VOA标准英语2011--Kenyans Reflect on Legacy of Wangari Maa

Kenyans Reflect on Legacy¹ of Wangari Maathai

Kenyans are in mourning following the recent death of Nobel Prize-winning environmentalist Wangari Maathai. Some shared their thoughts at a park in Nairobi that Maathai famously fought to defend.
Uhuru Park is a peaceful stretch of land on the edge of downtown Nairobi.
The name means freedom. And Kenyans owe the existence of this beautiful place to the environmentalist work of Wangari Maathai.
Paul Gatheru came to Nairobi six months ago. He says he spent many peaceful hours here while looking for work in the Kenyan capital.
“After realizing that she is the person behind this park and how she actually fought about it, we could not be enjoying it as we enjoy it now,” Gatheru said.
Maathai saved the parkland from development more than 20 years ago -- leading demonstrations² and eventually defeating the developers in court.
If not for her action, Mary Wambui Mwaura - a city worker here for the past 10 years - would not have a job.
“In that time, the government wanted to grab³ this ground, to build private houses. But Wangari [stood] firmly and said 'no, that can't happen,'” she remembered.
In 2004, Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize for her environmental activism -- becoming the first African woman, and the first environmentalist, to win the award.
She is also remembered for her political activism, particularly against the government of former President Daniel Arap Moi.
Nairobi businessman Eliud Thigari recalls⁴ meeting Maathai during a political event at a church in the town of Thika.
“We happened to meet with her, to interact⁵ with her within that church, and she told us to fight, to not to fear, to fight for our democracy⁶," he said. "Since then we continued to fight until such a time, the government of today allowed us to have a multi-party democracy. That was in the year 2001.”
Maathai's Green Belt Movement planted many of the trees in Uhuru Park.
Shukri Aden says he learned⁷ to respect and love the environment while growing up, thanks to Maathai.
“We lost a woman who is very friendly to the environment, she was such an environmentalist woman. She has conserved⁸ a lot of places in the environment. So it's just a big blow to Kenyans. We've lost a very very fantastic woman,” Aden said.
Kenyans say there may never be another Wangari Maathai, but her message will not be forgotten.

 

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 grab   

vt./n.攫取，抓取；vi.攫取，抓住(at)

参考例句：

• It is rude to grab a seat.抢占座位是不礼貌的。
• The thief made a grab at my bag but I pushed him away.贼想抢我的手提包，但被我推开了。

4 recalls   

回忆起( recall的第三人称单数 )； 使想起； 使想到； 勾起

参考例句：

• The sight recalls the days of childhood to me. 那情景使我想起了童年。
• Moreover, extensive use of voluntary recalls can undercut agency accountability. 此外，大量利用自愿撤回会削弱行政机关的责任心。

5 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

6 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？

7 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

8 conserved   

v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He conserved his energy for the game. 他为比赛而养精蓄锐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Under these conditions, the total mechanical energy remains constant, or is conserved. 在这种条件下，总机械能保持不变或机械能保存。 来自辞典例句