VOA标准英语2012--Class Action Lawsuit Targets Indonesian Government, Tobacco Companies
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(五月)
Class Action Lawsuit 1 Targets Indonesian Government, Tobacco Companies
Eight-year-old Aldi Ilham from Sukabumi, West Java, first started smoking when he was four years old. Instead of going to school he would help park cars to earn change for cigarettes. At the height of his addiction 2 he was smoking two packs a day.
Aldi is one of eight cases the Child Protection Commission, led by Aris Meredek Sirait, is citing in a lawsuit against the government and tobacco companies later this month.
“The government is not able to control cigarettes products," Aris complains. "There are no regulations to control the sale of cigarettes, they are even sold as single cigarettes, nor are there any controls on tobacco advertising 3.”
Without any government restrictions 4, cigarette advertisements are plastered throughout downtown Jakarta. Some are designed to appeal to younger consumers, who can also legally purchase cigarettes.
Roadside stalls sell cigarettes for about one U.S. dollar. Stall holder 5 Ibu Surniah admits that, while it’s not morally right, she still sells to teenagers.
“It’s forbidden to sell cigarettes to children, but I give it to them if they insist because they want it,” Ibu says.
With 50 million smokers 6 in the country, there is little widespread knowledge among Indonesians about the dangers of smoking. Many people smoke in front of their children. Ilham’s father, Umar, says that practice should stop.
“We just ask for those responsible from the tobacco companies and the government to help us because our son is really sick from smoking,” Umar says.
Government officials and tobacco company executives refused interview requests. One spokesperson for Sampoerna Tobacco said that while the company does not condone 7 child smokers, parents play an influential 8 role in preventing their children from smoking.
For now, child health advocates merely want to restrict sales and curb 9 advertisements that help get minors 10 started smoking - long before they are capable of knowing what the habit means for their health.
- They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
- He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。
- He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
- Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。
- Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
- The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
- 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
- The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
- That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
- Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
- Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。
- I cannot condone the use of violence.我不能宽恕使用暴力的行为。
- I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.我绝不允许任何导致战争的行为。
- He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
- He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。
- I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
- You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。