VOA标准英语2008年-South Koreans Draw Battle Lines amidst Media Sc

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
06 May 2008

South Koreans are drawing political battle lines about the government's plan to resume imports of American beef. Officials and scientists in both countries say consuming U.S. beef is safe. But a media campaign, driven mainly by trade concerns, is fueling panic among many South Koreans. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin has more.

Liberal political parties and citizens' groups called on South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Tuesday to cancel his promise to resume imports of U.S. beef to this country.

With parliament hearings on American beef imports expected to start Wednesday, South Korean activists¹ and politicians are redoubling their efforts to block the return of U.S. beef, based on a view that it is unsafe.

South Korea banned American beef imports in 2003, after a single case of the fatal brain condition commonly referred to as "mad cow disease" was discovered in a U.S. animal. Scientists say the disease can infect humans who consume tainted² meat.

Last May, the United Nations effectively backed Washington's assertions that American beef is safe. South Korean President Lee agrees and promised U.S. President George Bush last month Seoul would fully³ reopen its beef market. The beef ban has been an obstacle that American lawmakers warn could be fatal to a much broader trade deal between the two countries.

South Korean beef producers and their political allies have pressed ahead with assertions that U.S. beef poses a public health threat. Their media messages have become indistinguishably intertwined with warnings about the economic impact of U.S. beef imports on South Korean livelihoods⁴.

Thousands of South Koreans have been holding anti-U.S.-beef candlelight vigils in downtown Seoul on a near-nightly basis since Friday. Last week, a prominent South Korean TV documentary asserted Koreans possess a special gene⁵ that makes them more susceptible⁶ to mad cow disease.

Editorials in major South Korean newspapers have criticized opponents of American beef for what they describe as scaremongering. South Korean officials have tried to allay⁷ public health concerns, with lengthy⁸ news briefings broadcast live on several nationwide television networks.

Nonetheless, South Korea's main opposition⁹ parties say they will use every tool at their disposal to nullify the U.S. beef import deal - a move which could have a serious impact on the bigger American-South Korea trade picture.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

5 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

6 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

7 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

8 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

9 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。