美国第一夫人访问南非.doc.docVIP

Michelle Obama Calls Young Africans to Action DOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English. (MUSIC) Im Doug Johnson. This week on our show we remember saxophone player, Clarence Clemons, who died last Saturday... And, we take you to a consumer protection fair in Maryland... But first we tell about Michelle Obamas visit this week to South Africa. (MUSIC) Michelle Obama in Africa DOUG JOHNSON: President Obamas wife Michelle is on a week-long trip to South Africa and Botswana. The first lady is traveling with her daughters and her mother. On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama spoke to young people at a church in Soweto. Shirley Griffith has more on her message that day and her visit. SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The first lady spoke after a lively musical performance and comments by South African women leaders. Mrs. Obama told the crowd that they were the future of Africa. MICHELLE OBAMA: You can be the generation that makes the discoveries and builds the industries that will transform our economies. You can be the generation that brings opportunity and prosperity to forgotten corners of the world and banishes hunger from this continent forever. You can be the generation that ends HIV/AIDS in our time, the generation that fights not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease. Mrs. Obama spoke directly about womens issues on the African continent. She said Africas young people must make sure that the rights of women are equal to the rights of men. She also said all young people must work to end violence against women in any form and any place. The first lady gave this message in a building famed for its part in the movement that ended apartheid -- South Africas policy of racial separation. Regina Mundi is the largest Roman Catholic Church in the country. Thirty-five years ago, anti-apartheid activists sought refuge in the church to escape violence by police. Crowds also gathered there because South African blacks were barred from attending political meetings in most pub