万花筒 2010-10-14&10-15 法国爆发大罢工

The unions have already flexed¹ their muscles with three days of strikes in the space of a month, but they're determined² to ramp³ up the pressure on the governments. These workers are angry about Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms which mean the retirement⁴ age will rise from 60 to 62.
There is a big difference between the last round of demonstrations⁵ of strike. This one is that now the law has been passed by parliament, so as much as it's easy for government to compromise, or to, you know, on some aspects of the laws, on the, sometimes fundamental aspects of its plans. Now that the law is the law of the republic, it's something that is very official. So it's not something that can be negotiated in backroom deals.
The strikes are expected to cause havoc⁶ once again to the transport system. During the last walkout flights were cancelled, and rail stations were silent as people have to find alternative ways to get abouts.
This industrial action though could go on for sometime. Votes will be held on a daily basis on whether to continue the protests. It could mean France is paralyzed for days to come.
From the moment that you have rail workers who are going on strike, and one gets the sense that the young people are joining the movement. It's beginning to feel like 1995 when they defeated the cut backs.
But the pension reforms have already passed through parliament, and the government is unlikely to back down even in the face of widespread industrial unrest.
Nicolas Sarkozy has made the pension bill a central plank⁷ of his presidency⁸ as he seizes re-election in 2012. His party claims that the cuts are essential if France is to combat its growing deficits⁹.
But on the streets anger is rising, workers believe the changes to the age of retirement is just a start of an attack on their way of life.

1 flexed   

adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌

参考例句：

• He stretched and flexed his knees to relax himself. 他伸屈膝关节使自己放松一下。 来自辞典例句
• He flexed his long stringy muscles manfully. 他孔武有力地弯起膀子，显露出细长条的肌肉。 来自辞典例句

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

4 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

7 plank   

n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目

参考例句：

• The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
• They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

9 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句