2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Wants Expanded Plan to Fight AIDS

By Paula Wolfson
White House
30 May 2007

President Bush is urging the U.S. Congress to support a massive expansion of his program to help AIDS patients in the developing world. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

awareness1 pin on his lapel as he speaks about the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), 30 May 2007" hspace="2" src="http://www.wwenglish.com/up/2007/05/18495/21a.jpg" width="142" vspace="2" border="0" />

President Bush wears an AIDS awareness pin on his lapel as he speaks aboutPresident's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), 30 May 2007

In 2003, President Bush announced plans to provide billions of dollars to fight AIDS in 15 countries - primarily in Africa.

That program, which focuses on prevention, treatment, and support services, is now nearing the end of its original five-year life span. And the president is urging Congress to not only extend it for another five years, but to double the funding from $15 billion to $30 billion.

"America will work with governments, the private sector² and faith and community based organizations around the world to meet measurable goals: to support treatment for nearly 2.5 million people, to prevent more than 12 million new infections, and to support care for 12 million people, including more than five million orphans³ and vulnerable children," said President Bush.

The president made the announcement at an event in the White House Rose Garden, where he was joined by American supporters of the program, as well as two men who run AIDS clinics in Kenya and Haiti, and a South African woman who now coordinates⁴ a mentoring⁵ program for mothers like her who carry the AIDS virus.

"Similar success stories are playing out all across the African continent, where victims of HIV/AIDS are finding new reservoirs of strength and support," he said. "Villages in Africa now talk of the "Lazarus effect" - dying communities being brought back to life thanks to the compassion⁶ of the American people."

The president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is focusing its efforts on 12 African countries, as well as Haiti, Guyana and Vietnam. The president said first lady Laura Bush will travel to Africa in late June to gauge⁷ the program's success.

"She is going to meet with community leaders and visit with participants in HIV-AIDS programs during her trip to Zambia, Mali, Senegal and Mozambique," said the president.

AIDS activists⁸ welcomed the announcement of additional funding, saying the program has made a difference in the countries where it is in full operation. But at the same time, they urged the U.S. government to devote more money to the cause, saying a sustained effort is needed to win the war against AIDS.

The announcement on AIDS funding came at a time when the Bush administration is highlighting its commitment to development aid and human rights in advance of the Group of Eight Summit next week in Germany.

On Tuesday, the president announced enhanced sanctions on Sudan designed to pressure Khartoum to stop the violence in the troubled Darfur region. On Thursday, Mr. Bush will deliver a speech here in Washington on his international development agenda.

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

4 coordinates   

n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• The town coordinates on this map are 695037. 该镇在这幅地图上的坐标是695037。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 mentoring   

n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识，并用心支持mentee的职业（发展）。v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• One of the most effective instruments for coaching and mentoring is the "role rehearsal" . 辅导和教学的最有效的手段之一是“角色排练。” 来自辞典例句
• Bell Canada called their mentoring system a buddy-buddy system. 加拿大贝尔公司称他们的训导系统是伙伴—伙伴系统。 来自互联网

6 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

7 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

8 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》