英语听力—环球英语 1109 Peace Police

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Ryan Geertsma.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I'm Robin² Basselin. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　On October 11th, 2010, the front of the New York Times newspaper had an unusual picture on it. The picture was of three police officers. The officers were from Rio de Janeiro*. They were wearing official, blue police clothes. But these three police men were not holding guns. Instead, they were holding babies.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　These officers are part of a new police program in Rio. Some people call them the "peace police." In the New York Times picture, these policemen were visiting a child care center. It was in a part of Rio called Cidade de Deus, or City of God. City of God is one of many poor areas of Rio called favelas. Today's Spotlight is on Brazil's special "peace police" and their efforts to bring peace back to the favelas.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　For many years, the police have not had control over many favelas in Rio. Instead, the most powerful people were the drug dealers³ with the biggest guns. The drug trade brought a lot of violence. In fact, Rio had one of the highest murder rates in the world. In 1999, Katia Lund and Joas Salles made a film about Rio's drug war. It was called "News from a Personal War." The film claimed that at the time, one person died every half hour from the drug war in Rio.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Because of the violence, many doctors, teachers, and social service workers left the favelas to live in safer areas. The people that remained lacked basic social structures - like good health care or education. Children grew up with little chance to get a good job. Many of them instead entered the drug trade at a very young age.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The drug dealers did not want the police to interfere⁴. So they offered the police money, or bribes⁵. And the police took the money. The police chose to not deal with the problems of drugs and violence. Helio Luz is a former head of police in Rio. In the film "News from a Personal War" he said,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　"I will say it. The police are corrupt⁶. The government leaves the favelas as a wasted land."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Police did not give people in the favelas fair trials. The police even killed people illegally. The people felt betrayed⁷ by the police. They felt that the police left them under the rule of the criminals.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But in 2002, a powerful film came out. The film was called "Cidade de Deus", or "City of God." The film showed the rise of the drug trade in the favelas of Rio. It showed the terrible effects of the poverty and violence. It showed what happens to a community when even children carry guns.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In the last scene of the film, a group of children shoot their gang⁸ leader. The leader's body lays bleeding on the ground. But the children have seen so much violence already. They do not even care. In the very last part of the film, the children are laughing and waving their guns. They are talking about all the people they are still planning to kill.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Brazilians already knew about the problems in the favelas. But "Cidade de Deus" brought these problems to the eyes of the world. Millions of people saw this film. It received many international awards. The terrible situation in the favelas was no longer hidden. Still, the government was slow to act. The problem was very big. And people did not trust the police to help.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　But something else happened that caused the government to act. The international community chose Rio for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Now the world would be watching Rio closely⁹. So finally, six years after the release¹⁰ of "Cidade de Deus," the government decided¹¹ that it needed to change the situation in the favelas.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　To do this, the government started a new program called the "Police Pacification¹² Program," or "Peace Police Program." When the peace officers come in to the favelas, they are not like other police officers. When they come in, there are no more gun battles. Alexei Barrionuevo is a writer for the New York Times. He explained the purpose of the new officers.

 

　　Voice 4

 

　　"They come in after the military police clear the streets - after gun battles that can last weeks... Their job is part traditional police work, part social work."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The peace police protect the streets like regular police officers. But they also teach classes like music and English. They visit child care centres and play with the children. They are trying to communicate the message that they are there to stay. They want people to know that they are going to make life in the favelas better for everyone.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Since the peace police program began, the favelas have improved. Trucks now come three times a week to collect waste. The government is cleaning up the dirty rivers. The government is also trying to help people get health care and jobs. Children are safer. Their chance to get an education has improved. The New York Times reports,

 

　　Voice 4

 

　　"The number of children going to school has increased. One high school is showing a 90% increase since the peace police arrived."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　However, bringing peace back to the favelas is not easy. The way of change is difficult. It is filled with danger. People living in the favelas are still slow to trust police officers. Luis Pizarro is a peace police officer in Cidade de Deus. He told the New York Times:

 

　　Voice 5

 

　　"Nobody likes us here. It can be difficult sometimes."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But this situation is changing too. The New York Times tells the story of Officer da Silva. He teaches free karate¹³ classes in the favelas. Karate is a Japanese method of self-protection. A man named Leonardo Bento signed up for da Silva's class. The police had killed Bento's brother. He took the class so that he could hurt Officer da Silva. But he says,

 

　　Voice 6

 

　　"I began to understand that the police officer in front of me was just a human being. He was not the terrible creature I had imagined in my head."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Officer da Silva wants to earn the peoples' trust. He does not wear a vest to protect him from bullets¹⁴. He does not even carry a gun. He says,

 

　　Voice 7

 

　　"Force does not bring peace. It can lead to respect, but not trust."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　With hopeful signs like these, Rio's peace police program could be a permanent part of police service. Like the film Cidade de Deus, Brazil's peace police provide a powerful message for the rest of the world.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer of today's programme was Jennifer Hawkins. The producer was Mark Drenth. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. Computer users¹⁵ can read our scripts¹⁶, hear our programs and see our word list on our website: www.radio.english.net. This programme is called "Peace Police." We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!

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 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

4 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

5 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

6 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

7 betrayed   

对…不忠( betray的过去式和过去分词 )； 背叛； 出卖； 泄露

参考例句：

• The shakes of the speaker's hands betrayed his nervousness. 发言者双手颤抖，可见他很紧张。
• He betrayed all his friends on his own account. 他为自己的利益出卖了所有的朋友。

8 gang   

n.一伙，一帮；结伴的朋友

参考例句：

• The gang live abroad,beyond reach of the British police.这帮匪徒住在国外，英国警方鞭长莫及。
• Some gang came in and shot the place up.有股匪帮进来对这个地方开枪扫射。

9 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

10 release   

vt.发布，发表，发行；释放，放开

参考例句：

• After my examination I had a feeling of release.考完试后我有如释重负之感。
• This medicine will give you release from pain.这药吃后会解除你的疼痛。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 pacification   

n. 讲和，绥靖，平定

参考例句：

• Real pacification is hard to get in the Vietnamese countryside. 在越南的乡下真正的安宁是很难实现的。
• Real pacification is hard to get in the Vietnamese countryside(McGeorge Bundy) 在越南的乡下真正的安宁是很难实现的（麦乔治·邦迪）

13 karate   

n.空手道(日本的一种徒手武术)

参考例句：

• Alice's boyfriend knew a little karate.艾丽斯的男朋友懂一点儿空手道。
• The black belt is the highest level in karate.黑腰带级是空手道的最高级别。

14 bullets   

n.弹药；军火

参考例句：

• The bodies of the hostages were found riddled with bullets. 在人质的尸体上发现了很多弹孔。
• The bullets and cannon-balls were flying in all directions. 子弹和炮弹到处乱飞。

15 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。

16 scripts   

剧本( script的名词复数 )； 文字； 笔迹； （一种语言的）字母系统

参考例句：

• Many felt he was prostituting his talents by writing Hollywood scripts. 许多人觉得他给好莱坞写剧本是滥用自己的才华。
• The scripts had a rather tired plot. 这部陈旧的剧本的情节是非常俗套的。