VOA慢速英语20060925a

DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Four Countries Gain Increased I.M.F. Voting RightsBy Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: Monday, September 25, 2006

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.


I.M.F. Chief Rodrigo de Rato speaking at opening meeting in Singapore

Developing countries were the main subject last week at yearly meetings of the International Monetary² Fund and World Bank. Finance ministers met for two days in Singapore.

Members of the I.M.F. approved reform measures that aim to increase the voting power of countries with growing economies. As a first step, they agreed to increases in the voting rights for China, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey. These four countries were considered the least represented given the size of their economies.

The fund has one hundred eighty-four members. Currently, the weight of each government's vote is based on the amount of money it provides to the international lender. China, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey will increase their I.M.F. shareholdings, so their voting rights will increase.

The reforms call for the I.M.F. to develop a way to rebalance voting rights for other countries within two years.

Critics say the United States and other Western nations have too much influence in the fund. Aid groups and activists³ have been pressuring the I.M.F. and World Bank to give poor countries more power in those organizations.

Another issue discussed in Singapore was corruption⁴ in the aid process. World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said good governance is the fastest way out of poverty. Without it, he said, all other reforms are meaningless. He also urged rich nations to take action against companies doing dishonest business in developing countries.

Humanitarian⁵ groups say they worry that too much effort to prevent and punish corruption could stop aid from reaching those most in need. But World Bank officials say they will withdraw from projects only when dishonest officials are clearly not interested in reform.

Mister Wolfowitz and I.M.F. chief Rodrigo de Rato also called for increased aid for the poorest countries, especially in Africa. At the same time, the World Bank president said partly developed, or middle-income, countries should not be forgotten in the fight against poverty.

The two leaders expressed concern that high oil prices, international trade imbalances and barriers to trade could harm economic growth. They said the best ways to continue growth are to save energy and to restart world trade talks. Negotiations⁶ were suspended in July over disputes about agricultural trade.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss. You can download transcripts⁷ and archives of our reports at www.unsv.com. I'm Shep O'Neal.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 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》

4 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句