越南：从鱼死亡中吸取教训

AS IT IS 2016-07-28 Vietnam: ‘Serious Lessons’ Learned From Fish Kills 越南：从鱼死亡中吸取教训

Vietnam’s Prime Minister says his country has learned “serious lessons” from mass fish kills in four coastal¹ provinces.

Large numbers of dead fish and other sea creatures were discovered along the coast in April. The environmental disaster led to nationwide protests.

The Taiwan-based Formosa Plastics Corporation admitted a month ago to causing the fish kills.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke² to the Vietnamese parliament after being re-elected prime minister on Tuesday.

He said, “The incident [caused by] Formosa serves as a serious lesson about getting and managing foreign investment projects. It must not recur³.” He adds that “we must review large projects as well as closely monitor their environmental commitments.”

One month ago, the company “took full responsibility” for causing millions of fish deaths. Its steel factory in the Vietnamese province of Ha Tinh released wastewater filled with poisonous chemicals.

He also noted⁴ a need for environmental protection measures, saying, “We must not develop at the destruction of (the) environment.”

Nguyen Dinh Ha is a former independent candidate for parliament. He said he welcomed the Prime Minister’s statements but also demanded action. He said, “Vietnamese are used to many promises. We now want to see action. Those [Vietnamese] who acted irresponsibly in the case need to be dealt with on legal terms. Many people must be held accountable.”

He also urged the newly elected parliamentarians to include the Formosa disaster among their debate issues.

Vo Kim Cu is a member of the National Assembly Economic Committee. He has been criticized for “opening the door” for Formosa Plastic to begin operations in Ha Tinh province when he was its party chief.

In his speech, the Vietnamese Prime Minister promised to defend Vietnam’s territorial⁵ rights over the South China Sea. He also urged all sides with territorial claims in the waterway to respect and obey international laws.

Words in This Story

lesson – n. a single class or part of a training program

manage – v. to take care of and make decisions about

recur – v. to happen or appear again

monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

commitment – n. a promise to do or give something

accountable – required to be responsible for something

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 recur   

vi.复发，重现，再发生

参考例句：

• Economic crises recur periodically.经济危机周期性地发生。
• Of course,many problems recur at various periods.当然，有许多问题会在不同的时期反复提出。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。