Some news about the world – 2020

Today is June 8, and we are going to read a few news from the latest happenings in
the world. After reading each news, we are going to discuss them. Pay attention to
the words you don’t know!

1 - Minneapolis Protests
On May 25, George Floyd, an African American man from Minneapolis, US,
died after he had been detained by police for allegedly using fake money in a store.
A police officer held Floyd on the ground with his knee on Floyd´s neck for
at least seven minutes. Floyd repeated several times that he couldn´t breathe. Then
he fell silent, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The four white police officers involved in the detention were fired; however,
protesters are calling for stronger action. The Minneapolis mayor, Jacob Frey, said
that the officer, who kneeled on Floyd, must face criminal charges.
On Tuesday night, protesters gathered outside a Minneapolis police station
and fought with officers. A second night of protests turned violent with
demonstrators setting fire to local businesses and looting. Police officers used tear
gas and plastic bullets to disperse the crowd.
New words: detain (when the police stop someone), pronounce dead (to say formally
that someone has died), loot (to steal goods from stores or houses during a protest or
war), disperse (to spread over a wide area).

2 - Robot Dog
Farmers in New Zealand have a new helper, a robotic dog. The dog called
Spot can do many tasks; for example, it herds sheep, watches the fields, and it helps
farmers in difficult situations.
Boston Dynamics, a US company, developed the robot, and the idea was to
help farmers do tasks that are too dangerous or dirty. The robot dog can climb
stairs, travel through difficult terrain and even open doors. Currently, there are not
enough workers in farming, and robot dogs can help solve this problem.
 Researchers say that the coronavirus pandemic led to a new era of robotic
helpers. Robotic dogs helped during protests in New Zealand. In Singapore, they
walked around a park, and they advised people how to keep safe during the
coronavirus pandemic.
New words: herd (a large group of animals, usually sheep or cows), era (a period of
time).

3 - Ad About Racism
In the US, following nationwide protests against police brutality, the
company Nike is encouraging people to speak up about racism and not remain silent.
Nike posted the all-text ad on Friday, and it twists the brand´s famous
slogan “Just Do It” by urging people to “For Once, Don’t Do It.”
In the past, Nike was criticized for supporting anti-racism causes. For
example, the company supported the former NFL star, Colin Kaepernick, who famously
knelt during the national anthem instead of standing, as a form of a protest against
police brutality in the US.
Another sneaker brand, Adidas, responded to Nike´s ad in solidarity of the
message. It said that only together people can make a change and move forward.

Difficult words: twist (to change the shape or position of something), slogan
(a short or memorable phrase that is used in advertising), solidarity (unity and
mutual support).

4 - Gays and Lesbians Can Marry

Costa Rica became the first country in Central America and the sixth country
in Latin America to allow same-sex marriages.
In 2018, the country´s Supreme Court ruled that a ban on same-sex
marriages was unconstitutional, and the court gave lawmakers 18 months to pass
new laws to legalize it. However, lawmakers did not do it, and same-sex marriage
became legal automatically on May 26.
 Same-sex couples celebrated the country´s decision by holding weddings
overnight. The president, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, celebrated in a video message,
and he said that this change would cause a significant social and cultural
transformation of the country. He said it was a move forward in a country that had
room for everyone.

New words: Supreme Court (the highest court in a country), unconstitutional (not
allowed by the set of rules for a government), significant (very important).

Some extra activities:

 The Epidemic of Mental Illness in Metal (MEDIUM level with English Subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1VJIQaxX50&list=LLoIA4Kj0IGgIvBPfv4o
1duw&index=13&t=0s
 I taught my cat how to high five! (MEDIUM level with English Subtitles) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSQ8RtYQHm4&list=LLoIA4Kj0IGgIvBPfv4
o1duw&index=15
 Ozzy Osbourne Accidentally Texted Robert Plant Looking For His Cat - CONAN
on TBS (HARD level on Ozzy’s accent) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYDK_o32yis
 What Makes John Bonham Such a Good Drummer? (MEDIUM level vocabulary
but subtitles are available in English and Portuguese) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvOm2oZRQIk (e)