb never. “I have never traveled outside of my country” and “I have never smoked in my entire life.” Something that did not happen in the past, like not traveling and not smoking, can also have an effect in the present. The adverbs never, already, yet and so far are common in the present perfect. Adverbs are often the best indicators of which verb tense to use. Past Perfect Now let us look at the past perfect. The past perfect describes an activity that was finished before another event in the past. For example, “She had already had a baby before she graduated.” To form the past perfect, use had followed by a past participle verb. For the second action, use before or by the time followed by the simple past verb. Imagine you were at a New Year’s Eve party, but you fell asleep before midnight. You could say, “I had already fallen asleep before the New Year came.” You can use the past perfect to talk about how an experience from the distant past relates to an experience from the more recent past. For example, “The soldier wasn’t scared because he had already been in battle before.” In other words, battle was not a new experience for the soldier. If the time relationship is clear, you can choose between the past perfect and the simple past. “My grandfather passed away before I was born,” has the same meaning as “My grandfather had passed away before I was born.” The past perfect just emphasizes that the first action was completed before the second action. Future perfect Let us move on to the future perfect. Use the future perfect when you know that one future action will be completed before another future action. For example, “I will have graduated from college before my little brother graduates from high school.” The future perfect has very limited use because we rarely know a future sequence of events with any certainty. When it is used, the future perfect usually refers to major life events that are planned years in advance. And those are the three perfect tenses. Join us next week on Everyday Grammar for an explanation of the perfect progressive tenses. I’m John Russell. And I’m Ashley Thompson. Adam Brock wrote this story for Learning English. Jill Robbins and Kathleen Struck were the editors. Here is a video explaining  the difference between the simple past and the past perfect tense. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   participle - grammar. a form of a verb that is used to indicate a past or present action and that can also be used like an adjective adverb - grammar. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree indicator - n. a sign that shows the condition or existence of something scared - adj. afraid of something 

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Chicago Working to Reduce Gun Violence

Gun violence is an issue in Chicago, Illinois, America’s third largest city. The Chicago Tribune reported that 61 people were shot in the city during the long Christmas holiday weekend. Eleven of those shot died, the newspaper said. The holiday weekend ended Monday night. The Tribune said the attacks brought the total number of shootings for 2016 to more than 4,300. The number killed in shootings this year reached 770, it said. In 2015, 2,989 people were shot and 492 were killed in gun violence. Chicago is not the only city in the United States to report an increase in shootings and murders. The Brennan Center for Justice is a non-profit research group with ties to New York University’s Law School. It reported last week that the murder rate for 2016 in America’s 30 largest cities is expected to be 14 percent higher than the rate last year. The center blames the increase on fewer police officers working in some cities, as well as poverty and increased gang violence. But it said that two large cities -- Baltimore and Washington D.C. -- have fewer murders this year than in 2015. Eddie Johnson is Chicago’s Police Superintendent. He said 90 percent of those killed in his city over Christmas weekend had ties to gangs, criminal histories or had been identified as potential offenders or victims. Johnson urged politicians to increase sentences for people found guilty of gun crimes. “If you pick up a gun and shoot somebody, you should go to prison, period, that’s the end of the story,” he said. “Some people want to give them a pass for it. I don’t,” he added. Chicago is working to add police officers who more closely represent the ethnicity and races of city residents. Rahm Emanuel is mayor of Chicago. He said, “Officers come together from different backgrounds, different cultures, and different faiths for a common cause: to serve and protect the people of the City of Chicago. And this whole city will be behind our officers, rooting for their success.” Gary Slutkin is founder of a group called Cure Violence. His group has trained people to work in their communities to persuade people to choose non-violent ways of dealing with conflicts. Slutkin said the workers often knew when a young person was planning a violent act just by living nearby. Because they have credibility with their neighbors, they often have more influence than police, or even parents, he said. Often the “issue” with another young person was not that big a deal -- maybe someone spoke to his girlfriend or owes him money. His workers, Slutkin said, could persuade young people that their problem with another person was not worth a violent response. “Sometimes it is simply pointing out that if you go ahead and do it (shoot somebody), people are going to be looking for pay back against you or you might be spending 20 years or more in prison,” Slutkin said. But he said a loss of government assistance has left all but one city neighborhood without the program this year. He believes the lost funding and higher shooting rates are related. Slutkin is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois’ School of Public Health. He said his program uses policies developed by health experts to deal with disease. It works, he said, because violence can spread just like diseases such as AIDS or tuberculosis. His Cure Violence Program operates in 25 U.S. cities, as well as in other countries, such as South Africa, Honduras, Mexico, and prisons in Britain. I’m Ashley Thompson.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Bruce Alpert adapted the story and did additional reporting 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   gang - n. a group of criminals potential - adj. capable of becoming real pass - n. let people go on without penalty faith - n. religious beliefs root - v. to express or show support for someone credibility - n. the quality of being believed or accepted as true, real, or honest epidemiology - n. the study of how disease spreads and can be controlled

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Actress Debbie Reynolds Dies, One Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher

  This is What’s Trending Today. Many people have been reacting to the news of Carrie Fisher’s death on Tuesday. Fisher died at the age of 60. She was best known for acting in the Star Wars movies in which she played Princess Leia. Then, Fisher’s mother, actress Debbie Reynolds died because of complications from a stroke. Reynolds was 84. She was a star actress and singer starting in the 1950s. Her son, and Fisher’s brother, Todd, confirmed the news to reporters late Wednesday. Reynolds won her first big part at the age of 19 in the 1952 film “Singin’ in the Rain.” She acted and danced with Gene Kelly, who was one of the most popular performers of that time. She made news in 1955 when she married singer Eddie Fisher. They had two children, Carrie and Todd.   Three years later, Fisher left Reynolds and married actress Elizabeth Taylor. It was the sensational Hollywood love triangle of the time. Reynolds was nominated for an Academy Award, known as an Oscar, for her part in the 1964 film “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” After the 1960s, Reynolds had fewer film roles, but still appeared often on television. Many people used social media to express their sadness upon hearing the news. They could not believe Reynolds died one day after her daughter. There is a Twitter account for Fisher’s dog, Gary. It is run by a fan. The person tweeted a picture of Reynolds and Fisher, writing “they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.”  Comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres wrote: “I can’t imagine what Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds’ family are going through this week. I send all of my love.”  Actor William Shatner is best known for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek series. He wrote: “Debbie Reynolds was one of the last of Hollywood Royalty. It breaks my heart that she is gone. I’d hoped that my grieving was done for 2016.” Other fans posted tributes to the women. Some made videos showing Reynolds’ work as dancer, like this clip of Reynolds performing with Donald O’Connor in the film “I Love Melvin” from 1953.  And a French artist posted an illustration of Reynolds and Fisher holding hands, dressed in their costumes from “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Star Wars.” And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.   How did you react to the news of Debbie Reynolds’ death? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stroke – n. a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked sensational – adj. causing very great excitement or interest with shocking details love triangle – n. a situation in which two people are competing for the love of another unsinkable – exp. unable to be stopped or pushed down transition – n. a change from one state or condition to another role –n. the character or part played by an actor or actress account – n. an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company grieve – v. to feel or show grief or sadness tribute – n. something that you say, give, or do to show respect or affection for someone clip – n. a short section of a movie, TV show, etc. illustration – n. a picture or drawing in a book, magazine, etc. costume – n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing

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News Words: President-elect

This news word is the title of a political job.

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First, Trump Pumpkins, Now Trump Roosters?

  This is What’s Trending Today... A few months ago, photographs of carved pumpkins were all over social media. The photos began appearing in October, just before the elections in the United States. Some of the bright, orange vegetables were cut in such a way to look like the face of Donald Trump. At the time, he was the presidential candidate of the Republican Party. The pumpkins were displayed during Halloween. As we move closer to 2017, birds seem to be on many people’s minds, as they prepare to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rooster. On social media, some people are comparing Donald Trump’s hair to the colorful, soft feathers of a rooster. In November, the People’s Daily newspaper published a photo of a bird with blond feathers, saying it looked like Trump. But a large shopping center in China went further than that. It crossed an image of the U.S. president-elect with the Year of the Rooster and created a large statue. The photo of the shopping center’s new mascot is causing a stir. The new mascot is a white rooster with gold hair that looks similar to Trump’s hair.  The rooster has a gold-colored beak and eyebrows. Its wings are designed to look like fingers. They appear similar to the way Trump holds his hands while making movements during speeches. The shopping center is in Taiyuan, about 500 kilometers southwest of Beijing. Some smaller versions of the mascot are being sold at local stores and on the website Taobao. Prices go from $57 to almost $2,000. That is for a large version of the statue that is almost 10 meters tall. Broadcaster CNN reported on the story. In its report, one person said, “The rooster is very cute and funny, the hairstyle and eyebrows look very much like Donald Trump. I'm sure it will attract a lot of customers.” On Facebook, many people debated whether the statue is an insult or compliment. Some wrote that babies born in the Year of the Rooster are supposed to be trustworthy and responsible. So they said it was a compliment. Others said the statue is funny, and they would like to buy a small one for themselves. And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think the statue looks like Donald Trump? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pumpkin – n. to make (something, such as a sculpture or design) by cutting off pieces of the material it is made of carve – v. to make (something, such as a sculpture or design) by cutting off pieces of the material it is made of mascot – n. a person, animal, or object used as a symbol to represent a group (such as a sports team) and to bring good luck cause a stir – exp. to cause a reaction beak – n. the hard usually pointed parts that cover a bird's mouth cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance compliment – n. a remark that says something good about someone or something

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Japanese Leader Praises Alliance with U.S. at Pearl Harbor Memorial

  This week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a historic visit to Pearl Harbor in the American state of Hawaii. Abe went there on Tuesday with President Barack Obama. The two leaders placed great importance on the idea of reconciliation. Obama said: “Wars can end, the most bitter of adversaries can become the strongest of allies.” The prime minister offered sympathy for the Americans who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years-ago. He expressed “sincere and everlasting condolences” for the deaths of more than 2,400 American servicemen. Abe joined Obama in placing wreaths at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. The memorial is built over the wreckage of the battleship that was destroyed in the attack on December 7, 1941. The visit brought added attention to the modern-day alliance between two nations that fought each other fiercely in World War II. In his speech at Pearl Harbor, Abe called the relationship between Japan and the United States, “an alliance of hope.” Obama called the alliance the cornerstone of the Asia-Pacific area and a force bringing progress around the world. This was not the first visit to Pearl Harbor by a Japanese Prime minister. However, it was marked with symbolism, coming 75 years after the surprise attack that led to U.S. involvement in World War II. It also comes seven months after Obama became the first U.S. president to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb used in war. A historic visit timed to current politics Jeffery Hornung is a researcher with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Washington, D.C. He says the visit has historical importance. But it also shows the depth of the alliance. Japanese-American ties were an issue during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. "It sends a symbolic message to, not only the incoming president-elect, but also to the region, that the U.S.-Japan alliance is stronger than ever, that we are able to confront past problems between us and still be stronger as allies." Abe did not offer an apology for the Pearl Harbor attack. But he is the first Japanese leader to visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. China, Asia’s largest economy, criticized Abe’s trip to Pearl Harbor. Before the visit, China’s foreign ministry said Japan cannot turn over a new page of history without reaching an understanding with its Asian neighbors. China called Abe’s effort “wishful thinking.” Japanese officials have been concerned that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may not value the alliance with Japan as other presidents have. U.S.-Japan economic ties remain very deep. However, the inability to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement has hurt Abe at home, says Hornung. “The failure of the TPP even under the Obama administration has been concerning because Prime Minister Abe put a lot of political capital into this. He had to confront some agricultural cooperatives within his own country and really confront opposition with his own party with this to really push it through his country.” The Japanese leader noted in his speech the part the U.S. played in rebuilding Japan after the war into the economically strong democracy it is today. I’m Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter adapted this story from reports by Kenneth Schwartz, Reuters and other materials. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   adversaries – n. opponents condolences – n. expressions of sympathy and sadness for the loss of another cornerstone – n. the most important part of a foundation symbolism – n. to use symbols or actions to represent an idea or quality political capital – n. goodwill or influence that can be used by a politician to get something done, but that can be used up easily wreath – n. a ring or circle of flowers, leaves or other plantlife.

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Money Shortages in India Affect Millions of Workers

  Workers recently lined up outside a camp in northern India to open bank accounts. The line formed at a traffic stop in the center of Gurgaon, in Haryana State. One of the workers was Ishwari Lal, a daily wage laborer. He is like millions of migrant laborers across India. They work in small factories or businesses, at building projects, or as security guards, drivers and servants. Lal’s wages were always paid in cash and he spent the money carefully. He sent some of it to his family. He used the rest to make rent payments for his one-room home and buy food or supplies. But Lal has only been paid one-fourth of his wages since severe cash shortages began affecting the country. Six weeks ago, the Indian government banned high-value bank notes of 500 rupees ($7.50) and 1,000 rupees. The move was aimed at finding and seizing large amounts of illegal cash. Lal’s employer asked him to put his wages in a bank. He is doing that now, but worries that getting the money back from the bank will be difficult. Banks see shortage Since the ban was announced, many Indians have stood in long lines at banks to get money. And, banks are not giving customers the amount they demand as the banks run out of money faster than it is replaced. “If I need 10,000 rupees, I get 2,000 rupees. How can I manage in just this much money? I have faced massive problems,” Lal said. He wonders how he can buy food, pay for medicines, or send money home to his children. Some employers are also facing cash shortages and [are] beginning to give out checks to pay wages. In India, hundreds of informal sector workers are opening bank accounts. The informal sector is a part of the economy that is not taxed and not regulated by the government. According to some estimates, nearly 480 million Indian nationals earn cash in the informal sector. That represents 80 percent of the country’s work force. As the cash shortages continue, the informal sector is slowing down. This is affecting economic growth in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Companies have reduced employees as business drops sharply and factories have laid off workers after having to slow down production. Exodus of migrant workers Wages are either not being paid on time or are being paid in old bank notes. This has led some migrant laborers in big cities to return to their villages. The ones who have stayed in cities are struggling to get paid. Harsh Singh is a self-employed driver in New Delhi. Singh says he has not been getting calls from his regular riders since cash shortages began to get worse. He said his work has decreased by at least 50 percent. And his passengers only make part of the payment. “So I have to go back to get my money,” he said. He is thinking of opening a bank account to accept online payments, even if they sometimes amount to less than $10. Several economists, however, say the currency ban will have good long-term effects. They say it help improve controls on small businesses and factories. And it will help bring poor people into the banking industry. Millions in India have no ties to banks and cannot get financial services, credit or insurance. Effect on Economic Growth While it is too early to know the exact effect of the currency ban on economic growth, economist N.R. Bhanumurthy said informal jobs have suffered. He works at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy Bhanumurthy said there is an effect on the employment situation because of the general drop in economic activity. People are also spending less, but spending “is the biggest driver of (the) Indian economy,” Bhanumurthy pointed out. But he expects this to be a short-term drop. He said that when spending returns, India may also see an increase in employment. I’m Alice Bryant. Anjana Pasricha reported this story for VOANews. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   account - n. a record of money that has been paid and money that has been received migrant - n. a person who goes from one place to another especially to find work cash - n.  money in the form of coins and bank notes shortage - n.  a state in which there is not enough of something that is needed lay off - v. to end the employment of a worker or group of workers, usually because there is not enough work currency - n. the money that a country uses insurance - n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, or to pay money equal to the value of something (such as a house or car) if it is damaged, lost, or stolen customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business regulate - v. to make rules or laws that control something

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Ethnic Group Blames Myanmar Security Forces for Attacks

  Aid agencies and rights groups say about 25,000 members of the ethnic group known as Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since October. They are fleeing violence as the government fights rebels in Rakhine state. Many of the new arrivals are saying that Myanmar's security forces are attacking civilians. Some rights groups say satellite pictures support claims that whole villages have been burned to the ground. For Gul Jahar, there is nothing left to go home to. Her three sons disappeared during an attack in November. She describes how soldiers came to her village and carried out violence. "The soldiers burnt down all the houses and everything we had in our village. The rice that we kept in a barn – they burnt it all. We had nothing left," she said. Abu Tha Heck, who traveled to Bangladesh with his wife and four of his six children, tells of witnessing Myanmar security forces committing rape. The shop owner and farmer left his house and land behind. He still does not know where two of his sons are. Government response The government denies that abuses have taken place. A statement posted to the Ministry of Information's website on December 19 criticizes the international community for putting pressure on Myanmar's government. Kyaw Moe Tun, the director general of the Myanmar Ministry of Foregin Affairs, says accusations of abuse are not helpful. But he said that the government is ready to work with those who provide evidence of suspected crimes. "Whoever has [that] kind of information, please bring [it] forward and give use the concrete evidence. Then, the government is ready to look into the matter," he said. In an interview with IRIN news, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aye Aye Soe said, "The things they are accusing us of didn't happen at all." She added "I am sure there are people going over the border, I accept that, but I don't know if it could be 20 or 30 thousand. It's blown out of proportion." NGOs Dispute the Government's Claims However, human rights groups dispute the government's statements. They say that evidence shows Myanmar's military is committing rights abuses. In a report published in mid-December, Amnesty International says that satellite pictures show that about 1,200 Rohingya homes have been burned. The government says that Rohingya militants have burned the homes. But, Amnesty says, eyewitness reports and satellite pictures show that the burning patterns are "consistent with targeted and systematic attacks by the military." Another human rights group, Human Rights Watch, says other satellite imagery shows the government is behind the burnings. The images show a military post next to the village of Wa Peik, where around 300 buildings have been burned. Brad Adams, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch said, “It’s difficult to believe that militants burned down over 300 buildings in Wa Peik over a one-month period while Burmese security forces stood there and watched.” Foreign reporters and humanitarian groups have been banned from going to the northern parts of the Rakhine state, making it difficult to document violence in the area. Several journalists will be permitted into the area this week, but it is not clear how freely they will be able to travel. I’m John Russell. Steve Sanford wrote this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English with additional sources of information. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   commit – v.  to do (something that is illegal or harmful) concrete – adj. relating to or involving specific people, things, or actions rather than general ideas or qualities systematic – adj. using a careful system or method blow out of proportion – expression. to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is

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December 28, 2016

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Group Works to Bring Better Eyesight to People in Poor Nations

  Imagine sitting in a classroom and not being able to see a picture that your teacher is showing. Imagine driving a car, not knowing that your vision is so bad, that driving is dangerous to you and others. For millions of people, that condition is normal. That is because there are not enough eye doctors, known as optometrists, to diagnose and treat eyesight problems in many poor nations. In some developing countries, there is only one optometrist for every eight million people. That estimate comes from J. Kevin White. He started the group Global Vision 2020. He also is its executive director. Global Vision 2020 is a charity based in Maryland that is working to bring eye tests and low-cost eyeglasses to people in developing nations. Glasses allow people with bad vision to see normally.  “So even if you knew you needed eyeglasses, which most people don’t, the opportunity to find, to get help, is really, really limited and even the cost is just cost prohibitive.” A person can expect to pay $100 for an eye test and glasses, White said. That is too much for most people in many developing nations where many earn $2 a day or less, he said. White has developed a low-cost tool that teachers, nurses, and almost anyone can be trained to use and quickly learn if children or adults need glasses. White demonstrated his system at a coffee shop near Global Vision’s office in Easton, Maryland. In less than five minutes, he tested the eyesight of a woman who could not see things well a short distance away. He then picked out the correct lenses for her, and placed them into a frame. She could then see normally. This meant she could see a group of letters about six meters away. That is what a person with normal vision is expected to see without glasses. Some people need glasses because they cannot see things that are close to them, such as a book when they are reading. White says he uses glasses that cost as little as $1. He uses a tool he calls a USee. It is a frame with a dial on each side. Turning the dial changes the focus of the lenses. When the people being tested say their vision has become clear, the USee shows what lenses are needed to correct their vision. The lenses then are placed into a frame, and soon students who had trouble can now see what their teacher wrote or a driver can read a roadside sign. According to the World Health Organization, about 285 million people have eyesight problems. About 90 percent of those with vision problems live in areas where incomes are low, according to the WHO. Of course, it is helpful to be able to see clearly. For example, White said, studies show that people with vision problems drop out of school at higher rates than those with normal vision. He believes many car accidents are caused by people who need but do not have glasses. “Almost everything that we do is affected by our vision, whether we’re driving, your economic output, everything. You know, we kind of live in a visual world.” White noted how many people had vision problems in poor nations, especially in Africa, during his days on active duty with the United States Marines. During that time, he helped provide glasses to people who needed them. After leaving the Marines, White worked to find a low-cost system that would help the many millions of people who do not see well. That search led him to develop USee. White recently traveled to Mozambique. He is seeking grants that will help pay for a supply of USee lenses and frames that teachers and health officials can use in Mozambique and other countries. During his trip, White said, he gave an eye test to a regional health care official and found he needed glasses. After the official put on his new glasses, he was surprised at what he could see. Wearing the new glasses, the official saw for the first time that under the picture of the country’s president, Filipe Nyusi, his name is written. “Everyone laughed,” White said. They told the health official that all public photos of the president include Nyusi’s name. White said that the first glass frames he produced were not a success because they did not look good. Now, he has produced modern-looking, colorful frames. White said people are now excited to wear them. The people wearing them, he said, look good and see well. I’m Bruce Alpert. And I'm Anna Mateo. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English.  Mario Ritter 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 vision - n. the ability to see diagnose - v. to recognize a disease or eye problem by examining someone charity –n. an organization that works to help people in need opportunity - n. the chance to get something done prohibitive - adj. so costly that people are prevented from using or buying something lenses - n. a clear curved piece of glass or plastic that is used in eyeglasses frame - n. the plastic or metal structure that holds the lenses of eyeglasses dial - n. a round part on a piece of equipment that you turn to operate something focus - n. a state in which something such as glasses produces a clear picture or image grant –n. an amount of money given to a person or group that is to be used for a specific purpose

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