Programs Let Inmates Earn University Degree While in Prison

  In 2012, Rena Sard was sentenced to five years in prison at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women. She was 47 years old. “I didn’t have five years of my life to waste…So, every chance that I had to do something that was productive, something that was going to help me become a better person, I grabbed it.” Sard enrolled in the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP). GPEP is a program with Goucher College, a private university located north of the city of Baltimore. With GPEP, and programs like it, inmates can use their time in prison to make progress towards their first college degrees. But the work is not easy. For five years, Sard woke up at 4:30 each morning. She ate breakfast, did her job at the prison's mental health clinic, and then went to her college classes. Last January, Sard finished her sentence, and next spring she will finish her first Associate's degree. Officers tell her that she is a completely different person than the one who entered prison. Sard credits her time with GPEP for that change. She believes it helped give her the strength to be a better person, and the motivation to do something with her life. “It helped me take a very bad situation and make it into the best that I could possibly do while I was there.” Turning time into degrees Along with the women's prison where Sard was, GPEP has partnered with the Maryland Correctional Institute Jessup, a prison for men. During the program’s five-year existence, it has grown from 15 students to around 100, says Jennifer Munt, assistant director for College Operation.  To be admitted to the program, inmates go through an admission process similar to an on-campus program. The program also requires students to have a GED or high school degree. They then complete a paper application, sit for a placement exam, and have an individual interview. The program offers only one degree, American Studies. But students have many choices of classes, including sociology, history and philosophy.  What is most important, Munt says, is that students are free to follow academic studies that interest them. “We do ask of all faculty and volunteers with GPEP that they not look up students’ histories, because we think that is information that the students should be in control of... we want students to have the freedom to be students." Munt also said that students are not required to write or talk about their time in prison or why they were incarcerated. She added that, sometimes, students may choose to explore these topics in class on their own, however. After starting the program, students take courses taught by professors from Goucher College and other nearby universities. The professors are all experts in their fields. Munt says it is important that they also have “a history of good teaching.” Programs like these are not common in the United States. In 1994, a crime bill ended prisoners’ ability to apply for federal student assistance. Since then, it has been difficult for inmates to take college-level courses while in prison. Programs like GPEP have existed, but had to rely on private donations.  However, last year the U.S. Department of Education started a program called the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program to bring back student aid for prisoners. They selected Goucher College as one of the recipients of the program. ​Turning something bad into something good For GPEP students like Sard, the chance to spend a prison sentence as a student can be life-changing. “Before I went in, I had no self-esteem, no self-confidence, no self-worth.  I suffered from a very horrible childhood. The best word to describe myself would have been I was ‘broken’…. I was a shell” For Sard, learning she could succeed at school helped her realize her own worth. After she started to receive good grades in her classes, she gained self-confidence. She realized that she had the ability to be more productive in her life. “I really, truly believe the more that you can stay busy and occupied doing something that’s productive, the better you're doing your time. To sit around and just do nothing… that stuff will drive you batty.” Sard did not have the chance to finish her degree while at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women. But after finishing her sentence in January, she immediately started classes at Chesapeake College to complete her Associate's degree in Human Services. She will then go to Salisbury University to finish her Bachelor’s degree.  Next, Sard says, she would like to work as a social worker, helping women who have been abused, or are suffering from addiction. ​Supporting inmates’ education There are other programs like GPEP that support inmates’ education.  In New York State, an organization called the Prisoner Reentry Institute (PRI) has partnered with Otisville Correctional Facility to provide college-level classes for inmates. However, PRI students do not earn their degrees in prison, but after.  “That was intentional,” says Bianca Vanheydoorn, Director of Educational Initiatives for PRI. “We wanted them to use the time while inside to earn the credits, but we also wanted them to have the campus experience.” The program also supports inmates after they finish their sentences and are applying to colleges. It provides academic counselors, as well as connections with students in the community. For PRI, the support and communication outside the prison is as important as the work that happens inside. “We are safely in contact with about 90 percent of the students. Of those who have come home, half have enrolled in school,” she said. Vanheydoorn says about 300 students in their program have earned degrees since 2002.  'Like being in Niagara Falls...on a toothpick' While programs like these have been successful, the biggest difficulty is meeting the large need of the institutions they serve. “We’ve gotten hundreds of letters from people on the inside looking to get in,” says Munt. “It’s like being in Niagara Falls, and they raft we are on is a toothpick”. Vanheydoorn adds that PRI’s first goal is making sure they are giving the best service they can to students with their current partnerships. However, PRI would like to experiment with different ways to support students during and after their time in prison.  Both Vanheydoorn and Munt agree that programs like these are important to helping prisoners adjust to life outside of prison. Sard agrees. “When you come home, it’s scary...GPEP gives you the education…and the knowledge that will help you to come home and to stay home.” I’m Alice Bryant. And I’m Phil Dierking.   Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Do you think prisoners should have access to education programs while in prison?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   academic - adj. of or relating to schools and education​ addiction - n. a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)​ apply - v. to ask formally for something (such as a job, admission to a school, a loan, etc.) usually in writing​ batty - adj. foolish or silly​ confidence - n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something inmate - n. a person who is kept in a prison or mental hospital​ incarcerate - v. to put (someone) in prison​ productive - adj. doing or achieving a lot​ motivation - n. the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something​ self-esteem - n. a feeling of having respect for yourself and your abilities​ toothpick - n. a short, pointed stick used for removing small pieces of food from between your teeth​

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Peru's Fujimori Asks for Forgiveness After Pardoning

  Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori asked for forgiveness on Tuesday for mistakes during his authoritarian rule of the country. His statement came amid protests that began after Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori on December 24. Fujimori, 79, ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000. He is remembered both for improving the economy and defeating the leftist rebels Shining Path. He was convicted in 2007 of abuse of power and bribery and sentenced to six years in jail. In 2009, he was sentenced to another 25 years for human rights abuses. The pardon cleared Fujimori of those crimes. Thousands of Peruvians took to the streets Monday to protest the pardon. Many call it part of a deal reached to protect the current president from impeachment on corruption charges. On Monday night, Kuczynski called for reconciliation, asking Peruvians who opposed the pardon to “turn the page.” He also defended his decision on the basis of Fujimori’s worsening health. He added that Fujimori’s government helped Peru make progress. On Tuesday, in a video published on Facebook, Fujimori promised that as a free man, he would support Kuczynski’s calls for reconciliation. The statement suggested he would not return to politics. Fujimori read the statement from a hospital bed. “I’m aware the results of my government were well received by some, but I acknowledge that I also disappointed other compatriots,” he said. “And to them, I ask for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart.” The remarks were Fujimori’s first direct apology to the nation. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Reuters reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   reconciliation - n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement turn the page - idiom. to make a fresh start; to move on.  acknowledge - v. to say that you accept or do not deny the truth or existence of (something) ​ compatriot - n. a person from the same country as someone else

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Russian Officials Bar Anti-Corruption Activist from Running for President

  On Monday, Russian election officials formally barred anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny from running for president in the March 18 election. Over the past year, Navalny has launched a grassroots campaign to challenge the current president, Vladimir Putin. Navalny is the most serious opponent that Putin has ever faced. Minutes after the Central Election Commission announced its decision, Navalny released a pre-recorded video message. The message called on his supporters to boycott the vote. “The procedure that we’re invited to take part in is not an election,” Navalny said. “Only Putin and the candidates he has hand-picked are taking part in it.” He added: “Going to the polls right now is to vote for lies and corruption.”   With or without Navalny in the race, Putin has been expected to win a fourth term easily. His approval ratings are more than 80 percent. Why can’t Navalny run? Every member of the Central Election Commission decided together that Navalny is not able to run. The commission officials said they are not permitted to put Navalny on the ballot because he was found guilty in a fraud case last February. But the case has been widely seen as a tool to prevent Navalny from running for office. And Navalny could have run if he was given special permission or if the guilty decision was cancelled. Navalny spoke with the commission before its vote to bar him. He told them that their decision would be a vote “not against me, but against 16,000 people who have nominated me, against 200,000 volunteers who have been canvassing for me.” How could a boycott affect the election? Navalny’s call for a boycott could harm the Russian government’s hopes for increasing the number of people who actually vote. Even though Putin is likely to win an easy victory, government officials want his performance to be as strong as possible. They have been concerned by growing voter disinterest. The involvement of 36-year-old TV star Ksenia Sobchak could raise public interest in the race. And she could appeal to some of Navalny’s supporters and help increase the number of people who vote. Sobchak has denied working with Putin’s government to bar Navalny from running for president. But she criticized Navalny’s call to boycott the vote. On Monday she said the “election is the only way to change something, and boycotting them is inefficient and harmful.” She suggested that Navalny join her campaign if she gets registered for the race. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Nataliya Vasilyeva and Vladimir Isachenkov reported this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Have popular political figures in your country ever been barred from running in elections? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   formally - adv. done in an official and public way grassroots - adj. made up of the ordinary people in a society or organization : the people who do not have a lot of money and power procedure - n. a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order canvass - v. to talk to the people in an area in order to get them to support a candidate inefficient - adj. not capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

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South Korea Says North Likely Seeking Talks

  South Korea said on Tuesday that North Korea would look to negotiate with the United States in the coming year. The prediction came as North Korea called the latest U.S.-led sanctions an “act of war.” Last week, the U.N. Security Council unanimously placed new, tougher sanctions on North Korea for its intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, test on November 29. North Korea said the test showed its missile could reach all of the U.S. mainland. “North Korea will seek negotiation with the United States, while continuing to pursue its effort to be recognized as a de facto nuclear-possessing country,” South Korea’s Unification Ministry said in a report. The agency responsible for relations with North Korea, however, did not provide additional information. U.S. diplomats have said they are seeking a diplomatic answer to increased military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has called diplomatic efforts useless. He said North Korea must give up its nuclear weapons before talks can begin. China, the North’s major ally, and Russia both supported the latest U.N. sanctions. The measures seek to limit the North’s oil supply and earnings from its workers in other countries. On Tuesday, China released information showing that China exported no oil products to North Korea and imported no iron ore, coal or lead from North Korea in November. In its 2018 forecast, South Korea said it believed the North would find ways to deal with the effects of the U.N. sanctions. The Joongang Ilbo Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday that North Korea could also be preparing to launch a satellite into space. The report came from an unnamed South Korean government official. Experts have said such launches are likely aimed at developing the North’s ballistic missile technology which would be banned under U.N. resolutions. The North’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Monday that “peaceful space development is a legitimate right of a sovereign state.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   Hai Do adapted this story for VOA Learning English from a Reuters Story by Hae Jin Choi. Mario Ritter was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prediction –n. an idea of what might happen in the future pursue –v. to seek, to continue an effort sanctions –n. measures against a country meant to cause it to obey international law usually by limiting trade de facto –expression (foreign) something that exists but is not officially recognized forecast –n. a report on what someone thinks will happen in the future sovereign –adj. having the right and power to govern itself We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.  

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December 26, 2017

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

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Mystery Solved: Apple Admits it Slows Some Older iPhones

  Many people have long believed Apple intentionally slows down performance of iPhones in an effort to get users to buy new ones. For the first time, Apple has admitted to slowing some iPhones down. But the company explained it only took the action last year to prevent battery-related shutdowns. Apple’s action – and the company’s decision to keep it secret - led to widespread criticism from industry analysts and iPhone owners. Owners of iPhones in several states are suing Apple. They accuse Apple of violating fraud laws by purposely limiting performance without informing iPhone owners that the problems might have been fixed by replacing the device battery. This, they argue, forced them to spend more money to buy new iPhones. The issue of iPhone slowdowns in certain phones was recently noted in an online post by the founder of software maker Primate Labs. In his post, John Poole cited test results suggesting repeated reductions in iPhone performance over time. The tests included the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7, with several different operating system versions. Results of the tests blamed aging batteries for causing the reduced device performance. Poole said his company’s software that measures processor performance found that some users who replaced their iPhone batteries reported much improved results. But he was not convinced that old batteries were the whole problem. He came up with a theory. He believed Apple must have made changes to the iOS software to limit iPhone performance when battery capacity reached a certain point. A few days later, Apple released a statement admitting it made the software change. It said the action was needed to prevent certain devices from suddenly shutting down. The problem, Apple said, was connected to lithium-ion batteries inside the iPhone. The batteries can fail in certain conditions – such as hot or cold - or as they age over time. This can sometimes cause older iPhones to shut down, Apple said.   Apple said it released the new feature last year for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE. It later added the iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2 and plans “to add support for other products” in the future. “Our goal is to deliver the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices,” the Apple statement said. But many iPhone owners were not very forgiving of Apple’s decision, as evidenced on Twitter: ​   ​In his reporting of the latest developments, Wired magazine’s Jordan McMahon pointed out several ways Apple could have handled the situation before deciding to secretly slow the phones. He suggested Apple could have informed iPhone owners about the lithium-ion issues beforehand and given them a chance to get the batteries replaced. Or the company could have even launched a program to sell owners battery replacement kits. Apple has always strongly resisted having owners buy and replace their own iPhone batteries. There are many companies that sell do-it-yourself kits or will do the service for you. Apple has its own battery replacement service – either in Apple stores or through the mail - and charges $79 for any iPhone model that is no longer under warranty.   But based on the huge negative reaction to Apple’s change, it seems many people are not aware of that possibility. They have complained about being forced to either buy a new, expensive iPhone, or switch brands to fix the problem. Several economic analysts have lowered predictions for 2018 shipments of the iPhone X as some news reports also suggested there will be much lower demand. Taiwan’s Economic Daily reported Monday that Apple could cut its sales targets for the iPhone X in the first quarter from 50 million to 30 million.   I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and other sources. 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   fraud – n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person convince – v. make someone believe something is true capacity – n. the largest amount that a machine or system can handle prolong – v. make something last longer kit – n. set of parts a person can use to put something together themselves warranty – n. a written promise by a company to repair its products if it has a fault complain – v. to say or write that you are unhappy or not satisfied with something  

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A Look Back at Health, Lifestyle for the Year

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. As 2017 comes to a close, we look back at the Health & Lifestyle stories that were popular with our listeners. One way we judge the popularity of an article is by how many comments it gets on our website. Listeners also use the comments section to practice their English writing. This is a great way to use the tool! To help everyone learn from the comments, we will post the original sentences and then some suggestions on how to improve them. Here are some of the most-commented on stories from 2017. How to be happier and more successful Who doesn’t want to be happier and more successful? Self-improvement stories continue to be some of our most popular. Small Talk May Make Us Happier Many of you were interested in how small talk can make us happier. Over 70 listeners took the time to write about ways they use small talk in their lives. One listener, Samo, says making small talk is hard. Samo was thankful to get some tips to make small talk easier. Samo writes: “Actually, making a small talk is difficult for me, because I don't know what about can I speak. Like participants in Chicago research, small talks make me feel happier than the times I'm silent. The article suggested some good points and topics for start speaking. Thanks.” Revised: To tell you the truth, making small talk is difficult for me because I don't know what to talk about. Like the participants in the Chicago study, I feel happier when I make small talk than when I stay silent. The article make some good points and suggested good topics to start a conversation. Thanks. On the grammar side of things, please note a very common mistake when using “small talk.” We never add an “s” to “talk.” It’s just small talk. Jane from Brazil claims that most Brazilians love “chit-chat,” another word for small talk. Jane writes: “I am brasilian. In Brazil we love chitchat, i agree when you say smal talk make us happy, even with completely stranges. thanks!!!!” Revised: I am Brazilian. In Brazil we love chitchat! I agree when you say small talk makes us happy, even with complete strangers. Thanks!! Jane also added many exclamation marks in her comment. Adding exclamation marks is a great way to add excitement and enthusiasm to your writing. But you should know that adding too many makes your message sound much more casual. So, it’s great when you’re writing to friends. They will love it!!! But don’t over-use exclamation points if you are writing to a client or to your boss. They may not love it so much. After reading the story 5 Habits of Very Successful People, many listeners commented on the suggestions and shared their own habits. Here are two suggestions from the article: Plan your day before you go to sleep and get up early. A listener named Ahmed agrees that these two tips are important. Ahmed writes: “I love reading as these articles useful to know what others successful people do in their daily One of these things i agree and love is to get up early and plan your day before you sleep it is very important information.” Revised: I love reading articles such as this. The information is very important. It is useful to know what other successful people do in their daily lives. Two things I love to do too are get up early and plan the day before falling sleep. Sleep not only keeps us healthy, it also keeps us smarter. Our story Sleep Helps Us Learn explains how sleep affects our brains and our ability to learn. When we sleep, our brains have time to clean themselves. This cleaning process allows new learning to occur. The article also gives suggestions on how to get a better night’s sleep. Many listeners wrote in thanking us for explaining a complicated topic and for giving suggestions. Biju is a loyal listener and often comments. He included a great grammar trick in the comments section: the parallel structure. His sentence ends with three verbs that are all in the same tense. (BIJU. P. Y) He writes: “Without proper sleep, no man can rationally remember, think clearly, and act calmly.” As life becomes more stressful, people may appreciate new ways to help them de-stress. Our story One Method for Controlling Emotions, Stress does just that. Through the findings of two studies, a researcher explains that talking to yourself in the third person about a stressful situation may help you deal with it better. Some listeners wrote that they tried it and it worked. Some shared that they didn’t think it would work for them. Some listeners simply said they are thankful for the English lessons we provide. Bun Dorn writes: “I am great thanks with providing good lesson for learning English.” Revised: I am very thankful for the good English lesson you provide. Food! Food is always a popular topic on the Health & Lifestyle report. We often report on the ways food affects our bodies and minds. In the past couple of years, coconut has become very popular in the States. Our story Is Coconut Good for You? asks if the health benefits are worth the calories. Nina writes: “First of all thank you so much for your lessons. They are all very interesting and help me to improve my English. I like coconut, but I didn't know that coconut oil is good for the health. Very interesting report.” You’re welcome, Nina. And your English is excellent! By the way, an easier way to say “good for the health” is just “healthy.” We would like to thank all the listeners who shared recipes in the comments section. They gave different ways to use coconut, coconut milk and coconut water. The health benefits of olive oil are well studied. One of our most popular health stories, Olive Oil May Protect the Brain, explores how this popular oil protects the brain. Exercise Some of our other most popular stories report on the importance of exercise. The story Walking: The Wonder Drug explores the findings of a study about the benefits of walking. A wonder drug is a very effective cure or treatment. Thomas Friedman is the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. He calls walking “the closest thing we have to a wonder drug.” The American Heart Association explains the findings of the study on its website. Walking quickly, or briskly, can lower your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. More than 50 listeners shared their love of walking. Many added very descriptive comments about their favorite places to walk, or how much they walk every day. Andrew writes: “This is so true. I've tried many different sports, but still walking in the mountains or in a forest is one of the most enjoyable for me. Walking and enjoying nature brings me peace of mind. Sometimes simple things are the best.” Amit Gadhvi writes: “I walk everyday for 45 minutes. It helps to improve mood and keep the body fit.” Revised: I walk every day for 45 minutes. It helps to improve mood and keep the body fit. We should note that many native speakers also confuse “everyday” - one word - and “every day” - two words. When it is one word, “everyday” is an adjective that means ordinary, such as “everyday clothes” or “everyday people.” When it is two words, “every day” means “each day.” One listener uses “every day” perfectly. He responds to a point mentioned in the story. The study recommends walking at least 30 minutes a day. But we don’t need to do it all at once to get the health benefits. Thuy writes: “I usually walk 1 hour every day. But I don't walk at once, I split that into 3-4 times. I feel heathier and happier when I took a walk.” Revised: I usually walk one hour every day. But I don’t walk all at once. I split that into three to four times. I feel healthier and happier when I take a walk. And that is the last Health & Lifestyle report for 2017! As we enter 2018, let us know what topics are important to you. Would you like to learn about sports and exercise trends? Would you like more stories about food? Are you curious about career advice or stories about parenting? Let us know … in the Comments Section! I’m Anna Matteo. I hope you had a great 2017!   Health & Lifestyle reporter Anna Matteo put this round-up together. Kelly Jean Kelly edited the story. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   client – n. a person who engages the professional advice or services of another tip – n. a piece of advice or expert or authoritative information : a piece of useful information stressful – adj. making you feel worried or anxious appreciate – v. to be grateful for (something) excellent – adj. very good of its kind brisk – adj. done with quickness and energy : briskly – adv. trend – n. a general direction of change : a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common curious – adj. having a desire to learn or know more about something or someone round up – n. a statement of the most important information

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Gene Therapy for Rare Form of Blindness Approved in US

American health officials recently approved the first gene therapy treatment for an inherited disease – the type that can pass from parent to child. The treatment improves the sight of patients suffering from a genetic mutation that destroys their ability to see. It is the first gene therapy approved where a corrective gene is given directly to patients. People with the disease usually start losing their sight before they are 18. This often progresses to total blindness. The gene that causes the disease could suddenly appear when a child is born with a copy of the gene from both parents. Only a few thousand people in the U.S. are thought to have the condition. Patients receive the therapy, called Luxturna, through two injections, one for each eye. These replace the problem gene that prevents the retina, a tissue at the back of the eye, from changing light into electronic signals sent to the brain. Mistie Lovelace received one of the early treatments. She said, “One of the best things I’ve ever seen since surgery are the stars. I never knew that they were little dots that twinkled.” Drugmaker Spark Therapeutics has not set the price for the treatment. Its own research, however, has put the value of the therapy at around $1 million. The company says the reason for the high price is due to their prediction that Luxturna will be given only once, with lasting positive effects. To date, the company has researched patients in a study for as long as four years and has not seen their vision worsen. The Food and Drug Administration has approved three gene therapies since August. The two other treatments are specially designed treatments for forms of blood cancer. New success for difficult field The approval marks an important growth for a field of study that has struggled with safety concerns. In 1999, a patient treated for a rare metabolic disorder at the University of Pennsylvania died. In another case, patients treated for an immune disorder later developed leukemia. Dr. David Valle said the excitement about the possibilities for genetic medicine create opportunities for research on individual diseases. University of Pennsylvania researcher Dr. Jean Bennett said she and her husband, Dr. Albert Maguire, first imagined using genetic medicine to treat retinal blindness in the mid-1980s. But it took many years to develop the science and technology. The first animal tests happened in 2000 and the first human tests in 2007. “We didn’t know what genes caused the disease, we didn’t have animal models with those genes, we didn’t have the ability to clone genes and deliver them to the retina — so it took time to develop all that,” said Bennett. I’m Phil Dierking.   Matthew Perrone reported this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Would you pay $1 million dollars to be able to see again?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story clone - n. a plant or animal that is grown from one cell of its parent and that has exactly the same genes as its parent dots - n. small round marks gene therapy - n.  a way of treating some disorders and diseases that usually involves replacing bad copies of genes with other genes immune - adj. not capable of being affected by a disease inherit - v.  to have (a characteristic, disease, etc.) because of the genes that you get from your parents when you are born leukemia - n. a very serious disease in which the body forms too many white blood cells metabolic - adj. the chemical processes by which a plant or an animal uses food, water, etc., to grow and heal and to make energy mutation - n. a change in the genes of a plant or animal that causes physical characteristics that are different from what is normal surgery - n. medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts twinkle - v. a quick, unsteady movement of light opportunity - n. ​an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done​ deliver - v. ​ to take (something) to a person or place​

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Civil War Leads South Sudan Closer to Starvation

  As Bob Wol lay on the dirt floor of his home in intense pain, he touched each of the gunshots on his thigh and back. The 29 year-old man from South Sudan told the Associated Press, “I was trying to get food and my government tried to kill me.” It has been almost 25 years since more than 1 million people came close to starvation in southern Sudan. A Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a vulture standing near a starving little girl captured the story of the crisis for all the world to see. Today, people in the area that was known as the “famine triangle” say the situation has only gotten worse. Famine spreading during civil war South Sudan has been involved a civil war for 5 years now. The latest research from the country’s government and the United Nations has found that 1.25 million people are facing starvation. And the U.N. warns that if the fighting continues, famine will spread to other parts of the country by early next year. This means almost half the population of 11 million people will be severely lacking in food. Wol told the Associated Press he was desperate to feed his wife and five small children, who had not eaten in days. So he went in search of help. After six days of walking and eating fruit he picked from trees, Wol reached the government-held town of Ayod. There, he said, soldiers concerned about rebels attacked him by surprise. “When I got shot I was just thinking that I didn’t want to die before I got food for my family,” Wol said. “We’re locked in here and we can’t get out.” Lony Toang survived an earlier famine in Ayod County. Toang said, “Before, only the hunger was killing you. … Now it’s worse because we have hunger and we’re killing people.” Ayod is one of two counties in South Sudan currently in crisis, with 8,000 people experiencing extreme hunger. The rebels’ main base of operations in Ayod County is the town of Jiech. The county of almost 160,000 people in Jonglei State is hard to reach, difficult to produce food in and separated from most of the nation. The fighting has greatly harmed the area. South Sudan’s army rejected people’s stories of intense violence as negative propaganda from the rebels. It stated that it is not government policy to prevent citizens from reaching aid. Yet across South Sudan there are many claims of both the government and the rebels using food as a weapon of war. People are caught between opposing forces The Associated Press spoke with people in the towns of Yei and Lainya during a visit to the Equatoria area last month. They said the army believed some civilians trying to produce food in their fields were rebels. Mary Yata lives in Lainya. She said four government soldiers in September tried to steal vegetables when she was working in her fields. “They said if I didn’t leave now they’d kill me,” she said. Days later she saw the soldiers selling her vegetables at the market. Rights groups are calling on the warring sides to stop holding South Sudan’s people hostage. Donatella Rovera is Amnesty International’s senior crisis response adviser. She said, “The civilians are caught in a deadly circle and they’re … not being protected.” The people of Ayod said they have nowhere else to go. So they will continue to depend on aid from the U.N.’s World Food Program. At a food distribution last week, 11,000 hungry people arrived from the surrounding countryside. Some had walked over night to receive cooking oil and other simple food items. The World Food Program, or WFP, has increased its distributions from every 90 days to every 60 days. But aid workers on the ground say the food is enough for just one month. Ewnetu Yohannes is a team leader for Catholic Relief Services, the organization leading the distribution. Yohannes said, “I saw old people collecting grains that fell on the ground… If WFP wasn’t here it’d be a catastrophe.” Elizabeth Nyakoda lives in Jiech, and she blamed the hunger on the years of fighting. The 35-year-old mother of five was unable to register in time for the aid distribution and too scared to work her fields. She placed her hand on her starving child’s stomach and looked away as the baby began to cry. “When the child cries from hunger, what can I do for her?” she said. “There are no options.” I’m Susan Shand. And I'm Pete Musto.   Sam Mednick reported this for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. What can be done to solve the conflict in South Sudan? How can the population avoid starving if the fighting continues? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   thigh – n. the part of one of the long body parts that are used especially for standing, walking, and running, right above the point where two bones meet at the middle and bend vulture – n. any one of several large birds that eat dead animals and have a small and featherless head famine – n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat civil war – n. a war between groups of people in the same country desperate – adj. having a strong need or desire for something or to do something county – n. an area of a state or country that is larger than a city and has its own government to deal with local matters negative – adj. showing or talking about the bad qualities of someone or something propaganda – n. ideas or statements that are often false or exaggerated and that are spread in order to help a cause, a political leader or a government deadly – adj. causing or able to cause death distribution – n. the act of giving or delivering something to people catastrophe – n. a terrible disaster option(s) – n. the opportunity or ability to choose something or to choose between two or more things

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Botswana Turns to Trained Dogs to Protect Wildlife

  Ishamael Monwametsi leads a group of park rangers from the African nation of Botswana at a training exercise in Tanzania. The purpose of the exercise is to teach orderly, obedient behavior to the rangers and their dogs. Commander Monwametsi, a retired crime investigator, directs 15 workers from Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks. The class has taken them two months to master. After they complete the training, the rangers will set up their country’s first canine force to fight the killing and trade of endangered wildlife. Botswana is home to the largest remaining population of elephants in Africa. Monwametsi says the trained dogs are the best partners in fighting illegal hunting. “Dogs are effective because of their good sense of smell…in terms of managing the different smells," he says. If we look at human beings, he adds, (they) can easily be bribed. “You can’t bribe a dog or you can’t lie to a dog.” Ali Dady, an immigration officer from Tanzania, says that countries ought to cooperate to stop the illegal wildlife trade. He says people should look at endangered animals as something that needs to be protected. “Wildlife, as a natural resource, is a gift from God and needs to be well-managed so as to contribute to the economy,” Dady says. He adds that if people keep killing the animals, it will mean a drop in the number of people visiting Botswana. It will also affect our earnings, he says. A wildlife group called the Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is working with Canine Specialist Services International in the Tanzanian city of Arusha. On a recent day, Philip Muruthi, the lead scientist in species protection at AWF, was shown how the trained dogs react to wildlife contraband. He noted how carefully the animals carried out searches. He says wildlife plays an important part in the ecosystems of the environment. The ecosystem in which endangered wildlife occur provide water, clean air and these species are part of the health of that ecosystem, Muruthi says. He adds that people need the animals, and their killing must be stopped. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique already have ranger canine units at their border crossings. They have all been trained at the center in Arusha. I'm Susan Shand.   Lenny Ruvaga reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   contraband – n. things that are brought into or out of a country illegally resource – n. something that a country has and can use to increase its wealth species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants ecosystem – n. An ecosystem includes living things, such as plants and animals, and things that are not living, such as rocks, soil, sunlight, and water. contribute – v. to give or provide bribe – v. giving money or something else to influence the behavior of someone else master – v. to become killed at something canine – adj. of or related to dogs

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A History of Christmas in America

  From VOA Learning English, I'm Caty Weaver. Today, Steve Ember and Shirley Griffith present a special program on Christmas traditions in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. During this period, there was no set way of celebrating the day, which was not yet an official holiday. Communities around the country honored the day in different ways. Some observed Christmas as an important Christian religious day honoring the birth of Jesus. Others celebrated the day with parties, music, drinking and eating. And, some communities did not celebrate the day at all. But, it was during this period that Americans began to reinvent the holiday. They combined ancient Christmas traditions from different cultures with modern American influences. Here are Steve Ember and Shirley Griffith. In 1819, the popular American writer Washington Irving wrote a series of five essays published in a book called The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. The essays describe a wealthy British landowner who invites his farm workers into his home to celebrate Christmas. The landowner recreates a traditional Christmas as it would have been celebrated in the distant past. Irving praised this looking back to ancient traditions. He liked the idea of different levels of society coming together to enjoy a festive and peaceful holiday. Washington Irving seemed to express concern about the lack of such unifying Christmas traditions in modern America. Immigrants shape Christmas traditions Penne Restad wrote a book Christmas in America: A History. It shows how Americans began to slowly shape Christmas into a unifying national holiday during the first half of the 19th century. She describes how Christmas had different meanings for Americans who came from different cultural and religious backgrounds. Many immigrants brought Christmas traditions from their own countries. Religion played a big role in how an American might celebrate the holiday. Calvinist Christians banned the celebration of Christmas. But groups such as Episcopalians and Moravians honored the day with religious services and seasonal decorations. By mid-century, Christian groups began to ignore their religious differences over the meaning of Christmas and honored the day in special ways. Christmas became an important time for families to celebrate at home. More and more Christian Americans also began to follow the European traditions of Christmas trees and giving gifts. Christians believed that the tree represented Jesus and was also a sign of new beginnings. German immigrants brought their tradition of putting lights, sweets and toys on the branches of evergreen trees placed in their homes. This tradition of setting up a Christmas tree soon spread to many American homes. So did the practice of giving people presents. As these traditions increased in popularity, the modern trade and business linked to Christmas also grew. Christmas as a holiday As Christmas became more popular, some states declared the day a state holiday. Louisiana was the first state to make the move in 1837. By 1860, 14 other states had followed. It was not until 1870 that President Ulysses Grant made Christmas a federal holiday. Americans already knew old Christmas songs that came from England and other areas of Europe. But many new American Christmas songs started to become popular. For example, in eighteen forty-nine, a religious leader from Massachusetts wrote the words to It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.The song Jingle Bells appeared seven years later. And, a year later, a religious leader in Williamsport, Pennsylvania wrote the song We Three Kings of Orient Are. And of course, no discussion of Christmas would be complete without talking about of one of the holiday’s most famous representations, Santa Claus. This character is based on the story of Saint Nicholas, a Christian holy person believed to have lived in the third century. Saint Nicholas became known as a protector of children. Different cultures have given him different names. These include Sinterklaas, Kris Kringle and Father Christmas. But for most Americans his most popular name would become Santa Claus. In the 19th century, many Dutch immigrants living in the United States celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas on December 6. Saint Nicholas was especially important to New Yorkers because of their history as a Dutch colony. In 1809, Washington Irving published his History of New York. It lists Saint Nicholas as the patron saint of New Yorkers. He describes the saint wearing a low hat, large pants, and smoking a pipe. Does this description sound familiar? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   society - n. people in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared laws, traditions, and values​ festive - adj. cheerful and exciting: suited to a celebration or holiday​ unifying - v.  to cause (people or things) to be joined or brought together​ decoration - n. something that is added to something else to make it more attractive​ practice - n. something that is done often or regularly​

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