VOA标准英语2009年-Civic Groups Press to End Hydropower Devel

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
19 October 2009

Civic¹ groups meeting in Thailand are petitioning regional governments to halt dam construction on two major Southeast Asian rivers. The groups say the dams threaten food supplies for millions and are leading to human-rights abuses in some areas.

Environmental and human-rights activists² say regional governments are looking at an outdated³ development model for generating electricity that fails to recognize people's rights. They say the dams do not ensure equitable⁴ and sustained development.

The groups are attending a so-called People's Forum⁵ before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit later this week.

The environmental group, Towards Ecological⁶ Recovery and Regional Alliance, collected more than 20,000 signatures asking governments to abandon plans to build dams along the lower Mekong River.

The petitions are to be presented to the leaders of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, which share the river with Thailand. The activists have asked Thailand's government to abandon the projects.

 
A Thai fisherman along the Mekong river at Chiang Khan, near Thai-Laos border (2007 File)
An alliance representative, Premrudee Daoroung, says the 11 dams on the lower Mekong threaten fishery stocks.

"Our main concern is that if the Lower Mekong mainstream⁷ dams happen the fishery for the whole Mekong region will be blocked and fishery is a very thing - it is out of concern that if that [occurs] it will destroy the livelihood⁸ of millions of people in the region," said Premrudee.

More than 60 million people in Southeast Asia are dependent on the Mekong River for fishing. The river starts in Tibet and runs 4,800 kilometers through China and Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, more that 50 civic groups from Burma submitted a petition to the Thai government demanding a halt to dam construction on the Salween River between Burma and Thailand.

Five dams have been planned for the Salween - four to deliver power to Thailand and one to supply China.

The groups accuse Burma's military of committing human-rights abuses at a dam site in the country's Karen State and one in Shan State.

The Salween Watch Coalition⁹ led the petition drive. Sai Sai, a coalition spokesman, says the Burmese military has forced thousands of people from their homes.

"Even though [construction of] the dam is just beginning and doing the survey, the military has forced people out from their homes," he said. "So now more than 70,000 people - including indigenous¹⁰ people - are already relocated out of their home towns. So right now the affected¹¹ people in Burma have not been consulted on the dam construction."

Sai Sai says the projects lack transparency and accountability, because the money for them goes to the military government. The groups want all the dams to be put on hold until Burma has a democratically elected government.

1 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

2 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》

3 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

4 equitable   

adj.公平的；公正的

参考例句：

• This is an equitable solution to the dispute. 这是对该项争议的公正解决。
• Paying a person what he has earned is equitable. 酬其应得,乃公平之事。

5 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。

6 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

7 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

8 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

11 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。