🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Belarus has recently released 123 prisoners, including the Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. This significant event has drawn international attention because it coincides with the United States lifting sanctions on Belarus, specifically those related to potash, a key ingredient in fertilizers. The release of these prisoners is seen as a positive step towards improving human rights in Belarus, a country that has faced criticism for its political repression.
Ales Bialiatski, one of the most notable prisoners released, is a well-known human rights activist. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in promoting democracy and freedom in Belarus. His release is particularly significant as it may indicate a shift in the Belarusian government’s approach to dissent and human rights.
The United States’ decision to lift sanctions on potash imports from Belarus is also noteworthy. These sanctions had been imposed as a response to the Belarusian government’s actions against political opponents and civil society. By lifting them, the U.S. aims to encourage further positive changes in Belarus while also considering the economic implications for American farmers reliant on potash for their crops.
This development is a part of broader international efforts to engage with Belarus constructively. The hope is that by easing sanctions, Belarus will continue to make progress in improving its human rights record. International observers are cautiously optimistic, although they remain vigilant about the Belarusian government’s future actions.
In conclusion, the release of 123 prisoners, including Ales Bialiatski, and the lifting of U.S. sanctions are promising signs of potential change in Belarus. The international community will be watching closely to see if these actions lead to lasting improvements in the country’s human rights situation.
📝 Vocabulary
- sanctions: official orders to stop trade and communication with a country（制裁）
例文: “The government imposed sanctions to pressure the regime.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- impose sanctions
- lift sanctions
- economic sanctions
- release: to set free from confinement（解放する）
例文: “The authorities decided to release the political prisoners.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- release from
- release a statement
- release pressure
- Nobel Peace Prize: a prestigious award given for outstanding contributions to peace（ノーベル平和賞）
例文: “She was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- win the Nobel Peace Prize
- awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
- Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- human rights: basic rights and freedoms that everyone is entitled to（人権）
例文: “The organization fights for human rights worldwide.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- human rights violations
- human rights activist
- protect human rights
- democracy: a system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives（民主主義）
例文: “Democracy allows citizens to have a voice in their government.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- establish democracy
- democracy and freedom
- democracy in action
✏️ Grammar Point
Present Perfect Tense – “Belarus has recently released 123 prisoners, including the Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
現在完了形は、過去の出来事が現在にどのように影響を与えているかを表現する際に用いられます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The release of prisoners in Belarus was unrelated to any international actions.
- MCQ: Who is Ales Bialiatski?
a) A Belarusian politician
b) A Nobel Peace Prize winner
c) A United States diplomat
d) A potash industry leader - MCQ: What did the United States do in relation to Belarus?
a) Increased sanctions
b) Released political prisoners
c) Lifted sanctions on potash
d) Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b
- c
📚 Reading Questions
- What significant event occurred in Belarus involving prisoners?
- Why might the release of Ales Bialiatski be important for Belarus?
- What does the word “sanctions” mean in this context?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Belarus released 123 prisoners, including a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
- It may indicate a shift in the government’s approach to human rights.
- Official orders to stop trade and communication with a country.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
ベラルーシが123人の囚人を解放し、アメリカが肥料に使われる重要な成分であるポタッシュに関する制裁を解除しました。この動きはベラルーシの人権改善の兆しと見なされ、国際的な注目を集めています。アメリカの制裁解除は、ベラルーシ政府にさらなる前向きな変化を促すことを目的としており、アメリカの農業への経済的影響も考慮されています。今後のベラルーシの動向に国際社会が注視していますが、長期的な人権状況の改善が期待されています。
