【328-3330】 Donkeys Help Humans Feel At Ease

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AS IT IS

Donkeys Help Humans Feel At Ease

August 16, 2018

Small donkeys eat hay at Donkey Park in Ulster Park, New York. Steve Stiert offers free donkey-aided therapy programs and educational events as part of his mission to protect donkeys from mistreatment and neglect.

In many places around the world, donkeys are used for carrying heavy loads.

But at Donkey Park, the animals’ only job is to offer comfort to visitors.

Donkey Park is the creation of Steve Stiert. The former software engineer had spent more than 25 years working in front of a computer. Six years ago, his job at IBM ended. At 59 years old, Stiert decided he wanted a change.

He learned about donkey behavior from his daughter, who was studying to be a veterinarian. He quickly fell in love with the animal’s calming nature.

Now, Stiert is giving people the chance to spend time with donkeys.

He says he feels a close connection with these animals. He believes donkeys changed his life.

“They brought out this caring, sensitive person I had pushed to the background while trying to be successful.”

Donkey Park owner Steve Stiert, walks among his donkeys in Ulster Park, N.Y. Stiert offers free donkey-aided therapy programs and educational events as part of his mission to protect donkeys from mistreatment.

Stiert has 11 donkeys. He also has a mule and a donkey-zebra mix, called a "zonkey." All of the animals live on the grounds next to his home in Ulster Park, New York. The area is 130 kilometers north of New York City.

Stiert takes his animals to schools and homes for old people, as well as to events for children with disabilities. He also teaches donkey farming and has an 800-member Meetup group. The members go on group walks with the donkeys.

“A lot of people come up from the city, travel long distances,” Stiert says. “When they come out here, you can just see the stress melting away from them.”

Donkeys are becoming more and more popular for animal-aided therapy.

Donkey Sanctuary is based in Devon, England. The organization offers donkey-aided therapy for children healing from cancer, victims of human trafficking and others.

Caron Whaley is the therapy director at Donkey Sanctuary. “We’re not providing therapy for the trauma but for developing life skills,” Whaley said.

Donkeys are often shown as foolish or unfriendly in popular culture. But donkey supporters say the animals are actually calm, intelligent and affectionate.

Stiert says some people come to Donkey Park thinking the animals will bite them or behave badly.

“None of those things are true at all,” he said.

The Arc of Ulster-Greene is an organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities. Each week, it takes a group of adults to Donkey Park. There, they brushthe animals, walk them around and feed them. The donkeys are very social. Many of them quickly walk toward visitors and stay to have their long ears rubbed.

Tom Cossaboom sometimes goes on these outings with Arc. He says the animals make him feel at ease. “They’re friendly and calm.”

Donkey Park visitor Evan Oster leads a small donkey through an obstacle course as volunteer Patti Lundgren looks on, at Donkey Park in Ulster Park, N.Y.

Stiert bought his first six donkeys from breeders. He later decided to start taking in rescue donkeys. His Donkey Park is registered as a nonprofit organization, but he mostly uses his own money to care for the animals. He does not do birthday parties, religious events or other events to raise money.

“All our services are free,” Stiert said.

Patti Lundgren says she looked for Meetup groups when she moved to the area and became interested in the donkey walks. Now, she often drives 45 minutes to volunteer at Donkey Park.

“There’s such a gentle energy about them,” Lundgren says. “I always leave here feeling really good. The dirtier I am, the better I feel. Ah…donkey love.”

I’m Alice Bryant.

Mary Esch wrote this story for the Associated Press. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

veterinary – adj. relating to the medical care and treatment of animals

mule – n. an animal that has a horse and a donkey as parents

zebra – n. n African animal that looks like a horse and has black and white stripes covering its body

trauma – n. a very unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

brush – v. to clean or smooth something (such as hair) with a brush

breeder – n. a person who keeps and takes care of animals in order to produce more animals of a particular kind

stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work or other things

background – n. a position that attracts little attention

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AS IT IS

Israel Eases Restrictions on Food, Goods into Gaza

August 16, 2018

A truck carrying goods arrives at Kerem Shalom crossing in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Aug. 15, 2018.

Israel has reopened its border crossing into the Gaza Strip, permitting food and other goods to be taken into the area.

The crossing was closed July 9 in answer to rising violence between Israeli forces and the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Heavy fighting had been reported between the two sides over the past month. Hamas fired a series of rockets into Israel, while Israeli forces carried out many airstrikes in Gaza. The latest fighting ended a week ago.

The reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing came as Egypt increased its efforts to negotiate a lasting cease-fire. It was not clear if the opening of the crossing was part of a larger deal negotiators are trying to reach.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called the reopening “a clear message” to people in the Gaza Strip. He said it demonstrated that “quiet pays and violence doesn’t pay.”

Packages of goods are seen ahead of their transfer to the Gaza Strip, inside the Kerem Shalom border crossing terminal between Israel and Gaza Strip, Israel, Aug. 15, 2018.

Kerem Shalom is the main commercial crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. It serves as the link for transporting food, fuel, construction materials and aid to the Palestinian territory.

Israel and Egypt placed severe economic restrictions on Gaza after Hamas seized the coastal territory. The militant group took control from the internationally-recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007.

Israel says the economic blockade is needed to contain Hamas, a militant group that seeks Israel’s destruction. The closure has greatly harmed Gaza’s economy. But, it has failed to oust Hamas or ease the group’s hold on power.

A member of Palestinian security forces gestures as a fuel tanker arrives at Kerem Shalom crossing in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 15, 2018.

Israel halted commercial traffic into the Gaza Strip last month. It stopped fuel shipments about two weeks ago to answer balloons being launched from Gaza to start fires. The fires have destroyed large areas of forest and farmland in southern Israel.

Fuel shortages in Gaza led to widespread power outages that have left 2 million people living there with just a few hours of electricity a day.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the reopening of the crossing. A U.N. spokesman said Guterres was “encouraged to see that those concerned” had answered calls to avoid the harmful effects “of yet another conflict on the civilian population in and around Gaza.”

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Reuters, the Associated Press and VOA News. Mario Ritter 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

commercial – adj. related to buying and selling things

encourage – v. tell or advise to do something

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AS IT IS

Cambodia’s Ruling Party Takes Full Control of Parliament

August 16, 2018

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen gestures while speaking in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 1. Hun Sen has been criticized for silencing opposition voices.

The Ruling People’s Party of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has won all 125 parliamentary seats in the national election that took place last month.

International observers and outlawed opposition forces have criticized the results.

The National Election Committee said Wednesday that 83 percent of people who could vote completed ballots.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, was not permitted to take part in the election. The Supreme Court dissolved the party last year.

Nineteen smaller parties did take part in the election, but gained little support.

The unbalanced election results ensure that Hun Sen will extend his 33 years in power when the new parliament is seated next month.

Sam Rainsy is the exiled leader of the CNRP. In a written statement, he accused the National Election Committee of inflating the number of voters. He said the government group was under the control of the People’s Party.

Hun Sen’s People’s Party nearly lost its majority in the 2013 national election.

Independent international election observers said they would not take part in this year’s vote after the CNRP was dissolved. Observers consider that action the last step in a campaign against all opposition voices in the country.

Other recent actions against opposition voices include the arrest of the co-leader of the CNRP on charges of treason and the closure of The Cambodia Daily newspaper.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called the election “flawed.” She said the United States would expand visa restrictions put in place last year on some high-level Cambodian officials. Nauert said the action targeted individuals who were “responsible for the most notable anti-democratic actions” taken before the election.

She said new restrictions could be placed on individuals inside and outside the government.

However, a Cambodian spokesman said the restrictions would not be effective.

Observers say the prime minister has tight control of all parts of the government. They note that the opposition has no National Assembly seats and no parliamentary immunity with which to criticize the government.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Richard Green reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. 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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