VOA标准英语2010-Nations Debate Changes to International B

Thursday is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, and environmentalists are using this year's observation to call for tougher measures to protect whales. The 88-nation International Whaling Commission (IWC), is set to rule soon on proposals to partially¹ lift the current ban on while hunting.

Off the Caribbean island of Dominica, school children are thrilled to see whales up close.

These kids are among the more than 10 million people who take whale watching trips every year. Environmentalists promote whale watching and whale research as alternatives to killing² whales for commercial purposes.

Despite a 24-year-old worldwide ban on commercial whaling, fishing boats from Japan, Norway and Iceland continue to hunt whales under so called scientific programs that allow whaling and whale meat to be sold at local markets. Critics say these nations use loopholes in the moratorium³ to kill thousands of the giant marine⁴ mammals. Whaling nations argue that whale hunting is a part of their culture and should be allowed.

"Well, over hunting [of whales] is not good, of course, but at the same time it is not good that we cannot eat whale meat at all," said a Japanese. "So, I hope there is a way to negotiate the need of both somehow."

The whaling nations want changes to the 1986 ban in order to allow them to hunt whales for any purpose over the next 10 years, but in reduced numbers. In exchange, they would agree to stricter international monitoring of whaling ships and whale products.

The 88-nation International Whaling Commission (IWC) is scheduled to meet in June  in Morocco to consider changes to the moratorium. Japanese officials want the commission to discuss ways of managing whaling rather than banning it.

"At this moment the IWC [International Whaling Commission] does not function as a resource management organization. That means we do not have an appropriate forum⁵ to discuss the management of whale resources. We should have it as soon as possible," said Hideki Moronuki of the Japanese Fisheries Agency.

"Whaling is an out moded industry with no real future in the 21st century," said Patrick Ramage, of the International Fund for Animal Welfare. "And for that reason this compromise effort would kind of throw a lifeline to a dying industry."

Patrick Ramage is with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The group strongly opposes granting rights for some countries to kill whales.

"Unfortunately, this new compromise  arrangement would end scientific whaling which is to say it would rename it," he said. "It would call it just whaling and Japan would be permitted to continue its activities in a sanctuary⁶ off its coast and in the North Pacific Ocean. It is the wrong direction to move in 2010. "

 

Research groups say hundreds of thousands of whales have been saved since unlimited⁷ whaling was banned in 1986. But in recent years the number of whales killed annually⁸ has been rising steadily⁹, to nearly 1,700 last year from 300 in 1990. In Iceland, whale hunting resumed seven years ago as part of  an arrangement that gives the country an annual quota¹⁰. Whaler Kristjan Loftsson believes the marine mammals are a renewable source and should be harvested.

"Whaling has been a good business," he said. "We wouldn't be in it if it was a losing industry, I can guarantee that. On a sustainable basis that's the main key element you know. You would never get us to catch the last whale."

Environmentalists say if the IWC lifts the current ban on whaling that will reverse the progress that's been made to grow whale populations, and make it even more difficult to protect whales for future generations. 

 

1 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 moratorium   

n.(行动、活动的)暂停(期)，延期偿付

参考例句：

• The government has called for a moratorium on weapons testing.政府已要求暂停武器试验。
• We recommended a moratorium on two particular kinds of experiments.我们建议暂禁两种特殊的实验。

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

6 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

7 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

8 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

9 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

10 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。