环球英语 — 358：Pygmy Power
Voice 1
Hello, I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby Jones. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
A group of small men walk along a narrow forest path. Different kinds of trees stand tall around them. Sunlight dances on the rich, green leaves. High above the men, birds call out to each other. The men know this forest like the back of their hands. It is their home. It was their parents’ home. And they will do what they can to protect it.
One of the men is holding a small piece of equipment in his hand. It looks like a large mobile telephone - but it is, in fact, a computer!
Suddenly, the men stop in front of one particular tree. The man with the computer turns on his machine. Different images appear on the computer - a knife, a fish, a tree. The man presses the picture of the tree. The computer then records details about where exactly the tree is. The group of men then walk on deeper into the forest. They have to find other trees of this kind before the daylight finishes.
Voice 2
The men in the forest are part of the Baka Pygmy tribe. Pygmies are shorter than average people. The Baka live in Cameroon. This central African country has many rich rainforests. The forests in the south east are home to the Baka people. For them, the forest is their life. They hunt its animals for food. They gather fruit and leaves from its plants and trees. Its water holes provide fish. Large trees offer shelter from the sun’s heat. And the pygmies can use its dead wood to make fires. These fight off the cool night temperatures.
Voice 1
But the Baka Pygmies are not the only people interested in the riches of the Ngola Baka rainforest. A number of businesses have factories very near the forest - in some cases, only two kilometres away. And their particular interest is the wood from the trees. Cameroon is one of the world’s top five exporters of tropical wood. The national economy depends heavily on its continued success. So, the government permits these businesses to cut down an agreed number of trees.
The wood - or logging - companies have particular areas of forest where they can go to cut down these trees. There are established borders to mark where their land officially stops. The government rules say that the companies must discuss their logging plans with the local Baka community. This should make sure that the Baka’s traditional forest life is not in danger - a way of life that has been going on for thousands of years!
Voice 2
However, some environmental pressure groups claim that the companies are not following the rules. The Centre for Environmental Development, CEP, is one of these groups. The Forest People’s Programme, or FFP, is another. These groups believe that the logging companies are acting illegally. They are not respecting forest borders. And they do not inform the Baka Pygmies about their plans for cutting down trees. This breaks Cameroon’s forestry laws. And, it leaves the Baka Pygmies facing increased poverty and a lack of resources.
Voice 1
There has been one major problem facing the Baka Pygmies in their fight for justice. They have not been able to gather evidence of illegal behaviour by the logging companies. That is, until now! Helveta is a British computer programming company. It has been working with the CEP and the FFP. Together, they have designed a hand-held computer for the Baka Pygmies. The computer uses GPS - Global Positioning System. This uses links to satellites to record information about where something is exactly.
Voice 2
When Baka Pygmies go into the forest now, they carry the computer with them. They can record the exact position of special trees, good hunting places, water holes. Doctor Jerome Lewis has been working with the Baka Pygmies for twenty years. He explains more about how the computer works:
Voice 3
“The system is very simple for the Baka people to use. The designers used the Baka’s knowledge to organize the computer programme.”
Voice 2
Doctor Lewis shows a line of different symbols on the computer. He points to one of a manioc tree. Then, he presses it:
Voice 3
“The computer will then show the question: ‘Is this a manioc tree?’ Then, they press ‘yes’. The computer will then record a GPS point. The satellite tells the computer where it is - that is how it can mark its position. When the Baka pygmies finally finish walking in the forest, they will go to another computer, back in their village. They load the information from their hand-held machines on to it. This computer is linked to an information store. Then other users can see the information on their own computers. For example, the people at the government office can see where the trees are and make sure that they are not being illegally cut down.”
Voice 1
Belmont Chomba works for an environmental development group among the Baka Pygmies. He explains how having this information empowers the people of the forest:
Voice 4
“The information comes right from where the problem is. I think it is difficult for logging companies to speak against this information. I am sure this will put a lot of pressure on them. And I hope they will improve their behaviour and ways of working.”
Voice 1
And Doctor Lewis agrees. He points to an agreement made between governments who export wood and the European Union. He says:
Voice 3
“Governments must promise to only permit legal tree-cutting. And they must promise to operate in a way that respects the rights of local people. The information gathered on GPS will show if they are keeping their promises.”
Voice 2
Back in the forest, night is arriving. A group of Baka Pygmies sit around a small fire. They sing, laugh and share the experiences of the day. It has been this way for many hundreds of years. And thanks to modern technology this ancient way of life can continue for many years to come.
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