VOA标准英语2010年-Northwestern University Hosts Sudanese

Brian Hanson hosts Sudanese leaders from the state of South Kordofan at Northwestern University in suburban¹ Chicago

Comprehensive Peace Agreement, or CPA, between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.  Both parties currently govern the disputed territory.  But the future of this contested state, which borders Southern Sudan, and the fate of its population of roughly two million people is uncertain.  A few selected leaders from South Kordofan are hoping to influence the future direction of their state by gaining experience in negotiation² and leadership, with the help of Northwestern University in Illinois. 

After decades of war, Neroun Phillip Ajo Kuku's home state of South Kordofan in Sudan remains³ in limbo⁴.

"Administratively⁵, South Kordofan is part of the North," said Ajo Kuku.  "But then, the people of the Nuba Mountains actually fought in unison⁶ with the people of Southern Sudan, so politically, it is part of the South."

The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the SPLM and the government of Sudan allows South Kordofan to chart its own path.  But unlike Southern Sudan, which will hold a referendum on independence in January, South Kordofan will conduct a "popular consultation⁷" to decide its status.

"It's different from a referendum where a referendum is a popular vote.  But popular consultation will be done through the elected members of the state legislative⁸ assembly," Ajo Kuku added.

Citizens in South Kordofan will vote in November to elect legislators who will take part in the popular consultation. 

Decades of war have left a gap in understanding in the political process in Sudan, and Ajo Kuku admits assuming a leadership role is a challenge.

"Issues like conflict resolution, issues of leadership, issues of citizens' participation⁹, project management, all these issues are related to good governance," said Ajo Kuku.

Ajo Kuku is one of five fellows from South Kordofan under Hanson's direction, taking part in a six-week program sponsored by Northwestern designed to better prepare them for leadership roles.

"The idea was to bring together important political leaders who will take an active role in this negotiation process to look for peaceful ways to resolve the long-standing conflict in the country," said Brian Hanson, associate director of the Roberta Buffet¹⁰ Center at Northwestern University in suburban Chicago.

Mary James Kuku Angelo is an outgoing member of parliament in the South Kordofan State Assembly.  She is taking part in the fellowship to help widen her skills as an advocate for women's rights.

"I have a challenge as a woman, because as we know for us from Nuba Mountain, we are not learned, and we have a very big gap, and we want to narrow that gap," she said.

Ajo Kuku is co-chair of assessment¹¹ and evaluation¹² for the CPA in South Kordofan, and will take part in the popular consultation, where he says he will directly apply the lessons learned at Northwestern.

"Conflict resolution, negotiation and mediation¹³, all these are issues that we learned," said Ajo Kuku.  "As soon as we go back we will apply them in our context."

When the fellows return to Sudan, there is an abundance of work that requires their attention. One major issue is conducting a new census¹⁴ in South Kordofan that will help political leaders better understand the actual population, and makeup¹⁵, of the state.  That census could ultimately influence the outcome of the popular consultation, and South Kordofan's future.
 

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 limbo   

n.地狱的边缘；监狱

参考例句：

• His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
• I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。

5 administratively   

[医]adv.行政上

参考例句：

• Administratively, the country is divided into counties. 这个国家在行政区划分上分为许多郡。 来自辞典例句
• Administratively permission enactment right is the foundation of administrative systems standardization. 摘要行政许可设定权是行政许可制度规范化的基础。 来自互联网

6 unison   

n.步调一致，行动一致

参考例句：

• The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.这些国家的政府一致行动对付恐怖主义。
• My feelings are in unison with yours.我的感情与你的感情是一致的。

7 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

8 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

9 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

10 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？

11 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

12 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

13 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

14 census   

n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查

参考例句：

• A census of population is taken every ten years.人口普查每10年进行一次。
• The census is taken one time every four years in our country.我国每四年一次人口普查。

15 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？