VOA标准英语2011--Radio Network in Southern Senegal Tries

A community radio project in Senegal's troubled Casamance region is trying to help the peace process there by encouraging dialogue in an atmosphere of ongoing² tension and violence.
Pasted to the wall inside Fogny FM, a radio station located just south of the Gambian border, are the words "radio is an art" scribbled³ in French. But for thousands of listeners living amidst West Africa's longest running civil war, the station is far more than art.
It is central to hopes for peace. Fogny FM is one of nine community radio stations scattered⁴ across conflict-ridden Casamance in a network dedicated⁵ to peace.
Since 1981, separatists in Casamance have been fighting Senegal's national government over land rights. Bouts⁶ of violence and killings⁷ have devastated⁸ the region's economy, culture, and society.
Casamance was once the breadbasket of Senegal. It had a thriving agricultural economy and a rich cultural heritage. Now, people are afraid to travel between villages for fear of hidden landmines⁹ or attacks by rebel bandits. Animosity and fear have heightened tension and made communication difficult.
Six years ago the U.S. aid organization World Education started their community radio network. They recently released a documentary, entitled Casamance Voices of Peace, which traces the project's evolution. Their goal has been to bring people together, by giving them a platform to speak from, and improve their access to information.
In Senegal, like in many developing nations, radio is the best way to keep people informed. The American-based non-profit group, Development Radio Partners, says the number of community radio stations in Africa grew by nearly 1500 percent between 2000 and 2006.
In Senegal, where over half the population is illiterate¹⁰, there is the highest number of private radio stations in all of West Africa. In Casamance specifically, the airwaves are an essential way of keeping people updated on the conflict. It is also a way of staying aware of developments in health, agriculture and education, and a venue¹¹ for discussing controversial or taboo¹² topics.
Francesca Diouf hosts a regular show on Kambeng FM, a network member located in central Casamance.
Diouf says since she started broadcasting about the risks of female circumcision she hears far less tamtams in her village. The sound of these drums usually indicates that a mother has taken her young girl to be cut.
Each of the World Education stations is community-run and driven, addressing issues relevant to their local listeners in local languages.
Casamance is one of the most ethnically¹⁴ diverse parts of Senegal. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, estimates that some 15 ethnic¹³ languages are in danger of disappearing in this region alone. One of these is Bainouk, which is spoken by roughly 1700 people. At Kairaba FM, in Diouloulou, they deliver a one-hour program broadcast entirely¹⁵ in Bainouk.
Bakary Sonko Diambary works at Kairaba FM. Diambary says when the Bainouk show is on their phone lines are flooded with Bainouk people. It is one of few times they can all talk together and share in their cultural identity through the language.
Broadcasting in many languages is considered an essential part of the peace process in Casamance. Salem Mezhoud is regional editor of UNESCO's World Atlas¹⁶ of Endangered Languages for North Africa and the Middle East.
"Very often conflict arises out of misunderstanding, and misunderstanding means sometimes misunderstanding what has been expressed in one particular language," said Mezhoud. "If everyone received specific messages about anything - about culture, politics, international development, or the development in their own area, in their own languages they understand it better. But moreover, they understand the other people as well. I think broadcasting in many languages may promote harmony, may promote understanding and may promote peace."
Community network stations aim for the widest range of voices possible, presenting men, women, and young people as well as political and religious leaders and even members of the separatist movement.
Bertrand Diamacoune is a member of that movement who regularly calls in to express his views.
Throughout this whole process, and our search for peace and reconciliation¹⁷, Diamacoune says the community radios have supported us. Everywhere we go in this region, they have given us the chance to speak out and let people stay aware of what we are doing - from our side.
Louis Tendeng, another member of the separatist group, is a big supporter of the project. Tendeng says that if the radios were there from the beginning, it could have helped avoid many of the problems they face today.
Since the Casamance conflict began over 30 years ago, tens of thousands of people have left their homes and fled into neighboring countries including Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. The radio network broadcasts across borders to encourage these migrants to come home and help rebuild the villages and farms that have been abandoned.
Luis Carlitos is director on the Kassoumay FM branch in Sao Domingo, Guinea Bissau.
Carlitos says the radio stations play an important part in building cross-border relations. They have helped people realize they must work together. He says they are all the same people, only divided by colonization¹⁸. Carliots says community radios support a sense of unity¹ that Africa needs.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 scribbled   

v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下

参考例句：

• She scribbled his phone number on a scrap of paper. 她把他的电话号码匆匆写在一张小纸片上。
• He scribbled a note to his sister before leaving. 临行前，他给妹妹草草写了一封短信。

4 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

6 bouts   

n.拳击（或摔跤）比赛( bout的名词复数 )；一段（工作）；（尤指坏事的）一通；（疾病的）发作

参考例句：

• For much of his life he suffered from recurrent bouts of depression. 他的大半辈子反复发作抑郁症。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was one of fistiana's most famous championship bouts. 这是拳击界最有名的冠军赛之一。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

8 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

9 landmines   

潜在的冲突； 地雷，投伞水雷( landmine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The treaty bans the use production and trade of landmines. 该条约规定，禁止使用地雷相关产品及贸易。
• One of the weapon's of special concern was landmines. 在引起人们特别关注的武器中就有地雷。

10 illiterate   

adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲

参考例句：

• There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
• I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。

11 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

12 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？

13 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

14 ethnically   

adv.人种上，民族上

参考例句：

• Ethnically, the Yuan Empire comprised most of modern China's ethnic groups. 元朝的民族成分包括现今中国绝大多数民族。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• Russia is ethnically relatively homogeneous. 俄罗斯是个民族成分相对单一的国家。 来自辞典例句

15 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

16 atlas   

n.地图册，图表集

参考例句：

• He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
• The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图，其中包括3幅英国地图。

17 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

18 colonization   

殖民地的开拓，殖民，殖民地化； 移殖

参考例句：

• Colonization took place during the Habsburg dynasty. 开拓殖民地在哈布斯堡王朝就进行过。
• These countries took part in the colonization of Africa. 这些国家参与非洲殖民地的开发。