環(huán)球英語—975:Alberto Vollmer and Project Alcatraz

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
It was the night of February 26, 2000. And nearly five hundred families invaded a large area of land in the Aragua Valley of Venezuela. The land belonged to the wealthy Vollmer family. The Vollmer’s are one of Venezuela’s oldest and richest families. They have owned and managed a company on this land for over one hundred years.
Voice 2
The invading families were very poor. They had no homes and very few resources. The people invaded the land so that they could have a place to live and build homes.
Voice 1
This kind of event is not uncommon in Venezuela. There is much conflict between the rich and the poor in the country. For centuries, most of the country’s money has been controlled by a small percent of rich families. Many Venezuelans think that the country’s rich people only care about themselves and their money. And because the rich control so much of the economy, the poor have had few choices. It is often difficult for them to get good jobs or even education.
Voice 2
In 1998, a new government was elected in Venezuela. This government talked much about helping the country’s poor communities. They encouraged the poor to take what they needed from the rich. And many poor groups have tried. These groups have invaded the properties of rich landowners. And at times, the conflict between the two classes has become violent.
Voice 1
So, on that night in February of 2000, Alberto Vollmer had a difficult decision to make. He was the leader of the Vollmer family business and he had hundreds of invaders attacking his land. Alberto could have paid gunmen to defend his land. He also could have called the police. This is how most rich landowners reacted in the past. But, he chose not to. Instead, he decided to negotiate. And he treated the invaders with respect.
Voice 2
Alberto’s decision to talk with the invaders was very unexpected. Even more unexpected was his offer to the invaders. He offered them his land! In fact, he offered even more than that.
Voice 1
Alberto also offered to help the invaders plan and design their community. You see, Alberto cared about his land, but he also cared about the people. He wanted what was best for his company and what was best for the community.
Voice 2
So, Alberto negotiated with the leader of the invaders, Jose Rodriguez. And he also talked with the government. Alberto would give the land and help design the community. The people would build their homes. And the government would give the community members loans to build the houses. And the government would provide road, water and other necessary systems. Together, the new community members, Alberto and the government built a strong community — the community of Camino Real or the Royal Way.
Voice 1
Alberto talked with the St. Petersburg Times news group about the attack on his land. He said,
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“It made us recognize that the plans of the company had to include social investment. Before, like most companies, it was not important to us.”
Voice 2
Alberto also requested that the community members take part in job training and education. He knew that the community would not remain healthy if the people did not have good jobs. So, his company works to help train and educate the people of Camino Real.
Voice 1
Alberto’s social investment has surprised many people in Venezuela. One person who was most surprised was the leader of the invading group, Jos? Rodr?guez. Rodr?guez told the St. Petersburg Times news group,
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“In this country there are not many people willing to extend a helping hand in the poor communities. But Alberto shows concern for the people around him.”
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Camino Real was an example of how the rich and poor can work together in Venezuela. Their community was healthy and strong. However, the community was not perfect.
Voice 1
After a few years the people in the community saw that there was a growing problem. Crime in and around Camino Real was rising. Groups of young men, gangs, were selling drugs and stealing in the local communities. These gangs from nearby poor communities were hurting Camino Real.
Voice 2
One day in February of 2003, three gang members from a nearby community attacked a Vollmer company guard. They badly hurt the guard and stole a gun. After a few weeks, the chief guard caught the gang members responsible for the event. And he brought the gang members to Alberto with metal handcuffs around their wrists.
Voice 1
Alberto told the head guard to remove the handcuffs. He then asked the gang members to talk with him. And he gave them two choices. The first choice was to return the gun and work at the Vollmer company for three months without pay. The gang members would live on the company land and take part in job training and psychological treatment. The second choice was for the gang members to be turned over to the police.
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All three gang members chose the first choice. And a week later, 22 other members from the same gang asked Alberto if they could do the same.
Voice 1
Alberto recognized that there was a huge need for such a program in the community. So, on that day, he started what is now called “Project Alcatraz.” Alcatraz was a famous prison in the United States. It held some of the country’s worst criminals.
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Project Alcatraz helps reform gang members and people with criminal records. But it is very different from prison. Instead, it gives criminals a second chance. And, it is working.
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Alberto knows that Project Alcatraz will not help everyone that enters the program. However, it is helping many. The program now has members from many different gangs. And many more are waiting to join the program.
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Three years after the program started, the crime rate in the local communities had dropped by seventy six [76] percent. And the lives of many individual gang members have been changed for the better. Most of the poor gang members did not have many choices in life. However, Project Alcatraz has given the members a choice and an opportunity. They can choose to work hard, receive an education and train for a long–term job. And this is a choice many of them take.
Voice 1
Alberto shared with the Washington Post news group about how they created a program that works so well. He said,
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“We had to want much more, and think, ‘How are you going to change the lives of these people, so they are productive for themselves?’ It is not a one time free gift. It is giving something that keeps producing.”
Voice 2
The writer and producer of this program was Robin Basselin. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. Computer users can visit our website at www.Radio.English.net. This program is called “Alberto Vollmer and Project Alcatraz.” We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight Program. Goodbye.