尊重能源公司的海外发展权

04 尊重能源公司的海外发展权

DATE=2-26-01
TITLE=DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Human Rights Agreement for Energy Companies BYLINE=Jill Moss¹

（Start at58"）This is the VOA Special English DEVELOPMENT REPORT.
Several international (1)energy and mining companies say they will support new human rights guidelines² in developing countries. The measures will honor³ human rights while protecting company operations in foreign countries. Companies can choose to follow the rules, which will not be legally (2)enforced. The United States, Britain and many international human rights groups support the measures.
Many of the world's energy and (3)minerals are in developing countries (4)experiencing political conflicts. International oil and mineral companies often are targets of critics and (5)extremist groups. The companies or governments sometimes use (6)violent measures against the groups.
Officials say the new guidelines could lead to international laws needed to prevent human rights (7)violations⁴. Some of the most serious problems have happened in Africa. Often the human rights violations are between government (8)troops and private security⁵ forces hired by the energy companies. The security forces are needed to protect a company's workers and (9)property. But, officials are questioning what steps a company can take to protect its interests before security measures become human rights violations.
Under the new guidelines, companies promise to examine any charges of human rights violations by their own security forces. They will also push for (10)investigations into any suspected violations by government forces. And, the companies will try to (11)guarantee that their equipment is not (12)misused by government security troops or in human rights violations.
It is not clear if the guidelines will make a difference. American officials say they do not plan to check if companies follow the measures. As a result, some human rights groups say the guidelines do not go far enough. However, they say the measures could provide companies with a guide on how to solve problems while operating in foreign countries.
Several international energy and mining companies have agreed to follow the guidelines. They include Royal Dutch Shell, B-P Amoco, Texaco, Conoco, Chevron⁶, Freeport McMoRan Copper⁷ and Gold and Rio Tinto. However, the largest oil company in the United States, Exxon Mobil, says it will probably not take part in the agreement.
This Special English development report was written by Jill Moss.

(1)  energy[ 5enEdVi ]n.精力, 精神, 活力, [物]能量
(2)  enforce[ in5fC:s ]vt.强迫, 执行, 坚持, 加强
(3) mineral[ 5minErEl ]n.矿物, 矿石
(4) experience[ iks5piEriEns ]n.vt.经验, 体验, 经历, 阅历
(5) extremist[ iks5tri:mist ]n.极端主义者, 过激分子adj.极端主义(者)
(6) violent[ 5vaiElEnt ]adj.猛烈的, 激烈的, 暴力引起的, 强暴的
(7) violation[ 7vaiE5leiFEn ]n.违反, 违背, 妨碍, 侵害, [体]违例, 强奸
(8) troop[ tru:p ]n.群,多数, 军队vi.群集, 成群而行vt.把(骑兵)编成骑兵连
(9) property[ 5prCpEti ]n.财产, 所有物, 所有权, 性质, 特性, (小)道具
(10) investigation[ in7vesti5^eiFEn ]n.调查, 研究
(11) guarantee[ 7^ArEn5ti: ]n.保证, 保证书, 抵押品vt.保证, 担保
(12) misuse[ 5mis5ju:z ]v.误用, 错用, 滥用, 虐待n.误用, 错用, 滥用, 误用之实例

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 guidelines   

n.指导方针，准则

参考例句：

• The government has drawn up guidelines on the treatment of the mentally ill. 政府制订了对待精神病人的指导方针。
• Planners seem a little uncomfortable with the current government guidelines. 规划师似乎不太接受现行的政府指道方针。

3 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

6 chevron   

n.V形臂章；V形图案

参考例句：

• He wore shoulderstrap rank slides with sergeant's chevrons.他佩戴标示级别的肩章，上面有中士的V形标志。
• The chevron or arrow road sign indicates a sharp bend to the left or right.V形或箭头路标表示有向左或向右的急转弯。

7 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。