环球英语 — 333：Blogging in Madagascar

　　Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Ruby² Jones,
Voice 2
And I'm Steve Myersco. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
‘This week was really difficult. I was always afraid because I did not know which way to go back home after work. I did not want to be involved in the riots³. It was especially hard on Friday. On that day the riots were in the area where I live.'
Voice 1
These are the words of Ariniaina. She is reporting about life in her community. She lives in Madagascar, the island country off the south east coast of Africa. Ariniaina is just a normal citizen of Madagascar. Today's Spotlight looks at how people like Ariniaina are now reporting the news.
Voice 2
Madagascar has experienced⁴ a lot of trouble recently. A new leader now controls the country. This happened because many people were unhappy with the former president. There was violence in some areas. The military then helped the new leader to take control.
Voice 1
Ariniaina is one of a number of people from Madagascar who are writing about events in their country. These writers want people around the world to know what is happening. So, they use the internet. Ariniaina is a blogger. She has her own website where she records her thoughts and opinion on things that are happening around her. She writes,
Voice 3
‘When I was younger, I loved writing stories and poems. I dreamed of becoming a reporter and working with a camera. Since then I have studied and now work in a very different job. I was about to forget this dream. But now we have the internet, I was able to create this blog. I thank all the people who encouraged me in this project: FOKO, Tahina, Andry...'
Voice 2
Tahina and Andry are two of the many other bloggers in Madagascar. They are linked to a group called FOKO Madagascar. This group aims to tell people around the world what is happening in their country. One of the ways it does this is through a project called FOKO Blog Club. This encourages people to write blogs. Lova Rakotomalala is one of the people who manages FOKO Madagascar. He describes how the club works⁵,
Voice 4
‘We find people who exchange opinions about Madagascar in internet discussion⁶ groups. Then we ask them to come to our class. There, they learn to create their own blogs. These blogs help them to organise⁷ their thoughts and express themselves... The other important thing we do is to bring that blog to more people. We link it to Rising Voices and Global Voices.'
Voice 1
Rising Voices is a project that supports new bloggers from many parts of the world. It works particularly with communities that the world does not normally⁸ hear about. Rising Voices is a project of Global Voices. Global Voices is an international organisation⁹ that helps people everywhere to make their voices heard. It uses the internet to find what people are writing. Then it tells the public about these blogs. The organisation depends on the work of its members. Most of these workers are not paid. Global Voices says,
Voice 5
‘These amazing people are bloggers. They live in various countries around the world. They understand the full meaning and importance of information being written every day from their countries. They are helping¹⁰ us to make sense of it all. They are also making known the things that bloggers are saying. These may be things that the main news organisations are not reporting.'
Voice 2
So, the internet is helping people report the news from where they are in the world. In some countries this can be difficult to do. Some governments restrict¹¹ what news organisations can report. But the internet has given more power to citizens. They can become news writers - journalists - by reporting the news on the internet. These people are called citizen journalists.
Voice 1
Citizen journalism¹² is a new kind of journalism. It is different to traditional journalism in several ways. The reporters are not paid to report the news. They are just local people. They often do not have any training in news reporting. So some people say that citizen journalism is not as trustworthy as normal journalism. That is why Global Voices tries to make sure citizen journalists' reports are honest. Citizen journalism is helping in places like Madagascar. Here, the government stopped some news organisations from broadcasting. But the internet gave people the freedom to report the news.
Voice 2
The United Nations document on human rights states that everyone should have the right to report freely¹³. But more work is needed to protect this right around the world. The press - the organisations that report the news - are often not free to report what they want.
Voice 1
Every year, people celebrate the third of May as World Press Freedom Day. This day helps to show the importance of people's right to report the news. World Press Freedom Day was the United Nations' idea. Ban Ki-Moon is the secretary-general of the UN. He says that press freedom is an important part of a free life.
Voice 6
‘Just as water is necessary for life to grow, we need knowledge so that we can imagine and change. When information flows freely, people are given the tools to take control of their lives. When the flow of information is restricted¹⁴ we are less able to do the things we could normally do.'
Voice 2
But why did the United Nations choose May the third as World Press Freedom Day? Well, it is the anniversary¹⁵ of an event that took place in another African country - Namibia.
Voice 1
The third of May is the anniversary of the Treaty¹⁶ of Windhoek. In 1991 a group of African countries came to an agreement. They decided¹⁷ to give news organisations the freedom to report the news. This is because they wanted to help build freedom and democracy¹⁸ in the continent. This led to other countries in the world signing similar agreements.
Voice 2
Many people believe that that the freedom to report the news is a key part of living in a free country. The internet is now helping to give this freedom to reporters. This freedom is not just something for traditional journalists to enjoy. It is also given to citizen journalists. These are normal people who can use the internet and are willing to write. The bloggers in Madagascar are just one example of a group of citizen journalists. There are many more all over the world. There may be some where you live. If not, maybe you could be the first!
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

3 riots   

n. 暴乱, 骚乱, 暴动 vi. 骚乱, 闹事

参考例句：

• the instigators of the riots 煽动骚乱的人
• The riots are a clear manifestation of the people's discontent. 骚乱清楚地表明了人们的不满情绪。

4 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

7 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

8 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

9 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

10 helping   

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。

11 restrict   

n./vt.限制，限定，约束

参考例句：

• He feels this new law will restrict his freedom. 他觉得这一新法律会限制他的自由。
• Don't restrict her proper activities.不要拘束她的正当活动。

12 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

13 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

14 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

15 anniversary   

n.周年(纪念日)

参考例句：

• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
• Today is my parents'30th wedding anniversary.今天是我父母结婚30周年纪念日。

16 treaty   

n.条约；协议，协定

参考例句：

• Hungary has indicated its readiness to sign the treaty.匈牙利已表示愿意签订该条约。
• I believe this treaty will pave the way to peace in Europe. 我相信这个条约将为欧洲的和平铺平道路。

17 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

18 democracy   

n.民主政治，民主制度；民主精神，民主作风

参考例句：

• Democracy is based on good will and mutual understanding.民主建立在善意和相互理解的基础上。
• Did democracy have its beginnings in Athens? 民主制度是创始于雅典吗？