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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Voice 1
Hello, I’m Christy Van Arragon.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Welcome to Spotlight1. 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
The small, white room is bright. Medical workers stand around a table. An eighteen year old girl lies on this table. Doctors are preparing to operate on her. She looks a little frightened. One of the medical workers takes her hand and smiles. “You will be alright,” her eyes seem to say. At last, everything is ready. The doctor in charge says a prayer. He asks God to look after his patient and to guide his hands. Then, he begins his work.
Voice 2
The young patient’s name is Foura. And her story is a tragic2 one. In 2006, soldiers came to her village. They attacked her family. Foura’s mother and father were killed before her eyes. Foura tried to run away. But the soldiers caught her. They told her, “Just as we killed your mother and father, we will destroy you for ever.”
The soldiers kept Foura with them for two days. They would not let her leave. During that time, the soldiers forced Foura to have sex with them - they raped4 her. Foura remembers:
Voice 3
“There were so many men - too many to count. I could not stand. And they left me for dead in the forest.”
Voice 2
Soon after these events, Foura discovered that she was pregnant5. But the soldiers had damaged her body very badly. And the baby was already dead when Foura gave birth. Tears filled her eyes as she remembered her baby girl. Foura wished that the baby had lived.
Voice 1
Sadly, stories like this are very common in Foura’s country. This is the Democratic6 Republic of Congo - a country the size of Western Europe. The DRC has large resources of gold, jewels and minerals. But over the years, governments have badly managed the economy. And since 1996, the country has been in a state of civil war. Different groups are fighting each other to gain total control. Since the war began, there have been almost five and a half million deaths. The situation is especially bad in eastern parts of the country. The war has left most Congolese people in poverty. Many have fled their homes and villages. And the rebel7 groups have a particular target in this conflict. It is the women and girls.
Voice 2
The International Rescue Committee or IRC, aids refugees8 and victims of war. It has been working in the DRC since 1996. It aims to inform other countries about the terrible violence happening there - including the sexual9 violence against women. Rape3 has become more than an individual crime. It has become a weapon of war. The IRC published a report about sexual violence on their website. In it, it said:
Voice 4
“The women and girls of Congo are not only raped. They are raped again and again - without mercy. Rape is a military plan of action used to create terror10 and to control people through fear. It is simple, fast and does not cost money. Rape is a very useful tool for soldiers moving through the country with few resources. Soldiers depend on the food and water they steal when raiding11 villages. It is the women who provide for their families - working in the fields, collecting water, caring for animals. Killing12 them would not be helpful for the soldiers. So they kidnap13 women and girls and force them to become slaves.”
Voice 1
Damaged bodies. Broken spirits. Lost innocence14. A deep sense of shame. Rape means all these things to its victims. And it is hard to imagine any kind of positive future for the women of Congo.
Voice 2
But, there is hope. Remember Foura? The eighteen year old rape victim on the operating table? Foura has a chance for a new start. Her operation was just the first step. The doctors succeeded in fixing a tear in her uterus. So Foura may still be able to have children. Foura received her treatment in a hospital managed by HEAL15 Africa. This local aid group is ready to help any victims of the war in the DRC.
Voice 1
HEAL Africa workers believe that healing16 the whole person is the key to healing the DRC’s deep divisions17. The group’s aim is: ”To provide complete care for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. How? By training health workers. By strengthening those who work in the community. And, by providing physical, spiritual and social healing.”
Voice 2
HEAL Africa has a special concern for the victims of sexual violence. In 2003, it started a special treatment programme called, “Heal My People.” This involves trained local advisers18. These advisers go into the villages. They find women who have suffered sexual violence. They offer help and advice. If the women need medical help, they take them to the hospital. The advisers continue to watch over the women after their treatment. They want them to return to their community as healed19 people. Lyn Lusi was one of the people who started Heal Africa. She describes what the advisers mean to their communities:
Voice 5
“The advisers walk for days to reach the troubled women left behind after the fighting. They are not trained in universities, but they can read and write. They are wise and they live alongside20 the women they help. They help to put their broken communities back together again. I am always amazed21 by their courage and the healing effect of their friendship and wisdom.”
Voice 1
The “Heal My People” programme also prepares women for their return to community life. They learn new job skills like reading, writing or how to make clothes. They learn about how to solve disputes22 within families. They hear about the importance of making peace with women from other tribes23. They believe that these small steps can lead to the healing of their nation.
Voice 2
Foura should recover soon from her operation. Then, she too will learn new skills. And one day she will return to her home village. Foura does not want to punish her attackers. She says:
Voice 3
“My only wish is to serve God. He rescued me from that danger. I do not know how else I am alive. I am still hoping for a bright future.”
Voice 2
The writer and producer of today’s programme was Ruby24 Jones. The voices you heard were from the United States, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe. All material was adapted for radio. You can hear more Spotlight programmes on our website. Our address is www,radio.english.net. This programme is called, “DRC’s Forgotten Victims.”
1 spotlight | |
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目 | |
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2 tragic | |
adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 | |
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3 rape | |
n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸 | |
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4 raped | |
v.以暴力夺取,强夺( rape的过去式和过去分词 );强奸 | |
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5 pregnant | |
adj.怀孕的,怀胎的 | |
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6 democratic | |
adj.民主的;民主主义的,有民主精神的 | |
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7 rebel | |
n.叛徒,起义者;vi.造反,反抗,反感;adj.造反的,反抗的,反叛者的 | |
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8 refugees | |
n.避难者,难民( refugee的名词复数 ) | |
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9 sexual | |
adj.性的,两性的,性别的 | |
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10 terror | |
n.恐怖;可怖的人(事) | |
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11 raiding | |
对…进行突然袭击(raid的现在分词形式) | |
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12 killing | |
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财 | |
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13 kidnap | |
v.拐,绑架,劫持(某人) | |
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14 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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15 heal | |
v.使愈合,治愈,使康复;平息(争吵等);消除,解决(分支等) | |
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16 healing | |
n.康复,复原adj.有治疗功用的v.(使)愈合( heal的现在分词 );治愈;(使)结束;较容易忍受 | |
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17 divisions | |
n.分开( division的名词复数 );分界线;分歧;分离 | |
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18 advisers | |
顾问,劝告者( adviser的名词复数 ); (指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授 | |
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19 healed | |
v.(使)愈合( heal的过去式和过去分词 );治愈;(使)结束;较容易忍受 | |
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20 alongside | |
adv.在旁边;prep.和...在一起,在...旁边 | |
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21 amazed | |
adj.吃惊的,惊奇的v.使大为吃惊,使惊奇( amaze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 disputes | |
n.辩论( dispute的名词复数 );争端;(劳资)纠纷;罢工v.辩论,争论( dispute的第三人称单数 );争夺;阻止;就…进行辩论 | |
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23 tribes | |
n.部落( tribe的名词复数 );(动、植物的)族;(一)帮;大群 | |
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24 ruby | |
n.红宝石,红宝石色 | |
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