欧美人文风情第45篇:电子产品的人类成本

 The experience of a product. 产品的体验。

Will it make life better? 它会让生活更美好吗？

Until every idea we touch enhances¹ each life it touches. 直到我们接触到的每个理念，都能改善它所接触到的每个生活。

When I was in third grade, my mother left home to work as a migrant worker.  我小学三年级时，我的母亲离家去做农民工。

When I was in seventh grade, we stopped hearing from her.  我想要找到她、拯救她。我决心要尽可能赚多点钱。

I wanted to find her, to rescue her. My mind was set on earning as much money as possible. 我想要找到她、拯救她。我决心要尽可能赚多点钱。

My dream was to leave home, to leave the countryside and the mountains behind me. 我的梦想是要离开家、离开我身后的农村及群山。

I was only 14 when I started to work at the factory.  我开始在工厂工作时只有十四岁。

I went to work because my parents worked so hard all year long to pay for my education. 我去工作，因为我的父母为了支付我的教育一整年都如此辛苦地工作。

In China, every year, over 12 million teenagers leave home to find work.  在中国，每一年，超过一千两百万名青少年离家谋职。

They are part of 260 million Chinese who must travel far from home just to make a living. 他们是那些仅为了糊口而离家到远方的两亿六千万中国人中其中一部分。

My work days started at 8 a.m. and ended at 11p.m. There were no holidays.  我的工作日从早上八点开始，晚上十一点结束。没有假日。

I only had one night off a month. We sat there all day cleaning phone chips and using chemicals.  我一个月只有一个晚上休假。我们整天坐在那清理手机晶片、使用化学制品。

There was an Apple screen, and a Nokia screen. 有Apple的荧幕、还有Nokia的荧幕。

When I wasn't eating or sleeping, I will be wiping something. It was the only thing I did.  当我没在用餐或是睡觉，我就是在擦拭某些东西。那是我做的唯一一件事。

There was no other ventilation, no windows.  没有其他流通空气、没有窗户。

The smell was horrible at first, but I eventually got used to it. 一开始那味道很可怕，但我最后习惯它了。

My son's name is Ming Kunpeng. He just turned 26 years old. This should be the best time of his life,  我儿子的名字是Ming Kunpeng。他才刚满二十六岁。这应该是他人生中最精彩的时光，

but unfortunately he was diagnosed² with leukemia in May 2009.  但很不幸地他在2009年五月被诊断出罹患血癌。

After three examinations³ over twelve months, he was confirmed to be occupational leukemia,  经过12个月三项检查后，他证实是职业性血癌，

an aggressive form of cancer caused by benzene. 一种因苯引起、具侵略性的癌症类型。

Benzene is a category one carcinogen that is banned in most Western Countries for industrial use.  苯是在大部分西方国家禁止做工业使用的第一类致癌物质。

China, maker⁴ of more than 50% of the world's cell phones, is an exception⁵. 中国，世界过半手机的制造者，是个例外。

I've now been through 28 chemotherapy treatments. My bones hurt a lot.  我现在已经做了二十八次化疗。我的骨头很痛。

It feels like thousands of ants biting my insides. It's really painful. 好像有数千只蚂蚁在啃食我的内脏。真的很痛苦。

I've been living in this hospital for six years now. It feels like a prison, and there's no way to escape.  我现在已经在这间医院住了六年。这好像监狱，没有办法逃脱。

I feel like my life is over. I really don't know what to do. 我觉得我的人生已经完了。我真的不知道要做什么。

It took 19 months of struggle to prove my leukemia was workplace-related.  那经历了十九个月的奋战才证明我的血癌是与工作场所有关的。

I petitioned⁶ to the government authorities⁷ many times and was sent home by force. 我向政府当局请愿好几次，但被强行送回家。

The factory manager called my coworker and told him not to tell other workers what was wrong. 工厂经理打给我的同事，叫他不要告诉其他同事有事出错了。

There were several people who accompanied me to the hospital when I received the diagnosis⁸.  有好几个人在我接收诊断时陪我到医院。

They carried a bag with them, a bag of money. 他们带着一个袋子，一袋钱。

They went ahead in my absence. They concluded my cancer was not caused from working at the factory,  他们在我缺席时继续下去。他们断定我的癌症并不是因为在工厂工作引起的，

and I was denied compensation⁹. 而我被拒绝支付赔偿。

When I was on the street, I would take a close look at anyone who had a physical resemblance¹⁰ to my mother.  当我在街上时，我会仔细看看任何和我母亲有生理上相似之处的人。

I was worried what had happened to her, and that she was suffering.  我担心她发生了什么事、担心她在受苦。

That's why I've been working so hard. But now everything is...everything is over. 那就是为什么我这么努力工作。但现在一切都...一切都完了。

You know what? When I was in the hospital, I couldn't walk, but I didn't dare tell my mother.  你知道吗？我在医院的时候，我不能走路，但我不敢告诉我妈妈。

I had expected that I would be responsible, that I would try to relieve¹¹ some of the burdens from my parents.  我曾期待我能负责任、我会试着减轻我父母的一些负担。

But the truth is, I ended up as their burden. 但事实是，我最后成了他们的负担。

Do you miss home? Do you want to take all back home? Let's go home. 你想家吗？想要将一切带回家吗？我们回家吧。

He jumped off the building. He ultimately¹² chose to end his own life.  他从屋子上跳下来。他最后选择结束他自己的人生。

He couldn't take the struggle any longer—the pressure of dealing¹³ with this illness, the factory, and benzene poisoning. 他再也不能承受那挣扎－－处理这个病痛、工厂、苯毒害的压力。

I propose¹⁴ that we all stand up and hold a silent tribute¹⁵ for Ming. We are all benzene patients.  我提议我们全都站起来，并为Ming默哀。我们全都是苯的患者。

For those of us who are alive, we need to fight for our rights, for justice, and live on. 对于我们那些活着的人，我们需要为我们的权力、为正义奋斗，并活下去。

Benzene is a horrifying¹⁶ poison that causes cancer.  苯是导致癌症的一种可怕毒物。

We want to deliver a message to the public that benzene can be replaced by safer alternatives. 我们想要向大众传达一个讯息，就是苯可以用更安全的替代品所取代。

We want brands to take responsibility for working conditions at their supplier factories,  我们想要品牌能对他们供应商工厂的工作条件、

and good occupational health and safety measures, and policies and practices.  优良的职业健康及安全措施、还有政策及实施负起责任。

And banning the use of benzenes is part of that. It's just part of supply chain responsibility. 禁止苯的使用即是那其中一部分。那只是供应链责任的其中一部分。

Benzene is widely used in various industries.  苯在各种不同工业中被广泛运用。

Sporting goods, printing, and electronic products as well as finishing materials contain benzene.  运动用品、印刷、电子产品以及装修材料都含有苯。

Not only are the workers working in very toxic¹⁷ environments, but the customers who buy the products are also exposed to benzene. 不只工人工作在非常剧毒的环境中，购买产品的消费者也会暴露在苯之下。

At the moment, consumers don't have a benzene-free choice. There are no benzene-free electronics¹⁸,  此时，消费者还没有不含苯的选择。没有不含苯的电子用品，

so you can't go to a shop and ask for the one or the other thing.  所以你无法去一间店并要求要买一个不含苯、或其他类似的产品。

But consumers can ask and can get in touch with brands, and say,  但消费者可以询问，并联络品牌，问：

"What is this whole issue with benzene? I'm worried and concerned about benzene poisoning,"  “这整个苯的问题是怎么一回事？我很担心也很关心有关苯毒害。”

and put some pressure on brands. 并加诸一些压力在品牌上。

Dear Dad and Mom, 亲爱的爸爸妈妈：

How are you? 你们好吗？

I'm sorry I'm not there to take care of you. 我很抱歉我不能在那儿照顾你们。

Will you forgive me? 你们会原谅我吗？

I thought about suicide¹⁹. 我想过要自杀。

I thought about jumping from the building, but I didn't have the strength to climb on the roof. 我想过要从那栋建筑跳下来，但我没有力气爬上屋顶。

I've come a long way now, and I'm strong enough to survive. 我现在已经进步很多了，且我也够强壮能生存下来。

I will stay positive and live each day with a sense of purpose. 我会带着目标保持积极并度过每一天。

 

1 enhances   

v.提高( enhance的第三人称单数 )；增进；用计算机增强（照片等）；提高…的价值（或价格）；使变青白，使变苍白( etiolate的过去式和过去分词 )；增进；用计算机增强（照片等）；提高…的价值（或价格）

参考例句：

• The growth of a city often enhances the value of land close to it. 城市的发展常常会提高其附近的地价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We chose alliteration on the theory a little vulgarity enhances memory. 在理论上我们选择有点儿粗俗的头韵来帮助记忆。 来自辞典例句

2 diagnosed   

诊断( diagnose的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some foetal malformations cannot be diagnosed until late in pregnancy. 有些胎儿的畸形部位得等到妊娠后期才能诊断出来。
• He diagnosed the trouble that caused the engine to knock. 他找出了引擎咔咔响的毛病所在。

3 examinations   

n.检查( examination的名词复数 )；考试；考查；试题

参考例句：

• He had been forced to incriminate himself in cross-examinations. 他在盘问中被迫受到牵连。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Examinations are hanging over her head—that's why she can't sleep at nights. 她大脑里想的都是考试，所以晚上无法入睡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

5 exception   

n.例外,除外

参考例句：

• Everyone should keep discipline and you are no exception. 每个人都应该遵守纪律,你也毫无例外。
• There's an exception to every rule. 每项规则均有例外。

6 petitioned   

祈求，请求，请愿( petition的过去式和过去分词 )； （向法庭）请求，申请

参考例句：

• They petitioned for an early end to the fighting. 他们上书请求早日结束战争。
• Several organizations petitioned the government for the release of the political prisoners. 好几个组织上书政府，请求释放政治犯。

7 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

9 compensation   

n.补偿（或赔偿）的款物，补偿，赔偿

参考例句：

• Workers who have been unfairly dismissed may claim compensation.被无理开除的工人可以要求补偿。
• Equal compensation should be given to men and women for equal work.男女同工应同酬。

10 resemblance   

n.相似之处，雷同之处

参考例句：

• Kehr bears a strong facial resemblance to her sister.凯尔的容貌和她姐姐十分相像。
• Any resemblance of a character in this book to a living person is purely incidental.书中人物如有雷同，纯属巧合。

11 relieve   

v.缓解，减轻，解除(痛苦、忧虑、麻烦)

参考例句：

• We played games to relieve the tedium of the journey.我们玩游戏，来解除旅行的沉闷。
• The doctors did their best to relieve the patient.医生们尽力减轻病人的痛苦。

12 ultimately   

adv.最后地，最终地，首要地，基本地

参考例句：

• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience.那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。
• Vitamin C deficiency can ultimately lead to scurvy.缺乏维生素C最终能道致坏血病。

13 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

14 propose   

v.提出，建议；提名，推荐

参考例句：

• Did he propose marriage to you?他向你求婚了吗？
• I propose resting for an hour.我建议休息一小时。

15 tribute   

n.颂词，称赞，(表示敬意的)礼物；贡品

参考例句：

• She accepted their tribute graciously.她慈祥地接受了他们的致意。
• Many conquered nations had to pay tribute to the rulers of ancient Rome.许多被征服的国家必须向古罗马的统治者朝贡。

16 horrifying   

a.令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的

参考例句：

• He went to great pains to show how horrifying the war was. 他极力指出战争是多么的恐怖。
• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate. 战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。

17 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

18 electronics   

n.电子器件，电子学，电子技术

参考例句：

• About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
• He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。

19 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。