TED演讲 :石油真正的代价(3)

 The oil produced from either method  藉由以上两种方式开采的原油

produces more greenhouse gas emissions¹ than any other oil.  比以其他方式 开采的原油排放更多温室气体

This is one of the reasons why it's called  这正是它被称为

the world's dirtiest oil.  世上最脏油类的原因之一

It's also one of the reasons why it is  这也是使它成为

the largest and fastest-growing single source  加拿大最大、增长最迅速的

of carbon in Canada,  碳排放源头的原因之一

and it is also a reason why Canada is now number three  更是使加拿大个人排碳量

in terms of producing carbon per person.  名列世界第三的原因之一

The tailings ponds are the largest toxic² impoundments on the planet.  那些残渣池是世上最大的毒性蓄水池

Oil sands -- or rather I should say tar³ sands --  油砂－或者我该称它为沥青砂－

"oil sands" is a P.R.-created term  “油砂”是公关部门创造的词汇

so that the oil companies wouldn't be trying to promote  使石油公司不至于像是推广

something that sounds like a sticky tar-like substance  某种彷佛沥青般黏稠的物质

that's the world's dirtiest oil.  或世上最脏的油

So they decided⁴ to call it oil sands.  因此他们决定称它为油砂

The tar sands consume more water than any other oil process,  沥青砂的生产过程比其他油类消耗更多水

three to five barrels of water are taken, polluted  生产一桶原油需使用三至五桶水，受污染的水

and then returned into tailings ponds,  进入残渣池

the largest toxic impoundments on the planet.  成为世上最大的毒性蓄水池

SemCrude, just one of the licensees, 只是其中一家取得执照的公司

in just one of their tailings ponds,  在他们拥有的其中一个残渣池中

dumps 250,000 tons of this toxic gunk every single day.  每日倒入25万吨毒性黏稠物

That's creating the largest toxic impoundments  创造出有史以来最大的

in the history of the planet.  毒性蓄水池

So far, this is enough toxin  目前为止，其中的毒性物质

to cover the face of Lake Eerie⁵ a foot deep.  足以覆盖伊利湖面一呎深

And the tailings ponds range in size up to 9,000 acres.  残渣池的面积可达9000英亩

That's two-thirds the size of the entire island of Manhattan.  相当于三分之二个曼哈顿岛

That's like from Wall Street at the southern edge of Manhattan  大约从曼哈顿南端的华尔街

up to maybe 120th Street.  到第120街

So this is an absolutely --  因此这确实是－

this is one of the larger tailings ponds.  这是其中较大的残渣池之一

This might be, what? I don't know, half the size of Manhattan.  大约相当于－我不确定－半个曼哈顿岛

And you can see in the context,  你可由之前的叙述得知

it's just a relatively⁶ small section  这只是十个矿场中

of one of 10 mining complexes and another 40 to 50  某个矿场的一小部分，其他四、五十个矿场

on stream to be approved soon.  很快就会获得批准

And of course, these tailings ponds --  当然，这些残渣池－

well, you can't see many ponds from outer space  确实，你无法从外太空看见许多残渣池

and you can see these, so maybe we should stop calling them ponds --  但你可以看见这些 因此或许我们不该称它为“池”－

these massive toxic wastelands are built  这些大型毒性废料池并未装设

unlined and on the banks of the Athabasca River.  防护措施，散布于阿萨帕斯卡尔河沿岸

1 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

2 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

3 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 eerie   

adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的

参考例句：

• It's eerie to walk through a dark wood at night.夜晚在漆黑的森林中行走很是恐怖。
• I walked down the eerie dark path.我走在那条漆黑恐怖的小路上。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。