PBS高端访谈:英国学费增至三倍 将出现更多示威活动

 　　MARGARET WARNER:The plan to triple college tuition fees is part of a broad budget rebalancing program now being put in place by Britain's Conservative prime minister, David Cameron, and his coalition¹ partner, the Liberal Democrats².

　　The measure passed the House of Commons yesterday, but with significant defections from Liberals.

　　For more on all this, we turn to Ned Temko, a writer for The Observer, a London newspaper.

　　And, Ned Temko, welcome.First of all, briefly³, what is the main focus of these investigations⁴ that were launched today?

　　NED TEMKO, The Observer:Well, there are two areas they are looking into.One, the narrow one is how on earth Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, and his wife Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, found themselves in their official Rolls-Royce being pelted⁵ with paint, people baying for their heads, and royal protection officers, some of whom are armed, left to try and scurry⁶ their way out of danger, and somehow keep an obviously serious clash from becoming more serious yet, and possibly causing bloodshed.

　　So, that—that's one narrow focus—more broadly, how these demonstrations⁸ turned violent for the third straight time, and particularly accusations⁹ from across the political spectrum¹⁰ that, not just a tiny minority, but a significant number of these demonstrators or people who infiltrated¹¹ the demonstration⁷ were bent¹² on violence, and on the protesters' side, accusations that the police either overreacted or used the wrong tactics to police these events.

　　So, both of those investigations, I think, will—will go forward now as a matter of urgency.

　　MARGARET WARNER:So, was this protest unusual for London—to have in the streets of London?And was it over the tuition hikes or more broadly over this austerity program?

　　NED TEMKO:Well, no, the immediate¹³ focus has been over these tuition hikes.And this is the third straight regular demonstration by these student groups.And they're getting more and more angry as the legislation gets closer to coming into law, but against the background, as you say, of overall austerity measures, the most radical¹⁴ budget cut program, something like 83 billion pounds in total, since the Second World War.

　　So, it's all kind of a politically perfect storm.And there's every prospect¹⁵ of more demonstrations in the weeks and months ahead.

　　MARGARET WARNER:So, just give us a couple of examples of how tough at least these cuts are going to be.Isn't the government talking about basically cutting something like 20 percent out of the federal budget over four years?

　　NED TEMKO:Yes.And it's a hugely ambitious austerity program.

　　It's not across the board.There are some areas that have been ring-fenced.One of them is the National Health Service, for instance.Overseas aid has been ring-fenced.And they have actually done a kind of arithmetical formula to at least add to primary and early schools education over those four years.But, by and large...

　　MARGARET WARNER:But for the most part...

　　NED TEMKO:For the most part.

　　And the focus is on public sector¹⁶ jobs.And that is where the main axe¹⁷ is going to fall.What is interesting is that, so far, even though there is a lot of fear, a lot of people are concerned, I suppose, in principle, there hasn't been any major immediate effect, because the cuts haven't really started to take effect yet.

　　MARGARET WARNER:Now, where are the public opinion polls on this?As I recall, I mean, David Cameron ran for office saying this kind of thing had to be done.Has the public stuck with him on the idea of needing these measures?

　　NED TEMKO:By and large, yes.And that's what is so fascinating.Obviously, there has been some slippage in the polls for the Conservatives over the last couple of months, particularly since the major budget cut announcements in October.

　　But the main victim in the polls has been the Liberal Democrats, the junior partner in the coalition, because they are kind of squeezed in between.And their poll numbers are really taking a nosedive.But, by and large, Cameron's ratings remain high.And, even more significant, if you kind of bore into the detail of these polls, the Conservatives are still enjoying a fairly healthy lead as the party most trusted to deal with the economy.

　　So, there does seem to be a broad acceptance that this kind of major action to deal with the budget deficit¹⁸ and the public debt is absolutely necessary.

　　MARGARET WARNER:Now, you mentioned that the biggest hits are going to be felt by people who are employed by the government.I think they are talking about cutting a half-a-million out of, what is it, six million jobs.

　　Do the people you're talking to in government, or law enforcement, or politics, do they think that you could see serious protests from the unions, for instance, when those cuts start hitting, or no?

　　NED TEMKO:I think there is a fear.And, certainly, the unions are gearing up to basically spearhead public opposition¹⁹ to these cuts.

　　The great unknown, really, is the degree to which the private sector will take up the slack in these jobs, because there is a precedent²⁰ in the '80s, for instance, for a significant cutback in the public sector.And the public sector, the payroll²¹ has been hugely increased under 13 years of Labor²² Party rules.

　　So, it's not as if there isn't some scope for efficiency savings²³.But the real thing that the government is counting on, which, by the way, the early indications have been encouraging to them, is that a significant growth in public sector—in—rather, in private sector employment will at least take up some of this slack and ease the pain a bit.

　　MARGARET WARNER:Ned, we are just about out of time, but, quickly, before we go, has there been any criticism of Prince Charles and Camilla for wading²⁴ into these protesters in full evening regalia with jewels and in and a Rolls-Royce, when they were protesting...

　　NED TEMKO:No, no, no.

　　MARGARET WARNER:No?

　　(LAUGHTER)NED TEMKO:This is England.

　　No, I mean, not everybody is a real royalist here, not least because some people were saying "Off with your heads" as the mob approached them.But, by and large, most Britons, and even in the most kind of extreme radio call-in voices, there is—there is sympathy for the plight²⁵ of Charles and Camilla.

　　And, after all, this is a constitutional monarchy²⁶, and they don't make the policy.They are basically—their job is to go in Rolls-Royces and in jewels.

　　(LAUGHTER)MARGARET WARNER:All right, Ned Temko of The Observer in London, thank you so much.

　　NED TEMKO:Thank you.

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

4 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

5 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。

6 scurry   

vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马

参考例句：

• I jumped on the sofa after I saw a mouse scurry by.看到一只老鼠匆匆路过,我从沙发上跳了起来。
• There was a great scurry for bargains.大家急忙着去抢购特价品。

7 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

8 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。

9 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

10 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

11 infiltrated   

adj.[医]浸润的v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The headquarters had been infiltrated by enemy spies. 总部混入了敌方特务。
• Many Chinese idioms have infiltrated into the Japanese language. 许多中国成语浸透到日语中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

12 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

13 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

14 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

15 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

16 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

17 axe   

n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减

参考例句：

• Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
• The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

18 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

19 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

20 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

21 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

22 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

23 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

24 wading   

（从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The man tucked up his trousers for wading. 那人卷起裤子，准备涉水。
• The children were wading in the sea. 孩子们在海水中走着。

25 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

26 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。