常春藤生活英语【148】捕鲸保卫战

捕鲸保卫战

Made famous by "Moby Dick," "There she blows!" is heard all over the seas. Was the main character right when he hunted the whale in sight? Since around AD 800, whales have been hunted for their oil, meat, and bones. In fact, whales were killed without limits for many centuries in the past. Many species were near extinction until the passing of an international law in 1946. The goal of this law was to balance the conservation of whales with the development of the industry. However, things have gotten more complicated since the International Whaling Commission decided to ban all commercial hunting in 1986.

Now, the whaling war has begun. The pro-whaling nations, mainly Norway, Japan, and Iceland, claim whales are eating up too many fish. They insist they have to kill whales in the name of scientific research. They also argue that whale populations have recovered enough to be hunted again, which would satisfy the growing market for whale meat. However, the anti-whaling nations, which include the US, Britain, and Australia, disagree. First, they believe fish are disappearing due to over-fishing by people, not whales. Second, with new technologies, whales can be studied in the wild without being killed. Third, the whale populations are not strong enough to fight off extinction if they are openly hunted again. Last, there is very little demand for whale meat as food. Until now, this battle is still going on for the 84 countries of the IWC and for the whales.

『她在那里喷气啦！』，这个出现在《白鲸记》中的经典名句已是声传四海（编按：《白鲸记》为美国文学的名著之一，作者赫曼‧梅尔维尔以捕鲸船船长与一条巨鲸之间的恩怨情仇，刻画出一段惊心动魄的海上冒险故事，并描写人性的挣扎纠结）。但小说中的男主角在看到鲸鱼时便加以猎捕的行为是对的吗？自大约公元 800年起，鲸鱼就因其油脂、鱼肉及骨头而遭猎捕。事实上，鲸鱼在过去数世纪以来一直被无限制地捕杀。直到1946年一条国际法规的通过之前，许多鲸鱼品种都濒临灭绝。而此项法规的宗旨正是要取得鲸鱼保育以及鲸渔业发展这两者间的平衡。然而自国际捕鲸委员会决定自1986年禁止所有的商业捕鲸行为之后，事情就变得更加复杂了。

如今一场事关捕鲸的大战已然展开。赞成捕鲸的国家主要为挪威、日本和冰岛，他们声称鲸鱼吃掉太多鱼类。他们借科学研究的名义而坚持必须捕杀鲸鱼。他们还争辩鲸鱼的数量已回升至足以再次遭到猎捕，如此才能供应日渐增长的鲸鱼肉市场。然而，包括美国、英国和澳洲等反对捕鲸的国家则不苟同。首先，他们认为鱼类的消失是因为人类的滥捕，而与鲸鱼无关。第二，有了新的科技，鲸鱼的研究活动可在野外及不杀害牠们的情况下进行。第三，若鲸鱼再次遭到公开捕杀，其数量并未庞大到可以抵抗绝种的下场。最后，鲸鱼肉作为食物的需求量更是少之又少。迄今，对国际捕鲸委员会里的八十四个成员国与鲸鱼来说，这场战争仍旧持续着。

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. extinction　n. 灭绝，绝种
A lot of species are facing extinction.
许多物种正濒临绝种。
2. ban　vt. 禁止
Eating and drinking are banned on the MRT.
捷运上禁止饮食。
3. commercial　a. 商业的
The movie achieved commercial success.
这部电影在票房上颇为成功。
4. scientific　a. 科学的
Einstein's scientific theory is very complex.
爱因斯坦的科学理论相当复杂。
5. demand　n. 需要，需求
Nurses are in great demand worldwide.
护士在世界各地的需求量都很高。 

Phrases for Learning  

1. in/within sight　　在视野内
When I got to the soccer field, there was no one within sight.
当我到了足球场，放眼所及竟无半个人。
2. balance A with B　　保持 A 与 B 的平衡
Al can't balance his love life with his career.
艾尔无法兼顾他的爱情与事业。
3. in the name of...　　借……的名义（做某事）
The war was fought in the name of religion.
这场战争是借宗教之名而兴起的。 

Extra Words  

1. conservation　n.（动植物的）保育
2. whaling　n. 捕鲸（业，本文中亦作形容词用）
3. commission　n. 委员会
4. pro-　prefix 赞成，支持
5. anti-　prefix 反对 

Tips In Use  

First...fish are disappearing due to over-fishing by people...Second...
（首先……鱼类的消失是因为人类的滥捕……第二……）
陈列重点或陈述概念、想法时，可用序数词 First 表示『第一点∕首先』；"Second/Third/..."表『第二点∕其次』、『第三』等的意思；最后则可用"last/finally/(and) last but not least"等来表示结尾。
注意:
"First/Second/Third/.../Last"亦可用"Firstly/Secondly/Thirdly/.../Lastly"代替。另外，First 亦可等于"First of all"，但没有"Second/Third/.../Last of all"的用法。
Here are some tips for a healthy diet. Firstly, eat more vegetables. Secondly, avoid fried foods. Finally, count calories.
（在这里提供一些健康饮食的小撇步。首先要多吃些蔬菜。其次要避免油炸食物。最后是要计算热量。）

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. extinction　n. 灭绝，绝种
A lot of species are facing extinction.
许多物种正濒临绝种。
2. ban　vt. 禁止
Eating and drinking are banned on the MRT.
捷运上禁止饮食。
3. commercial　a. 商业的
The movie achieved commercial success.
这部电影在票房上颇为成功。
4. scientific　a. 科学的
Einstein's scientific theory is very complex.
爱因斯坦的科学理论相当复杂。
5. demand　n. 需要，需求
Nurses are in great demand worldwide.
护士在世界各地的需求量都很高。 

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