VOA慢速英语2014 象牙骨灰瓮引发对非法贸易的担忧

 

AS IT IS 2014-08-10 Ivory Urn¹ Raises Questions on Illegal Trade 象牙骨灰瓮引发对非法贸易的担忧

An urn has been created from ivory to hold the remains² of Thailand’s top religious leader.  The production of the urn comes as the country faces international pressure to stop the illegal trade of ivory.  Thailand is said to be the world’s largest market for unrestricted ivory sales.

Supreme³ Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyansamvara died last October at the age of 100.  A ceremony will be held next year to move his burned remains into an urn, or container, made of ivory. 

Ninety-five percent of Thailand is Buddhist⁴.  The Supreme Patriarch, or Sangharaja, headed the Sangha Supreme Council.  He directed all Buddhist monks⁵ in Thailand.  He was appointed by the King at the suggestion of the prime minister.

Ten kilograms of ivory were used to make the urn.  They were taken three years ago from the tusk⁶ of a 70-year-old male elephant named Thongbai.  Tusks of captive elephants are sometimes cut from the animals for health reasons. 

But some Buddhist leaders have urged their followers⁷ and religious centers to reject the use and trade of ivory, even if it comes from captured elephants.  They note that the demand for ivory causes illegal hunting and killing⁸ of elephants.  The elephant is a respected animal in Buddhism⁹ and across Thailand. 

Phra Maha Napan Santidhaddo serves as one of the leaders of the Golden Mount Temple in Bangkok.  He says Buddhists¹⁰ should not take actions which would cause more animals to be harmed.  He said they should not even think about it. 

“In the case it’s not harming any elephant it would be fine.  But we have to be careful about the message that we send to the society that ‘oh, it would be great if we can do the urn from the ivory.’ And maybe it causes a new circle of destroying elephant life.”

Thai tradition considers ivory a pure and fine material.  Donating ivory for the urn of a highly respected person is considered good.

Other materials suggested for the Supreme Patriarch’s urn were criticized.  Gold is only to be used for members of Thailand’s ruling family.  And critics judged materials like marble, ceramic¹¹ or wood as too common.

Phra Maha Napan says publicity¹² about the Supreme Patriarch’s ivory urn provides a chance to educate Buddhists. 

“We have to respect both sides -- the environmentalists and the ones who have a strong belief in making merit.  It’s a great chance to educate both of them.”           

Sales of ivory from captive elephants are legal in Thailand.  But the kingdom has no ivory registration¹³ system.  So, knowing where the product came from is not possible.

TRAFFIC is an organization that watches over wildlife trade.  It says lack of a registry creates a way to bring illegal ivory from African elephants into the Thai marketplace.  Many Thais do not know of the link between ivory and wildlife crime.

Nipon Chotiban heads Thailand’s national parks and wildlife agency.  The official is calling for an amendment¹⁴ to existing legislation.  The amendment would help bring ivory trade within the country under control.

1 urn   

n.（有座脚的）瓮；坟墓；骨灰瓮

参考例句：

• The urn was unearthed entire.这只瓮出土完整无缺。
• She put the big hot coffee urn on the table and plugged it in.她将大咖啡壶放在桌子上,接上电源。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

4 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

5 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 tusk   

n.獠牙，长牙，象牙

参考例句：

• The wild boar had its tusk sunk deeply into a tree and howled desperately.野猪的獠牙陷在了树里，绝望地嗥叫着。
• A huge tusk decorated the wall of his study.他书房的墙上装饰着一支巨大的象牙。

7 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

8 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。

9 Buddhism   

n.佛教（教义）

参考例句：

• Buddhism was introduced into China about 67 AD.佛教是在公元67年左右传入中国的。
• Many people willingly converted to Buddhism.很多人情愿皈依佛教。

10 Buddhists   

n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Jesuits in a phase of ascendancy, persecuted and insulted the Buddhists with great acrimony. 处于地位上升阶段的耶稣会修士迫害佛教徒，用尖刻的语言辱骂他们。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The return of Saivite rule to central Java had brought no antagonism between Buddhists and Hindus. 湿婆教在中爪哇恢复统治后，并没有导致佛教徒与印度教徒之间的对立。 来自辞典例句

11 ceramic   

n.制陶业，陶器，陶瓷工艺

参考例句：

• The order for ceramic tiles has been booked in.瓷砖的订单已登记下来了。
• Some ceramic works of art are shown in this exhibition.这次展览会上展出了一些陶瓷艺术品。

12 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。

13 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

14 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。