VOA标准英语2010年-Environmentalists Seize on Gulf Oil Sp

Environmentalists protest the Gulf¹ of Mexico oil spill in front of the White House

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is turning into a major ecological² disaster.  But the political fallout from the spill and impact on the future of offshore³ drilling remain to be seen.   

"Oil and water don't mix!  Clean it up and make it quick!," demanded a protester,

In the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill, demonstrators take to the streets of Washington.

First to the Department of Interior, which regulates the drilling.

Then to the White House to deliver a loud message to President Obama.

"Oil and water don't mix.  Clean it up and make it quick!" 

Environmentalist Phil Aroneanu:

"And we believe that President Obama really needs to divest⁴ from dirty energy sources, from drilling, from mining, or else we are going to have these same kinds of disasters over and over again," said Phil Aroneanu.

Analysts⁵ are already trying to figure out the political impact of the spill.

But oil industry defenders⁶ say it is too early to know.

John Felmy is with the American Petroleum⁸ Institute:

"Well, at this point it is really too soon to tell," said John Felmy. "The industry is focused on recognizing that this is a tragic⁹ incident.  The first thing we need to do is to stop the flow of oil, clean it up and then understand what happened."

In the wake of the Gulf spill, the oil companies are on the defensive¹⁰, trying to fend⁷ off criticism from the president.

"I saw firsthand the anger and frustration¹¹ felt by our neighbors in the Gulf," said President Obama. "And let me tell you, it is an anger and frustration that I share as president." 

And from members of Congress. Senator John McCain sought answers about the cleanup from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano  at a recent hearing.

"And where is your level of optimism?," asked John McCain.

"I'm just taking it day by day," asnwered Napolitano.

"Wake up!  Wake up?  Drill baby, drill, means spill, baby spill!," chanted demonstrators.

 Environmentalists believe the oil spill could build support for alternatives to fossil fuels.

"And we know that with the technology of now, the technology of the future, with wind and solar, that disasters like this will no longer be possible," said a protester.

But oil industry economist¹² John Felmy says not so fast.

"Where do we get our energy?  Right now we get 37 percent of our energy from oil, and we have got 250 million cars that don't plug-in, don't run on natural gas, don't run on alternatives, and so we are going to need oil for the foreseeable future," he said.

Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans still favor offshore drilling, but the numbers are down slightly in the wake of the spill, and could drop further depending on the eventual¹³ environmental impact.

 

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

3 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

4 divest   

v.脱去，剥除

参考例句：

• I cannot divest myself of the idea.我无法消除那个念头。
• He attempted to divest himself of all responsibilities for the decision.他力图摆脱掉作出该项决定的一切责任。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

8 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

9 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

10 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。

11 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

12 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

13 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。