各类长篇翻译交流贴

Shrinking Water Supply Poses Threat to Peace
紧缩的水资源给和平带来威胁
"Water, which is essential for life, costs nothing. On the other hand, diamonds, which are essential for nothing, cost a lot." Unfortunately, the world has changed considerably since an 18th century economist made this remark.
“对生命极其重要的水，取之容易，而相对来说，并不重要的钻石却是价值连城的。”遗憾的是，自从18世纪的经济学家提出这个见解后，世界已经迥然不同了。
What was true over 200 years ago is certainly no longer true now, in a number of countries people pay as much for water in their homes as they do for electricity.
200年前板上钉钉的事情，现在却已经不复存在了。在多数国家，人们的家用需缴纳的水电费几乎一样多。
Like health, we ignore water when we have it — unless there are floods, of course. Once there is a threat to our water supply, however, water can quickly become the only thing that matters. We know only too well that, without water, there can be no life.
就像健康一样，当我们坐拥水资源的时候，往往会忽视了它。一旦洪灾来袭，这个说法就完全不同了。当我们的水资源供应受到威胁，用水问题迅猛的成了唯一重要的事情，而我们再清楚不过了，没有水便不会有生命的存在。
The situation is now becoming so bad that environmentalist feel it may be necessary to shock the world into saving water in a similar way to the shock caused by the oil crises in the 1970s.
水资源紧缺的问题变得如此恶劣以至于环境学家觉得，需要警醒世人节约用水，这状况和20世纪70年代的石油短缺造成的危机如出一辙。
At that time, the oil crisis became such a serious threat to the lives of everyone in the developed countries that it made people conscious of the importance of saving oil and provided powerful encouragement for governments to look for other forms of energy.
在当时，石油危机对发展中国家人们的生活构成相当严峻的威胁，促使人们注意到节约用油的重要性，并且为政府寻求其它形式的能源提供了强大的助力。

Shrinking Water Supply Poses Threat to Peace
紧缩的水资源给和平带来威胁
The result undoubtedly was of major benefit to energy conservation.
毫无疑问的，这个结果对保护能源是绝对大有裨益的。
There is now no longer and unlimited supply of fresh water. About 97 per cent of the planet's water is seawater. Another 2 per cent is locked in icecaps and glaciers. There are also reserves of fresh water under the earth's surface but these are too deep for us to use economically.
现今淡水资源已经不再是无限量供应了，地球上大约97%的水资源是海水，另外2%藏于冰山与雪岩之中。当然，地表中亦存有淡水资源，但是这些资源埋藏太深，开采花费的经济效益过大。
Unfortunately, competition is growing fiercely for what little water is available. It may be a matter of time before that competition becomes a conflict.
不幸地是，对仅有少量水资源的争夺日益激烈，竞争演化成冲突恐怕也是迟早的事情罢了。
To make matters worse, the world's population is increasing so rapidly that it is expected to grow to about 8 billion in 30 years — an increase of 60 per cent.
雪上加霜的是，世界人口增长如此剧烈以至预期30 年内大概增长到80亿人，增速为60%。
Moreover, in many developed countries throughout the would, flush lavatories and washing machines mean the average person now uses 300 litres of water a day compared with 50 at the beginning of the century.
更糟糕的是，在很多发达国家，算上冲厕所，洗衣机所耗费水量，意味着与世纪初50人的平均用水量相比，现今人均每天用水量达到了300升。
At the other extreme, according to the World Health Organization, one qu0rter of the world's population still lacks safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Most live in the southern hemisphere, where supplies of fresh water are put in jeopardy through dirty industrial practices, poor irrigation and erosion.
根据世界卫生组织的统计，另一种极端现象是世界上仍然有四分之一的人缺乏安全的饮用水源和相应的医疗措施。大部分生活在南半球的人们，由于重工业污染，缺乏灌溉和流水侵蚀使淡水资源的供应受到严重的威胁。
The social stability of the world is no longer threatened by global wars, the Cold War, ... However, the supply of water could soon become the chief threat to such stability. There is already evidence of this happening, especially in Africa.
如今社会虽然已经不再受冷战这样的全球性战争的威胁，但是，淡水资源供应不足则会很快对社会安定构成新的威胁。已有证据显示此次对淡水资源争夺的战争已经开始，特别是在非洲。
Recently the Egyptian Government threatened 'to destroy any dams built on the Nile if they considered the dams would affect their supply of fresh water.
最近埃及政府由于惧怕水坝会影响淡水资源的供应，考虑到毁灭任何建在尼罗河上的水坝。
What is required immediately is an awareness of the true value of water and the formation of sensible water conservation strategies.
现今最紧要的是明白水资源的真正价值并且建立行之有效的储蓄水资源的对策。
It is also of vital importance to have a consensus on how best to use shared Water resources for the benefit of all the countries in the world as well as an examination of the best methods for the distribution of the world's water.
为世界各国的共同利益，如何树立最大化共享水资源的共识也是极其重要，同时这也是检验如何分配使用世界水资源的最好方式。

背景资料：
爱尔兰大饥荒，俗称[url]http://马铃薯[/url]饥荒，是一场发生于1845年至1852年间的饥荒。在这7年的时间内，[url]http://英国[/url]统治下的[url]http://爱尔兰[/url]人口锐减了将近四分之一;这个数目除了饿死，病死者，也包括了约一百万因饥荒而移居海外的[url]http://爱尔兰人[/url]。
造成饥荒的主要因素是一种称为[url]http://晚疫病[/url](Phytophthora infestans)的[url]http://卵菌[/url](Oomycete)造成马铃薯腐烂继而失收。马铃薯是当时的爱尔兰人的主要粮食来源，这次灾害加上许多社会与经济因素，使得广泛的失收严重地打击了贫苦农民的生计。大饥荒对爱尔兰的社会，文化，人口有深远的影响，许多历史学家把爱尔兰历史分为饥荒前、饥荒后两部分。在爱尔兰发生马铃薯饥荒时期大不列颠仍从美洲进口大量粮产，其中一部分甚至经过爱尔兰的港口转运;但饥饿的爱尔兰人却买不起这些粮食，英国政府提供的协助也十分稀少，最终造成高比例的爱尔兰人饿死。
马铃薯是19世纪爱尔兰人赖以维持生计的唯一农作物，而作为地主的[url]http://英国人[/url]却只关心[url]http://谷物[/url]和牲畜的出口。自然灾害以及政治压迫迫使人们揭竿而起，但最终失败。一百余万爱尔兰人死于饥荒的惨剧激起了爱尔兰人的民族意识，在它的指引下，爱尔兰自由国家于1922年建立。

Natural Gas and the Environment
天然气与环境
(1)Natural gas is an extremely important source of energy for reducing pollution and maintaining a clean and healthy environment. In addition to being an abundant and secure source of energy, the use of natural gas also offers several environment benefits over other sources of energy, particularly other fossil fuels.
从降低污染以及维持洁净健康的环境层面来说，天然气是一种极其重要的能源资源。另外，与使用其它化石燃料相比，天然气资源富饶且安全，对自然环境也有着若干的益处。
(2)Natural gas burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels. It has fewer emissions of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen than coal or oil, and it has almost no ash particles left after burning. Being a clean fuel is one reason that the use of natural gas, especially for electricity generation, has grown so much and is expected to grow even more in the future.
天然气相比其它化石燃料燃烧时更清洁，释放出来的硫，碳，氮气体含量比使用煤或石油时少，基本无燃后灰粒残留在空气中。使用天然气的其中一个原因是因为它是清洁能源，特别是在这种电器时代，人们对其需求飞涨了许多，甚至预期在未来要更大量的使用到。
(3)Of course, there are environmental concerns with the use of any fuel. As with other fossil fuels, burning natural gas produces carbon dioxide, which is the most important greenhouse gas. Many scientists believe that increasing level of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere are changing the global climate.
当然，无论使用何种燃料，在环保方面还是有其需要担忧的地方的。与其它化石能源相比较，天然气的燃烧会产生二氧化碳，而这气体是造成温室效应的最主要成分。很多科学家认为，大气层中日益增加的二氧化碳浓度以及其它温室气体正在改变着我们地球的气候。
(4)Natural gas has many uses, residentially, commercially, and industrially. Found in reservoirs underneath the earth, natural gas is commonly associated oil deposits. Production companies search for evidence of these reservoirs by using sophisticated technology that helps to find the location of the natural gas, and drill wells in the earth where it is likely to be found.
天然气在诸多方面有着应用，如家居用途，商业用途，工业用途等。在地下探得的存储地表明，天然气一般都是与石油资源同在一处。能源生产公司使用精湛的工艺技术去寻找油田所在地的资料数据，那技术帮助他们寻找到天然气的所在地，并使用探勘钻机在可能发现资源的探测点地表作业。
(5)Once brought from underground, the natural gas is refined to remove impurities like water, other gases, sand, and compounds. Some are removed and sold separately, including propane and butane. Other impurities are also removed, like hydrogen sulfide. After refining, the clean natural gas is transmitted through a network of pipelines. And from these pipelines, natural gas is delivered to its points of use.
一旦天然气被挖掘出来，就会以化工方式精细地析出杂质，如水，其它气体，沙以及化合物等。析出来的一部分杂质会被移走分开售卖，包括气体丙烷和丁烷，像硫化氢这样的杂质也被移除了。在精炼过后，清洁的天然气会通过管道网络运输出去，通过这些管道天然气会被运送至需要使用的目的地。
(6)On a relative basis, natural gas is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels. composed primarily of methane, the main products of the combustion of natural gas are carbon dioxide and water vapor, the same compounds we exhale when we breathe. Coal and petroleum are composed of much more complex molecules, with a higher carbon ratio and higher nitrogen and sulfur contents.
就相关的成分而言，天然气是所有化石燃料中最洁净的, 主要由甲烷组成，燃烧后的主要产物是二氧化碳以及水蒸气，和我们呼吸时所产生的物质相同。而煤和石油则是由更多复杂的分子所组成，含碳比率更高，氮与硫含量也更高。
(7)Thus, when combusted, coal and oil release higher levels of the harmful emissions, including a higher ratio of carbon emission, nitrogen oxides( NO2), and sulfur dioxide(SO2). Coal and fuel oil also release ash particles into environment, substance that do not burn but instead are carried into the atmosphere and contribute to pollution. The combustion of natural gas, on the other hand, releases very small amounts of sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, virtually no ash or particulate matter, and lower levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other reactive hydrocarbons.
因此，在燃烧的过程中，煤和石油所释放出的有害气体浓度更高，其中包括散发更高的碳排量，还有二氧化硫以及二氧化氮。同时，也释放了更多有害灰粒到环境中，那些物质无法燃烧，飘散到大气中造成了环境污染。而天然气的燃烧，相对来说释放的二氧化硫和二氧化氮含量较小，几乎没有灰烬或者特殊微粒；一氧化碳，二氧化碳以及相关碳氢化合物的排量也是浓度相对较低的。

Natural Gas and the Environment
天然气与环境
(1)Natural gas is an extremely important source of energy for reducing pollution and maintaining a clean and healthy environment. In addition to being an abundant and secure source of energy, the use of natural gas also offers several environment benefits over other sources of energy, particularly other fossil fuels.
从降低污染以及维持洁净健康的环境层面来说，天然气是一种极其重要的能源资源。另外，与使用其它化石燃料相比，天然气资源富饶且安全，对自然环境也有着若干的益处。
(2)Natural gas burns more cleanly than other fossil fuels. It has fewer emissions of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen than coal or oil, and it has almost no ash particles left after burning. Being a clean fuel is one reason that the use of natural gas, especially for electricity generation, has grown so much and is expected to grow even more in the future.
天然气相比其它化石燃料燃烧时更清洁，释放出来的硫，碳，氮气体含量比使用煤或石油时少，基本无燃后灰粒残留在空气中。使用天然气的其中一个原因是因为它是清洁能源，特别是在这种电器时代，人们对其需求飞涨了许多，甚至预期在未来要更大量的使用到。
(3)Of course, there are environmental concerns with the use of any fuel. As with other fossil fuels, burning natural gas produces carbon dioxide, which is the most important greenhouse gas. Many scientists believe that increasing level of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere are changing the global climate.
当然，无论使用何种燃料，在环保方面还是有其需要担忧的地方的。与其它化石能源相比较，天然气的燃烧会产生二氧化碳，而这气体是造成温室效应的最主要成分。很多科学家认为，大气层中日益增加的二氧化碳浓度以及其它温室气体正在改变着我们地球的气候。
(4)Natural gas has many uses, residentially, commercially, and industrially. Found in reservoirs underneath the earth, natural gas is commonly associated oil deposits. Production companies search for evidence of these reservoirs by using sophisticated technology that helps to find the location of the natural gas, and drill wells in the earth where it is likely to be found.
天然气在诸多方面有着应用，如家居用途，商业用途，工业用途等。在地下探得的存储地表明，天然气一般都是与石油资源同在一处。能源生产公司使用精湛的工艺技术去寻找油田所在地的资料数据，那技术帮助他们寻找到天然气的所在地，并使用探勘钻机在可能发现资源的探测点地表作业。
(5)Once brought from underground, the natural gas is refined to remove impurities like water, other gases, sand, and compounds. Some are removed and sold separately, including propane and butane. Other impurities are also removed, like hydrogen sulfide. After refining, the clean natural gas is transmitted through a network of pipelines. And from these pipelines, natural gas is delivered to its points of use.
一旦天然气被挖掘出来，就会以化工方式精细地析出杂质，如水，其它气体，沙以及化合物等。析出来的一部分杂质会被移走分开售卖，包括气体丙烷和丁烷，像硫化氢这样的杂质也被移除了。在精炼过后，清洁的天然气会通过管道网络运输出去，通过这些管道天然气会被运送至需要使用的目的地。
(6)On a relative basis, natural gas is the cleanest of all the fossil fuels. composed primarily of methane, the main products of the combustion of natural gas are carbon dioxide and water vapor, the same compounds we exhale when we breathe. Coal and petroleum are composed of much more complex molecules, with a higher carbon ratio and higher nitrogen and sulfur contents.
就相关的成分而言，天然气是所有化石燃料中最洁净的, 主要由甲烷组成，燃烧后的主要产物是二氧化碳以及水蒸气，和我们呼吸时所产生的物质相同。而煤和石油则是由更多复杂的分子所组成，含碳比率更高，氮与硫含量也更高。
(7)Thus, when combusted, coal and oil release higher levels of the harmful emissions, including a higher ratio of carbon emission, nitrogen oxides( NO2), and sulfur dioxide(SO2). Coal and fuel oil also release ash particles into environment, substance that do not burn but instead are carried into the atmosphere and contribute to pollution. The combustion of natural gas, on the other hand, releases very small amounts of sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, virtually no ash or particulate matter, and lower levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other reactive hydrocarbons.
因此，在燃烧的过程中，煤和石油所释放出的有害气体浓度更高，其中包括散发更高的碳排量，还有二氧化硫以及二氧化氮。同时，也释放了更多有害灰粒到环境中，那些物质无法燃烧，飘散到大气中造成了环境污染。而天然气的燃烧，相对来说释放的二氧化硫和二氧化氮含量较小，几乎没有灰烬或者特殊微粒；一氧化碳，二氧化碳以及相关碳氢化合物的排量也是浓度相对较低的。

Job cut fears as new Chinooks ordered for Afghanistan
为阿富汗战争新购置的支奴干直升机订单所引发的裁员担忧
The government is to buy 22 new Chinook helicopters but the defence secretary is to set out other cuts to fund them.
政府决意购置22台支奴干直升飞机，但国防部长需从其他项目中裁减开支才能获得此笔经费。
Bob Ainsworth is due to announce the closure of a military base - understood to be RAF Cottesmore in Rutland - and the loss of thousands of defence jobs.
Bob Ainsworth据此宣布位于拉特兰郡的柯茨摩尔的一个皇家空军军事基地将被关闭，意味着此处将损失百余名防卫力量。
The first 10 helicopters are expected to be ready in 2013 and could be used by the RAF in Afghanistan.
前十架直升机有望于2013年交付驻阿富汗的英国皇家空军使用。
Ex-defence secretary Malcolm Rifkind said it was dangerous to cut core budgets to fund the Afghan conflict.
前国防部长Malcolm Rifkind 宣称，削减核心预算为阿富汗战争购置军备提供资金的行为是危险的。

背景：
英国皇家空军(RoyalAirForce，简称RAF)[url]http://英国皇家空军[/url]是英国的空军分支，亦是世界上历史最悠久的独立空军，负责英国防空和其它国际防务义务的武装机构。
CH-47[url]http://支奴干[/url]直升机（Chinook）是一种由美国波音制造的多功能、[url]http://双引擎[/url]，[url]http://双螺旋[/url]桨的中型运输直升机。其[url]http://双旋翼纵列式[/url]结构（contra-rotating rotors）剔除了一般直升机的尾部垂直螺旋桨，允许机体垂直升降，而且时速高达165哩。
其首要任务从部队运输到炮台战场补给。CH-47已经被外销往16个国家，最大的消费者是美军和英国的皇家空军。2011年3月17日，[url]http://日本自卫队[/url]开始利用CH-47运输直升机向福岛[url]http://核电厂[/url]的第三和第四号反应堆进行空中喷洒海水，以达到冷却功效。
CH-47支奴干运输直升机是美国[url]http://波音公司[/url]研制的一种双发中型运输直升机，也可用于反潜和救援。