2006年VOA标准英语-Japan Announces Regional Summit on Clean Water

By Steve Herman
Tokyo
14 November 2006
 
In the wake of a United Nations' report last week that declared a world water crisis, concerned Asian leaders are planning concerted action to deal with the lack of clean water in their region. 

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Japan on Tuesday announced that it will invite heads of government from 47 countries to attend a summit next year on the subject of water in the Asia-Pacific region.

The summit is being organized by a new private group called the Asia-Pacific Water Forum¹. The group has reported that nearly two billion people in the Asia-Pacific region do not to have access to basic sanitation², and some 655 million are without safe drinking water. 

Former Japanese PM Yoshiro Mori     
  
The forum, launched in Manila in September, is headed by former Japanese prime minister Yoshiro Mori. Mr. Mori addressed ambassadors and other representatives of some 50 countries and international organizations in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Mr. Mori says he feels, for the first time, that nations in the region are committed to confronting water-related crises.

The summit will also address water-related disasters, such as floods and tsunami³, to which Asia-Pacific nations are particularly vulnerable.

Bangladesh's ambassador to Japan says countries such as his, which have long struggled with water-related crises, can contribute practical knowledge to help others in the region.

 
Bangladesh's Ambassador Ashraf ud-Doula at APWF summit announcement
  
Ashraf ud-Doula points to his country's success with providing nearly all of its people with access to clean drinking water, virtually eliminating water-borne diseases and significantly reducing flood casualties. But he says funding will have to come from the wealthier nations.

"We can share our experience, how we have been able to effectively control, tackle, these issues," he said. "But, on the other hand, there is a need to have a partnership⁴ between the countries which are affected⁵ by the water-related issues, and the countries which can afford to fund the projects."

The group and the summit will also be supported by a number of United Nations agencies and various regional organizations, including the Asia Development Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

The summit meeting is to be held in the Japanese resort city of Beppu in December of next year.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 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。

3 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。