VOA标准英语2009年-Economy Front and Center at Davos World Economi

The Global Financial Crisis will take center stage at the annual World Economic Forum¹ in Davos, Switzerland. More than 2,500 participants from 96 countries will convene² in this small Alpine³ village from January 28 to February 1 to search for ways to stabilize⁴ and re-launch the global economy.

As in previous years, some of the world's most powerful political and business leaders will brush shoulders in Davos and discuss weighty matters. But, the glitter and glamour⁵ that have characterized previous meetings will be gone this year.

Celebrities⁶ will not attend forum

To reflect the sober atmosphere of a world in crisis, no "show business" celebrities will be coming. The World Economic Forum's Head of Programming, Lee Howell, says even the perennial⁷ favorite, Bono of the popular rock group U2, will not be making his annual pilgrimage.

"And, on Bono, just to tell you, he does actually have a day job," said Howell. "And, he has told us that he is finishing his album, so he will not be coming."

But, many other important personalities⁸ will be there. This year a record 41 heads of states and governments will be coming, including Chinese Premier⁹, Wen Jiabao, Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, and the Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga.

Forum founder¹⁰ says this is most crucial gathering¹¹
　
Founder and Chairman of the Davos World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab at a press conference near Geneva, 21 Jan 2009

To emphasize the economic focus, 60 percent of Forum participants are business leaders. Founder and Chairman of the Forum, Klaus Schwab, calls this one of the most crucial gatherings¹² in the organization's 39 year history. He says the global financial crisis is unprecedented¹³ in scope and should be seen as a wake-up call that changes need to be made to global institutions, systems and ways of thinking.

"A system's crisis means also, that it is a transformational crisis," said Schwab. "We cannot just use the normal remedies to come out. We have to change or adapt the system. And, finally, I would say it is a confidence crisis. I would say, we never will move out of the crisis if we do not re-establish confidence, which means we have to establish signposts for the future."

Gathering plans to discuss global warming

But, the Forum will be dealing¹⁴ with other topics as well. Organizers note there are dozens of global risks that threaten the prosperity and well being of people and must be addressed. One of the most serious, they say, is that of global warming.

Forum Managing Director, Richard Samans, says private and public sector¹⁵ participants will discuss ways to put together a long-term policy to stabilize carbon emissions¹⁶ and make the post-Kyoto framework more achievable.

"In particular, we will be focusing on the investment environment and technology environment for low carbon energy investment in developing countries," said Richard Samans. "This is an absolutely crucial part of the success of the negotiations¹⁷ because one needs to get an entirely¹⁸ global engagement in the new framework that includes emerging market countries as well as developed countries."

A number of heavyweights from the new Obama administration will be coming to Davos. Among those will be Director of the National Economic Council, Lawrence Summers and U.S. National Security Adviser-designate, James Jones, Jr.

There also will be a large sprinkling of U.S. Congressional Representatives and annual Forum political favorite, former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

1 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

2 convene   

v.集合，召集，召唤，聚集，集合

参考例句：

• The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
• Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月，高级官员在伦敦会齐。

3 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

4 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

5 glamour   

n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住

参考例句：

• Foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.到国外旅行对她已失去吸引力了。
• The moonlight cast a glamour over the scene.月光给景色增添了魅力。

6 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

7 perennial   

adj.终年的；长久的

参考例句：

• I wonder at her perennial youthfulness.我对她青春常驻感到惊讶。
• There's a perennial shortage of teachers with science qualifications.有理科教学资格的老师一直都很短缺。

8 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

9 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

10 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

11 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。

12 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

13 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。

14 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

15 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

16 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。

17 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

18 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。