VOA标准英语 Security Stepped up in Strasbourg Ahead of NATO Summ

Strasbourg is closing schools, dispatching 15,000 troops and police and sealing up manholes as the city, along with Kehl, Germany, prepares to host NATO's 60th anniversary summit. The intense security in Strasbourg is said to cost $147 million and meant to protect leaders, as well as to control 20,000 to 50,000 peace activists² expected to stage protests.
　
French protesters gathered in Strasbourg

A French soldier hammers a stake into the ground, to secure even more razor wire around a temporary military base in the center of Strasbourg. In fact, there is so much razor wire around the city that locals now call it "Fortress³ Strasbourg." Thousands of troops and police have descended⁴ on the city to secure it against violent protests during the NATO summit.

The leaders of the alliance are gathering⁵ not only to celebrate its 60th anniversary, but also to welcome France back into its military command, after a 40-year absence. French President Nicholas Sarkozy recently announced the decision to return, which has been controversial in France.

The summit agenda will look at NATO operations around the world.
　
Nicole Ramrath, German Police

French and German security forces have put the cities hosting the summit - Strasbourg in eastern France and Kehl over the border in Germany - in virtual lockdown, with border controls reinstated. Nicole Ramrath, a German policewoman, says the security measures are necessary.

"The federal police in Germany have to control the persons and their passports because to prevent demonstrators coming to Germany and doing something against German security we are doing these measures," she said.

Many protesters say they are not planning violence, but want to demonstrate to get their message across. Daniel Viesnik, an anti-NATO peace activist¹ who traveled here from Britain, wants NATO to change.
　
Daniel Viesnik, British peace activist

"At the very least, NATO should revert⁶ to being purely⁷ a defensive⁸ alliance and end this mandate⁹ of being able to take aggressive action as we have seen in Afghanistan," he said.

On the streets of Strasbourg, there are mixed feelings.

A man says it is not important for France to be in NATO. He says France's membership could mean more war.

But a woman says NATO membership will foster solidarity¹⁰ against any attacks on member countries.

The local people are paying a price for the summit. Many businesses in the city are either closing for the summit or expecting a drop in trade, as local customers stay away.

For now, Strasbourg is on high alert and the hope is that it will remain peaceful throughout the summit.

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 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》

3 fortress   

n.堡垒，防御工事

参考例句：

• They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。
• The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。

4 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 revert   

v.恢复，复归，回到

参考例句：

• Let us revert to the earlier part of the chapter.让我们回到本章的前面部分。
• Shall we revert to the matter we talked about yesterday?我们接着昨天谈过的问题谈，好吗？

7 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

8 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

9 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

10 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。