VOA慢速英语--南美集团面临艰难时期

South American Group Facing Hard Times

A community outside Quito, Ecuador’s capital, has a building that appears to resist the laws of gravity.

The unusual-looking structure was supposed to be a sign of South American unity¹. It lies close to the Equator, the imaginary line dividing the world into north and south.

The building has two glass wings that extend high above a pool of water. They look like something from a Hollywood movie. They are said to represent freedom and openness.

But for all its stately appearance, the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) seems almost as inactive as the group itself. Once the building was a promising² diplomatic center with officials and parties for visiting diplomats³. Now it is largely empty, with half the workers it had when it opened in 2014.

The group’s chief organizer, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is in jail on corruption⁴ charges. Another major supporter, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, has died.

In addition, a changing political environment has left South America more divided than it has been in many years. Fewer people seem interested in an anti-imperialistic⁵ song identified with the group: “Soy del Sur,” or “I’m from the South.”

“UNASUR was a good idea, but ultimately didn’t deliver concrete results,” said Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based research group.

UNASUR’s current problems

In April of 2018, half of UNASUR’s 12 member-states suspended their membership. Those countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru. Then in August, newly elected Colombian President Ivan Duque rejected its treaty, setting the way for his country’s withdrawal⁶ in February.

The result is a $20 million deficit⁷ that has led to extensive budget cuts. UNASUR has been without a secretary-general for two years. At the current rate, the group will spend all of the money it has by April. That is about the same time that Brazil takes control of UNASUR’s rotating presidency⁸. However, Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has criticized the group.

For critics of UNASUR, its headquarters is an easy target. The $43 million structure was built and donated to the group by former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, a follower⁹ of Chavez.

Diego Guayasamin, another Ecuadorean, designed the prize-winning building. Seventy-five percent of the structure is underground. It is equipped with a high-technology meeting room and a notable collection of artwork. It also has salons¹¹ named for Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and Nobel Prize-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Just like in public buildings in Venezuela, Chavez’s bright-red signature and spirited comments are painted on the walls.

“It’s absurd that a building that cost several dozens of millions of dollars has no usefulness,” said Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno in July. Moreno demanded that UNASUR return the building to the government so that it could be used as a university for the local community. His demand was later found to be illegal.

But for critics, perhaps the building’s biggest problem is the large bronze statue at the entrance of Nestor Kirchner, the first secretary-general of the group. Since his death in 2010, the memory of the former Argentine president has been damaged by reports of corruption. Supporters of Moreno are leading a campaign to have the statue removed.

Successes and failures

UNASUR was created in 2008 to bring life to independence hero Simon Bolivar’s dream of a large, borderless South American “homeland.” Bolivar strongly opposed United States and European influence on the continent.

While plans to create a common monetary¹² system for UNASUR’s members failed, other proposals have had more success. One example is the common Unasur work visa, which has helped South American nations take in the large number of Venezuelans fleeing their country.

However, Michael Shifter said the final blow to the group was its failure to deal effectively with the crisis in Venezuela.

During 2015 and 2016, the group’s then-Secretary-General, Ernesto Samper, traveled to Venezuela with Vatican representatives to support talks between the government and opposition¹³.

When those negotiations¹⁴ collapsed¹⁵, many blamed Samper, a former Colombian president, for not doing more to get action from the government.

Samper admitted that for UNASUR to survive, it needs to take on a less-progressive plan of action. But, he argued that breaking up the group would be a huge mistake. He said there is a need for South American nations to speak with a common voice. He noted¹⁶ that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump¹⁷ has threatened military action against Venezuela. He added that the administration is critical of Latino Americans seeking to enter the U.S. and has withdrawn¹⁸ from international efforts to fight climate change.

“The sad thing,” Samper said, “is that at the same time the region desperately¹⁹ needs unity, we are more fragmented than ever.”

I'm George Grow. And I'm Caty Weaver²⁰.

Words in This Story

wing – n. a solid structure that extends from both sides of an aircraft or building

imperialistic – adj. relating to an extension of a country’s power and influence through military force or diplomacy²¹

rotate – v. to move or cause to move in a circle around something

salon¹⁰ – n. a store or business where a beautician works

absurd – adj. unreasonable²²; laughable

region – n. a specific area in the world or within a country or territory

fragment – v. to break to cause to break into small pieces

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 imperialistic   

帝国主义的，帝制的

参考例句：

• An imperialistic country extends its power and influence into neighbouring countries. 一个帝国主义国家将其势力与影响伸展至邻国。
• EXTEND An imperialistic country extends its power and influence into neighboring countries. 帝国主义国家将它的势力和影响扩展至邻近国家。

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

8 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

9 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。

10 salon   

n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室

参考例句：

• Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗？
• You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。

11 salons   

n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅

参考例句：

• He used to attend to his literary salons. 他过去常常去参加他的文学沙龙。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Conspiracy theories about Jewish financiers were the talk of Paris salons. 犹太金融家阴谋论成为巴黎沙龙的话题。 来自互联网

12 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

13 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

14 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

15 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

16 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

17 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

18 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

19 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

20 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

21 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

22 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。