VOA慢速英语2019 印尼市民起诉政府 要求改善空气质量

Jakarta Citizens Take Legal Action to Improve Air Quality

A group of Indonesian citizens is suing the government in an effort to force action to reduce air pollution in the capital Jakarta.

At least 31 citizens joined the effort to bring the legal action earlier this month. The citizens say the government has done little to try to cut severe pollution levels.

The Switzerland-based air quality-monitoring group Air Visual rates world cities on an Air Quality Index of 500. A rating of 151-200 is considered to be “unhealthy,” while 201-300 is seen as “very unhealthy.” In late June, Jakarta reached a level of 231.

Istu Prayogi says that for the past 10 years, he has experienced headaches and difficulty breathing as a result of Jakarta’s polluted air.

He told VOA that doctors told him to wear a cover at all times for protection. But he says he does not like the way it feels. “I’m sure there are many others who complain about the same thing and have the same illness,” he said.

Even though Prayogi now lives in an area outside Jakarta, he worked and lived in the capital for 30 years.

The lawsuit¹ was brought against Indonesian President Joko Widodo as well as the environment minister, the governor of Jakarta and other officials.

Ayu Eza Tiara is a lawyer for the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, a not-for-profit organization that provides legal assistance to citizens. The group joined other organizations in representing individuals in the case.

“We want a change in public policy, and a tangible² act,” Tiara told VOA. “What are the plans?”

Tiara also said the government should provide all necessary information to the public on the current effects of air pollution on people in the city.

Tiara added that the group has been demanding government action to improve Jakarta air quality since 2016. “We’ve been waiting for the government to make changes and improve the air quality. But there was no such thing, so we have to resort to a lawsuit,” she said.

Tiara admitted, however, that the legal process will take months, or possibly years. “But we are determined³,” she said.

In answer to the lawsuit, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan blamed much of the air pollution problems on drivers in the city. He urged citizens in Jakarta to use public transportation to reduce pollution levels.

Jakarta is home to more than 10 million people and 18 million vehicles, including cars and motorcycles.

Andono Warih, acting⁴ head of Jakarta’s Environment Office, also recently noted⁵ the problem of vehicle emissions⁷. “Of the cause of pollution in Jakarta, 75 percent comes from transportation,” he said.

The Forum⁸ for the Environment, an environmental activist⁹ group, also represented citizens in the case. Tubagus Soleh Ahmadi is director of the group. He said government officials need to do more to inform citizens about all the causes of pollution. He also said that current requirements for air quality limits are too low.

While he agrees that vehicle emissions are a major pollution problem, Ahmadi said officials need to take more action to reduce them. “Yes, the main source is from transportation, what about mandatory¹⁰ emission⁶ tests for vehicles and the industry?” he asked.

许多印尼市民正在整在起诉政府，目的是迫使政府采取行动，从而减少首都雅加达的空气污染。

至少有31名市民都参加了本月初的法律诉讼。这些市民表示，政府对减少严重污染水平方面做得太少了。

位于瑞士的空气质量监督组织“空气视觉”对世界各个城市的空气质量指数进行了评级，最高值是500。如果指数在151-200之间的话，空气质量的评级是不健康；如果在201-300指间的话，评级是非常不健康。6月末，雅加达的指数达到了231。

这起诉讼是针对印尼总统佐科·维多多、环境部部长兼雅加达专区省长，此外也包括其他一些官员。

在回应此次起诉时，雅加达专区省长阿尼斯将空气污染问题的锅甩到了该市的司机身上。他敦促雅加达市民使用公共交通来缓解空气污染。

雅加达有1000多万居民、1800辆车，包括小汽车、摩托车。

雅加达环境办事处的代理负责人安东诺最近也提到了汽车排放物的问题。他表示，关于雅加达污染的根源问题，75%来自于交通。

有一个环保组织叫“环境论坛”，该组织也表示在这个问题上代表市民的利益发言。苏莉是该组织的负责人。他表示，政府官员需要做更堵事情来让市民了解污染的根源所在。他还表示，当前对空气质量的上限要求太低了。

虽然他也认同汽车排放物是重大污染问题，但苏莉也表示，官员们需要做更多事情来减少这种排放。他表示，没错，主要源头是来自于交通，但政府是否有对交通工具和交通业做强制排放测试呢？他做了这样的发问。

Words in This Story

sue – v. take legal action against a person or organization

complain – v. express unhappiness about something

tangible – adj. something that is real and can be seen

resort to – v. do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any other way of completing it

determined – adj. having a very strong desire to do something

emission – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source

mandatory – n. required to do

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 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

7 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

8 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

9 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。

10 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。