4、COP27 ...
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Egypt
Good COP, bad cops
埃及
好COP，坏警察 [COP指《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二
十七次缔约方大会]
The host of the climate-change summit persecutes
environmentalists at home
气候变化峰会的举办国在国内迫害环保人士
【1】The climb up the holy mount seemed
innocuous enough. On the side of the UN’s annual
climate conference this week in Egypt’s Sinai
peninsula, a few dozen religious leaders from India to
Indiana planned to pray on its summit for
forgiveness for the harm humanity has been inflicting
on Mother Earth. Egypt’s local military governor
gave the idea a cautious welcome, hoping it might
boost tourism. But his masters in Cairo were taking no
chances. The bus companies and hotels were told to
cancel their reservations. security men grabbed the
local fixer, took his phone and sifted it for names to
put on the state’s blacklist. “They want to control us,”
says an organiser, who has moved the Earth-propitiating
event to London instead.
爬上圣山（西奈山）似乎确实不会带来危害。本周，在埃及
西奈半岛举行的联合国年度气候大会上，来自从印度到印第安
纳州的几十位宗教领袖计划在圣山顶上祈祷，祈求上苍宽恕人
类对地球造成的伤害。埃及当地的军事首长谨慎地接受了这一
想法，希望此举能促进旅游业的发展。但开罗的长官们却不敢
冒险。政府让大巴公司和酒店取消预订。在全国范围内安保人
员抓住了当地的组织者，抢走他的手机，并在手机里筛选人以
列入国家的黑名单。“他们想控制我们，”一位组织者表示，他
已将这一地球安抚活动安排到了伦敦举行。
【2】As climate pundits and politicians fly into the
Sinai resort of Sharm el-Sheikh from all over the
world to attend COP27, Egypt’s rulers are intent on
cordoning off their own environment from the
debate.They have sharply restricted permits for
Egyptian NGOs, installed cameras in taxis to quieten
Egypt’s talkative drivers, and swamped the floor of
the supposedly UN-controlled zone with plain-clothes
security men wearing lapel pins. And across the
country they have locked up activists seeking to hold
the authorities to account for wrecking Egypt’s
environment.
正当气候专家和政治家从世界各地飞往西奈半岛的度假胜地沙
姆沙伊赫（Sharm el-Sheikh）参加《联合国气候变化框架
公约》第二十七次缔约方大会时，埃及统治者们正打算把国内
的环境问题同气候辩论相隔开。他们严格限制向埃及非政府组
织发放许可，还在出租车上安装摄像头，好让健谈的司机闭
嘴，并在据称是联合国控制区内部署了大量身戴领章的便衣保
安。政府逮捕了试图追究当局破坏国内环境责任的活动人士。
【3】Egyptians have a long history of protesting
against environmental disasters. Prophets and
peasants blamed the pharaoh for biblical famines
and plagues. More recent campaigners lambasted the
government of President Hosni Mubarak for
approving an ammonia factory in their coastal town of
Damietta—and won. And after the Arab uprising of
2011, when Mubarak was overthrown, thousands of
Egyptians protested against the building of nuclear
reactors, coal plants in residential areas and
motorways that tore through their neighbourhoods.
After the country’s top general, Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi,
seized power in 2013, he smothered environmental
dissent and pursued whatever mega-projects he
fancied. “The worse the environmental damage, the
greater the silence,” says an Egyptian activist, who,
like all his ilk, requests anonymity.
埃及人对环境灾难的抗议由来已久。先知和农民将圣经中的饥
荒与瘟疫归咎于法老。距今更近的是环境运动人士因为政府批
准在沿海城镇达米埃塔（Damietta）设立一处氨厂而炮轰时
任总统胡思尼·穆巴拉克（Hosni Mubarak）领导的政府，
并且以胜利告终。在2011年推翻穆巴拉克政权的“阿拉伯之春”
运动结束后，数千名埃及人抗议在居民区内修建核反应堆和燃
煤发电厂，以及在他们的社区内部修建高速公路。2013年，该
国最高将领阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西（Abdel-Fattah alSisi）
掌权后，选择压制环保异见，并强推其所想的各种大型
项目。一位埃及活动家说：“环境破坏得越严重，人们也愈发
不敢发声”，他和其他活动家一样要求报道时予以匿名。
【4】The greens certainly need to cry out. By 2030 ,
according to official estimates, rising sea levels may
cut agricultural output in the low-lying delta, Egypt’s
breadbasket, by 30%. Farmers already report falling
harvests as salty water seeps into their fields.
环保人士确实需要发声。根据官方预测，到2030年，海平面上
升或许会让位于低地势三角洲（埃及的粮仓）的农业产量减
产30%。由于海水渗入农田，已经有农民报告称收成降低。
【5】But environmental groups say they cannot
conduct fieldwork or raise awareness. They face the
same curbs as NGOS in other spheres. Protesters are
absurdly labelled “terrorists” and jailed. Restrictive
laws have tightened. The punishment for receiving
foreign funds, which many green groups need to
survive, has been amended to include sentences of
death or jail for life. “There’s no activism any more,”
laments an Egyptian environmentalist.
但环保组织表示，他们无法对问题进行实地考察或者提高人们
的环保意识。环保组织在其他领域面临着与其他非政府组织
（NGOs）同样的限制。抗议者被荒谬地打上“恐怖分子”的
标签，并锒铛入狱。限制性的法律已经收紧。许多环保组织为
了生存，需要接受外国资金的援助，而法律已将其惩罚修改为
包括死刑或无期徒刑。一位埃及环保主义者哀叹：“埃及不会
再有激进主义了。”
【6】 It is unclear how many of Egypt’sestimated
65,000 political prisoners are green activists, say
human-rights groups. But their number includes
several prominent environmentalists. Ahmed
Amasha, who helped orchestrate the Damietta
protests and set up the Arab Association for
Environment and Sustainable Development to train
activists, has spent four of the past five years in
prison. His testicles have been electrocuted and his
left ribs broken, says his family. “There’s no more
respect for environmental rights than for any other in
Sisi’s Egypt,” says Mohamed Amasha, the activist’s
son, who lives in America.
人权组织表示，目前尚不清楚埃及方面所估计的65000名政治
犯中有多少是环保活动者，但其中有几位著名环保人士。艾哈
迈德·阿玛沙（Ahmed Amasha）帮助策划了达米埃塔抗议
活动，并成立了阿拉伯环境与可持续发展协会（Arab
Association for Environment and Sustainable
Development）来培训环保活动者。过去的五年中，阿玛沙
有四年在狱中度过。他的家人说，他的□□遭受了电击，左肋
骨也断了。身处美国的艾哈迈德的儿子穆罕默德·阿马沙
（Mohamed Amasha）表示：“在塞西统治下的埃及，环
境权最得不到尊重”。
【7】 With silence ensured, Mr Sisi’s bulldozers have
speeded up the browning of green spaces in a country
where 95% of the land is desert. Earlier this year he
authorised the army to develop 37 islands, mostly in
the Nile, that had previously been designated as
conservation zones. Construction has already begun
on Tawila island, off the Red Sea coast. The security
forces have also be gun clearing al-Warraq, a Nile
island that was one of the largest green spaces
remaining in Cairo, the capital.
环保人士遭禁言后，塞西总统的推土机正加速开发建造埃及这
片95%土地为沙漠的国家绿地。今年年初，塞西授权军方开发
37座岛屿，其中大部分位于尼罗河，而这些岛屿之前规划用于
建设环境保护区。红海沿岸的塔维拉岛已经开始建设。安全部
队也在持枪清空瓦拉克岛（al-Warraq），该岛是首都开罗
仅存的最大绿地之一。
【8】Some Egyptian greens want the confer 【 ence
boycotted. “It’s just greenwashing,” says an exiled
member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned
Islamist group, whose government Mr Sisi overthrew
in 2013. “No matter how many people are in Sisi jails,
he’s showing that the whole world is there for him” in
Sharm el-Sheikh.
一些埃及环保人士希望能抵制COP27会议。遭取缔的□□
兄弟会（Muslim Brotherhood）的一名流亡成员表示：
“这（个会议）只是漂绿行为。”塞西于2013年推翻了□□
兄弟会成立的政府。“无论塞西的监狱里有多少人，塞西都在
沙姆沙伊赫（COP27的举办地）表现出全世界都在支持自
己。”。
【9】But others argue that holding COP27 in Egypt
still has benefits. Under the umbrella of international
organisations, some dissidents have slipped through
the security cordon. On November 8th Sanaa Seif, the
sister of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent prodemocracy
activist, held a press conference to
highlight his plight, since he has been on hunger strike
in prison. And Egyptian environmentalists still
support Mr Sisi’s case that rich countries should pay
for past pollution—to the benefit of such worthy
supplicants as Egypt.
但其他人认为埃及举办COP27仍有益处。在一些国际组织的
保护下，有些异议人士悄悄越过了警戒线。11月8日，著名的
民主活动家阿拉·阿卜德·法塔赫（Alaa Abd el Fattah）的
妹妹萨纳·塞夫（Sana Seif）召开了新闻发布会，强调其哥
哥所面临的困境，因为他一直在狱中以绝食抗争。埃及环保主
义者仍然支持塞西先生的（部分）观点，即发达国家应该为
过去（它们造成的）污染买单，以造福于埃及这样值得尊敬
的恳求者。
①短语：
1.原文：for the harm humanity has been inflicting on Mother Earth
词典：inflict sth on/upon sb/sth 使遭受打击。使吃苦头
例句：They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team.
他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
2.原文：But his masters in Cairo were taking no chances
词典：take a chance (on sth) 冒险 take one’s chances碰运气 take no chances不去冒险
例句：We took a chance on the weather and planned to have the party outside.
我们怀着天气可能会好的侥幸心理筹划到户外聚会。
3.原文：Egypt’s rulers are intent on cordoning off their own environment from the debate
词典：be intent on/upon sth专注于 be intent on (doing) sth决心做
例句：Are you intent upon destroying my reputation?
你是不是存心要败坏我的名誉？
I was so intent on my work that I didn’t notice the time.
我专心工作，以致忘了时间。
4.原文：Egypt’s rulers are intent on cordoning off their own environment from the debate
词典：cordon sth?off （由警察、士兵等）包围，警戒，封锁
例句：Police cordoned off the area until the bomb was made safe.
警方封锁了这个地区直到炸弹被安全拆除为止。
5.原文：and swamped the floor of the supposedly UN-controlled zone with plain-clothes security men
词典：swamp sb/sth (with sth) 使不堪承受；使疲于应对；使应接不暇
例句：The department was swamped with job applications.
面对纷至沓来的求职申请，这个部门疲于应对。
In summer visitors swamp the island.
夏天，这个岛上游客熙熙攘攘，人满为患。
6.原文：they have locked up activists seeking to hold the authorities to account for wrecking Egypt’s environment
词典：hold/call sb to account (for/over sth) 责成…作出解释；责问
例句：It is the undoubted right of the people of England to call them to account for it.
英格兰人民无疑有权要求他们对此作出解释。
7.原文：says an Egyptian activist, who, like all his ilk, requests anonymity.
词典：and sb’s ilk; any others of that ilk那一类人/事
例句：I can\'t stand him, or any others of that ilk .
我无法忍受他或他这类的人。
He currently terrorises politicians and their ilk on \'Newsnight\'...
他目前在《新闻之夜》节目中的讲话搞得政客们惶恐不安。
8.原文：The greens certainly need to cry out
词典：cry out（因伤痛、害怕、惊讶等）大叫，叫喊 cry out/cry out sth大声呼喊
例句：He was crying out in pain on the ground when the ambulance arrived.
救护车赶到时他正疼得在地上大叫。
9.原文：who helped orchestrate the Damietta protests and set up the Arab Association for Environment and Sustainable Development
词典：orchestrate sth 策划；密谋；精心安排
例句：The colonel was able to orchestrate a rebellion from inside an army jail.
这位上校得以在军队监狱里策动了一场哗变。
10.原文：that had previously been designated as conservation zones
词典：designate sth (as) sth | designate sth (as being sth) 指定...为...
例句：Several pupils were designated as having moderate or severe learning difficulties.
几名学生被认定有一定或严重学习困难。
This floor has been designated a no-smoking area.
这楼层已定为无烟区。
11.原文：Mr Sisi’s bulldozers have speeded up the browning of green spaces
词典：speed up sth 加快
例句：I had already taken steps to speed up a solution to the problem
我已经采取措施加快解决该问题。
12.原文：Under the umbrella of international organisations
词典：under the umbrella of sth在...的框架/保护/领导下
例句：The major powers have chosen to act under the moral umbrella of the United Nations...
世界主要大国都选择在联合国的道义框架下行事。
13.原文：some dissidents have slipped through the security cordon
词典：slip through 蒙混过关，混过去
例句：Police are finding those hardened troublemakers who have slipped through the security checks.
警察正在寻找那些混过了安检的难缠的闹事者。
14.原文：since he has been on hunger strike in prison
词典： be on /go on hunger strike 进行绝食抗议
例句：He is on hunger strike in protest at what he claims is his wrongful conviction for murder
他称他的谋杀罪为错判，因而进行绝食抗议。
②长难句
1.原文：On the side of the UN’s annual climate conference this week in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, a few dozen religious leaders from India to Indiana planned to pray on its summit for forgiveness for the harm humanity has been inflicting on Mother Earth
2.分析：第一个分句的on the side...，this week，in...分别作地点状语、时间状语、地点状语。本句话的主句是a few dozen religious leaders planned to pray，没有宾语。from India to Indiana作定语，修饰religious leaders，表示他们“来自世界各地”。on its summit为地点状语。for forgiveness for the harm中的两个介词for涉及到两个表达，一是pray for sth（祈求...，祈祷...），而是forgiveness for sth（对某行为的饶恕）。 humanity has been inflicting on Mother Earth作后置定语，修饰harm，表示“人类对地球施加的伤害”
3.译文：本周，在埃及西奈半岛举行的联合国年度气候大会上，来自从印度到印第安纳州的几十位宗教领袖计划在圣山顶上祈祷，祈求上苍宽恕人类对地球造成的伤害。
1.原文：Earlier this year he authorised the army to develop 37 islands, mostly in the Nile, that had previously been designated as conservation zones.
2.分析：Earlier this year是时间状语。这句话的主句是主谓宾结构he authorised the army，后面是不定式to develop 37 islands作宾语补足语。mostly in the Nile作状语，修饰37 islands，表示37个岛屿中大多是在尼罗河上。that引导定语从句，修饰37 islands，表示这些岛屿此前被规划用作环境保护区。
3.译文：今年年初，塞西授权军方开发37座岛屿，其中大部分位于尼罗河，而这些岛屿之前规划用于建设环境保护区。
③写作技巧:
The worse the environmental damage, the greater the silence
环境破坏得越严重，人们也愈发不敢发声
表达：这里是一个写作中的常见表达，The + 比较级 + 名词， the + 比较级 + 名词，表示“越...，越...”其中，名词必须要加上冠词（例如the）或者所有格（例如their，his）。
例句：Truth does not fear contention. The more the truth is debated, the clearer it becomes.
真理越辩越明，真理不怕辩论。
④背景知识：
COP27：一年一度的联合国气候峰会再次如约而至。11月6日至18日，《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十七次缔约方大会（COP27）将在埃及的红海度假胜地沙姆沙伊赫举行。
自1994年公约生效以来，联合国每年都会召集各国参加，2020年因新冠疫情延后了一年。在会议期间，各国就原始公约的各种延伸进行谈判，以确立具有法律约束力的减排限制。大会的重要节点包括1997年的《京都议定书》，以及2015年的《巴黎协定》，各国达成了将全球升温限制在1.5°C的承诺。
外界预计，COP27将是一次从承诺转向具体行动、注重落实的大会。公约秘书处表示，本届大会将聚焦“落实”，期待各国通过立法、政策、项目等途径，阐述如何实施《巴黎协定》。 东道国埃及也强调采取行动的必要性，希望本次大会是一个“执行的COP”。
另外，这也是继2016年（摩洛哥）之后，气候峰会重返非洲，预计将更多聚焦发展中国家的关切和需求，有望成为一次“非洲COP”。
⑤段落大意：
【1】埃及官方打压环保人士
【2】埃及政府限制环保人士的手段
【3】埃及人自古就有抗疫政府在环境问题上失职的传统
【4】环保人士需要发声
【5】环境组织开展工作愈发困难
【6】环保人士遭受打压
【7】政府在进一步侵蚀环境
【8】有些人认为COP27只是一场“漂绿”活动，应当抵制
【9】埃及召开COP27还是有一定好处的
作者有话说
第4章 COP27
