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VOA慢速英语2013 AS IT IS 2013-07-09 Street Artist Tests Free Speech Limits in Singapore

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AS IT IS 2013-07-09 Street Artist Tests Free Speech Limits in Singapore

Hello, I’m Steve Ember.

Today, in Singapore, we meet a street artist who is testing the limits of free artistic1 expression in a country where rules are firmly enforced. 

Next. in the United States, we hear about small wooden boxes that have become miniature free libraries.

[Music from “The Pines of Rome” by Ottorino Respighi]

And then it’s off to Italy, were we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Ottorino Respighi, who gave the world colorful, melodic2  music like “The Pines of Rome.”

But first, let’s meet artist Samantha Lo.

Street Artist Tests Free Speech Limits in Singapore

As Singaporeans become more economically successful, young people are demanding more freedom of expression, including speech that is sometimes unpleasant and politically offensive.

Samantha Lo is a street artist. Last year the 27-year old was arrested for placing messages on traffic lights.  The stickers include playful messages that read “Press to Time Travel” or “Press to Stop Time”. She also painted a message that some say was disrespectful of the country’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew3.

The violations4 could have led to a three-year prison term.  Instead, Ms. Lo was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and attend counseling.  She describes what she believes is her right to express her artistry.

“Back then, even when I first started doing the stickers, I knew that it was illegal. But, I didn’t let that limit my freedom in that sense. I still wanted to do it and I still did it. That is freedom, the freedom to express. That is what art should be, isn’t it?”

In a nation where rules are firmly enforced, Samantha Lo’s street art has led to discussions on the limits of free speech.  And she is not the only Singaporean pushing the limits.  Officials are investigating 37-year old Leslie Chew.  He published a drawing online that has been described as being a racial insult.

Mr. Chew publishes a comic strip on Facebook that has more than 24,000 followers5.  If found guilty, he could be fined and jailed for three years. M. Ravi, the lawyer defending Leslie Chew, says artists and government critics are using the Internet to get their messages out. But some politicians are trying to suppress such actions. 

Terence Chong is a sociologist6 at the Institute for South East Asian Studies in Singapore. He recently helped produce a document calling for more artistic freedom. The “Arts Manifesto” has been presented to the government.  Mister Chong says Singapore is facing a problem.  On one side, it wants to market itself as a world-class city for the arts. On the other, issues like race, religion and homosexuality are restricted. 

“How do we tell the world we are culturally vibrant7, creative, willing to break boundaries and yet, at the same time, designating certain no-go areas? “

Mister Chong believes that Singapore has reached an important moment in its development. It is being forced to consider what kind of future society it wants to welcome and support. OPT:But, he believes progress has been made. Ten years ago, he says, Samantha Lo would surely have been jailed, and Leslie Chew would not have been permitted to publish his cartoons.

You are listening to “As It Is” from VOA Learning English. I’m Steve Ember.

 Is It a Birdhouse? No, It’s a Library!

Small wooden boxes that look like birdhouses are showing up along streets and walkways across the United States and around the world. The little boxes were not placed there to feed birds.  Instead, they are there to feed people’s brains.

Individuals or groups of neighbors create and fill the boxes with books for anyone who wants to read one.  Milagros Ardin reports that the boxes are meant to share the love of reading and the building of a strong community.

One of the little birdhouses has been placed outside Centreville Elementary School in Virginia. It gets a lot of attention. The wooden box contains about twenty four children’s books.

This Little Free Library was built by a group of Girl Scouts8 at the school. Kyra  Gosney is one of the scouts.

“We had to paint it. We had to attach everything together.”                                                                          

Another girl, Isabella Sursi, says it was a learning experience.

“We had to make sure we knew what we were doing. And, we had to discuss the details before we actually did anything with it.”         

Her mother, Stephanie Sursi, says even in this fairly wealthy community, the little free library serves a purpose.

“There are still children whose parents work two jobs or can’t take them to the library or who simply don’t think about buying them books as presents.”                                                                                                    

The girls have collected more than 400 books so far, so they can make sure there are many different kinds of books. School librarian Sheri D’Amato says she examines what is placed in the box to make sure the books are appropriate for the children and at the correct difficulty for their reading levels.

“We want kids to have access to books all the time. The school library is not always open. We’re not here on the weekend. And, the public library is not open all the time. These little libraries are always open. You don’t need a card. You don’t need any money.

Little Free Libraries are everywhere, even in unexpected place. Kristen Brabrook put one in the bakery she manages in Reston Town, Virginia. She wanted to share her love of reading.

When she read the story about the free little libraries, she knew she wanted one. 

“People come in, usually for cupcakes. They’ll see the library. They always ask if it costs something and we say, ‘No, help yourself. Please take it.”                                     

The idea for the libraries was born three years ago in Hudson, Wisconsin.  Former teacher and book lover, Todd Bol, built a very small model of a library.

“I originally built a library to honor my mother. I built one and put it out in the front yard and never planned on building another one.”   

But, his neighbors loved the idea.  It made him want to start the Little Free Library Organization to spread the idea. Now there are more than 2,500 of the little libraries across the United States.

And, that is a happy ending for any book. I’m ------------------------------------------------Milagros Ardin.

…and a Musical Birthday

[Opening Fanfare9 from “Roman Festivals” by Respighi]

The glory that was Rome, evoked10 musically by composer Ottorino Respighi, who was born on this date in Bologna, Italy. He composed in many forms, from solo piano to opera, but he is best known for his colorful works for large orchestra. Some of his most popular compositions with present day audiences are the impressionistic tone poems, Feste Romane – Roman Festivals, Fontana di Roma – depicting11 musically four famous fountains in the Eternal City…

[“Pines of Rome” by Respighi]

…and Pini di Roma, The Pines of Rome. Respighi died in 1936. And amidst those Roman Pines on a sparkling sunny day, we wrap up this edition of As It Is from VOA Learning English. There are more Learning English stories just ahead, and be sure to listen to VOA World News at the beginning of the hour. 

Steve Ember here. Arrividerci – We’ll see you next time.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 artistic IeWyG     
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的
参考例句:
  • The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
  • These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
2 melodic WorzFW     
adj.有旋律的,调子美妙的
参考例句:
  • His voice had a rich melodic quality.他的音色浑厚而优美。
  • He spoke with a soft husky voice in a melodic accent.他微微沙哑的声音带着一种悠扬的口音。
3 yew yew     
n.紫杉属树木
参考例句:
  • The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.紫杉树叶会令牛中毒。
  • All parts of the yew tree are poisonous,including the berries.紫杉的各个部分都有毒,包括浆果。
4 violations 403b65677d39097086593415b650ca21     
违反( violation的名词复数 ); 冒犯; 违反(行为、事例); 强奸
参考例句:
  • This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
  • These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。
5 followers 5c342ee9ce1bf07932a1f66af2be7652     
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件
参考例句:
  • the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
  • The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。
6 sociologist 2wSwo     
n.研究社会学的人,社会学家
参考例句:
  • His mother was a sociologist,researching socialism.他的母亲是个社会学家,研究社会主义。
  • Max Weber is a great and outstanding sociologist.马克斯·韦伯是一位伟大的、杰出的社会学家。
7 vibrant CL5zc     
adj.震颤的,响亮的,充满活力的,精力充沛的,(色彩)鲜明的
参考例句:
  • He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
  • She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。
8 scouts e6d47327278af4317aaf05d42afdbe25     
侦察员[机,舰]( scout的名词复数 ); 童子军; 搜索; 童子军成员
参考例句:
  • to join the Scouts 参加童子军
  • The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组,然后开始巡逻这个地区。
9 fanfare T7by6     
n.喇叭;号角之声;v.热闹地宣布
参考例句:
  • The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
  • A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。
10 evoked 0681b342def6d2a4206d965ff12603b2     
[医]诱发的
参考例句:
  • The music evoked memories of her youth. 这乐曲勾起了她对青年时代的回忆。
  • Her face, though sad, still evoked a feeling of serenity. 她的脸色虽然悲伤,但仍使人感觉安详。
11 depicting eaa7ce0ad4790aefd480461532dd76e4     
描绘,描画( depict的现在分词 ); 描述
参考例句:
  • a painting depicting the Virgin and Child 一幅描绘童贞马利亚和圣子耶稣的画
  • The movie depicting the battles and bloodshed is bound to strike home. 这部描写战斗和流血牺牲的影片一定会取得预期效果。

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