Venezuelans Survive on Bitcoin

In the last month, John Villar has bought plane tickets to Colombia, purchased medicine for his wife, and paid the employees of his business in Venezuela — all in bitcoin. As Venezuela’s national currency loses value, Venezuelans have increasingly turned to bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, for daily uses. For two years, Villar could not find the medication needed in Venezuela to treat his wife’s serious illness. So he bought them in other countries with bitcoin and used a delivery service to get them to Venezuela. “This is not a matter of politics,” Villar said. “This is a matter of survival.” Like Villar, poor retirees and wealthy business leaders are changing their bolivars, Venezuela's currency, into bitcoins. They used bitcoin to pay for everything from doctor appointments and honeymoons to motorcycles and beer. Some even purchase a small fraction of one bitcoin to build their savings. The U.S. dollars remain the number one currency for many Venezuelans but finding them can be difficult and requires a black market connection. Buying bitcoin eliminates the bureaucracy because transactions can be done peer-to-peer. In addition, saving bitcoin does not require a foreign bank account. Venezuelans cannot hold dollars in a local account. The transactions are easy for anyone with a smartphone: Websites like LocalBitcoin and Colibit work as exchanges where Venezuelans can buy and sell bitcoins using a local bank account. The move toward cryptocurrencies in Venezuela is taking place as the price of bitcoin has climbed to a peak of more than $17,000 this month. The digital currency debuted on a major U.S. exchange with its first futures contract on Dec. 10. The number of Venezuelans using cryptocurrencies is unclear. But weekly bitcoin trading numbers from one website in Venezuela has soared from about $225,000 earlier this year to nearly $2.1 million in the first week of December. While the price of bitcoin is very unstable, Venezuelans unable to exchange their bolivars for another currency say bitcoin is safer than bolivars. Rafael Useche is the founder of Colibit. He said, “Venezuelans are taking refuge in digital currencies.” Venezuelan authorities have allowed trading of bitcoin in Venezuela, though they have fined and arrested people who use computers to earn bitcoins by watching online cryptocurrency transactions. Such “mining” operations use large amounts of electricity, which is paid for by the state. At the bitcoin’s current value, one miner computer alone can now earn more than $10,000 in six months. “It’s a really great opportunity for Venezuelans in a desperate position,” said Andrea O’Sullivan, a cryptocurrency expert at George Mason University. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has proposed a government-backed version of bitcoin called the petro. The government met with Venezuelan bitcoin sellers to explore the possibility. Many Venezuelans, however, say they would not use a government-owned cryptocurrency. Even as the use of bitcoin becomes more common, few businesses admit they accept it. Some fear that they will face criminal activity. Mariana Leon advises businesses on the use cryptocurrency. She said she has helped several companies in the sugar, chocolate and rum industries to put their bolivares in cryptocurrencies. The moves have kept them in business while other companies closed. “The only reason they have survived is because they invested in cryptocurrencies,” she said. For Villar, he is developing a computer game using an alternative cryptocurrency called Pepecash. He employs 12 people and all get part of their pay in bitcoin. Right now, he says, “I don’t have any bolivars.” I’m Susan Shand.   Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English with information from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cryptocurrency - n. money that only exists electronically fraction - n. a portion of an amount black market - n. an illegal trade in officially controlled products refuge - n. a place that provides shelter or protection mining - v. the process by which transactions are confirmed and made public via computer code known as block chain peer-to-peer - n. the practice of lending money to individuals or businesses through online services that match lenders with borrowers.

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News Words: Unprecedented

This news word is from a story about flooding in the United States.

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Explainer: Net Neutrality

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Learning English Broadcast

Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.

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December 13, 2017

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

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As China's Wine Industry Grows, France Trains a New Generation of Students

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3 New Google Apps to Create Better Photo Effects

  One of the most-used features of mobile devices is the camera. The quality of photos has improved greatly and many apps exist for creating useful and fun picture effects. Google just released three new apps designed to help users get the most out of their cameras. In an online announcement, Google said the new apps are part of a research project that explores experimental technologies. It calls these app experiments “appsperiments.” Google says this idea came partly from its Motion Stills app, which launched in 2016. The app can create short, shareable clips or images from video. Motion Stills began as an experimental app that Google released to users while it was still being developed. The company says the three new mobile photo apps are built on technologies that are still in development at Google. The software has been tested and is fully operational for users, but will continue to be developed and improved over time. Google says the new photo apps are powered by machine learning technologies. These include tools to improve the recognition of people and objects. The apps also use algorithms to automatically create many different style effects. The first of Google’s new photo apps is called Storyboard. This tool takes videos and turns the footage into a series of frames on one page in comic book style. The software works in a similar way to the hugely popular Prisma photo app. Google’s machine learning technology automatically chooses interesting video frames and places them in a particular order. Users can choose to save these app-created images or to have new ones made. Google says the image combinations are endless, with an estimated 1.6 trillion possibilities. Google’s second new app, called Selfissimo!, is designed to make it easier for people to take their own selfies in black and white, photo booth style. ​ Selfissimo! lets users launch their own photoshoot just by touching the screen. Users can then pose in different positions – either by themselves or with others – and the camera automatically takes a picture when they are not moving.  Touching the screen again stops the app. The user can then review the captured selfies and decide whether to save single photos or the whole photo booth style-page. This purpose of this app is similar to Google Clips, which was released in October. Google clips is a separate camera, not built into the phone, that can be placed anywhere to take pictures by itself. This “smart” camera uses machine learning to automatically choose the best times and conditions to capture good photo moments.   The third of Google’s latest photo offerings is Scrubbies. This app lets users change the speed and direction of video playback to produce a variety of special effects. Scrubbies allows the easy creation of video loops by touching the video directly on the device screen. The app lets users move the video back and forth and even produce DJ-style “remix” videos. ​ Storyboard is currently only available for devices using the Android operating system. Selfissimo! is available for both Android and iOS users. Scrubbies is currently only available for iOS.   Google says its new photo-related “appsperiments” are just the beginning in a series of experimental apps to launch in the future.   I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Give these apps and try and let us know what you think! Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   software – n. programs that run on a computer and perform certain functions algorithm – n. set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process style – n. a particular form or design of something frame – n. an arrangement of parts that form the basic shape of something selfie – n. picture people take of themselves, especially using a camera on a mobile device booth – n. a small, enclosed structure screen – n. surface on which an image appears on an electronic device pose – v. to stand, sit, or lie down in a particular position as a model for a photograph, painting, etc. loop – n. a series of functions repeated over and over

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Muslim Group ‘Rejects and Condemns’ US Jerusalem Decision

  Islamic leaders united on Wednesday to “reject and condemn” the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.  A joint statement was released by the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, after a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. It said the Muslim leaders “rejected and condemned in the strongest terms” the U.S. decision, which was announced last week by President Donald Trump. The group’s statement also declared “East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine.” It urged all nations “to recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital.” Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967 and has declared all of Jerusalem its capital. But this is not recognized internationally. The Palestinians seek to create their own state to include the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. The city’s future has long been a major dispute in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke during the OIC meeting. He called Trump’s decision a “crime.” He said the action meant the U.S. had “chosen to lose its qualification as a mediator” in peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. “We will no longer accept that it (U.S.) has a role in the political process from now,” Abbas said. He urged the United Nations to take over mediation efforts for the peace process. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also spoke during the OIC meeting. He said it was now “out of the question” for Washington to mediate between the Palestinians and the Israelis. He added: “That process is now over.” A senior White House official said Wednesday that President Trump “remains as committed to peace as ever.” When asked about the latest statements, the official said such rhetoric was not surprising and “has prevented peace for years.” U.S. officials will remain “hard at work putting together our plan, which will benefit the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” the official added. In his announcement last week, Trump said the U.S. would be open to a possible “two-state solution” for Jerusalem if the Israelis and Palestinians agree to such a settlement.   Trump’s declaration was criticized by many political and religious leaders around the world. They said the future of Jerusalem should be decided by the two sides during peace talks and warned the action could lead to increased violence. The U.S. decision also led to protests and clashes in several Palestinian areas last week, as well as demonstrations in other nations. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 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   qualification – n. something that is necessary in order for a person or group to be a part of something mediator – n. person or organization working with opposing sides in an argument in an effort to get agreement rhetoric – n. language intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable  

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As Bitcoin's Value Rises, Japanese Investors Join In

  A lot of individual Japanese investors own government securities and other traditional investments, like shares of stock. Suddenly, Japanese retail investors have become very important to the growth of bitcoin. They are responsible for an estimated 30- to 50-percent of bitcoin trading, causing the digital currency to reach record high values. Once Japanese investors did not believe that bitcoin was valuable. Now they say its unpredictability in pricing may create ways to earn profits from the buying and selling of investments on different markets. “When I first heard about bitcoin a few years ago, I thought it was a fraud,” said Yoshinori Kobayashi, a former stock trader. He began trading in bitcoin two-and-a-half years ago. “I tried it out after I had come to know some people making money on it,” he said. “I bought it at 60,000 yen, which quickly become 80,000 yen, and I started to regret I hadn’t started earlier.” Kobayashi believes the value of bitcoin will continue to rise. But he decided to take profits and sell some of his bitcoin last week. Bitcoin has risen more than 16 times its price over the past year. Some observers have compared it to the rise of gold in the 1970s or the drop in the value of Japanese stock shares in the 1980s. Investors made a lot of money before share prices fell. There is little research available on bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies because most countries do not have rules about their sales and values. Jpbitcoin.com, a Japanese bitcoin website, reports there were a record 4.51 million yen-based bitcoin trades in November. That represents almost half of the total of the rest of the world’s major exchanges of bitcoin. Industry officials say not all the trading is done by small investors. Some large businesses are also trading in bitcoin. Many industry officials suspect that Japan is responsible for between one third and one half of all bitcoin trades. Japan’s share rose after the Chinese government suspended bitcoin trading earlier this year. The Japanese government in April recognized bitcoin as a legal currency for settlement of debts. In September, it recognized 11 other cryptocurrencies. Some investors like bitcoin partly because its inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto, is believed to be Japanese. However, the true identity of the inventor or inventors has yet to be confirmed. Because large investors are unsure about bitcoin and not yet a force in the market, small investors have the chance to become the major movers of bitcoin prices. Also, the pricing systems are still in development. So it is not uncommon to see a price on one bitcoin exchange 10 percent higher than on anther. This creates another way to make a profit. “Most Japanese traders don’t even bother to check the dollar price,” said a long time trader, who started buying bitcoin in September. The trader also said bitcoin’s moves are like the rise of gold and silver in the past. Indeed, many traders say bitcoin can be easily researched. Some financial experts fear bitcoin is a bubble, like the “tulip mania” of 17th century Netherlands. When investments in tulips weakened, the Dutch economy collapsed. However, many Japanese traders expect bitcoin’s rise to continue for a long time. Bitcoin’s net worth could reach about 10 percent of the world’s assets, about 100 times its size today, Kobayashi said. Kato believes the digital currency is already in a bubble. But he expects high bitcoin prices with the start of futures trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange next week. A major burst could happen in 2019, Kato warns. “At the moment, many people are still skeptical about bitcoins and when many are skeptical, there won’t be a burst of the bubble.” I’m Susan Shand.   Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   securities - n. a financial instrument in the form of a document showing that someone owns or has invested in a company or organization digital currency – n. money that only exists electronically fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person bother – v. to take the time to do something check – v. to investigate or examine bubble – n. a small ball of gas or air within a liquid, or a period when many people invest money in something and cause its value to rise to a level that is much higher than its real value until finally its value drops very suddenly deduct - v. to remove from the total asset – n. something of value; property skeptical – adj. having concerns or questions about something

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Famous Painting Will Raise Money to Fight Kidney Disease

  A rare painting will be sold to raise money for kidney patients in rural parts of Central Australia. The painting is a work by Albert Namatjira, one of Australia’s most celebrated indigenous artists. Indigenous Australians suffer from kidney disease at 15 times the national average. Namatjira was born in 1902 near Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory. He did not start painting seriously until he was 32 years old. His use of watercolors was influenced by Western art. His paintings were different from the designs and look of traditional indigenous art. Namatjira became well-known to Australians during his life time. In the late 1960s, his image even appeared on an Australian postage stamp. One of the most famous and valuable examples of his work is a painting called Mount Hermannsburg. It has been donated by an Aboriginal group to a kidney dialysis center in Alice Springs. Money from the sale of the painting will help indigenous kidney patients receive treatment nearer to home. Often, patients must travel hundreds of kilometers for treatment.    Sarah Brown is the head of The Purple House, the center that now has the Namatjira painting. She says the donation is an incredible act of kindness. "So I got a phone call saying, 'Hey Sarah, the Ngurratjuta (Aboriginal Corporation) board has met, we would like you to come to the Araluen Arts Center (in Alice Springs) and choose an Albert Namatjira painting.' And I thought, 'I am never going to have a phone call like that ever again.'" Brown added that Central Australia is "the center of the universe" for kidney failure. In this part of Australia, she notes, more than 350 people need dialysis three days each week for five hours a day. The Purple House also provides support services, including transport of patients to appointments. Chronic kidney disease is the slow loss of the health of one's kidneys. This happens when other diseases or conditions damage the organs over time. The non-profit group Kidney Health Australia notes that nine in 10 indigenous Australians with signs of chronic kidney disease do not know they have it. The group says the high rate of this disease in these communities comes from the high rate of conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Other causes include higher rates of poor nutrition, smoking and alcohol abuse. Indigenous people are the most disadvantaged group in Australia. They suffer high rates of poor health, poverty, imprisonment and unemployment. They make up about three per cent of Australia's population. Namatjira died in 1959 at the age of 57. His Mount Hermannsburg painting is expected to sell for about $75,000. I'm Alice Bryant. Phil Mercer reported this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted his report for Learning English. Her story includes information from health-related websites. The editor was George Grow. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   indigenous – adj. produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment postage stamp – n. a small piece of paper that you buy and then stick to an envelope or package to pay the cost of mailing it Aboriginal – adj. of or relating to the native people of Australia board – n. a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization dialysis – n. the process of removing some of a person's blood, cleaning it, and then returning it to the person's body disadvantaged – adj. lacking access to the things, such as money and education, that are considered necessary for an equal position in society

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France Named Most Food Sustainable Country

A recent report ranks France the top country in the world in methods of food sustainability. The Food Sustainability Index rates countries on how they deal with food-related issues including nutrition, agriculture methods and food waste. The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition published the report. The index rated 34 countries. Japan, Germany, Spain, and Sweden, followed France to complete the top five spots. Portugal, Italy, South Korea and Hungary were also among the countries rated in the top fourth. Unethical and immoral to waste resources Vytenis Andriukaitis is the European Union’s Commissioner for Health and Food safety. He spoke at the release of the Index on Tuesday. He said it is "unethical and immoral" to waste resources when hundreds of millions of people go hungry across the world. He added, "we are all responsible, every person and every country." The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization says that one third of all food produced in the world is wasted. That is equal to 1.3 billion tons of food each year. Wasted food can harm the environment. When food decomposes, it releases carbon gases that are linked to warming temperatures. The total amount of wasted food in the world is believed to produce more greenhouse gases than any country except for China and the United States. Irene Mia is the global editorial director for the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research group with the Economist Magazine which wrote the report. She told Reuters, "What is really important is the vision and importance of [food sustainability] in these governments' agendas and policies." Mia added, "It's something that is moving up in governments' agendas across the world." Global hunger levels grew last year for the first time in more than 10 years.  UN agencies say 815 million people suffer from hunger. A war on food waste The report says France is leading the movement to reduce food waste. It is the first country to approve targeted food waste policies. These policies ban supermarkets from throwing away unsold food, and restaurants need to provide containers for unfinished food, if asked. The report says France loses only 1.8 percent of its total food production each year. It also plans to cut this in half by 2025. Meadhbh Bolger is with the environmental activist group Friends of the Earth Europe. She praised efforts in France. "France has taken some important and welcome steps forward." She said. "This needs to be matched at the European level with an EU-wide binding food waste reduction target." Rich countries performed better in the index than developing ones. The United States ranked 21st on the list.  The study criticized U.S. management of soil and fertilizer in agriculture. In addition, the report said, Americans eat too much meat, sugar and saturated fats. The United Arab Emirates has the highest income per person of all 34 countries studied. But it still ranked last. The report said this was because of its high food waste of almost 1,000 kilos per person per year, growing overweight population, and its use of water in agriculture. I’m Phil Dierking. Ruairi Casey originally wrote this story for the Reuters. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Is your country on the list?  How much do you think your country wastes food?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rank  – v. to place (someone or something) in a particular position among a group of people or things that are being judged according to quality, ability, size, etc.​ nutrition – n. the process of eating the right kind of food so you can grow properly and be healthy​ index – n. an ordered list​ spot – n. a particular space or area​ agenda – n. a list or outline of things to be considered or done decompose – v. to break up into parts by or as if by a chemical process greenhouse gases - n. a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, such as carbon dioxide ​ saturated fats - n. a type of fat containing a high proportion of fatty acid molecules​ sustainability – n. of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged unethical – adj. not conforming to a high moral standard vision – n. a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination global – adj. worldwide supermarket – n. large food store​ management  – n. the act or process of deciding how to use something  

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