Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Joshua Leo.
感谢您收听今天的重点报道节目。我是约书亚·利奥。
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting.
我是莉兹·怀德。本节目用慢速英语的方式播报新闻。
It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
以便让世界各地的人们更容易听懂。
Experts believe the first potato vegetable plants grew about 7,000 years ago.
专家认为,最早的土豆植株生长在大约7000年前。
These first potatoes grew in the Andes Mountains in South America.
最早的土豆生长在南美洲的安第斯山脉。
The ancient people there, the Incas, had particular beliefs about these plants.
那里的古人,印加人,对这些植物有着特殊的信仰。
They thought of the earth as a mother to all growing things.
他们认为地球是万物之母。
The moon gave “Mother Earth” fertility.
月球给予“地球母亲”生育能力。
It moved her to offer potatoes at harvest time.
这让她在收获季节提供土豆。
Men and women each had a special part in growing the potato.
在种植土豆的过程中,男人和女人各自扮演着特殊的角色。
Men put the seeds in the land.
男人把种子种在地里。
The women cared for the seeds until they produced potatoes.
女人照看种子,直到它们长成土豆。
Around the world, this is still true.
在世界各地,这仍然是事实。
Women have an important part in planting, caring for, and harvesting the potato.
女人在种植、照料和收获土豆方面发挥着重要作用。
The United Nations has declared 2008 the “International Year of the Potato.”
联合国宣布2008年为“国际土豆年”。
In an earlier program we explained that the UN believes potatoes will have a large influence on future food security.
在之前的节目中,我们解释过,联合国认为土豆将会对未来的粮食安全产生重大影响。
They contain many good substances people need to be healthy.
它们含有许多保持人体健康所需的有益物质。
And they are easier to grow than many other crops.
而且它们比许多其他作物更容易种植。
Food security is an issue in many developing countries.
粮食安全是许多发展中国家所面临的一个问题。
People must have enough to eat.
人们必须有足够的食物。
When people do not have enough to eat, whole communities suffer.
当人们没有足够的食物时,整个社区都会受到影响。
Food security also depends on gender equality.
粮食安全还取决于性别平等。
Producing food is an important goal.
生产粮食是一个重要的目标。
But people cannot reach this goal when men and women receive unequal treatment.
但当男性和女性受到不平等待遇时,人们就无法实现这一目标。