No Guarantee of Job Security at White House

      Andrew Puzder has withdrawn as President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary. Just a day earlier, Michael Flynn resigned from his position as national security adviser. Puzder faced united Democratic opposition. And some Senate Republicans were concerned that he employed an undocumented worker as a housekeeper.    Flynn’s departure came just 24 days into the Trump administration. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Flynn, a retired general, lost the trust of the president. David Greenberg is a historian at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He said he couldn’t remember any recent high-level White House official losing his job so quickly. Flynn’s departure is notable for how quickly it occurred. But all recent presidents have asked top administration officials to resign. Some, like Puzder, did not get to serve even one day in the job for which they were nominated.   The last three presidents, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, all pulled back important nominations after questions were raised about their choices. For Obama, it was his first choice for health secretary. For Bush, it was a nominee for the Supreme Court. And for Clinton, it was his first two choices for attorney general. Senate says no President George H.W. Bush, who served just before Clinton, wanted former Senator John Tower to be his defense secretary. But the Senate defeated his nomination. His second choice, Richard Cheney, won Senate approval. Here are some examples of high-ranking officials forced to give up top jobs in recent presidential administrations: President Barack Obama, Democrat, 2009-2017       In April  2014, President Obama’s health secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, resigned following a troubled start of the national health law, known as Obamacare. Another resignation came from Eric Shinseki, who was forced to leave as Veterans Affairs secretary after employees hid long wait times for medical care. George W. Bush, Republican, 2001-2009         Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld resigned from President George W. Bush’s cabinet in 2006. Rumsfeld’s departure was a sign the war in Iraq was not going well, said Greenberg, the Rutgers University history professor. Bill Clinton, Democrat, 1993-2001. President Clinton’s surgeon general, Joycelyn Elders, was forced to resign. She had called for study of legalizing some illegal drugs and making birth control available at public schools. Two other top health officials resigned to protest a Clinton decision. They said a welfare reform law approved by the president would hurt poor people. George H. W. Bush, Republican, 1989-1993 President George H.W. Bush asked his chief of staff, John Sununu, to step down after complaints he was too hard on White House officials, and news reports he used military airplanes for personal trips.   Ronald Reagan, Republican, 1981-1989 Two of President Ronald Reagan’s National Security advisors, John Poindexter and Robert McFarlane, resigned over the Iran-Contra scandal. It involved the sale of weapons to Iran, with money going to help arm Contra rebels in Nicaragua. Congress had blocked federal money for the rebel effort. Reagan’s national security aide Oliver North was also forced out over the Iran-Contra scandal.   Another high-level resignation came in 1982. Secretary of State Alexander Haig stepped down, saying he disagreed with some of Reagan’s foreign policy decisions. Haig is most remembered for declaring, "As of now, I am in control here in the White House,” after the 1981 assassination attempt against Reagan. Jimmy Carter, Democrat, 1977-1981 Bert Lance was budget director under President Jimmy Carter. He resigned after questions were raised about loans and other decisions he made while running a bank in the state of Georgia. Gerald Ford, Republican 1974-1977 Jerald terHorst was press secretary for President Gerald Ford. He resigned to protest Ford’s decision to pardon former President Richard Nixon. The pardon freed Nixon from facing criminal charges for the “Watergate scandal.” Richard Nixon, Republican, 1969-1974 The biggest resignation of President Richard Nixon’s presidency was his own. Nixon resigned in 1974 after Congress was ready to remove him from office for covering up the break-in at Democratic headquarters in Washington’s Watergate complex. The “Watergate scandal” also forced other Nixon aides to resign.   Flynn Says He’s Still Behind Trump Most people who give up top White House jobs continue to praise the president. In a statement, Andrew Puzder said he was honored to have been considered for the position of labor secretary, and he praised Trump for helping to "put America's workers and businesses back on a path to sustainable prosperity." Flynn also said he had been “honored” to serve President Trump. He credited Trump with helping bring back “America's leadership position in the world.” According to a White House report on presidential history, before Flynn, the earliest resignation of a national security adviser was William Jackson. He lost the job four months after President Dwight Eisenhower appointed him. Henry Kissinger held the job the longest, from 1969 to 1975, under Presidents Nixon and Ford. I'm Ashley Thompson. And I'm Bruce Alpert. Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English.  Hai Do 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   employ - v. to provide (someone) with a job that pays wages or a salary undocumented - adj. not having the official documents that are needed to enter, live in, or work in a country legally departure - n. to leave a place, or position birth control - n. drugs and devices to keep a woman from becoming pregnant welfare - n. a government program for poor or unemployed people that helps pay for food, housing and medical costs scandal - n. an action that is morally or legally wrong break-in - n. to gain entry into a building or place without permission credit - v. to recognize something that someone has done  

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How to Fix Your Facebook News Feed

  Has your Facebook News Feed become a mess of political stories, unwanted videos and angry rants? Are you wishing for the days when your feed was filled with posts from friends you care about the most? The good news is that you can fix your Facebook News Feed to show more posts that interest you and fewer that do not. By taking just a few minutes to fix your feed, you may be able to enjoy Facebook again. No need to unfriend anyone. Just set your feed to see what you want to see and hide what you do not want to see. See important friends first Facebook lets you choose which friends' posts show at the top of your News Feed. Maybe you have dear friends who do not post often, but you want to be sure you see their posts first. Or maybe you have Facebook friends you have never even met in real life but they post interesting quotes or fun travel photos you look forward to seeing. You can easily choose whose posts you want to see first by changing your News Feed settings. On the Facebook website, tap the Down arrow in the upper right corner of the blue bar at the top of the screen. Then, choose "News Feed Preferences."                     Then click on "Prioritize who to see first."             Choose the names of people whose posts you want to see at the top of your News Feed. The final step is to click "Done" at the bottom. Block friends' posts without unfriending anyone You may be best friends with someone in real life but have no interest in their Facebook posts. Maybe they post angry messages or childish videos. Facebook lets you secretly block friends' posts from your feed.No one will know you blocked them unless you tell them. The process is simple. Tap the Down arrow in the upper right corner of the blue bar at the top of the Facebook page. Then, choose "News Feed Preferences." Next, choose "Unfollow people to hide their posts." Then, mark the friends you want to unfollow. This will prevent their posts from appearing in your News Feed. When you are finished blocking just tap “Done.” Block "on this day" reminders Some days are best forgotten. But Facebook might remind you about those bad days with its ‘On This Day’ feature.           ‘On This Day’ can be a wonderful reminder of happy events. But sad anniversaries may be difficult enough without Facebook reminding you about them. You can turn off all reminders, or block people and dates from ‘On This Day.’ To adjust the settings, go to the Facebook ‘On This Day’ page. Click "Preferences" in the upper right side of the page You can choose people and dates you do not want to be reminded of. Facebook lets you choose individual dates or a wider period.         If you do not want to see any ‘On This Day’ reminders ever, choose a period from the day you joined Facebook to a date in the future.                       Remove all politics from Facebook Chrome extension If you do not want to see political posts, you can add an extension to your Chrome browser. The extension ‘Remove All Politics from Facebook’ was started during the U.S. presidential campaign last year and was updated earlier this month.   ​             This extension for Chrome looks for keywords related to U.S. politics. Then it blocks posts containing those words from your Facebook News Feed. You cannot change the keywords that are blocked by the extension.                       After the extension has been added, click its icon in your Chrome toolbar. You will see a list of keywords that will cause a post to be blocked from your Facebook news feed. To start using ‘Remove All Politics from Facebook,’ slide the switch to on and restart your Chrome browser. I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Do you want to fix your Facebook feed? Will you be setting your friends to see first? Will you be blocking any friends' posts? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rant - n. angry, emotional, or negative speech or writing unfriend - v. remove (someone) from a list of friends or contacts on a social networking website prioritize - v. to organize (things) so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first​ remind - v. to make (someone) think about something again​ anniversary - n. a date that is remembered or celebrated because a special or notable event occurred on that date in a previous year extension - n. a small software program for an Internet browser keyword - n. a word that is used to find information in a piece of writing, in a computer document, or on the Internet icon - n. a small picture on a computer screen that represents a program or function  

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Expanded Panama Canal Still Facing Problems

Over seven months have passed since Panamanian officials launched an expansion of the world famous Panama Canal. Officials agreed to the expansion so that many of the world’s largest cargo ships could easily pass through the canal. Yet the Associated Press reports the $5.25-billion project has problems. It says ships continue to rub against the canal’s walls and wear out defenses designed to protect both shipping and the waterway. The Panama Canal has been in operation for more than a century. The United States completed the canal in 1914. The waterway remained under U.S. control until the end of 1999, when it was given to Panama. A dangerous system The canal links two oceans – the Atlantic and the Pacific -- through a system of locks. The locks are like steps. They raise and lower ships from one part of the waterway to another on their trip from ocean to ocean. With the old locks, which are still in use, large ships would be tied to powerful locomotives on both sides. These engines help to keep the ships in the center of the canal. In the new locks, the ships are tied to tugboats. One tugboat is tied to the front of the ship, with the other tied to the back. These boats then guide the ships through the canal. At first, pilots of the cargo ships and tugboat operators would sometimes try to rub the boats against the canal walls as a way to keep the ships straight. But this caused damage to rubber padding lining the walls. In one case, a ship called “Ever Living” tried to pass through the canal when one of the massive steel lock doors failed to open all the way. The ship’s pilots and tugboat captains decided to continue using the tugboats to guide the ship through the narrowed passageway. But to avoid the stuck door, the ship came dangerously close to the side of the lock walls. "These are things that shouldn't happen," tugboat captain Mauricio Perez said. "Sometimes the only thing we can do is pray." Not enough training Even before the expanded canal opened in June 2016, tugboat operators had expressed concern about the new system. Many asked for more training. "The fears and dangers remain, although the boats are going through," Perez said. The Panama Canal Authority reports that, between June and January 2017, there were only 15 incidents that resulted in damage to locks or ships. That represents about 2 percent of the 700 times ships have sailed through the expanded canal. Officials say the first seven months have been a learning process, but they remain hopeful. Manuel Benitez, deputy administrator of the canal, said it has been "pretty positive the way our people have been able to navigate that (learning) curve." Benitez felt that the problems that have been reported were not enough to affect the operation of the locks.  Still, many ships are carrying containers with goods, and any delay because of an accident can cost them money. In perhaps the most serious incident, a Chinese ship hit a lock wall a few weeks after the expanded canal opened, and made a hole in the side of the ship. This forced a delay in the trip. The Canal Authority did not say how much money is being spent on repairing the new rubber bumpers. Captains who navigate the canal say the defenses were expected to last at least a few years before they wear out. Pilots have argued they should be replaced with a system of floating bumpers like those used in some European locks. Officials say they plan to continue operating with the current system of defenses, but changes could happen in the future. "Thanks to the expertise of our practices, these incidents are happening less and less," Benitez said. A delicate operation There have been important improvements to operations at the Panama Canal, according to the Associated Press. Tugboat pilots say average travel time through the canal has dropped to two-and-a-half to three hours. It was four hours when the locks first opened. With experience, captains have become more at ease taking ships straight down the center of the locks, especially when weather conditions are good. But it's still a delicate operation. As the 334-meter-long Ever Living moved into the 426-meter lock chamber, workers tied the ship against the walls to keep it in place while it waited to move to the next lock. The tight space left little room for the tugboats, both in front of and behind the ship.  Tugboat captains still fear their boats could be crushed against the walls if things get out of control during bad weather. Captains also regret that no wall was built at the entry to the Pacific Ocean side. They say such a wall would help to keep the ships straight and protect them from fast water currents. This is where the Chinese ship had its accident. I’m Phil Dierking.   The Associate Press reported on this story. Phil Dierking adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Should canals still be used if they are not yet safe??  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   authority – n. people who have power to make decisions and enforce rules and laws delicate – adj. easily broken or damaged lock – n. an area in a canal or river that has gates at each end which are opened and closed to control the level of the water in different sections of the canal or river as boats move through it locomotive – n. the vehicle that produces the power that pulls a train tugboat – n. a small, powerful boat that is used for pulling and pushing ships especially into harbors or up rivers cargo – n. something that is carried from one place to another by boat, airplane, etc. positive – adj. good or useful navigate –v. to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc. padding – n. soft material used

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Tuhin Das: Poet, Activist and Writer in Exile

Tuhin Das is a writer, activist and poet. In a quiet, melodious voice, he shares a part of a poem. “I don’t know how I can express myself, as feelings become obtuse from fear. Soldiers of darkness caught me like an animal and butchered me in dreams. You know the feelings of dreaming are like reality. It is midnight in my Bangladesh.” Tuhin Das is from Bangladesh. But he lives now in exile. Forced to leave his home in April 2016, Tuhin Das sought refuge at City of Asylum Pittsburgh, a sanctuary for endangered writers.  “I left my country in an extreme situation and I came here not for only security; I came here for freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of writing and freedom for living a certain way.”           Born and raised in Barisal, Bangladesh, Tuhin Das loved to read poems. Tuhin began writing his own poems when he was in seventh grade. Some of his works were featured in a local children’s magazine. “Basically, I write poetry because that is my voice, my soul voice. I wrote a few rhymes, like children(’s) poetry. They were published in children’s magazines.” Tuhin Das says he continued with poetry but also started writing other things, like short stories. However, he says in the 1980s things changed in his country. A military dictator took control and established Islamic rule. Tuhin Das says he began to write more serious articles as a witness to the rise of fundamentalism. “When I started writing articles, basically our community in Bangladesh was ninety-four percent Muslims and they did not think [writing] is good because some feelings hurt them. I wrote against war crimes, some war criminals in our country, and they are still in our country and they are doing their job. They were never condemned, so for that, we wrote against them.” However, freedom of expression came at a cost for Tuhin Das.  “Right now there are local collaborators of 1971, and right now in our country there are a lot of their supporters. So, when we wrote against them and the supporters, sometimes online, they personally threatened us.”     To save his own life, Tuhin Das left Bangladesh. Since 2013, Das has been the target of fundamentalist groups who have murdered freethinking bloggers, writers and editors. In Bangladesh, writers are being persecuted under the country’s Information and Technology Communication Law. Instead of protecting Tuhin, the police collected and searched his writings for anti-Islamic statements to use against him. City of Asylum Pittsburgh has given exiled writer Tuhin Das a refuge. “I think a lot of bad things have happened in our country and already 16 writers are murdered by the extremists so, right now, I am feeling safe here. I am writing freely. Right now, I am writing a novel about (the) social structure of my country, basically the Islamization of my country.” Tuhin Das appreciates the community support he is receiving. He joined the Greater Pittsburgh Literary Society where he is learning the English language and about American culture.  His work has continued to appear in Bangladesh. In his native language, Bengali, Das has authored seven poetry books. He has served as editor of several literary magazines, written short stories and published columns in his home country.  He says his proudest accomplishment is the founding of a popular magazine called, ‘The Wild.’ However, Tuhin Das says he misses his Bangladeshi home and hopes one day to return there. “I love my country and also my family, my parents and my nephew and my sisters and a lot of friends. I think the situation of my country will be good and I will come back to my country. I hope that.” I’m Marsha James.   Marsha James wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Next time on People in America, meet Peter Ripken, Board Chair of International Cities Of Refuge (ICORN) Listening Quiz See how well you understand this story by taking a listening quiz. Play each video, then answer the question. _____________________________________________________________ Words In This Story     melodious – adj. having a pleasing sound sanctuary – n. a place where someone is protected or given shelter fundamentalism – n. a form of religion especially Islam or Protestant, Christianity that upholds strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or principles collaborator – n. a person who works with another person or group in order to achieve or do something blogger – n. someone who writes about personal opinions, activities and experiences persecuted – v. to treat someone cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs appreciate – v. to be grateful for something literary – adj. having a lot of knowledge about literature: known for reading or writing books authored – v. to be the person of something, such as a book column – n. an article in a newspaper or magazine that appears regularly and that is written by a particular writer or deals with a particular subject accomplishment – n. something done, achieved successfully

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Tuhin Das - POEM

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Tuhin Das: Poet, Activist and Writer in Exile

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Peter Ripken, Board Chair of International Cities Of Refuge (ICORN)

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February 15, 2017

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

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Apple’s New ‘Spaceship’ Headquarters Almost Complete

  Apple is nearing completion of its new “spaceship” headquarters in northern California. The company has been secretive about the project, just as it is about its new product development. But Apple officials have said they plan to move into the new headquarters in 2017. Reuters news agency quotes people involved with the project as saying the move could happen as early as this spring. Construction began in late 2013 and the cost of the project is estimated to be at least $5 billion. The building is located in Cupertino, California, near Apple’s current headquarters. Many people have compared the design and construction to the way Apple has developed its most successful products. These methods include extreme attention to detail and creating visually pleasing features.   World’s largest piece of curved glass Apple employees and people involved in the construction have not said much publicly about the project. However, some employees did tell Reuters that one iPhone design theme found throughout the building is rounded edges and corners. Some also said the elevator buttons reminded them of the iPhone’s home button. Even the toilets seemed similar to the iPhone’s square shape with rounded corners, they added. The main structure of Apple’s new headquarters was built as a complete circle with glass walls on all sides. It rises up four levels from the ground. Apple’s late chief Steve Jobs once described the future building as looking “like a spaceship landed.”   Jobs presented his plans for the project to local officials in June 2011, just months before his death. In the presentation, he outlined his plans to make a beautiful building inside and out. He noted that using curved glass all the way along the building would be expensive and complex, but well worth the effort. “There’s not a straight piece of glass in the building,” he said. The main building actually houses the world’s largest piece of curved glass. Thousands of smaller pieces were used to make a continuous glass wall that will stretch more than six kilometers. ​ The property includes a 1,000-seat auditorium for meetings and product launches. Employees also get access to a large fitness center, as well as sitting areas and cafes to buy food. New home for over 14,000 employees The entire property – also known as Apple Campus 2 – was built to hold all the company’s employees in the area – up to 14,000. The campus includes research and testing buildings. It also has an “Energy Center” to store the power Apple generates itself. The company says the property will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. Architecture company Foster + Partners has overseen the project. It called the building “one of the most environmentally sustainable projects” in the world. The area inside and all around the building will be landscaped like a park, with more than 8,000 trees and plants. Steve Jobs said it was his goal to make 80 percent of the property green space. Much of the parking is hidden underground.   There will also be running and biking paths and hundreds of bikes available for employee use. Apple’s goal of engineering and design perfection seemed to be very much alive throughout construction. One union official said every detail – no matter how small – always required approvals from Apple managers. The official told Reuters that all materials and operations were checked and rechecked by Apple’s in-house team and construction contractors. Workers often wore gloves to protect the more delicate parts of Apple’s new spaceship. “It's like a painting that you don't want to touch," the official said. "It's definitely going to be something to see, if they let you in." I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters and other sources. Hai Do 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   corner – n. the point where two edges meet elevator – n. machine that carries people up and down in buildings curved – adj. having a rounded shape landscaped – adj. adding plants, trees or grass to improve the appearance of land gloves – n. pieces of clothing worn to protect the hands delicate – adj. easily damaged or broken  

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After-School Program May Hold Secret to Success

  In Washington, DC, only 69 percent of public school students graduate from high school on time. Many factors influence that low rate. One of the most important ones is whether the people around the students expect them to succeed.     So, for the past 40 years, a DC organization has stepped in to give around 10,000 students the support and positive environment they need to thrive. This organization, called Higher Achievement, provides students a welcoming space, help with classwork, and caring mentors. More than 95 percent of students who complete Higher Achievement graduate from high school on time. Katherine Roboff is the group’s executive director in the DC area. She gives several reasons for the group’s success. One is timing. Higher Achievement does not work with students who are already in high school. It works with students in middle school. They start Higher Achievement at fifth or sixth grade – in the U.S., that is usually ages 11 or 12. Roboff says research shows that if students are doing well academically in eighth grade—around age 13—they will have a greater chance of graduating from high school and going to college.  In other words, what happens in middle school has a huge impact. The years between ages 10 and 13 may affect a student’s future more than anything that happens academically in high school.  “We know from the research is that middle school is the last best chance to get on track to college."    Roboff explains that students participate in Higher Achievement after school and during the summer, when public schools take a break of about two months. Higher Achievement students do homework, have community meetings, and work one-on-one with a mentor. “The purpose of the program is to help them use those after school and summer hours to become better prepared academically and to develop their leadership skills and confidence so that by the time they get into eighth grade they are ready to get into some of the top high schools.” Three Rs Roboff calls the focus on the middle school years “right-timing.” She says the other two secrets of Higher Achievement’s success also start with “r”: rigor and relationships.  “Rigor” means Higher Achievement has high expectations of the students in the program.  And “relationships” refer to Higher Achievement’s mentorship program. The mentors are volunteers who live near Washington, DC. Mentors work with students for about an hour each day on subjects such as math or literature. But Roboff says the connection the mentors have with their scholars may be as important as the subjects they work on together. “The relationships are such an important part of our model. But It’s especially important when you’re in middle school, when so much is changing… to have mentors and staff and summer teachers who are there not only to help you grow academically but first and foremost to  be a support for you and to help make sure you have a safe place to go and someone who will listen to you and talk with you and help you figure out things that are going on…” Roboff says relationships with mentors “make a very, very big difference in the lives of our scholars.”   Michelle Davis is a mentor for Higher Achievement. She says the mentor program allows students to practice new skills privately with someone they trust. For example, she says, they practice critical thinking. Then, Davis says, students have the confidence to think critically when they go back to class. Dimelza Gonzalez Flores directs the Higher Achievement center at Columbia Heights Education Campus, an urban DC neighborhood not far from the White House. She says some of the Higher Achievement students do not always get the attention they need to develop academically. As a result, she says, their mentor can have a major impact on their lives. “They might not have that one-on-one piece or they might not have that chance to voice their opinions and to grow as individuals. And that’s I think what makes Higher Achievement so special and so important in scholars’ lives.” A partner to the schools Roboff says Higher Achievement is a partner to the public schools. She wants to support what is happening in the classroom. But, she adds, schools could learn something from Higher Achievement. She calls it “culture.” In other words, Roboff believes Higher Achievement provides an environment where students can do their best. She says part of their formula is a “culture of high expectations for scholars.” An eighth-grader named Kastenny agrees that Higher Achievement has made a big difference for her. She says participating in the program has improved all of her grades, especially in math. Higher Achievement has also helped her become involved in healthy relationships. Perhaps most importantly, it has given her a positive attitude about academics. “Through Higher Achievement, I learned that I love being around other people and that I find comfort being surrounded in other people, and I love learning. I have a new passion of learning because of Higher Achievement.” Higher Achievement is counting on those healthy relationships and  that love of learning to carry her to high school graduation and beyond. I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was written for VOA Learning English by Phil Dierking. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  Do you think mentors are the best way to support students in public schools?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education achievement – n. something that has been done or achieved through effort : a result of hard work nonprofit – n. A nonprofit is an organization that uses whatever money it earns or raises to run the organization and to do the work of the organization. mentor – n. someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person piece  - n. an amount of something considered separately from the rest relationship – n. the way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other rigor – n. the difficult and unpleasant conditions or experiences that are associated with something scholar – n. an intelligent and well-educated person who knows a particular subject very well thrive – v. to grow or develop successfully

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Helping People One Ride at a Time

  Hilary Moore Hebert had a simple idea. She knew many visitors to Washington, D.C. buy fare cards to ride the city’s public transportation system. What would happen, she wondered, if visitors donated old fare cards to help poor people get to jobs, doctors’ offices or schools? Moore Hebert bought 56 fare cards for a group from New Orleans, Louisiana. Its members were traveling to the nation’s capital for the Women’s March on Washington. The march was held January 21. She asked that the cards be returned after the event. She offered to donate them to a charitable group. But Moore Hebert did much more than that. She put out a request on Facebook and other social media. It was directed to the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the Women’s March and the hundreds of thousands at the swearing-in of President Donald Trump the day before. Would they consider donating old fare cards to help needy people?   Moore Hebert’s efforts paid off. More than 10,000 fare cards were donated in just over three weeks. They continue to arrive by mail from as far away as Hawaii. Three charities are receiving the cards and continue to accept them. The three are Martha’s Table and Miriam’s Kitchen of Washington D.C., and Doorways for Women and Families of Virginia. They are providing reports on social media about the donations. What are Fare Cards? Washington’s public transportation system requires people to pay for their trips with plastic, “SmartTrip” cards. Each card is like a credit card, and comes with a computer chip that removes the cost of each trip from the card’s value. A person with a $10 card, who takes a bus trip costing $2, would have $8 remaining for future trips. Often people visiting Washington, or any city with a fare card system, end up buying a card for more trips then they take. So unless they plan to return to that city soon, chances are that money is lost forever. Unless they donate the cards. “I’m very surprised and happy that it ended up with so many fare cards being donated,” Moore Hebert told VOA. She lives on a farm in Germantown, Maryland, outside of Washington. Subways rides can be costly. One-way trips on Washington’s subway and bus system cost $1.75 to over $5, depending on distance and time of day traveled. SmartTrip cards have value, even if there is no balance left on the cards. That is because a person planning their first trip on the transportation system must buy a Smart Trip card. Each one costs $2. So, even a card, with no balance remaining, would save a person $2. Moore Hebert hopes to keep the program going, even when donations from the Women’s March and presidential swearing-in ceremony stop. She wants Washington area hotels to ask hotel guests if they are willing to donate their fare cards. But people can help even when the city they are visiting does not have a program to collect fare cards. Some hotel guests give their fare cards to housekeepers or other hotel employees at the end of their stays. In New York City, the gift of a $15 fare card could provide someone with five one-way trips on the subway. People can also look up local groups that help poor people and ask if they could use fare cards. I’m Caty Weaver. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA 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   fare card - n. a plastic card loaded with money to enable people to ride on subways and buses inauguration - n. to introduce a newly elected official into a job or position with a formal ceremony subway - n. a system of underground trains in a city chip - n. a very small piece of hard material in a computer or other device that contains electronic circuits balance - n. the amount of money that remains guests - n. a person who stays at a hotel

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