VOA常速英语2008年-Many Stay Home on Day One of Burkina Faso Strik

By Nancy Palus
Dakar
08 April 2008

Tuesday marked the first day of a two-day national strike in Burkina Faso, called by union leaders to protest the high cost of living. The government recently took measures to ease the impact of high food prices , but unions say the authorities must do more. Nancy Palus reports from VOA's regional bureau in Dakar that by midday local time, there was calm in the Burkinabe capital.

Most shops and outdoor markets were closed in the capital, Ouagadougou. Most schools, banks and gas stations were also closed.

Anti-riot police were posted throughout the city, many gathering¹ at main intersections². In Burkina Faso as well as other countries in West Africa, recent demonstrations³ against rising food and fuel prices have turned violent.

Union leaders in Burkino Faso acknowledge that the government has taken measures to curb⁴ the high cost of living, including a continued suspension of import taxes and a reduction in water and electricity prices. But they say those measures are not enough.

Laurent Ouedraogo, who currently holds the rotating presidency⁵ of the National Confederation of Workers Union, says that after the strike union leaders will return to the negotiating table with the government, because, he says, the dialogue has not broken off. But, he says, the unions wanted to go ahead with their strike to emphasize the people's frustration⁶.

He says unions are using a civilized⁷ and legal means to get their point across. He says a strike should not be accompanied by violence, because, he says, destruction does not solve anything.

Among other changes, the unions continue to call for a 25 percent increase in salaries and pensions for public and private workers.

While many people are showing their support for the strike as a way to call the government's attention to their difficulties, staying away from work means a loss of revenue that many people cannot afford.

Zakaria Ouedraogo, whose last name is common in Burkina Faso, a 21-year-old shop owner in the Patte d'Oie neighborhood of the capital, says he opened his shop for only a few hours to make enough money to feed his family.

One woman who sells fabric⁸ in Ouagadougou, tells VOA that families are struggling to make ends meet and they are not yet feeling a positive impact from the government's measures.

The woman, who refused to give her name, says while merchants might lose money in a national strike, they must accept that. She says there is a saying in her language, Dioula, that sometimes you have to accept losing something now in order to gain something in the future.

Residents of Burkina Faso's second major city, Bobo Dioulasso, tell VOA only a few businesses there were observing the strike as of Tuesday afternoon. 

Unions have called for the nationwide strike to last through Wednesday.

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 intersections   

n.横断( intersection的名词复数 )；交叉；交叉点；交集

参考例句：

• Traffic lights have been placed at all major intersections. 所有重要的交叉路口都安装了交通信号灯。
• Intersections are of the greatest importance in highway design. 在道路设计中，交叉口占有最重要的地位。 来自辞典例句

3 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

5 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

6 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

7 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

8 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。