VOA标准英语2008年-UN Chief Says Billions Needed to Halt Food Cris

The U.N. Secretary-General says between $25 billion and $40 billion is needed each year to boost agricultural production and assist farmers worldwide, in order to curb¹ the growing global food crisis. From United Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
　
Ban Ki-moon addresses the General Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters, New York, 18 Jul 2008

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned that the combination of rising food and fuel prices threatens to undermine much of the progress made toward achieving the Millennium² Development Goals of cutting poverty, hunger and disease in half by 2015.

Mr. Ban told a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on the global food and energy crisis, that the international community must take steps to ensure that vulnerable populations are not left without help.

"I urge Members of this Assembly to immediately and substantially scale-up public spending to respond effectively to the pressing needs of the world's hungry people," he said.

He warned that between $25 billion and $40 billion would be needed annually³ to help farmers and enhance food production around the world. He called on governments, donors⁴, the private sector⁵, civil society and U.N. agencies to work together to meet these costs.

Mr. Ban said the cost of inaction would be "unacceptably high," warning that over 100 million more people could slide into hunger. He cited other consequences including political instability in the most affected⁶ countries, increased migration⁷, higher global inflation and economic stagnation⁸.

"If we do not seek lasting⁹ solutions now, more children will die each day, more families will go to bed hungry," said Mr. Ban. "The threats left to the next generation will be even greater."

The U.N. chief said addressing the global food and fuel crisis requires quick action and a long term commitment.

　

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 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。

7 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

8 stagnation   

n. 停滞

参考例句：

• Poor economic policies led to a long period of stagnation and decline. 糟糕的经济政策道致了长时间的经济萧条和下滑。
• Motion is absolute while stagnation is relative. 运动是绝对的，而静止是相对的。

9 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。