Shawnee Chasser has been told to tear down her treehouse home or face paying huge fines in violations.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and answer the questions below.
1 Where’s the treehouse built?
2 How long has she been living there?
3 How many people has she cooked for in her kitchen?
4 Why is she facing eviction from her treehouse?
5 How much money does she have to pay for the violations she has committed?
6 How did her son die?
7 When did Shawnee first move out?
8 How is she collecting money for her legal battle?
Welcome to paradise!
Grandmother Shawnee lives in this treehouse, built in her son’s back garden, and she shares it with her two dogs, two cats and pet raccoon.
This is the treehouse, the famous treehouse. I’ve been living in here for 10 years. This is my beautiful home. My tine house in a tree. Actually, my mansion in a tree. There is my raccoon.
Hi, Coony. Are you being a good boy?
I have everything in this kitchen that anybody needs and there are refrigerator, my little oven, wi-fi, and I’ve cooked for 40 people in this kitchen. It is the sweetest little space and I don’t have windows or anything like that, I don’t need them. Well, you know, everyone thinks I’m a little nuts. His favourite thing in the world, blueberries. Where are you? Coony! Prrr. And I didn’t choose this, and I didn’t really even choose this battle with code enforcement. This gate is now the latest violation, they are saying it wasn’t permitted.
Despite having lived happily in the treehouse for over 10 years, Shawnee is now facing eviction having not applied for planning permission when she first built it.
For me in my life, I’ve pretty much done everything without permit. I have always lived outside of the box and it really, most of it never occurred to me. Probably a year ago, I got the first notice to knock it down and then they added five more fines, and now I’m just drowning in violations. I hear I have $30,000 in violations. It’s just out of control and I have put in about $11,000 over the year.
Tragically seven years ago, her son passed away, and now her treehouse has become even more precious to her.
He is the reason I’m here. He died of an unexpected heart attack and he was my best friend, and right now after a year of paying about $11,000 in fines with code enforcement, and crying a lot, and being so sad, we’re working every day trying to figure this out. This is the most heavenly place to sleep in the whole world. Where I get to visit with the squirrels, where the rain, I can touch the rain, I can watch the clouds and the storms come in, and hangout with my raccoon. Come here, come here, he always wants to play.
Hey, hey, hey!
My two dogs, my two cats and my raccoon sleep up here at night. The best thing about waking up every morning to this is that I can kind of pretend I’m not in Miami. I feel like I’m out in the woods.
Shawnee first moved outdoors 40 years ago after giving birth to her first child and developing anxiety around living indoors.
I’m getting diagnosed by a doctor this week because I have claustrophobia and can’t live indoors. So what do you do with somebody that can’t live indoors?
Shawnee is now raising money online so she can continue her battle to keep her very unique home.
If this was taken away from me, it would take part of me away, and I don’t think it’s going to happen, I have enough people that want to chain themselves to it. It’s my everything, it’s my little tiny living space. It’s where my heart is, it’s where I feel good. Yeah, it’s my inside.
Key:
1 In her son’s back garden
2 Ten years
3 Forty
4 She didn’t apply for permission to build it
5 $30,000
6 Of an unexpected heart attack
7 Forty years ago after her first child birth
8 She’s raising money online
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Justice. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Justice. Mostrar todas las entradas
jueves, 29 de diciembre de 2016
domingo, 27 de noviembre de 2016
Extensive listening: Why open a school? To close a prison
Our kids are our future, and it's crucial they believe it themselves. That's why TED Fellow Nadia Lopez opened an academic oasis in Brownsville, Brooklyn, one of the most underserved and violent neighborhoods in all of New York City — because she believes in every child's brilliance and capabilities.
In this short, energizing talk, the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, and a star of Humans of New York, shares how she helps her scholars envision a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Nadia Lopez is the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, where she is showing the world how underprivileged communities can beat the odds and create positive institutions that have a global impact.
You can read the transcript here.
In this short, energizing talk, the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, and a star of Humans of New York, shares how she helps her scholars envision a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Nadia Lopez is the founding principal of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, where she is showing the world how underprivileged communities can beat the odds and create positive institutions that have a global impact.
You can read the transcript here.
viernes, 25 de noviembre de 2016
Startling number of mental patients behind bars in US
The UK's prison problems, with many inmates suffering from mental illness, are mirrored around the world. In America there are thought to be three times more psychiatric patients in prison than in hospital. BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool was given special permission to film inside Cook County Jail, Illinois, and to speak to the prisoners at this Chicago prison.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video below and answer the questions.
1. What is the percentage of American inmates suffering from mental problems?
2. What has Robert been charged with?
3. How many inmates live in the same room?
4. How much bigger is the percentage of incarcerated people with mental problems compared to patients in mental hospitals?
5. What are some of the words André uses to describe the hard life in prison?
6. Is there some provision for psychological treatment in the prison?
7. How can the problem of the massive number of inmates with mental problems be resolved?
This is what checking into America's largest mental health institution looks like. It's not its official role, but when 30% of people being shuttled around from cell to cell and locked away in this jail are thought to have psychiatric problems, that, by default, is what it's become.
We watched as this man was processed into the jail, having his mugshots taken. He was charged with criminal trespass, sleeping on someone else's property 42-year-old Robert is homeless and he has schizophrenia. We saw as he shuffled off into what is a tough world.
In parts of the jail, up to 400 inmates are kept in a single room, where they eat, sleep and live all together. Many, of course, have committed far worse crimes than Robert. Those we spoke to complained of the conditions they lived in, but didn't want to be recorded for fear, they said, of repercussions. But the number of those among the prison population with mental health problems appears to be ever-increasing. It's now thought there are more than three times the number of psychiatric patients incarcerated in America than are in hospitals.
People like Andre. He's been locked up because he stole groceries that he said he needed to eat. He, too, is schizophrenic.
Being incarcerated is no way to live. Not only being kept from your freedom, but surrounded with the people that's here, the people that's here, the violence, the ignorance, the incompetence, the mentality of the individuals that you're locked up with. It can really get hard, it can be dangerous.
There are some areas of the jail that do have the look of a treatment center. Those running this facility have at least recognised that mental health provision needs to be a huge part of what they do. The new warden of the jail is even a psychologist. But what they can't change is a system that means so many people who should be treated in the community end up being in a place like this.
We have people who are sick, not criminals, they’re sick, no different than if they had diabetes, but they have a mental illness. It’s not being treated. Why isn’t it being treated? Well, guess what States throughout the country, throughout the United States, have decimated the mental health programmes, so there are none, people scramble to find anything. So where do these people end up then in mass, in the jails, in prisons. And it's been going on now for decades.
There does seem to be recognition that too many people in America are going to jail, particularly those with psychiatric problems. That can only be resolved with fundamental changes in the justice system here and improved mental health provisions outside prison. But both those things feel a long way off.
Aleem Maqbool, BBC News.
Key:
1 30%
2 criminal trespass, sleeping on someone else's property
3 up to 400 inmates
4 three times bigger
5 violence, ignorance, incompetence, mentalityof the individuals
6 yes
7 by introducing changes in the justice system and improving mental health provisions outside prison
Self-study activity:
Watch the video below and answer the questions.
1. What is the percentage of American inmates suffering from mental problems?
2. What has Robert been charged with?
3. How many inmates live in the same room?
4. How much bigger is the percentage of incarcerated people with mental problems compared to patients in mental hospitals?
5. What are some of the words André uses to describe the hard life in prison?
6. Is there some provision for psychological treatment in the prison?
7. How can the problem of the massive number of inmates with mental problems be resolved?
This is what checking into America's largest mental health institution looks like. It's not its official role, but when 30% of people being shuttled around from cell to cell and locked away in this jail are thought to have psychiatric problems, that, by default, is what it's become.
We watched as this man was processed into the jail, having his mugshots taken. He was charged with criminal trespass, sleeping on someone else's property 42-year-old Robert is homeless and he has schizophrenia. We saw as he shuffled off into what is a tough world.
In parts of the jail, up to 400 inmates are kept in a single room, where they eat, sleep and live all together. Many, of course, have committed far worse crimes than Robert. Those we spoke to complained of the conditions they lived in, but didn't want to be recorded for fear, they said, of repercussions. But the number of those among the prison population with mental health problems appears to be ever-increasing. It's now thought there are more than three times the number of psychiatric patients incarcerated in America than are in hospitals.
People like Andre. He's been locked up because he stole groceries that he said he needed to eat. He, too, is schizophrenic.
Being incarcerated is no way to live. Not only being kept from your freedom, but surrounded with the people that's here, the people that's here, the violence, the ignorance, the incompetence, the mentality of the individuals that you're locked up with. It can really get hard, it can be dangerous.
There are some areas of the jail that do have the look of a treatment center. Those running this facility have at least recognised that mental health provision needs to be a huge part of what they do. The new warden of the jail is even a psychologist. But what they can't change is a system that means so many people who should be treated in the community end up being in a place like this.
We have people who are sick, not criminals, they’re sick, no different than if they had diabetes, but they have a mental illness. It’s not being treated. Why isn’t it being treated? Well, guess what States throughout the country, throughout the United States, have decimated the mental health programmes, so there are none, people scramble to find anything. So where do these people end up then in mass, in the jails, in prisons. And it's been going on now for decades.
There does seem to be recognition that too many people in America are going to jail, particularly those with psychiatric problems. That can only be resolved with fundamental changes in the justice system here and improved mental health provisions outside prison. But both those things feel a long way off.
Aleem Maqbool, BBC News.
Key:
1 30%
2 criminal trespass, sleeping on someone else's property
3 up to 400 inmates
4 three times bigger
5 violence, ignorance, incompetence, mentalityof the individuals
6 yes
7 by introducing changes in the justice system and improving mental health provisions outside prison
viernes, 26 de agosto de 2016
Why are so many Americans behind bars
More people are in prison in America than anywhere else in the world. President Obama and politicians from both parties want to change that. Rajini Vaidyanathan looks at how the US prison population got to record levels.
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and answer the questions below.
1 Which country has the world’s largest prison population?
2 How much money does American spend on incarcerating people?
3 How much time have the 46 non-violent drug offenders whose sentences president Obama commuted served?
4 How much time had they been sentenced to serve?
5 When were tougher penalties for non-violent drug offenders introduced?
6 What race is the largest proportion of non-violent drug offenders?
7 What does ‘$31,000’ refer to?
America has the world’s largest prison population. More than half of those in federal prisons are serving time for non-violent drug offences. Many people think that’s too harsh a penalty, including President Obama.
Over the last few years a lot of people have become more aware of the inequities in the criminal justice system. The fact is that we spend over $80 billion a year incarcerating people, oftentimes who have only been engaged in non-violent drug offences.
The president commuted the sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders who’ve served more than a decade, bringing the total to nearly 90 throughout his presidency.
These men and women were not hardened criminals, but the overwhelming majority had been sentenced to at least 20 years, so their punishment didn’t fit the crime.
What the president is doing he is sending a strong message to the American public that we need to rethink how we deal with drug offences.
This is the change of course for America’s war on drugs in the 1980’s, when tough penalties were introduced for non-violent drug offenders. This graph shows how the prison population rocketed after many states introduced three-strikes policies and mandatory minimum sentences, putting more people behind bars.
And race placed a big part. The largest proportion of non-violent drug offenders is black.
The war on drugs had a tremendous impact on African-American community, turning of the public’s eye to how those incarcerations have negatively impacted the community as a whole, not just the African-American community. It’s a big important step that the president has taken.
Another big reason people are pushing prison reform is money. It costs around $31,000 a year to house every inmate, and with Republicans and Democrats struggling to balance budgets, President Obama believes now it’s the time for reform.
But I believe at its heart America is a nation of second chances, and I believe these folks deserve their second chance.
Key:
1 America
2 $80 billion a year
3 (more than) a decade
4 (at least) 20 years
5 in the 1980's
6 black / African-American
7 money spent on each inmate every year
Self-study activity:
Watch the video and answer the questions below.
1 Which country has the world’s largest prison population?
2 How much money does American spend on incarcerating people?
3 How much time have the 46 non-violent drug offenders whose sentences president Obama commuted served?
4 How much time had they been sentenced to serve?
5 When were tougher penalties for non-violent drug offenders introduced?
6 What race is the largest proportion of non-violent drug offenders?
7 What does ‘$31,000’ refer to?
America has the world’s largest prison population. More than half of those in federal prisons are serving time for non-violent drug offences. Many people think that’s too harsh a penalty, including President Obama.
Over the last few years a lot of people have become more aware of the inequities in the criminal justice system. The fact is that we spend over $80 billion a year incarcerating people, oftentimes who have only been engaged in non-violent drug offences.
The president commuted the sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders who’ve served more than a decade, bringing the total to nearly 90 throughout his presidency.
These men and women were not hardened criminals, but the overwhelming majority had been sentenced to at least 20 years, so their punishment didn’t fit the crime.
What the president is doing he is sending a strong message to the American public that we need to rethink how we deal with drug offences.
This is the change of course for America’s war on drugs in the 1980’s, when tough penalties were introduced for non-violent drug offenders. This graph shows how the prison population rocketed after many states introduced three-strikes policies and mandatory minimum sentences, putting more people behind bars.
And race placed a big part. The largest proportion of non-violent drug offenders is black.
The war on drugs had a tremendous impact on African-American community, turning of the public’s eye to how those incarcerations have negatively impacted the community as a whole, not just the African-American community. It’s a big important step that the president has taken.
Another big reason people are pushing prison reform is money. It costs around $31,000 a year to house every inmate, and with Republicans and Democrats struggling to balance budgets, President Obama believes now it’s the time for reform.
But I believe at its heart America is a nation of second chances, and I believe these folks deserve their second chance.
Key:
1 America
2 $80 billion a year
3 (more than) a decade
4 (at least) 20 years
5 in the 1980's
6 black / African-American
7 money spent on each inmate every year
domingo, 10 de julio de 2016
Extensive listening: Song redemption
John Legend is on a mission to transform America's criminal justice system.
Through his Free America campaign, he's encouraging rehabilitation and healing in our prisons, jails and detention centers, and giving hope to those who want to create a better life after serving their time.
With a spoken-word prelude from James Cavitt, an inmate at San Quentin State Prison, Legend treats us to his version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." "Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?"
Through his Free America campaign, he's encouraging rehabilitation and healing in our prisons, jails and detention centers, and giving hope to those who want to create a better life after serving their time.
With a spoken-word prelude from James Cavitt, an inmate at San Quentin State Prison, Legend treats us to his version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." "Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?"
martes, 5 de julio de 2016
A ride home from prison
This short New York Times documentary profiles a former prisoner who guides men released from life sentences in California through their first hours of freedom.
Self-study activity:
Watch the documentary and say whether the statements below are true or false.
1 Carlos Cervantes has got used to driving long distances to pick up released inmates.
2 Carlos spent 16 years in prison.
3 Carlos usually knows very little about the people he collects.
4 Carlos didn't have this kind of help when he was released.
5 Many prisoners are terrified at the idea of being released.
6 Released prisoners are given $200.
Every ride home is different. A lot of times when I feel like I’m used to getting up in the morning and driving three, four hours into these prisons, the middle of nowhere to pick up another lifer, I figure I’d be used to by now, but I’m not. Knowing that I’m picking someone up that’s just finished doing twenty-five years kind of takes me into how I felt back in 2002 when I was there.
Good morning, sir. We’re here to pick up a Mr Stanley Bailey.
Okay, from Iron Wood?
From Iron Wood, yes.
Well, you’ll have to pull over here and wait over here.
Perfect. I’ll just make a u-turn. Okay.
When I was incarcerated I was a teenager, 16 at the time. I took a twelve-year plea bargain from attempted murder ended up doing 10 years and eight months I got released when I was 27 and I’m looking at the world to kind of find that release for my brothers and sisters that are still locked up.
Being able to help someone makes me grateful, it’s like a privilege, like an honour.
Stanley, what’s up?
Thanks for the ride.
You’re ready or what?
Yeah, more than ready.
Well come on.
Thank you.
We’re now trying to take care of the first few hours at the very least.
I appreciate that, thank you.
When I do this open-heartedly, I don’t know who that person is, why he’s getting out, why he was arrested, why he did all that time but saying, you know what, regardless of what happened, I’m here. Most of the guys I that get out have families that are diseased, most of them don’t have friends anymore. A lot of these guys are actually scared. Their biggest fear is to fail.
You know, I’m not that young anymore, I’ve got to start a whole new career, so I don’t think I’m starting from scratch. I’m gonna have my hands full just getting on my feet.
It comes with the territory, you know. When I got out I had a pretty heavy burden on my shoulders, you know, I had already had to pay rent, and then not having like somebody who really talked to and could relate, that, that just torn me down.
The fear of going back, the fear of saying, you know, this is a revolving door for you, being institutionalised.
The motions that I go through, you don’t know how to deal with them. You always try to isolate yourself. Sometimes I feel like I’m still institutionalised.
I used to go the bathroom, take a shower and I used to just cry. I didn’t know how to deal with it.
Of all the things that everybody talked about doing when I got out, I told them, men, I just want to sit on the grass under a tree. I haven’t been under a tree in, you know 25 years.
It’s beautiful out here.
I don’t have any time to waste on jail anymore.
Yeah, this is going to take some getting used to.
It’s real uncomfortable, it’s going to take a minute. I haven’t heard a car go by in almost 30 years.
I think it’s therapeutic for me releasing someone that information that I know and teaching them kind of how it’s going to be, how you want this to end up, how you want to continue living life. Within those twenty-four hours if you don’t have the support necessary or the belief in yourself that’s necessary for you to continue on, then you struggle.
Coming out is a lot of pressure. When I first got out, I was scared, I’m not going to lie, I was terrified.
We give hope to other people that are behind the walls still just waiting to come out and we make this a safe place for people to transition to society. Welcome to your house, because this is going to be your house.
Three days ago he was a lifer. His mentality was as a lifer. And a lifer is I’m spending the rest of my life in prison. And all of a sudden, boom, you’re out. The $200 that they give you as escape money and for them to say, okay, go live a life, go try to make it. People never see the potential in someone. They figure we could categorise them as they were, they’re prisoners, they’re inmates that’s what they are. When we talk about throw away the key, lock them up, you don’t give people enough opportunities. I think that’s our biggest problem.
Key:
1F 2F 3T 4T 5T 6T
Self-study activity:
Watch the documentary and say whether the statements below are true or false.
1 Carlos Cervantes has got used to driving long distances to pick up released inmates.
2 Carlos spent 16 years in prison.
3 Carlos usually knows very little about the people he collects.
4 Carlos didn't have this kind of help when he was released.
5 Many prisoners are terrified at the idea of being released.
6 Released prisoners are given $200.
Every ride home is different. A lot of times when I feel like I’m used to getting up in the morning and driving three, four hours into these prisons, the middle of nowhere to pick up another lifer, I figure I’d be used to by now, but I’m not. Knowing that I’m picking someone up that’s just finished doing twenty-five years kind of takes me into how I felt back in 2002 when I was there.
Good morning, sir. We’re here to pick up a Mr Stanley Bailey.
Okay, from Iron Wood?
From Iron Wood, yes.
Well, you’ll have to pull over here and wait over here.
Perfect. I’ll just make a u-turn. Okay.
When I was incarcerated I was a teenager, 16 at the time. I took a twelve-year plea bargain from attempted murder ended up doing 10 years and eight months I got released when I was 27 and I’m looking at the world to kind of find that release for my brothers and sisters that are still locked up.
Being able to help someone makes me grateful, it’s like a privilege, like an honour.
Stanley, what’s up?
Thanks for the ride.
You’re ready or what?
Yeah, more than ready.
Well come on.
Thank you.
We’re now trying to take care of the first few hours at the very least.
I appreciate that, thank you.
When I do this open-heartedly, I don’t know who that person is, why he’s getting out, why he was arrested, why he did all that time but saying, you know what, regardless of what happened, I’m here. Most of the guys I that get out have families that are diseased, most of them don’t have friends anymore. A lot of these guys are actually scared. Their biggest fear is to fail.
You know, I’m not that young anymore, I’ve got to start a whole new career, so I don’t think I’m starting from scratch. I’m gonna have my hands full just getting on my feet.
It comes with the territory, you know. When I got out I had a pretty heavy burden on my shoulders, you know, I had already had to pay rent, and then not having like somebody who really talked to and could relate, that, that just torn me down.
The fear of going back, the fear of saying, you know, this is a revolving door for you, being institutionalised.
The motions that I go through, you don’t know how to deal with them. You always try to isolate yourself. Sometimes I feel like I’m still institutionalised.
I used to go the bathroom, take a shower and I used to just cry. I didn’t know how to deal with it.
Of all the things that everybody talked about doing when I got out, I told them, men, I just want to sit on the grass under a tree. I haven’t been under a tree in, you know 25 years.
It’s beautiful out here.
I don’t have any time to waste on jail anymore.
Yeah, this is going to take some getting used to.
It’s real uncomfortable, it’s going to take a minute. I haven’t heard a car go by in almost 30 years.
I think it’s therapeutic for me releasing someone that information that I know and teaching them kind of how it’s going to be, how you want this to end up, how you want to continue living life. Within those twenty-four hours if you don’t have the support necessary or the belief in yourself that’s necessary for you to continue on, then you struggle.
Coming out is a lot of pressure. When I first got out, I was scared, I’m not going to lie, I was terrified.
We give hope to other people that are behind the walls still just waiting to come out and we make this a safe place for people to transition to society. Welcome to your house, because this is going to be your house.
Three days ago he was a lifer. His mentality was as a lifer. And a lifer is I’m spending the rest of my life in prison. And all of a sudden, boom, you’re out. The $200 that they give you as escape money and for them to say, okay, go live a life, go try to make it. People never see the potential in someone. They figure we could categorise them as they were, they’re prisoners, they’re inmates that’s what they are. When we talk about throw away the key, lock them up, you don’t give people enough opportunities. I think that’s our biggest problem.
Key:
1F 2F 3T 4T 5T 6T
miércoles, 1 de junio de 2016
Talking point: Prison life
This week's talking point is prisons. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas come to mind more easily the day you get together with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.
What do you think life in a typical prison is like?
What does an inmate do on a typical day?
What do you know about the cells, food, facilities, activities for prisoners?
Do prisons have any ‘advantages’?
What disadvantages can you think of?
Should prison be more about punishment or rehabilitation?
What alternative to prisons can you think of?
Can crime be prevented or is it inherent to human nature?
Have you heard of programmes like restorative justice (where the criminal comes face to face with the victim)?
Does justice change much from one country to another?
Decide on a fair form of punishment for these criminals:
1 A 90-year-old man who is found guilty of income tax evasion over a period of 50 years.
2 A woma who is found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. She swerved to avoid a pet cat and caused the death of a motorcyclist.
3 An airport employee who stole valuable items from suitcases that were left on carousels. She sold them for cash, or gave them away as presents.
4 A 17-year-old who has been caught shoplifting trainers. It’s the first time he’s been caught, but at home the police find a large collection of sportswear.
To illustrate the point you can watch this short video on Halden Prison (Norway), the most humane prison in the world.
What do you think life in a typical prison is like?
What does an inmate do on a typical day?
What do you know about the cells, food, facilities, activities for prisoners?
Do prisons have any ‘advantages’?
What disadvantages can you think of?
Should prison be more about punishment or rehabilitation?
What alternative to prisons can you think of?
Can crime be prevented or is it inherent to human nature?
Have you heard of programmes like restorative justice (where the criminal comes face to face with the victim)?
Does justice change much from one country to another?
Decide on a fair form of punishment for these criminals:
1 A 90-year-old man who is found guilty of income tax evasion over a period of 50 years.
2 A woma who is found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving. She swerved to avoid a pet cat and caused the death of a motorcyclist.
3 An airport employee who stole valuable items from suitcases that were left on carousels. She sold them for cash, or gave them away as presents.
4 A 17-year-old who has been caught shoplifting trainers. It’s the first time he’s been caught, but at home the police find a large collection of sportswear.
To illustrate the point you can watch this short video on Halden Prison (Norway), the most humane prison in the world.
miércoles, 6 de abril de 2016
Talking point: Law and order
This week's talking point is law and order. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas flow more easily when you meet up with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.
What are white-collar crimes?
Which of these can be considered white-collar crimes?
Can crime ever be justified?
How can young people be protected from cyber bullying?
What can we do to protect ourselves from online crime like phishing?
Do you think the victims of crime get enough help from the justice system?
How effective do you think prisons are?
What alternatives to prisons can you think of?
Do you think there are too many laws or regulations governing our lives?
Are there any new laws you would like to introduce?
What laws do you consider unfair and how would you change them?
Does gun ownership make society safer?
Which are the requirements to own a gun in your country?
Can you think of suitable punishments for these crimes?
1 Mugging
A teenager was walking home late at night after a party, when three men jumped out from behind a wall and hit him in the face. As he fell to the
ground, they took his phone and his wallet from his pocket and ran into a nearby house.
2 Fraud
A man from London received a desperate email from his friend. Apparently, the friend was on holiday in the USA when all his money and
possessions were stolen. He asked for £500 cash to be sent as soon as possible. The man sent off the money, and was just coming back from the
post office when he saw his friend coming out of a shop. He hadn’t even been in the USA.
3 Burglary
A wealthy woman returned to her home to find that the back door had been smashed with an axe. All the drawers and cupboards had been opened, and her things were thrown everywhere. However, she was amazed to discover that none of her valuable jewellery had gone. All that was missing was a single antique vase.
To illustrate the topic watch this news clip about a crime.
It was a property scam in which a criminal gang made millions of pounds by effectively stealing people’s homes. At the heart of it was a trio of corrupt officials: A land registry clerk, a solicitor, and a bank manager who for legal reasons can’t be identified.
Surjeet Chana worked at the land registry and provided title deeds and owner signatures so they could be forged.
"She’s is now with a very serious depression…"
Her daughter said she was now very ill.
"The thing is she’s not well because even she is not talking to the family either."
Solicitor Charles Spiropolous did the conveyancing using his office to complete the illegal house sales and collect money. The bank manager helped the gang hide their profits.
"Can I talk to you about the case on Friday?"
"Which case?"
He left them use his bank to launder the money they made, nearly four million pounds. The gang searched for homes like this, neglected or abandoned, their owners dead or in care.
The old lady who owns this house died and left it in her will to five different charities. While that complicated legal situation was being sorted out, the house was neglected and became an obvious target for the gang. They boarded it up, changed the locks, then erected an official-looking sign urging the owner to get in touch. If none did, they went ahead and sold the houses, a quick cap price sale usually to an unsuspecting developer. Police don’t know how many they sold.
"The arrogance with which is some way this is carried out… they wouldn’t get detected. But this is not seen as a serious crime but yet when you look at it we have elderly victims, in care homes, whose homes are left there and suddenly being sold underneath them."
The gang leaders at first used a barber shop in Surrey to launder the drugs profits. Then they developed for more sophisticated property fraud. The gang sold this home in Croydon for £140,000. Owner Ann McKendrick said “I have lost my past, much of my identity and reason for existing.” This house in Wimbledon went for £190,000. Owner Frida Gallagher said she’d been left very confused and in total shock. But at times the gang were moving hold-alls of cash through the corrupt bank manager’s branch. He got 5% on each illegal house sale, when he should have been reporting the gang for money laundering.
Martin Brunt, Sky News, South London.
What are white-collar crimes?
Which of these can be considered white-collar crimes?
bribery-arson-insider trading-burglary
shoplifting-selling information-cybercrime
Do you think white-collar criminals should do time in jail?Can crime ever be justified?
How can young people be protected from cyber bullying?
What can we do to protect ourselves from online crime like phishing?
Do you think the victims of crime get enough help from the justice system?
How effective do you think prisons are?
What alternatives to prisons can you think of?
Do you think there are too many laws or regulations governing our lives?
Are there any new laws you would like to introduce?
What laws do you consider unfair and how would you change them?
Does gun ownership make society safer?
Which are the requirements to own a gun in your country?
Can you think of suitable punishments for these crimes?
1 Mugging
A teenager was walking home late at night after a party, when three men jumped out from behind a wall and hit him in the face. As he fell to the
ground, they took his phone and his wallet from his pocket and ran into a nearby house.
2 Fraud
A man from London received a desperate email from his friend. Apparently, the friend was on holiday in the USA when all his money and
possessions were stolen. He asked for £500 cash to be sent as soon as possible. The man sent off the money, and was just coming back from the
post office when he saw his friend coming out of a shop. He hadn’t even been in the USA.
3 Burglary
A wealthy woman returned to her home to find that the back door had been smashed with an axe. All the drawers and cupboards had been opened, and her things were thrown everywhere. However, she was amazed to discover that none of her valuable jewellery had gone. All that was missing was a single antique vase.
To illustrate the topic watch this news clip about a crime.
It was a property scam in which a criminal gang made millions of pounds by effectively stealing people’s homes. At the heart of it was a trio of corrupt officials: A land registry clerk, a solicitor, and a bank manager who for legal reasons can’t be identified.
Surjeet Chana worked at the land registry and provided title deeds and owner signatures so they could be forged.
"She’s is now with a very serious depression…"
Her daughter said she was now very ill.
"The thing is she’s not well because even she is not talking to the family either."
Solicitor Charles Spiropolous did the conveyancing using his office to complete the illegal house sales and collect money. The bank manager helped the gang hide their profits.
"Can I talk to you about the case on Friday?"
"Which case?"
He left them use his bank to launder the money they made, nearly four million pounds. The gang searched for homes like this, neglected or abandoned, their owners dead or in care.
The old lady who owns this house died and left it in her will to five different charities. While that complicated legal situation was being sorted out, the house was neglected and became an obvious target for the gang. They boarded it up, changed the locks, then erected an official-looking sign urging the owner to get in touch. If none did, they went ahead and sold the houses, a quick cap price sale usually to an unsuspecting developer. Police don’t know how many they sold.
"The arrogance with which is some way this is carried out… they wouldn’t get detected. But this is not seen as a serious crime but yet when you look at it we have elderly victims, in care homes, whose homes are left there and suddenly being sold underneath them."
The gang leaders at first used a barber shop in Surrey to launder the drugs profits. Then they developed for more sophisticated property fraud. The gang sold this home in Croydon for £140,000. Owner Ann McKendrick said “I have lost my past, much of my identity and reason for existing.” This house in Wimbledon went for £190,000. Owner Frida Gallagher said she’d been left very confused and in total shock. But at times the gang were moving hold-alls of cash through the corrupt bank manager’s branch. He got 5% on each illegal house sale, when he should have been reporting the gang for money laundering.
Martin Brunt, Sky News, South London.
miércoles, 4 de marzo de 2015
Talking point: Crimes in today's world
This week's talking point is crime in today's world. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below, so that ideas flow more easily when you meet up with your friends and you can work out vocabulary problems beforehand.
Are the activities below against the law in your country?
Do you think they should be illegal?
How do you think they should be punished?
Are the activities below against the law in your country?
Do you think they should be illegal?
How do you think they should be punished?
- Illegal downloading of music, books and films.
- Hacking into someone else's computer.
- Posting aggressive or threatening tweets or messages.
- Photographing someone and posting the photo on the internet without their permission.
- Using false identity online.
- Creating a computer virus.
- Owing an aggressive breed of dog.
- Squatting in an unoccupied house.
- Getting on strike without having previously agreed / announced it.
- Painting attractive graffiti on a wall or fence.
miércoles, 16 de octubre de 2013
Talking point: Crime and punishment
This week's talking point is crime and punishment. Before you get together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below so that ideas flow more easily and you can deal with vocabulary problems beforehand.
Go over the crimes in the wordle below. Do you know what each of the crime entails? Have you heard recent news about some of the crimes? Can you think of some other crimes?
Bribe who survived rape
Go over the crimes in the wordle below. Do you know what each of the crime entails? Have you heard recent news about some of the crimes? Can you think of some other crimes?
- Are there any areas of your city considered dangerous?
- What steps do you personally take to prevent crime?
- Do you think there is less crime now than in the past?
- Have the times we are living in brought new crimes?
- Are the laws in your country tough with criminals?
- Is capital punishment justified with some crimes?
- How can society deal with gender violence and bullying?
- Some people are in favour of punishing criminals, some others of rehabilitating them, while others prioritise restorative justice, by which criminals play a part in repairing the harm they have done. What's your take?
- What alternatives to prison can you think of?
We have published a number of crime-related videos on this blog. We have selected two for today's talking point. Watch the two videos and in your conversation group decide what punishment the criminals should get. You can click on the link of each video for a full transcript and a listening activity.
Bribe who survived rape
miércoles, 24 de julio de 2013
Talking point: Cinema
This week's talking point deals with cinema. Before getting together with the members of your conversation group, go over the questions below to think about the topic and work out possible vocabulary issues.
Think of a film for each of the genres below.
What kind of genres are your favourite?
Which ones do you dislike?
How often do you go to the cinema?
What was the last movie you saw? Would you recommend it to others?
What’s your all-time favourite movie? And what’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
With foreign films, do you prefer dubbing or subtitles?
Do you prefer domestic movies, European ones or films made in US?
Have you ever walked out of the cinema before a movie ended? (Why?)
When movies get made from books, do you like to read the book first or viceversa?
Do you ever watch black and white movies?
Are you in favour or against subsidized cinema?
Are you in favour or against actors taking part in politics?
How are the Internet and the new technology in general influencing cinema?
If someone made a movie of your life, what major events should it include? Who should play the lead?
To illustrate the topic, watch the trailer of the 2010 film Conviction, starred by Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, based on a true story on a miscarriage of justice.
Answer these questions about the trailer:
a) What genre of movie is it?
b) Who is the hero?
c) What problem or challenge are they facing?
d) What other characters do we see and how are they related to the hero?
e) What happens to the hero?
f) Do you care about the hero or not? (Why?)
g) How might the story end?
h) Do you want to see this movie? (Why/Why not?)
Watch the trailer again. Answer these questions now:
a) What’s the crime?
b) What’s the relationship between Hilary Swank and the criminal?
c) What was the sentence?
d) How long did the struggle to set him free last?
e) What lengths did she go to achieve that?
f) How many clients does she have when she becomes a lawyer?
g) What’s the one thing they haven’t tried after sixteen years?
h) What does Hilary threaten to do if he doesn’t co-operate?
This is the same trailer with Spanish subtitles. It will help you check your answers to the questions above.
I got the idea of using trailers for the English class -and the first batch of questions on the trailer of Conviction, which you can literally use with any trailer- from Vicki Hollett and her extraordinary Simple English Videos.
Think of a film for each of the genres below.
What kind of genres are your favourite?
Which ones do you dislike?
How often do you go to the cinema?
What was the last movie you saw? Would you recommend it to others?
What’s your all-time favourite movie? And what’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
With foreign films, do you prefer dubbing or subtitles?
Do you prefer domestic movies, European ones or films made in US?
Have you ever walked out of the cinema before a movie ended? (Why?)
When movies get made from books, do you like to read the book first or viceversa?
Do you ever watch black and white movies?
Are you in favour or against subsidized cinema?
Are you in favour or against actors taking part in politics?
How are the Internet and the new technology in general influencing cinema?
If someone made a movie of your life, what major events should it include? Who should play the lead?
To illustrate the topic, watch the trailer of the 2010 film Conviction, starred by Hilary Swank and Sam Rockwell, based on a true story on a miscarriage of justice.
Answer these questions about the trailer:
a) What genre of movie is it?
b) Who is the hero?
c) What problem or challenge are they facing?
d) What other characters do we see and how are they related to the hero?
e) What happens to the hero?
f) Do you care about the hero or not? (Why?)
g) How might the story end?
h) Do you want to see this movie? (Why/Why not?)
Watch the trailer again. Answer these questions now:
a) What’s the crime?
b) What’s the relationship between Hilary Swank and the criminal?
c) What was the sentence?
d) How long did the struggle to set him free last?
e) What lengths did she go to achieve that?
f) How many clients does she have when she becomes a lawyer?
g) What’s the one thing they haven’t tried after sixteen years?
h) What does Hilary threaten to do if he doesn’t co-operate?
This is the same trailer with Spanish subtitles. It will help you check your answers to the questions above.
I got the idea of using trailers for the English class -and the first batch of questions on the trailer of Conviction, which you can literally use with any trailer- from Vicki Hollett and her extraordinary Simple English Videos.
martes, 23 de julio de 2013
Speakout Advanced: Justice
In a new episode of our Speakout video podcasts, from Pearson Longman, we touch on the topic of justice today.
Passers-by answer the questions below:
Have you ever had reason to contact the police?
Have you ever broken the law?
What legal or social issues concern you the most?
If you could introduce a law in your country or community what would it be?
Now it's over to you. Answer the same questions about yourself. Try to use some of the expressions you heard on the video podcast.
You can read the transcript here.
Passers-by answer the questions below:
Have you ever had reason to contact the police?
Have you ever broken the law?
What legal or social issues concern you the most?
If you could introduce a law in your country or community what would it be?
Now it's over to you. Answer the same questions about yourself. Try to use some of the expressions you heard on the video podcast.
You can read the transcript here.
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