美国国家公共电台 NPR Trucker protests against pandemic mandates are spreading beyond Canada

Trucker protests against pandemic mandates² are spreading beyond Canada

Transcript³

Big-rig trucks and other vehicles have shut down at least three border crossings between Canada and the U.S. The Ontario government is trying to open up the trucker's blockade of a key trade route.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Big-rig trucks and other vehicles shut down at least three border crossings between Canada and the U.S. in protest of pandemic health measures.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Truckers and like-minded demonstrators arrived in a convoy⁴ at Ottawa's Parliament Hill two weeks ago. They have been there ever since. Scott Bazinet drove 2,000 miles from his home in Edmonton to join the protest.

SCOTT BAZINET: In my 52 years of being on this planet, I don't think I've ever been as proud to be a Canadian as I am down here with these people.

MARTIN: Similar anti-government demonstrations⁶ are now being organized in other countries.

FADEL: Reporter Emma Jacobs is covering this and joins us now from Montreal. Hi, Emma.

EMMA JACOBS, BYLINE⁷: Good morning.

FADEL: Good morning. So what's the latest on these protests?

JACOBS: So in addition to Ottawa and a border crossing between Alberta and Montana that's been obstructed⁸ for the past two weeks, there are now two more border blockades. One is in Manitoba, and one is on the Canadian side of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. This is the busiest border crossing in North America. It carries more than a quarter of U.S.-Canada trade and is a key corridor for the auto⁹ industry. So plants on both sides of the border have had stoppages because they can't get parts. So even though the number of people involved in these demonstrations is relatively¹⁰ small, they're able to have an outsized impact that is now growing beyond Canada. So a convoy left from Nice in the south of France this week. Others could take place in Europe. And in the U.S., online discussions are growing about how a convoy could be timed to disrupt the Super Bowl.

FADEL: Now, only about 10% of eligible¹¹ Canadians are unvaccinated. So where are these protesters getting their support from?

JACOBS: Well, again, they've figured out how to cause a lot of mayhem with small numbers, but beyond that, it seems like some Canadian activists¹³ who really come from the far right in some cases and some have some pretty extreme anti-government views, they've managed to tap into frustration¹⁴ of those who aren't vaccinated¹², some people really entrenched¹⁵ in conspiracy¹⁶ theories and maybe a little of the general fatigue¹⁷ with restrictions¹⁸ in Canada. Generally, measures have been much stricter than in the U.S. throughout the pandemic, but there's also clearly support coming from abroad. The convoy has raised a lot of money, more than it likely could from Canadians alone. In the U.S., there's been a lot of coverage¹⁹ on right-wing media and support from high-profile Republicans like former President Donald Trump²⁰. And this has probably helped drive donations and attention.

Now, two of the convoy's biggest fundraising campaigns have been halted. First, GoFundMe found the convoy was violating its terms of service and refunded²¹ all donations. The convoy then moved to another Christian²² fundraising site and raised millions more dollars. But yesterday, Ontario - a court froze those funds. Still, as one person said to me, these crowdfunding campaigns have almost become more about the crowds than the funding. They're symbols of support.

FADEL: So how does this end?

JACOBS: Unclear. Ottawa residents are upset about the lack of leadership. At the Ambassador Bridge, there's probably greater urgency because it is such a key link, and there's pressure on both the governments of Ontario and the federal government to step in.

FADEL: That's reporter Emma Jacobs in Montreal. Thank you so much for your reporting.

JACOBS: Thank you.

(SOUNDBITE OF CHRISTIAN SCOTT'S "THE ERASER")

FADEL: Big-rig trucks and other vehicles have shut down at least three border crossings between Canada and the U.S. in protest of pandemic health measures. Truckers and like-minded demonstrators arrived in a convoy at Ottawa's Parliament Hill two weeks ago and have been there ever since. Similar demonstrations are now being organized in other countries. Reporter Emma Jacobs has been covering the protests and joins us from Montreal. Good morning, Emma.

JACOBS: Good morning.

FADEL: So what's the latest on these protests? Where else are we starting to see them?

JACOBS: So along the border, and the biggest impact is being felt at the Ambassador Bridge, which is between Windsor and Detroit. That's led to Honda, Toyota and GM shutting down assembly lines. In Europe, Paris and Brussels say truck protesters won't be allowed in their cities. But in the U.S., organization is taking place for a convoy to D.C.

FADEL: On social media. Only about 10% of Canadians are unvaccinated, so given that, where are these protesters drawing support, and how are people reacting to their tactics?

JACOBS: In the wider population, there's a lot of discomfort²³ that we've seen. You know, small numbers can have a big impact. There have been reports of a lot of harassment²⁴ from the protesters. And they're refusing to accept decisions made by a democratically elected government. So there's concern that the support and even the style of the protests, that there's some U.S. influence there. I was in Ottawa this week, and this is what I was hearing.

(SOUNDBITE OF ENGINES RUNNING)

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: This gentleman has gas cards.

JACOBS: In a supply depot²⁵ set up in a city parking lot to support the demonstrators, volunteers are discussing how to manage donated fuel. The night before, police had confiscated²⁶ thousands of gallons here. The protesters have also assembled massive amounts of food and other supplies.

(SOUNDBITE OF HORN)

JACOBS: Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly has insisted it's these resources, as well as the outsized vehicles, that have allowed a couple hundred remaining protesters to bring downtown Ottawa to a standstill.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

PETER SLOLY: The level of organization, funding and capability²⁷ around this demonstration⁵ is probably one of, if not the most important factor that makes it unique, unprecedented²⁸ and singularly risky²⁹ in every aspect.

JACOBS: There's been a lot of speculation³⁰ in Canada about the role of international support, particularly since a fundraiser on GoFundMe for the convoy raised $10 million Canadian, nearly $8 million U.S., in a matter of days.

CANDYCE KELSHALL: So we've got this really small pool of 10% of the population that are not vaccinated or vaccine³¹ hesitant, and yet there's this vast amount of money that's coming in.

JACOBS: Candyce Kelshall is president of the Canadian Association of Security and Intelligence Studies in Vancouver. One suspicion, which Kelshall says is backed up by tracing donations made in cryptocurrency, is that a lot of funds have come from the United States.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

DONALD TRUMP: We want those great Canadian truckers to know that we are with them all the way. They are...

REGINA BATESON: The moment that Donald Trump started talking about this, I thought, oh, boy, here we go.

JACOBS: Regina Bateson is an assistant professor of international affairs at the University of Ottawa.

BATESON: This is going to lead to yet more escalation³² in the situation here on the ground. It's going to lead to more resources flowing into the group that's here occupying Ottawa.

JACOBS: Coverage in right-wing U.S. media, including Fox News, has included wildly inflated³³ numbers of participants. The GoFundMe campaign was shut down after Canadian law enforcement objected. But then the Texas attorney general announced an investigation³⁴ on behalf of Texas donors³⁵. Bruce Heyman, former U.S. ambassador to Canada, says organizers' anti-government tone makes the support from American politicians troubling.

BRUCE HEYMAN: Democracies are fragile, and we learned that on January 6, and we're still learning a lot more. Canada is learning that as well, that with this small group of people but, unfortunately, with outside influence from people from our own country that shouldn't be doing what they're doing.

JACOBS: The main convoy fundraiser has since moved to a Christian crowdfunding site where it raised more than a million dollars in the first day. Yesterday, an Ontario court froze the funds. It's hard to know how much donated money has reached the organizers or how it's being spent. But, says Stephanie Carvin...

STEPHANIE CARVIN: This crowdfunding is now almost more about the crowd than the funding.

JACOBS: Carvin, a former national security analyst³⁶ for the Canadian government, now at Carleton University, says the fundraisers have become symbols of support.

CARVIN: Considering that the vast majority of Canadians don't approve of these methods or the convoys³⁷ and that the support for any of these measures that the convoy is taking is actually declining, I think the international support is actually even going to matter more as this potentially goes on in the future.

(SOUNDBITE OF HONKING)

JACOBS: She notes American flags have been seen in the crowd, even a Trump 2024 flag carried by a man on horseback. On a recent evening in Ottawa, most of the flags on display were Canadian. Others read F Trudeau, referring to the Canadian prime minister.

BAZINET: In my 52 years of being on this planet, I don't think I've ever been as proud to be a Canadian as I am down here with these people.

JACOBS: Scott Bazinet was put on leave from his job in the federal government after he refused to comply with a vaccine mandate¹ for federal employees. He drove more than 2,000 miles to be here from his home in Edmonton.

BAZINET: Never in my wildest dreams would I ever think Canadians would start a revolution for freedom. If anything, our big brother, the States, you think them - you know, they're always so patriotic³⁸. You know, we're American. American, you know? We're proud. Here's little brother Canada, and we've started stuff in every country now in the world.

FADEL: Doesn't sound like someone who's ready to go home. Emma, what's the government doing? Is there any end in sight?

JACOBS: It's a good question. There are a lot of discussions between the different levels of government but no clear plan yet.

FADEL: Emma Jacobs in Montreal. Thank you.

JACOBS: Thank you.

1 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

2 mandates   

托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Individual mandates would require all people to purchase health insurance. 个人托管要求所有人都要购买健康保险。
• While I agree with those benefits, I'm not a supporter of mandates. 我同意上述好处，我不是授权软件的支持者。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

5 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。

6 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。

7 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

8 obstructed   

阻塞( obstruct的过去式和过去分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• Tall trees obstructed his view of the road. 有大树挡着，他看不到道路。
• The Irish and Bristol Channels were closed or grievously obstructed. 爱尔兰海峡和布里斯托尔海峡或遭受封锁，或受到了严重阻碍。

9 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

10 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

11 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

12 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

13 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》

14 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

15 entrenched   

adj.确立的，不容易改的(风俗习惯)

参考例句：

• Television seems to be firmly entrenched as the number one medium for national advertising.电视看来要在全国广告媒介中牢固地占据头等位置。
• If the enemy dares to attack us in these entrenched positions,we will make short work of them.如果敌人胆敢进攻我们固守的阵地，我们就消灭他们。

16 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

17 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

18 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

19 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

20 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

21 refunded   

v.归还，退还( refund的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Postage costs will be refunded (to you). 邮费将退还（给你）。 来自辞典例句
• Yes, it will be refunded to you at the expiration of the lease. 是的，租约期满时，押金退回。 来自无师自通 校园英语会话

22 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。

23 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

24 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

25 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

26 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

27 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

28 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

29 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

30 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

31 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

32 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

33 inflated   

adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• He has an inflated sense of his own importance. 他自视过高。
• They all seem to take an inflated view of their collective identity. 他们对自己的集体身份似乎都持有一种夸大的看法。 来自《简明英汉词典》

34 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

35 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

36 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

37 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句

38 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。