环球英语 — 314：World Water Day 2009: Sharing Resource

　　Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Ruby² Jones.
Voice 2
And I'm Adam Navis. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Water - the world's most valuable resource. It covers the majority of the earth's surface - 75%. But did you know that only 3% of that water is fresh? In 1992, the United Nations decided³ to celebrate fresh water as a resource. Its members wanted to make people think about its importance to the world. And they wanted to encourage people to think of creative ways to manage its use. So, the UN chose the 22nd of March as International World Water Day!
Voice 2
The very first World Water Day was in 1993. Since then, each World Water Day has concentrated on a different issue concerning⁴ fresh water. This year, the subject is: "Shared water, shared chances." The UN's aim for the day is this. They want people to think particularly about what happens when more than one country shares the land that surrounds a lake or river.
Voice 1
A river serves an area of land - called the river basin. River basins are not always inside the limits of one country's borders. Just as rivers cross national borders, so do river basins. 263 river basins in the world cross country borders. Usually, it is just two countries that share the river basin. However, this is not always the case. For example, four African river basins are shared between 9 to 11 countries - the Congo, the Nile, the Niger and the Zambezi. But a European river basin can beat that number. The Danube River Basin spreads into 18 different countries!
Voice 2
Why is the United Nations so concerned about shared river basins? Well, some countries have a limited supply of water. The countries want to protect their rights to make use of any river or lake inside their national borders. But more than one country may share these valuable water resources. This situation can cause conflict - or it can encourage co-operation. Should a government try and protect its own interests? Or should it work together with other countries to manage and share limited water resources?
World Water Day 2009 has the aim of encouraging countries to co-operate - to share knowledge and ideas about how best to make use of fresh water resources.
Voice 1
In fact, the idea to co-operate over resources is not a new one. All through history, governments have usually managed to agree about water usage⁵. One UN group counted all the agreements about water that countries have signed. The group searched back nearly 1200 years. It found more than 3,600 water resource agreements between countries! Even in the 20th century, there were only seven small conflicts over shared water resources. But there were more than 145 new water treaties⁶!
Voice 2
We can find one example of this kind of agreement in South America. Lake Titicaca is one of the largest lakes on that continent. And the Lake Titicaca Basin crosses the border between Peru and Bolivia. In 1993, the governments of Peru and Bolivia created a two-nation independent authority⁷. It was to be responsible for several projects centred on the Lake Titicaca basin. One of these projects concerned the wise use of land around the Bolivian side of the lake. It involved building over 60 greenhouses⁸ for local families. These plastic buildings provide good growing conditions for useful plants and crops. The project also provided⁹ irrigation - water for farming. A system of pipes takes water from the lake to the crops in the fields. Being able to grow a healthy supply of vegetables and crops is a great help to the people of the Huacullani area, Bolivia!
Voice 1
A report on this independent authority working for Peru and Bolivia included many positive findings¹¹. It said that countries are now talking about how to use the water. They are sharing information. They are improving their knowledge. Now, the authorities¹² better understand the needs of the people and the care of natural resources. And the people are also more involved in finding¹⁰ answers to problems about water.
Voice 2
So if history has so many examples of countries reaching agreements over water, why does the UN want us to think about it? Is there a problem? The point is that the UN wants countries to continue to share water resources peacefully. Conflict over water is increasing. Some experts believe that many wars in the 21st century will be about water. The UN would like these experts to be proved wrong.
Voice 1
Water problems are not just international, they are also personal. There are still almost 900,000,000 people in the world who are not able to find clean water. And over 2,000,000,000 people still do not have a clean and safe place to go to the toilet. In 2000, the United Nations set 'the Millennium¹³ Goals'. These were targets to improve the lives of people in developing countries by the year 2015. Goal 7 included action on water and public health. But how
Voice 2
Tearfund is a Christian¹⁴ aid group. It is involved in many projects in developing countries. The group says that there seems to be a long way still to go:
Voice 3
"We have only got seven years to meet the targets. But progress on the water and public health goal has farthest to go. Experts say that we will probably not meet the goal on public health until the 22nd century - more than 80 years too late!"
Voice 2
The International World Water Day may not provide any immediate¹⁵ solutions to the world's water problems. However, appointing one day to think about water helps to keep the issue in people's minds. And it may cause us to think about our own water use - how we should be responsible and take care not to waste such a valuable resource.
Voice 1
Are there any special events to celebrate World Water Day where you live? Write and tell us about them! Our e-mail address is radio @ english . net.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 concerning   

prep.关于，论及

参考例句：

• What do you know concerning this?关于这事你知道些什么？
• Some senior students wrote in asking for information concerning postgraduate studies.一些四年级学生写信询问有关研究生课程的信息。

5 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

6 treaties   

n.条约( treaty的名词复数 )；协议，协商

参考例句：

• These unequal treaties were made under duress. 这些不平等条约是在强迫下签订的。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The imperialist powers forced the Qing Dynasty to sign a series of unequal treaties. 帝国主义列强迫使清王朝签订了一系列不平等条约。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

8 greenhouses   

温室，花房( greenhouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cypress and redwood are seldom used in the superstructure of commercial greenhouses. 扁柏和美州红松很少用于商用温室的上部结构。
• They grew tomatoes in two greenhouses, each with a CD-player inside. 他们在两个温室里种西红柿，每个里面都有一个CD播放机。

9 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

10 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

11 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

12 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》

13 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

14 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

15 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。