时间:2018-12-08 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2010年(十二)月


英语课

The East African Community, a grouping of 5 countries in and around the Horn, is continuing to work towards its goal of regional economic integration 1. Members of the EAC are dropping barriers to trade, with the goal of eventually adopting a common currency.


The East African Community is rapidly evolving. The region of nearly 130 million people has an overall GDP of about 60 billion dollars, and is still growing.


Over the past 10 years, it has launched a Customs Union with the phased introduction of common tariffs 3. In essence, all countries have a uniform set of duties on imports coming from outside the region. And it has eliminated duties on goods and products traded among EAC member countries.


 


It‘s also enacted 4 a common set of regulations called the Common Market Protocol 5 that calls for all countries to adopt common laws on labor 6, taxation 7 and immigration. The protocol also promises the free movement of services and workers, who are allowed to settle in any of the member countries.


Plans are underway for a $50 million dollar regional railway system to be completed over the next 5 years. Tanzania and Kenya are finalizing 8 plans to interconnect their power systems. They're also building a 240-kilometer road and trade route that will connect Arusha to Nairobi and to Mombasa.


The original EAC was created in 1967, but dissolved 10 years later.


Martin Shikuku is a veteran Kenyan politician and a proponent 9 of regional integration who witnessed the formation and the eventual 2 collapse 10 of the original grouping:


"It's not a new idea because we used to have one currency during the colonial days and we used to travel from one country to another. We had no problem with people moving from [country to country]. It is only after independence that this question of immigration [developed]. [But today] we want to have an East African Community that could benefit all the people of East Africa and have a bigger market that could be recognized just like the European Union."


Various factors are blamed for the break-up of the original union, including the differences between Tanzania, with a socialist 11 economic system, and market-oriented Kenya. Also contributing to the break-up were political differences between rulers, including Idi Amin of Uganda and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania.


Today, says University of Nairobi political scientist Peter Wanyande, it's clear to regional leaders that there's more to gain by coming together as a common market:


"Integration, particularly the type we are talking about, is usually supported because member states believe that there are benefits to be derived 13. These benefits are not uniform. Rwanda and Burundi may benefit because they are landlocked, and therefore feel that if they are in this larger community, it would be easier for their goods to be transported. It's not very easy to say Kenya will benefit more or Tanzania will benefit more...because there are different elements of benefits to be derived. So each country will join, depending on what benefits they think they will derive 12 from the union."


Professor Macharia Munene of the Nairobi-based United States International University says with the revival 14 of the East African community over the last decade, businesses in the region are growing. Already, the EAC says over the past 5 years, trade has increased among the 5 partners by nearly 50%.


Among the businesses profiting from an integrated market is the Kenya-based supermarket chain Nukumatt, which is expanding into Uganda and Rwanda.  Munene is encouraged by the progress of the integration effort:


"[The telecommunications industry] is doing well; the Nakumatt chains are expanding, both banking 15 and financial sectors 16, the ongoing 17 construction of infrastructure 18...and building industry is expanding very fast. The agriculture industry, especially large scale agriculture, is also going to do well. [For example], if a country like Uganda is better at sugar production than Kenya, then it is in the interest of Kenya to find something different that they are good in production, say coffee or tea. This will ensure agriculture expands in a big way."


Munene says breaking down barriers to business and boosting job growth among the 5 states is likely to reduce parochialism and ethnic 19 tensions.


But moving from an economic union to a political one may be more difficult.


Kenya political scientist, Wanyande, says the larger the EAC becomes, the more difficult it becomes to manage disagreements.  And although the grouping also includes a regional court and legislature, problems between them are still decided 20 at a yearly meeting of the so-called Summit, an organ of the EAC made up of the heads of state of the 5 countries that make up the community.


"Tensions will continue to exist, " says Wanyande. " For example, it is unfortunate that even with the revival of the community, the Summit still plays a very important role in terms of managing the affairs of the community. So that will still create a problem. You remember recently there was tension between Kenya and Uganda over the Migingo Island. And you can be sure that could actually affect the meetings of the Summit of the EAC."


On the other hand, political progress continues, although incrementally 21.  In December, leaders of the EAC pledged to join forces to fight climate change.... They'll work to craft a new policy to ensure that food surpluses in one country can help alleviate 22 shortages in another. They're also working to strengthen infrastructure that could help with production, storage and transportation of strategic food products from across the region.


Supporters say building a strong EAC is just part of boosting African development. Developing economic and political relations between countries of a region is the first step. The next, they say, is strengthening ties among all of Africa's regional blocks until the whole continent is interconnected.



1 integration
n.一体化,联合,结合
  • We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
  • This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。
2 eventual
adj.最后的,结局的,最终的
  • Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
  • Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。
3 tariffs
关税制度; 关税( tariff的名词复数 ); 关税表; (旅馆或饭店等的)收费表; 量刑标准
  • British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
  • The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。
4 enacted
制定(法律),通过(法案)( enact的过去式和过去分词 )
  • legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
  • Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
5 protocol
n.议定书,草约,会谈记录,外交礼节
  • We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
  • The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。
6 labor
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
  • 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。
7 taxation
n.征税,税收,税金
  • He made a number of simplifications in the taxation system.他在税制上作了一些简化。
  • The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
8 finalizing
vt.完成(finalize的现在分词形式)
  • You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
  • Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫,完美在此定格。 来自互联网
9 proponent
n.建议者;支持者;adj.建议的
  • Stapp became a strong early proponent of automobile seat belts.斯塔普是力主在汽车上采用座椅安全带的早期倡导者。
  • Halsey was identified as a leading proponent of the values of progressive education.哈尔西被认为是进步教育价值观的主要支持者。
10 collapse
vi.累倒;昏倒;倒塌;塌陷
  • The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
  • The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
11 socialist
n.社会主义者;adj.社会主义的
  • China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家,也是一个发展中国家。
  • His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。
12 derive
v.取得;导出;引申;来自;源自;出自
  • We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
  • We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。
13 derived
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取
  • Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 revival
n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振
  • The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
  • He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。
15 banking
n.银行业,银行学,金融业
  • John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
  • He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。
16 sectors
n.部门( sector的名词复数 );领域;防御地区;扇形
  • Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
17 ongoing
adj.进行中的,前进的
  • The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
  • The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。
18 infrastructure
n.下部构造,下部组织,基础结构,基础设施
  • We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
  • We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设,发展各类群众文化。
19 ethnic
adj.人种的,种族的,异教徒的
  • This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏,这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
  • The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
20 decided
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
21 incrementally
adv.逐渐地
  • Incrementally update the shared dimensions used in this cube. 增量更新此多维数据集中使用的共享维度。 来自互联网
  • Grand goals are inspiring, but be sure to approach them incrementally. 辉煌的目标令人鼓舞,但一定要逐步实现。 来自互联网
22 alleviate
v.减轻,缓和,缓解(痛苦等)
  • The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
学英语单词
abdominal part
absolutely stable
absorbing state
adrenochromes
aluminium foils
asymmetric transformation
banded stilts
basivertebral vein
battologized
be let in on the ground floor
body feed
Buridan's ass
cash invoice
Chorzelów
chronographer
clip off
combined vibrating roller
compensating feedback loop
conus planorbis
cost objective
cotton production
cylinder by-pass valve
D-frame
data over voice
days of rest
deglamorization
derestrict
dextrotorsion
dispersion-equalization
ditching attitude
Dohans
electrical characteristics
externally-braced monoplane
fall-out of synchronism
forecaddies
golden eagle
Goldstein-Scheerer tests
graduated string
half-hunter
Haplopappus spinulosus
have analogy to
heating system
heliotridylamine
hildebrand
hotlines
hyuck
indirect type central air-conditioning unit
Internet suffix
Izena-jima
Kurdistani
lampyridaes
leukoplania
liquid waste receiver tank
local acceptance
lsi-cml circuit technology
magnetoresistance magnetometer
merions
metal surface plasmon and second harmonic generator
minimum graph
mohs scales
natural environment management
nervi ampullaris lateralis
neverless
occasional light
once and a way
ordinary life assurance
oscillator padding
Osipa
photocell matrix
piston curl
pivot hinge
pontes
prequalified tenderer
puffest
queueing system structure
reflux column
repair of side ditch
Revere, Paul
sample-reset loop filter
Scirpus rosthornii
scornliche
separation of spinal cord and arachnoid adhesions
silicon diode array
sope
speed through the water
stellite-faced valve
Subprime Meltdown
tee-times
toll free number
toroidal discharge
transitive law
trichomonal urethro-cystitis
under constraint
undistributed score
virus diarrhea
waltz through
white cypresses
wide anode
win ... over
Yak-141
yellow-necked mice
zygomorphic pea flower