VOA常速英语2017--跨国犯罪危害非洲国家

Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, is on the rise. It has some of the world's fastest-growing economies and a young population that is eager to learn and work. Today, the continent commands significant investment from all over the world. But Africa's bright future is imperiled by transnational crime, said Senior Director for National Security and Diplomacy¹ Anti-Crime Programs at the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics² and Law Enforcement Affairs, David Luna:

非洲，尤其是撒哈拉以南非洲地区，发展势头越来越好。非洲的一些地区发展速度在全球名列前茅，非洲还有愿意学习工作的年轻人。今天，非洲大陆翘首盼望着来自全球的资金投入。但非洲光明的未来却因跨国犯罪而陷入危机，国家安全与外交反犯罪计划高级主管大卫 卢娜(David Luna)如是说道，该计划隶由国务院国际缉毒与执法局统筹规划。

In particular, we must recognize that trans-regional illicit³ trafficking of drugs, arms, humans, and other illicit trade goods and services, are fueling greater insecurity and instability across Africa, and in other parts of the world.

我们必须尤其要注意到的是，跨地区的非法毒品走私、武器走私、人口贩卖和其他非法货物服务的交易都助长着整个非洲地区乃至世界其他地区的不安全和不稳定。

We see increasing links between cross-border narcotics trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime across Africa that imperil not only the rule of law, economic development efforts, the promotion⁴ of trade and investment, but helps to fuel greater instability and insecurity.

我们可以看到，非洲地区跨境贩毒和其他形式的跨境有组织犯罪之间愈发紧密的联系，这种联系不仅危及到社会的法治、经济的发展、贸易投资的提升，也让不安全不稳定的因素更加甚嚣尘上。

The illegal economy accounts for 8 to 15 percent of the world gross domestic product, but in many developing countries, that figure is far higher. Enormous amounts of illicitly-gained dollars are expended⁵ by criminal organizations to corrupt⁶ government officials and security officers, helping⁷ criminal threat networks carve out an illicit trafficking corridor that stretches from the West African coast to the Horn of Africa, from North Africa south to the Gulf⁸ of Guinea, said David Luna.

非法经济占全球GDP总量的8%-15%，而在发展中国家，这一数字更高。很多犯罪组织用非法渠道赚得的大笔资金去黑化政府官员和安保部队高级官员，以此来帮助犯罪网络打开贯通西非海岸至非洲之角、北非至几内亚湾的非法交易渠道。

At a time when many are heralding⁹ the rise of some of the world's fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa, these criminal entrepreneurs are undermining that economic development and growth by financing flourishing illicit markets, turning many vulnerable communities into a corridor of insecurity and instability, and siphoning the real potential of the legitimate¹⁰ economy.

曾几何时，正当很多人在为撒哈拉以南非洲地区即将一跃成为世界上发展最快的地区之一造势时，这些非法组织的幕后黑手就开始瓦解其经济发展，方法是为不断滋生的非法市场融资、让很多羸弱不堪的社群陷入不安全与不稳定局势、如蛀虫一般吸食合法经济的真正潜能。

The best way to combat illegal trade is through collective action at every level – local, regional, and global to win our fight against convergence crime, said Mr. Luna. The United States will continue to enhance international cooperation with key partners to combat the lethal¹¹ nexus¹² of organized crime, illicit trade, corruption¹³, and money-laundering, and to protect communities from the violence, harm, and exploitation brought about by transnational networks. The U.S. will do this by enhancing its efforts to break their corruptive¹⁴ power; attacking their financial underpinnings; following the money and stripping them of their illicit wealth; and severing¹⁵ their access to the financial system.

打击非法交易的最好途径就是各个层面联动合作——以当地的、地区的、全球的联动合作来赢得这场与非法犯罪之间的战斗，卢娜如是说道。美国将继续与主要盟友加强国际合作，以打击有组织犯罪、非法交易、腐败、洗钱等行径之间的致命联系，并将继续保护非洲的各个社群不受跨国犯罪网络所带来的暴力、伤害、掠夺。美国实现这一目标将通过破坏他们腐败他人的能力、撼动他们的财务支柱、跟踪资金流向、阻止非法资金流入他们的腰包、阻断他们进入全球财务系统的可能。

1 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

2 narcotics   

n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 )；毒品；毒

参考例句：

• The use of narcotics by teenagers is a problem in many countries. 青少年服用麻醉药在许多国家中都是一个问题。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Police shook down the club, looking for narcotics. 警方彻底搜查了这个俱乐部，寻找麻醉品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

5 expended   

v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽

参考例句：

• She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
• The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 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。

9 heralding   

v.预示( herald的现在分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• It is the heralding of a new age of responsibilities. 那预示着一个充满责任的新时期的开始。 来自互联网
• Streaks of faint light were rising, heralding a new day. 几道淡淡的晨曦正在升起，预示新的一天的来临。 来自互联网

10 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

11 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

12 nexus   

n.联系；关系

参考例句：

• Shared ambition is the vital nexus between them.共同的志向是把他们联结在一起的重要纽带。
• Either way,the nexus between the consumer and consumer prices is important.无论那个方面，消费者与消费价格之间的关系是至关重要的。

13 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

14 corruptive   

使堕落的，使腐败的，腐败性的

参考例句：

• Wickies [Wikis] are web sites designed for Corruptive(cooperative) Work. 为了合作而设计的网站百科全书。

15 severing   

v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The death of a second parent is like severing an umbilical cord to our past. 父母当中第二个人去世，就象斩断了把我们同过去联在一起的纽带。 来自辞典例句
• The severing theory and severing method for brittle block are studied. 研究裂纹技术应用于分离脆性块体的分离理论和分离方法。 来自互联网