环球英语 — 358：Pygmy Power

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby¹ Jones. Welcome to Spotlight². 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 1
A group of small men walk along a narrow forest path. Different kinds of trees stand tall around them. Sunlight dances on the rich, green leaves. High above the men, birds call out to each other. The men know this forest like the back of their hands. It is their home. It was their parents’ home. And they will do what they can to protect it.
One of the men is holding a small piece of equipment in his hand. It looks like a large mobile³ telephone - but it is, in fact, a computer!
Suddenly, the men stop in front of one particular tree. The man with the computer turns on his machine. Different images appear on the computer - a knife, a fish, a tree. The man presses the picture of the tree. The computer then records details about where exactly the tree is. The group of men then walk on deeper into the forest. They have to find other trees of this kind before the daylight finishes.
Voice 2
The men in the forest are part of the Baka Pygmy tribe⁴. Pygmies are shorter than average people. The Baka live in Cameroon. This central African country has many rich rainforests. The forests in the south east are home to the Baka people. For them, the forest is their life. They hunt its animals for food. They gather fruit and leaves from its plants and trees. Its water holes provide fish. Large trees offer shelter from the sun’s heat. And the pygmies can use its dead wood to make fires. These fight off the cool night temperatures.
Voice 1
But the Baka Pygmies are not the only people interested in the riches of the Ngola Baka rainforest. A number of businesses have factories very near the forest - in some cases, only two kilometres away. And their particular interest is the wood from the trees. Cameroon is one of the world’s top five exporters of tropical⁵ wood. The national economy depends heavily on its continued success. So, the government permits these businesses to cut down an agreed number of trees.
The wood - or logging⁶ - companies have particular areas of forest where they can go to cut down these trees. There are established borders to mark where their land officially stops. The government rules say that the companies must discuss their logging plans with the local Baka community. This should make sure that the Baka’s traditional forest life is not in danger - a way of life that has been going on for thousands of years!
Voice 2
However, some environmental pressure groups claim that the companies are not following the rules. The Centre for Environmental Development, CEP, is one of these groups. The Forest People’s Programme, or FFP, is another. These groups believe that the logging companies are acting⁷ illegally. They are not respecting forest borders. And they do not inform the Baka Pygmies about their plans for cutting down trees. This breaks Cameroon’s forestry⁸ laws. And, it leaves the Baka Pygmies facing increased poverty and a lack of resources.
Voice 1
There has been one major problem facing the Baka Pygmies in their fight for justice. They have not been able to gather evidence of illegal behaviour by the logging companies. That is, until now! Helveta is a British computer programming company. It has been working with the CEP and the FFP. Together, they have designed a hand-held computer for the Baka Pygmies. The computer uses GPS - Global Positioning System. This uses links to satellites to record information about where something is exactly.
Voice 2
When Baka Pygmies go into the forest now, they carry the computer with them. They can record the exact position of special trees, good hunting places, water holes. Doctor Jerome Lewis has been working with the Baka Pygmies for twenty years. He explains more about how the computer works⁹:
Voice 3
“The system is very simple for the Baka people to use. The designers used the Baka’s knowledge to organize the computer programme.”
Voice 2
Doctor Lewis shows a line of different symbols on the computer. He points to one of a manioc tree. Then, he presses it:
Voice 3
“The computer will then show the question: ‘Is this a manioc tree?’ Then, they press ‘yes’. The computer will then record a GPS point. The satellite tells the computer where it is - that is how it can mark its position. When the Baka pygmies finally finish walking in the forest, they will go to another computer, back in their village. They load the information from their hand-held machines on to it. This computer is linked to an information store. Then other users¹⁰ can see the information on their own computers. For example, the people at the government office can see where the trees are and make sure that they are not being illegally cut down.”
Voice 1
Belmont Chomba works for an environmental development group among the Baka Pygmies. He explains how having this information empowers the people of the forest:
Voice 4
“The information comes right from where the problem is. I think it is difficult for logging companies to speak against this information. I am sure this will put a lot of pressure on them. And I hope they will improve their behaviour and ways of working.”
Voice 1
And Doctor Lewis agrees. He points to an agreement made between governments who export wood and the European Union. He says:
Voice 3
“Governments must promise to only permit legal tree-cutting. And they must promise to operate in a way that respects the rights of local people. The information gathered on GPS will show if they are keeping their promises.”
Voice 2
Back in the forest, night is arriving. A group of Baka Pygmies sit around a small fire. They sing, laugh and share the experiences of the day. It has been this way for many hundreds of years. And thanks to modern technology this ancient way of life can continue for many years to come.
 

1 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。

2 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。

3 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

4 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

5 tropical   

adj.热带的，热带的，炎热的

参考例句：

• You must grow these tropical flowers in a glasshouse.你必须把这些热带花卉种在温室里。
• This disease is widespread in tropical areas.这种疾病在热带地区蔓延很广。

6 logging   

n.伐木搬运业；记录，存入；航行日志v.砍伐树木(log的现在分词)

参考例句：

• All these measures were calculated to prevent water-logging by rainstorm or mountain torrents. 这些措施都是为了预防暴雨或山洪造成的涝灾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They cleared large tracts of forest for farming, logging and ranching. 他们清除了大片的森林以经营农耕、采伐与畜牧。 来自辞典例句

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 forestry   

n.森林学；林业

参考例句：

• At present, the Chinese forestry is being at a significant transforming period. 当前, 我国的林业正处于一个重大的转折时期。
• Anhua is one of the key forestry counties in Hunan province. 安化县是湖南省重点林区县之一。

9 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。

10 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。