雾霾迫使有钱人计划逃离中国

 　　有能力避开雾霾的人，尤其是有孩子的家庭，正在逃离北京等“不适宜居住”城市，涌向美国、加拿大和欧洲。

　　By the 1970s, Central Park was in a state of decay. Bridges were crumbling¹. Meadows had dried up. Graffiti and vandalism blighted² playgrounds and benches. There was an overwhelming feeling that its best days had passed. "Positive use had increasingly been displaced by illicit³ and illegal activity," is how the Central Park Conservancy describes it today.

　　早在上世纪70年代以前，纽约中央公园还是一片颓败之象。桥梁摇摇欲坠，柳树也枯萎了。涂鸦和肆意破坏令游乐场和长椅一片狼藉。这种景象会让人不由自主地认为，美好的时光一去不复返了。“正面利用已逐渐被违法活动所取代，”纽约中央公园保护协会（Central Park Conservancy）如此形容道。

　　Then George Soros stepped in. Frustrated⁴ by what he and others saw as New York City's inept⁵ management of the 160-year-old institution, Soros and another financier commissioned a study on potential fixes. Its chief recommendation was creating a private citizen-based board to oversee⁶ an individual running the park's operations -- in effect, allowing private citizens to control the park. Soon the not-for-profit Central Park Conservancy was created, and the area returned to its former glory. Thirty years later the conservancy provides 75% of a nearly $60 million annual park budget and is a New York institution unto itself. The board of trustees includes former J.P. Morgan (JPM) Chairman and CEO William Harrison, KKR's (KKR) Henry Kravis, and the hedge fund manager John Paulson, who two years ago announced he would give $100 million to the conservancy, the largest park donation ever.

　　后来，乔治?索罗斯站了出来。这个知名区域有着160年的历史，但纽约市政府的糟糕管理，却让他和其他人很是懊恼，于是索罗斯和其他金融家委托进行了一项公园修复研究。研究的主要建议是，成立一个由私人组成的委员会，监督公园的运营——实际上，就是允许普通公民控制公园。很快，非盈利组织“中央公园保护协会”成立，这个地区也恢复了昔日的荣光。三十年后，中央公园每年约6,000万美元的预算中，75%都由这个保护协会提供，保护协会本身也成为纽约市赫赫有名的组织之一。协会的理事会成员包括前摩根大通（J.P. Morgan）主席兼CEO威廉?哈里森、投资机构KKR的亨利?克拉维斯，以及对冲基金经理约翰?鲍尔森。鲍尔森在两年前宣布向保护协会捐助1亿美元，成为这座公园收到的最大一笔捐款。

　　The growing wealth gap around the world is raising concerns about economic fairness and class divisions. But Central Park's revival⁷ illustrates⁸ the importance of the very wealthy in civic⁹ society. Their private dollars fund projects that governments won't, and they have an especially key role in urban centers. All this explains why reports of China's air pollution driving out wealthy residents are so troubling. Is China losing its most important residents to smog?

　　全世界贫富差距的日益扩大，引发了人们对于经济公平和阶级划分的担忧。但中央公园的复兴证明了非常富有的阶层在公民社会中的重要性。他们用自己的钱，为政府不会资助的项目提供资金；而且，他们在城市中心有着特殊的关键地位。所有这些都解释了一个问题：为什么中国空气污染迫使有钱人逃离的消息这么令人忧虑？中国是否因为雾霾而正在失去它最重要的居民？

　　The air in northern Chinese cities has been poor for a while. But after the past few years of "air apocalypses" and record-high levels of PM 2.5, the dangerously small pollutants¹⁰ under 2.5 micrometers in size (1/30 the width of a human hair) that find their way into the bloodstream and have been linked to cancers and respiratory problems, citizens have increased complaints and growing numbers of rich have started making plans to move away.

　　中国北方城市糟糕的空气状况已经持续有一段时间了。但因为过去几年的“空气末日”和屡屡刷新纪录的PM 2.5水平，中国人越来越不满，越来越多的有钱人开始计划撤离中国。PM2.5是指直径小于2.5微米（人类头发宽度的1/30）的危险的小型污染物，能够进入人类血液，可能导致癌症和呼吸系统疾病。

　　A recent survey provides the strongest evidence yet that China's polluted cities risk driving away the rich. Released in January by the Hurun Research Institute, the survey shows 64% of China's rich (those with wealth above $1.6 million) were either immigrating¹¹ to another country or planning to, a rise from 60% in the last poll two years ago. That came as a surprise to Rupert Hoogewerf, founder¹² of the Hurun Report, an annual China rich list. He wasn't expecting the already high figure to grow. He says pollution and food safety was the second-biggest reason for emigrating, after the general desire for security and financial well-being¹³. Although the numbers of those emigrating haven't yet reached a critical mass, Hoogewerf says "a lot of families are finding a lot of other rich families are going overseas," providing examples to follow.

　　最近的调查提供了有力证据，证明中国的污染城市可能正面临失去富裕阶层的风险。胡润研究院（Hurun Research Institute）一月份发布的调查显示，64%的中国富人（身家千万级别）已经移民或正在计划移民其他国家，而两年前的调查结果为60%。这样的结果连中国年度富豪榜胡润百富（Hurun Report）的创始人胡润自己都大吃一惊。他没想到这个比例在如此高的情况下还会继续增长。他表示，污染和食品安全是移民的第二大理由，排在首位的理由是人们对于安全和财富保障的渴望。虽然移民人数尚未达到临界点，但胡润说：“许多家庭发现其他富裕家庭正在移居海外，”这让他们有了效仿的对象。

　　What's happening is that those who can avoid the smog, especially families with children, are escaping what a recent Chinese study reportedly called "unlivable" cities like Beijing. They're seeking permanent residency in America and Canada, and European countries Cyprus, Portugal, and the U.K.

　　现实情况是，有能力避开雾霾的人，尤其是有孩子的家庭，正在逃离北京等一些被一项中国的研究称为“不适宜居住”城市。他们纷纷前往美国、加拿大和欧洲国家，如塞浦路斯、葡萄牙和英国等，寻求永久居住权。

　　Earlier this winter I spoke¹⁴ with half a dozen wealthy mothers in Beijing who explained to me how pollution had some of them considering moving away. It was enlightening to hear because what the survey doesn't tell you is that the rich don't take moving to another country lightly. The women explained what a hard decision it was to make. China's culture and language had them wanting to stay. But many of them were afraid for their children's health, leading them to plans to go abroad.

　　今年冬天早些时候，我曾在北京与几位富裕家庭的母亲交流。她们中一些人向我介绍了污染让他们考虑移民的心路历程。与她们的交流给我带来了很多启发，因为调查不会告诉你，有钱人也并不是轻易就做出了移民决定。她们都表示，移民是一个艰难的决定。中国的文化与语言让他们希望留在国内。但许多人担心孩子的健康，这个问题迫使她们做出了移民的打算。

　　I met the mothers at a Starbucks (SBUX). They swapped¹⁵ stories about smog like others might politics or sports in the café that opened to a luxury mall with Gucci, Prada, and Tom Ford¹⁶ boutiques.

　　我和这几位母亲相约在一个豪华购物中心的一家星巴克（Starbucks）见面，那里还云集着古驰（Gucci）、（普拉达）Prada和Tom Ford等品牌的精品专营店。咖啡馆里的其他人可能正聊政治、体育话题的时候，这些母亲们却在交流有关雾霾的心事。

　　Feng Fairbanks has two daughters, who are 10 years old and 8 years old. The local PTA raised 200,000 RMB ($33,000 USD) to buy air purifiers so that her children can at least enjoy clean air inside the school where recess¹⁷ is often cancelled because of smog. She wanted her daughters to attend school longer in Beijing, but she's returning to the U.K. with them in July. The air pollution was becoming too serious to plan on staying in Beijing for the long term. Her British husband, who runs a business consultancy in Beijing, is staying in China.

　　费尔班克斯?冯（音译）的两个女儿分别是10岁和8岁。当地的家庭教师协会（PTA）募集了人民币200,000元（约合33,000美元）购买空气净化器，这样一来，尽管因为雾霾而经常取消户外活动，但孩子们至少可以在学校里呼吸到清洁空气。她希望孩子们在北京上学的时间可以更长一点，但她不得不在7月份和孩子们一起回到英国。空气污染太严重，她无法让孩子们长期留在北京。她的英国丈夫在北京经营一家商业咨询公司，他会继续留在这里。

　　Coco Xiao told me she avoids playing with her two daughters outside. Last summer the family toured the U.S. -- visiting Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, then San Francisco -- and was "amazed by the air." Her husband is setting up a consulting business in San Francisco in part to give the family an option to escape the pollution. She says the "government cannot afford to wait" to fix the air, but she's staying in Beijing for now.

　　肖可可（音译）告诉我，她尽量不让两个女儿到外面玩。去年夏天，她们全家去美国旅游，先后游览了亚特兰大、拉斯维加斯、洛杉矶和旧金山，“那里的空气让他们很是吃惊”。她丈夫在旧金山成立了一家咨询公司，部分原因是为家人摆脱污染提供一种选择。她说：“政府不能坐在那里等着”空气好转，但她目前还是会继续留在北京。

　　The other mothers were more hesitant. As they sipped¹⁸ teas and lattes, they explained how the pollution was devastating¹⁹ but bearable -- for the time being. May Guo, dressed fashionably in black leather boots, has a 9-year-old daughter with asthma²⁰. She pulled out a 3M (MMM) mask -- "the best," she tells me -- then explained that air pollution is one of many factors to consider before leaving China. There's family, jobs, culture. She's waiting to make a decision on leaving.

　　其他母亲更是犹豫不决。她们一边喝着茶和拿铁，一边解释称，虽然污染是灾难性的，但目前还可以忍受。打扮时尚的郭梅（音译）穿着黑色皮靴，她九岁的女儿患有哮喘。她拿出一个3M口罩，跟我说：“最好戴上这个，”然后她解释称，空气污染是她在离开中国之前考虑的许多因素之一。其他因素包括家庭、工作和文化。是否移民，她还没有下定决心。

　　Of course, many rich will stay in smoggy Beijing and China's other polluted cities. Opportunities in the world's fastest-growing major economy are hard to turn down. And surveys show the Chinese remain loyal about investing at home. But the air pollution problem isn't getting better anytime soon, and neither will the flight of China's wealthiest residents.

　　当然，许多有钱人仍然会继续留在雾霾笼罩的北京和中国其他受到污染的城市。世界增长最快的大型经济体所带来的机会令人难以抗拒。而且，调查显示，中国人依然热衷于国内投资。但在短时间内，空气污染问题不会好转，富人逃离的问题也同样如此。（财富中文网）

1 crumbling   

adj.摇摇欲坠的

参考例句：

• an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
• The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

2 blighted   

adj.枯萎的，摧毁的

参考例句：

• Blighted stems often canker.有病的茎往往溃烂。
• She threw away a blighted rose.她把枯萎的玫瑰花扔掉了。

3 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

4 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 inept   

adj.不恰当的，荒谬的，拙劣的

参考例句：

• Whan an inept remark to make on such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，怎么说这样不恰当的话。
• He's quite inept at tennis.他打网球太笨。

6 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

7 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

8 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

9 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

10 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 immigrating   

v.移入( immigrate的现在分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• I have to tie up loose ends before immigrating to America. 移民美国前，我先要处理手头上的一些琐事。 来自互联网
• Marrying an American citizen is a guaranteed ticket to immigrating to America. 与美国公民结婚是移民美国最佳的门票。 来自互联网

12 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

13 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

14 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

15 swapped   

交换（工作）( swap的过去式和过去分词 )； 用…替换，把…换成，掉换（过来）

参考例句：

• I liked her coat and she liked mine, so we swapped. 我喜欢她的外套，她喜欢我的外套，于是我们就交换了。
• At half-time the manager swapped some of the players around. 经理在半场时把几名队员换下了场。

16 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

17 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

18 sipped   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sipped his coffee pleasurably. 他怡然地品味着咖啡。
• I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. 我小口喝着她调制的巧克力热饮。 来自辞典例句

19 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

20 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。