VOA常速英语2017--美国呼吁为黎巴嫩排雷

Lebanon has the highest proportion of cultivable land in the Arab world. Indeed, the region has a long history of agricultural activity. There is evidence that as far back as 8,000 years ago, people living in today's Lebanon cultivated fruit trees, and around 5,000 years ago, were some of the first to produce wine.

黎巴嫩是阿拉伯世界里可耕种土地比例最高的国家。这里有悠久的农事历史。有证据表明，早在8千年前，生活在黎巴嫩的人就开始种植果树；而大约5千年前，黎巴嫩人也是最早生产酒的。

Agriculture is still an important sector¹ of Lebanon's economy. But for decades now, much arable² land there has been inaccessible³ due to heavy contamination with landmines⁴ and unexploded ordnance⁵.

农业依然是黎巴嫩经济的重要组成部分。但几十年来，很多原本可耕种的土地由于地雷和未燃爆军火的严重污染已经无法耕种。

Between 1975 and 1990, Lebanon was wracked by a civil war that also saw 12 years of occupation of portions of its territory by its southern neighbor, Israel. Since 1975, landmines and unexploded ordnance have killed more than 900 people and injured thousands. People in many parts of Lebanon face daily dangers from these deadly hazards, wrote Assistant Program Manager for the Middle East in the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement⁶ in the State Department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Patrick Shea, in a recent blog post.

1975年至1990年间，黎巴嫩因一场内战而支离破碎，这场内战导致黎巴嫩有12年的时间被其南方的邻国以色列占领。自1975年起，因地雷和未燃爆军火而受伤甚至丧命的人达到数千以上。黎巴嫩很多地区的人每天都面临着这些致命威胁所带来的危险，美国国务院外交军事事务局销毁武器办公室(The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement)负责中东事务的项目经理助理帕特里克在最近发布的一则微博中如是写道。

The United States has long been committed to promoting peace and security in Lebanon and has invested more than 60 million dollars in assistance to safely clear unexploded munitions⁷, save lives through risk education and outreach, and support the Lebanese Mine Action Center to receive advanced training.

很长时间以来，美国一直致力于促进黎巴嫩的和平与安全，并投入了6千多万美元，协助黎巴嫩安全清除未燃爆武器，通过风险教育与外联活动来挽救生命，支持黎巴嫩排雷行动中心接受高级培训。

By supporting the work of implementing⁸ partners like Mines Advisory⁹ Group, and coordinating¹⁰ with other donors¹¹ through mechanisms¹² such as the Mine Action Support Group, writes Mr. Shea, the United States is not only making a difference in the lives of ordinary Lebanese but is contributing to international security by removing explosive material that could fall into the hands of extremists or terrorists.

通过支持合作伙伴（排雷咨询组）工作的执行，并通过与其他捐献方在排雷行动支持小组等机制下的配合，帕特里克写道，美国不仅让黎巴嫩百姓的生活大有不同，也通过移除爆炸性材料而为国际安全做出了贡献，否则这些爆炸性材料可能落入极端分子或恐怖分子之手。

1 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。

2 arable   

adj.可耕的，适合种植的

参考例句：

• The terrain changed quickly from arable land to desert.那个地带很快就从耕地变成了沙漠。
• Do you know how much arable land has been desolated?你知道什么每年有多少土地荒漠化吗？

3 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

4 landmines   

潜在的冲突； 地雷，投伞水雷( landmine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The treaty bans the use production and trade of landmines. 该条约规定，禁止使用地雷相关产品及贸易。
• One of the weapon's of special concern was landmines. 在引起人们特别关注的武器中就有地雷。

5 ordnance   

n.大炮，军械

参考例句：

• She worked in an ordnance factory during the war.战争期间她在一家兵工厂工作。
• Shoes and clothing for the army were scarce,ordnance supplies and drugs were scarcer.军队很缺鞋和衣服，武器供应和药品就更少了。

6 abatement   

n.减(免)税，打折扣，冲销

参考例句：

• A bag filter for dust abatement at the discharge point should be provided.在卸料地点应该装设袋滤器以消除粉尘。
• The abatement of the headache gave him a moment of rest.头痛减轻给他片刻的休息。

7 munitions   

n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品

参考例句：

• The army used precision-guided munitions to blow up enemy targets.军队用精确瞄准的枪炮炸掉敌方目标。
• He rose [made a career for himself] by dealing in munitions.他是靠贩卖军火发迹的。

8 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

9 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

10 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

11 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》

12 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》