2006年VOA标准英语-Protesters Block Streets in Ivory Coast Over To

By Joe Bavier
Abidjan
06 September 2006

Hundreds of angry protesters have blocked main roads in Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan, over the government's handling of a toxic¹ waste scandal. Thousands say they are suffering from health problems linked to harmful chemicals in the city's landfills, as local hospitals try to cope with a rising number of patients.

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Protests that began several days ago near the contaminated landfills have spread to some of the principle arteries² of Ivory Coast's largest city. Hundreds of angry protesters near the national television and radio headquarters manned improvised³ roadblocks, as riot police waited in trucks nearby.

Officials made appeals on television and radio throughout the morning, asking that free circulation be given to medical personnel.

George Rajis was on his way to work in Abidjan when he came across the demonstrations⁴.

"They told me that they dropped toxic waste, and that there are people dying. So that is why the population came out, and they are protesting that the government should do something about the whole thing," he said.

A ship owned by the Dutch company Trafigura Beheer BV is being accused of offloading tons of toxic chemicals two weeks ago in Abidjan that later found their way into local landfills.

Nearby residents complained of the smell. And local press began reporting health problems among those living near the contaminated sites last week.

The company, which says the ships cargo⁵ contained a mixture of gasoline and sulfur⁶, with an added concentration of sulfuric products, said in a statement that it is very concerned that the chemicals were not disposed of properly.

Eric Meresso lives near one of the landfills and went to a special treatment center at the university hospital in the Cocody neighborhood of Abidjan.

"I am feeling very bad in my throat," he said. "I have headaches, and I cannot breathe properly. And I have another disease on my skin."

Hospitals have already treated hundreds of people suffering mainly from respiratory and digestive problems. Local media have reported that several people have died from illnesses related to the toxic waste.

Meresso says he blames the government.

"I think that the authorities are to be blamed, because they did not take care of the population," he said. "They had to take care of us, but there is negligence⁷. I blame the authorities for this."

Ivory Coast's Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny was holding an emergency meeting of his government Wednesday in the administrative⁸ capital, Yamoussoukro. The meeting is intended to specifically treat the subject of the toxic waste.

1 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。

2 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 improvised   

a.即席而作的,即兴的

参考例句：

• He improvised a song about the football team's victory. 他即席创作了一首足球队胜利之歌。
• We improvised a tent out of two blankets and some long poles. 我们用两条毛毯和几根长竿搭成一个临时帐蓬。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

6 sulfur   

n.硫，硫磺（=sulphur）

参考例句：

• Sulfur emissions from steel mills become acid rain.炼钢厂排放出的硫形成了酸雨。
• Burning may produce sulfur oxides.燃烧可能会产生硫氧化物。

7 negligence   

n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意

参考例句：

• They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
• The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

8 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。