VOA标准英语2009年-Economic Troubles Reach to France's Territories

The global economic downturn is hitting France's overseas territories particularly hard. A wave of protests and strikes has shuttered supermarkets, gas stations and schools in the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. The government has vowed¹ to respond but the protests threaten to spread to France's other overseas regions.
　
Yves Jego, center, Ange Mancini, left, Prefect of Martinique, and Alfred Almont, Martinique's Rep. in France's National Assembly (File)

Residents of Guadeloupe and Martinique in particular are protesting the high cost of living, mostly imported food and fuel, in territories where salaries are generally lower, and unemployment significantly higher than in mainland France. The unrest has been particularly intense in Guadeloupe, where garbage is piling up and stores and schools are closed after a month of strikes and demonstrations². Tourists, who are a mainstay of these Caribbean island economies, are staying away.

And there are fears the protests could spread to France's other overseas territories, there have also been strikes in the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, as well as to the rest of France. A recent survey published in France's regional Sud-Ouest newspaper found 63 percent of respondents believe the unrest could also take place on the mainland. Already an estimated one million people took to the streets of France two weeks ago to protest government reforms and demand protection against the economic crisis.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for a government body to review the country's policies toward its overseas territories, which also include regions in South America and off the Canadian coast. And the country's minister for overseas territories, Yves Jego, says steps are being taken to address the complaints of residents in Guadeloupe and Martinique.

In a recent interview with France-Info radio, Jego said the government had already managed to meet many demands of disgruntled Guadeloupe residents. The government was also checking complaints about the high price of consumer items and fuel and the lack of competition.

Concern in France over rising unemployment and falling growth has taken a toll³ on President Sarkozy's popularity ratings. The French leader is meeting with unions Wednesday to forge an agreement on economic stimulus⁴ plans to fight the economic downturn.

1 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。