2006年VOA标准英语-Israel-Lebanon War Has Effects on Both Countrie
时间:2019-01-12 作者:英语课 分类:2006年VOA标准英语(九月)
By Ernest Leong
Washington, DC
27 September 2006
watch Israel Lebanon Winery
War and wine -- a bizarre combination. But in parts of Israel and Lebanon, living with both has been the norm for generations.
Fall harvest of grapes
Lebanon's Bekaa Valley in mid-August should be a verdant 1 oasis 2, as migrant workers pick grapes for the fall harvest.
Instead, parts of it were reduced to rubble 3 during the 34-day war with Israel.
The ceasefire in late August saved much of the wine crop, but David Schenker, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says Lebanese wineries have lost significant revenue from related businesses. "They do have a tourism industry that is based on nature, and the skiing and beaches, and then on the 'Wine Road' because there are three, four major vineyards in Lebanon. People go and they tour them all."
Once a resort, now bombed
Once-beautiful beach resorts are now polluted with oil, after Israel bombed petroleum 4 tanks on the coast. Many of Lebanon's roads are impassable -- all of which means the tourism business will continue to suffer.
Lebanon is already heavily in debt from its 1975 civil war and the Israeli invasion in 1982.
David Schenker
Schenker says Lebanon's economy relies heavily on external investors 5. The country's award-winning wine industry, which reached almost $10.50 million in wine exports last year, is one way of "selling" Lebanon to potential investors. "Its [Wine is] really a major industry in terms of exporting Lebanon to the world."
Lebanese-born Jad Chamas is the beverage 6 manager at a Washington, D.C. restaurant serving many Lebanese customers. He says, although Islam bans the drinking of alcohol, there is a growing demand for wine among his countrymen in Lebanon.
Jad Chamas
"We have a 60-40. More like a 60-40. Sixty percent Muslims, and 40 Christians 7. Muslims do not drink, but for Christians, wine is very important." Despite the restrictions 8 of their religion, Chamas says some Lebanese Muslims enjoy drinking wine too.
Only 50 miles away from the Bekaa Valley, vineyards in northern Israel were hit by Hezbollah missiles, placing their wine crop in jeopardy 9 as well.
For Moshe Haviv, manager of the Dalton Winery, the ceasefire came just in time. "For us the ceasefire was a miracle because at the same time of the ceasefire we started the harvest. It was just that day."
Wine has long been an important part of Jewish culture. Paul Scham is an Adjunct Scholar with the Middle East Institute. "Wine has been grown in the Middle East for thousands of years, and certainly it's something that was a part of Jewish culture because of their connection with wine back in Biblical times."
Like their Lebanese counterparts, some Israelis frown on social drinking. Scham says that perception is changing. "Among more sophisticated Israelis who are interested in behaving, in many ways, like Europeans and upper class Americans, you'll find it [wines]."
Israel's wine industry, like Lebanon's, is growing. In 2005, the industry generated $175 million in sales.
In the vineyards of Lebanon and Israel, disaster, for this year, has been averted 10, as growers and workers continue the centuries-old struggle to balance war and business.
- Children are playing on the verdant lawn.孩子们在绿茵茵的草坪上嬉戏玩耍。
- The verdant mountain forest turns red gradually in the autumn wind.苍翠的山林在秋风中渐渐变红了。
- They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
- The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。
- After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后,花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
- After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。
- The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
- The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
- a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
- a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
- The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
- Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。
- Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
- His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
- I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
- a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制
- His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
- It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻,上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。