VOA标准英语2009年-G20 Leaders Talk Economics; Protestors Fac

By Jim Randle
Pittsburgh
25 September 2009

Leaders of 20 of the world's leading and emerging economies are gathered in Pittsburgh, seeking ways to fight the recession, and keep economic troubles from breaking out again.

Friday, presidents, prime ministers and other heads of state are scheduled for working sessions focused on the economic issues that pushed the world into recession.

They hope to change rules and customs to avoid another such meltdown in the future.

Before the summit began there was considerable public debate over bonuses paid to bankers, and efforts to limit them. French and German officials say the bonus system encouraged reckless risks that threatened the financial system. The Europeans want new rules to limit such payments.

U.S. officials pressed for rules requiring banks to keep larger reserves to cope with bad loans.

U.S. Treasury¹ Secretary Timothy Geithner says the leaders are close to consensus², and there is a need for swift action.

"We don't want to see these reforms take effect two years from now. We don't want to see them take effect next year," he said. "We want to see them take effect now so they affect compensation process today, not tomorrow."
 
Geithner says there are many signs the economy is recovering, but he says there is still a need for major changes by many nations, including the United States.

"For too long, Americans were buying too much, and saving too little … that is no longer an option for us or for the rest of the world," Geithner said.

Geithner argues that major exporting nations can no longer look to the United States as an engine that will pull their economies out of recession. He says the U.S. consumer has cut spending. That may mean exporters will have to boost demand in their own nations to keep their economies growing.

 
Pittsburgh police in riot gear redeploy after confrontations³ with protestors near the Strip District in Pittsburgh, 24 Sep 2009
Leaders are also discussing when and how they will cut back efforts to stimulate⁴ their economies, and expanding the role of emerging nations in economic decisions affecting the world.

As the leaders arrived in Pittsburgh, protestors gathered, urging more efforts to fight global warming, and accusing the G20 of doing too little to help the poor.

The demonstrators were kept away from the summit site by thousands of police, troops, helicopters, boats, tall fences and occasionally, tear gas.

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

3 confrontations   

n.对抗，对抗的事物( confrontation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At times, this potential has escalated into actual confrontations. 有时，这一矛盾升级为实际的对抗。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• These confrontations and uncertainties were bing played out for the first time on a global scale. 所有这一切对抗和不稳定，第一次在全球范围内得到充分的表演。 来自辞典例句

4 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。