VOA标准英语2009年-Environmentalists Score Huge Victory in Th

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
14 October 2009

Thailand's perception as a haven¹ for foreign investment has been shaken after environmental activists² and residents succeeded in a court order halting dozens of industrial projects worth almost $10 billion. The battle for the environment led to warnings any delays may damage the Thai economy. However, lawyers for the environmentalists say steps were necessary, after years of official neglect.

Foreign investors⁴ in Thailand say moves by environmentalists to press for suspension of projects in industrial estates, nationwide, may undermine investor³ confidence.

The warning comes a fortnight after a group of non-governmental groups and residents from the eastern seaboard province, Rayong, successfully applied⁵ for a court injunction to halt 76 industrial projects.

The injunction led to a flurry of moves by the Thai Government to appeal the injunction and ease investor concerns.

This week, the Thai cabinet passed environmental protection legislation to support existing laws that call for a greater community role in assessing new industrial projects. The new legislation may go before parliament in February.

The Thai constitution calls for the setting up of special committees to assess the environmental impact from industrial development.

But, despite the clause, which has been in the constitution since 1997, the government has not passed the supporting legislation or laws to enforce the article from the constitution.

The court action was led an alliance of environmental groups and residents from Rayong, who accused state agencies and governments of failing to follow proper procedures in providing operating licenses⁶ at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong province.

Nandor G. van der Luehe, chairman of the Joint⁷ Foreign Chambers⁸ of Commerce in Thailand, says the ruling unsettled many foreign investors.

"These companies have followed the normal rules," he noted⁹. "They have received approvals from the state authorities. All of a sudden you have a court ruling that they have to stop. What we need is a predictable situation where you know what the playing field is and not all of a sudden to start to play the game the rules are changed."

Hardest hit by the court decision was Thai oil and gas conglomerate¹⁰ the Petroleum¹¹ Authority of Thailand, which had more than 20 projects under way, with affiliated¹² companies. Foreign investors include those from Japan, Germany, Australia and India.

Thai industrial groups warn of unemployment, as a result of the stoppages.

But Somchai Homla-or, a member of the Thai Lawyers Society that assisted the groups, says years of delay and rising pollution from the estates had led the communities to take the legal action.

"Many governments never pay attention to the enactment¹³ of the organic law," Somchai said. "So the environmentalists and the communities who suffer from the bad environment cannot tolerate it anymore."

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij warned the delays - which is likely to be up to a year -- could shave half a percentage point off Thailand's economic growth. The Thai economy, forecast to shrink by three percent this year, is only showing signs of a fragile recovery from the global recession.

But Law Society's Somchai says new legislation, once in place, will provide a better balance between investment and environment and ensure industrial development in Thailand is more sustainable. 

1 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

2 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》

3 investor   

n.投资者，投资人

参考例句：

• My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
• The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。

4 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

6 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

9 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。

10 conglomerate   

n.综合商社，多元化集团公司

参考例句：

• The firm has been taken over by an American conglomerate.该公司已被美国一企业集团接管。
• An American conglomerate holds a major share in the company.一家美国的大联合企业持有该公司的大部分股份。

11 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

12 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

13 enactment   

n.演出，担任…角色；制订，通过

参考例句：

• Enactment refers to action.演出指行为的表演。
• We support the call for the enactment of a Bill of Rights.我们支持要求通过《权利法案》的呼声。