VOA慢速英语2016 2015年环保人士死亡数量创纪录

AS IT IS 2016-07-05 Record Number of Environmental Activists¹ Killed in 2015 2015年环保人士死亡数量创纪录

Global Witness says 2015 was the most dangerous year yet for environmental activists.

全球目击者组织称2015年对于环保人士而言是最危险的一年。

The group reports that 185 people across 16 countries were killed last year while defending the environment.

该组织报道称去年有16个国家的185人在保护环境时被杀害了。

Global Witness is a non-profit organization that follows environmental issues and corruption² around the world. The organization released a report called “On Dangerous Ground” in June.

全球目击者是一个全球范围内跟踪环境案件和冲突的非营利组织。该组织6月份发布了一份称为“在危险的地面上”的报告。

The report says that on average, more than three activists were killed every week last year while defending the environment and land rights.

该报告称去年平均每周有超过三名环保人士在保护环境和土地权时被杀害。

Global Witness campaign leader Billy Kyte spoke³ to VOA. He said the number of killings⁴ increased by almost 60 percent from 2014 levels. He blamed industrial growth for the problem.

全球目击者运动领导人比利·凯特接受了VOA的采访。他说被害人士数量较2014年水平提高了大约60%。他谴责了工业增长带来了这个问题。

"So we are seeing industries like mining, dam and agribusiness encroaching more and more into previously⁵ untouched areas rich in resources and coming into conflict with local communities..."

“所以我们正在看到诸如采矿、筑坝以及农业综合企业越来越多地渗透到那些未曾开发的、资源丰富的地方，与当地的社会群体产生冲突……”

The Global Witness report said 42 deaths were related to the mining industry.

全球目击者报告称被害人士中42人的死于采矿业有关。

Brazil had the largest number of deaths, with 50 killings last year, the report said. The Philippines had 33 killings, the second largest number. Colombia had 26 killings. Peru and Nicaragua each had 12, while the Democratic Republic of Congo reported 11 killings.

报告称，去年巴西死亡人数最多，有50人被杀害。菲律宾有33死，位居第二。哥伦比亚26死。秘鲁和尼加拉瓜各12死，而刚果共和国据报道有11人被害。

Global Witness is not the only group following environmental killings. The Inter-American Commission⁶ on Human Rights, or IACHR, follows human rights in South and Central America. It reported that at least six land activists were killed in Brazil in early 2016.

全球目击者不仅仅是一个跟踪环境杀戮事件的组织。泛美人权委员会或者称IACHR跟踪南美洲和中美洲的人权问题。其报告称2016年初至少6名土地维权人士在巴西被杀害。

Billy Kyte says the true number of killings has not been accurately⁷ reported because of fear and threats of possible attack. He blamed what appeared to be close ties between big business and government.

比利·凯特称，因为对某些可能性攻击的空间或是受到威胁导致被害者的确切数量还没有准确的报告。他谴责了大企业和政府间表现出的亲密关系。

"So, in Africa it has been more difficult to get information. This may be because of oppressive regimes⁸, which means it is harder to get data on how many people are being killed or threatened..."

“所以，在非洲得到信息更加困难。这可能是因为专制体制，它意味着我们很难得到有多少人在被杀害被威胁的数据……”

Activists with a lot of media attention are often targets for violence or police action.

有着较高媒体关注度的环保人士通常是暴力或警方行动的目标。

Nasako Besingi of Cameroon was threatened with jail time for opposing palm oil companies. In India, journalist Sandeep Kothari was beaten and burned to death for criticizing mining.

喀麦隆的纳萨克·白辛基（音译）由于对抗棕榈油公司被威胁要让他蹲监狱。在印度，记者桑迪普·科塔里由于批评采矿业被毒打乃至烧死。

Global Witness is demanding better protection for environmental activists from governments. The group also asks for increased legal action against these crimes.

全球目击者要求政府对环保人士提供保护。该组织还要求增加合法行动打击这些犯罪。

Words in This Story

agribusiness – n. the business or industry of farming or agriculture

encroach(ing) – v. to gradually take or begin to use or affect something that belongs to someone else or that someone else is using

accurately – adv. done without mistakes or errors

regime(s) – n. a particular government

palm – n. a kind of tree that grows in tropical regions and has a straight, tall trunk and many large leaves at the top of the trunk

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 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。

4 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

5 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

6 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

7 accurately   

adv.准确地，精确地

参考例句：

• It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。
• Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

8 regimes   

政治制度，政权，政体( regime的名词复数 )； 组织方法； 管理体制； [物理]（某类现象发生时所需的，或者某类现象其主导作用时的）物理条件/环境

参考例句：

• If anything, it could create a clampdown on democratic tendencies by regimes in neighbouring countries. 如果其主张会产生什么结果的话，那就是会使周边国家的政府对民主潮流进行压制。
• These regimes could use such weapons for blackmail, terror, and mass murder. 这些政权可能利用这类武器进行讹诈、制造恐怖和进行大规模谋杀活动。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件