VOA标准英语2008年-Italy Addresses Garbage Crisis, Tightens Immigr

By Sabina Castelfranco
Rome
21 May 2008

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's cabinet took steps to deal with the growing garbage crisis in Naples and approved a package of measures to combat illegal immigration and crime. Sabina Castelfranco reports for VOA from Rome.

When he won the elections last month, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had pledged that his first cabinet meeting would be held in the southern Italian city of Naples which has been struggling to deal with a major trash emergency. He had also vowed¹ to pass new measures to deal with crime in Italy and address the issue of illegal immigration.

True to his word, the prime minister on Wednesday moved his entire cabinet from Rome to Naples and approved a series of measures to deal with the garbage crisis, illegal immigration and security.

Mr. Berlusconi said that among the problems his government needed to face immediately is the one that appeared the most urgent was that of Naples. He added that his decision to hold his first cabinet meeting in the city was a way to underline symbolically² the government's attention and commitment to resolve the problems of this beautiful city.

He said the dream is to see Naples blossom once again and have marvelous flowers replace the trash in the streets.

The prime minister on Wednesday appointed a veteran official, Guido Bertolaso, the head of Italy's civil defense³ department, to deal with the garbage emergency. He said he would deal with the trash problem exactly as if it were an emergency caused by a earthquake or volcano eruption⁴.

Mr. Berlusconi said new landfills will be opened and the army will be called in to guard them, and pledged stiff punishment for anyone caught blocking garbage collection. He said a new incinerator, whose construction has been delayed, will be built as soon as possible.

Garbage has been piling in the streets of Naples since last December when all the available dumps were filled up.

The prime minister also addressed the problem of security,  a major public concern in Italy. 

Mr. Berlusconi said citizens have a fundamental right not to be afraid.  As he put it, "the right not to be afraid is a right that a state worthy⁵ of the name must guarantee."

A package was also approved to combat crime and illegal immigration. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said it will now be easier to expel illegal immigrants, check the income of immigrants from the EU and crack down on abuse of the asylum⁶ system to enter Italy.

The interior minister said illegal immigration is now a crime punishable by a prison term.  He said the measure will make it easier to expel immigrants who do not have legal papers to work in Italy.

Other security measures included tougher laws to deal with the mafia as well as for crimes against the elderly, women and the disabled.

1 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

2 symbolically   

ad.象征地，象征性地

参考例句：

• By wearing the ring on the third finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. 将婚戒戴在左手的第三只手指上，意味着夫妻双方象征性地宣告他们的爱情天长地久，他们定能白头偕老。
• Symbolically, he coughed to clear his throat. 周经理象征地咳一声无谓的嗽，清清嗓子。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

5 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

6 asylum   

n.避难所，庇护所，避难

参考例句：

• The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
• Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。