英语听力—环球英语 726 Toyohiko Kagawa: Working for Peace

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Robin² Basselin.
Voice 2
And I'm Ryan Geertsma. 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
This is our second programme about a man named Toyohiko Kagawa. Kagawa lived through a difficult time in Japanese history. It was the first half of the twentieth century. Many things in Japan changed during Kagawa's lifetime. And Kagawa was often involved in these changes. In the first programme we looked at how Kagawa helped to improve the lives of the poorest people in Japan. Today, we will look at the work he did to oppose war and violence in his country.
Voice 2
Toyohiko Kagawa was a pacifist. He believed that people should be peaceful and not use violence. However, he also disagreed with the authorities⁴ on a number of issues. He protested⁵ against the unfair treatment of the poorest people. Remaining peaceful during these protests⁶ was often difficult. One example of this was in 1921. Kagawa was protesting⁷ with some factory workers. They wanted more rights for themselves. But then the authorities put him in prison. When he came out of prison he found some people in the group had started to act violently. Kagawa explained what happened next:
Voice 3
‘The next day thousands of workers with stones and bars walked towards the factory. Police and guards surrounded the factory with guns and swords. They waited for the attack. I did not know what to do. So, I went to a bridge where the group had to cross. I stood there and prayed. When that big group of men came up to me I was too sad to speak. So I just stood there praying. "God let there be peace". Then a miracle⁸ happened. They all stopped. Then they turned and went away!'
Voice 1
Later in Kagawa's life violence became a much bigger issue. In 1937, Japan went to war with China. And Kagawa believed that Japan would soon go to war with the United States as well. So, Kagawa travelled to the United States for a meeting with Christians⁹ in that country. When he returned he had not given up hope of peace. He wanted to tell the Japanese government about what he had learned¹⁰ in the United States. Kagawa said,
Voice 3
‘I went to the parliament¹¹ and urged them to be peaceful and not go to war. I told them that I had just come from America. I said I knew that the American people wanted peace - and so did the Japanese people. But it did not do any good. On December 7th, 1941 I felt like all the lights had gone out. My heart was broken.'
Voice 2
On December 7th, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl¹² Harbor¹³ - an American Navy¹⁴ Base in Hawaii. This marked the beginning of Japan's involvement in World War Two. Kagawa continued to speak about the need for peace. But people started to think that he was wrong to talk this way. Japan was fighting in a major war. The government needed the people's support. People said that Kagawa was betraying¹⁵ his country. Kagawa said,
Voice 3
‘During the war the government asked me to keep quiet. They asked me to resign from all my activities. I could only take small services in my own church. By this time, I had written 113 books. All of these books, except my poems, were banned.'
Voice 1
Later, Japan started to lose the war. This made life particularly difficult for Kagawa. Magazine writers started to attack Kagawa again in their writing. Kagawa said,
Voice 3
‘They wrote as if I was betraying my country. People started to imagine what would happen if Japan lost the war. They said that the country would lose its leader - the emperor. They said that the new president would be me. Then Nagasaki was destroyed by the atom bomb. After that, one of the government officials warned me that the army wanted to kill me. He said I should leave Tokyo immediately. I ran away into the forests. I lived there for four or five months. It was about 150 kilometres north of the city.'
Voice 2
World War Two ended in 1945. After the war Japan became a very different country. The ruler of Japan, the Emperor, lost many of his powers. People also now thought very differently about the Emperor. Before this time, people believed the Emperor was a living god. But after the war the Emperor had to admit he was just a man. Then the Emperor invited Toyohiko Kagawa to visit him. He wanted Kagawa to help him serve his people better. Kagawa said,
Voice 3
‘I talked for almost two hours. I told the Emperor that he must get close to the people and fill them with the desire for democracy¹⁶ and justice. I told him that a man or nation can only bring peace to the people through serving. About a week later the Emperor appeared in public for the first time. He visited me at a settlement I had established in Tokyo. It served 20,000 war refugees¹⁷. This settlement was similar to others that I had helped establish. These were in many of the larger cities and country areas of Japan.'
Voice 1
After the war Japan created a new constitution. This was based around the idea of peace and non-violence. The constitution makes it illegal for the country to declare war on another country. This has helped Japan to change a lot. The country has become one of the most peaceful and richest countries in the world.
Voice 2
Toyohiko Kagawa died in 1960. He was 71. During his life he saw his country change. It was once divided and at war. But Kagawa helped it to become a country that believes in non-violence and peace. Kagawa said that such ideas of peace are very important for everyone.
Voice 3
‘When you use violence you may force an enemy to admit defeat. But he does so against his will. After using violence you must destroy the enemy. Or you must continue to make the enemy believe you will use violence again - and you must make sure that the enemy will not attack you back. A better way is to win the enemy through love. Love is the only way to defeat greed³ and self-interest. When these feelings are defeated you achieve the path for understanding. Then there is no need for violence.'
 

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 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

3 greed   

n.贪食，贪心，贪婪

参考例句：

• His greed knows no limits.他的贪心永无止境。
• Greed was his only motive for stealing.贪婪是他盗窃的唯一动机。

4 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 protested   

v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议，说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 protests   

n.[体]抗议；抗议，反对( protest的名词复数 )v.声明( protest的第三人称单数 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax. 抗议活动已迫使政府撤销新的税目。
• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。

7 protesting   

v.声明( protest的现在分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• They were formally protesting. 他们正式提出抗议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were protesting soaring prices. 他们抗议物价暴涨。 来自辞典例句

8 miracle   

n.奇迹，令人惊奇的人或事

参考例句：

• The doctors said that his recovery was a miracle. 医生们说他的复原是件奇事。
• It is simply a miracle that rice should grow in such a place.稻子竟能在这样的地方生长，这实在是个奇迹。

9 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

10 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。

11 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。

12 pearl   

n.珍珠，珍珠母

参考例句：

• He bought his girlfriend a pearl necklace.他给他女朋友买了一条珍珠项链。
• The crane and the mother-of-pearl fight to death.鹬蚌相争。

13 harbor   

n.海港，港口；vt.庇护，藏匿；心怀(怨恨等)

参考例句：

• The harbor lies to the south of the city.港口在城市的南边。
• At that time,our ship was tied up at this harbor.当时我们的船停靠在这个港口。

14 navy   

n.海军，海军人员，海军军力，藏青色

参考例句：

• My brother is in the navy.我兄弟在海军服役。
• He has transferred from the army to the navy.他从陆军转到海军。

15 betraying   

对…不忠( betray的现在分词 )； 背叛； 出卖； 泄露

参考例句：

• For years they had been betraying state secrets to Russia. 他们多年来一直在向俄罗斯泄露国家机密。
• Don't try to trick me with words into betraying the secret. 别拿话来诈我。

16 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？

17 refugees   

n.避难者，难民( refugee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The UN has begun making airdrops of food to refugees. 联合国已开始向难民空投食物。
• They claimed they were political refugees and not economic migrants. 他们宣称自己是政治难民，不是经济移民。