<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
<channel>
<title>VOA Special English</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/</link>
<description>VOA Special English</description>
<language>en</language>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:10:04 +0900</pubDate>
<item>
<title>[1373] Folklife Festival Takes Visitors to the Ancient Country of Wales</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-07-01-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
HOST:  Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.  (MUSIC)  I'm Doug Johnson.  On today's program, we
explore the power of words in African-American culture … Move
to the many rhythms of Latin American music … And
experience Wales and its people, all in on the National Mall in
Washington. Welcome back to the yearly Smithsonian
Folklife Festival!  (MUSIC) A Welsh pub created for the festivalHOST: For forty-three years, the Smithsonian Folklife
Festival has been bringing cultures from the United States and from around the
world to Washington, D.C. Visitors to this year's outdoor festival can explore
the music, history, art and food of Wales. This small country in the United
Kingdom is known for its music, sports, beautiful natural areas and ancient
history. Visitors to the festival can also learn about the country's language
and industry. Shirley Griffith has more. SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: Visitors to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival can start
their exploration of Wales by learning about its native language, Welsh. Welsh
is one of the oldest languages in the world. The first lesson to learn is the
Welsh word for Wales: Cymru.  Festival
visitors can learn more from Iona Hughes, a Welsh teacher in the country's
capital, Cardiff. Welsh and English are now the official languages of Wales.
But the English people did not always support the use of Welsh. Today, about
twenty percent of the population of Wales speaks the language fluently. IONA HUGHES: "It's quite wonderful to see how the
language has developed and how the language has grown especially in the last
thirty years. I remember as a child actually saying that Welsh was a dying
language, and now I'm proud to say that actually it isn't, it's a thriving
language." The
Welsh people are serious about language and the spoken word. They hold
competitions to celebrate their language in literature and music. At the
Smithsonian festival, there is an area for story tellers to perform. Here, a
writer reads a poem he wrote in Welsh about his grandfather. A man from Wales making wool thread(SOUND) Wales
is also known for its natural beauty. It has hundreds of lakes and over one
thousand kilometers of coastline. The government and organizations work hard to
protect this environment.  The
festival events also tell about Welsh industries. You can see an expert make
thread out of wool from a sheep. Or you might learn about traditional Welsh building
materials like slate. There is also a stage where Welsh musicians perform.  (MUSIC) And, no visit to Wales would be complete without a pub
where people can sit down and drink a beer. Joan
Paull has been volunteering for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival for
thirty-four years. We asked her what she likes about this event. JOAN PAULL: "It gives me an opportunity to either visit
states or countries that I either hadn't thought about or didn't realize what
wonderful things they had to offer. And then once I have been there, it's just
so exciting, and so I can hardly wait for the next year." Mizz Paull says she has never been to Wales. But now
that she has learned about this country, she wants to make a big effort to
visit soon. Ella JenkinsHOST: That is folk performer Ella Jenkins leading a
sing-along of "Mary Had A Little Lamb." They are at the area of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival called Giving
Voice. It explores the power of words
and oral tradition in African-American culture. Performers include poets, story tellers, radio show announcers, actors
and others. Ella Jenkins has been singing and teaching songs to children for
more than fifty years.  She
has reached children through her work in public schools, conferences,
festivals, on television and in concerts. She recorded her first album in nineteen fifty-seven. Here Ella Jenkins
sings and plays a game with visitors at the festival. The children love it. (SOUND) John
Franklin is director of Partnerships and International Programs at the
Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History. Mister Franklin says Folklife director Diana
Parker had the idea for Giving Voice. He says it was the right time for the exhibition. Mister Franklin says people want to know more
about the African-American experience because of President Obama.  He says planners wanted to make sure to include all
areas of spoken word. He said they had
to have theater, poetry, comedy and oral expression linked to music and
children's culture. Mister
Franklin praised the festival's barbershop and beauty shop settings. This is where African-American men and women
have had their hair cut and styled.  He
says he remembers the barbershop of his childhood and the debates that took
place there. He says it was a place
where people discussed important issues and respected differences of opinion. One
place within "Giving Voice" where you will hear only whispers is called Hush
Harbor. This quiet area was set up to represent places where African-American
slaves would go to pray without being observed by their oppressors.  Visitors
to the Folklife Festival can also hear poets like Sonia Sanchez from
Washington, D.C., in an area called the Oratorium. Poet Toni Blackman also is performing at the
festival. She is a State Department "Ambassador of Hip-Hop" from Brooklyn, New
York. And African-American story tellers
from around the United States have gathered to lend their talents to the
festival. HOST:  Visitors to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival could
also enter into "un mundo musical," a musical world, at the area of the
festival called Las Americas. Here is Mario Ritter with more. MARIO RITTER:  The
musical artists are here to connect the different kinds of music that are an
important part of Latino life and culture. They also are attending the festival
to exchange ideas about their music.  Music
in Latino culture is rich in tradition and poetry. The white tents of the
festival are alive with exciting sounds. Visitors can hear the bomba and plena music traditions from Puerto Rico or the currulaofrom Colombia's Pacific coast. Performers at "Las Americas"(MUSIC) Many forms of Latin American
music, like the plena and son music represent the
customs of the countries. Songs often go
along with a dance. According to an expert on son music, a dance is like a proposal.
Most importantly it is about the idea of being related to the earth. SPEAKER: "With probably most traditions you have the
music, the dance, the poetry, and it's often times a proposition, a proposal. For
instance, you dance for rain, you dance for a good crop … they dance to have a
relationship with the earth." Visitors
can enjoy listening to the sounds of Latin America while tasting traditional
Central and South American cooking. There are foods such as yuca and arroz con pollo.
Many foods are especially traditional of Peru. Cook Marco Campero describes
some typical food: MARCO CAMPERO: "Ceviche, it is Peruvian style cooked with
lemonade…We have the carrapulcra. It is a dried potato, a yellow potato, it is
dried with chicken and pork. This is from Lima. Lima, Peru, it is the capital. Chicken
is very popular in Peru." Not
all traditional music from Central and South American remains local. In fact,
some are international favorites. After a tasty meal, visitors and natives
alike can enjoy music from the Mexican musical string groupSon de Madera. This is Spanish for "they are made from
wood." Here is the well known song, "La
Bamba."  (MUSIC) HOST: I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today. It was written by Caty Weaver, Marisel Salazar and Dana
Demange who was also the producer. For
transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our programs, go to
voaspecialenglish.com. You can also
write comments about our programs.  Do you have a question about American
people, places or things? Send your
questions about American life to mosaic@voanews.com. Or write to American Mosaic, VOA Special
English, Washington, D.C., two-zero-two-three-seven, U.S.A. Please include your
full name and where you live.  Join
us again next week for AMERICAN
MOSAIC, VOA's radio magazine in Special English.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[535] White Firefighters Win Closely-Watched Employment Case</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-07-02-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[


 /* Style Definitions */
 table.MsoNormalTable
	{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
	mso-style-noshow:yes;
	mso-style-priority:99;
	mso-style-qformat:yes;
	mso-style-parent:"";
	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
	mso-para-margin:0in;
	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:11.0pt;
	font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
	mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
	mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
	mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
	mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
	mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidiThis is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

The
United States Supreme Court began its summer break this week. One of the last
decisions of its term will likely cause employers to take greater care in how
they choose workers to promote.

The
case involved tests that the city of New Haven, Connecticut, gave to firefighters
in two thousand three. Minorities were heavily involved in the testing process because
of disputes over earlier examinations. But the only firefighters who qualified for
immediate promotion to lieutenant or captain were whites and two Hispanics, no
blacks. 

Fred Ricci was the lead firefighter in the caseCity officials believed that offering
promotions based on the results would violate the nineteen sixty-four Civil
Rights Act. Title seven of that federal law says employers cannot discriminate
based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. 

But
it not only bars "disparate treatment." It also bars "disparate
impact" -- actions that are not meant to discriminate but in fact
disproportionately harm minorities. 

The city canceled the test results,
fearing legal claims by minorities who failed the exams. Instead, white and
Hispanic firefighters who passed went to court. Their case reached the Supreme
Court, and in a five-to-four decision on Monday they won. 

Justice
Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion. "The City," he said,
"rejected the test results solely because the higher scoring candidates
were white." Fear of legal action alone, he said, "cannot justify an
employer's reliance on race" if it hurts qualified individuals. 

Writing
for the dissenters, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg said the white firefighters who
scored high "understandably attract this Court's sympathy." But, she
said, they had no right to a promotion. 

The
majority found that the city failed to prove a disparate impact violation. But
the court did not rule on the constitutionality of the provision itself. Still,
Kevin Russell, a lawyer who specializes in Supreme Court cases, says the ruling
puts all employers to a task. They have to make sure a test is truly unlawful
before changing it. 

Three
judges on a federal appeals court had earlier sided with the city of New Haven.
Their ruling, now reversed by the Supreme Court, was not unusual. But the case
got special attention because one of the judges was Sonia Sotomayor. 

President Obama has nominated her to replace retiring
Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court. Her Senate confirmation hearings are
set to begin July thirteenth.

And
that's the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. I'm
Steve Ember.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[430] Studying in the US: Foreign Graduates and Jobs</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-07-01-voa4.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

We
answered a question last week about how American college students find jobs
after they graduate. Now, we discuss foreign graduates. The process for employing
foreign workers in the United States is long. It involves different government
agencies. It also involves a hot political issue. 

President Obama signing the $787 billion federal stimulus bill into law on February 17For example, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
that President Obama signed into law in February dealt with this issue. It
included conditions against foreign workers displacing qualified Americans at companies
that receive federal stimulus money. 

Job cuts have slowed in some industries.
But the economic downturn has cost millions of jobs and recovery will take some
time.

Foreign graduates
need a job offer to get an H-1B visa. This is a non-immigrant visa for work in
the person's area of specialty. The employer is the one who applies for it. The
visa is good for three years and may be extended for another three years. 

Cheryl
Gilman directs visa services at the University of Southern California in Los
Angeles. She noted that H-1B visas were still available for next year. This tells
her that the recession is preventing employers from sponsoring as many foreign
nationals as they have in the past. 

Sixty-five
thousand H-1Bs are awarded each year to graduates with a bachelor's degree. Bill
Wright at the Department of Homeland Security says fewer than forty-five
thousand applications for these visas had been received as of this week. 

There
was more demand for twenty thousand other H-1Bs for those with advanced degrees.
In addition, thousands of the visas are awarded to other groups, such as
university researchers.

Amy Ramirez is an administrator at Johns Hopkins
University in Maryland. She says foreign students who work for their school or
at an internship probably have the best chance for a job after graduation. 

She
points out that many foreign graduates ask to stay for what is called optional
practical training. This lets them accept temporary employment in their area of
study for twelve months after graduation. 

Many
times, the employer will then apply for an H-1B. But Amy Ramirez and Cheryl
Gilman both say foreign students should understand that visa rules change often.
That can make it difficult to plan ahead for what to do after graduation.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report,
written by Nancy Steinbach. Earlier reports in our Foreign Student Series are
at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[1505] American History Series: A Failed Attempt to Raise a Rebel Army of Slaves</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-07-01-voa3.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
Welcome
to THE MAKING OF A NATION – American history in VOA Special English.In October
of eighteen fifty-nine, a group of anti-slavery extremists attacked the town of
Harpers Ferry. Harpers Ferry was part of Virginia then; today it is located in
West Virginia. The attackers were led by John Brown. They seized a gun factory
and a federal supply center where military equipment was kept. They planned to
use the guns and equipment to organize a rebel army of slaves. This week in
our series, Harry Monroe and Kay Gallant tell us what happened to John Brown
after he seized Harpers Ferry. VOICE ONE:
Marines attack the engine house at Harpers FerryThe president
of the United States in eighteen fifty-nine was James Buchanan. When Buchanan
learned of the attack, he wanted immediate action. He sent a force of Marines
to Harpers Ferry, under the command of Army Colonel Robert E. Lee. John Brown
had attacked with about twenty men. Several, including two of his sons, had
been killed by local militia. He and his remaining men withdrew to a small
brick building. The attack had failed. Not one slave had come to Harpers Ferry
to help Brown. The few
whom his men had freed had refused to fight when the shooting started. Brown
could not understand the fear that kept the slaves from fighting for their
freedom. VOICE
TWO: ???  Brown and
his men were trapped inside the brick building. They held a few hostages whom
they hoped to exchange for their freedom. A drawing of the inside of the engine house just before it was seized by MarinesColonel
Lee wrote a message to John Brown demanding his surrender. He did not think
Brown would surrender peaceably. So, he planned to attack as soon as Brown rejected
the message. He felt this was the surest way to save the lives of the hostages.
As
expected, Brown refused to surrender. He said he and his men had the right to
go free. As soon as Brown spoke, the signal was given. The Marines attacked. They broke
open a small hole in the door of the brick building. One by one, the Marines
moved through the hole. They fought hand-to-hand against the men inside. After
a brief fight, they won. John Brown's rebellion was crushed. VOICE ONE:
A few
hours after Brown was captured, the Governor of Virginia and three Congressmen
arrived in Harpers Ferry. They wanted to question Brown. Brown had been wounded
in the final attack. He was weak from the loss of blood. But he welcomed the
chance to explain his actions. The officials
first asked where Brown got the money to organize his raid. Brown said he
raised most of it himself. He refused to give the names of any of his
supporters. Then the officials asked why Brown had come to Harpers Ferry.
"We came to free the slaves," Brown said, "and only that." He
continued: "I think that you are guilty of a great wrong against God and
humanity. I believe anyone would be perfectly right to interfere with you, so
far as to free those you wickedly hold in slavery. I think I did right. You had
better -- all you people of the South -- prepare yourselves for a settlement
sooner than you are prepared for it. "You
may get rid of me very easily. I am nearly gone now. But this question is still
to be settled -- this Negro question, I mean. That is not yet ended." (MUSIC)VOICE TWO:
The raid
on Harpers Ferry increased the bitterness of the national dispute over slavery.
Members of the Democratic Party called the raid a plot by the Republican Party.
Republican leaders denied the charge. They said the raid was the work of one
man -- one madman -- John Brown. Still, they said, he had acted for good
reason: to end slavery in America. Southern
newspapers condemned Brown. Some said his raid was an act of war. Some demanded
that he be executed as a thief and murderer. Many southerners said all of theNorth was
responsible for the raid. They believed all northerners wanted a slave
rebellion in the South. And it was such a rebellion that southerners feared
more than anything else. New
measures were approved throughout the South to prevent this. Military law was
declared in some areas. Slave owners threatened to beat or hang any Negro who
even looked rebellious. VOICE ONE:
The fear
of a slave rebellion united the people of the South. For years, rich slave
owners had talked of taking the southern states out of the Union to save their
way of life. But those who had no slaves opposed the idea of disunion. John
Brown's raid changed that. After his attack on Harpers Ferry, the south spoke
with one voice. All southerners declared that they would fight to protect their
homes from a Negro rebellion or from another attack by men like Brown. Feelings
were especially high in Virginia, the state in which the raid took place.
Virginians wanted Brown punished quickly to show what would happen to anyone
who tried to lead a Negro rebellion. There was
some question whether Brown should be tried in a federal court or a state
court. Brown's raid took place within the borders of a state. But the property
he seized belonged to the federal government. The
Governor of Virginia decided to try Brown in a state court. He believed a
federal court trial would take too long. If Brown were not brought to trial
quickly, he said, people might attack the jail and kill him. (MUSIC)VOICE TWO:
John BrownBrown was
being held in Charles Town, a few kilometers from Harpers Ferry. The court
there named two lawyers to defend him. A doctor examined Brown. He reported
that Brown's wounds were not serious enough to prevent the trial from starting.
Brown lay in a bed in the courtroom throughout the trial. John
Brown's lawyers tried to show that his family had a history of madness. They
tried to prove that Brown, too, was mad. They asked the court to declare him
innocent because of insanity. Brown protested. He said the lawyers were just
trying to save his life. He did not want such a defense. The matter of insanity
was dropped. VOICE ONE:
Brown's
lawyers then argued that he was not guilty of the three crimes with which he
was charged. First,
they said, he could not be guilty of treason against Virginia, because he was
not a citizen of Virginia. Second, he could not be guilty of plotting a slave
rebellion, because he had never incited slaves against their owners. And third,
he could not be guilty of murder, because he had killed only in self-defense. The trial
lasted five days. The jury found John Brown guilty of all three charges. VOICE TWO:
The judge
asked Brown if he wanted to make a statement before being sentenced. Brown did.
He declared that he had not planned to start a slave rebellion. He said he only
wanted to free some slaves and take them to Canada. Brown's
statement was strong. But it was not true. He had, in fact, planned to organize
an army of slaves to fight for their freedom. He acted in the belief that
slaves throughout the south would rise up against their owners and join him. Brown's
words did not move the judge. He said he could find no reason to question the
jury's decision that Brown was guilty. He sentenced Brown to be hanged. VOICE ONE:
One of
Brown's supporters attempted to find a way to free Brown from jail. Several
plans were proposed. None were tried. A drawing of John Brown as he is about to be hangedBrown
himself did not want to escape. He said he could do more to destroy slavery by
hanging than by staying alive. John Brown
was executed on December second, eighteen fifty-nine. His death created a wave
of public emotion throughout the country. In the North, people mourned. One man
wrote: "The events of the last month or two have done more to build
northern opposition to slavery than anything which has ever happened before, than
all the anti-slavery pamphlets and books that have ever been written." In the
south, people cheered. But their happiness at Brown's punishment was mixed with
anger at those who honored him. As the nation prepared for a presidential
election year, the South renewed its promise to defend slavery -- or leave the
Union. That will
be our story next week. (MUSIC) ANNOUNCER:Our program was written by Frank Beardsley. The narrators were Harry
Monroe and Kay Gallant. Transcripts of our programs can be found along with
MP3s, podcasts and historical images at voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again
next week for THE MAKING OF A NATION -- an American history series in VOA
Special English.___This is program #91 of 

THE
MAKING OF A NATION
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[1456] Race to the Moon: Gemini 6 and 7 Meet High Above Earth in 1965</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-30-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
EXPLORATIONS -- a program in Special English by the Voice
of America.(MUSIC)Today, Shirley Griffith and Tony Riggs complete a report
about America's second manned space program, Gemini. Its purpose was to bring the United States closer to its goal of landing astronauts on the moon.VOICE ONE:To explore the surface of the moon, astronauts must be able
to survive outside the protection of their spacecraft. So an astronaut on the flight of Gemini Four, Ed White, took
that first frightening step into the unknown. For more than twenty minutes, he floated outside his spacecraft in the emptiness of
space.Walter Schirra, right, and Thomas Stafford during an exercise in preparation for their launch in Gemini 6 Astronauts on the next flight, Gemini Five, suffered a
number of technical problems. But they were able to survive in space for eight days.Then it was time to launch Gemini Six. Its crew would attempt a move that would be necessary for any landing on the
moon. The astronauts would chase another object orbiting
Earth. And they would move their spacecraft as close as possible to it.  However, the target -- a satellite -- apparently exploded
after it was launched. So America's space agency, NASA, said there was no reason to send up Gemini Six. NASA decided to move ahead with the next flight, Gemini seven.VOICE TWO:    Then NASA considered yet another plan. It would launch Gemini Seven. And, if
everything was ready, it would launch Gemini Six a few days later. Gemini Six would chase, and get close to, Gemini Seven instead of a satellite.  Astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell were the crew of
Gemini Seven. They would
make the longest, most difficult flight ever. They would spend fourteen days in their tiny spacecraft.VOICE ONE: Gemini Seven lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on
Friday, December third, nineteen sixty-five. Workers at the space center examined the launch area. There appeared to be no major damage. The workers quickly moved another huge Titan rocket into
place. On top of the rocket sat the Gemini Six spacecraft.    NASA announced that Gemini Six would be launched in the
early morning of Sunday, December twelfth. The timing would put the two spacecraft in the correct orbit to meet in space. Astronauts Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford prepared
for their flight. They had
waited once in a spacecraft that never left the ground. Their
first launch had been cancelled because the target satellite exploded. This time, they hoped, things would be different.  (MUSIC)  VOICE TWO:Mission Control in Houston. The first attempt to launch Gemini 6 ended in failure.On that Sunday morning, Schirra and Stafford were again
in their tiny Gemini Six spacecraft atop the Titan rocket. Borman and Lovell, in Gemini Seven, speeded across the United
States. The countdown at Cape Canaveral reached zero as Gemini Seven
passed overhead.Frank Borman's disappointed words from space told the
story. "I saw ignition...and then shutdown." For some reason, the Titan rocket engines had fired as planned. But then they shut themselves off one second later.For several tense minutes, the astronauts of Gemini Six
were sitting on top of a highly explosive mass of rocket fuel. Schirra waited with his hand on a special device. If he pulled it, he and Stafford would get away safely. If he did not pull it, and the rocket exploded, they would be killed. With nerves of steel, the astronauts waited. The rocket did not explode.VOICE ONE:Once again, Schirra and Stafford climbed out of Gemini
Six. Borman and Lovell continued to circle the Earth.Soon, the public heard the report. A tiny part at the bottom of the rocket had fallen out too early. That tiny part sent a signal to computers that the launch had taken place. The computers immediately shut off the rocket engines. Space agency officials decided to try one more time. They set the launch for three days later. It would be the last chance for Gemini Six to attempt to meet with Gemini Seven in
space. If this attempt failed, the United States would suffer a serious delay in its goal to land astronauts on the moon.Borman and Lovell continued to circle the Earth, day
after day, as workers hurried to meet the new launch date. They were almost three hundred kilometers high. They were moving at twenty-eight thousand kilometers an hour.  VOICE TWO:    The launch of Gemini 6December fifteenth, nineteen sixty-five. This was it. What could be an impossible effort in the history of spaceflight was ready to lift off on its final chance for success.For the third time, Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford
put on their space clothing. They took their places in the Gemini Six spacecraft. The
countdown reached zero just as Frank Borman and James Lovell, in Gemini Seven, passed overhead.    This time, with a thundering roar, Gemini Six rose into
the air. As it headed into space, a radio announcer said:
"This whole nation pushed that one up."  (MUSIC)  VOICE ONE:Now there were four Americans in space. Gemini Six followed Gemini Seven, but in a lower orbit that moved the two
spacecraft closer together. Flight controllers on the ground held their breath. Success
was near. Yet failure was still very
possible.The spacecraft were almost two thousand kilometers
apart. They needed to get within six hundred meters of each
other. Only then would space agency officials consider the project a
complete success.  VOICE TWO:?  Time passed quickly as Schirra moved Gemini Six closer
and closer to its target. Gemini Six was now eight kilometers behind, and twenty-four kilometers below, Gemini Seven. Schirra fired a rocket exactly long enough to put his spacecraft in the
same orbit. Then radar
on each spacecraft noted the other spacecraft. Happily, Schirra sent a radio message to Gemini
Seven. "We'll be up shortly," he said.A few minutes later, the astronauts were able to see each
others' spacecraft. Success seemed within reach. Only
six-and-one-half kilometers separated them. The two spacecraft continued to float together, far out in space.  VOICE ONE: A photo of Gemini 6 taken by the crew of Gemini 7They moved closer and closer together as they flew across
the Indian Ocean. It
was about six hours since the launch of Gemini Six. For a while,
there was no communication from space to Earth. The
spacecraft were too far from any ground station to send clear messages.?  Finally, the voice of Thomas Stafford came through the
silence of Space: "We
are thirty-six meters apart and sitting."    Thirty-six meters! That was far better than the six hundred meters space agency officials would have considered a
complete success.In fact, the two spacecraft almost touched each other
before they separated. Space
agency officials now knew that it was possible to join two orbiting spacecraft. The crew on Gemini Six had made the operation seem easy.  VOICE TWO:As the American astronauts continued to float through
space, they inspected each other and each other's spacecraft. Frank Borman noted happily that after twelve lonely days in space, he
and James Lovell finally had company for one night!    The next day, Schirra and Stafford completed their flight. Gemini Six landed in the Atlantic Ocean within twenty
kilometers of the rescue ship. Gemini Seven continued to speed on.  VOICE ONE:On December eighteenth, ground controllers asked Borman
and Lovell if they were ready to come home. "Ready! Ready!" the astronauts answered. Gemini Seven landed as perfectly as Gemini Six.    Astronauts Borman and Lovell had been in space more than three hundred thirty hours. They had traveled almost eight million five hundred thousand kilometers.  (MUSIC)  VOICE TWO:  The flights of Gemini Six and Gemini Seven greatly
increased hope that Americans soon would be able to land on the
moon. Schirra and Stafford proved that spaceships could link up while
in orbit. Borman and Lovell proved that humans could survive in
space for the time needed to get to the moon and back. The distance to the moon suddenly seemed shorter.  VOICE ONE:Five more Gemini flights followed. Other spacecraft joined with other targets in space and landed exactly where planned. Astronauts worked for longer periods of time in the
hostile environment of space.    The Gemini program had reached all its goals. Now, the United States was ready for the next historic jump into
space. It would be Project Apollo. Project Apollo would land men on the moon.  (MUSIC)  ANNOUNCER:This Special English program was written by Marilyn Rice Christiano. Your
narrators were Shirley Griffith and Tony Riggs. I'm Doug Johnson. Listen again next week for another EXPLORATIONS program on the Voice of America.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[467] An 1859 Battle in Italy, and the Birth of the Red Cross</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-30-voa3.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.The
International Red Cross Movement grew out of a major battle in the unification
of Italy. The Battle of Solferino took place one hundred fifty years ago, in
June of eighteen fifty-nine. This past week, volunteers from Red Cross and Red
Crescent societies around the world gathered in Solferino to mark the
anniversary. (SOUND)About eight thousand
people marched in a torch-lit event called the Fiaccolata. They followed in the
footsteps of those who took injured soldiers from Solferino to the nearest
village, Castiglione. Hannigton
Segarunaya, national youth president of the Ugandan Red Cross Society, says the
visit made him want to work harder to help people. HANNIGTON SEGARUNAYA: "I am going back to Uganda
in Africa to make more moves for humanity. I know where the young people come
together, we have the possibility of doing whatever it takes to make the world
a better place."The Battle of SolferinoIn
the battle, allied French and Sardinian troops defeated the Austrian army. Around
six thousand men were killed and more than thirty thousand were wounded. Yet, says Swiss historian Francois Bugnion, the battle lasted
only twelve hours. He says a Swiss businessman named Henri Dunant was horrified
by what he saw.FRANCOIS BUGNION: "Thousands of wounded were
brought to the next town of Castiliogne where he arrived and there was
practically no medical assistance. So he saw hundreds of men, thousands of men,
suffering awfully from very deep wounds and left to die without any real
assistance."  He
says Henri Dunant quickly took action. The businessman got local women to
provide food and water. He also got them to dress the wounds of soldiers
without concern for their nationality. Henri Dunant Dunant
later wrote a book called "A Memory of Solferino." In it, he launchedtwo ideas. One was the idea of voluntary relief societies to provide assistance
to the wounded or other people. This led to the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement. The second idea was a treaty protecting the wounded and
medical personnel on the field of battle. This, explains historian Francois
Bugnion, is the origin of the Geneva Conventions.  Stephen Ryan is the communications
officer for youth and volunteers at the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies. He says it is important to get young people
involved in volunteer work at an early age.STEPHEN RYAN: "Young people need to be given the
opportunity to really feel like they are making a difference in the world.  It gives people the opportunity to make
change that they would like to see in the world."And that's the VOA Special English
Health Report, with reporting from Solferino by Lisa Schlein. Archives of our programs
are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[1359] Working to Improve the Condition of Everglades National Park</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-29-voa2.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
VOICE ONE:?This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special
English. I'm Faith Lapidus. VOICE TWO:    And
I'm Doug Johnson. This week, we tell
about Everglades National Park in the American state of Florida. We also tell about an effort to improve the
condition of this important natural treasure.(MUSIC)VOICE ONE: When many people think of Florida, images of
sandy coastlines or theme park rides come to mind. But about an hour south of Miami lies a
natural wilderness different from anywhere else in the United States.       Everglades National Park is the
largest subtropical wilderness in the country. The park is home to several rare and
endangered species. It is also the third
largest national park in the lower forty-eight states, after Death Valley and
Yellowstone. More than one million
people visit the Everglades each year.VOICE TWO: An egret in a cypress swampIn nineteen forty-seven,
President Harry Truman spoke at a ceremony establishing the Everglades National
Park. He said the goal of creating the
park was to protect forever a wild area that cannot be replaced.  The Everglades is considered one of the great
biological wonders of the world. The
expansive wetlands stretch across more than six hundred thousand hectares. It is
a place where plants and animals from the Caribbean Sea share an ecosystem with
native North American species.  Nine different environments
exist within the Everglades. They
include mangrove and cypress swamps, estuaries and coastal marshes. (MUSIC) VOICE ONE: In the nineteen-forties, Marjory
Stoneman Douglas wrote a book called, "The Everglades: River of Grass." She described the area as, "the liquid heart
of Florida." Unlike
most other national parks, Everglades National Park was created to protect an ecosystem
from damage. The Everglades is home to
thirty-six species that are considered threatened or protected. They include the Florida panther, the
American crocodile and the West Indian manatee. In addition, more than three hundred fifty bird
species and three hundred species of fresh and saltwater fish live within the
park. The Everglades is also home to
forty species of mammals and fifty reptile species. VOICE TWO: Exotic plants can also be found in the
Everglades. They include what is said to
be the largest growth of mangrove trees in the western half of the world. Gumbo-limbo trees, known for their peeling red
skin, strangler figs and royal palms are also among the area's plant life. The Everglades is also home to the country's
largest living mahogany tree. Sawgrass
grows in some areas of the park. Be
careful – it is very sharp, with teeth just like a saw. It can grow up to four meters tall.  ?   With
about one and one-half meters of rainfall each year, plants and trees never
stop growing in the Everglades. That is
why it is hard to tell a powerful storm, Hurricane Andrew, caused severe damage
to the area in nineteen ninety-two.  (MUSIC) VOICE ONE: An American crocodileThe dry, winter season is
the favorite of most visitors, when insects like mosquitoes are less of a
problem. The rainy season lasts from
June to November. There are many ways to
explore the Everglades. Visitors could
see alligators while hiking the Anhinga Trail. The Everglades is the only place on Earth
where fresh water alligators and saltwater crocodiles live in the same area. Visitors using canoes or airboats are likely
to see large groups of wading birds like the wood stork or great blue heron. It is even possible to see flamingos in the
Everglades. Some might enjoy riding bicycles through Shark
Valley, while others may want to move slowly through shallow waters where
insects and wildlife can be seen up-close. Park guides also lead visitors on tours with tram cars.  VOICE TWO: This spring,
Everglades National Park launched a visitation program to what was once a highly
restricted military base. Park officials
are working to recover a missile base used in the nineteen sixties. The base played a part in the nuclear tensions
between the United States and the Soviet Union.  The government built the
Florida base shortly after the discovery of Soviet missiles about three hundred
kilometers away, on the island of Cuba. Tensions were high during the Cuban missile
crisis. But missiles stored at the American
base were never fired. The base was closed and
all missile equipment was removed in the nineteen seventies. Today only the buildings remain.  This year, the historic area had
many visitors, including former American service members who remember the
missile crisis. The park hopes to offer
more trips next spring, to help support the history for those who lived through
it and for future generations.  (MUSIC)  VOICE ONE: Experts say changes to the Everglades are threatening
several different kinds of wildlife. They
say the threats are a result of actions the United States government began more
than fifty years ago, and settlers began even earlier. The National Park Service
says early colonial settlers and land developers thought the Everglades had
little value. The settlers had plans to
remove water from the area and in the eighteen eighties developers began
digging drainage canals. At the time,
they did not understand the complexity of the Everglades' ecosystem. As a result, they were not prepared for all
the work and caused environmental problems. The ecosystem, however, was able to survive. VOICE TWO: Even larger efforts to
drain the wetlands continued between nineteen oh five and nineteen ten. Large areas were changed to farmland. This led to increased development, with more
people moving to the Everglades and also more visitors.  More
changes came in nineteen forty-eight, when Congress approved the Central and
South Florida Project. As part of the
plan, the Army Corps of Engineers built roads, canals and water-control systems
throughout South Florida. The aim of the
project was to provide water and flood protection for developed areas and
agriculture. Workers built a huge system
of waterways and pumping stations to control the overflow of Lake Okeechobee,
north of the Everglades. VOICE ONE: Today,
fifty percent of south Florida's early wetland areas no longer exist. Populations of wading birds have been reduced
by ninety percent. Whole populations of
animals are in danger of disappearing. The endangered creatures include the manatee, the Miami blackhead snake,
the wood stork and the Florida panther.  In recent years, environmental experts
have learned about the damage to the Everglades. They say the natural balance of plants and
animals has been destroyed.  VOICE TWO: Recently, the Obama administration
promised three hundred sixty million dollars to pay for Everglades restoration
this year. The administration is also
asking that Congress approve an additional two hundred seventy-eight million
dollars for next year.  The money will
help to support projects approved by the government nine years ago. The projects include improving wetlands in
the Picayune Strand in Southwest Florida and repairs to Lake Okeechobee's dike.
Until now, the state of Florida has
spent the most money on the project.VOICE ONE:                 A Burmese pythonAnother threat biologists have
been battling for years in the Everglades is the area's population of Burmese
pythons. Officials believe there are as
many as one hundred fifty thousand of these large snakes in the Everglades. But the snakes are a foreign species, native
to Southeast Asia. Owners of pythons
left their unwanted snakes in the Everglades years ago.   Biologists say adult pythons are able to eat
small deer and bobcats. When pythons are
found in the Everglades, they are often killed. Scientists are now experimenting with other
ways to remove the snakes, including trapping methods and offering payments to
hunters. The future of the Everglades is
not clear. However efforts to protect
the area are continuing so people that from all over the world may continue
visiting this biological treasure.  (MUSIC) VOICE TWO: This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
program was written by Brianna Blake, who was also our producer. I'm Doug Johnson. VOICE ONE: And I'm Faith Lapidus. Read and listen to our programs at
voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again
next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of
America.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[434] In the Garden, Making the Most of Mulch</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-29-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. 

Mulch
is material spread over soil. It protects against wind and rain damage. It can
also limit weed growth. 

Finding
materials for organic mulch can be easy. Small pieces of tree bark or cut up
leaves can be used. Some people use grass cuttings or newspapers. Others use
inorganic material such as shredded rubber from tires.  

Mulch
is important to home gardens but also to farms. Farmers may keep the remains of
maize or other crops on top of the soil. The crop waste creates mulch. This
practice is called conservation tillage. 

Organic mulch protects
but also improves the condition of the soil. It provides nutrients for plants.
It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful organisms
in the soil. 

As
the mulch breaks down, it provides material that keeps the soil from getting
hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water
through the soil. The mulch also improves the ability of the soil to hold
moisture. 

Experts generally suggest laying mulch to a depth of
about ten centimeters. If finer materials are used, such as cut grass, the
depth should be two and a half to seven and a half centimeters. The same is
true if compost is used for mulch. 

Too
much mulch can restrict oxygen and water flow to the soil and harm roots. Also,
do not build up mulch around the base of trees or plants like a volcano. This
could lead to disease or insect damage. 

Some
gardeners use leaf mulch -- fine particles of leaves -- instead of wood mulch around
trees, especially young trees. Leaf mulch can also be used in flower beds.

Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their
gardens. It helps keep the soil from getting dry, so it reduces the need for
watering. It also limits temperature changes in the soil.

Mulch
forms a barrier between the soil and the air. As a result, mulched soil will be
cooler in the summertime. And in winter, it may not freeze as deeply as areas
without mulch.  

Mulch
can be added late in autumn to help moderate the effects of winter weather. The
best time is after the ground has frozen but before the coldest weather
arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals
searching for a warm place to spend the winter.

And
that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. Archives of our reports --
including last week's explanation of compost -- can be found at
voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember. 
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[1508] Celebrating July Fourth at the Statue of Liberty</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-27-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
VOICE ONE:Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Steve
Ember.VOICE TWO:And
I'm Barbara Klein. Later this week, Americans will celebrate the nation's
Independence Day. On July fourth,
seventeen seventy-six, colonial leaders approved the final Declaration of
Independence for the United States. This year, the city of New York will also
celebrate the opening of part of an important symbol of America that has been
closed to the public for the past eight years.(MUSIC)VOICE ONE:The Statue of Liberty has stood in New York Harbor for
more than one hundred years. It was a
gift from the people of France in eighteen eighty-four. Its full name is "Liberty Enlightening the
World".The Statue of Liberty is forty-six meters tall from its
base. It is made mostly of copper. Throughout history, images of liberty have
been represented as a woman. The statue
is sometimes called "Lady Liberty." The
Statue of Liberty's face was created to look like the sculptor's mother. Her
right arm holds a torch with a flame high in the air. Her left arm holds a tablet with the date of
the Declaration of Independence -- July fourth, seventeen seventy-six. On her
head she wears a crown of seven points. Each is meant to represent the light of freedom as it shines on the seven
seas and seven continents of the world. ?Twenty-five windows in the crown represent
gemstones found on Earth. A chain that
represents oppression lies broken at her feet. VOICE TWO:In
nineteen oh three, a bronze plaque was placed on the inner wall of the statue's
support structure or pedestal. On it are
words from the poem "The New Colossus" written by Emma Lazarus in eighteen
eighty-three. The plaque represents the statue's message of hope for people
seeking freedom. These are some of its
best known words:READER:Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!(MUSIC)VOICE ONE:The United States and France have
been friends and allies since the time of the American Revolution. France helped the American colonial armies
defeat the British. The war officially
ended in seventeen eighty-three. A few
years later, the French rebelled against their king.A French historian and political
leader, Edouard-Rene Lefebvre de Laboulaye, had the idea for the statue. In eighteen sixty-five, he suggested that the
French and the Americans build a monument together to celebrate freedom. Artist
Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi immediately
agreed to design it. VOICE TWO:Frederic-Auguste BartholdiIn
eighteen seventy-five, the French established an organization to raise money
for Bartholdi's creation. Two years
later, an American group was formed to raise money to pay for a pedestal to
support the statue. American architect
Richard Morris Hunt was chosen to design this support structure. It would stand forty-seven meters high.In France, Bartholdi designed a very small statue. Then he built a series of larger copies. Workers created a wooden form covered with
plaster for each part. Then they placed
three hundred pieces of copper on the forms. This copper skin was less than three centimeters thick.The
statue also needed a structure that could hold its weight of more than two
hundred tons. French engineer Alexandre
Gustave Eiffel created this new technology. Later, he would build the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris.Eiffel
and others worked in Paris to produce a strong iron support system for the
statue. The design also needed to permit
the statue to move a little in strong winds.VOICE ONE:France
had wanted to give the statue to the United States on the one hundredth
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence -- July fourth, eighteen
seventy-six. But technical problems and
lack of money delayed the project. France finally presented the statue to the
United States in Paris in eighteen eighty-four. But the pedestal, being built in New York, was not finished. Not enough money had been given to complete the
project.The
publisher of the New York World newspaper came to the rescue. Joseph Pulitzer
used his newspaper to urge Americans to give more money to finish the
pedestal. His efforts brought in another
one hundred thousand dollars. And the
pedestal was finished.VOICE TWO:In
France, workers separated the statue into three hundred fifty pieces, put them
on a ship and sent them across the ocean. The statue arrived in New York in
more than two hundred wooden boxes. It
took workers four months to put together the statue on the new
pedestal. President Grover Cleveland officially accepted the statue in a
ceremony on October twenty-eighth, eighteen eighty-six. He said: "We will not forget that Liberty has
here made her home; nor shall her chosen altar be neglected."(MUSIC)VOICE ONE:The Statue of Liberty became a symbol of hope for
immigrants coming to the United States by ship from Europe. More than twelve
million people passed the statue between eighteen ninety-two and nineteen fifty-four
on their way to the immigration center on nearby Ellis Island. More
than forty percent of Americans have an ancestor who passed through Ellis
Island. Through the years, millions of
people continued to visit the Statue of Liberty. A trip to New York City did not seem complete
without it.Still,
the statue was old and becoming dangerous for visitors. In nineteen eighty-two, President Ronald
Reagan asked businessman Lee Iacocca to lead a campaign to repair it. The
Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation raised about one hundred million
dollars in private money to do the work. The repairs included replacing the torch and covering it with
twenty-four carat gold. On July fourth,
nineteen eighty-six, New York City celebrated a restored and re-opened Statue
of Liberty.VOICE TWO:After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. smoke rises from the ruins of the World Trade CenterOfficials closed the Statue of Liberty
following the terrorist attacks in New York on September eleventh, two thousand
one. It remained closed until August,
two thousand four. When it re-opened, visitors could only go onto the statue's
pedestal. But the Statue continued to attract visitors—more than three million
a year.This year, on July
fourth, visitors once again will be able to climb inside the statue all the way
to the top. It is not an easy thing to
do. More than three hundred fifty steps
lead to Lady Liberty's crown. The
National Park Service says it will limit the number of climbers to about two
hundred a day. No more than ten people will be able to go up at one time. At that rate, officials estimate that more
than one hundred thousand people will be able to climb to the top each year.But
if you want to visit the newly opened Statue of Liberty, you must do it within
the next two years. That is because the
National Park Service plans to close it again for more repairs. Officials say the improvements could take as
long as two years. But they say the work will make it possible to safely double
the number of visitors permitted inside.(MUSIC)VOICE ONE:The
Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island is one of America's national
parks. It includes both Liberty Island,
where the statue stands, and nearby Ellis Island, the former federal immigration
processing center. Officials
at the center examined many of the immigrants who arrived by ship before they
were permitted to enter the United States. The main building was restored and
opened as a museum in nineteen ninety. The museum includes pictures, videos,
interactive displays and recordings of immigrants who went through Ellis Island
until it was closed in nineteen fifty-four.One popular
exhibit is the Immigrant Wall of Honor outside the main building. It honors all
immigrants to the United States no matter where they entered the country. It now lists the names of more than seven
hundred thousand people. A new area of wall is being prepared for more names to
be added. An
immigration history center on the island contains the ship records of
passengers who entered through New York from eighteen ninety-two through
nineteen twenty-four. Those were the years of the great wave of European
immigration, before the United States passed restrictive immigration laws.One recent visitor said the Ellis Island immigration
hall feels alive with the stories of people who left their native lands long
ago to start a new life in a new country. (MUSIC)VOICE TWO:This program was written
by Nancy Steinbach and produced by Caty Weaver. I'm Barbara Klein.VOICE ONE:And I'm Steve Ember. You can find transcripts, MP3s and
podcasts of our programs at voaspecialenglish.com. Join us again next week for
THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.                                          ?  
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[988] US Students Bring Honey Project to Ghana</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-26-voa8.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.Some American students from Florida are bringing the
business of beekeeping to farmers in a community in Ghana. The program, called
the Honey Project, not only gives the students a chance to own and manage a business.
It also gives them a chance to help ease poverty in Agogo through beekeeping
and the sale of honey. There are plenty of wild honeybees around Agogo, but
there was no established market. A businessman named Nathan Burrell and some of
his colleagues came up with the idea during a business trip to Agogo three
years ago. Nathan Burrell recruits student volunteers at one Agogo school to help gather and sell honeyNATHAN BURRELL: "It was the ability to effect
change and impact the lives of the people. As an entrepreneur and a business
person you normally look at market movement. You look at what will sell and
what's the most profitable venture to take on. And trust me, it wouldn’t have
been honey. But it was the fact that the honey had an opportunity to really
change the lives of those people and provide them with a living wage."Nathan Burrell says many of the farmers in Agogo earn
less than a dollar a day. He calls the project an example of social
entrepreneurship.It began with the planting of ten to twelve beehives in
the town. Nathan Burrell depended heavily on the beekeeping experience of Dan
Warren. He heads an environmental group in Florida called One Village Planet
that works in Ghana and Haiti. The Honey Project also partnered with an
American company that sells African honey. NATHAN BURRELL: "All the profits and proceeds that
the students earned went back into the reinvestment of the Agogo venture, of
really trying to plant more hives. I think there are over one hundred hives now
that have been planted in the village." Members of the group traveled to Agogo this spring to provide
more education and training in the beekeeping business. They also brought
protective clothes for the beekeepers and equipment to gather and package the honey.Wearing protective hoods and suits, the American students help gather honey from one broken beehiveThe Honey Project currently sells a limited amount of
honey in Ghana and the United States. The project also uses student volunteers
in Agogo to gather and sell the honey. Nathan Burrell says it is not a
profitable business yet, but the farmers are hopeful. And honey is not the only
bee product they could sell. NATHAN BURRELL: "Everything from the wax to the
pollen to the royal jelly could be marketable and can add income and revenue
generation to those cooperatives that we're working with."For now, there are no plans to expand the business beyond
Agogo. But the organizers in south Florida are looking to involve students around
the United States.And
that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by June Simms. Transcripts
and MP3s of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.This is the VOA Special English Development Report.Some American students from Florida are bringing the
business of beekeeping to farmers in a community in Ghana. The program, called
the Honey Project, not only gives the students a chance to own and manage a business.
It also gives them a chance to help ease poverty in Agogo through beekeeping
and the sale of honey.There are plenty of wild honeybees around Agogo, but there was no established market. A businessman named Nathan Burrell and some of
his colleagues came up with the idea during a business trip to Agogo three
years ago.NATHAN BURRELL: "It was the ability to effect
change and impact the lives of the people. As an entrepreneur and a business
person you normally look at market movement. You look at what will sell and
what's the most profitable venture to take on. And trust me, it wouldn’t have
been honey. But it was the fact that the honey had an opportunity to really
change the lives of those people and provide them with a living wage."Nathan Burrell says many of the farmers in Agogo earn
less than a dollar a day. He calls the project an example of social
entrepreneurship.It began with the planting of ten to twelve beehives in
the town. Nathan Burrell depended heavily on the beekeeping experience of Dan
Warren. He heads an environmental group in Florida called One Village Planet
that works in Ghana and Haiti. The Honey Project also partnered with an
American company that sells African honey. NATHAN BURRELL: "All the profits and proceeds that
the students earned went back into the reinvestment of the Agogo venture, of
really trying to plant more hives. I think there are over one hundred hives now
that have been planted in the village." Members of the group traveled to Agogo this spring to provide
more education and training in the beekeeping business. They also brought
protective clothes for the beekeepers and equipment to gather and package the honey.The Honey Project currently sells a limited amount of
honey in Ghana and the United States. The project also uses student volunteers
in Agogo to gather and sell the honey. Nathan Burrell says it is not a
profitable business yet, but the farmers are hopeful. And honey is not the only
bee product they could sell. NATHAN BURRELL: "Everything from the wax to the
pollen to the royal jelly could be marketable and can add income and revenue
generation to those cooperatives that we're working with."For now, there are no plans to expand the business beyond
Agogo. But the organizers in south Florida are looking to involve students around
the United States.And that's the VOA Special English Development Report,
written by June Simms. Transcripts and MP3s of our reports are at
voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[1442] Ann Morrow Lindbergh, 1906-2001: Pilot, Writer</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-26-voa4.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
VOICE ONE:  I'm Shirley Griffith.  VOICE TWO: And I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program PEOPLE IN AMERICA. Every week we tell about a person who was important in the history of the United States. Today, we tell about Anne Morrow Lindbergh.She was a famous pilot and writer.? (MUSIC) VOICE ONE: Anne Spencer Morrow was born in nineteen-oh-six in Englewood, New Jersey. Her father was a very rich banker. He later became the American ambassador to Mexico. Her mother was an educator and poet. Anne went to Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She wanted to become a writer. She won two major prizes from the college for her writing. VOICE TWO: Ann Morrow LindberghAnne Morrow was a quiet, shy and small young woman when she met Charles Lindbergh in nineteen twenty-seven.He was staying with her family in Mexico City. The twenty-five year old man was tall and good looking. Charles Lindbergh was one of the most famous people in the world. He had just become the first person to fly a plane alone across the Atlantic Ocean, from New York to Paris. Two years later, Anne and Charles Lindbergh were married. Reports about their marriage were on the front pages of newspapers around the world. VOICE ONE: After her marriage to Charles Lindbergh, Anne became a pilot. She learned to plan an airplane flight as a navigator, operate a radio and fly a plane.She began making many long airplane flights with her husband. In nineteen thirty, she became the first woman in the United States to get a pilot's license to fly a glider, which does not have an engine. That same year, the Lindberghs set a speed record for flying across the United States.They flew from Los Angeles, California to New York City in fourteen hours and forty-five minutes. Anne Lindbergh was seven months pregnant at the time.? The Lindberghs explored new ways to fly around the world. They flew almost fifty thousand kilometers over five continents. Anne and Charles Lindbergh were famous around the world. They seemed to enjoy the greatest luck that any young people could have.? (MUSIC) VOICE TWO: Baby Charles Lindbergh Then in nineteen thirty-two something terrible happened. The Lindbergh's first baby, twenty-month-old Charles, was kidnapped from their home in New Jersey. The body of the baby was discovered more than ten weeks later.? Bruno Richard Hauptmann was arrested, tried, found guilty and executed for the crime. There were a huge number of press reports about the case. Newspapers called it "the Crime of the Century." After the trial, the Lindberghs found it difficult to live in the United States. There were threats on the life of their second child.  And there were too many newspaper stories about them. So Anne and Charles Lindbergh moved to Europe in nineteen thirty-five. Four years later they moved back to the United States.  VOICE ONE: Anne Morrow Lindbergh never fully recovered from the death of her first child. Yet, she and her husband had five more children.She continued flying. In nineteen thirty-four, she became the first woman to win the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Gold Medal. She was honored for her exploration, research and discovery.? Anne Lindbergh began writing to ease her sadness. She wrote several books about the flights with her husband. Her first book was "North to the Orient" in nineteen thirty-five.She wrote about their flight in a single-engine airplane over Canada and Alaska to Japan and China. This is what she wrote about landing in northern Canada and jumping out of the plane.  VOICE THREE: "Then two little Eskimo boys came up shyly and followed me about. Their bright eyes shone under their caps as they searched my face and costume curiously. 'You see,' said one of the traders, 'You're the first white woman they've ever seen. There's never been one here before.' "  VOICE TWO: Three years later Anne Lindbergh wrote "Listen! The Wind." It was about the Lindberghs' fifty thousand kilometer flight. It became very popular. One critic said it described the poetry of flight as no other book on flying had ever done.? In nineteen forty, Anne Lindbergh wrote a book called "The Wave of the Future."She wrote it while Europe was fighting World War Two. She wrote that she did not support communism or fascism. But she said they were unavoidable. She wrote that she hoped the United States could avoid entering the conflict. And, in a letter, she wrote that she was beginning to feel that the German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was a very great man.Her husband had become unpopular for expressing similar beliefs.? Many people criticized the book. Missus Lindbergh later admitted that both she and her husband failed to see the worst evils of the Nazi system. She stopped writing for many years. (MUSIC)      VOICE ONE: Anne Morrow Lindbergh began writing again in nineteen fifty-five. She wrote a book called "Gift from the Sea." It was about women's search for meaning in their lives.  "Gift from the Sea" was one of the most popular books in America. It has sold more than one million copies and has influenced many women.In "Gift from the Sea", Missus Lindbergh wrote about the many different kinds of pressures that women face. She wrote that women who are wives and mothers have many different interests and duties. They must be able to deal with their husband, children, friends, home and community. She found it difficult for women to balance all these duties and still make a place for themselves. Yet she said that women must try to find a balance in their lives. VOICE TWO: In "Gift from the Sea," Anne Lindbergh described how women had to perform many jobs that pulled them in different directions like a circus performer.? VOICE THREE: "What circus act we women perform every day of our lives. It puts the trapeze artist to shame. Look at us.We run a tight rope daily, balancing a pile of books on the head. Baby-carriage, parasol, kitchen chair, still under control. Steady now!This is not the life of simplicity but the life of multiplicity that the wise men warn us of. It leads not to unification but to fragmentation.It does not bring grace; it destroys the soul." VOICE ONE: Anne Lindbergh found that one answer to this problem was to be alone. The book described how she spent time by herself on an island by the sea.She studied the sea shells she found. And she made her life simpler. During the nineteen seventies, Anne Lindbergh wrote several more books about the happy and sad events of her life.One of these is called "Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead." She wrote about the joy of flying. She also wrote about the pain she and her husband felt after the body of their baby son was discovered. VOICE THREE: "We sleep badly and wake up and talk. I dreamed right along as I was thinking – all of one piece, no relief. I was walking down a suburban street seeing other people's children and I stopped to see one in a carriage and I thought it was a sweet child, but I was looking for my child in his face. And I realized, in the dream, that I would do that forever. "  (MUSIC) VOICE TWO: Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh died in nineteen seventy-four at the age of seventy-two. The next year, the readers of Good Housekeeping magazine voted Anne Morrow Lindbergh one of the ten women in the world they liked the most.In nineteen ninety-six, Missus Lindbergh was invited to join the National Women's Hall of Fame. She was honored for her success as a pilot. Anne Morrow Lindbergh died at her home in Vermont in two thousand one. She was ninety-four years old. Many people have been influenced by the way she dealt with both happiness and sadness. They respect the way she lived life to the fullest. And they like the advice about living that they find in her books.? VOICE THREE: "If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly in those moments." (MUSIC) VOICE ONE: This Special English program was written by Shelley Gollust. Our reader was Sarah Long.?And our producer was Caty Weaver.?I'm Shirley Griffith. VOICE TWO: And I'm Steve Ember.Join us again next week for another PEOPLE IN AMERICA program on the Voice of America.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[493] Words and Their Stories: Insect Expressions</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-26-voa2.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
Now, the VOA Special English program?WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC)? There are many American expressions about insects -- like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They always appear to be busy, moving around their homes, or hives. So you might say you were as busy as a bee if you spent your weekend cleaning your house. In fact, you might say your house was a beehive of activity if your whole family was helping you clean. You also might say you made a beeline for something if you went there right away. When we go to see a movie, my friend always makes a beeline for the place where they sell popcorn.  Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was the bee's knees. Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees! If your friend cannot stop talking about something because she thinks it is important, you might say she has a bee in her bonnet.  If someone asks you a personal question, you might say "that is none of your beeswax." This means none of your business.  Speaking of personal questions, there is an expression people sometimes use when their children ask, "where do babies come from?" Parents who discuss sex and reproduction say this is talking about the birds and the bees.  (MUSIC) Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. If you are really angry, you might say you are mad as a hornet. And if you stir up a hornet's nest, you create trouble or problems.  Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to have butterflies in your stomach. That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. You would also not want to have ants in your pants. That is, to be restless and unable to sit still.   Here are some expressions about plain old bugs, another word for insects. If a friend keeps asking you to do something you do not want to do, you might ask him to leave you alone or "stop bugging me." A friend also might tell you again and again to do something. If so, you might say he put a bug in your ear.  If you were reading a book in your warm bed on a cold winter's day, you might say you were snug as a bug in a rug. And if you wish someone good night, you might say, "sleep tight -- don't let the bed bugs bite."  (MUSIC) This VOA Special English program was written by Shelley Gollust. I'm Faith Lapidus. You can find more WORDS AND THEIR STORIES at voaspecialenglish.com.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[550] The Talented but Tragic Life of Michael Jackson</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-26-voa9.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA
Special English.(MUSIC)Fans hold pictures of Michael Jackson near the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles ThursdayFans
around the world are remembering the man who called himself the King of Pop.
Michael Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles.?This was the emergency call from the
house where he was living: CALLER: "We have a gentleman
here that needs help and he's not breathing. He's not breathing and we're
trying to pump him but he's not -- "OPERATOR: "OK, OK. How old is he?"CALLER: "He's fifty years old, sir."OPERATOR: "Fifty, OK."A
personal doctor was with him at the house.??  Michael
Jackson would have celebrated his fifty-first birthday in August. He was just
days from launching what he hoped would be a comeback -- a series of fifty
concerts in London. More than seven hundred fifty thousand tickets
sold out within hours of going on sale in March. The shows were set to begin
July thirteenth. There were questions, though, about whether his health could
handle the extended tour. And after he died there were more
questions -- this time about his use of painkillers. Medical examiners did an
autopsy on Friday, but tests for drugs in the body normally take weeks. Around
the world, fans like this one reacted to news of his death.WOMAN: "Somebody like
Michael Jackson who's done so much for the world and stuff, you think almost
like he's invincible."(MUSIC)"Thriller," his
nineteen eighty-two album, earned a place in Guinness World Records as the best
selling album of all time. It produced hits like "Beat It" ?and "Billie Jean."(MUSIC)Michael
Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. He was five years
old when he and his brothers began performing in the Jackson 5.He
was eleven when they had their first album. "Diana Ross Presents the
Jackson 5" was released in nineteen sixty-nine. Their album
"ABC" followed less than a year later. (MUSIC)Jackson waves after receiving a World Music Award for "Thriller" in 1996In
nineteen seventy-one, Michael Jackson began his solo career. He went on to sell an estimated seven hundred fifty million
albums. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- twice. But as talented and
successful as he was, he was also deeply troubled. His behavior and appearance
grew increasingly strange. He was heavily in debt. He
was childlike. But in nineteen ninety-three, a thirteen-year-old boy accused him
of child molestation. The case was settled out of court. Later, another
accusation led to a criminal trial. But four years ago this month a jury
cleared him of all charges. Michael
Jackson left his mark on popular culture. His music, his videos. His dance
moves and moonwalking. The hand in a sequined white glove. The father of three
was even married for a time to Elvis Presley's daughter. Now, he leaves behind
family, friends and fans to mourn his death. In a sad way he did make a
comeback. His death has pushed sales of his music back to the top of the charts
again.And
that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by June Simms. I'm Steve
Ember. 
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
<item>
<title>[1573] Short Story: 'Athenaise' by Kate Chopin</title>
<link>http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-06-26-voa1.cfm?rss=topstories</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>VOA</dc:creator>
<dc:subject>English</dc:subject><dc:subject>News</dc:subject>
<description><![CDATA[
Now, the VOA Special English program, AMERICAN STORIES.

(MUSIC)

Our
story today is called "Athenaise." It was written by Kate Chopin.
Here is Barbara Klein with the story.

STORYTELLER:  

Athenaise went away one morning to visit
her parents, ten miles back on the Bon Dieu River in Louisiana. She did not
return in the evening, and Cazeau, her husband, was worried. 

Cazeau
expressed his worries to his servant, Felicite, who served him dinner. 

He ate
alone by the light of a coal-oil lamp.  Felicite
stood nearby like a restless shadow.

"Only married two months and she
has her head turned already to leave! It is not right!" she said.

Cazeau shrugged his shoulders. Felicite's
opinion of his wife's behavior after two months of marriage did not matter to
him. He was used to being alone and did not mind a night or two of it. Cazeau
stood up and walked outside.

The night was beginning to deepen and gather black around
the groups of trees in the yard. Far away, he could hear the sound of someone
playing an accordion. Nearby, a baby was crying. 

Cazeau's horse was waiting, saddled. He still had much farm
work to do before bed time. He did not have time to think about Athenaise. But
he felt her absence like a deep pain.

Before
he slept that night Cazeau was visited by an image of Athenaise's pale, young
face with its soft lips and sensual eyes. The marriage had been a mistake. He
had only to look into her eyes to feel that, to sense her growing dislike of
him. But, the marriage could not be undone. And he was ready to make the best
of it and expected the same effort from her.

These sad thoughts kept Cazeau awake far into the
night. The moon was shining and its pale light reached into the room. It was
still outside, with no sound except the distant notes of the accordion.

(MUSIC)

Athenaise did not return the next day, although her
husband sent a message to do so through her brother, Monteclin. On the third
day, Cazeau prepared his horse and went himself in search of her.  

Athenaise's parents, the Miches, lived in a large home owned
by a trader who lived in town. The house was far too big for their use.
Upstairs, the rooms were so large and empty that they were used for parties. A
dance at the Miche home and a plate of Madame Miche's gumbo were pleasures not
to be missed. 

Madame
Miche was sitting on the porch outside the house. She stood up to greet Cazeau.
She was short and fat with a cheery face. But she was clearly tense as Cazeau
arrived.

Monteclin
was there too. But he was not uneasy. He made no effort to hide his dislike of
Cazeau.

"Dirty
pig!" He said under his breath as Cazeau climbed the stairs to the porch. Monteclin
disliked Cazeau for refusing to lend him money long ago. ?Now that this man was his sister's husband, he
disliked him even more.

Miche and
his oldest son were away. They both respected Cazeau and talked highly of him.

Cazeau
shook hands with Madame Miche who offered him a chair.  Athenaise had shut herself in her room. 

"You know,
nothing would do last night," Madame Miche said. "Athenaise just had to stay
for a little dance. The boys would not let their sister leave!"

Cazeau shrugged his
shoulders to show he knew nothing about last night.

"Didn't Monteclin tell you we were going to
keep Athenaise?" she asked. But Monteclin had told him nothing. 

"And how about the night before?" asked Cazeau. "And
last night? Do you have dances every night?" 

Madame
Miche laughed and told her son to go tell Athenaise her husband had arrived.
Monteclin did not move.

"You
know as well as I do that it is no use to tell Athenaise anything," said Monteclin.
"You and pa have been talking to her since Monday. When Athenaise said she was
not returning to Cazeau she meant it."

Two
fiery red spots rose to Cazeau's cheeks. What Monteclin said was true. 

Upon arriving home,
Athenaise had announced she was there to stay. It was difficult for her to
understand why she had married. Girls were just expected to get married. And
she did like Cazeau.

Monteclin
had asked Athenaise to explain herself. He had asked her if Cazeau abused her,
or if he drank too much. 

"No!" Athenaise had said. "It is just being
married that I hate. I do not like being Missus Cazeau. I want to be Athenaise
Miche again. I do not like living with a man, all his clothing everywhere and
his ugly bare feet."

At
the time, Monteclin had been sorry his sister had no serious evidence to use
against Cazeau.

And
now, there was Cazeau himself looking like he wanted to hit Monteclin.

Cazeau stood up and went inside the
house to his wife's room. 

"Athenaise, get ready," he said quietly. "It
is late and we do not have time to lose."

Athenaise
was not prepared for his calm request. She felt a sense of hopelessness about continuing
to rebel against the idea of marriage. She gathered her hat and gloves. Then, she
walked downstairs past her brother and mother, got on her horse and rode away.
Cazeau followed behind her. 

It
was late when they reached home. Cazeau once more ate dinner alone. Athenaise sat
in her room crying.

(MUSIC)

Athenaise's
parents had hoped that marriage would bring a sense of responsibility so deeply
lacking in her character. No one could understand why she so hated her role as
wife. Cazeau had never spoken angrily to her or called her names or failed to
give her everything she wanted. His main offense seemed to be that he loved her.

And Athenaise was not a woman to be loved
against her will.At
breakfast, Athenaise complained to her husband."Why did
you have to marry me when there were so many other girls to choose from?" she
asked. "And, it is strange that if you hate my brother so much, you would marry
his sister!"

"I do not know what any of them have to do
with it," Cazeau said. "I married you because I loved you. I guess I was a fool
to think I could make you happy. I do not know what else to do but make the
best of a bad deal and shake hands over it."

(MUSIC)

It
now seemed to Athenaise that her brother was the only friend left to her in the
world. Her parents had turned from her and her friends laughed at her. But Monteclin
had an idea for securing his sister's freedom. After some thought, Athenaise
agreed to his plan.

The next morning, Cazeau woke up to find his wife was gone.
She had packed her belongings and left in the night.

Cazeau felt a terrible sense of loss. It
was not new; he had felt it for weeks.

He realized he had missed his chance for happiness. He
could not think of loving any other woman, and could not imagine Athenaise ever
caring for him. He wrote her a letter stating that he did not want her back
unless she returned of her own free will.

(MUSIC)Athenaise had escaped to the big city of
New Orleans. She was staying at a private hotel that Monteclin had chosen and
paid to rent for a month. A woman named Sylvie owned the hotel and took good
care of Athenaise.  Athenaise
soon became friends with Mister Gouvernail who was also staying at the hotel.
This friendship helped her feel less lonely about missing her family.  But Mister Gouvernail soon started to fall in
love with Athenaise. He knew she was uninformed, unsatisfied and strong-willed.
But he also suspected that she loved her husband, although she did not know it.
Bitter as this belief was, he accepted it.

Athenaise's
last week in the city was coming to an end. She had not found a job and was too
homesick to stay any longer. Also, she had not been feeling well. She
complained in detail about her sickness to Sylvie. Sylvie was very wise, and Athenaise
was very stupid. Sylvie very calmly explained to Athenaise that she was feeling
sick because she was pregnant.

Athenaise
sat very still for a long time thinking about this new information. Her whole
being was overcome with a wave of happiness. Then, she stood up, ready to take
action. 

She had to tell her mother! And Cazeau!
As she thought of him, a whole new sense of life swept over her. She could not
wait to return to him. 

The next day Athenaise spent
travelling home. When she arrived at Cazeau's, he lifted her out of the horse
carriage and they held each other tight. The country night was warm and still
except for a baby crying in the distance.

"Listen, Cazeau!" said Athenaise. "How
Juliette's baby is crying! Poor darling, I wonder what is the matter with it?"

(MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER:

You have heard the
story "Athenaise" by Kate Chopin.  Your
storyteller was Barbara Klein.  This
story was adapted and produced by Dana Demange.?
Listen again next week for another American Story in VOA Special
English.
]]></description>
<enclosure url="ftp://8475.ftp.storage.akadns.net/mp3/voa/english/spec/special_english.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg" />
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
