美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-05-09

 Teacher Appreciation¹ Week. We certainly appreciate all of you, teachers starting the week up for CNN Student News. We’re going to jump right in today with news from the Middle East.

 

That happened yesterday in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Syria says its military research facility was attacked by Israel. Syrian officials called it a declaration² of war, U.S. officials say, Israel launched an air strike against Syria late last week. Israel hasn’t confirmed or denied either claim. What Israel will say is that it will take steps to stop weapons being transferred to terrorist³ groups like Hezbollah. Hezbollah is based in Lebanon. That country, Israel and Syria, all share borders with each other. And Hezbollah and Israel have fought against each other in the past. Israeli officials say, they’ll target any weapons movements that may threaten their country.

 

Now, let’s move across the Atlantic to the Central American country of Costa Rica. President Obama made his first trip there last week, he met with President Laura Chinchilla. The two leaders talked about ways to help the region’s economy grow. They said, one way to do that, is to focus on security issues, things like violence and drug trafficking. President Obama may only have visited one Central American country, but he met with the leaders of all seven Central American nations and the Dominican Republic. They talked about some of those same economics⁴ and security concerns.

 

In the United States, the First Amendment⁵ guarantees the right to free speech. So, for the most part, we can say whatever we’d like. But in some countries people don’t have that right. Saying what’s on their minds or writing about it on a blog, for instance, can have severe consequences. Atika Shubert reports on three bloggers from countries where that’s how things are.

 

A desperate struggle for freedom of speech, by women living in some of the world’s most restrictive countries.

 

A sign of our times, but also the subject of a new film "Forbidden Voices."

Yoani Sanchez from Cuba could not be here.

Yoani Sanchez’s blog gives a critical portrayal⁶ of Cuban life under its current government. It receives up to 14 million hits per months from around the world. Much to the anger of the official media in Cuba. Farnaz Seifi is an Iranian blogger and journalist living in Germany. Her role as a women’s rights activist⁷ in Iran has prevented her from returning home.

 

So, you learn to censor⁸ yourself from a very early age in countries like my country.

1 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

2 declaration   

n.宣布，宣告，宣言，声明（书），申报

参考例句：

• We read the declaration posted on the bulletin board.我们读了贴在布告板上的声明。
• At the recent convention a declaration was adopted.在最近举行的大会上通过了一项宣言。

3 terrorist   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

参考例句：

• Without the gun,I'm a sitting duck for any terrorist.没有这支枪，我就成了恐怖分子下手的目标了。
• The district was put on red alert during a terrorist's bomb scare.这个地区在得到恐怖分子炸弹恐吓后作了应急准备。

4 economics   

n.经济学，经济情况

参考例句：

• He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学，该学科是很重要的。
• One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。

5 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

6 portrayal   

n.饰演；描画

参考例句：

• His novel is a vivid portrayal of life in a mining community.他的小说生动地描绘了矿区的生活。
• The portrayal of the characters in the novel is lifelike.该书中的人物写得有血有肉。

7 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。

8 censor   

n./vt.审查，审查员；删改

参考例句：

• The film has not been viewed by the censor.这部影片还未经审查人员审查。
• The play was banned by the censor.该剧本被查禁了。