2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Union Worried About Worker Safety

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
21 February 2006
 

Oil installations belonging to Shell Petroleum¹ Development Company in Odidi Niger Delta²  
  
Nigeria's largest workers union, the Nigeria Labor³ Congress, has appealed for the release of nine foreign oil workers seized by militants⁴ at the weekend in the Niger Delta.

------------------------------------------------

Nigeria's largest union, the Nigeria Labor Congress, says the current state of insecurity in the Niger Delta is particularly worrisome for its members. NLC spokesman, Owei Lakemfa, said recent attacks on oil workers and facilities are showing no signs of easing.

"The government has not looked at the root causes of the problem and once the root causes are addressed then there will be a solution," he said. "But as it is now, its like a cat-and-mouse game. Whenever the government attacks people in those communities or the youths get restive⁶, then they go for the oil barges⁷ and kidnap people and the government then tries to negotiate."

Nine workers of a U.S. oil services company, under contract with Shell, were abducted⁸ in Saturday's attacks.

The paramount⁹ ruler of Evo kingdom in the Niger Delta, Frank Eke⁵, has also criticized the latest hostage-taking and appealed for their release.

"I have appealed to our people, those boys … the people concerned. In fact, what do you gain by holding a foreigner hostage for what you think your government has done to you? You do not get anything," he said. "How can you say you are annoyed with the government, which has put in place a whole commission for your interest?"

Meanwhile, the contact group established by the government confirmed it has made contact with the hostage-takers. It said the hostages were generally in good health.

International crude oil prices have been rising in the wake of the violence in Nigeria, which has affected¹⁰ almost a fifth of the West African nation's output.

The militants have threatened to increase attacks in the coming days, to force a further decrease in oil production.

1 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

2 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

5 eke   

v.勉强度日，节约使用

参考例句：

• They had to eke out a livinga tiny income.他们不得不靠微薄收入勉强度日。
• We must try to eke out our water supply.我们必须尽量节约用水。

6 restive   

adj.不安宁的，不安静的

参考例句：

• The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
• The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。

7 barges   

驳船( barge的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tug is towing three barges. 那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。
• There were plenty of barges dropping down with the tide. 有不少驳船顺流而下。

8 abducted   

劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展

参考例句：

• Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
• The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。

9 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

10 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。