VOA标准英语2010-Muslim Environmentalists Push for Green H

Muslim environmentalists are pushing for a green Hajj - the pilgrimage in Mecca that three million Muslims make each year - which would include a ban on plastic bottles at Hajj sites

With a population of 1.4 billion and control of the world's largest oil reserves, Muslim communities can play a crucial role in protecting the environment. There is a new effort to organize an international green movement within the Islamic community.

An environmental movement is emerging within the Islamic world. Devout¹ Muslims say there is no contradiction between their faith and environmental protection, and, they say, global warming does not discriminate² by region or religion.

Environmental activist³ Mahmoud Akef with the Earth Mates Dialogue Center was among about 200 Muslim delegates from around the world at a recent environmental conference in Jakarta.

 

"Because we are all living on this Earth and what is happening, or what's affecting with regard to the climate change, affecting Americans, affects the Muslims here in Indonesia, affects Egypt, Muslims in Africa and Asia anywhere," Akef said.

Climate experts and environmental activists⁴ say that burning fossil fuel contributes to global warming. The environmental movement has long focused most of its resources on lobbying for change in Western nations.

But they say many Muslim-majority countries have done little to limit pollution from factories and automobiles⁵, and have allowed the exploitation of natural resources like large scale clearing forests in Indonesia.

 

Environmentalists say Muslim-majority countries have done little to limit pollution from factories and automobiles

Akef says Muslim environmentalists want to spread the message. For instance, they want to create a green Hajj, the pilgrimage in Mecca that three million Muslims make each year, to raise awareness⁶ about global warming. The plan includes a ban on plastic bottles at Hajj sites and workshops about the link between environmental stewardship⁷ and the teaching of Islam.

"The Koran is kind of ecology book. A lot of verses tell about the environment and how to deal with the environment and how to protect the environment," Akef said.

They are also planning to designate eco-friendly mosques⁸ and publish the Koran with paper from sustainable forests.

Muhammad Sembiring, with the Indonesian environmental organization Kehati, says these Muslim activists see no conflict between science and faith on the issue of the environment.

"It is proven there is totally no conflict, it is really [a] complement⁹ and it is shaking hands, it is matching," Sembiring said.

He says the beginning of an environmental movement in the Muslim community represents a significant step toward a global consensus¹⁰ on climate change.
 

1 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

2 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

3 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

4 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》

5 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 stewardship   

n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Last, but certainly not least, are the issues of stewardship and ethics. 最后，但当然不是微不足道的，是工作和道德规范的问题。

8 mosques   

清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Why make us believe that this tunnel runs underneath the mosques? 为什么要让我们相信这条隧洞是在清真寺下？
• The city's three biggest mosques, long fallen into disrepair, have been renovated. 城里最大的三座清真寺，过去年久失修，现在已经修复。

9 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？