Comprehension: Tourism Imperils Way of Life for Thai Sea Gypsies

Thailand's sea gypsies have roamed the seas off the Andaman Coast for generations but now say their traditional way of life and their homes are under threat from a tourism boom.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Nang Miden’s grandparents lived in Phuket.
a. True
b. False

2. There are at least seven families facing eviction.
a. True
b. False

3. The appeal against the eviction should only take a year to process.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

The men of the Rawai have been making their living from the sea around Phuket for as long as anyone can remember. Fishing is their main source of income, and as they demonstrate here, they are proficient both above and below the water. But back on shore trouble is brewing. These Chao Lay, or sea gypsies, are facing eviction from their land, despite the fact they've lived here for generations. They don't have title deeds. When the deeds were handed out they knew nothing about them, or what they meant, and now the land is owned by a developer. 

"They want to use the court to kick us out of here. It looks like they’ll build some apartments, because the land here is beautiful and it is right on the beach." 

78 year old Nang Miden has lived here his whole life. His parents and their parents called this area of Phuket home long before it was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. Nang's family is one of at least seven facing eviction, after a court ruled the land he lives on does not belong to him  

"I want to stay here. I don't want to go anywhere. I want them to help us. I lived here first. I was already living when the title deed was issued. I have lived here since it was a jungle; back then I had a small house." 

The families have launched an appeal, a process that could take several years. The government has told the ministry of justice to look into the sea gypsies’ complaints to see if there's a way of resolving their eviction. Experts insist the communities' link to the sea cannot be overestimated. Many of the Chao Lay say they can't sleep unless they can hear the breaking waves. 

"They live on the sea, from the sea, off the sea, and they developed this spiritual attachment to the sea since childhood. You see that, you know, the children they play in the water, you know, all day and their parents, the older generation, they fish from the sea. Even the ritual or the ceremony also signifies the importance of the sea." 

As more and more tourist resorts open along the coast, the battle for land looks set to intensify, leaving Thailand's Chao Lay at risk of being left without a place by the sea to call home. 

Answers:

1. a

2. a

3. b

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Comprehension: Young Greeks Get Mum's Cooking Straight to the Door

A new delivery service in Greece is helping young people who live alone receive food made by their mothers, in a bid to save money and keep them well-fed.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Matoula makes meals for her daughter.
a. True
b. False

2. 64.2 % of young people are out of work.
a. True
b. False

3. Sending money is difficult because of the state of the economy in Greece.
a. True
b. False


For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers:

There's nothing like mum's cooking.   And here in Greece, where family is the bedrock of society, a new delivery service is providing sustenance to young people who have flown the nest. Matoula cooks her son's favourite meals, packs them up in Tupperware boxes and has them delivered to his home. 

"With the service by "Vanakias" the food leaves from here and goes directly to the child. As you can imagine, mum's cooking arriving at the child's place is far more healthy and economical than sending money." 

As Greece struggles to adhere to tough austerity measures imposed by its creditors, young people are finding it increasingly difficult to strike out on their own. In February youth unemployment stood at a record 64.2 percent.

"I am unemployed. All the people I know are now unemployed. I am struggling on the streets because of this government which is passing all these measures." 

With jobs so scarce, many young people look for work abroad or live with their parents until well into their twenties. But for young people determined to live independently, the Vanakias company makes it that little bit easier. 

"Unfortunately, sending money is very difficult due to the economic crisis and the current situation. A mother can cut costs by preparing food she cooks everyday at home, placing it in food containers, and sending it with our service. The child is fed healthily and economically. You kill two birds with one stone. Money is saved and they get healthy food." 


Vanakias may only be a short-term solution to Greece's far broader problems, but even in the midst of the financial crisis, it's helping protect against disintegrating family ties and empty stomachs.

Answers:
1. b
2. a
3. a

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Idioms: Cats with answers

This week 'cats' are the theme of our idioms. Do you know what they mean?

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Comprehension: Philadelphia, the 'City Of Murals'

If walls could talk, Philadelphia would be abuzz with the stories ringing out from its murals. The historic colonial city is home to the nation's biggest public art project, and is redefining its urban fabric one mural at a time.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. There are three thousand eight hundred murals in Philadelphia at the moment.
a. True
b. False

2. The Mural Arts Programme started because they wanted to encourage more tourists to Philadelphia.
a. True
b. False

3. The Mural Arts Programme also helps former criminals to learn new skills.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers
Artist Meg Saligman goes to great heights for her work. She's retouching an old favourite today, an enormous mural in the heart of Philadelphia. 

"It's a beautiful spring day, we're sort of flying above the city with paint, its, this is what I love to do most." 

Meg's work is displayed all over the city thanks to its Mural Arts Program.  Today Philly boasts 3,800 murals depicting everything from abstract themes to everyday life. Some are on abandoned buildings, like this giant portrait of basket ball legend Julius Erving... …others are on busy sites, like this school, covered from top to bottom. The City of Brotherly Love is now also dubbed the "City of Murals", a title that attracts tourists and artists alike. 

"And it's really only been in the last 15-20 years that it’s been able to kind of get the more metropolitan kind of image that it deserves because it really does have a strong arts and culture scene" 

What began as a small project to fight graffiti in the 1980s has now become the largest public arts program in the United States. It has a $6.5 million annual budget, but generates additional revenue for the city. 

“I think it's great to give artists a place to show their work. I think it's even better to hire them. We hire over 200 teaching artists and artists every year and contribute $2.2 million annually to the creative economy.”

 But the murals program is not just for artists. It also offers former offenders like Sam training for future jobs. 

"When they told me we'd get certified doing scaffolding and carpentry and everything, it was something that I was kind of like, like to do" 

With the city as its canvas, the popular art project is growing every year - revamping Philadelphia from the ground up. 

Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. a


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Comprehension: Yoga Changing Perceptions in Africa

The Africa Yoga Project has introduced yoga to Kenya as a tool for social change, training over 100 instructors who offer free outreach classes in community centers, slums, orphanages and prisons across the country.

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Mary Mwangi is in prison for murder.

a. True

b. False

2. The Africa Yoga Project makes a small profit.

a. True

b. False

3. Yoga began 5,000 years ago in India.

a. True

b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers

The iron gate of the Langata Women's Prison in Nairobi and the striped uniforms may have all the trappings of a maximum security jail, but inside these walls a group of women have found an unexpected way to use their free time - yoga. Mary Mwangi, who is serving a life sentence for armed robbery, discovered yoga after joining a support group for HIV-positive women in the prison.

"Before I came to this group, I didn't know anything about the group; I didn't know anything about yoga. So I had stigma. I couldn't say anything, I couldn't stand before people. But now, when this yoga came, I can talk, I can be happy, I can tell anybody what I want, because I am free." 

Under the tutelage of the Africa Yoga Project, the group has been holding weekly classes for four years. The non-profit organization was set up by an American in 2007 with the aim of using yoga as a tool for social change in Kenya. Margaret Njeri, who grew up in Nairobi’s Kariobangi slum, was trained by the Africa Yoga Project a few years ago. Like the project’s other teachers, she now earns about $120 a month. She says that by empowering her economically yoga has helped transform her life.

"I used to, in Kariobangi, you know, go stealing, snatching people's phone so you can get something to eat, or get something to help your mother, and selling yourself, going to the street, being a prostitute. So, yeah, I decided to take yoga to my community because it will help them keep them busy, to realize that when you do something it can change your life." 

Growing numbers of Kenyans seem to be striking the mountain pose, or reverse warrior these days. The Africa Yoga Project has trained over 100 instructors who offer free outreach classes in community centers, slums, orphanages and prisons across the country. 

"I'd like to see a center like this in every country in Africa. A place where it's just open for people to come, and interact, and be healthy together." 

Born in India 5,000 years ago as a physical and spiritual practice, the Africa Yoga Project is now shaping a new community-changing role for this ancient exercise here in East Africa. 

Answers:

1. b

2. b

3. a

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Phrasal Verbs with Answers: to go (part 1)

This week,'to go' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs. Do you know what they mean?

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Comprehension: Tech-Savvy Pet Bloggers Convene At Social Media Conference

Social media...for pets. That's the idea behind BlogPaws, an online community of pet lovers and bloggers that gathers at an annual conference to get their 'paws' on the latest pet-friendly gadgets. 

Watch the video and answer the questions below.  Decide if the statements are True or False.


1. Laura Nativo believes that pet blogs are more interesting than human blogs.
a. True
b. False

2. There are over 20,000 online members in the Blogpaws community.
a. True
b. False

3. The ‘Tagg’ will inform the owner with a phone call if the dog goes outside of its ‘Tagg zone’.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers
Seeing the world from your pet's point of view; that's the promise behind Sony's pet mount, which straps a small Action Cam on to any animal. 

"As you can see, the camera's mounted to the top. This harness piece is a flat plastic and it fits right over the animal's back, and this will wrap around the torso - the front part of the dog - and then also underneath the stomach." 

The camcorder is secured in a weatherproof case that even works under water. Gadgets like this are the latest craze in the pet world, and especially for owners who increasingly live, and blog, online - and want to bring their pets with them. 

"Nobody wants to read what humans have to say, everybody wants to know what's on the dog's mind or the cat's mind! So all these POV blogs, they get really personal, they're funny, everybody loves all of the photos and videos." 

The BlogPaws community counts more than 2,000 members online - but social media isn't just for humans anymore. 

"The girls - coz I call them my girls, I don't call them my dogs - my girls have their own facebook page.  They have a lot of fans. I don't, they do! They have a lot of followers from everywhere." 

And for those who want to "follow" their pet's every move, Tagg offers a new GPS tracking device that does just that. 

"You attach it to an existing collar of a dog or a cat and you set up a zone, or what we call a 'Tagg zone', the area where the dog spends most of its time, and should the dog breach that zone and go outside of it, run away or escape, you will get a text or an email notification instantly telling you your dog's exact location." 

But pet bloggers aren't just keen on technology for their pets. They're also into the latest fashion trends - making sure man's best friend looks good on-camera, too. 

Answers:

1. a
2. b
3. b

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