新奇事件簿 澳大利亚向大堡礁倾倒淤泥

Australia's government has approved a plan to dump massive amounts of sludge in the Great Barrier Reef. The mud will come from a project to expand a coal port at Abbot Point, on the coast near the reef. The decision to give the go-ahead to the dumping of the sludge was made by Australia's Environment Minister in December. It has caused environmentalists to be up in arms about the possible damage to the world's largest and most famous coral reef. They say it is outrageous¹ to put corporate² profits ahead of such an important marine³ environment. About 3 million cubic meters of mud will be poured into the reef's waters. Authorities say the sludge will not be dumped on top of any coral.

澳大利亚政府许可向大堡礁倾倒淤泥的方案。这项计划将扩宽艾博特角的煤炭码头，艾博特角位于大堡礁海岸线附近。这一向大堡礁倾倒淤泥的决定是在11月份由澳大利亚环境部长所决定的。这导致了环境保护主义者的抗议，这一举措将很有可能对全球最大，最著名的珊瑚礁产生影响。他们认为将企业利益放在海洋环境之上是让人恼火的。计划将有大约300万立方米淤泥倾倒在珊瑚礁海域。有关部门称淤泥将不会倾倒在任何珊瑚礁上面。

The Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It stretches for over 2,600 kilometres, covering an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres. It receives special protection from Australia's government to limit the impact of fishing and tourism. Climate change is already damaging its delicate ecosystems⁴ by bleaching⁵ and killing⁶ the coral. The reef creates $3 billion a year in tourism revenue. Greenpeace warned that the dumping, "is one more body blow for the Reef which further threatens marine life, its World Heritage status and Australia's tourism and fishing industries". The World Wildlife Fund said the decision marked, "a sad day for the reef and anyone who cares about its future".

大堡礁是全球最大的珊瑚礁系统。其长度超过了2600公里，占地面积大约为34万4400平方公里。这里受到了澳大利亚政府的保护，并限制渔业和旅游对这里造成的影响。气候变化所导致的珊瑚漂白化导致许多珊瑚死亡，并影响了这里脆弱的生态系统。每年，珊瑚为旅游业增加30亿美金的收入。绿色和平组织警告说这一倾倒行为又给珊瑚致命一击，这将进一步对海洋生物、世界遗产地位、澳大利亚旅游业、渔业构成威胁。世界野生动物基金会认为这一决定对珊瑚以及那些担忧其未来的人来说是难过的一天。

1 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

2 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

3 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

5 bleaching   

漂白法，漂白

参考例句：

• Moderately weathered rock showed more intense bleaching and fissuring in the feldspars. 中等风化岩石则是指长石有更为强烈的变白现象和裂纹现象。
• Bleaching effects are very strong and show on air photos. 退色效应非常强烈，并且反映在航空象片上。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。