英语课程计划-World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day is on May 3 every year. The U.N. General Assembly introduced it in 1993. The aim of the day is to raise awareness¹ of the importance of freedom of the press. It is also a reminder² to governments to respect the right to freedom of expression. This right is a key part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Many news organizations join forces to defend world media from attacks on their independence. The day is also a special time for journalists to pay tribute to colleagues who have lost their lives while reporting. UNESCO gives a special prize on this day to the person or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to protecting or promoting press freedom.

U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon spoke³ about the importance of a free media and of protecting journalists. He said: “A free, secure and independent media is one of the foundations of peace and democracy. Attacks on freedom of press are attacks against international law, against humanity, against freedom itself….I am therefore…alarmed at the way journalists are increasingly being targeted around the world, and dismayed when such crimes are not thoroughly⁴ investigated and prosecuted⁵.” Mr. Ban called on all societies to “spare no effort in bringing to justice the perpetrators of attacks on journalists”. He also paid tribute “to all who work in difficult and dangerous conditions” to bring us the news.

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 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

5 prosecuted   

a.被起诉的

参考例句：

• The editors are being prosecuted for obscenity. 编辑因刊载污秽文字而被起诉。
• The company was prosecuted for breaching the Health and Safety Act. 这家公司被控违反《卫生安全条例》。