VOA常速英语2007-Kenyans Urge World Leaders to Keep Promises to E

By Sarah Simpson
Nairobi
17 October 2007

Kenyans joined millions of people worldwide in an international demonstration¹ to end poverty on the International Day for the Eradication² of Poverty.  Sarah Simpson reports from the Korogocho slum area of the capital Nairobi, where residents and campaigners told VOA they believe African leaders have forgotten their promises to end poverty by 2015 as made under the Millennium³ Development Goals.

Thousands of mostly school age kids from the Nairobi slum of Korogocho gathered in a covered churchyard tucked amongst shambling tin houses for a morning of music and songs.  It was their contribution to a 90 country, 24-hour campaign to end global poverty.

Event organizer, Sylvia Mwichuli, explained it was appropriate that most of the attendees were children, as poverty hits the youngest, hardest.

"Most families in the poorest slums across Africa do not even have access even to a meal a day," she said.  "And the worst affected⁴, of course, are children."

In 2000, world leaders from 189 countries signed up to the Millennium Development Goals - eight basic promises to slash⁵ poverty, tackle HIV and AIDS and increase access to education, amongst others, all by the year 2015.

But with less than seven years to go before deadline, young campaigners like Richard Bosire say African leaders have tossed these promises aside and forgotten about places like Korogocho.

"This is where most people are hit by this problem of poverty," he said.  "Look around the slums, the kind of shelter they have, the sanitation⁶, the health facilities they are lacking.  That is why we said we should come to Korogocho and let create awareness⁷ and when it is going to be reported in the media at least our leaders can remember these places exist and they have to do something about it."

Global organizers of the "Stand up and Speak Out" day estimate tens of millions of people worldwide will take to their feet and demand leaders end global poverty that they say kills 50,000 people a day.

But apart from the kids, most of Korogocho's adult residents did not attend the event.  Trader, Julius Muguwala said Kenyan leaders had forsaken⁸ the people of Korogocho.  Muguwala preferred to stay away from the event to hawk⁹ his second-hand¹⁰ clothes and perhaps make a little money.

"Our leaders, they ignore us," he said.  "We elect them, and after electing them we do not see them.  They go there for good.  They only come back when it is time for election.  After electing them they go and sit there, they forget people around here."

Kenya is gearing up for national elections in December.  Multi-party polls have become the norm across much of Africa, a continent once dominated by military strongmen, earning praise and support from Western governments and aid groups. 

Like democracy, economic growth is on the rise in most African countries, too.  Life ought to be getting better, but power and wealth is not equitably¹¹ distributed and millions, like Muguwala, feel forgotten.

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

3 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• 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。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

6 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

7 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

8 Forsaken   

adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词

参考例句：

• He was forsaken by his friends. 他被朋友们背弃了。
• He has forsaken his wife and children. 他遗弃了他的妻子和孩子。

9 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

10 second-hand   

adj.用过的，旧的，二手的

参考例句：

• I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
• They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

11 equitably   

公平地

参考例句：

• We should equitably assess historical figures. 我们应该公正地评价历史人物。
• Land was more equitably distributed. 土地得到更公平合理的分配。