VOA标准英语2012--Class Action Lawsuit Targets Indonesian Government, Tobacco Companies

 

Class Action Lawsuit¹ Targets Indonesian Government, Tobacco Companies

Eight-year-old Aldi Ilham from Sukabumi, West Java, first started smoking when he was four years old. Instead of going to school he would help park cars to earn change for cigarettes. At the height of his addiction² he was smoking two packs a day.

Aldi is one of eight cases the Child Protection Commission, led by Aris Meredek Sirait, is citing in a lawsuit against the government and tobacco companies later this month.

“The government is not able to control cigarettes products," Aris complains. "There are no regulations to control the sale of cigarettes, they are even sold as single cigarettes, nor are there any controls on tobacco advertising³.”

Without any government restrictions⁴, cigarette advertisements are plastered throughout downtown Jakarta. Some are designed to appeal to younger consumers, who can also legally purchase cigarettes. 

Roadside stalls sell cigarettes for about one U.S. dollar. Stall holder⁵ Ibu Surniah admits that, while it’s not morally right, she still sells to teenagers. 

“It’s forbidden to sell cigarettes to children, but I give it to them if they insist because they want it,” Ibu says.

With 50 million smokers⁶ in the country, there is little widespread knowledge among Indonesians about the dangers of smoking. Many people smoke in front of their children. Ilham’s father, Umar, says that practice should stop.

“We just ask for those responsible from the tobacco companies and the government to help us because our son is really sick from smoking,” Umar says. 

Government officials and tobacco company executives refused interview requests. One spokesperson for Sampoerna Tobacco said that while the company does not condone⁷ child smokers, parents play an influential⁸ role in preventing their children from smoking.

For now, child health advocates merely want to restrict sales and curb⁹ advertisements that help get minors¹⁰ started smoking - long before they are capable of knowing what the habit means for their health. 

1 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

2 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

3 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

6 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。

7 condone   

v.宽恕；原谅

参考例句：

• I cannot condone the use of violence.我不能宽恕使用暴力的行为。
• I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.我绝不允许任何导致战争的行为。

8 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

9 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

10 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》