VOA常速英语--新应用程序帮助泰国打击腐败问题

 

Bribespot: Fighting Corruption² in Thailand One Click at a Time 新应用程序帮助泰国打击腐败问题

BANGKOK — Reporting corruption, at least unofficially, in Thailand is becoming easier with a new Thai version of an international smartphone application.

As it is in many developing countries, bribery³ is ubiquitous in Thailand.  A Transparency International survey found that one-fourth of those in the country acknowledged making a payoff at least once a year.

就像在许多发展中国家一样,行贿问题在泰国随处可见。一项透明国际调查发现这个国家四分之一的人承认至少每年一次要缴纳一些好处。

But the government's Public Sector⁴ Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) said it only received about 4,000 complaints annually⁵ through its telephone hotline, Website and walk-in center.

但是政府的PACC，即公共部门反腐委员会表示每年只会收到通过电话热线、网站及门市的约4000份投诉。

Now people in Thailand have a more convenient way to informally report corruption.

而泰国的人们现在有了一种更加便捷的方式可以匿名举报行贿受贿情况。

The local version of Bribespot, created by a Lithuanian living in Germany, allows anyone with access to a smartphone or computer to pinpoint⁶ where, to whom and how much they paid a bribe¹. The reports are then published and mapped online.

由一位生活在德国的立陶宛人创造的Bribespot的本地版允许任何人访问智能手机或电脑来精确定位指出受贿行贿的地点，人物及金额。然后这份报告会在网络上标注。

PACC deputy secretary general Prayong Preeyachitt sees such innovations as Blogspot as helping⁷ to combat corruption.

PACC副秘书长普拉朗·普雷希特关注如博客网站等的新生事物如何帮助打击腐败。

“It is a good use of technology to help solve the corruption problem. But I am worried about our office getting overwhelmed by the number of claims it could generate. However the application is very useful for our job and the prime minister endorses⁸ this project,” he said.

“这是利用技术来帮助解决腐败问题很好的典范。但是我担心我们的办公室会被越来越多数量的投诉搞得焦头烂额。然而这款应用对于我们非常有利与我们的工作而且首相支持这个项目,”他说道。

Commission officials said they were willing to disseminate⁹ information through their nine regional offices to let the public know about this new method of detailing corruption.

委员会官员表示,他们愿意通过他们的九个区域办事处传播信息,让公众了解这一解决腐败问题新方法的详细情况。

"I had to pay a policeman because he said my vehicle's number plate was too dirty to read clearly. This application may be very useful because we can be anonymous¹⁰ and we do not know to whom we should report such incidents," said one office worker.

“我不得不给一位警官好处，因为他说我的车牌板太脏不能清晰辨认。这个应用程序或许非常有用,因为我们能够匿名举报,而且我们不知道该向谁报告此类事件”,一位上班族说道。

"I have already heard about this application. I think it will be useful," said one young woman.

“我已经听说了这一应用。我认为它会很有用,”一个年轻女人说道。

"Social networks can be valuable for this problem. But this application needs more functions to provide sufficient evidence, such as audio or a video clip," a salesman said.

“社交网络对这个问题的贡献会很大。但这一应用需要更多的功能来提供足够的证据,比如音频或视频片断等,”一位推销员说道。

But some, including a local newspaper, are skeptical¹¹ about Bribespot's potential effectiveness here, saying while graft¹² is talked about a lot in Thailand, it is generally tolerated by the public. Such payments result in reduced fines from police officers and faster service at government offices. 

但是包括一家当地报纸等一些人质疑Bribespot的潜在有效性,表示虽然受贿问题在泰国屡见不鲜,但公众通常表示容忍。此类的贿赂导致警察减少罚款及政府办公室更高效的服务。

1 bribe   

n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通

参考例句：

• He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
• He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

4 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。

5 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。

6 pinpoint   

vt.准确地确定；用针标出…的精确位置

参考例句：

• It is difficult to pinpoint when water problems of the modern age began.很难准确地指出，现代用水的问题是什么时候出现的。
• I could pinpoint his precise location on a map.我能在地图上指明他的准确位置。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 endorses   

v.赞同( endorse的第三人称单数 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• There isn't one country in the Middle East that now endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. 但至今没有一个中东国家认可它。 来自辞典例句
• Whether any of this truly endorses Dr Patel's hypothesis is moot. 这些视频能否真正证明帕特的假设成立还是个未知数。 来自互联网

9 disseminate   

v.散布；传播

参考例句：

• We should disseminate science and promote the scientific spirit.普及科学知识，弘扬科学精神。
• We sincerely welcome all countries to disseminate their languages in China.我们真诚地欢迎世界各国来华推广本国语言。

10 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

11 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

12 graft   

n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接

参考例句：

• I am having a skin graft on my arm soon.我马上就要接受手臂的皮肤移植手术。
• The minister became rich through graft.这位部长透过贪污受贿致富。