VOA慢速英语2013 来自极端分子的威胁日益加剧

 

AS IT IS 2013-09-10 The Growing Threat From Extremist Groups 来自极端分子的威胁日益加剧

Welcome to As It Is, from VOA Learning English. 

I’m Christopher Cruise.

Today, we tell about the struggle facing Iraq and other countries to care for the thousands of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.

Then, Kelly Jean Kelly tells about a planned free-trade area in Central Africa. The plans were approved 20 years ago, but have yet to be carried out. We will look at why that is.

But first, Jim Tedder¹ reports on the growing threat from extremist groups to European nations.

The Threat of Anti-Islam Extremism in Britain and Europe

The British government recently warned that anti-Islam extremism is a real threat to security in the country. The warning comes as some observers have noted² increasing activity among what they call “counter-Jihad” groups across Europe. As we hear from Jim Tedder, those groups are reported to be seeking new members.

Anders Breivik killed 77 people in Norway in July of 2011. He claims he carried out the attacks to save Norway and Europe from an Islamic takeover.

After the attacks, Britain added far-right extremism to its planning for fighting terrorism. James Brokenshire is the country’s Minister for Crime and Security. He says one in 10 cases of extremism now under investigation³ is linked to what he calls the far right.

Investigations⁴ showed Anders Breivik was not an active member of an extremist group. But they did find he was active on nationalist and anti-Islam websites.

Breivik was known to support the anti-Islam English Defense⁵ League. The EDL has helped set up similar organizations across Europe.

Last August, activists⁶ from across the continent gathered in Stockholm, Sweden. Among them was the EDL’s organizer, who calls himself Tommy Robinson.

“It’s about us sharing ideologies⁷, sharing resources, and working together in any way we can, over the next 12 months, in order to highlight the truth, the truth about Islam.”

The British government says the cases of far-right extremism that it is fighting are, in its words, “self-starting groups and individuals.” Again, Britain’s Minister for Security James Brokenshire.

“The far-right threat is not as widespread or systematic⁸ as the al-Qaida-inspired threat. And, operationally, there are vast differences. But we also notice that at the same time, at its core, the far right appeals to people who share many of the same vulnerabilities as those exploited by al-Qaida inspired extremism.”

I’m Jim Tedder.

Caring for Syrian Refugees

The United Nations says Iraq needs to identify more land on which to shelter the large number of Syrian refugees entering the country. The UN High Commissioner⁹ for Refugees says the problem is especially severe in the Kurdistan area of Iraq.

Agency spokesman Adrian Edwards says 800 to 900 refugees are arriving there every day. He says this is two times as many as just three months ago.

“The numbers are increasing so fast that capacity to accommodate is becoming a very real, very immediate¹⁰ problem. It is a problem around the region…but right now it’s acute in Iraq.”

Adrian Edwards says the situation is especially worrying at the Domiz camp in northwest Iraq. He says the camp holds about 35,000 Syrian refugees and is very overcrowded.

“The crowding is in turn having an impact on sanitation¹¹, which is already below standards. Congestion¹² and warmer temperatures are increasing vulnerability to outbreaks of disease, and fueling tension between camp residents.”

Mr. Edwards says the UNHCR has been working with Iraq’s central government and officials in Kurdistan since October to find more space for Syrian refugees.

The Challenge of Creating a Free-Trade Area in Africa   

It has been more than 20 years since six African nations agreed to create the Economic and Monetary¹³ Community of Central Africa. The six nations agreed to lift trade barriers. Yet there has been little progress in creating a free-trade area.

Reporter Moki Edwin Kindzeka recently visited the border where Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon all meet. He found the movement of people and goods is as controlled as ever.

Kelly Jean Kelly has his report.

The town of Kiossi in Cameroon is on the main road leading to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. People living along the border say they are unable to travel and trade freely.

Freedy Becke, a 29-year-old reporter, says people are dissatisfied with the integration¹⁴ plan. He claims that police in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have made threats to Cameroonians. Some Cameroonians reportedly were forced to return home.

Heads of state from CEMAC did approve a common passport to make it easier to travel and do business. But it has not been accepted by all local officials. Many immigration officers still demand that people have visas before they can cross the border.

Almost 50 million people live in the six countries -- Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea. A history of conflict and a lack of development are two reasons why there has been little to no progress in establishing a free trade area. 

Chantale Elombat is the director of cooperation and integration at CEMAC. She says the leaders of the six countries want to work together. She is hopeful that they will take steps to do so.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

And that’s “As It Is,” our daily show from VOA Learning English.

1 tedder   

n.（干草）翻晒者，翻晒机

参考例句：

• Jim Tedder has more. 吉姆？特德将给我们做更多的介绍。 来自互联网
• Jim Tedder tells us more. 吉姆？泰德给我们带来更详细的报道。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 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。

4 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

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 ideologies   

n.思想（体系）( ideology的名词复数 )；思想意识；意识形态；观念形态

参考例句：

• There is no fundamental diversity between the two ideologies. 这两种思想意识之间并没有根本的分歧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Radical ideologies require to contrast to their own goodness the wickedness of some other system. 凡是过激的意识形态，都需要有另外一个丑恶的制度作对比，才能衬托出自己的善良。 来自辞典例句

8 systematic   

adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的

参考例句：

• The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
• The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。

9 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

10 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

11 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

12 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

13 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。

14 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。