VOA慢速英语2009-Development Report - Saving the 'World's Most Ho

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
　
A Brazilian Christian¹ is baptized in the Jordan River last year.

Christians², Jews and Muslims all consider the Jordan River holy. Last week, Pope³ Benedict visited the place where John the Baptist is believed to have baptized Jesus in its waters. The leader of the world's Roman Catholics blessed the cornerstones of two churches to be built next to the river.

Jordan was the first stop on a Middle East trip in which he also visited Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli environmental organization Zalul has appealed to the pope and other world leaders to help save what it calls the "world's most holy river." The Jordan River is polluted and in danger of going dry. The World Monuments Fund⁴ placed the river on its two thousand eight watch list of one hundred most endangered sites.

The Jordan is more than three hundred kilometers long. It begins in the mountains of Lebanon and Syria. It ends at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, four hundred meters below the level of the Mediterranean⁵ Sea.

The southern part of the river forms the border between Jordan and Israel and includes part of the Palestinian territories.

Friends of the Earth Middle East is an organization of activists⁶ from Israel, Jordan and the territories. The group began as "EcoPeace" in nineteen ninety-four in Egypt.

Nader Al-Khateeb, the Palestinian director of the group, says the Jordan has lost freshwater sources. There has been little rain for five years. At the same time, populations along the banks of the river are growing. That increases demand for water.

Political tensions⁷ and conflict have made it difficult to deal with the problems. Members of Friends of the Earth Middle East say the Jordan could run dry unless something is done.

If the Jordan River is saved, they say, then the Dead Sea could also be brought back to life. The Dead Sea lost thirty-three percent of its surface area during the last half-century.

There have been several proposals⁸ to pump water into the Dead Sea from the Red Sea or the Mediterranean. But Friends of the Earth Middle East says that would cost too much and could damage the environment.

The group has simpler ideas -- like reducing water use at schools and other buildings in Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Other ideas including harvesting whatever rain does fall and sharing water. But most importantly, the activists hope Israel, Jordan and Syria can create an international commission⁹ to manage the Jordan River.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve Ember.

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

2 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

3 pope   

n.（罗马天主教的）教皇

参考例句：

• The Pope is the spiritual leader of many Christians.教皇是众多基督徒的宗教领袖。
• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。

4 fund   

n.基金，资金，存款，财源，贮藏；vt.提供资金，积累

参考例句：

• They decided to set up a fund for this purpose.他们决定为此专立一项基金。
• This fund may not be drawn on without permission.这笔钱非经批准不得动用。

5 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

6 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》

7 tensions   

（情绪上的）紧张( tension的名词复数 )； 张力； 紧张的状态； （作家或电影导演制造的）紧张气氛

参考例句：

• Social tensions were manifested in the recent political crisis. 最近的政治危机显示了社会关系的紧张。
• These disagreements are symptomatic of the tensions within the party. 出现意见分歧表明该党内部的关系紧张。

8 proposals   

n.提议( proposal的名词复数 )；推荐；求婚；赞成提案

参考例句：

• The director has given her assent to the proposals. 负责人已表示同意提案。
• The police gave the proposals their full backing. 警方对这些提案给予全力支持。

9 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。