TED演讲 :石油真正的代价(5)

 This is one of the reasons why Canada,  这就是为何加拿大

originally a climate change hero --  它原本是环保英雄－

we were one of the first signatories of the Kyoto Accord.  我们是第一批签署京都议定书的国家之一

Now we're the country that has full-time¹ lobbyists  现在我国派驻全职说客

in the European Union and Washington, D.C.  在欧盟及华盛顿特区

threatening trade wars when these countries  以贸易战争为要挟，当这些国家

talk about wanting to bring in positive legislation  希望立法

to limit the import of high-carbon fuels,  限制高碳燃料进口

of greenhouse gas emissions², anything like this,  讨论温室气体排放等相关议题时

at international conferences,  在国际会议中

whether they're in Copenhagen or Cancun,  无论在哥本哈根或坎昆

international conferences on climate change,  在讨论气候变迁议题的国际会议中

we're the country that gets the dinosaur³ award  我们是荣获“化石奖”（颁给破坏 国际气候变化谈判的国家）的国家

every single day as being the biggest obstacle  成为谈判进展的

to progress on this issue.  最大阻碍

Just 70 miles downstream  河流下游70英哩处

is the world's largest freshwater delta,  是世上最大的淡水三角洲

the Peace-Athabasca Delta,  和平－阿萨帕斯卡尔三角洲

the only one at the juncture⁴ of all four migratory⁵ flyways.  它是四条候鸟迁徙路线唯一交会点

This is a globally significant wetland,  这是对全球来说具有重要意义的湿地

perhaps the greatest on the planet.  或许是世上最大的湿地

Incredible habitat for half the bird species  它是北美半数

you find in North America, migrating here.  迁往此处的鸟类物种栖息地

And also the last refuge for the largest herd⁶ of wild bison,  也是世上最大野牛群最后的避难所

and also, of course, critical habitat for another whole range of other species.  此外，当然 也是许多其他物种的重要栖息地

But it too is being threatened by the massive amount  但它也深受来自

of water being drawn⁷ from the Athabasca,  阿萨帕斯卡尔河的大量水流威胁

which feeds these wetlands,  它灌溉这片湿地

and also the incredible toxic⁸ burden  同时带来大量毒性物质

of the largest toxic unlined impoundments on the planet,  来自世上最大的露天毒性蓄水池

which are leaching⁹ in to the food chain  进入下游

for all the species downstream.  所有物种的食品链中

So as bad as all that is, things are going to get  整个情况如此糟糕，而且将会

much worse, much, much worse.  每况愈下

This is the infrastructure¹⁰ as we see it about now.  以上是我们目前所知的基础设施

This is what's planned for 2015.  这是预定于2015年完成的施工计划

And you can see here the Keystone Pipeline¹¹,  你可以看见图中的 油砂输送系统（Keystone Pipeline）

which would take tar¹² sands raw down to the Gulf¹³ Coast,  它将沥青砂原料运往墨西哥湾沿岸

punching a pipeline through the heart,  管线穿越北美

the agricultural heart of North America, of the United States,  及美国农业腹地

and securing the contract with the dirtiest fuel in the world  确保世上最脏的燃料

by consumption of the United States,  由美国消费

and promoting a huge disincentive  对美国拥有永续洁净能源的未来

to a sustainable clean energy future for America.  造成极大阻碍

Here you see the route down the Mackenzie Valley.  图中有条直抵马更些谷的路线

1 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

2 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。

3 dinosaur   

n.恐龙

参考例句：

• Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告诉我大卫被一支恐龙所攻击？
• He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝视著精确的恐龙缩小模型。

4 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

5 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

6 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

7 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

8 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。

9 leaching   

n.滤取，滤去v.（将化学品、矿物质等）过滤( leach的现在分词 )；（液体）过滤，滤去

参考例句：

• The lack of humus and the excessive leaching make this soil almost useless for agricultural purpose. 缺少腐殖质和过度淋滤使这种土壤对农业几乎无用。 来自辞典例句
• The deep oxidation and groundwater leaching solubilizes much of the loosely bound uranium. 深部氧化和地下水淋蚀使大部分固定得比较松散的铀溶解。 来自辞典例句

10 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

11 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

12 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。

13 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。