Thailand Offers Class to Women Who Marry Foreigners

  Thailand's government is offering a free class to Thai women who marry foreigners. The class teaches about the possible difficulties of such marriages. It also teaches how to avoid becoming a victim of scams or human trafficking when moving overseas. Thailand's social development ministry said that some women believe marriage to a foreigner is a way to improve their economic situation. The government has little recent information about such marriages. A 2004 government study showed that more than 15,000 women from northeastern Isan had married foreigners. That is one of the poorest areas in Thailand. Each month, these women sent a total of 122 million baht to their families. Patcharee Arayakul is the director of the ministry’s division of gender equality. “Our course will teach women how to conduct themselves, about the laws of their destination country, and how to prepare before going," Patcharee said. The class covers, "legal rights, how to seek help through the relevant Thai authorities, as well as exploring issues of culture shock," said Dusadee Ayuwat, a professor who helped design it. The practical advice was very useful, said one woman who attended the class. "I was more interested in the legal aspects rather than the culture shock," she said. The woman did not want to give her name. Ploynisa Duangdararungrueng is married to a German national. She says she thinks the education could be useful for some Thai women. "Thai women, especially those from the northeast region, are soft-spoken and submissive," she said. "They must learn to respect themselves and their culture." Her husband, Ralf Wacker, said the class could help prepare women for life in the West. "For a lot of women, life in the West is like a fairy tale, but in reality it can feel extremely isolating moving to a small town," he said. Wacker urged Thailand's government to offer a similar course for the foreign husbands. "If the Western man does not understand the family dynamics," he said, "this can cause a lot of problems." I'm John Russell.   Suphanida Thakral and Amy Lefevre reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   course – n. a series of classes about a particular subject in a school scam – n.  a dishonest way to make money by deceiving people human trafficking – n. the action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation destination – n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sen relevant – adj. relating to a subject in an appropriate way practical – adj.  appropriate or suited for actual use aspect – n. a part of something submissive – adj. willing to obey someone

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Everyday Grammar: Different Meanings of Have

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Lesson 1: Budget Cuts

Summary We meet Anna's co-workers at The Studio: Anna, Jonathan, Amelia, Kaveh, and Penelope. Rumors of budget cuts travel through the office. But who is going to get fired?   Conversation   Anna:  Hum. Oh! “Important meeting. Everyone must come.” Well, back to work! And my boss has called a meeting. I wonder what it’s about. Maybe we’re all getting raises! Ooo, there’s Jonathan! Maybe he knows. Professor Bot: Hi! I’m Professor Bot! This video is all about work. People talk about jobs and things that happen at work.Your assignment is to find as many work words as you can. Don’t worry, I’ll help. Anna:  So, Jonathan, what do you think today’s meeting is about? The email sounded important. Jonathan:   Well, I have heard people in the building talking about budget cuts. Anna:  Oh! Budget cuts? Wait, who has been talking about budget cuts? Jonathan:   Mark in Accounting. Anna:  Mark in Accounting? That’s one person. That’s not “people.” Jonathan:   I know, but Mark knows everything that goes on at The Studio. Anna:  That is true. But wait, look at us. We shouldn’t gossip. That’s how rumors start. We’ll just go to the meeting and see what happens. Jonathan:   You’re right. No more talk about budget cuts. Amelia:  Budget cuts? Oh no! Amelia:  I just heard Anna and Jonathan talking about budget cuts. Kaveh:   That must be what the meeting is about. When there are budget cuts, people lose their jobs. Amelia:  Not you. You’re a good reporter. Kaveh:   And it’s not you. You’ve done a great job as a videographer. Amelia:  I can’t go back to being a detective. Criminals scare me! Kaveh:   And I can’t go back to being a teacher! High school kids scare me! Professor Bot: Did you hear any work words? They talked about a lot of jobs. You can make the name of a job by adding an ending to a verb! Kaveh reports, so, he’s a reporter. Amelia used to detect, so she was a detective. If you teach, you’re a teacher. And a videographer….uh, I think you understand. Back to the story. Kaveh:   Penelope, have you heard the news? Today’s meeting is about budget cuts. Penelope:   That’s awful! What should I do? Kaveh:   Update your résumé. I've already updated mine. I'll see you at the meeting. Ms. Weaver:   Hello everyone! Quiet, please. Quiet, please! Ms. Weaver:   This meeting won’t take long. Then you can all leave. Ms. Weaver:   What is wrong with everyone? You look like I’m going to fire you. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Seriously, what is wrong with everyone? Anna:   Excuse me, Ms. Weaver? Ms. Weaver:   Yes, Anna. Anna:  Well, everyone has been worrying about, you know … We’ve been worrying that you are going to fire us! Ms. Weaver:   I’m not going to fire any of you! No! The reason for this meeting is to tell you what a good job you’ve been doing and give out new assignments. Budget cuts have been happening. But only one person has lost their job -- Mark in Accounting? Now, let’s talk about those new assignments. Professor Bot: Ms. Weaver’s team is doing a good job! How did you do? Did you find all of the work words? Here’s a list you can check.   boss meeting raises email budget cuts   Accounting gossip rumors lose reporter résumé videographer detective teacher update fire assignment Watch again if you did not find all the words. Go to the website to learn more!   New Words accounting - n. the skill, system, or job of keeping the financial records of a business or person assignment - n. a job or duty that is given to someone boss - n. the person whose job is to tell other workers what to do budget - n. an amount of money available for spending that is based on a plan for how it will be spent calm - adj. not angry, upset, excited, etc. criminal - n. a person who has committed a crime or who has been proved to be guilty of a crime by a court detective - n. a police officer whose job is to find information about crimes that have occurred and to catch criminals email - n. a system for sending messages from one computer to another computer fire - v. to dismiss (someone) from a job go on - phrasal verb. happen gossip - v. to talk about the personal lives of other people lose - v. to fail to keep or hold  résumé ​ - n. a short document describing your education, work history, etc., that you give an employer when you are applying for a job​ rumor - n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true scare - v. to cause (someone) to become afraid update - v. to change (something) by including the most recent information used to - v. used to say that something existed or repeatedly happened in the past but does not exist or happen now videographer - n. a person who records images or events using a video camera   Learning Strategy The learning strategy for this lesson is Make Inferences. That means making a guess based on what you know. In the video, you hear Amelia tell Kaveh: "I just heard Anna and Jonathan talking about budget cuts. Kaveh makes an inference when he says, "That must be what the meeting is about. When there are budget cuts, people lose their jobs." As you learn English, you can use this strategy to help when you do not understand every word you hear or read.  Making an inference means you guess, using what you do understand, about new words or expressions in English.   Listening Quiz Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. For Teachers Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus:  Review: Present Perfect (has/have + past participle)  Present Perfect gives the idea of completion. New: Present Perfect Continuous (has/have + been + ing verb) Present Perfect Continuous sometimes focuses on something unfinished and how long something has been happening.  Topics: Agent Nouns, New occupations, Evaluating People's Activities Learning Strategy: Make Inferences   Comments 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.   Poll  

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Lesson 1: Welcome!

Let's Learn English is a course for English learners. Certified American English teachers designed the course for beginners. There are 52 lessons. Every fifth lesson, there is a review of the previous lessons. Each week, there is a new lesson with video showing the lives of young Americans. The lesson includes instruction in speaking, vocabulary and writing. There are also printable worksheets, assessments and lesson plans for individual learners and English teachers. We encourage you to follow the weekly lessons and share your progress with us through comments and email. Summary Anna moves to Washington, DC. She meets Pete at her new apartment.  Speaking Watch the video and record yourself. Listen to yourself. Then listen to the video again. Pronunciation In careful speech, we say words with a small break. In everyday speech, the sounds come together with little or no break. Watch the video to learn about how the sounds change. Practice the example. Conversation  Pete: Hi! Are you Anna? Anna: Yes! Hi there! Are you Pete? Pete: I am Pete Anna: Nice to meet you Anna: Let's try that again. I'm Anna Pete: I'm Pete. "Anna" Is that A-N-A? Anna: No. A-N-N-A Pete: Well, Anna with two "n's" ... Welcome to ... 1400 Irving Street! Anna: My new apartment! Yes!   Writing Introduce yourself in the Comments section. Download the worksheet to learn the alphabet and numbers. For a fun way to learn the alphabet, watch the alphabet video below.  Learning Strategy Each week we teach a new learning strategy. The first one is Set a Goal. ​ When we set a goal, we decide what we want to do or learn. You are studying English with VOA Learning English. What do you want to learn? Here is an example: Pat works at a coffee shop. She wants to greet her customers in English. She sets a goal: "In three months, I will feel confident in greeting customers in English." Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. Setting a goal is an important learning strategy because it gives you a strong reason to keep studying.  What is your goal for learning English this year? Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section. See the Lesson Plan for more details. Listening Quiz Check how well you understand the lesson with this quiz. Play the video and choose the correct answer. New Words apartment - n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live. She lives in an apartment. meet - v.  to see and speak to someone for the first time. Pete meets Anna on the street. new - adj. not known before; recently bought or rented. Anna has a new friend. nice - adj. good and enjoyable . It is nice to see you. street  - n. a road in a city, town, or village. Anna lives on Irving Street. try - v. to make an effort to do something. Please try to say it again. welcome - interjection. used as a friendly greeting to someone who has arrived at a place. Welcome to America! _______________________________________________________________ Free Materials Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website.     For Teachers   ​Download a lesson plan for this lesson here. Let us know your thoughts about this lesson in our Comments section or send us an email. Grammar focus: BE + name in introductions;  BE + location Topics: Meeting people; Personal information;  Learning the Alphabet (Activity sheet);  Learning the Numbers 1-20 (video) Speaking & Pronunciation focus: Meeting people; Pronouncing linked sounds

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Schools Under Pressure to Protect Free Speech

  Colleges begin the new school year under pressure to protect free speech -- even when many students strongly disagree with the speakers’ messages. Many of the protests in the last school year tried to block conservative and white nationalist speakers. And some colleges that experienced violent protests have announced new efforts to encourage free speech. Colleges encourage support for free speech Fifteen leading scholars at three of the nation’s top universities -- Harvard University, Yale University and Princeton University -- wrote a letter this week with this advice for new college students: “Think for yourself.” The letter said that means students should honestly consider arguments, even from people with opinions they find objectionable. Kansas State University recently announced it will work hard to protect free speech. A statement from the school’s top officials said free speech is “one of our most cherished rights, protected by the United States Constitution.” At Claremont McKenna College in California and Middlebury College in Vermont, officials promise more speeches by people with different opinions. During the last school year, demonstrators at the schools blocked speeches by conservative speakers. The two schools punished some protesting students. Claremont McKenna went further than Middlebury by banning five students from campus for up to a year.   At the University of California Berkeley, new Chancellor Carol Christ called for a return to the school’s reputation as the home of the Free Speech Movement. Free speech must include speeches by people whose opinions “conflict with the values we hold as a community,” Christ said. Those values include acceptance of all people and diversity, she said. “If you choose to protest, do so peacefully,” she said in a recent message to Berkeley students and teachers. She said the school will not “tolerate violence.” Just days after Christ asked students and teachers to support free speech, there was another violent protest. It took place in a park near the Berkeley campus during a “free speech” event. Demonstrators, some with their faces covered in black cloth, attacked at least five people, including the leader of a politically conservative group, the Associated Press reported. Some of the attackers were from a group called Antifa, short for anti-fascists. Some Antifa members say that violence is acceptable to fight racism. It was not known if any of the Antifa members were Berkeley students. Protests against the left Conservatives and white nationalists are not the only groups whose free speech rights are being questioned. Mark Bray is a lecturer at Dartmouth College and considered an expert on Antifa. On NBC’s Meet the Press, he said Antifa supporters believe that Nazis and other Fascists cannot be stopped with free speech alone. Bray said the Nazis in Germany and other fascist leaders in Europe before and during World War II were only stopped by violence. Dartmouth’s President Philip Hanlon said Bray seemed to be saying that violence is acceptable. He said Dartmouth does not accept anything but “civil discourse” in discussing opinions and ideas. That led 120 Dartmouth teachers to defend Bray. At most colleges, an official whose expertise is reported on by national news reports is praised, the teachers said in a letter. Evergreen State College in the Western state of Washington is another college that experienced conflict during the last school year. It began when some students moved to change a yearly event that seeks to make the college community aware of racism. In previous years, African-American students and college employees would leave the college for a day to show the loss that takes place when they are not present. Last spring, the event was changed with white students and white employees asked to leave for a day. Brett Weinstein, a white biology professor, refused. Weinstein said that he and his wife, another Evergreen teacher, were called racists and threatened by some students. The school was also closed for several days after a threat of violence from an unidentified caller. The threat came after some conservative groups said liberals controlled the college and threatened those with different opinions. This year, the college says, it will hold a special program for new freshman. The school calls the program, “Conversing across Significant Differences." The goal is to help students learn how to peacefully deal with different opinions. But all is not well. Weinstein recently went to court to charge college officials with permitting his rights to be violated. Senator Chuck Grassley is a Republican from Iowa and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. At a recent hearing, he said, “Higher education rests on the free flow of ideas.” Grassley added that colleges must do more to “protect free speech.” I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Are their conflicts where you go to school? How are they resolved? And do you think it’s important to at least listen to people with different opinions than your own? _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cherish - v. to remember or hold an idea or belief in a deeply felt way reputation - n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something diversity - n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas tolerate - v. accept fascist - n. a way of organizing a society in which a government ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which people are not allowed to disagree with the government civil discourse - n. exchanging ideas without anger or threats converse - v. to have a discussion flow - n. movement  

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Shhh! The Walls Have Ears!

  Now it’s time for Words and Their Stories, a program from VOA Learning English. On this program, we explore common words and expressions in American English. Sometimes we tell you their origins, but we always teach you how to use the words in conversation. Today, we are going to talk about something bad; in other words, something naughty.  Have you ever listened to a private conversation? Maybe you were standing by a door or in a hallway and you heard people talking about someone else you know. And you could not help it. You paused … you perked up your ears … and you listened. You knew, of course, that these people were not speaking to you. They did not invite you to be part of their conversation. You invited yourself. You eavesdropped. To eavesdrop means you secretly listen to the conversations of others. Some types of people are very good at eavesdropping. Nosy people, people who like to gossip and spies are all good eavesdroppers. The only difference among my examples is that spies get paid and could get killed for getting an earful. Originally, however, the word “eavesdrop” had nothing to do with spying or listening to private conversations. When it was first used in the 1600s, “eavesdrop” was the water that fell, or dropped, from the eaves of a house. Eaves are the parts of the roof that hang over the walls and shade the outside of a house. After more time passed, “eavesdrop” came to mean the ground near the house where the water fell. After even more time passed, “eavesdropper” described someone who stood near a house to secretly listen to a conversation happening inside. These days you can be standing anywhere to eavesdrop. The word simply means "to listen secretly to something said in private." English has another expression related to eavesdropping and the home: the walls have ears. This means be careful what you say as there might be people listening. Some word experts say this expression may come from story about an ancient Greek ruler (430–367 BC) who had an ear-shaped cave cut and connected between the rooms of his palace. This allowed him to listen to conversations in other rooms. This form of eavesdropping became common practice with rulers from many cultures. In English, the phrase "the walls have ears" was first recorded in its present form in the mid-1600s. Now, if you like (or hate) learning English phrasal verbs, there’s a great one for eavesdropping – to listen in on. Usually our phrasal verbs have only one preposition. Not this one. It has two! When you listen in on something, you listen to people speaking without joining in, usually secretly. But not always. You can listen in on a class at university or listen in on a meeting at work. These examples do not suggest that you were listening secretly. But if you are listening in on a private conversation, chances are you are listening to something private that does not concern you. You are not minding your own business. Now, maybe you were minding your own business. Maybe you just happened to have overheard a private conversation. Overhearing is more innocent than eavesdropping. You can overhear something by being in the wrong place at the right time. Now, let’s listen in on two people talking to learn how to use these words and expressions in a conversation. And it’s okay. We're not eavesdropping. I've given you permission! So, Amy, I was listening in on the management meeting today. Our manager said that he’s putting your project on hold. You’re thinking about leaving the company, aren’t you? I haven’t told anyone that except Ann Marie. Did she spill the beans to you?! No. She didn’t tell me anything. I just happened to overhear you two talking in the cafeteria yesterday. Were you eavesdropping on our conversation, Alex?! No! I was walking behind your table and accidentally overheard what you guys were talking about. Honest. Alex, it was a really long conversation. Unless you were purposefully listening in on us I don’t see how it could have been an accident. Okay, I was standing behind your table. When I overheard you and Ann Marie talking about your project my ears perked up. So, I stayed there and listened for a little while … okay, for a long while. Alex, you’re such a snoop! Look, don’t tell anyone. I didn’t accept the other job offer yet. So no one knows, okay? No one except Ann Marie … and me and … Urgh! Alex! And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories. I'd like to know how you talk about listening to private conversations in your language? Let's talk in the Comments Section ... where the whole world is able to eavesdrop! I’m Anna Matteo. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   naughty – adj. sometimes used humorously to describe an adult who does something slightly wrong or improper nosy – adj. wanting to know about other people's lives, problems, etc. gossip – v. to talk about the personal lives of other people eave – n. the lower border of a roof that overhangs the wall —usually used in plural snoop – v. to look for private information about someone or something : – n. someone who looks for private information about someone or something perk up your ears – idiomatic phrase : to listen more closely : to lift (the ears) in a quick or alert way, often used figuratively of a person spill the beans – idiomatic phrase : to let secret information be known : to give away a secret or surprise

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Civil Rights Leader’s Home May Be Returned to US

Rosa Parks became famous in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. She was important in the movement for civil rights in the American South during the 1950s and 60s. At the time, blacks in the South were forced to sit in the back of public buses and to give up their seats to white people. Parks moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1957 to escape death threats. She continued living in Detroit until her death in 2005, at age 92. But the house in Detroit where Parks lived for many years was abandoned and scheduled to be torn down. Her niece, Rhea McCauley, bought it for $500 to stop it from being destroyed. She then gave it to American artist, Ryan Mendoza. Mendoza and others took it apart and then sent it across the Atlantic Ocean to the German capital of Berlin. There, he led efforts to rebuild the house. It now is behind his own house in Berlin. It gets daily visitors, although it is difficult to find, Mendoza said. Artist wants to return Park’s home to U.S. But less than a year after the house was rebuilt in Berlin, Mendoza decided it should be returned to the United States. He made the decision after deadly violence took place at a recent white nationalist event in Charlottesville, Virginia. That incident increased calls for removing statues of Confederate leaders from the Civil War in the U.S. Mendoza said there are not enough civil rights monuments “to balance things out” with the Confederate statues. He said the Rosa Parks house belongs back in America. “Imagine if the house were on a public setting in a prominent city in the U.S.,” Mendoza said. “That’s an education tool that shouldn’t be denied the American people. They have to know their past.” Peter Hammer is a law professor and director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University in Detroit. He believes the house would be welcomed back in Detroit. “My sense is that the Germans have adequately shamed us for not protecting our own history,” Hammer told VOA. He noted that Detroit has failed to protect historical homes in the past. Such houses include the former home of Ralph Bunche, the first African-American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. He received the award in 1950 for helping negotiate peace between Israelis and Arabs that led to the creation of the country of Israel in 1948. Bunche’s home in Detroit became a parking lot. Detroit’s failure to protect history also is shown by the loss of the Rosa Parks house, Hammer said. He said that Parks was an important civil rights activist “long before" she refused to give up her seat on a bus in Alabama. In Detroit, Hammer said Parks served as a mentor to people fighting for equal rights. A mentor is someone who gives help and advice to people who are less experienced. I’m Bruce Alpert.   The Associated Press reported on this story. Bruce Alpert adapted the story and did additional reporting for VOA Learning English. The editor was Mario Ritter. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. Is there someone near where you live who you think should be remembered with a special exhibit or by preserving his or her home? _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   abandon - v. left without people living there schedule - v. a plan of things that will be done and the times when they will be done monument - n. a building or statue that honors a person or event prominent - adj. put in a place that is important and where it will receive attention adequately - adv. enough to meet some need shamed - v. to cause someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed

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Kenya Becomes Latest Country to Ban Plastic Bags

  Kenya has joined the growing list of countries to ban plastic bags. A new Kenyan law bars the production, sale and even use of polythene plastic bags. People caught breaking the law may be fined up to $40,000 or face a four-year jail term. The cabinet secretary for the environment, Judi Wakhungu, told reporters that plastic bags are affecting Kenya’s food and water supplies. “It is a toxin that we must get rid of,” she said. Environmental harms Plastic bags are used in many countries. People often get them when buying products from food stores or other businesses. But experts argue that polythene bags are bad for the environment and public health. The bags have been blamed for polluting cities and coastal areas. They have also been blamed for killing animals who eat them or become trapped in them. Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) notes that while the bags are thin, they never really break down into small pieces through natural processes. As a result, it warns, the plastic can remain “in the environment as small or even microscopic particles…forever.” NEMA officials have been urging retail businesses and manufacturers in Nairobi to obey the new ban. Geoffrey Wahungu, the director general of NEMA, is supporting a campaign known as the “take-bag” scheme. He is asking Kenyans to bring their own cloth bags or baskets from home. “I hope soon we'll start seeing people who are carrying out these recycling materials, or alternative bags, which are eco-friendly. All this is creating much more employment than is being lost,” he told VOA. Joining the list Kenya is the latest country to ban polythene plastic bags. Similar measures are reported to be in effect in at least nine other African countries. However, of the nine, only Rwanda has been successful in enforcing the ban. In neighboring Uganda, for example, the move away from plastic has been slow. Officials banned the production, import and distribution of thicker plastic bags in 2009. Yet such bags are still in use today in the capital, Kampala. The Ugandan government wants local manufacturers of polythene bags to support its calls for recycling. Some Ugandans are hoping to earn a profit through efforts designed to protect the environment. Two years ago, Sharon Ninsiima started a business for removing plant fiber from banana stems. The fiber acts like cotton and can be used to make biodegradable paper bags. “People consider our products expensive, which is true,” she says.  “But our bags are… safer than the polythenes…,” she adds. “The polythenes are more dangerous and contaminate the environment.” Banning bags around the world In Asia, several countries have also joined the movement to ban plastic bags. Bangladesh became one of the first countries in the area to enforce a ban after bags blocked drainage systems and caused serious flooding. In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, China banned thin plastic bags and raised prices for thicker ones. Some European countries have started to either ban plastic bags completely or force businesses to pay more for using the bags. In 1994, Denmark became the first country to charge people for using plastic bags. Ireland approved a similar move in 2002. In Central America, Costa Rica has said it plans to be the first country to completely remove all single-use plastic bags by 2021. There also have been efforts to ban plastic bags in parts of the United States. In 2007, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban such bags. Nine years later, the state government in California banned them across the state. All county governments in Hawaii have individually banned plastic bags, effectively banning them statewide. Chicago and other cities, such as Dallas, Texas, and Washington, DC, have similar bans. Economic impacts However, not everyone feels that banning plastic bags is a wise idea. In Kenya, two plastic bag importers attempted to overturn the ban in court last week. But their effort failed. The National Association of Manufacturers says the ban will cost the country more than 60,000 jobs.  In the United States, groups like the American Progressive Bag Alliance, or APBA, have successfully campaigned to overturn several bans.  The APBA argues that banning plastic bags reduces jobs and harms working families, who are forced to pay more for food and goods.  The group adds that the bags can be reused, and are less harmful to the environment than other products.  Some producers of plastic bags also oppose the idea of banning bags. Phil Rozenski serves as Director of Sustainability for Novolex.  “These laws were never about plastic bags, they were about reducing litter and marine debris. The major flaw is that this approach doesn’t change human behavior, it only changes products.” He argues that the amount of carbon dioxide released in the manufacture of plastic bags is much smaller than that from bags made with other material. I’m Phil Dierking.   Mohammed Yusuf reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted his report for Learning English. The story also uses information from other websites. George Grow was the editor.  Do you think it is a good idea to ban plastic bags?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   ______________________________________________________________  Words in This Story    drainage - n.  the act or process of draining something ​ contaminate - v.  to make something dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it​ expensive - adj. costing a lot of money​ biodegradable - adj. capable of being slowly destroyed and broken down into very small parts by natural processes, bacteria, etc.​ polythene - n. a light and strong plastic that is used mainly in sheets for packaging​ recycle - v. to send used newspapers, bottles, cans, etc. to a place where they are made into something new​ retailer - n. a person or business that sells things directly to customers for their own use​ toxin - n. a poisonous substance and especially one that is produced by a living thing​ litter - n. things that have been thrown away and that are lying on the ground in a public place​ debris - n. the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed​

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English in a Minute: Grasping at Straws

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China Accuses Billionaire in US of Rape

Chinese police are investigating a new accusation against one of the ruling Communist Party’s most wanted exiles. The man, New York-based billionaire Guo Wengui, is being accused of rape. Two Chinese officials with direct knowledge of the investigation spoke to the Associated Press (AP). They said police are requesting a second Interpol arrest order for Guo. The 50-year-old is accused of attacking his former personal assistant. The AP reported on Thursday that Guo and his representatives failed to answer repeated requests for comment. Chinese government lawyers had been building a case against the businessman before this latest accusation. He is under investigation for at least 19 major crimes. They include bribing a top Chinese intelligence official, kidnapping and financial wrongdoing. Who is Guo Wengui? Guo Wengui was born into poverty in central China. He started as a small investor, buying and selling fuel supplies, but quickly rose to become a real estate leader. Chinese media say Guo’s rise resulted mainly from his ability to befriend powerful Chinese security officials. It is reported that Guo won the rights to build the Pangu tower in 2006 for the Beijing Olympic Games by working with Ma Jian. Ma later became China’s chief of counterintelligence operations. In 2015, anti-corruption investigators detained Ma and later accused him of accepting $8.8 million in bribes from Guo Wengui. Guo fled the country. In recent months, Guo has been widely followed on social media with his claims of wrongdoing within the Communist Party, even among President Xi Jinping’s closest allies. Most of the claims have yet to be confirmed. Guo’s posts on Twitter and in YouTube videos tell about what he says are top leaders’ hidden finances and property holdings. He has promised to continue reporting on the Communist Party’s secrets until China frees his relatives from detention and releases his property. Unusual willingness to talk with media The Associated Press examined documents related to the rape investigation. It confirmed their details with Chinese official sources in Beijing. The officials asked not to be identified in return for discussing the case. The willingness to talk to the press is unusual given the political sensitivity of Guo’s case in China. It suggests an urgency in detaining Guo and in stopping any possible trouble leading up to the Chinese Communist Party congress next month. China and the United States do not have an agreement about surrendering criminal suspects to each other. China hopes that increasing evidence will persuade the U.S. government against extending Guo Wengui’s visa. His visa is believed to expire in October, Chinese officials said. Top U.S. and Chinese officials have discussed the accusations against Guo, said another person with direct knowledge of the talks. That person spoke on the condition that he or she would not be identified. The source also said Chinese officials are asking the U.S. to cancel Guo’s visa. It is unclear what steps U.S. officials plan to take, if any. The Trump administration would not comment on the issue. China’s efforts to gain control of Chinese seeking refuge in the U.S. have become an increasingly divisive issue between the two nations. The U.S. government often has refused China’s demands for corruption suspects. But in the past three months, the government surrendered two crime suspects to China. One of them is accused of rape. The case against Guo In April, China asked Interpol to release a “red notice” seeking Guo’s arrest on corruption-related charges. Chinese officials later sentenced several of his employees for wrongdoing. Police in central China opened the rape investigation July 5 after a former employee came forward, the officials said. The woman, whose identity is being withheld by the AP, said she worked as Guo’s personal assistant. She said that Guo raped her several times in New York, London and the Bahamas. She said people working for Guo took her smartphone, computer, passport and keys. She also said she was barred from leaving her room in his London home. Police documents say the woman secretly met a lawyer friend in London earlier this year to give a written statement about her experience. The documents say she kept her underclothing, pregnancy tests and abortion pills as evidence. Chinese officials gave the AP permission to speak with the woman by telephone. She confirmed the story and described fleeing Guo’s apartment to the Chinese Embassy in London in April. There she sought a new passport before returning to China. She said Chinese police had promised her she could bring charges against Guo without facing punishment for having worked for a crime suspect. “I just want him to face justice for what he did to me,” she said. Guo did not answer several AP requests for comment. Lawyers representing him at a New York law office also did not answer requests for comment. In April, Guo told the AP he believed the Interpol notice released at the time was evidence of “state intimidation.” He said China had provided false documents to the international police organization. Interpol refused to comment about the latest arrest order China is seeking. It told the AP to present questions to China. I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Dan Friedell. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bribe – v.  to try to get someone to do something by giving or promising something valuable (such as money) : to give or offer a bribe to (someone​) real estate – n. the business of selling land and buildings  congress – n. a formal meeting in which representatives or experts discuss important matters, make decisions, etc.​ expire – v. to end: to no longer be valid after a period of time​ abortion pill – n. a drug to end a pregnancy intimidation – n. the act of making (someone) afraid​  

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Rising Seas, Development Predicted to Cause More Flood Disasters

  The Tropical Storm Harvey in the Unites States and the monsoon in South Asia have again shown how dangerous and destructive floodwaters can be. More than 1,200 people have died across India, Bangladesh and Nepal as a result of flooding. In the American state of Texas, more than 40 people have died and at least 30,000 have been displaced. These are the latest examples of powerful storms striking heavily populated areas, followed by extreme flooding. But storms alone are not the only cause of flooding. Increasing development has been blamed for taking away natural drainage areas that used to limit flooding in cities. The latest U.S. flooding following Hurricane Harvey was in Houston, Texas, America’s fourth largest city. Areas around Houston have been hit with serious storm-caused flooding in the past, the last time in April 2016. At the time, scientists and experts blamed the flooding on continued growth across the city, according to the Texas Tribune. They called on officials to pass laws limiting developers from paving land that used to take in large amounts of rainwater. G.K. Bhat is head of the think tank Taru Leading Edge. On the flooding in India, he said “In a normal ground outside the city, nearly 80 percent of the rain would have got absorbed… with concrete and tarmac all around, we are creating almost a near-total impervious area. Thus, the flood gets amplified in urban areas.” Rising sea levels Another big concern is rising sea levels that are predicted to put major areas of the world under water in coming decades.  Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that global sea levels began rising in the 19th century. The levels increased 14-17 centimeters during the 20th century and just keep rising.    In July, hundreds of scientists from around the world gathered in New York City for a major conference to examine sea-level rise. The conference was organized by the not-for-profit World Climate Research Programme, with support from the United Nations, the U.S. Space Agency NASA and other organizations. In its closing statement, the group said global sea levels are currently rising at a rate of about 30 centimeters per century. The group predicted that if climate conditions stay the same, world sea levels could rise one meter or more throughout the 21st century, possibly reaching several meters by 2300. A recent report by a group that analyzes climate changes in the Arctic said the area is currently warming faster than anywhere else on earth. The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme said melting ice in the Arctic currently causes about 35 percent of global sea-level rise. Over a period of decades, experts say rising sea levels worldwide could cause disastrous flooding conditions. Numerous U.S. communities face this same threat. Many coastal areas already experience regular flooding problems, according to the Washington-based Union of Concerned Scientists. Erika Spanger-Siegfried is a senior analyst with the organization’s Climate and Energy Program. She oversaw two reports that identified areas across the U.S. experiencing what the group calls chronic inundation. It defines this as flooding that prevents people or businesses from carrying out normal daily activities. “What we see just in the next couple of decades is the expansion of areas that are chronically inundated to other currently unaffected parts of the coast. And really, mid-century and beyond is when we start to see major metropolitan areas affected by this chronic inundation as well.” What are the solutions? Spanger-Siegfried suggested three main possible solutions to fight rising sea levels. The first is to build seawalls or levees. The second is to build homes elevated or create waterways to carry floodwaters. The third would be for people to relocate to areas not threatened by flooding. She says communities will likely use a combination of these methods in the short term. “It is human nature to reach for defensive measures and to try and simply keep the water out and keep, maintain things as they are within communities, which is fully understandable.” Michael Bogin is a New York environmental lawyer. He told VOA that the US government under President Barack Obama had taken steps to give local officials more power to regulate development as a way to prevent flooding. Bogin said one idea to deal with the problem is for governments to buy land from homeowners in areas with a high flood risk. Such a program was used in Staten Island, New York, after Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage in the area. Owners of destroyed or damaged homes were made offers to sell the property to the state. Buyers of the property were then required to follow post-Sandy flood rules when building new homes. But Bogin says clearly that's not going to be a complete solution for cities with populations of four, six or eight million people, like New York or Houston. He added that in New York City, officials have explored the building of more environment-friendly infrastructure. The idea is to take areas that have been paved over and turn them back into natural land areas that can take in extra water during floods. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drainage – n. process of removing water or liquid from a place glacier – n. very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land greenhouse gases – n. carbon dioxide and other gases that scientists have linked to rising global temperatures metropolitan – adj. relating to a large city levee – n. wall made of earth or other material built to keep water from flooding an area elevate – v. lift up pave – n. cover earth with a material to form a hard surface impervious – adj. not allowing liquid to pass through regulate – v. make rules or laws to control something infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) needed for a country or organization to function properly​  

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