Listening

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Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. an official
    • ex. Local officials visited the community after the storm.
  2. logging
    • ex. Illegal logging can damage forests and wildlife.
  3. trafficking
    • ex. The police are working hard to stop the trafficking of rare birds.
  4. smuggling
    • ex. The government is working to prevent the smuggling of illegal goods.
  5. criminal
    • ex. He was arrested for his involvement in criminal activities.

Article

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Police from five Amazon countries arrested 839 people during a major operation against environmental crime, officials said. Operation Green Shield 2026 happened from July 15 to 31 in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. More than 3,600 officers carried out 1,045 operations to stop illegal mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, fuel smuggling, and illegal land use.

During the operation, police took more than 280,000 cubic meters of illegally cut wood, 195 metric tons of minerals and mining equipment, and goods worth over $280 million (about ¥ 44.6 billion). Officers also saved more than 3,000 live animals and found at least 430 dead animals connected to wildlife trafficking, including snakes, birds, and fish.

The operation was organized in Bogota, Colombia, by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), with help from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Officials said criminal groups often use the same routes for illegal activities across country borders. Colombian National Police Director Gen. William Oswaldo Rincón Zambrano said countries need to work together to protect the Amazon’s natural resources. Working together can help governments fight environmental crimes and keep the rainforest safe.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Environmental Crimes

  • More than 3,600 officers from five Amazon countries joined more than a thousand operations to stop illegal mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, fuel smuggling, and illegal land use. What do you think about thousands of officers working together to stop environmental crimes? Discuss.
  • In your country, do you usually hear of or read news on environmental crimes? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • If you were a leader of the police forces handling operations against environmental crimes, what specific crime would you focus on (ex. illegal mining, wildlife trafficking)? Discuss.

International Groups Working Together

  • Police from five Amazon countries worked together in operations against environmental crimes. Do you think countries can solve environmental problems more effectively when they work together? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Besides solving international environmental crimes, in what other projects can several countries work together (ex. addressing climate change, improving education)? Discuss.
  • Imagine you are assigned to work together with an international group. How would you prepare for this task? Discuss.