2006年VOA标准英语-New US Envoy to FAO Says Africa a Priority

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
12 October 2006

The new U.S. ambassador to U.N. food agencies based in Rome recently arrived to take up his post.  Gaddi Vasquez directed the Peace Corps¹ for the past four-and-a-half years.

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Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez says public awareness² of world hunger must be increased to provide greater support for international efforts.  He says he hopes to be a leader in addressing the devastating³ consequences of world hunger and poverty.

Vasquez arrived in Rome three weeks ago as the eighth U.S. representative to the U.N. food agencies.  He says he believes his experience as Director of the Peace Corps will be useful now.

"During my tenure⁴ I traveled to over 60 countries and I had the opportunity to see the strength of development work, the capacity of Peace Corps volunteers to build capacity in the areas of agriculture, in the areas of irrigation, maximizing or improving productivity," he said.

Vasquez says the Peace Corps concentrates its efforts in rural communities, villages, and towns and works at the grassroots level.  He says his time at the Peace Corps gave him the opportunity to see the strengths and challenges that are faced on a daily basis in the developing world.

Ambassador Vasquez says he plans to travel extensively in his new job and his first trip could be as early as December.  He did not announce a destination, but he says Africa continues to be a high U.S. priority for foreign assistance.

"We have made major investments of resources and personnel in Africa because there are a number of needs on different fronts and so consequently there has been a concentration of that," he added.  "How that spells out in my new capacity is yet to be determined⁵, but there is no doubt that the continent of Africa is facing some significant challenges."

Ambassador Vasquez attended the opening of a new Crisis Management Center at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.  Just before the launch of the center, the U.S. mission announced an American pledge of up to $35 million over three years to fight avian influenza⁶.

1 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

4 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。