2007年VOA标准英语-Sydney Deploys Fortress-Like Security for APEC

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
31 August 2007

More than 5,000 police officers and troops will be deployed¹ throughout Australia's biggest city, Sydney, for next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. It is the biggest security operation Australia has ever seen. From Sydney, Phil Mercer files this report.

navigate2 through a maze3 of water filled barriers surrounding the entrance of the Convention Center at Darling Harbor, as preparations continue for next week's APEC summit, 31 Aug 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070907/0840220.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Police navigate through a maze of water-filled barriers surrounding entrance of Convention Center at Darling Harbor, as preparations continue for next week's APEC summit, 31 Aug 2007

Australia is putting on an unprecedented⁴ show of force as APEC approaches.

It is the biggest international conference the country has ever held. Twenty-one world leaders are expected to attend, including U.S. President George Bush, his Russian and Chinese counterparts and the Japanese Prime Minister.

APEC has turned parts of central Sydney into no-go areas. A protected zone fences off the Opera House, where many of the APEC meetings will take place, and some of the larger hotels where delegates will be staying.

A five-kilometer steel fence is being built to protect key sites from protesters and Australian police have cleared jail cells to make way for any mass arrests. Officers have been given new powers to stop and search citizens.

There will be strict counter-terrorism measures too.

Navy ships will guard Sydney harbor while in the skies overhead Blackhawk helicopters and fighter jets will be on patrol.

Aircraft will be barred from flying above the city and harbor ferries will be monitored.

The New South Wales Deputy Police Commissioner⁶ Andrew Scipione believes Sydney is well prepared to host such a high profile event.

"This is the biggest security event that's ever been hosted in the history of Australia, which is why we are going to the extraordinary lengths that we are. At a time when we are living in heightened times of terrorism and certainly there is significant protest activity around," said Scipione. "So yes, this is definitely the biggest event of its type ever hosted here in Australia."

Thousands of protesters are planning to voice their feelings during the APEC summit.

Various groups including students, trade unions and other left-wing activists⁷ are planning a series of demonstrations⁸ and rallies during the weeklong APEC meetings.

The largest protest is expected to draw thousands of people onto the streets on September the 8, the first day of talks among APEC's 21 leaders.

Organizers have insisted they want to make their point peacefully but the police are preparing for violence.

Many residents have complained about the road closures and the cost of security.

APEC promotes trade and economic coordination⁹ along the Pacific Rim⁵.

1 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。

2 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

3 maze   

n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑

参考例句：

• He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
• She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时，她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。

4 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

5 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

6 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

7 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》

8 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。

9 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。