2006年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Union Worried About Worker Safety
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：2006年VOA标准英语（二月）
By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
21 February 2006
Oil installations belonging to Shell Petroleum 1 Development Company in Odidi Niger Delta 2
Nigeria's largest workers union, the Nigeria Labor 3 Congress, has appealed for the release of nine foreign oil workers seized by militants 4 at the weekend in the Niger Delta.
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Nigeria's largest union, the Nigeria Labor Congress, says the current state of insecurity in the Niger Delta is particularly worrisome for its members. NLC spokesman, Owei Lakemfa, said recent attacks on oil workers and facilities are showing no signs of easing.
"The government has not looked at the root causes of the problem and once the root causes are addressed then there will be a solution," he said. "But as it is now, its like a cat-and-mouse game. Whenever the government attacks people in those communities or the youths get restive 6, then they go for the oil barges 7 and kidnap people and the government then tries to negotiate."
Nine workers of a U.S. oil services company, under contract with Shell, were abducted 8 in Saturday's attacks.
The paramount 9 ruler of Evo kingdom in the Niger Delta, Frank Eke 5, has also criticized the latest hostage-taking and appealed for their release.
"I have appealed to our people, those boys … the people concerned. In fact, what do you gain by holding a foreigner hostage for what you think your government has done to you? You do not get anything," he said. "How can you say you are annoyed with the government, which has put in place a whole commission for your interest?"
Meanwhile, the contact group established by the government confirmed it has made contact with the hostage-takers. It said the hostages were generally in good health.
International crude oil prices have been rising in the wake of the violence in Nigeria, which has affected 10 almost a fifth of the West African nation's output.
The militants have threatened to increase attacks in the coming days, to force a further decrease in oil production.
- 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。
- He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
- The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
- The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
- Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。
- They had to eke out a livinga tiny income.他们不得不靠微薄收入勉强度日。
- We must try to eke out our water supply.我们必须尽量节约用水。
- The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
- The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。
- The tug is towing three barges. 那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。
- There were plenty of barges dropping down with the tide. 有不少驳船顺流而下。
- Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
- The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。
- My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
- Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。