VOA常速英语2017--6月8日——世界海洋日

On June 8th, much of the world observes United Nations World Oceans Day. The idea is to remind people how important the world's oceans are to all life on Earth, to celebrate their beauty, and to bring attention to the impact human activity has on the oceans. This year, the theme is “Our Oceans, Our Future”, with special emphasis on finding solutions to plastic pollution, and preventing marine 1 litter for a healthier ocean and a better future.

6月8日，很多国家和地区都会庆祝世界海洋日。设立这样一个日子是想提醒人们，地球上的海洋对生命来说有多么重要，同时也提醒人们要歌颂海洋的美丽，并注意到人类活动对海洋的影响。今天世界海洋日的主题是“我们的海洋，我们的未来”，尤其强调要找到塑料污染的解决方案，并阻止海洋污染，让海洋更加健康，未来更加美好。

The world's oceans cover nearly three fourths of the Earth's surface, and contain 97 percent of our planet's water. They produce over half of our oxygen, help regulate our climate, absorb carbon dioxide, and support the greatest abundance of life on our planet. Nearly half of all species on Earth depend on the oceans for survival, and for many of the rest, including for people, the oceans improve the quality of life.

地球上的海洋覆盖了地球表面近3/4的面积，包含了地球上97%的水分。海洋生产了一半以上的氧气，它助力调节气候，吸收二氧化碳，还支持地球上生物多样性的最大化。地球上有近一半的物种依赖海洋才得以生存，而对剩下的包括人类的物种来说，海洋提高了生活质量。

The oceans are also indispensable to the world's economy, because they are key to transportation and recreation. And inasmuch as over 95 percent of the underwater realm remains 2 unexplored, it is nearly a certainty that their depths may hold the cure to many a disease, the resolution to many a problem.

海洋对于地球经济的发展不可或缺，因为海洋是交通和娱乐的关键。此外，由于海洋世界还有超过95%的领域尚未得到开发，所以可以肯定的是，深不可测的海洋可能有治愈很多疾病的良方，有很多问题的解决方案。

And yet, as much as 40 per cent of the world's oceans are heavily affected 3 by human activities that result in pollution, over-fishing, and loss of coastal 4 habitats. Of particular concern is plastic debris 5. Some of it comes from ships that ply 6 our rivers, lakes and seas, and eventually makes its way into the ocean. But about 8 million metric tons of plastic waste washes off land into the ocean each year.

然而，有40%的海洋受到人类活动的严重影响，导致污染、过度捕捞、沿海栖息地消失。其中尤为令人担心的是海洋废弃物的问题。一些海洋废弃物来自河流、湖泊和海上的船只，最终统一汇入海洋。但每年都有近800万公吨的塑料垃圾让陆地湮没在海洋中。

Once there, it begins to break down until it turns into small fragments known as microplastics. Plastics are a serious threat, because they degrade very slowly, entangle 7 sea creatures, damage habitats like coral reefs, and are ingested by marine animals. Researchers have documented impacts of plastic on over 650 different marine species – including sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises 8, seabirds, and fish.

一旦陆地湮没在海洋里之后，陆地就开始分解，逐渐变小为塑料颗粒。塑料是一种严重的威胁，因为塑料降解缓慢，裹挟海洋生物，破坏珊瑚礁等的栖息环境，还会被海洋生物吸收。研究人员记录了塑料对650多种不同海洋生物的影响——包括海龟、海报、鲸鱼、海豚、鼠海豚、海鸟和鱼类。

On World Oceans Day, we must remember that the health and safety of our oceans is our collective responsibility, one that we cannot afford to neglect. Only through good stewardship 9 can we safeguard the health of our oceans, and ensure that the oceans continue to meet the needs of future generations.

世界海洋日这一天，我们要铭记，海洋健康和海洋安全是我们共同的责任，不容忽视的责任。只有良好的管理才能保护海洋健康，确保海洋能继续满足子孙后代的需要。