VOA标准英语2011--Activist Trains to Run Mile on Moon

Activist¹ Trains to Run Mile on Moon

 

Athlete and activist Jonathon Prince is used to setting high goals for himself, however, his resolution for 2012 is perhaps his most ambitious. Prince dreams of not just walking, but running, a mile on the moon.

Prince, who has run more than 16,000 kilometers to raise awareness² and money for a variety of social causes, hopes his moon run will ignite the imagination of a new generation.

When astronaut Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface in 1969, he called it “one small step for a man.” Eleven other people have followed in his footsteps. Prince, who calls himself an athlivist, hopes to do so in 2016.

Lunar run

“One Mile on The Moon was actually a project I dreamed of two years ago, while I was running across the country and staring up at the sky at night,” says Prince, 31, who believes in the power of dreaming.

“I honestly believe that when people start dreaming again they will be awaken³ to the magic that exists within the world. But in order to witness it, you have to believe in the unseen, and you truly have to trust the vision you have been given. It’s not easy because sometimes you have to step away from the workforce⁴ or the comforts of stability, but if you hold on, it will come full circle.”

Jonathon Prince, who calls himself an "athlivist," hopes to inspire others by running a mile on the moon in 2016.

That’s how he’s been able to achieve his dreams in the past. It started with his “Run4Relief” project after Hurricane Katrina devastated⁵ the Gulf⁶ Coast. He ran 3,800 kilometers from Los Angeles to New Orleans and then on to Atlanta to raise money for Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes.

In 2009, he ran across the country and up the East Coast to deliver hope to Americans struggling during the recession. Earlier this year, he completed a 60-day run down the Pacific Coast.

“When you dream and put action behind your dreams, the world will start to open up and respond to it,” he says.

Training time

Prince set 2016 as the year to achieve his next dream. He is not wasting any time preparing for his lunar adventure.

“There is going to be a lot of training that has to do with weightlessness, under gravity pressures, buoyancy, underwater simulation.”

All that will happen at a private facility called the National Aerospace⁷ Training and Research Center in Pennsylvania.

“I have a team put together in regards to all of the technology, of the apparel that I have to adapt to," he explains. "The moon's surface can reach anywhere between 200 to 350 degrees. So the temperature isn’t necessarily applicable to your skin. So we have a team of engineers that are working on specific boots that astronauts use as well as the suit and apparel.”

Since NASA retired⁸ its space shuttle fleet, Prince will have to reach the moon on a private rocket. That, he says, makes some people excited, others skeptical⁹.

“Skepticism comes with any dream, so you have to be willing to endure and take the blows from each position as you go forth,” he says.

Redefining what's possible

Prince adds there is another reason he has set his sights so high.

“I think that One Mile on the Moon is going to be an excellent example of human potential and what’s possible.”

To attract more attention to his endeavor and inspire people everywhere to dream, Prince decided¹⁰ to start the new year by running a mile on every continent.

“We have a goal to reach South America by the end January and then head off to Asia, which will be February or March," he says. "And hit all corners, all continents before September, October of 2012. Every mile is encouraged to have the locals in that area to come out and run and be a support. It will be a beautiful testimony¹¹ on how people can come out, doing their part to run just one mile for all mankind.”

Prince says he’s excited about this adventure and determined¹² to run a mile on the moon in 2016. Until then, he will continue to train and dream.

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 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

4 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

5 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

6 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。

7 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

12 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。