VOA标准英语2010年-Activists in South Korea Hope Airborne

Balloon-launched DVDs and leaflets are designed to bring government criticism and outside news reports to North Korean living rooms

Human rights activists² are eager to use whatever tools they can to chip away at the information blockade the North Korean government imposes on its people. In the past, activists have launched leaflets by helium balloon into the North.  These days, the messages flying through the air arrive with full color, sound, and motion as part of a new digital strategy.

For almost two years now, activist¹ groups in South Korea have been using balloons to send leaflets into North Korean territory, from sea and from land.

The leaflets criticize the North's leader, Kim Jong Il. But now, there is more than just reading material to be found when the balloons land.

DVDs have been part of the payload of several recent launches.  Most of the content comes from news broadcasts.

Kim Seung-chul, the DVD producer, also serves as an anchor, offering North Korean viewers a narrative³ they will never hear from their own broadcasters.

"I want to help people get back their freedom, and their rights, and to move forward to unification," he said.

A recent DVD production focuses on North-South naval⁴ clashes, including one last November that reportedly left a North Korean vessel⁵ badly damaged.

Kim says he drew on his engineering training to design the DVD packaging.  The packaging is designed to act as paper wings to help discs float back to earth.  He says North Korean defectors have told him it is much easier to see DVDs there than much of the world believes.

"DVD players are in 70 to 80 percent of North Korean households in some areas," explained Kim.  "Also, more and more houses are getting their own computers."

Kim says the same people trying to stop the spread of the DVDs are part of his target audience.

"Actually it is North Korean government officials who watch these more than anybody, especially the ones in the Defense⁶ Ministry," Kim noted⁷.  "After they confiscate⁸ it, they watch it, and even pass it on to friends. Then they report it to their bosses, generating interest higher and higher in the power structure."

Kim plans more DVDs, including one that illustrates⁹ how different Kim Jong Il's lifestyle is from that of the average impoverished¹⁰ North Korean.

 
 

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

4 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

5 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 confiscate   

v.没收(私人财产)，把…充公

参考例句：

• The police have the right to confiscate any forbidden objects they find.如发现违禁货物，警方有权查扣。
• Did the teacher confiscate your toy?老师没收你的玩具了吗？

9 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

10 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》