VOA慢速英语2010年-Education Report - Before the G-20 Sum
时间:2018-12-15 作者:英语课 分类:2010年VOA慢速英语(六)月
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
Leaders of the world's twenty largest economies will meet this Saturday and Sunday in Toronto, Canada. The Group of 20 will discuss the best ways to guide the world economy to a stronger recovery. The G-20 is nineteen countries and the European Union.
Last week, in Toronto, international charities held the first-ever Girls 20 Summit. The goal was to bring the economic power of girls and women, and the importance of women's issues, to the attention of G-20 leaders.
Organizers invited twenty young women from each of the G-20 member countries. They discussed the United Nations Millennium 1 Development Goals and better ways to meet them. The goals include cutting poverty, improving access to health care and providing education to all children.
Nineteen-year-old Anwar Basunbul from Saudi Arabia said many Saudi women are interested in working. But they need permission from their husband or other male guardian 2. And there are restrictions 3 on the professions they can join.
ANWAR BASUNBUL: "Our culture still believes that men are biologically more qualified 4 to lead or rule women."
Delegates of the G(irls) 20 Summit
She says the Saudi leadership has not failed women; Saudi women have not yet asked for what they want.
ANWAR BASUNBUL: "I believe women are not confident enough in my country to speak up. So I believe no one is going to come and give you the chance as a guest. You have to go and ask for it."
Irem Tumer was the nineteen-year-old representative from Turkey. She says Turkey has approved many legal reforms as part of its efforts to join the European Union -- but these have not necessarily been put into action. She worries about violence against women.
IREM TUMER: "Especially with the honor killings 5 in the eastern parts. The safety of girls still remains 6 a big problem. There have been laws that have been passed, and many police officers and other authorities are being trained about this. But more widespread awareness 7 and education for all girls is necessary to tackle this issue."
Irem Tumer said she would carry home two messages from the Girls 20 Summit. The first is the need for education. The other is the need to empower women and let them take part in business and political decision-making.
The United Nations estimates that females age ten to twenty-four are one-eighth of the world's population. Many of them are the main providers for their families. Yet, in the developing world, many are unable to enjoy even the most basic human rights.
And that's the VOA Special English Education Report, with reporting by Cecily Hilleary and Jim Randle. You can read, listen and comment on our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. We're also on Facebook, Twitter and iTunes at VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.
- The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
- We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。
- The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
- The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
- He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
- We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。
- His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
- The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。