Kenyan Peace Prize Winner Campaigns for Forest Protection

 

By Cathy Majtenyi
 
Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, Monday spoke¹ against widespread practices, such as forest farming, that, she says, are responsible for deforestation in her country. Ms. Maathai said forest protection is her top priority.

Ms. Maathai told reporters before the opening of the Conference of Women Ministers for the Environment that Kenya's forests have been steadily² cleared over the past 70 years to make way for plantations³ of exotic species. She says the policy has destroyed the country's biological diversity and water reservoirs.

Ms. Maathai said he hopes the recognition that goes with winning the Nobel Peace Prize will motivate her government to stop the deforestation of Kenya.

"This recognition in many way[s] endorses⁴ the campaign and brings it to the forefront so that leaders in this country can really realize that protecting the forest in this country is a matter of life and death," she said.

The Nobel Peace Laureate said the biggest challenge facing the government is to make people understand that forest destruction is irreversible.

"When you talk of forest, they think that any tree standing⁵ can make a forest, and we are trying to explain that forests are systems, they are ecosystems⁶, and must be protected like that," said Wangari Maathai.

Ms. Maathai, who serves as Kenya's deputy environment minister, planted a tree at the U.N. complex in Nairobi before addressing the opening session of the women ministers' conference.

She urged the participants to be persistent⁷ and courageous⁸ in their efforts to protect the environment.

Cathy Majtenyi for VOA News, Nairobi.

注释：
Nobel Peace Prize 诺贝尔和平奖
deforestation 采伐森林
exotic 稀有的，奇异的
biological diversity 生物差异
recognition 赞誉，重视
endorse 认可
laureate 获得荣誉的人
irreversible 不能撤回的
ecosystems 生态系统
Nairobi 内罗毕，肯尼亚首都

 

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句

4 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句

7 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

8 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。