VOA标准英语2010年-British Charities Launch Campaign Advo

A group of British charities has teamed up with British film actor Bill Nighy and producer Richard Curtis to campaign for what they call a "new deal between banks and society." They want to put a .05 percent tax on financial transactions between banks that don't involve the public in order to raise money for social services and to fight poverty and climate change.

The run on the British bank Northern Rock in September 2007 marked the beginning of the world banking¹ crisis in Britain. In the end, the British and other governments spent hundreds of millions of dollars bailing² out troubled financial institutions.

Now a group of charities and celebrities³ has launched a campaign to get some of the money back. They call it the Robin⁴ Hood⁵ Tax after the legendary⁶ English folk hero who robbed from the rich to give to the poor. Max Lawsom is with the humanitarian⁷ advocacy group Oxfam.

 

"Basically, trillions of dollars change hands every day between the banks. What we're saying is we could take a tiny slice of that, 0.05 percent, which could raise hundreds of billions of dollars to help for poverty in rich countries, jobs in the U.S., jobs in the UK, but also for poverty in Africa as a result of people dying because of the economic crisis," Lawson said.

That's what real-life bankers are saying, too. Brian Mairs is the spokesman for the British banking association. "It's not something that would work in the real world," he says, "Certainly not at the moment when we still have disputed trade agreements. We're indeed having cross border wars. The idea of there being a single tax which is imposed across the world is simply inconceivable."

Organizers say they want G20 countries to participate, and they're starting an online grassroots movement to pressure world leaders.  It's on Twitter and Facebook.

 "You've had thousands of people sign up to support the Robin Hood Tax and talk about it on Twitter. Interestingly, they've now started tweeting to their politicians," Jonathan Tench, Oxfam's parliamentary officer said.
 
Supporters can become "merry men and women" by putting a green mask on their online photo, or printing one to wear.

If online reaction is any indicator⁸, people are largely in favor.

Some British banks are posting record profits and giving large bonuses to executives. Observers say that's causing public outrage⁹ against bankers that could boost the campaign.

Campaigners even projected their message on the side of the Bank of England.  It was one way they say to show bankers that the writing is on the wall.

 

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 bailing   

（凿井时用吊桶）排水

参考例句：

• Both fountains were going furiously and both pumps bailing with might and main. 两个人的口水只管喷泉似地朝外涌，两个抽水机全力以赴往外抽水。
• The mechanical sand-bailing technology makes sand-washing operation more efficient. 介绍了机械捞砂的结构装置及工作原理，提出了现场操作注意事项。

3 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

4 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

5 hood   

n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖

参考例句：

• She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
• The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

6 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

7 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

8 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

9 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。