VOA标准英语2010年-World Economic Forum Hears Appeal for

Haiti topped the agenda at the World Economic Forum¹ in Davos Switzerland Thursday, as former U.S. President Bill Clinton appealed to international donors² to help the earthquake-ravaged nation.

Former President Bill Clinton called for more aid to Haiti.

"Right now, we need to figure out how we are going to get through the week," said Mr. Clinton.  "I want the people of Haiti not to worry about how they are going to eat today, whether they can get water today, whether their kids are going to be hungry today," he said.

Mr. Clinton added that Haiti needs all forms of help - from trucks and toilets to more long-term investment.

But the former president, who is the U.N. special representative to Haiti, also painted a picture of hope for the impoverished³ nation during his remarks at the World Economic Forum as he called on the politicians and business leaders assembled in Davos to help rebuild Haiti.

"This is an opportunity to re-imagine the future for the Haitian people to build the country that they want to become, instead of to rebuild what they used to be," said the former US president.  "We have to get through the emergency.  We have to get it organized and we have to have the right structure and the right support.  I invite you to be a part of that," he said.

Mr. Clinton's appearance was among the highlights of the second day of the World Economic Forum, a yearly gathering⁴ of international business and government leaders.  Much of the conversation this week is revolving⁵ around putting the world's economy back on a sustainable track.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the Group of 20 leading industrialized and developing nations must consider a broader notion of economic growth that includes poorer countries.  Seoul hosts the next G-20 summit in November.

Mr. Lee's webcast remarks were translated in English.

"In order to achieve balance and sustainable growth, I believe more is necessary than just achieving balance in a narrow, macro-economic sense.  A broader notion of balance is appropriate, including closing the development gap between advanced and developing countries," said Lee.

Other speakers included South African President Jacob Zuma, who spoke⁶ about his country's battle with HIV/AIDS, the global economic crisis and the need for South Africa's white minority to feel a part of the country's future.

 

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 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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》

4 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。

5 revolving   

adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
• The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。