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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
South American Group Facing Hard Times
A community outside Quito, Ecuador’s capital, has a building that appears to resist the laws of gravity.
The unusual-looking structure was supposed to be a sign of South American unity1. It lies close to the Equator, the imaginary line dividing the world into north and south.
The building has two glass wings that extend high above a pool of water. They look like something from a Hollywood movie. They are said to represent freedom and openness.
But for all its stately appearance, the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) seems almost as inactive as the group itself. Once the building was a promising2 diplomatic center with officials and parties for visiting diplomats3. Now it is largely empty, with half the workers it had when it opened in 2014.
The group’s chief organizer, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, is in jail on corruption4 charges. Another major supporter, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, has died.
In addition, a changing political environment has left South America more divided than it has been in many years. Fewer people seem interested in an anti-imperialistic5 song identified with the group: “Soy del Sur,” or “I’m from the South.”
“UNASUR was a good idea, but ultimately didn’t deliver concrete results,” said Michael Shifter, head of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based research group.
UNASUR’s current problems
In April of 2018, half of UNASUR’s 12 member-states suspended their membership. Those countries are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru. Then in August, newly elected Colombian President Ivan Duque rejected its treaty, setting the way for his country’s withdrawal6 in February.
The result is a $20 million deficit7 that has led to extensive budget cuts. UNASUR has been without a secretary-general for two years. At the current rate, the group will spend all of the money it has by April. That is about the same time that Brazil takes control of UNASUR’s rotating presidency8. However, Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has criticized the group.
For critics of UNASUR, its headquarters is an easy target. The $43 million structure was built and donated to the group by former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, a follower9 of Chavez.
Diego Guayasamin, another Ecuadorean, designed the prize-winning building. Seventy-five percent of the structure is underground. It is equipped with a high-technology meeting room and a notable collection of artwork. It also has salons11 named for Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and Nobel Prize-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Just like in public buildings in Venezuela, Chavez’s bright-red signature and spirited comments are painted on the walls.
“It’s absurd that a building that cost several dozens of millions of dollars has no usefulness,” said Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno in July. Moreno demanded that UNASUR return the building to the government so that it could be used as a university for the local community. His demand was later found to be illegal.
But for critics, perhaps the building’s biggest problem is the large bronze statue at the entrance of Nestor Kirchner, the first secretary-general of the group. Since his death in 2010, the memory of the former Argentine president has been damaged by reports of corruption. Supporters of Moreno are leading a campaign to have the statue removed.
Successes and failures
UNASUR was created in 2008 to bring life to independence hero Simon Bolivar’s dream of a large, borderless South American “homeland.” Bolivar strongly opposed United States and European influence on the continent.
While plans to create a common monetary12 system for UNASUR’s members failed, other proposals have had more success. One example is the common Unasur work visa, which has helped South American nations take in the large number of Venezuelans fleeing their country.
However, Michael Shifter said the final blow to the group was its failure to deal effectively with the crisis in Venezuela.
During 2015 and 2016, the group’s then-Secretary-General, Ernesto Samper, traveled to Venezuela with Vatican representatives to support talks between the government and opposition13.
When those negotiations14 collapsed15, many blamed Samper, a former Colombian president, for not doing more to get action from the government.
Samper admitted that for UNASUR to survive, it needs to take on a less-progressive plan of action. But, he argued that breaking up the group would be a huge mistake. He said there is a need for South American nations to speak with a common voice. He noted16 that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump17 has threatened military action against Venezuela. He added that the administration is critical of Latino Americans seeking to enter the U.S. and has withdrawn18 from international efforts to fight climate change.
“The sad thing,” Samper said, “is that at the same time the region desperately19 needs unity, we are more fragmented than ever.”
I'm George Grow. And I'm Caty Weaver20.
Words in This Story
wing – n. a solid structure that extends from both sides of an aircraft or building
imperialistic – adj. relating to an extension of a country’s power and influence through military force or diplomacy21
rotate – v. to move or cause to move in a circle around something
salon10 – n. a store or business where a beautician works
absurd – adj. unreasonable22; laughable
region – n. a specific area in the world or within a country or territory
fragment – v. to break to cause to break into small pieces
1 unity | |
n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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2 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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3 diplomats | |
n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 );有手腕的人,善于交际的人 | |
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4 corruption | |
n.腐败,堕落,贪污 | |
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5 imperialistic | |
帝国主义的,帝制的 | |
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6 withdrawal | |
n.取回,提款;撤退,撤军;收回,撤销 | |
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7 deficit | |
n.亏空,亏损;赤字,逆差 | |
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8 presidency | |
n.总统(校长,总经理)的职位(任期) | |
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9 follower | |
n.跟随者;随员;门徒;信徒 | |
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10 salon | |
n.[法]沙龙;客厅;营业性的高级服务室 | |
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11 salons | |
n.(营业性质的)店( salon的名词复数 );厅;沙龙(旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所);(大宅中的)客厅 | |
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12 monetary | |
adj.货币的,钱的;通货的;金融的;财政的 | |
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13 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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14 negotiations | |
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过 | |
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15 collapsed | |
adj.倒塌的 | |
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16 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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17 trump | |
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭 | |
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18 withdrawn | |
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出 | |
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19 desperately | |
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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20 weaver | |
n.织布工;编织者 | |
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21 diplomacy | |
n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕 | |
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22 unreasonable | |
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的 | |
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