VOA标准英语2014--英国禁止可能损害肯尼亚的阿拉伯茶

 

British Ban May Hurt Kenya's Khat Business 英国禁止可能损害肯尼亚的阿拉伯茶

WASHINGTON—

Khat is a flowering tree native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Chewing khat leaves for stimulation¹ and even medicinal purposes has been a social custom in those parts of the world for hundreds of years, and migration² has brought it to the West. A number of western countries have outlawed³ khat because of its addictive⁴ substances, and Britain's decision to join that list has caused concern among khat growers and dealers⁵ in Kenya, whose livelihood⁶ depends on khat exports.

Joseph Mbiti grows khat, or miraa, as it is known here, at his farm in Meru, central Kenya. Even though the British ban is a little more than two months old, he said he already is feeling the consequences. 

"I am a farmer and I depend on khat for my livelihood. Since the ban in Britain took effect, I haven't been able to pay our children's school fees. I don't know what I am going to do. There is still a balance remaining, which we haven't paid," said Mbiti.

The ban has affected⁷ others involved in the business of producing and selling khat leaves.

"We used to take 30 pickups with miraa to Nairobi, but now we only have five pickups, meaning more than 20 drivers are jobless and many of the pickups are now just parked here," said a local driver.

Britain's ban on khat has created a glut⁸ in local markets, driving down the prices and employment opportunities.

“Many young men who used to package khat in Meru and at the airport are now jobless. The price of khat leaves has gone down drastically because all the khat that was to go to Britain is now sold locally. We are making huge losses," said a trader.

Britain's demand for khat is driven by its large ethnic⁹ Somali community. Users say chewing the leaves makes them feel happier, more alert, and more energetic. Some even say it is helpful in fighting gastric¹⁰ ulcers¹¹ and obesity¹². 

Opponents say longtime use of khat can damage the brain and lead to addiction¹³ that causes social problems, similar to those caused by alcoholism and drug abuse. The World Health Organization has classified khat as a drug of abuse because it can produce mild-to-moderate psychological dependence¹⁴. Kenyans and others living in countries where khat is legal disagree.

"The fact that they are saying some part of it contains some elements that are banned in the United Kingdom does not mean that the whole plant or the whole miraa is a negative impact to the entire society in the U.K.," said a Nairobi resident.

The ban has caused heated debate in Britain, where critics say it will spark a lucrative¹⁵ illegal trade but supporters say it will help prevent Britain from becoming a hub for the illegal trade to countries where khat is banned. Some Kenyans fear losing a legal job in the khat trade could drive many people to crime.

"Khat helps me educate my children and provide food for my family. I depend on it. This is why I am not involved in crime," said one Kenyan farmer.

Khat is banned in most European countries and in the United States and Canada.

1 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

2 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

3 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

4 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

5 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

6 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

7 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。

8 glut   

n.存货过多，供过于求；v.狼吞虎咽

参考例句：

• The glut of coffee led to a sharp drop in prices.咖啡供过于求道致价格急剧下跌。
• There's a glut of agricultural products in Western Europe.西欧的农产品供过于求。

9 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

10 gastric   

adj.胃的

参考例句：

• Miners are a high risk group for certain types of gastric cancer.矿工是极易患某几种胃癌的高风险人群。
• That was how I got my gastric trouble.我的胃病就是这么得的。

11 ulcers   

n.溃疡( ulcer的名词复数 )；腐烂物；道德败坏；腐败

参考例句：

• Detachment of the dead cells produces erosions and ulcers. 死亡细胞的脱落，产生糜烂和溃疡。 来自辞典例句
• 75% of postbulbar ulcers occur proximal to the duodenal papilla. 75％的球后溃疡发生在十二指肠乳头近侧。 来自辞典例句

12 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

13 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。

14 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

15 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。