Vietnam Looks to European Free Trade Deal

The government in Vietnam faces pressure from European lawmakers to improve its human rights record. The rights issues are being raised at a time when European Union (EU) members are considering a free trade deal with the Southeast Asian nation. The European Parliament recently sent its Subcommittee on Human Rights on a fact-finding trip to Vietnam. The committee called on Vietnamese officials to permit more debate about political rights and freedom of expression and religion. The EU and Vietnam signed the free trade deal in December of 2015. However, the European Parliament and the legislatures of all EU members must approve the agreement for it to take effect. That may be easier said than done. Frederick Burke is with the law office of Baker & McKenzie in Ho Chi Minh City. He noted, “They have this daunting prospect of having to go through 27 national assemblies to get anything ratified.” EU officials had sought the trade deal so European companies could easily do business with Vietnam and its market of 93 million people. The EU also hopes the agreement will serve as a starting point for a free trade deal with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vietnam is one of ASEAN’s 10 members. Vietnam has been developing an export-driven economy. The country is seeking to diversify its markets and reduce dependence on China. Future of Pacific free trade deal remains uncertain Vietnam signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement with 11 other nations last year. The deal would have sharply cut import tariffs on Vietnamese products in Japan and the United States. However, the future of the agreement is unclear. In January, the United States, under president Donald Trump, withdrew from the TPP. Now, Vietnam is looking to increase trade with the European Union. The value of trade between the sides is estimated at $40 billion. The EU is already Vietnam’s third largest trading partner, after the U.S. and China. Hoang Viet Phuong works at SSI Securities Service in Hanoi. She says Vietnam exports a lot of clothing and textile products to Europe. And she thinks the trade deal with the EU will help exports after the loss of the TPP. The agreement would end almost all import tariffs between the two sides within seven years. It would also open Vietnam to European services, such as healthcare and packaging. Activists demand greater attention to human rights Nearly one year ago, the French group Worldwide Movement for Human Rights accused the EU of failing to study the effect the trade deal would have on rights. Mauro Petriccione was the chief European negotiator. He said the deal included “strong commitments to protect people’s basic rights at work, their human rights more broadly, and the environment.” But Fredrick Burke of Baker & McKenzie says Vietnam’s free trade agreement with the EU is not as strong on human rights as the TPP. Burke said the TPP would have required changes to Vietnam’s labor laws, making them more supportive of labor unions. It also would have permitted fines on industries if pollution caused problems for trade. Violators would face extra tariffs. “The EU FTA (free trade agreement) was not drafted as clearly as the TPP,” he said. “The language is not as self-enforcing. It relies more on goodwill and people willing to do things.” Vietnam has faced criticism from rights groups for its record on free speech, labor rights and other issues. The New York-based group Human Rights Watch says Vietnamese officials threaten and imprison bloggers and political activists. It also says workers cannot form unions and farmers risk losing land to development projects. Another group, Open Doors, estimates there are 8 million Christians in Vietnam. But it says these people are sometimes arrested because the government sees religion as “being tied to foreign powers.” The head of the European subcommittee spoke about human rights in Vietnam. He said without meeting Europe’s conditions on human rights, ratification of the trade deal would be difficult. I’m Mario Ritter.   Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   daunting –n. difficult to deal with, not easy prospect – n. the possibility that something might take place ratify – v. to officially sign and approve a treaty diversify – v. to increase the different kinds of goods that are offered for sale tariff – n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2mIWFJx
via IFTTT

Pentagon Wants to Expand US Military Efforts in Somalia

  Experts are concerned about increasing attacks by the Islamic militant group al-Shabab in Somalia. In the past few weeks, the group has increased suicide bombings of Somali hotels and military targets.  These attacks have caused the Trump Administration to consider increased military involvement in the country. Experts say that current actions, such as drone attacks, are not enough. U.S. officials have said the Defense Department wants to expand the military’s ability to fight the al-Qaida-linked group. They have recommended that the Trump administration permit U.S. Special Forces to increase assistance to the Somali National Army. Defense officials also want the U.S. military to have the ability to launch pre-emptive airstrikes. Analysts say new efforts in Somalia will be difficult and costly. The appearance of fighters pledging alliance to the Islamic State group has made the situation more complex. Rashid Abdi is an expert on the Horn of Africa area with the International Crisis Group. “The concern in Washington has been mounting for some time now. The Trump administration is simply reiterating what has been policy, with slight variations,” said Abdi. “U.S. special forces are already on the ground. Drone attacks have been scaled up.”     Somali forces have struggled to fight militants There are currently about 50 U.S. advisers in Somalia.  They move in and out of the country to advise and assist local troops. The soldiers have accompanied Somali forces in several raids against al-Shabab fighters, according to Somali intelligence officials. Many fighters were killed in these raids, the officials said. Somalia has been without an effective central government since the fall of leader Siad Barre in 1991.  It is also one of the seven mainly Muslim countries whose citizens would have been temporarily banned from traveling to the U.S. by a presidential order. Federal courts have suspended that executive order. Al-Shabab rose to strength during the many years in which Somali lacked an operating government.  Several years ago, a collaboration of African Union troops pushed the extremist group from the capital, Mogadishu, and most other urban areas. However, experts say that push against al-Shabab has weakened, and has allowed the group to regroup and to operate in the rural areas of the country.  This has permitted attacks in Mogadishu. A need for training In the past year, the U.S. launched 14 airstrikes.  According to a Somali intelligence official, these attacks resulted in the deaths of some top al-Shabab leaders, including Hassan Ali Dhore and Abdullahi Haji Daud. However, the main military successes against al-Shabab have come from the African Union regional force in Somalia. They include about 22,000 troops and have operated in Somalia since 2007. The AU force plans to withdraw by the end of 2020. Cost is a main reason for the withdrawal. The mission’s yearly budget has risen from $300 million in 2009 to $900 million in 2016, said Ahmed Soliman, an analyst with Chatham House, the London-based think tank.  If the African Union troops leave, the Somali army will have to fight al-Shabab alone. However, some observers  consider it weak and disorganized. According to Soliman, the U.S. military will probably increase training and coordination. But it is unlikely to put more American soldiers in Somalia.       A new threat Al-Shabab militants continue to control towns and villages across the south and central parts of the country.  However, fighters linked with the Islamic State group also have appeared in the area. Officials are worried that their presence could grow in the country. These fighters broke away from al-Shabab and declared allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2015. Al-Shabab sees the new group as a threat to its operations.  Ahmed Mohamoud is a retired former Somali military general. He said, “It’s only al-Shabab that can stand in ISIS’ way to expand its areas of operation.” Somali forces are currently too disorganized to stop the new group. I’m Phil Dierking  This story was originally written for the Associated Press.  Phil Dierking adapted this story for Learning. Mario Ritter was the editor.   Do you think increased training is the solution to peace in Somalia? What are other ideas for helping bring stability to the region?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   airstrike – n. an attack made by aircraft. allegiance –n. loyalty to a person, country, group, etc. drone – n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot pre-emptive – adj. done to stop an unwanted act by another group, country, etc., from happening resilient – adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens urban – adj. of or relating to cities and the people who live in them

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2lPBL7h
via IFTTT

Lesson 47: How Can I help?

Summary Pete is fixing his car. Can Anna help him? She was fixing cars when she was a teenager.  Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about how to offer and accept help.  Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the reduced form of "I will" in the future tense. Conversation Anna: Hi, Pete. What are you doing? Pete: Oh! Hi, Anna. Right now, I am fixing my car. Anna: How’s it going? Pete: It’s going … not so good. Anna: How can I help? I was planning to visit some friends. But if you need help, I can help. I like helping. Pete: Anna, I can fix it myself. But thanks. Anna: Pete, I think I found your problem. These are spark plugs. (holds them up) Anna: They start the engine. Pete: I know that, Anna. But there were too many spark plugs … in there. So I took out the extra ones. Anna: There are no extras, Pete. You need all of them. Pete, can you fix a car yourself? Pete: Well, Anna, last night I was watching the online video course, “You CAN Fix a Car Yourself!” Dan: Yes, you CAN fix your car yourself! Pete: And I watched the first 10 lessons. So, I think I know what I’m doing. Anna: How many lessons are there? Pete: Four hundred and fifty. Anna: 450! That'll take too long! If I fix your car, I'll have it running in 10 to 15 minutes. Anna: Where’re your tools? Pete: I have this. (puts a useless tool in her hand). And this. (hands her another useless tool) Anna: Great. Um, I’ll get my tools. I’ll be back in a flash! Pete: But, Anna, I don’t need your ... (She goes and quickly comes back with tools.) Pete: … help. Anna: Pete, when I was a teenager, I was fixing cars -- myself. I learned from a master. Anna: You can trust me. Pete: Okay. Anna: Great! But we need teamwork. You sit in the car. When I say “go,” you start the engine. Anna: Okay, go! ​ Anna: Stop! Anna: Okay, go! Huh.  Pete: It's not starting! It’s not starting! Anna: What’s wrong? Pete: This car is stupid … stupid, stupid! Anna: Pete, kicking the tires will not help. Pete: Well, you did not help, Anna. You did not help!! Anna: Pete, Pete! Pull yourself together, man. Give me the keys. I must feel the key in the ignition and turn it myself. Master: Use the key, Anna. Turn the key, Anna. What are you forgetting, Anna? Anna: Pete. Pete. Pete: What? Anna: You are out of gas. Pete: I can’t be out of gas. (looks at gauge) I’m out of gas. Sorry, Anna. I’ll go get some. Anna: Pete. You relax. Clean your face. You can watch the rest of your online video course. It’ll be faster if I go … in a flash. Until next time … Dan (in the online video course): “Lesson 11. Always make sure you have a full tank of gas!”   Writing In this lesson, Anna helps Pete fix his car. When was the last time you helped a friend or family member? What were they doing when you helped? What were you doing to help them?  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about problems and offering help. Please note, our activity sheets now can be completed on the computer.   Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Access Information Sources. In today's computer age, it is easy to learn online. But you can also learn from people who have experience. In this lesson, Pete learns to fix his car by watching an online video course. Anna tells Pete that she learned to fix cars from someone who had many years of experience. She calls her teacher "a master," and she remembers her master's words when she helps Pete with his car. Both Pete and Anna are accessing information sources to learn. What sources of information do you use, or access, as you are learning English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy.   Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz.  ______________________________________________________________ New Words   course - n. a series of classes about a particular subject in a school engine - n. a machine that changes energy (such as heat from burning fuel) into mechanical motion face - n. the front part of the head that has the eyes, nose and mouth on it fix - v. to make (something) whole or able to work properly again orto repair (something) flash - n. a sudden appearance or occurrence of something ignition - n. the electrical system in an engine that causes the fuel to burn so that the engine begins working key - n. a device that is used to open a lock or start an automobile kick - v.to hit (someone or something) with your foot master - n. a person who has become very skilled at doing something spark plug - n. a part of an engine that produces a spark that makes the fuel burn stupid - adj. informal. used to refer to something in an angry or irritated way tank - n.a container for holding a liquid or gas tire - n. a rubber ring that usually contains air and that fits around the wheel of a car or bicycle tool - n. something (such as a hammer, saw or shovel) that you hold in your hand and use for a particular task video - n. a movie, television show or event that has been recorded so that it can be watched on a television or computer screen   ​______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice using the future continuous tense to talk about plans. ____________   For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar: Review of past and present continuous; review of reflexive pronouns Topics: Offering and accepting help Learning Strategy: Access Information Sources Speaking & Pronunciation: Reduced form of "I will" in American English _______________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2n3mxvX
via IFTTT

Everyday Grammar: Determiners

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2mUuN1W
via IFTTT

Trump Demands Investigation, Ex-Spy Chief Denies Wiretapping

Editor's Note: An audio for this story will be added when it is available.   U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Sunday that Congress investigate his claims that the Obama administration “abused” its powers in the Russian interference investigation. This came a day after Trump tweeted, without evidence, that former President Barack Obama had ordered the wiretapping of his phones. In a statement on Sunday, the president’s spokesman Sean Spicer said the administration “is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.” The spokesman said, “neither the White House nor the president will comment further until such oversight is conducted.” James Clapper was the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the Obama administration. On Sunday, he told NBC News, “There was no such wiretap activity mounted against the president-elect [Donald Trump] at the time, or as a candidate or against his campaign.” “Absolutely, I can deny it,” Clapper said. Controversy started with presidential tweets Early Saturday morning, Trump said on Twitter that he “Just found out that Obama had my ‘wires tapped’ in Trump Tower just before the victory.” The president did not provide evidence for his accusation. He compared the actions of the Obama administration to Watergate, the political scandal that led to the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1974.   Kevin Lewis is a spokesman for Obama. In a statement on Saturday, he said neither “President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false.” Lewis said no Obama official “ever interfered with any investigation led by the Justice Department.” The Russian question Trump has dealt with questions about his campaign’s possible ties to Russia since before the election. While Obama was president, American intelligence agencies said Russia had interfered in the election to help Trump defeat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Last week, it was reported that Sergei Kislyak, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, had met at Trump Tower in New York in December with Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn. Kushner is an advisor to the president. He is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka. Michael Flynn is a retired army general. He was the president’s first national security advisor. He was forced to leave the position after 24 days. Flynn admitted that he had given officials “incomplete information” about his phone conversations with Kislyak. Hope Hicks is a spokeswoman for President Trump. She said the meetings at Trump Tower were held to “establish a line of communication” between Trump aides and the Russian ambassador. She said Kushner met with representatives from many countries. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he would not take part in any investigations into Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election. Sessions was a member of the Senate during the campaign. He strongly supported Trump. During a hearing called by senators to ask questions before they decided if they would approve his appointment as attorney general, Sessions said he had not met with Russian officials. But he later admitted that he had met with Kislyak twice during the presidential campaign. The FBI and the Justice Department -- the government agencies that would investigate possible Russian influence in the election -- did not make any statements.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from VOA Correspondents Ken Bredemeier and Steve Herman and the Associated Press. Christopher Cruise was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   wiretap - v. to place a device on someone's phone in order to secretly listen to telephone calls oversight - n. the act of overseeing something or someone. Congressional oversight gives the U.S. Congress the ability to review and monitor federal agencies, programs, activities and policy implementation  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2lPgCdD
via IFTTT

Millennials Keep Tradition of College Student Activism Alive

College students around the world have been a powerful force for change throughout history. In the United States, the 1930s, 1960s and 1990s were periods when every new generation of college students became involved in political action. They forced change on issues of war, poverty and environmental protection. Millennials is a term that describes the current generation of 18 to 35 year-olds. They have faced criticism for rejecting behavior and beliefs of previous generations. But passion for political involvement is one quality that has not been lost. In 2016, the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles reported on the opinions of over 141,000 first time college students. The study found one in 10 students expected to be involved in some kind of protest during their college career. However, not all student political involvement looks the same. Getting money out of politics Cassie Cleary is from Wakefield, Massachusetts: a small town outside of Boston. The 21-year-old says politics was not often a topic of conversation among her friends growing up. Her high school had no student political groups that she knew of. In her second year at Syracuse University in New York, the political science and history student learned of a group called Democracy Matters. The national organization works to prevent private corporations from giving money to election campaigns. Cleary was concerned about the 2010 Supreme Court decision on campaign finance. The decision allows businesses and groups to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns. So she became a leader for her school’s chapter of Democracy Matters. As chapter leader, Cleary plans meetings, invites guest speakers and even investigates sources of private donations to her university. She also organizes actions like getting student to call their representatives in Congress to express their concerns. Cleary sees her generation’s knowledge of technology and social media as a special tool for change. "Let’s be honest. We have more time than the average person because we’re not working. We don’t have kids. So I think if we can get really involved in the backbone of these movements we can move them forward so much more. We have so much more to commit. And we have the energy to do it." Helping minority communities Wailly Compres, 21, is originally from Moca in the Dominican Republic. Like Cleary, Compres had little involvement in politics in his younger days. He said that as in the U.S., political discussion in his country can be very divisive. People often avoid it, he said. In 2012, Compres and his family moved to New York City, where he attended an all-Latino high school. There he began to learn he and his fellow students shared similar experiences of discrimination as Latinos and immigrants. After graduating, Compres began looking for a university that served his interests as a member of these communities. He learned of Bard College, a few hours north of the city. The school was home to ‘La Vos,’ a publication designed to share news and information for the Spanish-speakers in the area. Compres became involved with La Vos and worked with members of the community outside the college. The philosophy student wants to connect Latino immigrants with helpful resources. He also wants to change negative attitudes some Americans have about immigrants. Between 2012 and 2016, several deaths of African American men at the hands of police drew national attention. To show his support, Compres started a Bard chapter of the Million Hoodies Movement for Justice. This is a national student human rights organization aiming to end police violence against African Americans and other minorities. But as Compres becomes more involved, he notes many students feel they only have time for activism while they are students. Every four years, he said: "They leave, the activism stops. Another generation comes, it happens again. It stops, and so on. So I think that, like, our main goal right now is ‘How do we keep this going?'" Sharing conservative values Cade Marsh said he did form strong political opinions at an early age. Marsh is from San Diego, California. He calls himself a standard conservative, believing in limited government, personal freedom and individual responsibility. Marsh began studying law at Palm Beach Atlantic University in Florida in 2014. At the time, there was a mid-term election for members of Congress. Marsh was unhappy with how the government was being run. And he felt that politicians have not appealed to younger voters. "As my generation is spoken to less, and as our opinions are taken and reflected by our elected officials less, we are even less likely to come out and vote … That sort of trend can only last so long, though, because at the end of the day, we’ve started to reject standard political campaign communication and have started connecting peer-to-peer." In early 2015, Marsh wanted to test his abilities as a leader. So he decided to join his school’s chapter of the College Republicans. Created in 1892, this national organization works to get students to join the Republican political party and support conservative goals. Marsh worked hard to share information about his political party. By the fall, Marsh gathered 500 new members to his group. He also became the executive director of the Florida College Republican Federation. He even created his own political action committee called Campus Red PAC in 2016. The group raised over $100,000 to help share Republican messages at Florida colleges and register new voters. Marsh graduated in early 2017, but he says his political activism is not over. He plans to continue his involvement throughout his life. And Marsh says he will encourage any children he has in the future to be politically active as well. He believes young people will always be a major force for change. I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. How politically active are college students in your country? What kinds of student activism happen at colleges in your country? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   millennial(s) – n. a person who was born in the 1980s or 1990s passion – n. a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something chapter – n. the people in a certain area who make up one section of a large organization social media – n. forms of electronic communication, such as Web sites, through which people create online communities to share information, ideas and personal messages backbone – n. the most important or strongest part of something commit – v. to decide to give your love, support, or effort to someone or something in a serious or permanent way divisive – adj. causing a lot of disagreement between people and causing them to separate into different groups graduating – v. earning a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university negative – adj. harmful or bad at the hands – idm. by or through the action of someone or something standard – adj. regularly and widely used, seen, or accepted reflect(ed) – v. to show something trend – n. a general direction of change peer – n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else encourage – v. to tell or advise someone to do something

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2mEtxDm
via IFTTT

Disney Magic: Room Powered by Wireless Electricity

  The Walt Disney Company has built a room that it says can wirelessly power and charge any devices inside it. Wireless charging usually only works when a device is touching a power source. But researchers say they have found a way to provide wireless power and charging capability to large areas. A scientific team from Disney Research recently demonstrated the technology. Alanson Sample is the lead researcher at Disney Research. He explained the goal of the project in a video. “What we really want is a three-dimensional charging experience where you walk into your living room or office and your cellphone is charged simply by walking in.” Sample said the idea of wireless power goes way back to the turn of the 1900s. This is when famous scientific inventor Nikola Tesla proposed a method to send wireless power all over the world. His plan, which involved a giant tower built in New York, was not a success. But the Disney team said it was inspired by Telsa’s early efforts to develop a new system for wireless electricity. The process uses magnetic fields to send power to specially designed receivers.   Researchers built a 54-cubic-meter room in which the walls, floor and ceiling were covered with metal panels. They placed a long copper pipe in the middle of the room. Electrical currents travel up and down this pole about 1.3 million times per second. These currents also move through the ceiling, walls and floor, before flowing again up the pole. Small devices inside the pole set the level of electromagnetic waves. These waves continuously move around the room to send power to receiving devices. The Disney researchers said repeated experiments led to successful wireless power transfers to many devices running at the same time. ​ One of the dangers of electric fields is that they can be harmful to humans. But associate research scientist Matt Chabalko said the level of power being generated inside the room is not dangerous. “Our simulations show that we can transmit 1.9 kilowatts of power while meeting federal safety guidelines. This means it’s completely safe for people to occupy this space for any amount of time.” The experiments also showed that furniture inside the room was not damaged and did not block the wireless energy. Researchers say they believe the technology can be made to fit into small boxes or be used in large buildings. One of Disney’s likely uses for wireless power will be to create areas at its parks where visitors can charge their devices. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story capability – n. ability or power to do something three-dimensional – adj. having or seeming to have length, width and depth copper – n. metal that allows heat and electricity to easily pass through it  pipe – n. long tube that can carry water, gas, etc.  pole – n. long, straight piece of wood, metal, etc.placed in the ground, usually standing up straight  inspire – v. make someone want to do something simulation – n. something made to behave or look like something real, but which is not occupy – v. spend time in a place or to live there furniture – n. chairs, tables, beds, etc., used inside a room  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2lL212P
via IFTTT

From News Event Comes Common Expressions

Hello and welcome to another Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. Each week we tell the story of words and expressions used in American English. Today, we talk about two phrases that were ripped from the headlines, meaning they both came into the language from news events that were covered extensively in the press.  The first is Stockholm syndrome. Stockholm is, of course, a big city in Sweden. Syndrome is a condition. Stockholm syndrome is a type of brainwashing, a psychological condition. It describes a situation where a person held captive develops positive feelings toward their captors. This expression comes from a failed bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden. In August of 1973 bank robbers held four employees captive in the bank for six days. In time, the captives developed a strong connection with their captors. One captive allegedly said she was afraid the police would try to rescue them and endanger the captors. You may hear the phrase Stockholm syndrome in news reports where kidnapped people refuse to leave their captors after living in captivity for a long time. Fearing for their lives, these people have learned how to survive the best way they can. Connecting with their captors is their coping mechanism. We also use Stockholm syndrome to describe people who stay in unhealthy and sometimes even abusive relationships. A famous example of Stockholm syndrome here in the U.S. relates to a wealthy heiress named Patty Hearst. In 1974 a group called the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped Hearst, the 19-year-old grand-daughter of a wealthy newspaper owner. Several weeks after her kidnapping, Hearst helped her captors rob a bank in California. Then she ran from authorities. Finally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Hearst, and lawyers charged her with armed bank robbery. Hearst said she was a victim of brainwashing. She claimed she was abused by her captors and afraid for her life. Many professionals said she suffered from Stockholm syndrome. The court, however, did not agree. She was sentenced to 35 years in jail, but she only served two. With help, people who are brainwashed can unlearn this coping mechanism. However, recovery is much more difficult for those who have drunk the Kool-Aid. Let’s say someone believes in something with all their heart and soul. That something can be a social cause, a political movement or the person in charge. If they are so wrapped up in the cause, movement or person – to the point where they are unable to think for themselves – we say they have drunk the Kool-Aid. But what is Kool-Aid and how does drinking it relate to brainwashing? Kool-Aid is a flavored, sweet drink that was once very popular with American children. However, to drink the Kool-Aid is to accept the beliefs of another person or organization completely. This expression comes from a very dark, disturbing event that happened in 1978. An American named Jim Jones was operating a utopian community in Guyana, South America called Jonestown. But according to former members and eyewitnesses, Jonestown was not a utopia. It was a cult and a prison. Members were not allowed to leave nor were they fed properly. And Jones claimed the role of father figure over everyone. Former members of the cult who managed to escape asked the U.S. government to get involved. So, U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan and several journalists went to Guyana to investigate. At the airport as the group was preparing to leave, a cult member shot at the group. On the runway, he killed Ryan, several journalists and a fleeing cult member. Before the U.S. government could act, Jim Jones asked his followers to kill themselves by drinking a sweet, flavored beverage. The drink contained poison. More than 900 of his followers drank it -- some willingly, some forced. The massacre led to the expression “don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” As an historical note, the beverage that contained the poison was not actually Kool-Aid but another similar brand called Flavor-Aid. This detail, however, does not change the expression. Nor does its terrible origin stop people from using it. In fact, in 2012 editors at Forbes included “drink the Kool-Aid” in that magazine’s List of Most Annoying Business Jargon. Despite the dark origins of both “drink the Kool-aid” and “Stockholm syndrome,” they are both used today in serious and non-serious situations.  I’m Anna Matteo. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   captive ­– adj. captured and kept in a prison, cage, etc. captor – n. someone who has captured a person and is keeping that person as a prisoner captivity – n. the state of being kept in a place (such as a prison or a cage) and not being able to leave or be free : the state or condition of being captive coping mechanism – n. Psychology : an adaptation to environmental stress that is based on conscious or unconscious choice and that enhances control over behavior or gives psychological comfort. heiress – n. a girl or woman who inherits a large amount of money wrapped up – adj. If someone is wrapped up in a particular person or thing, they spend nearly all their time thinking about them, so that they forget about other things that may be important. utopian – adj. impossibly ideal : utopia – n. an imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect cult – n. a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous father figure – n. an older man who is respected and admired like a father massacre – n. the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty jargon – n. the language used for a particular activity or by a particular group of people

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2mRy563
via IFTTT

Scientists Create Method to Test Food and Drugs for Purity

  Millions of people in developing countries have to be on guard against contaminated food and medicine. Some products could be harmful -- even deadly. In Nigeria, brake fluid was found in a product designed to reduce teething pain in babies. A few years ago, the chemical melamine was discovered in Chinese baby food. And in Kenya, powerful antibiotic drugs were found to contain talcum powder. Now, a group of scientists in the United States has found a way to test products before they can cause death or injury. And the process is not costly. There are many ways for drugs and food to be contaminated, including a manufacturer’s mistake or problems with how the product is stored, or someone could even add a harmful substance. Marya Lieberman teaches chemistry at Notre Dame University in Indiana. She is working to give druggists in developing nations an easy way to identify drug contamination. Her process is called PAD -- short for Paper Analytical Device. It replaces costly machines that developing countries may not have. The PAD project began six years ago as a partnership between Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College in Maryland. Researchers developed a paper card test for medicines. Each of the card’s 12 lines has a different chemical. When a drug is placed across the lines and the card is put in water, a change in color will show if the drug is safe.  Lieberman says she and the other researchers are developing cards to test for lead, iodine and even liquid waste. Jamie Luther is a graduate student at Notre Dame. She is working on a card that will show if milk contains anything harmful. “There are tests that are published for people at home to mix chemicals to test their own milk. I thought to myself, ‘that’s so cumbersome. People shouldn’t be handling acids in their home. They shouldn’t mix dangerous chemicals with their hands.’” Lieberman’s team has worked with 18 other universities across the United States to discover the most common contaminants. The team uses special machines to test the drugs collected from pharmacies throughout the developing world. Nicholas Myers is another Notre Dame graduate student. He says before he joined the project he did not know how big a problem contaminated drugs are. “I just took it for granted that chemical analysis could happen anywhere. I didn’t know the extent to which low- and middle-income countries did not have the capacity to do chemical testing.” A start-up company in New York is developing a smartphone app to help with testing of food products and drugs. The company says testers can take a picture with their phone and then compare it to information in the computer program. “If we can’t increase the capacity of analytical labs in the developing world, maybe we can come up with a way to bring that technology in a portable form that will be usable in the field.” I’m Marsha James.   Erika Celeste reported this story from Indiana. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for VOA 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   contaminate – v. to make something dangerous, dirty or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it brake – n. a device for slowing or stopping something (such as a wheel or vehicle) talcum powder – n. a soft, white powder that is used to make your skin feel dry and smooth iodine – n. a chemical element that is used especially in medicine and photography cumbersome – adj. complicated and hard to do pharmacy – n. a store or part of a store in which drugs and medicines are prepared and sold take it for granted – expression to believe or assume that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true; to fail to properly notice or appreciate someone or something that is helpful or important to you extent – n. used to indicate the degree to which something exists, happens or is true portable – adj. easy to carry or move around

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2mon3Y3
via IFTTT

Some Christians Returning to Iraq, But Many Are Not

  Hind Jijji recently returned to her hometown of Qaraqosh in northern Iraq after Islamic State, or IS fighters were forced from the town. She and her family fled the area in 2014 just two hours before IS fighters captured Qaraqosh. They feared that IS would target them as religious minorities. So they fled to Iraqi Kurdistan without taking any of their belongings.  Before IS forces attacked Qaraqosh, Hind Jijji was a student at the College of Medicine in Mosul. She planned to become a doctor. Jijji told VOA she was shocked at how much damage had been done to the town. The home in which she grew up was destroyed.  Jijji told VOA that when IS forces fled, they took everything they could and destroyed what was left. Jijji said the IS fighters burned hundreds of other homes that belonged to Christians. They also damaged a tall religious center, the church of St. Mary al-Tahira. St. Mary al-Tahira was once the largest church in Iraq. About 3,000 people went to religious services there every Sunday. The church is an important place for Iraqi Christians. Hundreds of people returned to the town to repair the building in late 2016.  But for many Christians in Iraqi towns, life will never be the way it once was. It will be difficult to re-establish the Christian community in Qaraqosh and the rest of Iraq because most Christians who fled refuse to return. They have decided to move overseas. The fleeing of many Christians has raised questions about the future of Christianity in Iraq. Muslims and Christians have lived as neighbors in the area for centuries. “I don’t want to live in this place again. I don’t want to ever live next to people who chose to stay under IS rule,” Hind Jijji told VOA. She and her family are trying to leave the country and join other Iraqis in Europe. For Jijji, moving to the West is not only an attempt to find safety, but a chance to live a better life. Like Jijji, Maryana Habash also left Qaraqosh with her family when IS fighters attacked. She and her family were given political asylum in France in early 2016. She now lives in Reims, France and has begun school. Like Jijji, Habash says Qaraqosh is part of her past now. Habash says eight other families from Qaraqosh live in Reims and more are coming. Mass Christian immigration from Iraq is harming the efforts of those who want to establish a self-governing area for Christians in northern Iraq.   Romeo Hakari leads the Bait-al-Nahrain Assyrian Christian political party. He says “continued mass migration of our people to the West is the greatest danger to our existence as a religious minority in Iraq.” The Iraqi government does not know how many Christians live in the country. But it is estimated that more than 1.5 million Christians lived there before 2003. The Iraqi Christian Relief Council is a non-profit group that supports Christian minorities in Iraq. It says the violence that followed the American-led invasion and the targeting of religious minorities by militants have forced about 80 percent of the Christian population to leave the country. Hakari partly blames the West for mass Christian immigration from Iraq. He says western officials appealed to Iraqi Christians to live in Europe and other places. Western countries have agreed to accept Iraqi Christians and Yazidis because of the attacks by IS on these groups. This year, a State Department official told VOA that the U.S government and Canada were working to permanently resettle hundreds of Yazidis and Christians from Iraq.  Hakari told VOA that Iraqi Christian leaders meet often with the American and European officials in an effort to reduce support for such programs. But for many Christians like Hind Jijji, it is not possible to return. “With time we have realized that it doesn’t matter where we live and what system is in place. What really matters is the people around us.” I'm John Russell.   VOA Correspondent Deborah Block reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story 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   church - n. a place where Christians meet for religious services or classes

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2lJvFof
via IFTTT

English in a Minute: Bigger Fish to Fry

Fried fish is a popular food in America and around the world. But does this expression have anything to do with eating seafood? Watch this week's EIM to find out!

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2lqPw0d
via IFTTT