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2007年VOA标准英语-British PM Leaving Office With Mixed Reviews on

时间:2007-07-04 00:54:43

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By Tendai Maphosa
London
26 June 2007

One of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's biggest concerns has been the plight1 of Africa, once describing it as a "scar on the conscience of the world." For VOA Tendai Maphosa takes a look at Mr. Blair's African legacy2 as he prepares to step down this week.

 

Tony Blair
Tony Blair
British Prime Minister Tony Blair's interest in African issues was crystallized with the formation of the Commission for Africa. Often called the "Blair Commission," it published a report in March 2005 aimed at making the continent "strong and prosperous."

Mr. Blair furthered his Africa agenda two years ago when Britain held the rotating presidency3 of the Group of Eight industrial nations. He made sure that the reduction of poverty in Africa was at the top of the agenda of the G-8 summit in Scotland.

Despite his efforts, some say Mr. Blair achieved very little for Africa.

"I think from the western, British point of view, yes he has pushed Africa up the agenda and that has been very important, created a lot of debate about it," said Richard Dowden, the director of the Royal African Society. "I also think he bought in the aid agency view of Africa ... of Africa as a hopeless starving continent full of wars and famine, and Africa needed almost to be saved from itself. He approached it in rather a missionary4 sort of way and rather discounted African voices on Africa and was not very sensitive in dealing5 with Africa and Africa's problems."

Dowden added that Africans also changed their opinion of Mr. Blair when he joined the United States in invading Iraq. He said some viewed his intervention6 policy as imperialistic7.

Vincent Magombe of Africa Inform International, a London-based media agency, says Mr. Blair should have been tougher on corruption8 on the continent.

"I think Tony Blair has talked too much, he is a very, very bright man and he definitely has a lot of bright ideas," he said. "But Blair was not able to ask Africa leaders to make sure that they are responsive to the aspirations9 of the population, that they are democratic, that they respect human rights and I think that failure will lead Africa to worse times rather than better times."

One country some critics say will be the Achilles' heel for the Blair legacy is Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu blames the Blair government of reneging on an agreement to fund land reform in Zimbabwe. He says this led to the seizure10 of white-owned farms for the re-settlement of landless blacks and the imposition of sanctions on the country.

"We are saying good riddance as far as our Zimbabwean government is concerned, as we do not want interference in our internal affairs as a sovereign state, which Blair did not recognize, he did not recognize us as a sovereign state, which has its own policies to make," he said.

But Zimbabwe opposition11 leaders have criticized President Robert Mugabe of politicizing the land-reform process and using it to enrich his supporters. Many African and Western governments have distanced themselves from Mr. Mugabe's policies.

Some critics say another real challenge for Mr. Blair was Darfur, where Sudan's government has been accused of genocide in fighting a rebel movement. Because of Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, the prime minister did not have the military resources, the international clout12 or domestic support for any foreign military intervention elsewhere.

"Darfur really shows the limits of even the most interventionist and progressive governments can do when it comes to the problems of these parts of the world," said Tom Cargill, the Africa program manager at the Chatham House think tank. "Before Iraq, liberal interventions13 were the order of the day and of course Sierra Leone which will quite rightly be remembered as one of his interventionist triumphs in Africa was going to be the model for these intractable conflicts but Iraq changed all that."

But widely seen as successes, Tony Blair's visit to Tripoli in March 2004 and his meeting with Colonel Gaddafi symbolized14 an extraordinary turning point in relations with one of the most troublesome regimes in North Africa and the Middle East.

Mr. Blair was also passionate15 about the HIV and AIDs issue in Africa. His government supported programs aimed at combating the pandemic and lowering infection rates in many African countries.


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1 plight 820zI     
n.困境,境况,誓约,艰难;vt.宣誓,保证,约定
参考例句:
  • The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
  • She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。
2 legacy 59YzD     
n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西
参考例句:
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
  • He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
3 presidency J1HzD     
n.总统(校长,总经理)的职位(任期)
参考例句:
  • Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
  • Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
4 missionary ID8xX     
adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士
参考例句:
  • She taught in a missionary school for a couple of years.她在一所教会学校教了两年书。
  • I hope every member understands the value of missionary work. 我希望教友都了解传教工作的价值。
5 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
6 intervention e5sxZ     
n.介入,干涉,干预
参考例句:
  • The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
  • Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。
7 imperialistic 19d2b52d439a25cec4dbdc0a40cb4759     
帝国主义的,帝制的
参考例句:
  • An imperialistic country extends its power and influence into neighbouring countries. 一个帝国主义国家将其势力与影响伸展至邻国。
  • EXTEND An imperialistic country extends its power and influence into neighboring countries. 帝国主义国家将它的势力和影响扩展至邻近国家。
8 corruption TzCxn     
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。
9 aspirations a60ebedc36cdd304870aeab399069f9e     
强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 ); 志向; 发送气音; 发 h 音
参考例句:
  • I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
  • The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。
10 seizure FsSyO     
n.没收;占有;抵押
参考例句:
  • The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
  • The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。
11 opposition eIUxU     
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。
12 clout GXhzG     
n.用手猛击;权力,影响力
参考例句:
  • The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权,但无真正的政治影响力。
  • He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。
13 interventions b4e9b73905db5b0213891229ce84fdd3     
n.介入,干涉,干预( intervention的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
  • The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网
14 symbolized 789161b92774c43aefa7cbb79126c6c6     
v.象征,作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看,小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功,所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句
15 passionate rLDxd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

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