VOA标准英语2011--Thousands March for Climate Action in Durban

Thousands March for Climate Action in Durban

 

Activists², rights groups and citizens from around the world took to the streets of Durban Saturday to urge government negotiators at the U.N. climate change conference to take their demands seriously.

In a peaceful show of force, thousands of people marched through the streets of Durban toward the downtown conference center where delegates from nearly 200 nations are debating efforts to combat climate change.

The diverse crowd - representing groups from all across Africa, the United States and Latin America - were all united in their disappointment so far in the U.N. negotiations³.

Sanele and Shepherd are two high school students from just outside Durban.

"What we are demanding? We are demanding for COP 17 to stop," said Sanele.

"Must end," said Shepherd.

"Must end actually, yes," Sanele echoed.

"It's been many years speaking about climate change, it's been 17 years now," said Shepherd.

"There must be a solution," said Sanele.

Demonstrators march outside the U.N. climate conference in Durban, South Africa, December 3, 2011.

COP-17, as it is known, is the 17th Conference of Parties - an annual meeting of world governments and interested parties aimed at forging large-scale agreements to tackle climate change.

But at the march in Durban the Conference of Parties was known by another name: the "Conference of Polluters."

Nigerian environmental activist¹ Nnimmo Bassey addressed the crowd outside the gates of the Durban convention center.

"We don't want Africa to be cooked, we don't want Africa to be roasted, we don't want Africa to be boiled, we demand, we the people of Africa, demand that our leaders should hear us," said Bassey.

Bassey also demanded that negotiators agree to a new legally-binding mandate⁴ to cut carbon dioxide emissions⁵, blamed for global warming.

Governments at COP17 are considering a second commitment period to the Kyoto protocol⁶ - the current legal mandate in place to curb⁷ carbon emissions.

While the European Union is strongly in favor of the move, other countries that were part of Kyoto, including Canada, Russia and Japan are losing interest. The United States has said it will not accept any legally-binding mandate.

Demonstrators handed a letter over to the South African president of COP17, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and the U.N. executive secretary of the conference, Christina Figueres.

Figueres thanked the crowd for their enthusiasm.

"I'm well aware that it's not just you that it's millions around the world. Minister Mashabane and I are working to push governments in that direction. We are working tirelessly. I want you to know they were working until four o'clock this morning and we will continue to work," said Figueres.

Negotiations will continue over the weekend on several key issues including the second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol and the establishment of a Green Climate Fund to help developing nations.

Expectations for a major climate deal have been low, while the call for action has been as loud as ever.

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 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 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。

5 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

6 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

7 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。