VOA常速英语2008年-Ghana Conference Examines Ways to Improve Water

By Joana Mantey
Accra, Ghana
07 April 2008

Experts in the field of water and sanitation¹ have gathered to share their knowledge at an international conference opening Monday in Accra, Ghana. The meeting is a collaborative effort by Ghana’s Ministry² of Works and Housing and the Water Engineering and Development Center (WEDC) at Loughborough University in Britain. Minta Aboagye is the chairman of the local organizing committee of the conference. He told VOA reporter Joana Mantey that the weeklong meeting will identify challenges in meeting the Millennium³ development goals, which advocate improving access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.

The conference will focus on four broad themes: water resources, water supply, environmental sanitation and management issues. Aboagye said papers on research findings will be presented by representatives of academia, industry and agencies involved in water delivery and sanitation services. He said participants will meet “providers from other parts of the world, especially Asia, so that we can also benefit from their experiences” – experiences such as the role of women in delivering water and ways to ensure clean water after a conflict or flooding.

And in what ways have such conferences affected⁴ the lives of people in developing countries? Aboagye said one example is what he called the Mozambican Latrine. “It’s an improved latrine for small households which we have adopted [in Ghana].“ This type of latrine is fitted with vents⁵ that remove the smell and allow natural lights in the enclosed space.

Aboagye said the forum⁶ has provided a platform for exchange of ideas and innovations.

1 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 vents   

（气体、液体等进出的）孔、口( vent的名词复数 )； （鸟、鱼、爬行动物或小哺乳动物的）肛门； 大衣等的)衩口； 开衩

参考例句：

• He always vents his anger on the dog. 他总是拿狗出气。
• The Dandelion Patch is the least developed of the four active vents. “蒲公英区”在这四个活裂口中是发育最差的一个。

6 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。