英语课程计划-Non-Violence

The International Day of Non-Violence is on the 2nd of October. It is not surprising that this is also the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. The day started in 2007 after the United Nations General Assembly voted for it. The U.N. resolution asked all its members to observe the holiday in "an appropriate manner” and to spread “the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness¹." The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi played a big part in starting this day. At the World Social Forum² in Bombay in 2004, she suggested such a day should be created. India’s Sonia Gandhi and South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu also called upon the United Nations to adopt the idea.

Non-violence means rejecting the use of physical violence to achieve social or political change. It is sometimes described as "the politics of ordinary people". Mahatma Gandhi famously helped lead India to independence from Britain using non-violence. He has since been the inspiration³ for civil rights movements throughout the world. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was motivated by Gandhi as he fought for racial equality in the USA in the 1950s and 60s. One of Gandhi’s most famous quotes summarizes the spirit of non-violence. He said: “There are many causes that I am prepared to die for, but no causes that I am prepared to kill for.” He also said: "Non-violence is mightier⁴ than the mightiest⁵ weapon of destruction.”

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！

4 mightier   

adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其

参考例句：

• But it ever rises up again, stronger, firmer, mightier. 但是，这种组织总是重新产生，并且一次比一次更强大，更坚固，更有力。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言
• Do you believe that the pen is mightier than the sword? 你相信笔杆的威力大于武力吗？

5 mightiest   

adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的

参考例句：

• \"If thou fearest to leave me in our cottage, thou mightiest take me along with thee. “要是你害怕把我一个人留在咱们的小屋里，你可以带我一块儿去那儿嘛。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
• Silent though is, after all, the mightiest agent in human affairs. 确实，沉默毕竟是人类事件中最强大的代理人。 来自互联网