新奇事件簿 澳大利亚向大堡礁倾倒淤泥（在线收听）

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 outrageous to put corporate profits ahead of such an important marine 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 ecosystems by bleaching and killing 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。