VOA常速英语2007年-Transportable Disaster Relief Solutions Showcas

By Paul Sisco
Washington
06 December 2007
 

When disaster strikes and humanitarian¹ assistance is needed, a rapid, low cost response often is critical. As VOA's Paul Sisco tells us in today's Searching for Solutions report, a voluntary research and supply effort aims to do just that.

In the immediate² aftermath of a natural disaster, low cost communication stations and simple satellite transmitters can help bring much needed assistance.  A coalition³ called TIDES facilitates that kind of emergency relief and more.

Lin Wells is a TIDES representative. He says, "TIDES stands for Transportable Infrastructures⁵ for Development and Emergency Support. When you think about infrastructure⁴ here in a developed country, we turn a light switch, and we get power. We have power. We have water. We have sewer⁶. We have transportation. In large parts of the third world you don't have that."

Whether it is populations made homeless by natural disaster, political refugees, or war victims separated from their normal lives, basic forms of support become critical.

"We are looking for low cost sustainable solutions for these stressed populations," said Wells.

The U.S. Defense⁷ Department recently hosted an event to display low cost emergency equipment for those stressed populations.

Wells says, "We have seven different kinds of infrastructures. We are looking at shelter, water, power, cooking; heating, lighting⁸, cooling is one; a little sanitation⁹ and a lot of information and communication technologies."

Rotary¹⁰ Club International is a TIDES member and has provided thousands of shelter boxes packed with equipment for victims of natural and manmade disasters.

A company called SkyBuilt Power builds easily shipped solar and wind power stations.

Pat McArdle spent time in Northern Afghanistan before retiring from the U.S. State Department. She now promotes simple, solar cookers for those in need. She says, "In this one camp, the women have made 10,000 of these, and then they have also been taught how to make rocket stoves out of tin cans, and they have cut their fuel use by 80-90 percent with this simple, simple technology."

TIDES is a growing partnership¹¹ of small and large groups with one goal -- to help people live above subsistence levels following disaster.

Wells says he hopes events like this will convince more organizations, communities and governments to buy and provide simple relief and emergency equipment sooner rather than later.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 infrastructures   

n.基础设施( infrastructure的名词复数 )；基础结构；行政机构；秘密机构

参考例句：

• Public transportation termini and depots are important infrastructures for a city. 公交场站设施是城市重要的基础设施。 来自互联网
• The increasingly fast urbanization process requires more and more infrastructures. 我国城市化进程不断加快，对城市基础设施的需求也越来越大。 来自互联网

6 sewer   

n.排水沟，下水道

参考例句：

• They are tearing up the street to repair a sewer. 他们正挖开马路修下水道。
• The boy kicked a stone into the sewer. 那个男孩把一石子踢进了下水道。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

9 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

10 rotary   

adj.(运动等)旋转的；轮转的；转动的

参考例句：

• The central unit is a rotary drum.核心设备是一个旋转的滚筒。
• A rotary table helps to optimize the beam incidence angle.一张旋转的桌子有助于将光线影响之方式角最佳化。

11 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。