【266-268】International Musicians Create Harmony

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*【266】AS IT IS

Users of America’s Largest Ports Fear US-China Trade War

July 28, 2018

The combined California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the largest in the United States.

An estimated $417 billion worth of goods pass through the two ports each year. About $362 billion of that comes from trade with the Asia Pacific area.

But businesses using the ports are expecting a sharp rise in shipping costs because of tariffs announced by the United States and China.

Liang Liang owns an import company in Los Angeles that deals mainly with toys and clothes from China. He told VOA he has had concerns about his business in recent weeks after hearing about planned tariff increases.

“I have been watching the news every day. When will the tariffs be put in place? When are my goods arriving? It’s a fight against time. I’m trying to order all my products for the rest of the year.”

Liang said he expects a 10- to 20-percent increase in shipping costs if a trade war breaks out between the U.S. and China. He said if tariffs were to increase more than 20 percent, he would be forced to raise the prices of his goods.

Stephen Cheung is president of the Los Angeles-based World Trade Center. The center provides assistance to international companies seeking to bring or expand operations in the area.

In this Feb. 12, 2015 file photo, the Port of Los Angeles, with some cargo loading cranes in the upright and idle position, are seen in this view from the San Pedro area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

He said that as tariffs from both countries increase the cost of goods, manufacturers and sellers may order fewer products. This, Cheung said, would result in a decrease in overall trade between the U.S. and China.

“Once that happens, you’re going to see an increase in the rates for shipping. Because when you don’t have the volume to justify the goods going back and forth, you are going to see a further increase in that shipping cost.”

Cheung said this rise in shipping costs would eventually result in higher prices for people buying the products.

Other officials at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach say it is still too early to tell what effect additional trade tariffs will have.

Duane Kenagy is currently deputy director of the Port of Long Beach. He told VOA that so far, the port has seen record container business this year. For now, Kenagy is waiting to see how different businesses change their supply operations to deal with the tariff environment. But he warned that a continuing trade war could be “devastating” to both the U.S. and Chinese economies.

This Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 photo shows shipping container cranes at the Port of Long Beach, California. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials have accused China of carrying out unfair trading practices. The officials say tariffs are needed to reduce a large trade imbalance. The United States imported more than $500 billion in Chinese goods last year, compared to $130 billion in U.S. products exported to China.

Importer Liang Liang remains hopeful that a U.S.-China trade war can be avoided. He said he thought recent announcements on tariffs were made for political purposes and may not last.

Stephen Cheung said he understands the reasons the United States decided to announce heavy tariffs on Chinese imports. But he urged administration officials to carefully consider how such changes will affect local importers.

“What are the steps you’re going to use to mitigate some of these damages that will be happening to the local community? These are huge issues that have not been addressed yet,” he said.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Elizabeth Lee reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English, with additional information from other sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

tariff – n. tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

volume – n. the number or amount of something

justify – v. to give a good enough reason to make something seem acceptable

devastating – adj. causing great damage or harm

mitigate – v. reduce the harmful effects of something

eventually – adv. at some later time

toy – n. object for children to play with

*【267】AS IT IS

Rivers Dry, Iranian Farmers Turn to Protest

July 28, 2018

In this Wednesday, July 11, 2018 photo, Iranian farmer Mostafa Benvidi who lost sight in his left eye and has more than 100 pellet shots in his body, suffered during clashes between police and farmers who held a sit-in strike, shows his wounds while speaking with The Associated Press, in the town of Varzaneh, Isfahan province, Iran. Farmers in central Iran are increasingly turning to protests, pleading to authorities for a solution as years of drought and government mismanagement of water destroy their livelihoods. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A small group of Iranian farmers drove their tractors to the entrance to the town of Varzaneh.

The vehicles stopped next to a canal that once provided their crops, but has been dry for years.

The farmers appealed to government officials for help.

“We are the people,” shouted Mostafa Benvidi. “Help the people. At night they go to bed hungry!”

The demonstrators held signs with the names of officials they blame for their dried-up fields.

“How long will you eat your bread made with our blood?” one sign read.

Every day, farmers hold a small protest outside the Iranian town of Varzaneh. The demonstration is a sign of the anger that has been growing over water shortages caused by years of little rainfall. But experts say the drought conditions have worsened because of mistakes by the government.

Protests have grown larger, with incidents of violence, at a time when economic problems have fueled unrest repeatedly over the past year.

In March, police clashed with farmers, who held a sit-in strike in Varzaneh. Mostafa Benvidi was wounded and lost sight in his left eye during the clashes. Today, he has more than 100 pellet shots in his body.

Earlier this month, in another part of southern Iran, 11 people were wounded when police broke up a protest in Khorramshahr. Those protesters said their drinking water is dirty.

“Officials just come and promise to deal with the crisis and then just leave,” said the 30-year-old Benvidi.

He and his family used to grow corn, cotton and other crops on their 3-hectare farm. But they have not been able to farm for years because of lack of water.

Now Benvidi is unemployed. His family earns money from the seasonal building work his brothers get in nearby towns. His sister makes carpets to sell.

In this Tuesday, July 10, 2018 photo, where the Zayandeh Roud river once watered the region, desicated salt-laced fields surround the Gavkhouni wetlands, outside town of Varzaneh, Iran.

Drought Conditions

Over the past 10 years, Iran has experienced its worst drought in more than 30 years, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Iran’s Meteorological Organization estimates that 97 percent of the country is affected.

The dry conditions have affected Isfahan province, where Varzaneh is located, and other parts of central Iran. The Zayandeh Roud River once provided water to the area. The water came down from the Zagros Mountains, through the city of Isfahan and through farming towns, including Varzaneh.

But the river dried up years ago. The fields around Varzaneh are now dry dirt.

Around 90 percent of the farming activities have ended, said Reza Khalili, an environmental activist.

Government policies have worsened the effects of the drought and growing population, Khalili and other observers say. The government is building more factories, taking large amounts of water. In July, officials opened a steel factory in Isfahan. Water has also been sent to other areas.

The normal water system has been destroyed and all the water has been set aside for businesses, explained Khalili.

Outside of Varzaneh, migrating birds once stopped at a wetlands. Now the area is an empty field of salt that causes sandstorms.

A proud history

The people of Varzaneh are proud of the town’s history. It sent of hundreds of its young men to fight in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. More than 100 were killed in the fighting, and their memory is still important.

Now young men leave the area in search of a better life.

“Many of my friends moved to near and far towns to find jobs,” said Ruhollah Sohrabi, a farmer who now works as builder in other cities.

In 2012, farmers in Varzaneh fought with police and broke a pipe that transports water from Isfahan to the neighboring province of Yazd.

Similar protests continued from 2016 to now. At one time, the government paid around $250 to each family affected by the crisis. But people want a real solution.

“More social conflict may be on the way. Officials do not have the necessary expertise to manage water resources,” said Hamid Safavi, a professor at Isfahan University of Technology.

Safavi said each province decides on its own how to use its water, without looking at the effect it has on the larger area.

Unless policies change, “we are heading from a water crisis to a disaster,” he added.

I’m Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. The editor was George Grow.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

pellet – n. a small metal object that is shot from a gu

migrate – v. to move from one place to the next

according – adv. as stated by or in

carpet – n. a thick floor covering

proud – adj. feeling extremely pleased or satisfied

*【268】AS IT IS

International Musicians Create Harmony

July 28, 2018

Twenty-five young musicians from around the world have come to California to train and perform this month. They will take part in an international program called iPalpiti. The name comes from the Italian word for heartbeats.

Eduard Schmieder is the program’s conductor and musical director. Schmieder and his wife started the program in 1997 with help from violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin.

This year, the musicians come from 19 countries, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Israel and Italy. Schmieder notes some of the musicians are from countries that are at war with each other.

“And they are sitting next to each other, and they become friends.”

He says through their music and friendship, they are making the world more peaceful.

The musicians taking part in the program range in age from their late teens to their 30s. Schmieder said they include winners of major music competitions.

Peter Rainer is a violin player from Germany. He serves as concertmaster, the link between the musicians and conductor.

“It’s so great that you have so many sensitive musicians. They all are very alert and awake and listen to each other and it's a lot of fun.”

Turkish viola player Can Sakul says the international group works well together.

The experience is a cultural as well as a musical exchange, said Russian violinist Semyon Promoe.

“Everyone has [their] own opinion of music, how to play every composition. It’s very interesting to interact with everybody, to play together and to create one opinion for everybody.”

This year, the festival focuses on music from the 1600s to the 1900s. But cello player Francisco Vila of Ecuador said the music has no geographic boundaries.

Vila added that the musicians get to know more about each other as they perform great music.

“It’s interesting to see where we intersect, how many things we have in common. And also the music world…is quite small, so you’re only one person away from knowing everyone else.”

Can Sakul said the musicians who have taken part in the training and festival make up “a big family.” He added that he is “proud to be a part of it.”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Mike O’Sullivan reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

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