2007年VOA标准英语-Environmental Award Winners Honored In Washingt

By Paul Sisco
Washington
27 April 2007
 

The Goldman Prize is awarded annually¹ to six individuals from around the world who have dedicated² their lives, sometimes at great risk, to protecting the world's natural resources.  Paul Sisco reports.

Goldman Environmental Prize winners

The Goldman Prize is often called the Nobel Prize for environmental heroism³.  Every year since 1990 someone from Africa, Asia, Europe, islands and island nations, North America, and South and Central America are singled out for their environmental activism.  Winners receive $125,000 dollars, the largest award of its kind.

Founder⁴ Richard Goldman said, "The Goldman Prize ends up in the hands of people who are grass roots environmentalists protecting the areas in which they live, and given an opportunity to get more recognition throughout the world."

Richard Goldman

Many of this year’s winners have risked their lives for their cause. Willie Corduff of Mayo County in Ireland, spent 94 days in jail protesting – and successfully halting – the construction of a Shell Oil pipeline⁵ across the biologically sensitive Irish coast.

In Zambia, in Africa, Hammerskjoeld Simwinga has turned elephant poachers into organized environmentalists and sustainable farmers.

And in the Amazon, Julio Cusurichi continues battling for the rain forest and the rights of its indigenous⁶ people to live there as they have for generations. 

Prize winners for 2007 are being honored in Washington this week as they have been since the first Goldman environment awards were presented in 1990.

Senator Barbara Boxer⁷ of California told them, "I remember the very year it started, and thinking how wonderful, and I guess the point I want to make between that day and this day is that the environment is back as an issue in America.  And the reason its back is because of people like you, who understand the fact that human rights include the dignity of living in a safe environment."

With her Goldman Prize, Canadian Sophia Rabliauskas plans to continue to fight for the protection of old growth forests and native species of wildlife in Manitoba.

Outdoorsman Orri Vigfusson, from Iceland, is a new kind of environmentalist.  Using his negotiating skills, he has started a multinational⁸ campaign to buy the fishing rights of commercial fishers who are blamed for the decline in salmon⁹ populations.

And once a poor herdsman in Mongolia, Tsetsegee Munkhbayar shut down powerful illegal mining interests in his country by educating local citizens on the importance of environmental protection, helping¹⁰ them to unite and shape government policy.

His message is the message of all the recipients¹¹ -- the health of planet Earth is everyone's responsibility.

 

1 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

2 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

3 heroism   

n.大无畏精神，英勇

参考例句：

• He received a medal for his heroism.他由于英勇而获得一枚奖章。
• Stories of his heroism resounded through the country.他的英雄故事传遍全国。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

6 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

7 boxer   

n.制箱者，拳击手

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• He moved lightly on his toes like a boxer.他像拳击手一样踮着脚轻盈移动。

8 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

9 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

10 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。

11 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》