Friday, April 11, 2008

Show 698 Thursday 10 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The video I recommend today is a guy talking about his opinion about the anti-China protests that have been going on around the world such as in London when people disrupted the Olympic Torch Relay. As I’m sure you know, people are protesting against China's human rights record, and in particular China’s relationship with Tibet.

For example - this is from CNN - the US House Speaker says President Bush should consider boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympics Games in Beijing this summer to protest China's human rights record.

Anyway, I thought his video was good. It was really good to hear someone calmly express their opinion.

At one point he said, nothing’s really black and white, which I definitely agree with.

black and white adj. (of a situation or debate) involving clearly defined opposing principles or issues

So, the issue is complicated. It’s not like a Hollywood movie where there are good guys and bad guys and an obvious solution which will bring about a wonderful happy ending.

I think this is a good video to study today for practice listening to a normal person expressing their opinion about an issue – as opposed to a politician or a journalist talking about it.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today the UK Privy Council has approved changes to the governing body of an island which operates the last remaining feudal system in Europe.

Sark is a small island near England with a population of about 600.
Wikipedia says: Sark was the last European territory to abolish what some called classic
feudalism.
In 2007, the feudal system began to be dismantled to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Yesterday, the
Privy Council approved the Sark law reforms, and the first elections under the new law will be held in December 2008.

And that was Stick News for Thursday the 10th of April.
Kia Ora




Word Of The Day

Today’s word is anti.
In today’s video, he talks about anti-Chinese activities.

Anti is a prefix in nouns and adjectives which has three meanings.
#1 opposed to or against, for example antisocial
#2 the opposite of, for example anticlimax
#3 preventing, for example antifreeze

Anti is pronounced different in American English, kind of like this: an-tai.


conversations with sarah
#427 Yeah, that was great!

Step 1: Repeat Dom’s lines.
Step 2: Read Dom’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Sarah I don’t think people should disrupt the Olympics.

Dom
But human rights are more important than sport.

Sarah Yeah, they are, but there are people suffering all the time, somewhere in the world. And of course we should do what we can to try and stop that, but it doesn’t mean that we should also stop celebrating stuff.

Dom So you think politics and entertainment should be kept separate?

Sarah Well, not all the time, but sometimes I think that’s a good idea. It reminds me of when Michael Moore said something about George Bush during the Oscars.

Dom Yeah, that was great.

Sarah Mmm, I don’t know.

Dom But what he said was right!

Sarah Yeah, for sure, but he was kind of disrespecting the ceremony, I thought.

Dom Who cares about the Oscars!

Sarah Well, maybe you don’t, but some people do.



links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

Michael Moore's Oscar speech

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: JCL
album: Journeys Thru Samsara
track: A Slow Walk
from: Watford, United Kingdom
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

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