万花筒 Kaleidoscope 2007-04-01&02, 儿童奴隶

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Benin, a majestic¹ arch marks the point of no return where through the centuries millions of slaves waited in chains to be shipped to America. But now a modern-day form of slavery has gripped the West African nation again.

I just felt really burdened by the fact that children are being taken as slavery.

Carmen Morris is a Florida business woman who's on her third visit to Benin. She's on a personal mission to help end the human trafficking and is building a sanctuary² for those children, some as young as 5, who've been rescued by local police from their lives as what she calls slave laborers³.

The first trip that we took, 160 children were rescued from child slavery.
According to UNICEF the overall numbers are staggering. 1.2 million children are trafficked each year worldwide, 50,000 of them in Benin alone. Many are sold by their parents.

Poverty is a problem here in Benin as it is in almost of Africa. It is poverty that is fueling the slave trade, forcing parents either sell their children to traffickers on purpose or inadvertently.

Traffickers would often swoop⁴ on the poor remote villages, offering money for the children or promising⁵ paying jobs in bigger cities like nearby Cotonou or Lagos, Nigeria. In Benin the children are put to work by local traders in bustling⁶ markets selling everything from soda⁷ to a local delicacy⁸: barbecued bush rats.

Morris is determined⁹ to do what she can to stop the cycle. Sometimes the job is overwhelming. You know you have been hearing these stories for 3 years, and, and, we just can't stop feeling. And as the ground is broken on a new sanctuary for lost children, Carmen knows she will be back.

Jennifer Santiago, for CBS News, Benin.

1 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

2 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

3 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

4 swoop   

n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击

参考例句：

• The plane made a swoop over the city.那架飞机突然向这座城市猛降下来。
• We decided to swoop down upon the enemy there.我们决定突袭驻在那里的敌人。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

7 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

8 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。