People around the World Against the Plan

 

Broadcast: Jan 25, 2003
By Cynthia Kirk

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program, In the News.

Last Saturday, people around the world demonstrated1 against President Bush's plan to take military action against Iraq. Protests took place in the United States, Japan, Pakistan, Syria and Egypt. There were other demonstrations² in Russia, France, Britain, Argentina and Mexico.

The largest demonstration¹ took place in Washington, D.C. Tens of thousands of people gathered in front of the United States Capitol building to hear speeches and to march. People came from all around the country and stood in very cold weather to take part in the demonstration. It was the largest antiwar demonstration since the period of the Vietnam War. Thousands of people attended similar demonstrations in San Francisco, California, and other American cities.

A coalition³ of activists⁴ organized the demonstrations in Washington and San Francisco. The activists hoped the protests would show that many Americans were opposed to war.

President Bush says Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and plans to use them against the United States. American officials have warned Saddam Hussein to disarm2 or face serious action. Iraq says it does hot have such weapons.

In November, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution ordering Iraq to prove it does not have weapons of mass destruction. It sent U-N inspectors⁶ to Iraq to search for banned nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. The inspectors say Iraq is not fully⁷ cooperating. They are preparing to release their first major report to the U-N about their findings on Monday.

President Bush could order a military attack if he declares Iraq in violation⁸ of U-N resolutions. He says he has the right to attack even without U-N support. The United States and its main ally, Britain, are sending thousands of troops to the Persian Gulf⁹ in preparation for a military attack.

American activists want a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis. They say a war would kill thousands of Iraqi civilians¹⁰ and further weaken the American economy. They also say it would be dangerous American foreign policy to order a first strike attack against another country.

Many demonstrators in Washington criticized the Bush administration for rushing into war. They said Mister Bush has not yet proved his case for leading a military attack against Iraq. They said the U-N weapons inspectors should be given more time to do their work. Some anti-war activists said President Bush's real goal for going to war is to take control of the oil fields in Iraq.

A small group of people in Washington protested in support of military action against Iraq. They said the best way to help the Iraqi people is to remove Saddam Hussein from power.

Experts say public opinion in the United States is still divided on the issue.

This VOA Special English program, In the News, was written by Cynthia Kirk. This is Steve Ember.
1. demonstrate [5demEnstreIt] vi. 示威
2. disarm⁵ [dIs5B:m] vi. 放下武器

1 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

6 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

9 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

10 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。