VOA标准英语2012--G20 Called on to Tackle Critical Issues

 

G20 Called on to Tackle Critical Issues

Humanitarian¹ groups are calling on G20 leaders to take decisive action on economic growth, climate change and hunger when they meet in Los Cabos, Mexico next week.

Europe’s economic crisis is expected to top the G20 agenda. A recession in Europe could have wide-ranging consequences for both rich and poor nations alike.

Steve Price-Thomas of Oxfam said it’s crucial for G20 leaders to commit to economic growth for both developed and developing countries, adding “Since 2009 they’ve repeatedly promised to deliver strong, sustainable and balanced growth. And they have equally repeatedly failed to live up to that commitment.”

He said for developing countries that means obstacles to sustainable economic growth.

“Poor countries have reached the limits of their financial ability to defend themselves against the global crisis which was caused by the rich world,” he said.

The Oxfam strategy manager said the effects of the economic crisis are clear. He says capital flows to developing countries dropped nearly $140 billion last year, while aid from major donors² dropped for the first time in 14 years, down over $3 billion.

Feeding the hungry

Neil Watkins of ActionAid USA said G20 leaders should address food security and volatile³ commodity prices.

“The past year has been marked by a historic drought and hunger crisis in east Africa, and this year high food prices have put 13 million people at risk of hunger in the Sahel,” he said.

Adam Taylor of Advocacy World Vision said too many people are still going hungry, with tragic⁴ results.

“So far the G20 has lacked a sense of urgency and focus that is commensurate with the scale and severity of the nutrition crisis facing communities and children," he said. "Inadequate⁵ nutrition is the underlying⁶ cause of over 2.5 million child deaths annually⁷ and limits the growth and potential of more than 170 million children worldwide. The G20 is rightly concerned about increasing economic stability and growth, but economies cannot effectively grow if their children can’t grow because they’re stunted⁸ and they are suffering of malnutrition⁹.”

The NGOs said a G20-commissioned report recommended eliminating biofuel incentives¹⁰ in order to reduce food price volatility¹¹. The groups say the push for alternative fuels has taken resources away food crops. However, the NGOs said G20 leaders have ignored their own study.

Joseph Powell of ONE said for developing countries to achieve sustainable growth, there must also be greater transparency in extraction industries, such as oil, gas and minerals.

“In the past the G20 has made important commitments on transparency and accountability particularly in the extractive industry sector¹². And we believed leaders will be missing a trick if they fail to realize the importance of transparent¹³ natural resource management and open government in building a stable economic future in Los Cabos,” he said.

The G20 summit will be held June 18 and 19.

1 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

2 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

4 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。

5 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

6 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

7 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。

8 stunted   

adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的

参考例句：

• the stunted lives of children deprived of education 未受教育的孩子所过的局限生活
• But the landed oligarchy had stunted the country's democratic development for generations. 但是好几代以来土地寡头的统治阻碍了这个国家民主的发展。

9 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

10 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 volatility   

n.挥发性，挥发度，轻快，（性格）反复无常

参考例句：

• That was one reason why volatility was so low last year.这也是去年波动性如此低的原因之一。
• Yet because volatility remained low for so long,disaster myopia prevailed.然而，由于相当长的时间里波动性小，灾难短视就获胜了。

12 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

13 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。