Haitians Seek Shelter in Mountain Caves Six Months after Hurricane Matthew

  Roland Despeines looks for shelter inside a mountain cave when heavy rains fall in southwestern Haiti. Despeines and many other Haitians have been taking shelter from storms in the cave since October 4. On that day, Hurricane Matthew destroyed their homes and changed their lives. Food for the Poor is an aid group in the American state of Florida. Last month, its workers found that 240 people were spending nights in two caves. The workers were searching for land to plant food crops, the aid group said. It called the situation a humanitarian crisis. The group said the cave dwellers included 84 women and 62 children. "Whenever the rain is about to fall, all of us come to stay here," Roland Despeines said. A VOA reporter visited the cave in late March and saw kerosene lamps and sheets made from tree leaves.     Jovenel Moïse is Haiti’s new president. He and Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant also visited the caves at the end of March. They have promised to provide food and shelter. The United Nations has reported that at least 70 percent of crops were destroyed in one area – the department of Grand’Anse. "The children are crying all the time because they are hungry," Despeines said. " … When a vehicle comes to the area, the people run after it," hoping for food, he added. "If a car brings a bag of rice, we cook it right away, and it isn't enough to feed all of us." A young woman named Bernie Josee also spoke about the problem of hunger. "Sometimes, visitors come to this area and they bring us food,” she said. “But this week, we have nothing to eat."   Some people were so hungry that they were eating poisonous plants, The Miami Herald recently reported. Government workers and aid groups have provided food such as rice and beans to the Haitians. A low-cost government-operated restaurant is planned. And, Moïse has ordered plans to build new homes. The United States Agency for International Development provided emergency supplies such as plastic coverings after Hurricane Matthew hit. Also, it partnered with a local organization to pay workers for home repairs. After the hurricane, the U.N. Development Program asked for $138 million in aid for Haiti. The agency has made two-thirds of its financial goal.  I’m Alice Bryant.   VOA's Creole Service reported on this story. Alice Bryant adapted the report 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   cave - n. a large hole that was formed by natural processes in the side of a cliff or hill or under the ground kerosene - n. a type of oil that is burned as a fuel — often used before another noun sheet - n. a large piece of cloth that is used to cover something dweller - n. someone who lives or stays in a special or particular place hurricane - n. an extremely powerful and destructive rainstorm with very strong winds

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Show Your Team Spirit!

  From VOA Learning English, this is Words and Their Stories! On this program, we talk about origins and usage of common expressions in American English. Today we explore the word “spirit.” Spirit is one of those words that has many different definitions. We will first talk about a simple definition with an interesting word origin. Spirits are strong alcoholic drinks, such as vodka, gin, tequila and rum. Language experts say this expression first appeared in Europe hundreds of years ago. Back then, people explained the effects of strong alcohol as the work of an evil spirit -- the devil. Speaking of evil spirits, there are more complicated definitions of the word “spirit” that involve religion and the after-life.   Spirit is part of a human that is not part of the physical body. Our spirit is connected to our thoughts and emotions. Meriam Webster’s online dictionary defines it as “the force within a person that is believed to give the body life, energy, and power.” So, religious or spiritual people may believe that the spirit remains alive after death. In this way, “spirit” is similar to the word “ghost.” However, in a non-religious way, the human “spirit” is simply a non-physical energy in each person that makes us who we are. Again, Meriam Webster’s online dictionary calls it the “inner quality or nature of a person.” So, even people who don’t believe in life-after-death, can believe in this type of spirit. Besides in religious ceremonies, how do we use this type of spirit in conversation? Well, if you can’t physically be somewhere, you can still be there in spirit. Let’s say you have been invited to a friend’s birthday party, but are unable to go. You tell your friend, “I’m so sorry I’ll miss the party. But I’ll be there in spirit.” This means that while you cannot go, you will still be thinking of that person as they celebrate. Spirit can also mean your outlook on life. So, if you are happy about life, you can say you are in high spirits. And if you’re not, you can say you are in low spirits. If you are in low spirits, it’s important to do things to lift your spirit. For many people, listening to music, taking a long walk or hanging out with friends are great spirit-lifters! Sometimes, though, we simply don’t feel like doing something. So, we may use tricks to get into the spirit. If I must go to a social event but don’t want to, I may play music while I'm getting ready to get into the spirit. And if I finally agree to join an activity or do something that I don’t want to do, someone may say to me, “That’s the spirit!” Now, the expression if the spirit moves you is a bit tricky. We use it in a situation where I say I will do something when I want to do it -- not when others think I should. Basically, it’s up to me. For example, let’s say another person invites you to a birthday party (because you’re a very popular person). The host asks you to bring a story about her and share it with everyone if the spirit moves you. She means that you can share a story if you really want to but you don’t have to. Maybe the spirit will never move you and you share nothing. Spirit can also mean a feeling of belonging to a group, like a sports team or a school. If a student is active at school and sets a good example for others, we say they show great school spirit. Another way to say this is with a French expression: esprit de corps. This means belonging to a group and having feelings of intense energy and loyalty for members of that group. ”Esprit de corps” is a fancy way of saying team spirit. “Team spirit” is much more common and you can use it in any situation, whether formal or informal, fancy or not fancy. “Spirit” can also mean to do something with high energy levels. Here are two examples: "He performed the piano piece with spirit." "She gave a spirited legal defense in the courtroom." There are two very common “spirit” expressions that describe people. Free spirits think and act freely. They do not follow the usual rules of society. Free spirits do their own thing. Free spirit or not, most people like being with kindred spirits. A kindred spirit is someone who understands and agrees with you on a very deep level. Kindred spirits share the same beliefs, dreams, goals and thoughts. Now let’s hear some of these examples in a short story. Veronica is a talented musician. She is also a free spirit. She has never owned a credit card, a car or a house. And she doesn’t have a steady job. She often travels around the world singing at festivals and teaching English on the side. To save money, Veronica lives in a group house with other artists. She really likes living with such kindred spirits. They all understand that each artist needs time alone and time to practice their art. However, artistic types can also be emotional – happy one minute, angry or sad the next. Veronica isn’t like that. She is usually in high spirits. And when her housemates are in low spirits, she does something to lift their spirits. A guaranteed spirit-lifter is a party with good food, lively music and interesting conversation. If the spirit moves them, her housemates can join in the fun. And they always do! Even the grumpiest housemate, Felton, gets into the spirit and has fun by the end of the night! Sometimes he even plays the piano for people. That’s the spirit, Felton! And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. On VOA’s Learning English website, you can find many kindred spirits: other people who want to learn English. I’m Anna Matteo. "When I die and they lay me to rest Gonna go to the place that's the best When I lay me down to die Goin' up to the spirit in the sky ..." How do you use the word “spirit” in your language? Let us know in the Comments Section. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver and George Grow edited the story. The song at the end is "Spirit in the Sky," sung by Norman Greenbaum. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story spiritual – adj. of or relating to a person's spirit ghost – n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people fancy – adj. not plain or ordinary on the side – phrase in addition to one's regular job or as a subsidiary source of income grumpy – adj. easily annoyed or angered : having a bad temper or complaining often

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English in a Minute: Breathing Room

We all need to breathe to live. And a room is a space in a house or building. But, what do you think this expression means? Watch this week's EIM to learn how to use "breathing room" in a conversation!

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US Allies Support Airstrikes on Syrian Military Targets

  American allies have praised the United States for launching airstrikes on Syrian military targets to answer a chemical weapons attack in Syria. U.S. Navy destroyers fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles early Friday at an air base in western Syria. The airstrikes came days after a chemical weapons attack in a rebel-held town in the Syrian province of Idlib. The attack killed about 100 civilians, including many children. Western officials have accused forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of using the chemical weapons. The Syrian government blames rebel fighters.   The raid [on Friday] was the first time U.S. forces have directly attacked Syrian government positions. U.S. officials said the air base targeted was most likely the one used to launch the chemical attack. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the “horrible” chemical attack earlier this week. He said it had crossed “many, many lines” and changed his mind about Assad and Syria. On Thursday, Trump talked about the U.S. airstrikes from Florida, where he has been meeting with China’s president. Trump said he ordered the strikes to answer attacks against innocent civilians with “a deadly nerve agent.”   "It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons." Trump added that all “civilized nations” should join the United States "in seeking an end to the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the goal of the U.S. military action was to “make clear that these chemical weapons continue to be a violation of international norms.” Many American allies voiced support for the airstrikes. They included Germany, France, Britain, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others. European Union Council President Donald Tusk said on Twitter, the “U.S. strikes show needed resolve against barbaric chemical attacks.”  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the airstrikes, a “concrete step against the Assad regime's war crimes using chemical and conventional weapons.” The airstrikes received support from a number of U.S. congressional leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. However, some lawmakers expressed concern that Trump did not first seek Congressional approval before ordering the military action. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Trump must officially seek congressional approval if he “intends to escalate the U.S. military’s involvement in Syria.” She also warned against the U.S. getting involved in “another open-ended war in the Middle East.” The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons against civilians during the country’s six-year civil war. On Friday, Assad’s office described the U.S. action as, ”reckless,” “irresponsible,” and not based on true facts. Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the airstrikes were designed to “weaken the strength of the Syrian army in confronting terrorist groups.” Both Russia and Iran have been strong supporters of Assad’s government and aided his forces in the conflict against rebel fighters.   In Russia, the government condemned the U.S. military action as “aggression against a sovereign state.” A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin said the attack would result in "major damage on U.S.-Russia ties." The U.S. military said the Russian government was warned of the airstrikes before the raid. Russia has denied any part in the chemical weapons attack. A Russian spokesman blamed the incident on Syrian warplanes striking a supply of chemical weapons belonging to rebel forces. U.S. military officials said they are investigating possible Russian involvement. The officials said drone aircraft belonging to either to Russia or Syria was seen flying over the area where the chemical attack took place soon after it happened. Iran also condemned the U.S. action. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said such “unilateral action is dangerous, destructive and violates the principles of international law.” Iran's official news agency for parliament said “Russia and Iran won't be quiet against such acts which violate interests of the region.” The American ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said the U.S. government holds Syria responsible for the chemical attack. However, she told the Security Council on Friday that Russia and Iran both bear a "heavy responsibility" for supporting and protecting Assad. Haley noted that Russia is supposed to be a guarantor that all chemical weapons were removed from Syria under a 2013 agreement. She added that further action against Syria is possible. “The United States took a very measured step last night. We are prepared to do more, but we hope that will not be necessary.” The airstrikes came after conflicting statements from the Trump administration on Syria. Just last week, U.S. officials said removing Assad from power was not a “priority.” During a recent visit to Turkey, Secretary Tillerson said he thought the future of Assad would "be decided by the Syrian people.” But speaking to reporters Thursday, Tillerson left the door open for U.S. support for new leadership in Syria. He said he thinks this policy should focus on a political solution involving international partners to get Assad to leave power.   “Assad’s role in the future is uncertain, clearly, and with the acts that he has taken, it would seem that there would be no role for him to govern the Syrian people.” Several members of Congress have said the focus should now move to additional policy steps in Syria. One proposal is for the United States to act quickly to set up “safe zones” and take steps to deal with the humanitarian crisis. Another, proposed by Senator Marco Rubio, is for the U.S. to cooperate with Sunni Arab governments to discuss an "alternative" government in Syria. Rubio told the "Today Show" that Trump should seek the help of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey – all of which supported the U.S. airstrikes. He said these countries can be important in getting Assad to step down and helping create a new government. I'm Alice Bryant.  And I'm Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and other sources. 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   deter – v. prevent from happening slaughter – v. to kill a lot of people in a violent way conventional - adj. of a kind that has been around for a long time and is considered to be usual or typical​ escalate - v. to become worse or to make (something) worse or more severe​ concrete – adj. relating to something real, rather than general ideas or qualities reckless – adj. doing something dangerous or carelessly unilateral – adj. involving only one group or country alternative – adj. a different choice or available option  

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'Working Out' on Words to the Wise

  Editor's Note: April 7 is World Health Day! To celebrate, we are talking about exercise on this week's Words to the Wise. Today’s ‘Words to the Wise’ may leave us a little tired, because our topic is exercise. I’m Ashley Thompson. And here with me in studio Learning English reporter John Russell. Hi Ashley. You're right. We're going to get a workout today thanks to Learning English fan Raphael Duarte. He posted a suggestion for us our website. He wrote: I would like you guys to talk about working out at the gym, terms, routines or stuff related to it.” John, I have heard that you work out a lot. Do you belong to a gym? First, let’s explain that word -- gym. Gym is the short form of the word gymnasium, a room or building with space and equipment for indoor sports activities. Most American schools have gymnasiums where students can exercise. Right, and there are also private gyms. People pay money to belong to them. Private gyms might include trainers who can help you learn how to best use the gym’s equipment – like weights, treadmills and rowing machines. So, do you belong to one of those gyms? I belong to a rock climbing gym. It has wide, tall walls. You literally climb the walls – in a safe way, of course. It is a fun way to get some exercise. And it is a good way to get in shape.     So, when Americans use “shape” this way, it is related to fitness, or just overall health. If someone has not exercised much in a long time, they might describe themselves as “out of shape.” Then when they start working out again, they might say they are “getting back in shape.” Right. So, before I start rock climbing, I make sure to “warm up.” That means to prepare yourself for a difficult or intense activity by stretching. "Work out” and “warm up” are phrasal verbs, everyone’s favorite! That’s true. A phrasal verb is a group of words that act as a verb. It is made up of a verb as well as a preposition, adverb or both. Hmm, there are a lot of phrasal verbs in the world of exercise, actually. Here is another one: some people exercise because they want to “bulk up.” This is another way of saying you want to grow your muscles, or become more muscular and strong.      People who are trying to bulk up might do a lot of reps on the weights machines.  Reps…that sounds like it might be short for something! Right! “Reps” is short for “repetition.” As you might be able to guess, this means the act of repeating the same exercise a number of times. Not everyone works out just to bulk up, of course. Some people might have a goal of “slimming down,” yet another phrasal verb.  “Slim” means to make smaller, or thinner. So to “slim down” means to lose weight. People who hope to “slim down” might run or swim as part of their workout routine.     “Routine” is actually one of the words that our friend Raphael asked us about. “Routine” in this case just means a usual way of doing things, in a set order. You might have a morning routine, a study routine, or, of course, a workout routine. So, if you work out regularly, describe your workout routine to us in the comments section! I can think of another phrasal verb that relates to what you should do after you work out. I think I know it – “cool down!” Exactly. To "cool down" means to do easy exercises after doing an intense exercise. This lets your heart rate drop slowly. It is always smart to cool down. Well, I think this episode of Words to the Wise is cooling down, too. Thanks everyone for listening, and as always, let us know if you have ideas for us for our next episode of Words to the Wise. Leave us a comment, and let us know where you are from.  I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m John Russell.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   workout - n. a period of physical exercise that you do in order to improve your fitness, ability, or performance fitness - n. the condition of being physically fit and healthy. (fit - adj. physically healthy and strong​) bulk - v. to make (something) bigger or thicker​ weights - n. heavy objects that are lifted during exercising treadmill - n. an exercise machine which has a large belt that moves around while a person walks or runs on it rowing machine - n. an exercise machine that you use by moving your body as if you are rowing a boat 

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'Paul Bunyan,' An American Folk Tale

​Today we tell a traditional American story called a “tall tale.” A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story are exaggerated – much greater than in real life. This makes the story funny. Long ago, the people who settled in undeveloped areas in America first told tall tales.  After a hard day’s work, people gathered to tell each other funny stories. Each group of workers had its own tall tale hero. Paul Bunyan was a hero of North America’s lumberjacks, the workers who cut down trees.  He was known for his strength, speed and skill.  Tradition says he cleared forests from the northeastern United States to the Pacific Ocean. Some people say Paul Bunyan was the creation of storytellers from the middle western Great Lakes area of the United States.  Other people say the stories about him came from French Canada. Early in the twentieth century, a writer prepared a collection of Paul Bunyan stories.  They were included in a publication from the Red River Lumber Company in Minnesota.  It is not known if the stories helped the company’s sales, but they became extremely popular. Here is Shep O’Neal with our story about Paul Bunyan. Many years ago, Paul Bunyan was born in the northeastern American state of Maine. His mother and father were shocked when they first saw the boy. Paul was so large at birth that five large birds had to carry him to his parents. When the boy was only a few weeks old, he weighed more than 45 kilograms. As a child, Paul was always hungry. His parents needed 10 cows to supply milk for his meals. Before long, he ate 50 eggs and 10 containers of potatoes every day. ​ Young Paul grew so big that his parents did not know what to do with him.  Once, Paul rolled over so much in his sleep that he caused an earthquake. This angered people in the town where his parents lived. So, the government told his mother and father they would have to move him somewhere else. Paul’s father built a wooden cradle -- a traditional bed for a baby. His parents put the cradle in waters along the coast of Maine. However, every time Paul rolled over, huge waves covered all the coastal towns. So his parents brought their son back on land. They took him into the woods. This is where he grew up. As a boy, Paul helped his father cut down trees. Paul had the strength of many men. He also was extremely fast. He could turn off a light and then jump into his bed before the room got dark. Maine is very cold for much of the year. One day, it started to snow. The snow covered Paul’s home and a nearby forest. However, this snow was very unusual. It was blue. The blue snow kept falling until the forest was covered. Paul put on his snowshoes and went out to see the unusual sight.  As he walked, Paul discovered an animal stuck in the snow. It was a baby ox. Paul decided to take the ox home with him. He put the animal near the fireplace.  After the ox got warmer, his hair remained blue. Paul decided to keep the blue ox and named him Babe. Babe grew very quickly. One night, Paul left him in a small building with the other animals. The next morning, the barn was gone and so was Babe. Paul searched everywhere for the animal. He found Babe calmly eating grass in a valley, with the barn still on top of his back. Babe followed Paul and grew larger every day.  Every time Paul looked, Babe seemed to grow taller. In those days, much of North America was filled with thick, green forests. Paul Bunyan could clear large wooded areas with a single stroke of his large, sharp axe. Paul taught Babe to help with his work. Babe was very useful. For example, Paul had trouble removing trees along a road that was not straight. He decided to tie one end of the road to what remained of a tree in the ground. Paul tied the other end to Babe. Babe dug his feet in the ground and pulled with all his strength until the road became straight. In time, Paul and Babe the Blue Ox left Maine, and moved west to look for work in other forests. Along the way, Paul dug out the Great Lakes to provide drinking water for Babe. They settled in a camp near the Onion River in the state of Minnesota. Paul decided to get other lumberjacks to help with the work. His work crew became known as the Seven Axemen. Each man was more than 2 meters tall and weighed more than 160 kilograms.  All of the Axemen were named Elmer.  That way, they all came running whenever Paul called them. The man who cooked for the group was named Sourdough Sam. He made everything -- except coffee -- from sourdough, a substance used in making sourdough bread. Every Sunday, Paul and his crew ate hot cakes.  Each hot cake was so large that it took five men to eat one. Paul usually had 10 or more hot cakes, depending on how hungry he was. The table where the men ate was so long that a server usually drove to one end of the table and stayed the night. The server drove back in the morning, with a fresh load of food. Paul needed someone to help with the camp’s finances. He gave the job to a man named Johnny Inkslinger. Johnny kept records of everything, including wages and the cost of feeding Babe. He sometimes used nine containers of writing fluid a day to keep such detailed records. The camp also was home to Sport, the Reversible Dog. One of the workers accidentally cut Sport in two. The man hurried to put the dog back together, but made a mistake. He bent the animal’s back the wrong way. However, that was not a problem for Sport. He learned to run on his front legs until he was tired.  Then, he turned the other way and ran on his back legs. Big mosquitoes were a problem at the camp. The men attacked the insects with their axes and long sticks. Before long, the men put barriers around their living space. Then, Paul ordered them to get big bees to destroy the mosquitoes. But the bees married the mosquitoes, and the problem got worse.  They began to produce young insects. One day, the insects’ love of sweets caused them to attack a ship that was bringing sugar to the camp. At last, the mosquitoes and bees were defeated. They ate so much sugar they could not move. Paul always gave Babe the Blue Ox a 35-kilogram piece of sugar when he was good. But sometimes Babe liked to play tricks. At night, Babe would make noises and hit the ground with his feet. The men at the camp would run out of the buildings where they slept, thinking it was an earthquake. When winter came, Babe had trouble finding enough food to eat. Snow covered everything.  Ole the Blacksmith solved the problem. He made huge green sunglasses for Babe. When Babe wore the sunglasses, he thought the snow was grass. Before long, Babe was strong and healthy again. One year, Paul’s camp was especially cold.  It was so cold that the men let their facial hair grow very long. When the men spoke, their words froze in the air. Everything they said remained frozen all winter long, and did not melt until spring.  Paul Bunyan and Babe left their mark on many areas. Some people say they were responsible for creating Puget Sound in the western state of Washington.  Others say Paul Bunyan and Babe cleared the trees from the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. They prepared this area for farming. Babe the Blue Ox died in South Dakota. One story says he ate too many hot cakes. Paul buried his old friend there. Today, the burial place is known as the Black Hills. Whatever happened to Paul Bunyan?  There are lots of stories. Some people say he was last seen in Alaska, or even the Arctic Circle. Another tradition says he still returns to Minnesota every summer. It says Paul moves in and out of the woods, so few people ever know that he is there.   You have just heard the story of Paul Bunyan. It was adapted by George Grow. Your narrator was Shep O’Neal.  Now it’s your turn. Tell us in the comments section about a tall tale from your culture. Does the hero of the story have unusual size or strength? Visit our Facebook page, too, for more stories.  ​________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   reversible - adj. having two sides that can be used blacksmith - n. a person who makes or repairs things made of iron (such as horseshoes)

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Freedom House: Democracy Ratings Drop in Many Countries

The United States-based group Freedom House says democracy dropped in more than half of the countries it studied last year. Freedom House rated the health of democracy in 29 countries in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia. All 29 were once under Communist Party rule. The findings are part of a new report called “Nations in Transit 2017.” This is the second-largest drop in democracy ratings in the 22-years Freedom House has produced the report. The group blames the drop on the rise of populism. It noted that leaders in some countries are openly attacking democracy. Concerns about Hungary and Poland The report says Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, now has the lowest rating of any country in Central Europe. Nate Schenkkan works for Freedom House in New York. He spoke to VOA on Skype. “When we talk about populism in Central Europe, Orbán is the first name. He has created a kind of model for member states, even of the European Union, to reject democracy.” There were pro-democracy protests in Hungary last Sunday. Two days later, Hungary’s government press office reacted to the Freedom House report. It said “freedom of the press fully prevails in Hungary. Every political opinion can find room and be published in the Hungarian press.” And it said, “Hungarian citizens can exercise their democratic rights in free elections.” The report also criticized the leader of Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski. It said that populist leaders in both Poland and Hungary had attacked constitutional courts and sought to weaken the system of checks and balances. The Freedom House said the “spectacular breakdown of democracy in these countries should serve as a warning about the fragility of the institutions that are necessary for liberal democracy." Health of democracy in Russia Russia had one of the report’s lowest ratings. Yet Freedom House says a highly developed civil society continues to exist there, along with some independent media. But a former Russian central bank official disagrees. Sergey Aleksashenko now works at the Brookings Institution, in Washington, D.C. He spoke to VOA on Skype. “We say that there was some freedom of Internet. But if you move that 80 percent of (the) Russian population that receives news from television, and there is no, any television news station that is not controlled by the government, then OK, you may argue there is some freedom. Of course, there is. But it’s not the freedom, it’s not the freedom of information and in my personal view, it’s a serious misjudgment of what’s going on in Russia.”  Democracy in other areas In the Balkans, the democracy scores for four countries dropped over the past year. Two improved: Montenegro and Croatia. Sergey Aleksashenko said Balkan countries should not be compared to Western Europe. He noted they have had to create systems, governmental and state cultures since the end of Communist rule. He said that is not an easy process.          Freedom House once again described Kyrgyzstan as a “Consolidated Authoritarian Regime.” The country had been removed from the classification after competitive parliamentary elections in 2011. The report said corruption in Eurasia dropped in five of the 12 countries, but reached new lows in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Freedom House pointed to progress in Ukraine, Romania and Kosovo. It said the Romanian government dealt with problems in the voting process during its 2015 elections. And it said both Ukraine and Kosovo enacted minor structural reforms. But the group said the two countries face obstacles that could stop the progress. I’m Anne Ball.   VOA’s Mariama Diallo reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report 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   prevail – v. to be or become effective checks and balances – n. a system that prevents one part of the government from controlling too much power spectacular – adj. causing wonder or excitement fragility – adj. something easily broken or destroyed norms – n. average; normal value shallow – adj. having little depth tap into – v. to use something in a way that leads to good results obstacle – n. barrier

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Too Many Tourists Are Visiting Cambodian ‘Killing Fields’

The number of tourists visiting Cambodia's genocide sites has more than tripled over the last 10 years. They are visiting memorials for the nearly 2 million people killed under Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge. But the sharp increase in tourism is creating problems. Visitors are disturbing some sites, and making preserving the memories difficult. Genocide tourism Choeung Ek is the best known of the genocide sites. It is also known as the Killing Fields. The site is located 17 kilometers south of Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh. Each day, tourists arrive by tuk-tuk (a three-wheeled taxi), motorbike and air-conditioned buses. Chhour Sokty is director at Choeung Ek. He said that in the 11 years he has been working there, the number of visitors has increased from 100 to 800 a day. He believes media promotions, road improvements, and additions such as public toilets are helping bring more people to the site. The place is not a happy one. Human skulls are stacked neatly in a stupa, a round-shaped monument. They are surrounded by mass graves. Here, thousands of people were beat to death and buried. They were all victims of the 1975-1979 mass killings by Pol Pot's men. Kob Kalyaney works for a private tour agency that brings people to the Killing Fields. She said, "Tourists want to learn if the history is real and they want to witness it." There are hundreds of sites across Cambodia like Choeung Ek. The difference is that here, and at the S-21 extermination camp in Phnom Penh, people pay to enter. The cost helps bring income for people such as book sellers, street vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, tour companies and even beggars. Leaving a mark Unfortunately, too many tourists have left their mark. Some tourists write graffiti on prison walls at S-21 in Phnom Penh. This is the site of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where Pol Pot's victims were processed before being sent to the Killing Fields. At S-21 visitors can see buildings, prison cells and graphic displays of paintings and photographs, along with tools of torture. At Choeung Ek, some people innocently tie ribbons and notes to the mass graves. But others collect pieces of bones, smoke cigarettes, or eat on the steps of the bone-filled stupa. Many ignore rules restricting cameras and asking for silence. Youk Chhang is the executive director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam). He said one reason people behave inappropriately at the sites is because they do not know the rules. But he added that photos of Khmer Rouge leaders often had to be replaced because visitors would write graffiti on them. "People get so upset when they see the photographs of the Khmer Rouge leaders so they write on it... I think that it can be bad, it can be good," he said. "You cannot stop people from being, or feeling upset." He added that neither Choeung Ek nor S-21 were designed to be businesses run for profit. "We should preserve for our children, not for the tourists. But tourists are welcome if they want to visit, if they want to see it, (if) they want to understand it, they're welcome. That's the whole purpose of the preservation of the site," he said. Evidence and a sanctuary The genocide sites are not only important for students and visitors, however. The Khmer Rouge Tribunal is using the bones and human remains as evidence.  The Tribunal has spent the last decade prosecuting Pol Pot's surviving lieutenants. It has secured three convictions so far for crimes against humanity. Currently, two former leaders, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, are on trial for genocide. More cases involving lower ranking members are still waiting. One remaining question is what to do with the human remains after the tribunal is finished. Many people believe the bones should be cremated according to Buddhist tradition. But others say the sites should be kept as they are. "It's our memory, it should be preserved the way it is, historically, and with respect to our culture, rather than try to create something to attract tourists that's leading to commercializing the memory, which is something that you do not want to do," Youk Chhang of DC-Cam said. Youk Chang said the prison originally had a large wall map of Cambodia made of human skulls. He said it was far more intense than the current experience. "And that itself also creates a feeling … it forces people to show some respect, because it is so original," he said. Some have suggested adding a guest book in each room at the S-21 prison where people can think and write about their experiences. But any change would be limited, and any major work delayed, until after the Khmer Rouge Tribunal has finished its work. I’m Phil Dierking. And I'm Alice Bryant.   This story was originally written by Marcia Dunn for the Associated Press.   Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. What do you think the best way to preserve a memorial is?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story commercialism - n. the attitude or actions of people who are influenced too strongly by the desire to earn money or buy goods rather than by other values​ convictions - n. the act of proving that a person is guilty of a crime in a court of law​ cremated - v. when the body of someone who has died is burned to ash extermination - n. to destroy or kill a group of animals, people, completely​ graffiti - n. pictures or words painted or drawn on a wall, building, etc.​ graphic - adj. shown or described in a very clear way — used especially to refer to things that are unpleasant or shocking​ prosecute - v. to hold a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty​ preserved - v. kept in good condition over a long period of time​

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