环球英语 — 375：Mandela Day

　　Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Steve Myersco,
Voice 2
And I'm Ruby² Jones. 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
What are you doing on the 18th of July? Do you have any special plans? Well, some people are hoping you will make the day special. They want everyone to do something good that day, to help other people. They want people to give sixty-seven [67] minutes of their lives. The groups behind the idea are both linked with the South African leader Nelson Mandela. They want July 18th to become Mandela Day.
Voice 2
Today's Spotlight is all about the idea of Mandela Day. The programme looks at what the day is about, and how people may get involved.
Voice 1
Nelson Mandela is one of the most famous leaders in the world. He is also one of the most respected people on the planet³. When he was released⁴ from prison, millions of people all over the world celebrated⁵. He spent twenty-seven [27] years in prison in South Africa. This was during the time of Apartheid in South Africa - when black people were not given equal rights to white people. Later he was elected South Africa's first black president. Today, he is respected for his leadership, wise words and work for important global⁶ issues⁷.
Voice 2
So would the world be a better place if everyone copied Mandela's example? The creators⁸ of Mandela Day believe it would be. They want everyone to do something good on Mandela Day, to create a positive effect in the world.
Voice 1
Mandela Day is the idea of two organisations that value his life and work highly¹⁰. One is the Nelson Mandela Foundation¹¹. It works¹² for peace and social justice, particularly in South Africa. The other organisation⁹ is 46664. This organisation is named after the number that Nelson Mandela was given when he was in prison. 46664 helps people who suffer from the effects of HIV and AIDS.
Voice 2
The International Director¹³ of 46664 is Tim Massey. He explains what the day is all about.
Voice 3
‘Mandela Day is a day for all of us to understand and share particular values. They are the values that were a part of Mr Mandela's life - his fight for human rights, and his continuing fight for social justice. Mandela Day is a day for everyone to help bring change. Mr Mandela has given sixty-seven [67] years to fighting for human rights. All we are asking people to do is give sixty seven [67] minutes. Each of us can give sixty-seven [67] minutes to serve the community. It could be reading a newspaper to an old person. Or it could be spending time with someone with a serious disease¹⁴. It depends on what people want to do. Each of us can give sixty-seven [67] minutes.'
Voice 1
July 18th 2009 will be the first ever Mandela Day. No one knows how popular the day will be. Will people choose to do something for Mandela Day? Or will the day be forgotten? Spotlight asked a few people what they thought about the idea of Mandela Day.
Voice 4
‘I think it is a good idea. It is probably something fun and useful for schools. But I do not think it will become an event that happens every year.'
Voice 5
‘I think it is a good idea. People should react¹⁵ well to it because it is something anyone can do. I think it will be very popular. I may get involved. I could go to the store for someone or help them in their house.'
Voice 6
‘It just seems like another "lets celebrate a great person" event. There is also the danger that people may do something small in a single hour in a year and think that is enough. I do not think I will get involved.'
Voice 2
So people have mixed feelings about Mandela Day. But what about the people who do choose to do something? What can they do?
Voice 1
46664 has created a list of ideas of what people can do on Mandela Day. Some require a lot of effort. Others are small things that anyone can do. Here are just a few of their ideas:
Voice 3
‘Fill in the holes in the road in the area that you live.'
Voice 4
‘Look through all your clothes and give your old ones to homeless people.'
Voice 5
‘Make a new friend. Sometimes people from different ethnic¹⁶ groups do not speak to each other. This can lead to trouble between different groups.'
Voice 4
‘Plant a tree.'
Voice 6
‘If you play a musical instrument go to your local old people's home and play for them.'
Voice 5
‘Create a website for someone or something that needs one.'
Voice 2
46664 is not the only group that has suggested some ideas for Mandela Day. A group of school children have also created their own list. It states ways that schools and communities can use the positive values of Mandela's life in their own lives. The document was developed by a group of South African and American school children. They worked together on the document in South Africa. American children won the trip to South Africa through a competition for schools in New York. The new document that the children have written together will now go to other countries. There, more people will have the chance to add their ideas to it.
Voice 1
Nelson Mandela has high hopes for July 18th. He hopes that people will have a big positive effect in their communities. He wants their work to leave a permanent¹⁷ mark - an imprint¹⁸ - on the world. We finish today's Spotlight in an unusual way. Here is Nelson Mandela himself. He is speaking to everyone who chooses to serve on July 18th.
Nelson Mandela
‘I sincerely thank you for your support for Mandela Day. For all those who continue to give service in their own way, I thank you. We each, every one of us can make an imprint.'
 

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 planet   

n.行星

参考例句：

• Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun. 海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
• Rubbish, however, is only part of the problem of polluting our planet. 然而, 垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。

4 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

5 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

6 global   

adj.全球的；球形的；世界的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• The report takes a global view of the company's problems.这份报告对公司的问题作了综合性的论述。

7 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

8 creators   

n.创造者，创作者( creator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The masses are the true creators of history. 群众是历史的真正创造者。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Judges were the creators rather than the discoverers of the law. 法官是法律的创造者而不是发现者。 来自辞典例句

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 highly   

adv.高度地，极，非常；非常赞许地

参考例句：

• It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。
• The teacher speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour.老师称赞这个男孩的表现。

11 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

12 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。

13 director   

n.主管，导演；主任；理事；董事；处长

参考例句：

• The director has taken the visitors off to his office.经理把客人带到他办公室去了。
• The new director is easy to get along with.新来的主任很好处。

14 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

15 react   

vi.起反应，起作用；反抗，起反作用

参考例句：

• She didn't look up or react in any way.她既不抬头，也没有任何反应。
• How did he react to your suggestion?他如何对待你的建议？

16 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

17 permanent   

adj.永久的，不变的，固定的

参考例句：

• The coat gives permanent protection against heavy rain.这种防雨衣经久耐用。
• It's difficult to find a permanent cure for this disease.这病很难除根。

18 imprint   

n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记

参考例句：

• That dictionary is published under the Longman imprint.那本词典以朗曼公司的名义出版。
• Her speech left its imprint on me.她的演讲给我留下了深刻印象。