Trump Calls Racist Hate Groups 'Evil'

  President Donald Trump spoke Monday about the weekend violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. He strongly criticized white supremacists and other hate groups. A 32-year-old woman was killed Saturday and 19 people were injured when a man drove his car into a crowd of activists. They were protesting a white supremacist demonstration. Another 15 people were injured in fights between white supremacists and counter-demonstrators. Later Saturday, Trump said “many sides” were responsible for the violence. But Monday, after criticism of that statement, Trump spoke again. "Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK (Ku Klux Klan), neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans." White nationalists, the KKK and others had gone to Charlottesville to protest the city’s decision to take down a monument. It was a statue of Robert E. Lee, an important Civil War general who fought for the southern states. The southern states were seeking to separate from the United States. Many find such monuments offensive because of the South’s support for slavery. Man charged with using car to kill woman James Alex Fields Jr. was charged with murder and other crimes in connection with the automobile incident.  Police said he acted to kill and wound people with his car. The Associated Press and other news groups reported that Fields admired Adolph Hitler. Reports also said his social media presence suggested support for white nationalism. Trump, a Republican, was not the only Trump administration official to criticize the violence in Charlottesville. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Monday that the car attack in Charlottesville meets the definition of “domestic terrorism.” Some criticized Trump for not immediately criticizing white supremacists in his first statements on the Charlottesville violence. Nancy Pelosi is the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives. She said Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign had the support of, in her words, “the forces of bigotry and discrimination.” It should not take two days for the president to criticize “murder and violence by Nazis and white supremacists,” Pelosi said. Emotional battle over statues There is hot debate about efforts to remove statues representing Confederate leaders. Such action is not only taking place in Charlottesville, but also in New Orleans, Louisiana and Lexington, Kentucky. Some argue that taking down Civil War statues is denying history. Pierre McGraw led a group in New Orleans that tried unsuccessfully to stop the removal of four Confederate statues from the city. “People across Louisiana should be concerned over what will disappear next,” he said. The city’s mayor, Mitch Landrieu, gave a speech defending the city’s action. He said, “Statues that honor slavery should not be permitted in a nation that long ago rejected slavery as the worst kind of hate.” In Charlottesville, the home of the University of Virginia, officials are hoping to move past the weekend’s violence. Frank Conner III is a top University of Virginia official. He said, “The actions of those who visited evil upon us are nothing short of white nationalist and white supremacist terrorism intended to intimidate our community. They will not succeed. We will not surrender.” Larry Sabato is a political science professor at the University of Virginia with a home on campus. Several hundred marchers carried burning sticks and shouted racist and pro-Nazi statements there on Friday night. “My father fought in World War II against the Nazis, all the way to Berlin,” Sabato said. “I'm glad he's not here decades later to see that hundreds of neo-Nazi thugs can march their way up the University of Virginia Lawn, past his son's home, spouting racist and anti-Semitic slogans.” Sabato said he believes white nationalists felt supported by the president’s first statement because he did not directly criticize them for the violence. Nghana Lewis teaches at Tulane University in New Orleans and has followed the battle over the city’s Confederate monuments. She was asked what people outside the United States should know about these fights. Lewis said while “there is much to admire about our country,” U.S. history is complex. She said America is still a “very young nation and still early in the process of undoing its history of slavery and racial discrimination." Battle with drug company head The leader of America’s third largest drug company resigned from a federal advisory group Monday in connection with Trumps first response to Charlottesville. Kenneth Frazier said America’s leaders must reject those who say that one racial group is better than another. Trump later criticized Frazier in a Twitter post. I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Bruce Alpert Bruce Alpert reported on this story for Learning English based on reports by Reuters, The Associated Press and other sources. Caty Weaver 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   white supremacist – n. person who believes words are better than blacks and other races evil - adj. morally bad thug - n. a violent criminal repugnant - adj. causing a strong feeling of dislike or disgust admire - v. to think of highly of someone intentional - adj. done in a way that is planned intimidate - v. threaten someone spouting - v. to say something slogan - n. a word or phrase that is used by a group to attract attention  

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Small Talk May Make Us Happier

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Small talk. Chitchat. These are the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers. Many people find these small conversations about random topics difficult. Some people say they hate it. Others say small talk is a waste of time. They may even call it idle chitchat or idle chatter, meaning it doesn’t do anything. They consider small talk not important. However, small talk is important. These exchanges can open doors that may lead to larger, more meaningful conversations. When you first meet someone or talk to someone you don't know well, it would be awkward to begin a conversation about a really deep topic such as war, politics or the meaning of life. Small talk also gives you the chance to decide if you want to get know that person better – or not. Let's say you make small talk with someone at a party. But they only want to talk about cats. You may not want to build a friendship with them unless you really, really love cats. Chitchat can also increase your feeling of understanding, or empathy, toward people you know but not well. Chatting with a colleague about their child may help you to understand more of their life outside the office. This could help build healthy work relationships. Small talk could even help our larger communities -- our relationships with neighbors and colleagues. Exchanging a recipe with a neighbor in your apartment building may make her noises upstairs easier to live with. And small talk may make us happier! In 2011, most commuters in the city of Chicago said they would enjoy “quiet cars” where they sat alone and did not talk to anybody. Researchers at the University of Chicago then asked some participants in a study to talk to people while commuting to work on a train. They found that those who made small talk with strangers were happier than those who sat alone. In 2013, researchers from the University of Essex in Britain asked some people to make small talk in a similar study. They found people who talked briefly with a cashier in a coffee shop felt happier than those who simply went in, ordered and left. However, some people are not good at small talk. Making small talk doesn’t have to be either awkward or boring. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability. Tips for making small talk 1. Have some conversation starters ready. If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that. You can talk about something that you recently learned. When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation. You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you. For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that. 2. Ask open-ended questions. These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer. If you ask questions that need more details to answer, the conversation will go on longer. For example, if you are at a summer pool party, don’t ask a person if they like summer. Instead, ask them what they like or dislike about summer. So, instead of getting a one-word answer, you might have the chance to share in a memory. 3. Become a student. Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It’s a win-win situation. 4. Don’t ask, “So, what do you do?” Some people do not like their jobs. Or maybe they don’t want to talk about it. So, instead of asking, “What do you do for a living?” ask something like, “So, what have you been doing these days?” or “So, what have you been up to?” One general question can lead to an opportunity to share something you have in common. So, ask questions. Ask people about their families, their passions, their ambitions or even their fears. However, balance these questions with comments about yourself. Asking too many questions may make people feel they are in an interview rather than in a conversation. Practice makes perfect Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice. If you make small talk in your native language, you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo. How do you feel about small talk? Do you avoid it? Or do you enjoy it? Let us know in the Comments Section.   Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ ​ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   chitchat (chat) – n. friendly conversation about things that are not very important random – adj. chosen, done, etc., without a particular plan or pattern idle – adj. not having any real purpose or value awkward – adj. not socially graceful or confident : uneasy or uncomfortable empathy – n. the feeling that you understand and share another person's experiences and emotions boring – adj. dull and uninteresting : causing boredom win-win – adj. always used before a noun : providing a good result for everyone involved opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done passion – n. a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something ambition – n. a particular goal or aim : something that a person hopes to do or achieve

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What Is the Future of US Nuclear Power Industry?

  As America’s nuclear power industry continues to suffer major economic difficulties, some are questioning whether it can - or should - survive. The latest setback came July 31, when state power companies in South Carolina halted construction of two reactors. After spending about $9 billion, the companies decided that increasing costs and repeated building delays did not make the project worth finishing. U.S. energy company Westinghouse Electric had been building the nuclear plant, which it started in 2012. In March, Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy, due in part to huge losses related to the South Carolina project, as well as others.   Industry groups had hoped the South Carolina reactors would mark a new beginning for U.S. nuclear power and show the benefits of the latest technology. The United States remains the world’s top producer of nuclear power, according to the British-based World Nuclear Association. The country’s 100 reactors provide nearly 20 percent of total U.S. electrical output. However, only two new nuclear reactors are currently being built in the United States – both of them in Georgia. The reactors were the first large nuclear plants to be started in the United States in more than 30 years. And the future of those reactors is uncertain. The project - currently about half-finished - has also suffered major cost overruns and delays. For now, the company’s parent, Japan-based Toshiba, has promised to provide at least $3.7 billion to finish the project. Challenges for nuclear power industry One of the main factors causing the industry’s economic problems is the country’s large, cheap supply of natural gas. The supply became available due to widespread fracking operations. There is also much lower demand in the U.S. for electricity than ever before. This came about after many improvements in energy efficiency and success with conservation efforts. President Donald Trump has called for a complete review of U.S. nuclear energy policy in an effort to “revitalize” the industry. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has also said he sees nuclear power as a very important part of future U.S. energy policy. There has also been support from both major parties in Congress.​ David Fedor is a researcher with the Hoover Institution’s Shultz-Stephenson Task Force on Energy Policy. He says states and the federal government can take steps to help energize the U.S. nuclear industry, mainly by providing financial assistance.   “Congress could increase the subsidies to nuclear to the level that they give to other power generation technologies - like wind and solar - that have similarly desirable attributes, basically no pollution and essentially no carbon emissions.” Fedor said another action could be putting a “carbon tax” on plants fueled by coal, oil or natural gas. The idea is that this could indirectly benefit the nuclear industry by making costs higher for companies producing environment-harming emissions. He also said the industry needs to be more efficient, reduce costs and sell the public on why nuclear is still a good energy option. “When you talk about these newer technologies that are sort of walk-away safe, then people shift in their perspective and say, ok, this is something new. This is not the same old thing that we've been talking about for the past 20 or 30 years. And so there's some excitement there.” But some opponents say they’ve been hearing the same arguments in support of nuclear power for decades. Paul Gunter is a longtime anti-nuclear activist. He co-founded the Clamshell Alliance in 1976. The group was formed to oppose the Seabrook Station nuclear plant in New Hampshire. He and hundreds of other protesters were arrested during non-violent demonstrations against the project. Gunter says his main opposition was that the licensing approval process was corrupt. “For example, you couldn't raise the issue of, what are you going to do with all the nuclear waste from Seabrook? And that question was not allowed in the licensing proceeding.” Seabrook Station was eventually completed at a cost of about $7 billion and began operations in 1990. The Clamshell Alliance helped shape America’s anti-nuclear movement for many years to come. Another defining moment came after the Three Mile Island plant accident in Pennsylvania in 1979 - the worst nuclear disaster in U.S. history. A series of mechanical and human mistakes sent one of the reactors into a partial meltdown, sending large amounts of radiation into the surrounding area. Gunter says even before that accident, there were clear signs the nuclear industry would not be economically sustainable. Today, he says neither state utility providers nor large energy companies are willing to put up money for risky nuclear projects. “So the only way that you can revive nuclear power is going to be through socializing its financing through the rate payer and the taxpayer. But at this point, we're seeing the rate payer become the irate payer - when you waste billions and billions of dollars and decades on a predictable outcome.” Could this be the answer? Some energy experts have suggested that one way to revive U.S. nuclear power is to completely scale down the way reactors are currently designed and built. They say this approach could improve efficiency and safety of plants while cutting costs. Jacopo Buongiorno is a professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He says one option is to build small modular reactors. These reactors work much the same way as large plants, but would greatly reduce building time and total costs.   ​“They're small. They could be, in principle, built in factories and then delivered to the site in larger pieces. So you are shifting work from an environment which is intrinsically expensive and low productivity – a construction site - to an environment which is intrinsically high productivity, and less expensive.” He added that these power generators could be built in 3-4 years, compared to 7-10 years or more for larger reactors. Buongiorno is also studying the possibility of small nuclear plants that would float in the sea. These could improve safety by being far away from population centers in case of accident. The ocean water could also help the reactor’s necessary cooling process. Despite the U.S. downturn, some parts of the world are expanding their nuclear power capability. Asia currently has the most nuclear plants under construction, according to the World Nuclear Association. At the end of 2016, 20 of the world’s 61 nuclear power projects were in China, the organization reported. Another 15 were being built in India, Pakistan and Russia. In Europe, France operates by far the most reactors, 58. But new French energy policy aims to reduce the country’s share of nuclear energy from 75 percent today, to 50 percent by 2025. I’m Bryan Lynn. And I'm Alice Bryant.   Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think countries should expand nuclear power or invest in other energy sources? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bankruptcy – n. financial failure caused by not having enough money to pay debts fracking – n. method used for getting oil and gas from underground rocks by injecting liquid into the rocks efficiency – n. the quality or degree of being efficient conservation – n. the protection of animals, plants and natural resources revitalize – v. make something more active or lively subsidy – n. money given by a government to help pay costs emission – n. gas or energy that is sent into the air  partial – adj. not complete sustainable – adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed irate – adj. very angry principle – n. basic truth or theory intrinsically – adv. occurring as a natural part of something  

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Russian Court to Hear Wallenberg Case

  A court in Moscow is preparing to hear arguments from the family of Raoul Wallenberg in a case against Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB. The former Swedish diplomat has been credited with saving thousands of Jews during World War II. A lawyer for his family says the court will hear the arguments on August 17. The family is asking the FSB to provide documentation that could help prove what happened to Wallenberg at the end of the war. “We feared we will encounter resistance from the court in the adoption of the claim given that in recent decades,” Russian state agencies have invented reasons not to provide information on this case, lawyer Ivan Pavlov said on August 10. Raoul Wallenberg served as a diplomat in German-occupied Hungary during World War II. He led an effort that saved the lives of thousands of Hungarian Jews. The Soviet Union took control of Hungary from German forces as the war came to a close. Soviet forces captured Wallenberg in 1945. He later died in prison, although details of his death are unclear. Russia has only said that Wallenberg died in 1947 in Moscow's Lubyanka prison. At the time, the prison was operating under the KGB, the main security agency for the Soviet Union. The FSB replaced the KGB after the break-up of the country in 1991. Soviet officials, and later Russia, claimed the then-35-year-old Swede died of a heart attack. Wallenberg’s family, Swedish officials, and others have disputed that claim. Marie Dupuy, Wallenberg’s niece, said on July 26 that she had asked the Russian legal organization Team 29 to bring the case to court. "Numerous requests to Russian authorities over many years, publicly and privately, by myself, by expert historians, and Swedish officials, have failed to yield any results," she said. Dupuy claimed Russian records contained documents with direct relevance  to Wallenberg's condition. But she said his family and independent experts have not been permitted to examine the documents. "As soon as [August 17], we will clarify the position of the FSB, which has not commented on this case in any way, and we will find out what we are going to face in court," Pavlov said. I’m John Russell.   Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported this story. George Grow adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   adoption – n. the process of giving official approval of something decade – n. a period of 10 years niece – n. a daughter of one’s brother or sister relevance – n. relation to the issue under consideration   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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London’s Big Ben to Go Silent for Four Years

  This is What’s Trending Today.   That is the sound of Big Ben. People from London like to call the ringing of Big Ben “bongs.” They mark the start of a new hour. Big Ben is the name of the large bell inside the clock tower above Britain’s Houses of Parliament. The tower is part of the Palace of Westminster. There are other smaller bells, too. The structure that houses Big Ben is one of the most famous sights in the country. It is called the Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben started making its bongs 158 years ago. But beginning on August 21, it will go silent for four years. The bell will ring for the last time at 12 noon. The bell will be disconnected from the clock as crews launch a major repair project in the tower. The clock, however, will continue to tell the time, silently. The only time people in London will hear the bells will be on Remembrance Sunday, which falls on November 12th this year, and New Year’s Eve. Some people are making plans to be in London for the final bongs before the four-year silence. The renovation project will cost about $40 million, said Steve Jaggs. He is known as “The Keeper of the Great Clock.” Jaggs said the goal is to keep the building safe and the famous timepiece working for future generations to enjoy. The clock faces and many of the clock’s moving parts will be taken apart and cleaned. Rust will be removed and an elevator will be built for workers to use. The last time the bell stopped ringing for repairs was in 2007. It was also silent for the funerals of former Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. There was reaction to the silencing of Big Ben on social media. Joana reacted to the news on Twitter. She proposed that there be “one minute of silence for the lost bongs of Big Ben.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by Reuters, The Washington Post and The Guardian. George Grow was the editor. Will you miss Big Ben’s bongs? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tower – n. a tall, narrow building or structure that may stand apart from or be attached to another building or structure rust – n. a reddish color that can form on objects made of iron clock – n. an instrument for measuring time; a timepiece noon – n. the middle of the day; 12 o'clock in the daytime  

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Lesson 45: This Land is Your Land

Summary Anna and Marsha are going on a road trip! Follow them across the United States as they see the sights. Will they still be friends when they finish the trip? Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using the future continuous verb tense to talk about planned events. Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the reduced form of "will" in the future continuous tense. Conversation Anna: You know I love Washington, D.C. But I want to see more of the United States. My roommate Marsha and I will be on vacation at the same time. So, we are going on a road trip together! Hi, Marsha! Marsha: Hi! Anna: I packed my bags and I am ready to go! Marsha: Did you make a list of all the places you want to see? Anna: I did. I want to see New York City and the Statue of Liberty! Marsha: And I want to see Mount Rushmore! Anna: (Anna writes) Mount Rushmore. Marsha: And don’t forget the Grand Canyon! Anna: (Anna writes) Let’s not forget California’s redwood forest! There are so many places to see! Marsha: We will be driving for a long time. So, we might get bored. Anna: Bored? No way! We can talk. Marsha: Or not talk. Anna: We can play word games. We can sing! You know, our trip is like that famous American song. (sings) "This land is your land, This land is my land …"* Marsha: (sings) "…from California to the New York island ..." BOTH: “... to the redwood forest to the Gulf stream waters ... this land was made for you and me!” Marsha: Will we be stopping soon? Anna: We won’t be stopping soon. Marsha:  I’m hungry. Anna: Marsha, we just left D.C.! We’ll be eating lunch in about 2 hours. Can you wait? Marsha: I guess. Anna: Here, have an apple. It’s organic! (Anna throws the apple. It goes out the window.) Marsha: Thanks. Marsha: Okay, we will be arriving in New York City very soon! Anna: I can’t wait to see The Big Apple! Marsha, look! There she is! Marsha: The Statue of Liberty! Anna: She is awesome! Anna: Marsha, in ten minutes, guess what we’ll be seeing? Marsha: What? Anna: The largest rocking chair in the world! Marsha: No, we won’t be seeing that. Anna: Marsha, it’s on my other list -- Best Roadside Sights. (Marsha grabs the paper and throws it out the window.) Anna: Oh no! We littered! And my list is gone. Don't worry. I brought the book. (lifts up large book, starts reading) (Later) Anna: … and that is why I am so afraid of sheep. Marsha: (snores a little) Anna: Wow, I feel better. Marsha, you are a great listener. Marsha: (waking up) Where are we? Anna: We will be entering North Dakota any minute now! Marsha: North Dakota! We are going in the wrong direction! We want to go to South Dakota! Anna: No problem. I will just exit the highway. We will be going south … in just a minute. There. Done! We're going south! Okay, we will be stopping for gas and a bathroom break in about an hour. Marsha: Then we will be very near to Mount Rushmore! Anna: Yay! Dead presidents’ heads on the side of a mountain! Anna: We did it, Marsha! We made it to California! It’s beautiful! Marsha: And we saw everything on the list! Anna: Well, we saw everything on page 1 of the list. Marsha: What do you mean "page 1?" Anna: Oh. Here are pages 2, 3 and 4! We’ll be very busy driving back to Washington, D.C. Until next time … ! * This Land is Your Land was written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie. See below for the lyrics and videos of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen performing the song. Writing In this lesson, Anna and Marsha take a road trip. Did you ever take a road trip or a journey with a friend? Where did you go and what did you do there? Did you see any sights along the way? If you have not taken a road trip, tell us about where you would like to go on a road trip.  Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice predicting what will happen on your road trip across the United States. 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 Predict. When we predict, we are using what we know to say what will happen in the future. In using English, it is helpful if you can predict what is coming up in a story that you are reading or something that you are listening to. This helps your brain prepare to understand the next part of the story. In this lesson, Anna shows Marsha her long list of places she wants to see. She predicts that they will be busy on their trip back to Washington, D.C. Do you ever predict when you are reading or listening in 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   break - n. a brief period of time during which someone stops an activity direction - n. the course or path on which something is moving or pointing enter - v. to go or come into (something) exit - v. to go out of a place or situation highway - n. a main road that connects cities and towns land - n. the solid part of the surface of the Earth litter - v. to throw or leave trash on the ground in a public place pack - v.to put (something) into a bag or suitcase so that you can take it with you place - n. a specific area or region of the world ready - adj. prepared to do something road trip - n. a long trip in a car or truck, etc (use image also) rocking chair - n.< chair that moves back and forth on rockers that are attached to its legs PLACE NAMES ​______________________________________________________________ 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: Future continuous verb tense​ Topics: Talking about upcoming events​; Expressing desires to see sights or do activities on a trip Learning Strategy: Predict Speaking & Pronunciation: Reduced form of "will" in the future continuous verb tense ​____________________________________________________________ Here is a complete version of the song, This Land is Your Land. This Land Is Your Land Words and Music by Woody Guthrie This land is your land This land is my land From California to the New York island;  From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters  This land was made for you and Me. As I was walking that ribbon of highway,  I saw above me that endless skyway:  I saw below me that golden valley:  This land was made for you and me. I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps  To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;  And all around me a voice was sounding:  This land was made for you and me. When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,  And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,  As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:  This land was made for you and me. As I went walking I saw a sign there  And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."  But on the other side it didn't say nothing,  That side was made for you and me. In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,  By the relief office I seen my people;  As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking  Is this land made for you and me? Nobody living can ever stop me, As I go walking that freedom highway; Nobody living can ever make me turn back  This land was made for you and me.   © Copyright 1956 (renewed), 1958 (renewed), 1970 and 1972 by Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. & TRO-Ludlow Music, Inc. (BMI) For a modern cover of the song, here are Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen. 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.

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First Human Embryo Gene-Fix Could Help Stop Disease

  Scientists in Oregon successfully fixed a disease-carrying gene in human embryos. It was the first time this has been done. This small effort could be a big step in preventing inherited, or gene-related diseases. A research team at Oregon Health & Science University edited out a gene that causes a heart problem and kills young people. Their work was published in the journal Nature. Dr. Paula Amato is one of the scientists who worked on the study. She explained how it happened. The team used sperm from a man who carries the heart-damaging gene. They injected his sperm into eggs, and at the same time injected a gene-editing tool called CRISPR-Cas-9. The CRISPR acts like scissors - cutting out the defective DNA. What happened next is surprising: The embryos then fixed the DNA themselves, replacing the damaged part, without more help from the scientists. Amato says the gene defect correction rate was high, about 70% of the time. She says their success is proof that it can be done. “It's very preliminary at this point but the potential is huge. But obviously much more research needs to be done before it moves to clinical trials.”  With 10,000 gene defects that cause disease, there would be no shortage of ones that could be fixed. But scientists are a long way from knowing how this would affect a baby. “The biggest thing is safety. We don't know if this truly would be safe in, if we ever tried it to establish a pregnancy and produce a baby. But that’s [the] biggest ethical concern in my mind.” The ethics of editing genes Safety and ethics are also on top of Dr. George Daley’s mind. He is a stem cell scientist and the dean of Harvard Medical School. Daley was not involved in the study but he calls it “a remarkable story.” Daley says, if safety concerns are taken care of, “the question we are left with is: should we do it?” And for whom? “I tend to believe that for certain rare instances where we're trying to prevent a devastating genetic disease that this could be indeed if, in the long run, proven safe, could be a very useful and life-affirming application of medical technology.” But Daley says this technology should not be used for enhancing, or improving human capabilities. That is what some call “designer babies”—parents creating features they want in babies. Concerned that some doctors might abuse gene editing, Daley says there should be independent supervision by professional groups to observe this work. But based on just this one study, he says it is far too early to use it in any way for making babies. For now, people wanting to avoid passing on a bad gene sometimes have embryos created in fertility clinics. Those embryos are checked, and only the ones without the bad gene are used to attempt pregnancy through so-called in vitro fertilization process (IVF). Marcy Darnovsky says in vitro fertilization avoids inherited diseases. She is with the Center for Genetics and Society in California. She is speaking out against the new gene editing. “This is not a technique that treats or cures anyone. It’s not really a medical technique at all. It’s about creating new human beings that have their traits determined and engineered.” She says because of its high cost, it would only be available to wealthy people, creating “another kind of inequality” in the country. Laurie Zoloth is the dean of University of Chicago Divinity School. She says many religions see human babies as a gift from God. “From some religions there arises a concern that controlling evolution in this way gives human beings too much power” over what is God’s creation, she says. Arthur Caplan supports the idea of the gene editing technique. An expert in bioethics, Caplan heads the Medical Ethics Division at New York University School of Medicine. He says it would be good to do away with genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. These are examples of terrible genetic diseases for which there is no cure. And Caplan adds not all genetic diseases can be eliminated by using IVF. “Finding ways to prevent them from being passed on to one’s children and grandchildren would be a wonderful achievement, one that I find it hard to argue has any objection in terms of eliminating disability and premature death and stopping something that's plagued all of mankind forever, inheriting genetic diseases.” The effect of editing genes It is not known how permanently changing the genes may affect the following generations. Changing genes may produce children that are sick, much like the sheep Dolly. She was cloned in 1996—made from a genetic copy of another sheep—but she grew sick and died early. Caplan says history tells us to wait and see how the technique works in animals first. “Let’s see how they turn out after a few years and then we'll start to get excited about using this technology to really prevent disease in people. Then we can really argue about whether it’s better to screen the embryos and throw them away or fix them.” The U.S. is not alone in doing this scientific research. Caplan says other countries like China, Britain and Singapore are also editing, or planning to edit, genes. Like Harvard’s Dr. Daley, Caplan is calling for a group of scientists, ethicists, lawyers and others to create rules and observe the work of scientists editing genes. The rule making should come from the private groups, he says, not the government. I’m Anne Ball.  Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English with information from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. What do you think of the idea of editing, or permanently changing, genes? ________________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   edit – v. to make changes, correct mistakes, etc., in something defect  – n. a problem or fault that makes someone or something not perfect preliminary – adj. coming before the main part of something ethics – n. rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad devastating – adj. causing great damage or harm affirm – v. to say that something is true in a confident way enhance – v. to increase or improve (something) evolution – n. the process by which changes in plants and animals happen over time in vitro fertilization - n. fertilization of an egg in a laboratory dish or test tube plague – v. to cause constant or repeated trouble, illness, etc.,

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Can US Politicians Legally Block People on Twitter?

  American civil liberties groups want politicians to stop blocking people from their social media accounts. And those politicians include President Donald Trump. The American Civil Liberties Union, known as the ACLU, filed a lawsuit against the governor of the state of Maine. The group also sent warning letters to the congressional members from the state of Utah. That comes after the ACLU filed lawsuits against the governors of Kentucky and Maryland in early August. In July, a free speech organization connected with Columbia University in New York City sued President Trump. The president often uses Twitter to communicate with the American people. But some Twitter users say they have been blocked by Trump for sending tweets he did not like. Those people can no longer send messages to Trump on Twitter. That action raises questions about what elected officials can do on their social media pages. In the past, politicians may have held public meetings to learn the concerns of voters. Now, however, they use Facebook and Twitter to have online conversations with voters. Anna Thomas is a spokeswoman for the ACLU of Utah. She said voters see their representatives as available on Twitter and Facebook. “They’re hungry for opportunities to express their opinions,” she said. “That includes people who disagree with public officials.” The officials targeted by the lawsuits and warnings so far are all Republicans. They say they are blocking people who post “hateful and violent content,” “spam” and “off-topic comments.” Matt Whitlock is a spokesman for Orrin Hatch, a U.S. senator from Utah. He said people are only blocked after they violate rules. Whitlock said Hatch’s Facebook page should not be used as a platform for “offensive content or misinformation.” Katie Fallow is a lawyer at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in New York City. Her organization filed the lawsuit against Trump last month. She said politicians who choose to use social media “can’t pick and choose who [they] hear from.” U.S. courts have not heard cases like these before. But one legal expert said the free-speech advocates like the ACLU probably will be able to make a stronger case than the politicians. Erwin Chemerinsky is the head of the law school at the University of California – Berkeley. He said the officials may be able to block followers only if they are blocking supporters and critics alike. “It’s got to be content-neutral,” he said. While the question of whether politicians can block people from their social media pages may seem minor, one expert says it is quite important. Amanda Shanor works for the Information Society Project at Yale University’s Law School. With more of the political discussion happening online, she said, “it’s more important that we know what these rules are.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. Should politicians make their social media channels open to everyone? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   account – n. an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company lawsuit – n. a dispute brought to a court so a decision can be made spam – n. unwanted internet messages advocate – n. a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy content – n. the ideas, facts, or images that are in a book, article, speech, movie, etc.

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William McKinley: Imperial

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about William McKinley. He took office in 1897 and was re-elected in 1900. He led the United States into the 20th century. One way to think of McKinley is as a transition president. In the 1800s, lawmakers were mostly concerned with how the country was growing in North America. But during McKinley’s government, the U.S. looked beyond its borders. Congress declared war on Spain, the first time the U.S. had fought a European power since the War of 1812 against Britain. The U.S. also took control of overseas territories, annexed Hawaii, and tried to regulate the world’s trade with China. Some historians say President McKinley himself wanted the U.S. to increase its international influence. Others argue that he was just answering the country’s mood at the time. Either way, his presidency is often defined by the country’s rise as an imperial power. Early life McKinley was the sixth president to come from the state of Ohio. He was the seventh of eight children. Historians describe his childhood as loving and fun. His father owned a small iron factory. His mother raised her children to be honest and polite. McKinley was a hard-working student. He briefly attended Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, but he did not have the money to finish his education there. A few years after leaving that school, he volunteered for the Army on the side of the Union in the Civil War. He served under a man who would later become president himself, Rutherford B. Hayes. The two stayed close throughout their lives. After the war ended, McKinley studied law, became involved in Republican Party politics, married, and had two daughters. His wife, Ida, was an energetic, well-educated young woman from a wealthy family. For a while, she had worked in her father’s bank. But Ida McKinley’s health began to suffer. She was struck by seizures. Then her mother died. A few months later, her younger daughter died while still an infant. Ida McKinley clung to her older daughter, but the little girl soon developed a fever disease, and she died, too. William and Ida McKinley were never the same. Ida McKinley remained sick her entire life. She spent most of her hours in a small rocking chair sewing. William McKinley paid great attention to her. He organized his schedule to spend time near her, even as his political success grew. In time, McKinley served in Congress and as the governor of Ohio. He was known as a likable person and a skilled politician. His Republican Party nominated him on the first ballot at their convention. A few months later, voters elected McKinley into office in a landslide. He became the country’s 25th president. Presidency When McKinley took office, the U.S. was just coming out of a severe economic depression. His government quickly approved a high protective tariff to help struggling workers. In general, his administration also permitted the growth of big business. But most of McKinley’s attention as president was devoted to foreign policy. The main issue was Cuba. At that time, Spain controlled the island. Cubans revolted, and Spanish forces used violence and detainments to crush the rebellion. In the U.S., many Americans denounced the events in Cuba. They wanted McKinley and his government to intervene. At first, President McKinley was unwilling. He tried to use diplomacy. He even ordered a U.S. ship into Spanish waters near Havana to show his continued support of Spain. But the ship, called the Maine, exploded. Americans believed the Spanish were responsible. Relations between the two countries worsened fast. Spain declared war. The U.S. Congress answered in kind. For 100 days, U.S. and Spanish forces fought in Cuba and other areas under Spanish control.  The war quickly turned in the Americans’ favor. When the Spanish-American War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1898, the U.S. took control of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from Spain. Cuba was made independent; however, the U.S. continued to occupy the island for several more years. Not everyone approved of the actions of McKinley’s government. Even some members of Congress warned against the U.S. becoming an imperial power. But a majority of voters approved of McKinley as a victorious commander-in-chief. They also noted that the U.S. economy was getting stronger. In 1900, McKinley won re-election. Assassination As it turned out, McKinley’s second term in office was short. In September, only six months after his swearing-in, the president was receiving visitors at a fair in the city of Buffalo, New York. One of the visitors in line was a 28-year-old man named Leon Czolgosz. His family was from Poland, but he lived in the city of Detroit, Michigan. He had worked in a factory, but at the time was unemployed. He supported the idea of anarchy – no government at all. When McKinley reached to shake the young man’s hand, Czolgosz shot the president twice in the stomach. Although injured, McKinley spoke to his guards. He told them not to hurt the shooter. And, he expressed concern about how his wife would feel when she learned he had been shot. Quickly, McKinley was taken to a hospital. Doctors predicted that he would survive. And, for a few days, McKinley seemed to improve. But the wound became infected, and eight days after the attack McKinley died. The president’s murderer did not say he was sorry for his act. He defended it, saying McKinley was an enemy of working people. Within a few weeks of the shooting, Czolgosz was tried, found guilty, and executed. Legacy Both the nation and the world mourned when McKinley died. He had been one of the country’s most popular presidents in many years. He left behind the beginning of what some called an American empire. He also marked a change in the U.S. presidency. When he first took office in the 19th century, most presidents acted primarily as administrators. But President McKinley began to act in ways that are more like a modern president. He prepared remarks to give to the media. He traveled across the country speaking to voters. He used the power of his office to direct the armed forces. McKinley laid the groundwork, but he did not completely change the presidency. He left that to the even more famous man who followed him into the White House. After McKinley’s death, his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, took office and truly brought the country into modern times. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Quiz ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story transition - n. a change from one state or condition to another annex - v. to add an area to a country : to take control of a place mood - n. an attitude or feeling shared by many people imperial - adj.  of or relating to an empire or an emperor clung - v. tried very hard to keep something that you are in danger of losing landslide - n. election in which the winner gets a much greater number of votes than the loser in kind - adj. in a way that is equal or very similar to what someone else has done to or for you anarchy - n. a situation in which the people in a country are not controlled by rules or laws empire - n. a group of countries or regions that are controlled by one ruler or one government  

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Animals Like Video Games, Too

At the Aquarium of the Pacific in California, the penguins have something in common with bird keeper Sara Mandel's cats. Both animals like games on a tablet computer. "I had actually purchased this game in the app store for my cats," said Mandel. Then, she wanted to see if the aquarium’s penguins would like the game as much as her cats did. Mandel asked her supervisor if she could show the game to the birds. "He laughed at me," she said. But the penguins did show an interest in the tablet computer with the cat game, Mandel said. "I showed him [her supervisor], and he was pretty shocked." Mandel said the penguins like playing with the electronic device as much as people do. She explained how the tablet helps her care for the penguins. "While they're kind of hanging out there, I can look at their flippers. I can make sure everything is good and healthy, and I can even sneak a scale right underneath where Lily [the name of a penguin] is standing." Penguins are not the only animals that have used tablet computers. At Zoo Atlanta, in the American state of Georgia, orangutans, gorillas, and sun bears have also worked with the technology. Researchers use touch screens with animals In Britain, a group of researchers have shown touch screen tablets to parrots and tortoises. With the parrots, the researchers use tablets to see how the birds explore and react to something new. The touch screens helped researchers study how tortoises learn to move around a space. Anna Wilkinson is a researcher at the University of Lincoln. She explained that a tortoise's neck length is a sign of whether the tortoise is comfortable in its surroundings. The longer the neck, the more at ease the animal is. While working with the screen, Wilkinson described the tortoise's neck as "nice and long." "The touch screens are fantastic because they give you a lot of flexibility. You can present animals with all sorts of different stimuli...They are also incredibly good because you can remove humans from the equation." Wilkinson added that she used the electronic device to train other animals, including dogs. Sara Mandel explained that people can be less dependable than a computer when providing help to animals, such as feeding them at a set time. She noted that humans can also distract the animals in a way that machines do not. Researchers said the animals have short attention spans and become tired easily. Like humans, Mandel said, the younger penguins are more interested in the game on the tablet. The older penguins quickly lose interest. I'm John Russell.   Elizabeth Lee reported on this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted her 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   tablet – n. a flat, rectangular computing device that is used for connecting to the Internet, watching videos, reading books flipper – n. one of two flat body parts that stick out from the side of a seal, whale, etc., and are used by the animal for swimming orangutan – n. a large ape that has very long arms and reddish-brown hair  gorilla – n.  a type of very large ape that has black fur and that comes from Africa  parrot – n. a bright-colored tropical bird that has a curved bill and the ability to imitate speech tortoise – n. a kind of turtle that lives on land stimulus – n. something that causes a change or a reaction distract – v. to cause someone to stop thinking about or paying attention to something span – n. the distance from one end to the other of something; a reach between two extremes

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Marble of Michelangelo’s Dreams Still Being Mined Today

  In 1517, the great Italian artist Michelangelo climbed Mount Altissimo in Tuscany. There, he found the marble of his dreams. Michelangelo thought the marble might even be better than that from nearby Carrara – the place where he got marble for some of his most famous statues. "There is enough here (Mount Altissimo) to extract until Judgment Day," he wrote. The term "Judgment Day" comes from the Christian belief about the end of the world. Michelangelo created a path that would help workers transport the marble from Altissimo to the city of Florence. The plan was to use the marble to improve the look of the Church of San Lorenzo. After several years of work, Pope Leo took away Michelangelo's permission to work on the project. The church still does not have a beautiful façade at the front. In the three centuries following Michelangelo's time, the Altissimo quarries were ignored and later rediscovered. In the 19th century, the leaders of Russia chose Altissimo marble for Saint Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. More recently, Altissimo marble was used in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The mosque opened in 2007. Today, the quarries on Altimisso are very active. The Reuters news agency says modern stone cutting and removal methods have produced a look similar to some Cubism paintings. Before the marble is removed, expert stone workers hang on ropes from the sides of the nearly 1,600-meter-high mountain. They use iron bars to dig at its sides. They try to remove loose rock that could fall and hurt other workers. Franco Lerotti is the director of extraction work at the quarry. He notes that the tools used to take marble from the quarry have changed much over time. In the past, miners used simple hand tools. "Now we have diamond-tipped wires and saws and heavy earth-moving equipment," he said. Over the years, artists such as Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Joan Miro and Isamu Noguchi have used Altissimo marble for their works. Michelangelo would be pleased. I'm John Russell.   Alessandro Bianchi reported on this story for the Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story   marble – n. a kind of stone that is often polished and used in buildings and statues extract – v. to remove (something) by pulling it out or cutting it out façade – n. the front of a building quarry – n. a place where large amounts of stone are dug out of the ground loose – adj. not connected securely

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