2006年VOA标准英语-France's Chirac Hails Airline Tax to Fight
时间：2018-12-16 作者：英语课 分类：2006年VOA标准英语（二月）
By Lisa Bryant
Paris
28 February 2006
President Jacques Chirac delivers his speech during a meeting to discuss an international tax and the fight against poverty and disease in the developing world
French President Jacques Chirac is urging the international community to adopt an airline tax to bankroll programs to fight poverty and disease.
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Speaking at the start of the two-day Paris meeting, President Chirac said France planned to begin imposing 1 the airline tax as of July.
Addressing representatives of 95 countries gathered at the conference, Chirac called the French tax on air flights a simple and neutral experiment. He said the tax revenues, estimated to be about $240 million this year, would be spent on programs to fight malaria 2, tuberculosis 3, and HIV/AIDS in the developing world.
Chirac has been lobbying the international community to adopt the airline tax initiative for the past few years. In France, passengers taking flights, as of July 1, will pay an extra $1.20 to about $47 a ticket, depending on the class and distance they fly. France and Brazil, another supporter of the tax, hope to establish an international facility to purchase drugs for HIV/AIDS patients in developing nations.
A number of other countries also support the tax. So does U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who praised Mr. Chirac in Paris for showing leadership in finding innovative 4 financing sources to fight a host of development challenges in poorer countries. Only one other country, Chile, has followed France in taking concrete steps in imposing an airline tariff 5.
The concept remains 6 controversial. Airline companies oppose the tax, arguing it places another burden on the financially troubled industry. The United States is also against the idea of a mandatory 7 tax. But Chirac hopes up to 20 nations attending the Paris conference will sign up to the initiative.
- The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
- He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
- He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
- Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。
- People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
- Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。
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- The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。