2007年VOA标准英语-Italians Protest Expansion at US Military Base

By Sabina Castelfranco
Vicenza, Italy
17 February 2007

Tens-of-thousands of Italians protested Saturday in the northeastern city of Vicenza against the planned expansion of a U.S. military base nearby. Sabina Castelfranco was there, and filed this VOA report.

A demonstrator dressed as a nuclear missile protests against the planned expansion of the US military base near the Dal Molin airport, in Vicenza, Italy

Shouting slogans saying that if the base goes ahead, a hard battle will continue, thousands took to the streets of Vicenza to protest the expansion of the U.S. military base.

Special trains and buses brought activists¹ and anti-globalization protesters to the city. Security was tight with some 1,300 officers deployed² on the streets, as helicopters hovered³ overhead.

But despite fears of possible violence, it was a peaceful demonstration⁴. Many protesters were draped in rainbow-colored peace flags. Some shouted anti-American slogans, such as "Yankees go Home."

Vicenza resident Anna Faggi said these demonstrations⁵ are necessary because the government is too distant from its citizens, and it needs to know how the people feel. She said locals are against the expansion of the base because it will not bring a future of peace.

The military base in Vicenza is home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Its expansion will increase the number of military personnel from 2,700 to 4,500.

The people of Vicenza fear it will cause problems to traffic and deplete⁶ resources, such gas and water. Faggi also said she was concerned about security.

She said this would become the largest base in Europe, and so it would also become a potential target for terrorism.

Despite the opposition⁷, it is unlikely that there will be any change in plans to expand the base. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has said his government has no reason to halt the expansion, which already has been approved by Vicenza's city council.

1 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》

2 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

3 hovered   

鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
• A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

4 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 deplete   

v.弄空，排除，减轻，减少...体液，放去...的血

参考例句：

• Most native mammal species have been severely depleted.大多数本地哺乳动物的数量都已经大大减少了。
• Elastic collisions deplete very little of the electron's energy.弹性碰撞中电子减少的能量非常少。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。