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VOA慢速英语2013 反腐败运动在中国成形

时间:2013-09-29 14:45:03

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AS IT IS 2013-09-25 An Anti-Corruption2 Campaign Takes Shape in China 反腐败运动在中国成形

From VOA Learning English, welcome to As It Is! I’m Mario Ritter.

Today, we hear about the trial and sentencing of a top leader in China’s Communist Party. We tell how the campaign against corruption in China is taking shape in some unexpected ways. Then we revisit a story about a program that gives young people a chance to do good in their community.

On Sunday, a former leader of China’s Communist Party was sentenced to life in prison. A court found Bo Xilai guilty of all three charges brought against him. He was jailed on bribery3, corruption and abuse of power charges.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised to fight corruption in the country. But Chinese government officials are not the only ones taking part in the campaign. China’s Internet users are also involved, and that has some officials worried.  Jim Tedder4 tells us more.

Bo Xilai received a life prison sentence after he was found guilty on bribery charges. Added to that was a 15 year sentence for the charge of corruption and seven years for abuse of power. Reports say the court seized $3 million from the family, including a home in southern France.

Bo formerly5 led the Communist Party in the southwestern city of Chongqing. His trial came soon after the trial of his wife. She received a suspended death sentence for the murder of a British businessman. Both have received a huge amount of attention, both in China and internationally.

Clayton Dube is the head of the U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He says the Chinese people link corruption to other problems in society.

“They routinely identify corruption as one of the top one or two problems that China faces and frequently they link corruption in their minds to the other problems the widening gap between rich and poor the problems with land grabs and pollution, food safety, this sort of thing. And so corruption is a big issue.”

In China, public concerns about corruption are often expressed on the Internet. VOA examined about 40 corruption cases that were reported in China since last year. More than half of them first appeared online or in the media.

Online services have also changed how quickly people share information. Within minutes, a single Web entry, or post, can be resent thousands, even hundreds of thousands of times. Chinese officials are worried about the power of online microblogging services, called Weibos. Such services let users write and share comments and links. Recently, China’s government announced new rules for the Internet. Bloggers can receive jail sentences if they are found guilty of spreading unconfirmed reports online.

The new rules come after a change in the leadership of China’s Communist Party. Clayton Dube says the party wants to show that it is dealing6 with the corruption issue and does not need help.

“The party, at the same time that it is cracking down on Bo Xilai and others that it has found to be corrupt1, the party-state is also saying the rest of society: ‘You don’t need to help us with this.’”

The campaign against “tigers and flies,” which means both high and low-level corrupt officials, may only be starting. In Bo Xilai’s case, he may be able to leave prison in about 10 years because his crimes were non-violent.  

Hurricane Sandy struck the eastern United States last October. The hurricane caused flooding and damage from high winds. Today some victims of Sandy are still having problems. However, there is an army of helpers that have joined the recovery effort. They are young people who are getting a second chance. Jim Tedder has more.

Young people help clear a road damaged by Hurricane Sandy at Breezy Point, New York. When the work is finished, government vehicles will again be able to get to the coast to take care of wildlife.

Other teenagers are preparing food packages for victims of Hurricane Sandy. These helpers are from New York City. They were found guilty of non-violent crimes and are now on probation7 -- a period of supervision8 instead of time in jail for former lawbreakers.

The young people are receiving help from a non-profit group called YouthWRAP. It helps teenage lawbreakers reject crime through community projects.

Vincent Schiraldi is New York City's Probation Commissioner9. He says the young people and the city get something valuable out of the program.

“The more time they spend doing good, the less time they are going to spend doing bad as far as we are concerned.  So part of it is for them to turn their lives around, part of it is for them to really do the work that New York City needs to recover from Sandy.”

Not far away, Coney Island’s Salt and Sea Mission is working with YouthWrap. The group is giving other young offenders10 the chance to do something good. The Mission takes care of individuals whose homes were destroyed. 

“Today we are giving out green beans, macaroni and cheese, diced11 tomatoes, apple sauce, apple juice, pesto beans, no kidney beans, and maple12 and the peanut butter.”

The teenagers are paid up to $1400 dollars for the summer. But even more important is the responsibility and experience that these young people gain.

“It meant a lot because it changed the way I see life and now I see people.”

Pastor13 Debby Santiago is the leader of the Salt and Sea Mission. She was once a drug dealer14 and bank robber. But now the city's Probation Department wants her to provide guidance to the young people.

“They’re helping15 this community, most of them, I mean they’re getting pleasure out of helping other people.”

Hurricane Sandy recovery projects in New York City involve about 450 teens on probation. And many of them are on their way to a better life.

I’m June Simms.

On September 25th, 1789, the United States Congress approved the first 10 amendments16 to the Constitution. The 10 measures are known as the "Bill of Rights." They established basic freedoms and protections that cannot be taken from the people by the government. 

The Bill of Rights was added to the 1787 Constitution after constitutional opponents argued that it gave too much power to the central government. 

The ten articles of the Bill of Rights include guarantees of freedom of speech, press and religion. They give the people the right to assemble, or meet, make appeals to the government and possess arms. The Bill of Rights protects Americans against unreasonable17 searches and seizures18

And that’s our show for today. Join us tomorrow for another As It Is program from VOA Learning English.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 corrupt 4zTxn     
v.贿赂,收买;adj.腐败的,贪污的
参考例句:
  • The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
  • This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。
2 corruption TzCxn     
n.腐败,堕落,贪污
参考例句:
  • The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
  • The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
3 bribery Lxdz7Z     
n.贿络行为,行贿,受贿
参考例句:
  • FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
  • He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。
4 tedder 2833afc4f8252d8dc9f8cd73b24db55d     
n.(干草)翻晒者,翻晒机
参考例句:
  • Jim Tedder has more. 吉姆?特德将给我们做更多的介绍。 来自互联网
  • Jim Tedder tells us more. 吉姆?泰德给我们带来更详细的报道。 来自互联网
5 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
6 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
7 probation 41zzM     
n.缓刑(期),(以观后效的)察看;试用(期)
参考例句:
  • The judge did not jail the young man,but put him on probation for a year.法官没有把那个年轻人关进监狱,而且将他缓刑察看一年。
  • His salary was raised by 800 yuan after his probation.试用期满以后,他的工资增加了800元。
8 supervision hr6wv     
n.监督,管理
参考例句:
  • The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
  • The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。
9 commissioner gq3zX     
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员
参考例句:
  • The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
  • He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。
10 offenders dee5aee0bcfb96f370137cdbb4b5cc8d     
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 );犯规者;罪犯;妨害…的人(或事物)
参考例句:
  • Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
  • Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
11 diced beda9457d9b1c57e8c3d1d301be6bcc2     
v.将…切成小方块,切成丁( dice的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The meat should be finely diced for this dish. 做这种菜肴肉必须细细切成小方块。 来自辞典例句
  • Arther diced himself into debt. 亚瑟因掷骰子而负了债。 来自辞典例句
12 maple BBpxj     
n.槭树,枫树,槭木
参考例句:
  • Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
13 pastor h3Ozz     
n.牧师,牧人
参考例句:
  • He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
  • We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师:教会的事是由五位执事管理的。
14 dealer GyNxT     
n.商人,贩子
参考例句:
  • The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
  • The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。
15 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
16 amendments 39576081718792f25ceae20f3bb99b43     
(法律、文件的)改动( amendment的名词复数 ); 修正案; 修改; (美国宪法的)修正案
参考例句:
  • The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
  • Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。
17 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
18 seizures d68658a6ccfd246a0e750fdc12689d94     
n.起获( seizure的名词复数 );没收;充公;起获的赃物
参考例句:
  • Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因,有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

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