Kate: and me, Kate Colin. I am going to be your language guide over the next 6
minutes, and we're talking about a protest by an Indian tribe whose historical
land - the Niyamgiri Mountain range - is about to be used for industrial mining.
But before we look at the story, I thought it might be a good idea to go through
some of today's vocabulary.
Dima: OK, shall we do it now?
Kate: Yeah, sure. First, the adjective 'indigenous'. We use this word when we talk
about people or sometimes things that have always naturally lived in a place,
rather than arriving from elsewhere. Secondly, the verb 'to displace', meaning
to force people to leave the place where they normally live. And finally,
another verb: 'to worship' - that's to have deep faith in someone or something,
to be fully devoted to them and to treat them as divine.
Dima: That's 'to worship', 'to displace' and 'indigenous' Well, the latest protest by the
indigenous tribal people in India, known as the Kondh, was given a fresh start
last week. It was then that demonstrators in London protested outside the
headquarters of Vedanta, a company that looks set to mine around 250 square
kilometres of the Kondh land for the bauxite.
Kate: Bauxite, that's another name for the world's main type of aluminium ore. And
aluminium of course is a light metal which is silver in colour and is used in
many different ways, especially for making cooking equipment and aircraft
parts.
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Dima: In a moment we'll hear from Dr Bratindi Jenna, an activist who works with the
community. Dr Jenna says the 8,000 people who live in the mountains
completely rely on their surroundings for everything: food, water, livelihood
and, importantly, faith. And here comes this week's question for you Kate.
What or who do you think many indigenous people in the world often worship?
Is it their tribal chief (because of his position)? Is it church? Or is it nature?
Kate: Answers
Dima: You'll hear the answer in Dr Bratindi Jenna's words - let's listen and check if
you got it right:
Clip 1 0'22"
Indigenous people across the world worship nature. They worship something which has
contributed to their existence for generations. That's their lifeline. It has river, it has food, it
has everything. Indigenous people are the owner of the land - and first of all we displace them
and we give them some job which has no meaning for them.
Kate: Dr Jenna says indigenous people across the world worship nature. Which
means I was right/wrong with my earlier guess…
Dima: And how does she explain this devotion to nature Kate?
Kate: Well she says that's because nature has given them the land they live and feed
on for many generations, from parents to children. Dr Jenna doesn't believe in
displacing people because for them, she says, things can simply lose their
meaning.
Dima: So that's what last week's protests in London were all about. But
understandably perhaps, the mining company sees the situation differently.
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Let's listen to Vedanta's Chief Executive, M. S. Mehta. He says on the whole
India's systems balance well the economic and social development.
Kate: This is a good word to know and use: 'to balance', meaning to give several
things equal amounts of importance, time or money so that a situation is
successful. And another expression I wanted to mention is 'a final stamp of
approval', or 'a final seal of approval'. This phrase is used when it has been
officially decided that something should definitely happen.
Dima: That's 'to balance' and 'a final stamp of approval'. Listen out for these words -
and also try to find out which very important Indian institution has given their
final stamp of approval to Vedanta's project:
Clip 2 0'22"
The issue has been in debate for last three years. And all the regulatory agencies in India have
had a look at it and the Supreme Court of India had got it re-verified and put the final stamp
of approval [in] August last year. India has a very good legal system, regulatory system both
balancing development and the social development. I think we've got to start respecting the
legal system.
Dima: Did you hear the answer? Which important Indian institution has given its final
stamp of approval to the mining project?
…
It was the Supreme Court of India. Still campaigners are not convinced. They
say they want Vedanta to give up the mining project and to leave the area for
good. Until then, they say, they won't stop their fight.
Kate: Quite a dramatic story - and you can find out more about it by following the
links from our website, bbclearningenglish.com.
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Dima: But before that, can I ask you to go through some of today's key words and
phrases again Kate?
Kate: Responds. We began with the adjective indigenous, meaning people that have
always naturally lived in a place, rather than arriving from elsewhere. Then we
talked about displacing, that's when people are forced to leave the place where
they normally live, and worshiping. 'To worship' means to have deep faith in
someone or something, to be fully devoted to them and to treat them as divine.
We mentioned bauxites - that's another name for the world's main type of
aluminium ore. And aluminium of course is a light metal which is silver in
colour and is used in many different ways.
We had the verb to balance, meaning to give several things equal amounts of
importance.
And just one more phrase to remember: a final stamp of approval. This
phrase is used when it has been officially decided that something should
definitely happen.
Dima: I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. Until next week.
Both: Goodbye!
