英国公投在即 或因退欧转变历史

英国公投在即 或因退欧转变历史

These are uncertain times in a nation whose economy is the second largest in the European Union. The stakes are huge. There are warnings that leaving the 28-member bloc¹ may cause the British pound to lose 15 percent of its value and bring the resignation of David Cameron, the country’s prime minister, whose mandate² depends on whether Britain listens to him and votes to remain. If we choose to leave, we can leave. But let us be clear - if we do leave, that is it. We are walking out the door. For such an important election, many voters complain there has been too little solid information to make a decision and too much scaremongering, and grandstanding by both sides. Flotillas of the “Leave” and “Remain” camps recently faced off on the River Thames. For months, the Leave campaign has been hitting the streets. Its arguments are based largely on immigration, and the belief that Britain has handed control of its borders to a European super state. The U.K. has lost control over migration³. We have to accept anyone into this country if they have an EU passport, no matter if they have a criminal record or not. We are not allowed to say ‘no’ to people and that is damaging for the security of the U.K., but it is also putting pressure on jobs and opportunities for young people. The murder of Jo Cox, an anti-Brexit, pro-immigrant lawmaker allegedly by a far right extremist with a history of mental problems had a sobering effect on both campaigns, and on voters. I think that there has been a lot of bad feeling because of the way both the Leave campaign, the Brexiters, and the Remain campaign have acted. Polls since the June 16th murder showed the Leave camp losing ground, but with both sides still very close on a referendum that many believe could change the course of European history.

作为欧盟第二经济大国的英国如今境况难测，危险重重。有人担心，英国退欧之举会让英镑贬值15%，也会让英国首相卡梅伦引咎辞职，因为只有英国留在欧盟才能让卡梅伦继任。如果我们选择离开，我们就能离开。但需要清楚的一点是：如果我们真的离开，那就是永远地离开了。就是走出欧盟的大门了。很多选民抱怨，一场意义如此重大的公投，却只有少得可怜的确凿信息可供他们做出决定。反之，公投的两种阵营却有太多的危言耸听和虚张声势。 “退欧”阵营和“留欧”阵营最近在泰晤士河上针锋相对。

最近几个月来，“退欧”阵营一直都在英国的大街小巷大造声势。他们的论调主要基于移民，认为英国已经将其边界控制权交给了欧洲另一个超级强国。英国已经失去移民控制权了。只要有欧盟护照就可以进入英国，无论护照持有者是否有犯罪历史。即便凭借护照进入英国国境的人可能会对英国的安全造成威胁，但依然不能拒绝。同时，这种情况对于年轻人的就业也会造成压力。一名曾患有精神疾病的极右派人士称，乔?考克斯是一位留欧支持者以及支持移民的立法议员，她的遇袭身亡使得脱欧支持者与留欧支持者都开始冷静下来。我认为，由于脱欧派与留欧派都参与了公投活动，他们一直都有许多不好的感觉。虽然6月16日之后的投票情况显示脱欧派处于不利情况，但目前两方的公投票比依然不分伯仲，因此很多人依然认为，欧洲的历史进程可能确将有重大转变。

1 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

2 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。

3 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。