VOA常速英语2014--US, World Act to Save Elephants 美国,世界采取行动拯救大象

 

US, World Act to Save Elephants 美国,世界采取行动拯救大象

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has unveiled a comprehensive strategy for combating wildlife trafficking in hopes of curbing² illicit³ poaching that is threatening to wipe out elephants, rhinoceros⁴ and other endangered species in Africa. The document issued Tuesday places an almost complete ban on the ivory trade in the United States. Meanwhile, representatives of many African countries are meeting with world's leading conservationists in London to discuss how to stop the illegal sale of ivory.

A large pile of ivory was crushed in central London as a symbolic⁵ gesture, ahead of a major summit this week aimed at curbing illegal wildlife trade.

在本周旨在遏制非法野生动物贸易的主要峰会召开前，作为表态一大堆象牙在伦敦市中心被粉碎。

Rowena Paxton was among citizens who gave away their ivory items to be crushed.

罗威娜·帕克斯顿是拿出象牙物品用于粉碎的其中一位市民。

"I feel like a big weight has been taken off me and I'm now to say goodbye and I just say please, please save our elephants, save our rhino," said Paxton.

“我感觉身上的重担已被卸下,我现在跟它道别,我只是要说,请救救我们的大象,救救我们的犀牛,”帕克斯顿说道。

A 1989 ban outlawed⁶ the international trade in ivory, but cross-border smuggling⁷ continues.

1989的一项禁令宣布国际象牙贸易为非法,但跨境走私仍在继续。

美国,世界采取行动拯救大象.jpgConservationists estimate that more than 25,000 elephants are killed across Africa each year so their tusks⁸ can be extracted for ivory.

据环保人士估计,每年超过25000头非洲大象被杀害,其象牙被拔出用于制作象牙制品。

French customs official Sebastien Tiran said France seizes at least a half-ton of ivory per year.

法国海关官员塞巴斯蒂安·蒂朗称法国每年截获至少半吨象牙。

"What we have noticed regarding trafficking of protected species is that there is a lot of change, but one thing that never changes is the interest of consumers for ivory," said Tiran.

“我们已经注意到尽管关于走私保护动物发生了很多改变,但有一件事从未改变,那就是是消费者对于象牙制品的兴趣,”蒂朗说道。

To curb¹ the illegal ivory trade, experts said it is important to reduce the demand.

为了遏制非法象牙贸易,专家表示减少需求才是至关重要的。

Many blame China for the continued large ivory trade.

很多人指责中国继续的大宗象牙贸易。

Some residents of Hong Kong hold annual protests against the practice.

香港居民举行一年一度的抗议反对这种做法。

"I think Chinese people's idea about this kind of animal product is changing.

“我认为中方人民对于这种动物制品的观念正在改变。

It's not like before, we are changing,” said Amy Wang, a woman from mainland China living in Hong Kong.

不像以往,我们正在改变,”来自中国大陆在香港生活的女性艾米·王说道。

Destruction of the existing stockpile is another way of undermining the trade, although some people say it also makes the ivory more expensive.

破坏现有的存货量是另一种杜绝这种贸易的方式,虽然有人表示这使得象牙制品更加昂贵。

The World Wildlife Fund reported that the price of ivory in China has reached $2,000 per kilogram.

世界野生动物基金会报道称中国的象牙价格已经达到了每公斤2000美元。

China has cracked down on smugglers recently and has joined the United States, France, Britain and others in destroying illegal ivory stockpiles.

中国最近打击走私者们而且已经加入到美国、法国、英国等其他国家破坏非法象牙库存的行列中。

French Minister of Ecology Phillippe Martin said it is an important gesture.

法国生态部长菲利普·马丁称这是一种重要的表态。

"The fact that China crushed, as we do today, six tons of seized ivory is very important because there are consumers in China, so our message to traffickers is-this is our statement, and to consumers-this isn't worth anything; elephants should be protected in Africa," said Martin.

“中国打击走私者,就像我们现在做的一样,六吨的象牙制品非常重要,因为在中国有消费者,所以我们向走私者传达出一种消息—这是我们的声明,而对于消费者们—它分毫不值;大象应该在非洲受到保护,”马丁说道。

Conservationists say that Africa's elephant population has dwindled⁹ from millions to about 500,000, and that nearly 10 percent are being slaughtered¹⁰ each year.

环保主义者表示非洲大象数量从数百万减少到约500000头,每年有近10%被屠杀。

They warn that only tough action can save the elephants from extinction¹¹.

 

他们警告称只有采取强硬行动才可以拯救濒临灭绝的大象。

1 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。

2 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

3 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

4 rhinoceros   

n.犀牛

参考例句：

• The rhinoceros has one horn on its nose.犀牛鼻子上有一个角。
• The body of the rhinoceros likes a cattle and the head likes a triangle.犀牛的形体像牛，头呈三角形。

5 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

6 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

7 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

8 tusks   

n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头

参考例句：

• The elephants are poached for their tusks. 为获取象牙而偷猎大象。
• Elephant tusks, monkey tails and salt were used in some parts of Africa. 非洲的一些地区则使用象牙、猴尾和盐。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

9 dwindled   

v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
• His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 slaughtered   

v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。