VOA慢速英语2009年-IN THE NEWS - Poor Nations Get G8 Promise

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

Leaders of the world's wealthiest nations have promised twenty billion dollars to increase food security in poor countries. The promise came Friday on the third and final day of the Group of Eight summit¹ meeting in L'Aquila, Italy.
　
Group of Eight leaders meeting to discuss the recession², climate change and development aid in L'Aquila, Italy

The aim is to help fight world hunger through agricultural development programs. The announcement followed talks between G8 leaders and leaders from Africa. The United States has promised three and a half billion dollars toward the three-year program.

A statement noted³ that while food prices have decreased from their peak last year, they remain high in historical terms. And the economic crisis⁵ has only pushed even more people into poverty.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization welcomed the announcement. But some activists⁶ say they are waiting for more details. Aid groups have been calling on the G8 nations to honor past promises of food and development assistance.

The G8 summit also dealt with the world recession. President Obama said the leaders agreed that full recovery is still a long way off.

Another issue was climate change. G8 leaders met with partners from major developing economies, including India, China and Brazil. All agreed that global temperatures should not rise by more than an average of two degrees Celsius⁷ above pre-industrial levels.

G8 members promised to work toward an eighty percent cut in heat-trapping pollution by two thousand fifty. Developing nations have committed themselves to negotiating⁸ cuts, but have not yet agreed on details.

Still, President Obama said the results were "historic⁴" and helped improve the chances for international negotiations⁹ later this year. But U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the targets are too far in the future and that more needs to be done sooner.

Other issues included Iran, North Korea and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.

Chinese President Hu Jintao did not attend this week's meeting. He returned home because of the ethnic¹⁰ violence in Xinjiang province in northwest China.

The summit was moved from an island to the area in central Italy where a powerful earthquake struck just three months ago. Nearly three hundred people were killed and tens of thousands lost their homes. Many of the world leaders visited some of the worst-hit areas.
　
The President and first Lady Michelle Obama arrive in Accra, Ghana, with daughters Sasha and Malia

At L'Aquila there was also much talk about the future of the G8. The eight are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the most recent addition, Russia. President Obama visited Russia on his way to Italy. Some leaders, including Mister Obama, agreed that the group must expand to deal with today's world.

The president also met Friday with Pope¹¹ Benedict at the Vatican. Then he headed for a final stop with his family -- Ghana. His father came from Kenya. But the White House says he chose Ghana for his first presidential visit to Africa south of the Sahara because of what he considers its strong democratic system.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.

1 summit   

n.最高点，峰顶；最高级会议；极点

参考例句：

• They climbed up the mountain and reached the summit.他们爬山，最终达到了山顶。
• The summit of the mountain is lost in the cloud and mist.山顶隐没在云雾之中。

2 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。

3 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。

4 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

5 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

6 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》

7 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

8 negotiating   

n. 谈判 动词negotiate的现在分词

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• We want to get all the parties back to the negotiating table. 我们想把有关各方拉回到谈判桌上来。

9 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。

10 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

11 pope   

n.（罗马天主教的）教皇

参考例句：

• The Pope is the spiritual leader of many Christians.教皇是众多基督徒的宗教领袖。
• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。