VOA常速英语2008年-Japan Urges Industrialized Nations to Give More

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
05 April 2008

Japan is telling the world's most industrialized nations that urgent action is needed on global climate change and development assistance for impoverished¹ nations. Senior officials from advanced industrial nations are gathering² in northern Japan for what is seen as a preview of a major summit this July.  VOA's Kurt Achin is monitoring the meeting from South Korea, which has also sent envoys³ to the meeting.

Development ministers from the world's richest nations are putting their heads together on some of the global economy's most urgent issues.

Japan is hosting the meeting of delegates from the so-called G8, or group of eight industrialized nations.  They include Britain, Italy, Canada, the United States, France, Russia, Germany and host, Japan.  Delegates from major emerging industrial powerhouses, such as China, India, Brazil and South Korea are also attending.

The talks are seen as a prelude⁴ to a summit conference scheduled for July. Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda attended Saturday's session, and called for immediate⁵ steps on global climate change.

Mr. Fukuda says everyone, not just government and industry, needs to participate in the fight against global warming.

The Japanese prime minister said a major "overhaul⁶" of modern lifestyles is the only way to reduce gas emissions⁷ from the consumption of carbon-based fuels.

Besides global warming, envoys are focusing on issues of urgently needed aid and investment for the world's poorest nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.  Advocacy groups say richer nations have failed to uphold promises of aid to Africa, and that the continent is suffering from a severe shortage of basic infrastructure⁸.

The Paris-based Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development says Japan, until recently the world's top donor⁹ of international aid, slipped last year to fifth place.  Overall, the OECD says foreign aid from the 22 major donor countries it measures dropped more than eight percent in 2007, to about $103 billion.

Japanese officials say they will lead the way in introducing more robust¹⁰ and transparent¹¹ aid policies.  The G8 meeting wraps up Sunday.  Heads of government from G8 nations will gather in northern Japan in July.

1 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 envoys   

使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份

参考例句：

• the routine tit for tat when countries expel each other's envoys 国家相互驱逐对方使节这种惯常的报复行动
• Marco Polo's travelogue mentions that Kublai Khan sent envoys to Malgache. 马可波罗游记中提到忽必烈曾派使节到马尔加什。

4 prelude   

n.序言，前兆，序曲

参考例句：

• The prelude to the musical composition is very long.这首乐曲的序曲很长。
• The German invasion of Poland was a prelude to World War II.德国入侵波兰是第二次世界大战的序幕。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

10 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

11 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。