2007年VOA标准英语-WHO Delegates Move to Cut Second-Hand Smoke

By Ron Corben
Bangkok
06 July 2007

Efforts to implement¹ a 2003 global tobacco control treaty moved forward after delegates from more than 140 nations pledged to end smoking in public places and work places. As Ron Corben reports from Bangkok, World Health Organization officials say there has been greater public support for creating smoke free areas than had been expected.

The delegates meeting this week in Bangkok prepared guidelines for governments that want to restrict smoking at work or public places.

The meeting, organized by the World Health Organization, follows an international tobacco control treaty signed in 2003.

Jonathan Liberman, a director of law and regulation at the Cancer Council of Victoria, Australia, says the strong support from delegates for reducing exposure to second-hand² smoke exceeded expectations.

"The meeting was just an extraordinary success," said Liberman. "We came here as civil society with hopes about the decisions that the parties would make and they've basically delivered on everything. People understood the problem they were here to address."

WHO says over five million people died in 2006 from tobacco-related illnesses. The organization also warns that if trends continue, tobacco will kill 10 million people a year by 2020, with 70 percent of the deaths in developing countries.

The WHO estimates that more than 200,000 non-smokers die each year from illnesses caused by breathing smoke from other people's cigarettes.

Dr. Haik Nikogosian, a member of the WHO secretariat, says such bans find strong support around the world.

"I cannot name any other area of tobacco control during the recent years has grown in the importance of the public perception," he said. "It is remarkable³ support - political and public support to this area. Four years ago you couldn't even imagine about that in restaurants and bars with the bans to smoking. But it has happened now."

Several nations and dozens of cities have in recent years restricted smoking in public areas, such as restaurants.

Ahmed Ogwell, a WHO representative from Kenya, says the aim is to protect non-smokers.

"I don't see it as anything other than protecting someone who is not affected⁴ by the addiction⁵ to stay unaffected by the addiction, so 100 percent smoke free places really should be the norm and not the exception," said Ogwell.

Treaty signatories meet next year in South Africa to discuss guidelines on regulating advertising⁶ and promoting tobacco products and on packaging for cigarettes.

The delegates this week also started work on a new treaty to fight tobacco smuggling⁷.

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 second-hand   

adj.用过的，旧的，二手的

参考例句：

• I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
• They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

3 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

6 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

7 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。