英语学习网

Study English at Home

首页 | 托福(TOEFL) | 雅思(IELTS) | GMAT | GRE | 签证/留学/移民 | 工作求职 | 英语资料 | 英语作文 | 英语考试 | 英语听力 | 英语口语
当前位置:首页 > 英语资料 > 正文
World Bank to open "Artisan Market" in Washington
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2006-05-23 字体: [ ]

The World Bank is often in the news, but not always for reasons it might like. The official name is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

In recent years, its big meetings at its headquarters in Washington have become the target of anti-globalization protesters. Its lending policies and support for free trade are criticized. Environmental activists have objected to its financing of dams and some other projects.

But supporters say the World Bank Group and its member organizations are making progress in reducing poverty. One of the members is the International Finance Corporation. The I.F.C. helps private businesses in developing countries.

In February, its directors approved new environmental and social requirements to replace existing ones for projects it finances. There are new requirements for community health, safety, and security as well as labor conditions and pollution prevention, among others.

A major program of the International Finance Corporation is the Grassroots Business Initiative, headed by Harold Rosen.

Mister Rosen tells us that the program helps bridge developing economies and the international marketplace. It seeks to strengthen small businesses through technical assistance. They might also receive financing. Mister Rosen says the Grassroots Business Initiative is socially driven, because the aim is to help people most in need.

Among the businesses in the program is an African company called Gone Rural. It employs about seven hundred women in Swaziland. They make baskets, table items and other goods from natural materials. Today, their products are sold in about thirty-five countries around the world.

Each woman supports, on average, eight other people. So the company is said to have an influence in society. Gone Rural educates the women about AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes it. An estimated forty percent of Swazi adults are infected with HIV.

Mister Rosen says a store opening soon in Washington will sell items from Gone Rural. It will also sell goods from other businesses supported by the International Finance Corporation. Suppliers must guarantee that their goods are produced without child labor or environmental harm.

The Pangea Artisan Market and Cafe will sell items from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss. This is Shep O'Neal.

Vocabulary:


↑返回顶部 打印本页 关闭窗口↓
用户名: 新注册) 密码: 匿名评论 [所有评论]
评论内容:(不能超过250字,需审核后才会公布,请自觉遵守互联网相关政策法规。
§最新评论:
推荐文章
·两遍阅读法 顺利通过CET各级考试
·如何顺利通过CET各级考试
·各省市CET广播频率集合
·12月24日CET考试温馨提示
·考试技巧可以助你顺利过CET
·细节决定成败,CET应试技巧助你拿
·赴美申请提前半年ACT、SAT很关键
·解析美国高考SAT 拿满分不是不可
热点文章
·两遍阅读法 顺利通过CET各
·英语大师们谈英语学习成功
·俞敏洪从100套真题中提炼
·阅读技巧加油站
·新东方作文主题预测
·英语历年真题词汇手册(199
·三十五个经典句型 帮你过
·如何顺利通过CET各级考试
英语学习
·两遍阅读法 顺利通过CET各
·五点备战“复合式听写”
·细节决定成败,CET应试技巧
·写作错误与分析
·英语大师们谈英语学习成功
·教育部大学英语分数制与题
·俞敏洪从100套真题中提炼
·阅读技巧加油站
www.0641.com 英语学习网