2007年VOA标准英语-Bush in Brazil to Push for Ethanol Alliance

By Paula Wolfson
Sao Paulo
09 March 2007

The United States and Brazil are forming an informal alliance to push the production of ethanol. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports from Sao Paulo, the development and promotion¹ of biofuels made from plants is the focus of President Bush's visit to Brazil.

Ethanol station in Sao Paulo, Brazil

In this bustling² city - where the potential and problems of Latin America are on vivid display - cars are everywhere.

But here, when a customer lines up for fuel on a busy street corner, there is a good chance he or she will buy a blend of gasoline and ethanol made from sugar cane³.

It is the norm in a country where eight out of every 10 new cars sold runs on fuel containing ethanol.

Together, the United States and Brazil produce about 75 percent of the world's ethanol. But Brazil is the largest exporter, and is the leader in biofuels research.

Paulo Soteri is director of the Brazil Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington. He says Brazil welcomes the Bush administration's new focus on alternative fuels.

"This is a rare instance in which in cooperation between a developed country and a developing country, the developing country is the one that brings the best experience, has industry that is mature and has a lot to say," said Paulo Soteri.

Soteri says the Brazilians are pragmatic and know the growing interest in biofuels in the United States can only benefit their country. He says many here believe President Bush may be trying to promote a program that will prove popular with Americans, and divert attention - even slightly - from the Iraq war.

"In Brazil, there is a perception and an explanation about why this sudden interest in Brazilian ethanol [they say] it is because a very unpopular president at home needs a popular agenda, needs to get some issues that can change his image a little bit at home," he said.

There will be demonstrators in Sao Paulo during the president's visit, many of them from environmental groups, which fear small farmers will be exploited and protected land will be used for sugar cane cultivation⁴.

Critics here speak of a potential ethanol OPEC. But U.S. officials downplay the notion, saying the goal is to develop ethanol technology so more countries can get involved in production in a renewable form of energy.

They say the U.S. Brazilian agreement that will be signed on this trip is but a first step. One thing it will not do is lift the current U.S. tariff⁵ on imported ethanol.

Eric Farnsworth, vice⁶ president of the Council of the Americas urges the Bush administration to reconsider the tariff.

"U.S. energy security would be enhanced by working more collaboratively with Brazil to develop and promote ethanol resources," said Eric Farnsworth. "Of course, to be most effective the U.S. tariff on imported ethanol has to be reduced or eliminated."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said the tariff makes no sense, and has vowed⁷ to lodge⁸ a complaint during his talks with President Bush. President da Silva will make a reciprocal visit to the United States later this month and will become the first Latin American leader to visit Mr. Bush at presidential retreat, Camp David.

1 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

2 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

3 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

4 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

5 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

8 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。