Visitors to the newly opened One World Observatory in New York, May 29, 2015.
Construction was completed at the beginning of this year…it took several years to build, with 45,000 tons of steel, 159,000 cubic meters of concrete, resulting in a total of nearly 28,000 square meters of office space.
And today, the latest tenant opened up for business, One World Observatory.
―We‘re back. You hear this. You heard this from construction workers.
We‘re back. We put this building up,\Observatory.
The Observatory covers three floors - from 100 to 102. But first, there's a 47-second elevator ride featuring time lapse video - depicting the development of New York and ending with a panoramic view of the region as it appears today.
Stepping off the elevator, visitors watch another video featuring those who helped build World Trade Center 1, also known as Freedom Tower. Then comes the final treat - Manhattan and beyond as far as the eye can see. On a clear day, that means approximately 80 kilometers in all directions.
Back on the ground - the official ribbon-cutting - to open the experience to the public. It costs more than $30 for an adult to take in the view. But that was not on the minds of the first day's visitors.
―It‘s very impressive, so high, excellent,‖ a visitor from Germany said.
―Our country helped build this tower because the steel girders in the basement of the tower are coming from my country,\city of the world.
One of the principals in Legends is the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones, who summed up the feeling of many who remember September 11, 2001.
―This is called getting knocked down and getting back up, which is what we think of ourselves in this country,\
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is guaranteed $875 million in revenue from the observatory over the next 15 years….and part of that return started today. But more important, perhaps, was seeing the new World Trade Center as a place of remembrance and hope for the future.
美国之音 > VOA Special English > AS IT IS
State Limits on Media Raise Concern in Turkey
By Dorian Jones 29 May, 2015
Turkey will hold elections in June. Before then, a Turkish government lawyer wants to close several TV stations linked to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and critical of the ruling AK Party.
Government officials claim Mr. Gulen is working against the government.
But critics are speaking against the government's move to close the stations. They say the state controls the media in order to report in favor of the government.
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, talks to supporters during his election campaign in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 24, 2015.
Cengiz Aktar is a political scientist at Istanbul's Suleyman Sah University. He says closing the TV stations would add to growing concerns over the fairness of the June 7 general election.
\is extremely difficult to talk about a free election because the majority of the media outlets are openly working for the ruling party and press freedom is under very serious threat as pointed [out] by European Union ... by [the] Council of Europe and by America.\
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, is observing the election. OSCE is concerned about the fairness of the media.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party. He has strongly condemned any threat to close TV stations.
And some pro-government newspaper writers are also worried about the threat.
The ruling AK Party has not commented on the reports.
At the same time, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused a leading newspaper of plotting against him and the government. The owners of the newspaper are critical of the government.
President Erdogan is a founding member of the ruling party. He is required by the Turkish Constitution to be neutral.
But since the start of the general election, President Erdogan has spoken around the country. In his speeches he often attacks all the opposition parties.
State media and many private TV channels carry the speeches live. Observers say that, in contrast, the opposition has few chances to speak on television.
Government minister Nesrin Ulema denies any wrongdoing. She says the country's Supreme Election Council and election laws secure equal broadcast rights for all parties after the campaign period starts.
\perception or a feeling that AK Party has more weight since our president is also out in the field. But he is the first ever president who was elected by the nation's votes.\
Kadri Gursel works as a political reporter at Turkey's Milliyet newspaper. He warns the country is moving into a \of justice.\
\opposition parties to mainstream media. And then it's enough to create an authoritarian system, which makes it almost impossible for an opposition parity to make gains in elections.\
Related reports say the government is giving tax benefits to large businesses. The reports say the companies, which own large media operations, received the tax credits in the period before the election.
The ruling AK Party has strongly denied claims that they acted illegally. But national and international concerns are increasing over the health of democracy and the June election.
I'm Jill Robbins.
Dorian Jones reported and wrote this story for VOA News. Jill Robbins adapted this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.
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Words in This Story
found - v. to begin or create (something that is meant to last for a long time)
neutral - adj. not supporting one political view over another
perception - n. the way you think about or understand someone or something
Now it's your turn. What do you think of the relationship between the media and government? Is the media in your country neutral or does it favor those in power?
美国之音 > VOA Special English > AS IT IS
Blind Boy Defines His Life With Music
By VOA 29 May, 2015
When Frankie Moran first saw his son Cole, he could not imagine ever sharing his love of music with the boy. Cole had cognitivedelays and other birth defects. And he was blind.
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But Cole was not deaf, and quickly showed an interest in music. Mr. Moran is a singer and songwriter. He says his son liked to be nearby when he was making music at home. He says Cole would touch the instruments.
At around the age of one, Cole started playing notes of simple songs on a toy piano.
\ pitch. Because when he would miss a note and hit the wrong note in a melody like ?Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,' he would go back and find that note. So that's how we figured he knew what he was hearing.\
Constant practice
Cole Moran is now 12 years old. Cole plays music every day. He records his performances and listens back to the sound. He enjoys the work.
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Father-Son duets
Cole's choice of instrument since he was four has been the harmonica, which he often plays with his dad. Last year, the father and son duo won second place at a Fiddler's Convention in their hometown, Berlin, Maryland.
Now and then, Cole performs with his father under the name Blind Wind at a restaurant in Berlin.
The 12-year-old released his first CD recently. His mother, Jenny Moran, was excited.
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Cole attends Maryland School for the Blind in Baltimore. There will be lots of time for music when classes end for the summer break. Frankie Moran says he and Cole plan to hit the road. They want to do a series of Blind Wind performances around the country.
I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
VOA's June Soh reported on this story from Washington. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
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Words in This Story
cognitive – adj. of, relating to, or involving mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning and remembering)
defect – n. a physical problem that causes something to be less valuable, effective or healthy
blind – adj. unable to see
perfect pitch – n. the ability to correctly identify any musical note that you hear or to sing any musical note correctly without help
duo – n. two people who perform together, are usually seen together, or with ties to each other
hit the road – verb phrase to travel; to go on a trip
Do you know someone like Cole, who has overcome physical difficulties to achieve important goals? Tell us about it and practice your English writing skills at the same time. Post your comments below.
美国之音 > VOA Special English > AS IT IS
UN Supports Protection of Journalists in Conflicts
By VOA 29 May, 2015
The United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution on the protection of journalists in conflict zones. All 15 Council members voted Wednesday in support of the resolution.
The measure comes as the number of deaths and kidnappings of news reporters and other media workers continues to rise.
The group Reporters Without Borders says 66 journalists were killed last year and more than 20 others have died since January. Over the past 10 years, 700 media workers have been killed, either while on the job or because of their occupation.
Members of Journalists Without Borders protest against Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Berlin, January 21, 2015. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)
The U.N. resolution condemns such attacks. It warns those involved in conflicts, including governments and armed groups, to take all reasonable steps to protect journalists. It also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of reporters who are held as hostages in battle areas.
Christophe Deloire works for Reporters Without Borders. He said Iraq and Syria have come two of the most dangerous places for journalists to work. Forty-five have been killed in Syria since that conflict started in 2011. In Iraq, at least 15 others have died since 2013. Mr. Deloire said ensuringaccountability is important to preventing future attacks.
\encouragement for all those who commit crimes against journalists. If we want to protect journalists, we have to fight impunity.\
He added that attacks on journalists in conflict areas could be considered war crimes and should be given to the International Criminal Court.
The United States ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power, is a former journalist. She says restrictions on press freedom and threats against reporters often are signs of an effort to suppress civil, political and human rights. She noted the current political unrest in the central African nation of Burundi. There, the country's military disputed President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term in office. Many people in Burundi consider a third term unconstitutional.