经济学人235:反对动物实验的和平抗议活动正在高涨

 　　A beastly business

　　一个残忍的行业

　　Peaceful protests against animal testing are on the rise

　　反对动物实验的和平抗议活动正在高涨

　　A FOG of confusion shrouds¹ British attitudes to animals. For a nation of pet-lovers, Britain has surprisingly few vegetarians—just 3% of the population—a point that Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, a celebrity² chef, tried to make on October 11th when he described the distinction between a pet and a farm animal as “cultural” and suggested, to general outrage³, that puppies could be reared for meat. Britain’s animal-experimentation⁴ laboratories boast higher welfare standards than many of its farms and abattoirs⁵, yet provoke far more anger. That hostility⁶ is now being expressed more openly, as moderate protesters discover new causes to champion and reclaim⁷ their campaign from extremists.

　　一些令人困惑的事情让人看不清英国人对动物的态度。他们爱养宠物，但素食主义者却出奇地少（仅占其人口的3%）。这也是10月11日烹饪大师休?弗恩利?惠汀斯托尔想要表明的，当时他说，宠物与家畜的区分只是一种文化习惯，他暗示小狗也是可以食用的，这激起了公愤。英国的动物实验室比很多饲养场和屠宰场享有更高的福利标准，这更惹了众怒。现在，那些温和的抗议者发现了他们所要捍卫的新目标并从极端分子那里夺回他们的抗议活动，于是敌视情绪更加公开化。

　　The number of peaceful protests against institutions that perform research on animals has increased markedly of late (see chart), as memories of the violent attacks on the homes and cars of researchers have faded, according to information supplied by members of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical⁸ Industry, a lobby group that keeps tabs on such matters. It reckons that many moderate protesters were so appalled⁹ at the increasingly abhorrent¹⁰ tactics used by extremists—which culminated¹¹ in a grave-robbing in 2004—that they abandoned the cause. Only after such attacks had all but halted in 2009 did they return to the barricades¹².

　　游说团体“英国制药行业协会”对此事甚为关注，根据这个协会成员所提供的信息，最近，对于动物实验室研究人员的住所和车辆的暴力攻击少了，而针对这些机构的各种和平抗议突然多了起来（见图表）。该协会认为许多温和的抗议者对于极端分子日渐可恶的伎俩 (2004年的“盗墓活动”达到了顶峰) 感到震惊，以至放弃了这个事业。只是2009年这类的攻击快要停止时，他们才回到设置路障上来。

　　There is more for them to shout about. Despite a ban on the testing of cosmetics¹³ and household products on animals, the number of experiments performed in Britain rose by almost 40% between 2000 and 2010 to 3.7m, mainly because increasing numbers of genetically¹⁴ modified rodents¹⁵ were used. In France just 2.5m experiments were conducted in 2010 and the figure has been stable for many years.

　　对他们来说，需要抗议的还有更多。在英国，这些机构无视不得使用动物对化妆品和日用品进行试验的禁令，从2000年到2010年所进行实验的次数增长了40%，达370万次，主要是因为他们越来越多地使用转基因的啮齿类动物。2010年法国仅有250万次的动物实验，而且这个数字多年稳定不变。

　　Two aspects of European legislation may push the figure higher still. The REACH directive, an effort to identify whether chemicals that are already used in vast quantities could be toxic¹⁶ to people, requires that their safety be demonstrated scientifically. In some cases only animal tests are deemed sufficient. The European Commission has estimated that 9m animals may be used for such tests; some observers put the figure far higher. Second, changes to the strict laws that require British scientists to consider alternatives to animal tests may be partially¹⁷ relaxed as a result of European reforms. The Home Office is due to respond to a consultation¹⁸ on the subject within the next few weeks.

　　欧洲法律可能会在两个方面推高这个数字。“触及指令”，一项用来鉴别已被人们大量使用的化工产品是否对人体有毒的计划，需要对它们的安全性进行科学论证。在有些情况下，只有用动物实验结果才能充分可信。据欧盟委员会估计，可能有900万动物用于此类实验，有些观察者认为这个数字远远低于实际。再者，转变为严格的法律，要求英国科学家考虑动物实验的替代方法，可能是欧洲改革的部分放松。内务部在未来几周将对这一主题的咨询作出反应。

　　Emboldened¹⁹ by the rise of the moderates, new campaigns have begun. Animal Aid, for example, is targeting medical-research charities, which it sees as more amenable²⁰ to influence than the remote laboratories in which the work is done. It plans to step up its protests.

　　在温和派的鼓舞下，一些新的活动开展起来。例如，“动物救助”活动把矛头指向了进行医学研究的慈善机构，他们认为这些机构比那些做实验的古老实验室更应对其影响负责。他们计划加紧他们的抗议活动。

　　For their part, scientists are beefing up their security on the advice of the police, lest animal-rights extremism return. The last of four people who were convicted of conspiracy²¹ to blackmail²² as part of their effort to intimidate²³ a family who bred guinea pigs at Darley Oaks Farm was released from jail last month. The National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit, which oversaw²⁴ their arrest, has turned its attention to such matters once again.

　　而科学家们正在加强对警察建议的保护，以防动物权利极端主义的回潮。企图诈骗达利橡树农场一个饲养实验动物家庭的4名罪犯中的最后一人已于上月从监狱释放。过去国家极端主义行动协调小组监督对他们的拘捕，现在再把注意力放在他们身上。

　　Yet direct campaigns to eliminate animal experimentation by targeting institutions that facilitate it have so far relocated rather than removed the practice. In 1997, for example, protesters directed their anger at Consort²⁵ Kennels²⁶, which bred beagles for animal-testing laboratories. It closed, but it sold much of its stock to the laboratory it supplied so that it could breed the animals needed in-house.

　　但是，到目前为止，把实验机构作为攻击目标以减少动物实验的直接活动，只是让这种做法改变一下形式，而不能完全消除。1997年，抗议者把怒火直接发泄到饲养实验用猎犬的Consort Kennels狗场。该狗场关闭了，但他把大部分的股份卖给了他们的实验室客户，这样，实验室就能自己饲养实验所需要的动物了。

　　Any successful effort to eliminate animal experiments is more likely to come from within laboratories than outside them, argue researchers. Animal testing is expensive and can be of dubious²⁷ value, and scientists would prefer cheaper and more reliable alternatives. Alas²⁸ for lab rats everywhere, such alternatives are not yet sufficiently²⁹ developed for animal experimentation to be relegated³⁰ to the past.

　　研究人员认为，任何减少动物试验的成功努力更可能来自实验室内部，而不是外部。动物实验成本高昂，价值取向模棱两可，科学家更愿意采用便宜可靠的替代方法。唉，各地实验室的白鼠们，动物试验虽已过时，但替代方法还没有完全开发出来。

1 shrouds   

n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密

参考例句：

• 'For instance,' returned Madame Defarge, composedly,'shrouds.' “比如说，”德伐日太太平静地回答，“裹尸布。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Figure 3-10 illustrates the result of a study or conical shrouds. 图3-10表明了对锥形外壳的研究结果。 来自辞典例句

2 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

3 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。

4 experimentation   

n.实验，试验，实验法

参考例句：

• Many people object to experimentation on animals.许多人反对用动物做实验。
• Study and analysis are likely to be far cheaper than experimentation.研究和分析的费用可能要比实验少得多。

5 abattoirs   

n.屠场( abattoir的名词复数 )；（拳击、摔跤、斗牛等的）角斗场

参考例句：

• All that talk about abattoirs turned me right off! 关于屠宰场的那些话让我十分恶心。 来自互联网
• They take more care and have a greater number of staff than more intensive abattoirs. 他们更注意生产，比那些更密集的屠宰场拥有更多的雇员。 来自互联网

6 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

7 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

8 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

9 appalled   

v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• They were appalled by the reports of the nuclear war. 他们被核战争的报道吓坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 abhorrent   

adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• He is so abhorrent,saying such bullshit to confuse people.他这样乱说，妖言惑众，真是太可恶了。
• The idea of killing animals for food is abhorrent to many people.许多人想到杀生取食就感到憎恶。

11 culminated   

v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一场造成两名警察死亡的枪战
• The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚会以大放烟火告终。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 barricades   

路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The police stormed the barricades the demonstrators had put up. 警察冲破了示威者筑起的街垒。
• Others died young, in prison or on the barricades. 另一些人年轻时就死在监牢里或街垒旁。

13 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

14 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

15 rodents   

n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rodents carry diseases and are generally regarded as pests. 啮齿目动物传播疾病，常被当作害虫对待。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some wild rodents in Africa also harbor the virus. 在非洲，有些野生啮齿动物也是储毒者。 来自辞典例句

16 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

17 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

18 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

19 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 amenable   

adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的

参考例句：

• His scientific discoveries are amenable to the laws of physics.他在科学上的发现经得起物理定律的检验。
• He is amenable to counsel.他这人听劝。

21 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

22 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

23 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

24 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

25 consort   

v.相伴；结交

参考例句：

• They went in consort two or three together.他们三三两两结伴前往。
• The nurses are instructed not to consort with their patients.护士得到指示不得与病人交往。

26 kennels   

n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场

参考例句：

• We put the dog in kennels when we go away. 我们外出时把狗寄养在养狗场。
• He left his dog in a kennels when he went on holiday. 他外出度假时把狗交给养狗场照管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

28 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

29 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

30 relegated   

v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 )；使降职；转移；把…归类

参考例句：

• She was then relegated to the role of assistant. 随后她被降级做助手了。
• I think that should be relegated to the garbage can of history. 我认为应该把它扔进历史的垃圾箱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》