经济学人:智利的流浪犬 想去哪就去哪

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　　智利的流浪犬

　　Spray as you go

　　想去哪就去哪

　　The state orders a sterilisation of stray mutts国家下令给流浪犬们杀菌

　　IT IS one of the first things that visitors to Santiago, the Chilean capital, ask: “Why are there so many dogs everywhere?” Patricia Cocas, founder¹ of ProAnimal Chile, an animal-rights group, reckons that some 180,000 stray hounds wander the city of six million people; a further 80,000 are let out by their owners to roam as they please. The area around the presidential palace is a favoured hangout. Most mutts are harmless enough—Chile is free of rabies, which helps explain why they are tolerated. But some attack passers-by or chase cars down Santiago's main thoroughfare, the Alameda, occasionally ripping tyres with their teeth.

　　游客们去智利首都圣地亚哥旅行时，最初会打听的问题之一是：“为什么这儿到处都是狗呢？”智利的动物权利小组专业动物组织发起人Patricia Cocas估计大约十八万只流浪犬逡巡于六百万城市人口之间；有超过八万只流浪犬被它们的主人遗弃，任它们流浪。总统府附近地区就是他们最喜欢闲逛的位子。大部分流浪狗对人无害—智利没有狂犬病。这也就是流浪犬被容忍的原因。但是一些流浪犬攻击行人或者在圣地亚哥的主干道——林荫大道上追逐车辆，它们有时会用牙齿撕咬轮胎。

　　智利的流浪犬.jpg

　　The government is now taking action. In her state-of-the-union speech last month, President Michelle Bachelet announced a national sterilisation programme for stray dogs (the details are still to be fleshed out). A bill on responsible pet ownership is due to come before Congress this month. It envisages² tougher penalties for those who abuse or abandon their pets, and the establishment of a register of dangerous dogs.

　　政府现在正在采取措施应对。在上个月总统米歇尔?巴切莱特的国情咨文演说中声明了一项针对流浪狗的国家除菌项目(细节还在补充当中)。这个月一份针对宠物所有权的法案将被交付国会。它预期针对那些虐待或遗弃宠物的人实施更重的惩罚，并且建立一家危险流浪狗管理处。

　　Ms Bachelet is trying to make the pooches political, weaving them into a broader narrative³ about inequality. Chile's cities need affordable⁴ veterinary centres where pets can be vaccinated⁵ and sterilised, she said in her speech. “In our country wealthy people can do that, but people without money have no way of caring for their pets.” But she insists there will be no cull⁶ of strays. For now, the mongrels on the lawns outside the palace where she works can sleep in peace.

　　巴切莱特正试图将处理流浪狗问题正式化，将它们同一个更宽泛意义上的不平等陈述结合到遗弃。她在演说中说智利的各个城市需要建立可支付得起的收益中心，在那儿宠物们可以接种疫苗以及除菌。“我们国家富人们可以实施那项行动但是穷人们就无法照看他们的宠物。”但是她坚持否定屠杀流浪狗。至少现在，总统府外，她散步的草坪上的流浪狗们能安闲地睡觉。

　　1.let out 放出;释放

　　例句:And then, as she lifted her hands to begin playing, she heard her mother let out a small gasp⁷.

　　当她抬起手准备开始演奏时，听到妈妈轻轻地倒吸了一口气。

　　2.take action 采取行动

　　例句:If so what is the main thrust? Perhaps your goal is to inspire your audience to take action.

　　或许你的演讲目的是呼吁听众行动起来，那么你希望他们要采取什么行动呢？

　　3.due to 由于

　　例句:Many accidents were due to pilot misjudgement.

　　许多事故都是由于飞行员判断失误造成的。

　　4.care for 照顾

　　例句:You don't care for rock'n'roll, do you?

　　你不喜欢摇滚乐，是吗？

 

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