VOA标准英语2009年-Helping Youth Protect the "Most Precious&q

By Susan Yackee
30 September 2009

 
    Earth - the water planet
Philippe Cousteau, grandson of famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, and pop musician Usher¹, have announced a partnership² to create a volunteer organization for young people focusing on environmental issues.

Their “Water Planet Challenge” is aimed at providing students with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to take protective environmental action to help save earth’s oceans, rivers and lakes. The program was announced last week at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative³ in New York. 
The project will provide young people access to course outlines that model opportunities, such as product development and civic⁴ action, to support the health of the planet. Micro-grants will be given to help support youth-backed projects.

Cousteau is CEO of EarthEcho International, a nonprofit environmental education organization. Usher’s New Look is a non-profit organization supporting youth to use their talents to become community leaders.

Cousteau said the purpose of the program is to empower youth to change the world's 
Children in Zimbabwe collecting water. Unsafe drinking water is linked to a variety of illnesses.
 
environmental future. “This generation is more engaged in the environment and conservation than any other before them," said Cousteau. "All they lack are the tools and the skills to take effective action and get engaged in service in their communities.”

Cousteau says he hope the knowledge gained through the program will help students in protecting the environment and in their lives in general. "Investigating a need, creating a plan, solving a problem, taking action - these are all skills for good healthy stewards⁵ of our planet and our society,” Cousteau said.

The World Health Organization estimates more than one billion people lack access to safe drinking water and that 3.5 million deaths each year can be attributed to water-related diseases. 

1 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

2 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。

3 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

4 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

5 stewards   

（轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家

参考例句：

• The stewards all wore armbands. 乘务员都戴了臂章。
• The stewards will inspect the course to see if racing is possible. 那些干事将检视赛马场看是否适宜比赛。