VOA常速英语2007年-Slow Pace Of Reconciliation Affects Some Liveli

By Phillip Wellman
Abidjan
04 November 2007

Sunday marks eight months since Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo signed a peace deal with rebel leader Guillaume Soro, now prime minister. The agreement, which followed a brief civil war, is proceeding¹ slower than planned, leading non-governmental organizations and the United Nations to express concern. They say while reconciliation² is prolonged, living standards are declining. In the Ivorian commercial capital, Abidjan, Phillip Wellman spoke³ to workers at a fish market about how their livelihoods⁴ have been affected⁵ by the wait for unity⁶.

At a fish market in Abidjan, many people say business is not what it used to be.

Junior Touvoly, who has been working here for 15 years, buys big fish such as shark and blue marlin from fishermen and sells them to the public. He says, because of the peace accord, more fishermen are coming to the market with bigger fish, but prices are high for everyone.

Touvoly says fish prices were lower before the war. He says many people fled to Abidjan to avoid the violence in other areas of the county. As a result, demand is exceeding supply, driving prices up.

Twenty eight-year-old Nadege Diangone, who also works at the market, says many customers who used to come from outside Abidjan to buy fish have either been killed or cannot afford to make the trip now, and this has devastated⁷ business for many people.

She says business is getting better, but it is not as good as it used to be. She says fish mongers are feeling the effects of the war even as the country moves towards reconciliation.

Diangone says she is praying for peace. She says if true peace were to come, workers at the fish market would get more business and the situation would be as good as it was before the war.

Analysts⁸ say Ivory Coast's economic influence is slowly deteriorating⁹ as reconciliation is prolonged. Companies that used to do business in Ivory Coast continue to trade with neighboring countries instead, resulting in lost jobs and making it difficult for many to buy imported goods.

The United Nations also agrees that Ivory Coast's ensuing social and economic situation is leading to a steady decline in living standards.

It says delays in both the identification process of undocumented Ivorians and in the country's disarmament, demobilization and reintegration program are delaying unity. But the Ivorian government says it is implementing¹⁰ procedures thoroughly¹¹ to prevent future violence.

The U.N. recently renewed arms and diamond sanctions against Ivory Coast in a bid to make the country stick to the terms of the peace accord.

1 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

2 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

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。

6 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

7 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

10 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

11 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。