VOA新闻杂志2022--通货膨胀导致一些阿根廷人垃圾堆淘金

Feeling Inflation¹ Pain, Some Argentines Turn to Waste Dumps

Inflation continues to rise to record levels in Argentina. The country faces a possible inflation rate of 100 percent this year.

As prices rise, some people have turned to waste dumps to seek materials that can be sold for recycling. Others are lining² up to trade personal belongings³ in special groups, or clubs, to earn extra money.

This year, the South American nation is set to record its sharpest rise in prices since 1990. The rate represents an extreme case although many nations face inflation partly brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"My income is no longer enough," said Sergio Omar. The 41-year-old told Reuters he spent 12 hours a day searching through waste at a landfill in Lujan, about 65 kilometers outside the capital Buenos Aires. He looks for cardboard⁴, plastic and metal that he can sell.

Omar said food costs have increased so much in recent months that it has become hard to feed his family with five children. He said an increasing number of people are coming to the waste dump to find materials they can sell in the struggle to survive.

"Twice as many people are coming here because there is so much crisis," Omar added. He explained that he could make between $13 and $40 per day selling recyclable waste.

At the dump, Reuters reporters saw men and women searching for usable clothing and even food. They move through mountains of flowing waste, alongside⁵ rats, wild dogs and birds. Gases produced by the breakdown⁶ of waste can cause sudden fires.

One hundred years ago, Argentina was one of the world's richest countries. But in recent years, it has experienced several economic crises⁷ and struggled to keep inflation under control.

Now, prices are rising at the fastest rate since the 1990s. The problems are linked to government deficit⁸ spending and a series of price increases by businesses. Existing problems worsened because of worldwide increases in fertilizer costs and natural gas import prices.

Experts questioned by Reuters estimated that inflation likely rose 6.7 percent in September. That has led the central bank to raise the interest rate to 75 percent, with the possibility of additional increases.

Poverty rose to over 36 percent of the population in the first half of 2022. Extreme poverty rose to 8.8 percent, which represents about 2.6 million people. Government assistance programs have helped prevent further poverty rises. But some people are calling for more social spending.

In 2001, during one of Argentina's worst economic crises, Sandra Contreras set up the Lujan Barter⁹ Club. This idea is now growing in popularity¹⁰ as many Argentines are trading things like old clothes for needed food supplies without using money.

Contreras told Reuters that many people come to the club "very desperate" because their jobs no longer provide enough money. She said, "things are getting worse day by day."

Contreras noted¹¹ that some people start lining up two hours before the barter club opens each morning. "People have no money left, they need to take something home, so there's no choice but to barter."

Pablo Lopez is a 26-year-old man who works in a small recycling center. He said the effects of rising prices can be seen clearly every day. "This inflation is a madness, you can see it here with the people who come to work that inflation hits us all," Lopez said.

Words in This Story

recycle – v. to put used paper, glass, plastic, etc. through a process so that it can be used again

fertilizer – n. a natural or chemical substance you put on land in order to make plants grow well

barter – v. to exchange goods or services for other goods of services, without using money

desperate – adj. a feeling that you have no hope left

1 inflation   

n.胀大，夸张，通货膨胀

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• The inflation of the airbed took several minutes.给空气床垫充气花了几分钟时间。

2 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

3 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

4 cardboard   

n.硬纸板，卡纸板

参考例句：

• She brought the shopping home in a cardboard box.她将买的东西放在纸箱里带回家。
• There is a sheet of stiff cardboard in the drawer.在那个抽屉里有块硬纸板。

5 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

6 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

7 crises   

n. 危机；危险期

参考例句：

• Economic crises recur periodically. 经济危机周期性地发生。
• Great crises often call forth gifted leaders. 危急存亡之际常能产生天才的领袖。

8 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

9 barter   

n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。

10 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

11 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。