VOA文化艺术2023--刚果艺术家用塑料垃圾制作政客的照片

Congolese Artist Paints Politicians' Pictures with Plastic Waste

　　Near the edges of Lake Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, artist Patrick Cikuru Cirimwami walks knee-deep through a mountain of plastic bottles. He gathers as many as he can carry into a large container.

　　There is no public waste collection in the area. And the waste that goes into Lake Kivu often causes breakdowns¹ in the hydroelectric plant, leading to power cuts.

　　But Cikuru Cirimwami's goal is bigger than helping² clean up. Later he will melt down the plastic to make a thick liquid that he uses to paint pictures of politicians. The aim is to criticize the politicians for — what he says — is their inaction in protecting the environment.

　　"There have been many conferences in DR Congo, many meetings...but we have not taken measures to protect nature. As a Congolese artist, I can send a message," said the 26-year-old.

　　Recently, the artist's pictures of politicians were shown at a cultural center in his hometown, Bukavu. They included independence leader Patrice Lumumba to current president Felix Tshisekedi.

　　Congo says it has a right to develop its economy by exploiting its large amount of natural resources. It has come under criticism for selling oil exploration rights in the world's second-biggest rainforest.

　　The country says it aims to reduce the possibility of any great destruction effects by using modern drilling methods and restrictive laws. It also hosted talks before November's United Nations meeting known as COP 27 in Egypt on ways to prevent an increase in the Earth's average temperature. It called on rich nations to follow a promise to developing nations to ensure fair financial assistance to fight changes to the Earth's climate.

　　Words in This Story

　　knee – n. the joint³ that bends at the middle of your leg

　　plant –n. a building or factory were something is made or produced

　　exploit – v. to get value or use from (something)

 

　　host –v. to serve as a person or group with the responsibility to hold and supervise an event that includes guests and visitors

1 breakdowns   

n.分解( breakdown的名词复数 )；衰竭；（车辆或机器的）损坏；统计分析

参考例句：

• Her old car was unreliable, so the trip was plagued by breakdowns. 她的旧车老不听使唤，一路上总是出故障。 来自辞典例句
• How do we prevent these continual breakdowns? 我们如何防止这些一再出现的故障？ 来自辞典例句

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。