Activity One  Dictation

Activity Two  Q & A (p192-193)

Activity Three Video watching and reading aloud.

Activity Four Detailed Study of Unit 9

Unit 9

 

Nobel Peace Prize AcceptanceSpeech

Al Gore

Delivered on 10 December, 2007

 

Additional Background Information

Al Gore

Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.(1948- ) servedas the 45thVice President of the United States from 1993 to2001 under PresidentBill Clinton. Hewas the Democratic Party nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election. Gore is an environmentalactivist and author.

Herepresented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to1985, and later in the U.S.Senate from 1985 to 1993, finally becoming Vice Presidentin 1993. In the 2000 presidential election, Gore won the popular vote, buthe ultimately lost the ElectoralCollege to George W. Bush.

Gore’s father was a former U.S. Senator. He had a great influence on hisson. During the school years, Gore lived with his family in The Fairfax Hotelin Washington D.C., and during the summer months, he worked on the family farmin Carthage,Tennessee,where the Gores grew tobacco and hay and raised cattle. His life moved betweencity and countryside, and this unique experience enabled him to learn toappreciate nature and provided him with an insightful view about therelationships between human beings and nature.

In 1965, Gore enrolled in HarvardUniversity.In his senior year, he took a class with oceanographer and global warmingtheorist Roger Revelle. In his book An Inconvenient Truth, Gore calls Professor Revelle a “scientifichero” because he was “the first person to propose measuring CO₂ in the earth’s atmosphere.”Professor Revelle sparked Gore’s interest in global warming and otherenvironmental issues.

After graduation from Harvard, Gore served inthe Army from 1969 to 1971. From 1971 to 1972, he attended Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He began to workthe night shift for The Tennessean as an investigativereporterin 1971.His investigations of corruption among members of Nashville’sMetro Council resulted in the arrest and prosecution of two councilmen forseparate offenses. He took a leave of absence from The Tennessean toattend VanderbiltUniversity Law School in 1974.

As a freshman congressman, he held the firstcongressional hearings on climate change, and co-sponsored hearings on toxicwaste and global warming. In 1990, Senator Gore presided over a three-dayconference which sought to create a GlobalMarshall Plan, “underwhich industrial nations would help less developed countries grow economicallywhile still protecting the environment”; legislators from over 42 countriesattended. He was involved with a number of other programs and activities thatrevolved around the environment and climate change. On Earth Day, 1995, helaunched the GLOBE program, whose aim it was to promote thelearning of science among young students and to enhance environmental literacyand stewardship. In the late 1990s, Gore strongly pushed for the passage of theKyoto Protocol, which called for reduction ingreenhouse gas emissions, but he was opposed by the Senate.

Gore served as Vice President during the ClintonAdministration. He was initially hesitant to accept the position as Bill Clinton’s running mate in the 1992presidential election, but after clashing with the George W. Bush Administrationover global warming issues, he decided to accept theoffer. He led the Clinton-Gore Administration’s efforts to protect theenvironment in a way that would also strengthen the economy.

Since then, Gore has founded severalnon-profit organizations, including the Alliance for Climate Protection and theClimate Reality Project. He has traveled around the world conducting researchand giving countless lectures on global warming. He cofounded and waschairman of Current TV, an independently owned cable and satellite televisionnetwork for young people based on viewer-created content and citizenjournalism. A member of the Board of Directors of Apple Computer, Inc. and aSenior Advisor to Google, Inc., Gore has also served as Visiting Professor at anumber of American universities.

Gorewrote three books. His first was Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the HumanSpirit (1992). In 2006, he wrote An Inconvenient Truth: ThePlanetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do about It,on the threat of and solutions to global warming. It was published inconjunction with the release of a documentary film by the same title andelaborated on the points made in the film. The film and the book were bothbased on a slide show he developed and presented to accompany the lectures onhis worldwide tours. The film has had a great impact on viewers’ attitudetoward global warming. According to the producers of the film, ParticipantMedia, the proportion of Americans who thought global warming was a real issuebefore the movie’s release was 30%, and after it was 87%. Gore’s most recentbook is The Future: Six Drivers of GlobalChange (2013).

Gorehas received a number of awards including the Nobel Peace Prize (joint award with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)(2007), the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film(2007) for An Inconvenient Truth, and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album(2009) for his book AnInconvenient Truth.

Atthe end of his famous film Gore says, “Each one of us is a cause of globalwarming, but each one of us can make choices to change that with the things webuy, the electricity we use, the cars we drive; we can make choices to bringour individual carbon emissions to zero. The solutions are in our hands, wejust have to have the determination to make it happen.”

Basic Knowledge about Global Warming/Climate Change

       Undisturbed by human action, the earth’s atmosphere has been able tomaintain a delicate balance for thousands of years. The radiation from sunlight(solar energy) penetrates the atmosphere, a thin layer that encompasses theearth. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other gases trap some of this energy,which makes the earth warm and habitable. The atmosphere of the earth serves asa kind of greenhouse that uses some of the heat from the sun to warm theplanet. The remainder of the solar energy bounces back into space. The heatthat remains has sustained life as we know it. However, the IndustrialRevolution, which saw the use of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) in huge andever-growing quantities, has been largely responsible for changing thisdelicate balance. When burned—in factories, houses, automobiles, generatingstations, etc.—fossil fuels emit CO₂ and certain other gases (called greenhousegases) into the atmosphere. These, in turn, trap more solar energy than isneeded. The accumulated CO₂ and other greenhouse gases have increased by40% since pre-industrial times, enough to cause serious warming of the planet,upsetting the balance.

       The United Nations IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the world’s most authoritative voice onglobal warming/climate change. It engages the services of thousands ofscientists worldwide to review vast amounts of scientific information on thesubject. Their 2013 “Fifth Assessment Report” points out that theconcentrations of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have increased to levelsunprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. Since the early 20^thcentury, the earth’s average surface temperature has increased by 0.8° C, withmost of the increase occurring in the last three decades. This does not soundlike very much, but the warming is not uniform in all parts of the planet. Itis much greater in the Polar Regions.

       Over the last two decades, the Greenlandand Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass, and Arctic sea ice and NorthernHemisphere spring snow cover have been decreasing to a significant extent. Iceand snow keep the Polar Regions cool and help moderate the climate worldwide.They have a bright surface so that most of the sunlight that strikes them isreflected back into space. As ice and snow melt in the summer, the dark oceanand land surfaces absorb most of the solar energy, with the result that thepolar temperature rises. A small temperature increase at the poles means thatless snow and ice will form and they will melt more quickly. A cycle iscreated: as the ice and snow melt, the sea and land absorb an increasing amountof heat, causing even more melting, leading to still greater warming over time,and making the poles the most sensitive regions to climate change on earth.Scientific measurements show that both the thickness and extent of summer seaice in the Arctic have declined dramatically over the past thirty years, withhuge chunks of polar ice caps breaking off.

       In addition to accelerating globalwarming, the loss of great amounts of ice and snow also results in rising sealevels. This is already creating severe and frequent flooding in some SouthPacific islands. The situation has reached serious enough proportions to forcepeople to migrate to Australia and other areas. The prediction is that, in theabsence of an immediate and large-scale reduction in greenhouse gases, there willbe a great deal more rising of sea levels, such that very large parts oflow-lying countries like the Netherlands, and coastal cities like New York,Calcutta, Shanghai, Bangkok, Jakarta, Buenos Aires, and dozens of others willbe under water.

       Glaciers all around the world are alsomelting. With huge quantities of snow and ice melting rapidly, we can expectfirst too much water, and then not enough, leading to floods and droughts,which are already becoming more commonplace. As most of us have noticed, inaddition to floods and droughts, we are also experiencing other forms ofextreme weather to an extent greater than ever before. The IPCC report statesthat the warmest 30-year period of the last 1400 years was from 1983 to 2012.Thus, heat waves have become common in many parts of the world. Warm oceanwater fuels typhoons (also known as cyclones or hurricanes in different partsof the world). The result is that, as the ocean water warms, there are more ofthese storms, they are fiercer, and they occur in coastal areas that hithertohad been protected from them by the cold temperatures of the surrounding oceanwater. Other extreme events in nature, such as earthquakes and volcaniceruptions are also being linked to global warming. Some geologists say that asglaciers, which are very thick and extremely heavy, melt and the earth is thusrelieved of their great weight, pressures beneath the earth’s crust arereduced, which can cause shifts. The shifts can potentially lead to earthquakesand volcanic eruptions, and when these occur underwater, they can causetsunamis.

       Deforestation also contributes to climatechange, although to a lesser extent than the heavy use of fossil fuels. Trees,like soil and oceans, are carbon sinks, meaning that they absorb more CO₂ than they release. While forestfires are natural, global warming disrupts their natural rhythm.  Increases in heat and decreases inprecipitation create the perfect combination for a great increase in wildfires,and hence more deforestation. Deforestation, in turn, often contributes toerosion and desertification.

       As carbon sinks, oceans have a certaincapacity to absorb carbon. However, with so much carbon being emitted, more ofit is going into the oceans than they can absorb without affecting their normalchemical balance. Thus, oceans are becoming increasingly acidic, whichundermines their capacity to sustain marine life. It is no surprise, then, thatlife in the sea, as well as on the land, is threatened by the massiveanthropogenic (humanly caused) generation of greenhouse gases. A great manyspecies of animals have already become extinct or migrated to other regionswhere they have a better chance of survival, and innumerable other species arein danger of extinction. 

       Finally, the 2013 IPCC report reiteratesa number of critical points: the warming of the climate system is unequivocal;many of the changes are unprecedented; and human influence on the climatesystem is clear. It is generally agreed that 2°C is the maximum average globaltemperature rise that we can afford if we are to avoid the most disastrouseffects of global warming. The report warns that continued emissions ofgreenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes to all aspects of theclimate, and emphasizes that limiting climate change will require bothsubstantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, ifhumankind does not work fast to curb global warming, billions of people willlikely be very seriously affected.

 

Structure of the Text

1.                    Inthe beginning paragraphs, Al Gore states that he has a purpose in coming togive his Nobel speech. Seven years ago, he read his own political obituary in aharsh judgment, but that unwelcome verdict brought an opportunity for him tosearch for new ways to serve his purpose. (Paras. 2-6)

2.                 In the firsthalf of his speech the speaker stresses the threat and urgency of climatechange and gives numerous facts to support his view.(Paras. 7-24)

3. 1.        Scientistsof climate change have laid before us a choice between two different futures ofour planet: a choice of life or death. We, human beings, are confronting aplanetary emergency, but we have the ability to solve this crisis if we act boldly,decisively and quickly. (Paras. 7-8)

4. 2.        However,too many of the world’s leaders ignore the crisis and have decided to be undecidedin the face of the challenge.  As aresult, the global temperature is rising because of increased emission ofglobal warming pollutants. (Paras 9-11)

5. 3.        Humanbeings are responsible for the climate crisis and must act to solve it. (Para.12)

6. 4.        Thespeaker gives evidence to prove that climate change is real. (Paras. 13-14)

7. 5.        Althoughwe never intended to cause all this destruction, burning massive quantities ofcoal, oil and natural gas has led to this climate crisis. Yet, many peoplerefuse to see this truth. (Paras. 15-19)

8. 6.        Overthe past hundred plus years, the relationship between humankind and the earthhas been changed in the basic ways. We have begun to wage war on the earthitself.  (Paras. 20-24)

9.               Inthe second half of his speech Gore calls for action to solve the climate crisis.(Para. 25-57)

10. 1.      Itis time to make peace with the planet. (Para. 25)

11. 2.      Thethreat of climate crisis is real, rising, imminent and universal. This is thetruth, and we should not remain imprisoned by a dangerous illusion. (Paras.26-31)

12. 3.      Infighting against the climate crisis we must share responsibility and takecollective action. (Paras. 32-36)

13. 4.      Whenwe unite for a moral purpose, the spiritual energy unleashed can transform us.(Paras. 37-40)

14. 5.      We, the whole world, have to together make saving theenvironment of the entire planet our first priority. The outcome of our effect will be greatlyinfluenced by the United States and China, the world’s two largest CO₂ emitters. (Paras. 41-49)

15. 6.      Theseare the last few years of decision, but they can be the first years of a brightand hopeful future if we do what we must. We have a purpose. For this purposewe will rise and we will act. (Paras. 50-57)

 

Detailed Analysis of the Text

1.      YourMajesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Honorable members of the Norwegian NobelCommittee, Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen… (Para. 1)

Your Majesties: a title of respect used whenspeaking to a king or queen 陛下 (His / Her Majesty is used when speaking about a king or queen.)

Your Royal Highness (Para. 1): a title of respect used whentalking to a member of the royal family 殿下，阁下 (His / Her Highness is used when talking about a member of the royalfamily.)

1. 2.       I have a purpose here today. (Para.2)

Al Gore begins his speechwith a short but forceful sentence. He comes to the point immediately.“Purpose” is a key word repeated several times in the speech. By stressing theword “purpose” Gore indicates that his remarks not only express thanks as anacceptance speech usually does, but also contain an important message. Thisshort sentence reminds readers of the famous sentence “I have a dream” thatMartin Luther King Jr. used in his powerful speech delivered in 1963. It is aneffective rhetorical device to have a short sentence to explicitly state andstress one’s main idea in a speech.

1. 3.       Sometimes, without warning, the future knocks on our door with aprecious and painful       vision of whatmight be. (Para. 3)

Note: This is personification, with thefuture being described as a person.

 “Knockingon our door”: This is a reference to what Henrik Ibsen said. In Paragraph53:“The great Norwegian playwright wrote, ‘One of these days, the youngergeneration will come knocking at my door.’” Here knocking on one’s door meanscoming to warn somebody, to question somebody, to demand an answer forsomething bad that is happening.

with a precious and painful vision of what might be: The future warns us and awakens usto a realization of what might be. The speaker suggests that being able to seethe truth about climate change is painful but valuable.

Translation:

有时，在毫无警告的情况下，未来会突然叩响我们的房门，让我们看到宝贵而令人痛苦的未来景象。

1. 4.       Wrongly believing the inventor had just died, a newspaper printed aharsh judgment of his life’s work, unfairly labeling him “The Merchant ofDeath” because of his invention, dynamite.(Para. 3)

Paraphrase:

By mistake a newspaper editorthought the inventor had just died and printed an article severely criticizinghis life’s work and unfairly calling him a businessman dealing in death becausehe had invented dynamite.

Note:

It was actually his brother who died, butseveral newspapers published the inventor’s obituary in error. One Frenchnewspaper stated, “The Merchant of Death Is Dead.”

harsh:cruel, severe and unkind

merchant of death: one who trades in instruments of death a metaphor meaning a personwhose business causes deaths死亡商人

1. 5.       Shaken by this condemnation, the inventor made a fateful choice toserve the cause of peace.(Para. 3)

Note:

Alfred Nobel’s family was involvedin the manufacture of armaments.  Alfred,however, was mainly interested in the safe manufacture and use ofnitroglycerin. In 1867, he invented dynamite, a substance easier and safer tohandle than the more unstable nitroglycerin. Dynamite was patented in the USand the UK and was used extensively in mining and the building of transportnetworks internationally. Nobel thought his invention would promote socialdevelopment, and, as a pacifist, he firmly believed in peace. But despite hisbelief, he had established 90 armament factories by the time of his death.

Shaken by this condemnation: The inventor was terribly shocked and upsetby this harsh criticism.

fateful:having an important effect on future events.

to serve the purpose of peace: Nobel died in 1896 without his family,friends and colleagues knowing he had left most of his wealth in trust in orderto fund awards that would become known as the Nobel Prizes, including the NobelPeace Prize.

1. 6.       Seven years later, Alfred Nobel created this prize and the others thatbear his name. (Para. 4)

Seven years later theinventor founded the Nobel Peace Prize and other Nobel Prizes.

1. 7.       Seven years ago tomorrow, I read my own political obituary in ajudgment that seemed to me harsh and mistaken, if not premature. (Para. 4)

“political obituary”: This  refers humorously to Gore’sloss in his campaign for the U.S. Presidency in 2000 when he ran against GeorgeW. Bush. Gore and Bush were locked in a close contest, and the final resulthinged on Florida where there was a demand (more than justified) for a recountof votes in that state. Had this occurred, it is highly probable that Gorewould have won the election. The reference here is to December 11, 2000 (“sevenyears ago tomorrow”) when the US Supreme Court heard the arguments regardingwhether to allow a recount. The following day, they decided against it, and theday after that, Gore announced his acceptance of the Court’s decision, thusmaking Bush President.

Note:

Although Gore won more popularvotes, the victory went to Bush, thus ending Gore’s political life. AlthoughGore did not agree with the decision of the Supreme Court, he accepted it.That’s why in the speech he describes the judgment as being “harsh” and“mistaken”.

if not:used to suggest that something else may also be true

premature:happening before the normal or expected time. By using the word “premature” thespeaker implies that the Supreme Court acted in haste.

Translation:

明天就整整七年了，就在七年前，我在一则判决中读到了我的政治生涯的讣告，这讣告是残忍和错误的，再说也为时过早（和诺贝尔当年活着看到自己的讣告一样）。

1. 8.       But that unwelcome verdict also brought a precious, if painful gift: anopportunity to search for fresh, new ways to serve my purpose. (Para. 5)

verdict: (law)the formal finding of a judge or jury on a matter submitted to them in a trial;any decision or judgment. Here it refers to the decision made by the UnitedStates Supreme Court on the case of Bush v. Gore.

if painful: althoughpainful. Here “if” is used before an adjective to introduce a contrast.

Translation:

这个不受欢迎的判决也带来了一份可贵的--虽然有些痛苦的—礼物，即提供了一个寻求实现我的目标的崭新方式的机会。

1. 9.       Unexpectedly, that quest has brought me here. (Para. 6)

“That quest” refers to “an opportunity tosearch for fresh, new ways to serve my purpose” mentioned in the aboveparagraph. The word “unexpectedly” implies that when the speaker started thesearch he did not expect that his work would lead to the honor of the Nobel PeacePrize.

1. 10.   Even though I fear my words cannot match this moment, I pray that whatI am feeling in my heart will be communicated clearly enough that those whohear me will say, “We must act.” (Para. 6)

Even though I fear thatwhat I’m saying cannot be good and exciting enough for this special occasion, Ideeply hope that what I am feeling in my heart will be communicated andunderstood clearly so that those who hear me will decide to take action.

1. 11.   The distinguished scientists with whom it is the greatest honor of mylife to share this award have laid before us a choice between two differentfutures, a choice that to my ears echoes the words of an ancient prophet: Lifeor death, blessings or curses, therefore choose life, that both thou and thyseed may live. (Para. 7)

Note:

 “The distinguished scientists with whom it isthe greatest honor of my life to share this award” refers to the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change （联合国政府间气候变化专门委员会）. IPCC was first established in 1988 by two UN organizations: the WorldMeteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP). Its mission is to provide comprehensive scientific assessments ofcurrent scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide aboutthe risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potentialenvironmental and socio-economic consequences, and possible options for mitigatingclimate change and for adapting to its consequences. The IPCC is aninternationally accepted authority on climate change, producing reports whichhave the agreement of leading climate scientists from around the world and theconsensus of more than 120 participating governments. The 2007 Nobel PeacePrize was shared equally between the IPCC and Al Gore.

a choice that to my ears echoes the words of an ancient prophet: a choice that sounds very muchlike the words spoken by an ancient prophet (Moses)

“Life or death, blessings or curses. Therefore choose life, that boththou and thy seed may live”: This is from Deuteronomy （申命记）of the Booksof the Old Testament （旧约全书）. The book of Deuteronomy isorganized as a series of addresses given by Moses to the people of Israel inthe land of Moab, where they had stopped at the end of the long wildernessjourney and were about to enter and occupy Canaan. Here the speaker quotes fromthe King James Version: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I haveset before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life,that both thou and thy seed may live:” The sentence in the New Living Translation is easier to understand: “Today I have givenyou the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I callon heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would chooselife, so that you and your descendants might live!” By quoting these words,Gore stresses the urgency of climate change: it is a life-and-death choice. Notethat Gore avoids mentioning Moses by name, perhaps because he does not want to seemto favor one religion over another, but instead to reach out to peoples of alldifferent faiths.

thou: (olduse or dialect) a word meaning “you”, used when talking to only one person whois the subject of the verb. Compare “thee”, a word meaning “you”, used whentalking to only one person who is the object of the verb

thy: (olduse) meaning “your”, used when talking to only one person

seed: metaphor,meaning children, descendants

Translation:

我一生中最大的荣幸就是与这些尊贵的科学家们分享诺贝尔和平奖，他们将两种不同未来的选择摆在了我们的面前，而这一选择在我听起来类似一位古老的预言家曾说过的话：“生与死，福与祸，你们要选择生，那样，你和你的后代将可能存活下去。”

1. 12.  Whatis the function of Paragraph 8?

This paragraph containsthe central idea, the thesis statement of the speech which consists of twoparts: on the one hand, we are confronting a planetary emergency, a threat tothe survival of our civilization; on the other hand, there is hopeful news as wehave the ability to solve this crisis if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.

1. 13.   We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency (Para. 8)

We human beings are facedwith an urgent crisis threatening the whole planet.

1. 14.   … a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gatheringominous and destructive potential, even as we gather here. (Para. 8)

The potential of thecrisis is increasing in force. The suggestion is that something extremely bad anddestructive is going to happen, threatening the very survival of ourcivilization. The crisis is real and we can see it now and here. This is thefirst part of his argument: The climate crisis is urgent.

1. 15.   But there is hopeful news, as well. (Para. 8)

The word “but” introducesanother side of the crisis: there is hopeful news as well.

1. 16.   We have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst, thoughnot all, of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly. (Para. 8)

Human beings have theability to solve the climate crisis so that the worst will not happen as longas we take bold action, without hesitation or delay. This is the second part ofGore’s argument: We must take action to solve the climate crisis right now.

1. 17.   However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many ofthe world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchillapplied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat (Para. 9)

The word “however”introduces a contrasting statement to “if we act boldly, decisively and quickly”.Although more and more leaders of the world recognize the crisis, thusdeserving our respect and admiration, too many leaders are still hesitating andtheir attitude can be best described by Winston Churchill’s words when he criticizedthose who ignored the threat of Adolf Hitler’s aggression at the beginning ofWWII. Note that the speaker here is comparing the threat of climate crisis tothat of the catastrophe of WWII, and leaders of the world who are stillhesitating to take action against global warming to those leaders who adopted apolicy of appeasement (绥靖主义)toward Hitler, thus failing to stop the war before it was too late.

1. 18.   “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolvedto be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to beimpotent.” (Para. 9)

Note:

Here Winston Churchill criticizesthose leaders who had illusions about Hitler, and adopted an appeasement policywith him. They failed to act boldly, decisively and swiftly when confronting fascism.This remark is from a speech Churchill made to theBritish House of Commons on November 12, 1937. In this statement,Churchill uses a series of antitheses, that is, the contrasts between “decided”and “undecided”, “resolved” and “irresolute”, “adamant” and “drift”, “solid”and “fluidity” and “powerful” and “impotent.”

paradox: aperson, thing or situation that has two opposite features and therefore seemsstrange but both may be true

impotent:having no power to change things or to influence a situation

Translation:

“他们陷在一个矛盾的怪圈中，决定的结果是举棋不定，毫不动摇地犹豫不决，坚定不移地随波逐流，强大有力却安于无能为力。”

1. 19.     So today we dumped another 70 million tons of global warming pollutioninto the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an opensewer. (Para. 10)

“So” implies a cause andeffect relationship. Because too many of the world’s leaders ignore the climatecrisis, today we again discharged 70 million tons of greenhouse gases into thethin layer of atmosphere surrounding the earth, causing more global warming. Weare treating our earth as if it were an open sewer into which we can dump asmuch as greenhouse gases and other pollution as we like.

1. 20.   … with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heatfrom the sun. (Para. 10)

Note:

Each time more global warming pollutionis emitted into the atmosphere, the concentrations of greenhouse gases areincreased, the effect being that they trap more heat radiated from the sun,thus causing the global temperature to rise. This is the most basic fact ofglobal warming.

concentration: the relative amount of a particular substance within a solution or acertain amount of space 浓度；含量

1. 21.   As a result, the earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. (Para. 11)

Metaphor, comparingglobal warming to a fever. As a result, the temperature of the earth is rising,and it continues to rise. 

1. 22.   The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will healby itself. (Para. 11)

Note:

The speaker continues themetaphor of fever with the words “affliction” and “heal.”

affliction:(formal) pain and suffering or something that causes it

1. 23.     We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And theconsistent conclusion, restated with increasing distress (Para. 11)

This shows that on theissue of global warming there is a general consensus among the overwhelmingmajority of experts. And each time the experts give an opinion, they expressmore and more alarm that there is a very serious, basic problem. Here “askingfor a second opinion” is a continuation of the metaphor. Sometimes when adoctor gives a patient a diagnosis or suggests a certain treatment, the patientwill double-check by going to another doctor for “a second opinion.”

1. 24.   We are what is wrong, and we must make it right. (Para. 12)

Paraphrase:

We human beings are to blame forclimate change, we have caused the crisis, and only we can solve it through ouraction.

Note:

This is another short but forcefulsentence to make an important idea explicit and also to enhance rhetoricaleffectiveness.

Translation:

气候的变化是我们人类自己造成的，因此，也必须由我们予以纠正。

1. 25.   In Paragraphs 13 and 14 the speaker gives evidence to prove that climatechange is real.

2. 26.   Last September 21st, as the Northern Hemisphere tilted away from thesun, scientists reported with unprecedented distress that the North Polar ice capis “falling off a cliff.” (Para. 13)

Note:

The first evidence he gives is themelting of the North Polar ice cap with unprecedented alarming rapidity. In hisbook An Inconvenient Truth, Goresays, “Since the 1970s, the extent and thickness of the Arctic ice cap hasdiminished precipitously. There are now studies showing that if we continuewith business as usual, the Arctic ice cap will completely disappear each yearduring the summertime.” (P. 143)

the Northern Hemisphere:北半球

to tilt: tomove, or make something move, into a position with one side or end higher thanthe other 倾斜

icecap: 冰冠, 冰盖An ice cap is adome-shaped mass of glacier ice that spreads out in all directions; usuallylarger than an ice field but less than 50 000 km². An ice sheet is adome-shaped mass of glacier ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greaterthan 50 000 km², such as the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. A polarice cap, also called polar ice sheet, is a high-latitude region of land orwater covered in ice.

Translation:

在今年9月21日，当北半球朝着离太阳的位置稍微倾斜之时（即秋季刚刚开始时），科学家们带着前所未有的恐惧报告说，北极冰冠“正在从悬崖落下。”

1. 27.   In the last few months, it has been harder and harder to misinterpretthe signs that our world is spinning out of kilter. (Para. 14)

Paraphrase:

In the last few months, the signsthat our world is becoming more and more out of balance are so clear that noone can fail to understand their implications. 

Translation:

在过去数月中，种种迹象显示我们的地球正在越来越失去平衡，而很难有别的解释。

1. 28.   Major cities in North and South America, Asia and Australia are nearlyout of water due to massive droughts and melting glaciers. (Para. 14)

This fact is another proofof global warming. In An InconvenientTruth, Gore points out, “Almost all of the mountain glaciers in the worldare now melting, many of them quite rapidly.”(P. 48) “The Himalayan Glaciers onthe Tibetan Plateau have been among the most affected by global warming. TheHimalayas contain 100 times as much ice as the Alps and provide more than halfof the drinking water for 40% of the world’s population—through seven Asianriver systems that all originate on the same plateau. Within the nexthalf-century, that 40% of the world’s people may well face a very seriousdrinking water shortage, unless the world acts boldly and quickly to mitigateglobal warming.” (P. 58)

1. 29.   Desperate farmers are losing their livelihoods. (Para. 14)

The reasons are explainedin the next few sentences.

1. 30.   Peoples in the frozen Arctic and on low-lying Pacific islands are planningevacuations of places they have long called home. (Para. 14)

Yet another proof ofglobal warming. People living in areas in the frozen Arctic and on low-lyingPacific islands are planning to leave their homes.

evacuation: removinginhabitants from a place or area for protective purposes 疏散，转移，撤离

1. 31.   Unprecedented wildfires have forced half a million people from theirhomes in one country and caused a national emergency that almost brought downthe government in another. (Para. 14)

Still another piece ofevidence to support the speaker’s point. Because of droughts, wildfires havebecome bigger and more frequent than before. In one country a half millionpeople had to evacuate due to a big wildfire and in another country a wildfirecaused a national emergency that nearly forced the government out of power.

32.  Astemperature extremes have increased, tens of thousands have lost their lives. (Para. 14)

temperature extremes: highest recorded temperatures and lowest recorded temperatures; extremehot and cold temperature conditions

1. 33.   The very web of life on which we depend is being ripped and frayed.(Para. 14)

to rip:to tear something or to become torn, often suddenly and violently

to fray: to make or become strained or unraveled,often used in connection with a fabric or rope

Translation: 我们赖以生存的生命之网正在被粗暴地撕裂和承受过重的压力 

1. 34.   We shared that same worthy goal when we began burning massivequantities of coal, then oil and methane. (Para. 15)

When we as a society beganto develop industry on a huge scale in order to provide people with a vastarray of goods, we had the same excellent goal as Alfred Nobel: to promotehuman progress and make life better for people. Yet, industrialization requiredburning very large quantities of coal, oil and natural gas, all of which areun-renewable fossil fuels. Burning these fuels results in the emission into theatmosphere of carbon dioxide (CO₂), a major source of greenhouse gases, which, when in excess, causes thetemperature of the earth to rise and the climate to change.

1. 35.    “We are evaporating our coalmines into the air.” (Para. 16)

Hyperbole, meaning we areburning too much coal and emitting too much CO₂into the air.

1. 36.   After performing 10,000 equations by hand, Svante Arrhenius calculatedthat the earth’s average temperature would increase by many degrees if wedoubled the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. (Para. 16)

Paraphrase:

Since computers were not availableat that time, Svante Arrhenius had to do the equations by hand about 10,000times, and the result he came up with was if we put twice the amount of CO₂ into the atmosphere, the earth’s averagetemperature would increase by many degrees.

CO₂: carbon dioxide, a colorless and odorless gasbreathed out by people and animals from the lungs or produced by burning carbon二氧化碳

equation: a statement showing that two amounts or values areequal 方程式；等式

1. 37.   But unlike most other forms of pollution, CO₂is invisible,tasteless and odorless, which has helped keep the truth about what it is doingto our climate out of sight and out of mind. (Para. 18)

Unlike most forms ofpollution that can be seen, or tasted or smelled, CO₂ is invisible, tasteless and odorless. Because ofthis fact, many people fail to see the serious effects of CO₂ on our climate, and if they don’t see it, theywon’t think about it.

out of sight, out of mind: (saying) used to say that if you cannot see something, you stopthinking about it and forget it

38. Moreover the catastrophe now threateningus is unprecedented, and we often confuse the unprecedented with theimprobable. (Para. 18)

 Moreover, the disaster now threatening us hasnever happened before, and we often think wrongly that if something has neverhappened before, it will not happen.

unprecedented: that has never happened, been done or been known before

improbable:not likely to be true or to happen

Translation:

而且，正在威胁我们的灾难是前所未有的，而我们经常错误地认为前所未有的就意味着是不可能的。

39. And when large truths are genuinelyinconvenient, whole societies can, at least for a time,     ignore them. (Para. 19)

Paraphrase:

When important truths are reallycausing trouble or problems to some people, whole societies can, at least for atime, treat them as if they do not exist.

inconvenient: causing trouble or problems, especially concerning what you need

Note:

Gore has called global warming aninconvenient truth and made it the title of his important film and book whichboth came out in 2006. He says that the threat of climate change is clear andincreasing and that many business and political leaders seem not to hear such aclear warning simply because it is inconvenient for them to acknowledge thetruth, implying that these leaders deny that climate change is real orunderestimate its significance because political and economic interests areinvolved. He asks, “Why is it that our leaders seem not to hear such clarionwarnings? Are they resisting the truth because they know that the moment theyacknowledge it, they will face a moral imperative to act? Is it simply moreconvenient to ignore the warning?” (An InconvenientTruth)

Translation: 当重要的真理带来麻烦时，整个社会都可能，至少在一段时间内，对这些真理视而不见。

1. 40.   Yet as George Orwell reminds us: Sooner or later, a false belief bumpsup against a solid reality, usually on a battlefield. (Para. 19)

Paraphrase:

Yet as George Orwell warns us:Sooner or later, a wrong belief based on something not true clashes with a harshreality, and usually this happens on a battlefield.

Note:

What Orwell implies is that oftenpeople entertain illusions and won’t realize their mistake until they hit hardagainst a stark reality and have to pay a high price for their mistake. Thehigh price is often the need to fight on the battlefield. Note that Gore hasbeen comparing the fight against climate change to fighting a war.

1. 41.   In the years since this prize was first awarded, the entirerelationship between human kind and the earth has been radically transformed.(Para. 20)

Over the past hundred plusyears (this prize was first awarded in 1901), the entire relationship betweenhumankind and the earth has been changed in the basic ways. In the nextparagraph the speaker explains what the relationship between humankind and theearth has become.

1. 42.   Indeed without realizing it, we have begun to wage war on the earthitself. (Para. 21)

Note the war metaphorhere. Gore warns that we human beings have caused so much damage to the earththat it amounts to having begun to wage war on the earth.

1. 43.   Now we and the earth’s climate are locked in a relationship familiar towar planners: “Mutually assured destruction.” (Para. 21)

“Mutual assureddestruction”: Mutual assured destruction (MAD) is a doctrine of military strategy and national securitypolicy in which a full-scale use of high-yield weaponsof mass destruction by two opposing sides would cause the completeannihilation of both the attacker and the defender. Inthe 1950s and beyond, both the United States and Soviet Union had enough nuclearpower to obliterate the other side. Both sides knew that any attack upon theother would be devastating to themselves, thus in theory restraining them fromattacking each other.

Note:

Gore continues with the warmetaphor, implying that now we and the earth are involved in a hostile relationshipthat can be called “Mutually assured destruction” which is familiar to warplanners. According to this strategy, if one side attacks the other, both willbe destroyed. Thus, asserts Gore, we are destroying the climate as we know it,and, in turn, it will destroy us.

1. 44.   Their eloquent warnings here in Oslo helped galvanize the world’sresolve to halt the nuclear arms race. (Para. 22)

Paraphrase:

At the conference held in Oslomore than two decades ago scientists warned that a nuclear war would cause anuclear winter. Their well-expressed warning shocked people and thus made them determinedto take action to stop the nuclear arms race.

Oslo:capital city of Norway. Situated in the heart of Scandinavia, the city is wherethe Nobel Peace Prize is awarded and many international conferences are held.

the nuclear arms race: The nuclear arms race was a competition for supremacy in nuclear weaponsbetween the United States and the Soviet Union, and their respective alliesduring the Cold War.

1. 45.   Now science is warning us that if we do not quickly reduce the globalwarming pollution that is trapping so much of the heat our planet normallyradiates back out of the atmosphere, we are in danger of creating a permanent“carbon summer.” (Para. 23)

Paraphrase:Now scientists are giving us another warning, that is, if we do not quicklyreduce the greenhouse gases that are keeping so much heat in the atmosphere, wewill be confronted with the danger of causing a permanent “carbon summer.”

Note:Thespeaker is a comparing the disaster of a nuclear war with that of globalwarming. While nuclear war would cause a nuclear winter by throwing too muchdebris into the atmosphere, thus blocking the heat from the sun, too muchcarbon emitted into the atmosphere would cause a permanent carbon summer bytrapping too much heat from the sun.

1. 46.   As the American poet Robert Frost wrote, “Some say the world will endin fire, some say in ice.” Either, he notes, “would suffice.” (Para. 24)

Note: Here Gore quotes from RobertFrost’s famous poem published in 1920, which reads:

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

In this poem, Frost discusses the end of the world,likening fire with the emotion of desire, and ice with hate. He implies thattoo much desire or too much hate would end the world. While Frost is using “ice”and “fire” figuratively, Gore is using them on a more literal level torepresent a nuclear winter and a carbon summer respectively. He points out thateither would destroy our planet.

to suffice: (formal) tobe enough for somebody or something

1. 47.   But neither need be our fate. It is time to make peace with the planet.(Para. 25)

Paraphrase:

Neither ending would beinevitable, if we did our best to repair the damage we have done to the planet.

Note:

This is a transitionalparagraph linking what we human beings have done to damage the earth and whatwe should do to repair the damage.

1. 48.   These prior struggles for survival were won when leaders found words atthe 11th hour that released a mighty surge of courage, hope and readiness tosacrifice for a protracted and mortal challenge. (Para. 26)

Paraphrase:

Our previous struggles against fascismduring WWII were won when leaders spoke up at the last moment and this broughtabout an outpouring among the people of courage, hope and willingness to makeevery sacrifice in meeting a long and extremely dangerous challenge.

at the eleventh hour: at the last possible time; just before it is too late. The originalsource of this idiom is from a story told in Matthew 20:1-16 in the Books ofthe New Testament of the Bible. The 11^thHour is the title of a documentary film created, produced, and narrated byLeonardo DiCaprio in 2007. With contributions from over 50politicians, scientists, and environmental activists, the film documents thegrave problems facing the planet’s life systems. Global warming, extremeweather events, deforestation, mass species extinction, and depletion of theoceans’ habitats are all addressed, as are the causes of these problems. Thefilm’s premise is that the future of humanity is in jeopardy. The film proposespotential solutions to these problems by calling for restorative action by thereshaping and rethinking of global human activity through technology, socialresponsibility and conservation, all the while reminding the viewer that little time remains.

 protracted: lasting longer than expected orlonger than usual  持久的

mortal: [onlybefore noun] (formal) (of fear, terror, etc.) deadly, fateful and extremelydangerous

1. 49.   These were not comforting and misleading assurances that the threat wasnot real or imminent (Para. 27)

This is an emphatic wayof saying that they could not delude people into thinking that the threat wasnot real or imminent.

1. 50.   Once again, it is the 11th hour. (Para. 29)

Once again, it is thelast possible time; we must act now or it will be too late.

1. 51.   … or will we remain imprisoned by a dangerous illusion? (Para. 29)

Or will we continue to berestricted by a dangerous false belief (that the threat of global warming isnot real or imminent)?

1. 52.   In every land, the truth, once known, has the power to set us free.(Para. 31)

In every country, oncethe truth is known to the people, it has the power to set us free (from theimprisonment of dangerous illusions).

1. 53.   “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, gotogether.” (Para. 33)

欲行速，须独行；欲行远，须同行。

1. 54.   At the same time, we must ensure that in mobilizing globally we do notinvite the establishment of ideological conformity and a new lock-step “ism.”(Para. 34)

Paraphrase:

At the same time, we must makesure that in mobilizing globally we do not encourage or expect ideologicalconformity or require everybody to take the same action in the same manner. Inother words, in our global unity to fight against the climate crisis, we must allowideological diversity and encourage people to take a wide range of actions.

to invite:to tend to bring on; to give occasion for

lock-step “ism”: Lock-step is a way of marching in such close file that thecorresponding legs of the marchers must keep step precisely前后紧接、步伐一致的行进方式. “ism” is a suffix meaning action, conduct ,or quality characteristic of. Actually the meaning of “a new lock-step ‘-ism’is similar to the establishment of ideological conformity. Here Gore isaddressing peoples all over the world and he is aware that they have differentpolitical systems and cultural traditions. He wishes to mobilize all of themand unite them in spite of the differences. In his words, “Truth also has thepower to unite us and bridge the distance between ‘me’ and ‘we,’” as he calls forthe creating the “basis for common effort and shared responsibility.”

Translation:

同时，我们必须确保在全球总动员中，我们不会导致建立统一的意识形态或形成一种新的要求机械一致的某种主义或理论。

1. 55.   That means adopting principles, values, laws and treaties that releasecreativity and initiative at every level of society in multi-fold responses,originating concurrently and spontaneously. (Para. 35)

Paraphrase:

That means we should adoptprinciples, values, laws and treaties that can inspire creativity andinitiative at every level of society in such a way that people will respond in avast variety of ways at the same time and naturally.

Note:

The meaning of this sentence isjust the opposite to that of “establishment of ideological conformity and a newlock-step “-ism”. Here the speaker states what should be done.

concurrently: at the same time

spontaneously: done naturally, voluntarily

Translation:

这意味着采取新的原则、价值观、法律和协议，这些新事物都必须能够使社会各个层次以多种方式同时地并自然地响应，释放出他们的创造性和主动性。

1. 56.   This new consciousness requires expanding the possibilities inherent inall humanity. (Para. 36)

Paraphrase:

This new awareness requires us toexpand the possibilities that all human beings have.

Note:

This sentence is the topicsentence of this paragraph. This point is supported by examples given later inthe paragraph.

1. 57.   The innovators who will devise a new way to harness the sun’s energyfor pennies (Para. 36)

Paraphrase:

The innovators who will invent anew method to control and use solar energy at low costs.

for pennies:for a very small amount of money

1. 58.   or invent an engine that’s carbon-negative may live in Lagos or Mumbai orMontevideo. (Para. 36)

Paraphrase:

The innovators who will invent anengine that removes carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere may live in Nigeria,or India or Uruguay (meaning anywhere in the world).

carbon-negative: Carbon negative is used to describe a process that removes carbondioxide from the earth’s atmosphere than it creates. It is considered thedirect opposite of carbon dioxide emissions, hence its name.

1. 59.   In Paragraphs 37-39 Gore talks about the importance of spiritual energyand moral authority by citing the Marshall Plan, the United Nations and a newlevel of global cooperation as fine examples.

2. 60.   When we unite for a moral purpose that is manifestly good and true, thespiritual energy unleashed can transform us. (Para. 37)

Note:

This serves as the topic sentenceof the section containing Paragraphs 36-38.

manifestly: (formal)plainly and easy to see; obviously

1. 61.   The generation that defeated fascism throughout the world in the 1940sfound in rising to meet their awesome challenge that they had gained the moralauthority and long-term vision to launch the Marshall Plan, the United Nations,and a new level of global cooperation and foresight that unified Europe andfacilitated the emergence of democracy and prosperity in Germany, Japan, Italyand much of the world. (Para. 37)

TheMarshall Plan: About the Marshall Plan, see Note 15 to the text.In his 1992 book Earth in the Balance,Gore proposed a “Global Marshall Plan” to address current ecological issues.

the moral authority: The basic meaning of the word “authority” is the power or right togive commands, enforce obedience or make final decisions 权威，当权（地位）. But it also means the power or influence resultingfrom knowledge or prestige. Here Gore puts the word “moral” before authority, empathizingthat the kind of authority he talks about is moral, not the kind of authoritythat stems from political power such as governments. In his speeches and booksGore has always stressed the view that global warming is fundamentally a moralissue.

vision: theability to think about and plan the future with great imagination andintelligence  眼光，远见卓识

foresight:the ability to anticipate what is likely to happen and to use this to preparefor the future 预见，先见之明

Translation:

上世纪四十年代世界各地战胜法西斯的一代人发现，通过奋起应对这个巨大挑战，他们获得了道德权威和远见卓识去启动马歇尔计划，成立联合国，使全球合作达到一个新的高度，以及统一欧洲并促进德国、日本、意大利和世界很多地区实现民主与繁荣。

1. 62.   One of their visionary leaders said, “It is time we steered by thestars, and not by the lights of every passing ship.” (Para. 37)

One of their visionary leaders: One of the leaders of vision from thatgeneration. Here Gore is referring to Omar Bradley, an American General whoserved during WWII.

“It is time we steered by the stars, and not by the lights of everypassing ship”: Metaphor,comparing taking the course of human progress to steering a ship on the sea inthe dark night. Put in non-figurative speech, the sentence means that in thepast our decisions and actions were guided by temporary and short-terminterests. Now it is time for us to change. They must be guided by long-term visionand principles. 

1. 63.   I knew what my father and mother would have felt were they alive.(Para. 39)

I knew my father andmother would have felt proud of me if they were alive for this was an honor wonby Cordell Hull, their inspiration and hero.

were they alive: if they were alive

1. 64.   In the characters used in both Chinese and Japanese, “crisis” iswritten with two symbols, the first meaning “danger,” the second “opportunity.”(Para. 40)

Note:

 In the Introduction to his book An Inconvenient Truth, Gore points out, “Ialso want to convey my strong feeling that what we are facing is not just acause for alarm, it is paradoxically also a cause for hope. As many know, theChinese expression for ‘crisis’ consists of two characters side by side 危机. The first is the symbol for ‘danger,’ thesecond the symbol for ‘opportunity.’”

1. 65.   We must understand the connections between the climate crisis and theafflictions of poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS and other pandemics. (Para. 41)

Note:

We must understand that the world environmentis severely polluted and the situation is getting worse, causing and intensifyingmany problems with the climate crisis being central. The pains and sufferingscaused by poverty, hunger, HIV/AIDS and other diseases spreading over manyareas in the world are also related to environmental deterioration. Thus theyare all linked. To understand Gore’s logic, we can begin with the problem of poverty.Hungerobviously is a result of poverty; HIV/AIDS and other pandemics are also often aresult of poverty in the sense that the poor lack money, good hygiene, accessto good health care and medicine. The climate crisis is affecting the poor ofthe world more so than the rest of the world. This is because the harmfuleffects of climate change on agriculture, for example, through increasingdroughts, desertification, floods, landslides, etc. cause scarcity and increasesin food prices, resulting in famine, refugees and conflicts among the poor ofthe world in much greater proportion than among those of us who havealternative ways to get food (pay higher prices, import it, hoard it). The samecan be said for the lack of availability of clean water to drink. Food and drinkingwater are basic for human survival and both are being affected by climatechange.

pandemic: adisease that spreads over a whole country or the whole world 流行病

HIV/AIDS:艾滋病Human immunodeficiencyvirus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immunesystem caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

1. 66.   We must begin by making the common rescue of the global environment thecentral organizing principle of the world community. (Para. 41)

Paraphrase:

We, the wholeworld, have to together make saving the environment of the entire planet ourfirst priority.

Translation:

我们首先必须将共同拯救全球环境作为人类社会的最高组织原则。

1. 67.   … the “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro (Para. 42)

A major UN conference onenvironment and development. For more information, see Note 17 to the text.

1. 68.   Ten years ago, I presented it in Kyoto. (Para. 42)

An important achievementof the “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro was an agreement on the Climate ChangeConvention, which in turn led to the Kyoto Protocol. For more information aboutthe Kyoto Protocol, read Note 18 to the text.

1. 69.   This week, I will urge the delegates in Bali to adopt a bold mandatefor a treaty that establishes a universal global cap on emissions and uses themarket in emissions trading to efficiently allocate resources to the mosteffective opportunities for speedy reductions. (Para. 42)

Bali: Goredelivered this Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech on Dec. 10, 2007, and he wasgoing to speak within the same week at the United Nations Climate ChangeConference that was taking place from Dec. 3 to Dec. 15 in Bali, Indonesia. TheBali Climate Change Conference brought together more than 10,000 participants,including representatives of over 180 countries together with observers fromintergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and the media. Discussionswere heated and opinions were divided between developed and developingcountries and even among developing countries. No breakthrough treaty wasreached. However, at the last moment, governments adopted the Bali Road Mapwhich was a set of decisions that represented the various tracks that were seenas key to reaching a global climate deal.

mandate: anofficial order or commission to do something 授权

cap: anupper limit, ceiling

emissions trading: Emissions trading is amarket-based approach used to control pollution by providing  economic incentives for achieving reductionsin the emissions of pollutants. For more information, see Note 19 to the text.

Translation:

本周我将敦促巴厘岛会议的代表采取一项大胆的授权，以达成一项协定，这一协定将对全球温室气体排放施行最高限额，并通过排放权交易市场的形式将资源分配给最有效的机会，以便实现迅速减排。

1. 70.   In Paragraphs 44-47 Gore talks about what the world community should doto cope with the climate crisis.

2. 71.   It is not unreasonable to ask, given the gravity of our circumstances,that these heads of state meet every three months until the treaty iscompleted. (Para. 44)

Note:

This is one of the things theworld community should do. In this sentence double negative “it is notunreasonable” is used for emphasis.

given: (prep)considering, taking into account考虑到

gravity:(formal) extreme importance and a cause for worry 严重性

Translation:

考虑到情况的严重性，要求各国首脑在协议完成之前每三个月开会一次应该是并不为过的。

1. 72.   We also need a moratorium on the construction of any new generatingfacility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store carbondioxide. (Para. 45)

Note:

This is another thing the worldcommunity should do.

moratorium:a temporary stopping of an activity, especially by official agreement 暂停，中止（尤其指官方同意的）

generating facility that burns coal: coal-fired power plants 火力发电设备

Translation:

同时我们还需要暂时中止建设一切燃烧煤炭而却没有能力安全截留和储存二氧化碳的发电设施。

1. 73.   And most important of all, we need to put a price on carbon, with a CO₂ tax that is thenrebated back to the people, progressively, according to the laws of eachnation, in ways that shift the burden of taxation from employment to pollution.(Para. 46)

to rebate:to partially refund退还（部分退款）

progressively: When talking about taxes, the word progressively means the levying oftaxes in proportion to levels of income and profits. But here, Gore is usingthe word to refer to a tax on carbon rather than on income and profits, thusshifting taxation from employment (income and profits) to pollution (carbonemissions). So here, the word “progressively” means in reverse proportion tothe level of carbon they emitted, in other words, the less carbon they emitted,the higher the rebate, and vice versa.

Translation:

最重要的是我们需要给碳标价，征收二氧化碳排放税，根据各国法律逐步返还给各国民众，将征税的负担从以就业为标准转移到以污染为标准。

1. 74.   The world needs an alliance, especially of those nations that weighheaviest in the scales where earth is in the balance. (Para. 47)

Paraphrase:

The world needs an alliance,especially an alliance of those nations that are most responsible for determiningthe future sustainability of the planet.

scales: aninstrument for weighing people or things

where earth is in the balance: The idiom of “hangingin the balance” or the shortened “in the balance” applied to the earth meansthat the earth has an uncertain, unresolved future, that it is at a criticalstage.

1. 75.   But the outcome will be decisively influenced by two nations that arenow failing to do enough: the United States and China. (Para. 48)

Gore criticizes theUnited States and China, the former the largest developed country and thelatter the largest developing country, for failing to do enough. This is notfair for China. It only stands for Gore’s own understanding of this issue. 

1. 76.   While India is also growing fast in importance, it should be absolutelyclear that it is the two largest CO₂ emitters, most of all my own country, that will need to make theboldest moves or stand accountable before history for their failure to act.(Para. 48)

Note:

It is true that India is growingfast in importance, but it should be very clear that the United States andChina are the two largest CO₂ emitters. On the list of countries issued bythe UN, China is the first followed by the US in terms of total amount of CO₂ emitted, but the US is by far thefirst in terms of CO₂ emission per capita. So, Gore stresses that the two countries,especially his own country the US, will need to take the boldest actions toreduce carbon emission. If they fail to do so, they will have to standaccountable before history.

accountable: (to be held)responsible for one’sdecisions or actions and expected to explain them when asked

Translation:

虽然印度的重要性也日益凸显，但我们必须清醒地看到，现在美中两国是全球最大的二氧化碳排放国，尤其是我自己的国家。它们必须采取最果断的措施减排，否则它们必将为各自的失误承担历史责任。

1. 77.   Both countries should stop using the other’s behavior as an excuse forstalemate, and instead develop an agenda for mutual survival in a shared globalenvironment. (Para. 49)

stalemate: asituation in a dispute or competition in which neither side is able to win ormake any progress 僵局，僵持局面

Translation:

这两个国家应该不再利用对方的行为作为僵持的借口，而应当为了在共同拥有的全球环境下共存而制定议事日程。

1. 78.   These are the last few years of decision, but they can be the firstyears of a bright and hopeful future if we do what we must. (Para. 50)

Note:

Pay attention to the antithesisbetween “the last few years” and “the first years.” The last few years ofdecision echo the 11^th hour mentioned twice before, implying if wedo not make our decision now, it will be too late.

Translation:

现在是必须做出决定的最后几年，但是如果我们做到我们必须做的事，这也能够成为光明的和充满希望的未来的开始。

1. 79.   No one should believe a solution will be found without effort, withoutcost, without change. (Para. 50)

Note:

The double negatives of “no…without”and repetition of “without” are used to emphasize the idea that a solution canbe found, but it will require effort, cost and change.

Translation:

没有人认为不做出努力、不付出代价、不进行改变就能找到解决问题的办法。

1. 80.   Let us acknowledge that if we wish to redeem squandered time and speakagain with moral authority, then these are the hard truths: (Para. 50)

Paraphrase:

Let us acknowledge that if we wantto compensate for the foolishly wasted time and speak again with moralauthority, then we must see the following hard truths.

to squander: to waste money, time, etc. in a stupid or careless waste

1. 81.   The outer boundary of what we currently believe is feasible is stillfar short of what we actually must do. (Para. 50)

Note:

Later in the next paragraph thespeaker explains the meaning of this sentence: “That is just another way ofsaying that we have to expand the boundaries of what is possible.”

boundary: areal or imagined line that marks the limits or edges of something and separatesit from other things or places 界限

feasible: thatis possible and likely to be achieved 可行的，行得通的

short of:not equaling; less than

Translation:

我们当前认为可行的最大范围和我们实际上必须做到的相比仍然远远不足。

1. 82.   Moreover, between here and there, across the unknown, falls the shadow.(Para. 50)

This sentence reinforces the meaning of theprevious sentence. Between what we believe we can do and what we actually mustdo there is a vast area of the unknown which we must explore in order to expandour knowledge of what is feasible.

1. 83.   In the words of the Spanish poet Antonio Machado, “Path walker, thereis no path. You must make the path as you walk.” (Para. 51)

Note:

In thesentence, “path” is used figuratively. Machado says that there is no path,meaning this something new, and you have to figure out as you go along.

Translation:

 西班牙诗人Antonio Machado曾经说过：“敬告行路者：世间本无路，路是自己走出来的。”

1. 84.   We are standing at the most fateful fork in that path. (Para. 52)

Now we are standing at the place where thepath is divided into two parts, going in two different directions, and whichdirection we decide to take will have a vital impact on our future. In otherwords, we cannot afford to make the wrong choice.

1. 85.   So I want to end as I began, with a vision of two futures, each apalpable possibility, (Para. 52)

In Paragraph 7 Gore points out the twochoices laid out by scientists and the importance of making the correct choiceby quoting from the Bible.

palpable:obvious and noticeable

1. 86.   The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, “One of these daysthe younger generation will come knocking at my door.” (Para. 53)

The great Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, wrote, “One of these daysthe younger generation will come knocking at my door”, meaning that very soonthe younger generation will come to question me and demand an answer.

1. 87.   The future is knocking at our door right now. (Para. 54)

At the beginning of his speech (Para. 3) Gore says, “Sometimes, withoutwarning, the future knocks on our door with a precious and painful vision ofwhat might be.”

1. 88.   Or they will ask instead: “How did you find the moral courage to riseand successfully resolve a crisis that so many said was impossible to solve?”(Para. 55)

If we act now and successfully address the climate crisis, they will beproud of us and ask how we found the moral courage to meet the enormous challengeand thus successfully avoid a severe crisis that so many people believed wasimpossible to solve.

1. 89.   We have everything we need to get started, save perhaps political will,but political will is a renewable resource. (Para. 56)

We are not short of anything to get our fight started, except politicalwill, but, where political will is lacking, it can be renewed (like, forexample, specifically in WWII when leaders finally were determined to faceHitler bravely, or for a more general example, changes in government leadership).Here Gore implies that we have whatever we need (such as financial or technicalresources) in order to get our work started. The only exception is that manygovernments are still not willing to confront the climate challenge.

1. 90.   “We have a purpose. We are many. For this purpose we will rise and wewill act.” (Para. 57)

Gore begins his speech with “I have a purpose here today.” He ends hisspeech with “We have a purpose. We are many. For this purpose we will rise, andwe will act.” We cannot fail to notice that the word “I” becomes “we.” It isGore’s purpose to spread his message to the whole world and to transformindividual action into collective action.

 

Key to Exercises

1. I.                    

2. 1.      atitle of respect used when talking about or to a member of the royal family

3. 2.      atitle used when talking about or to somebody who has a very important officialposition, especially an ambassador

4. 3.      cruel;severe; unkind

5. 4.      tounnerve; disturb; upset

6. 5.      tobe as good, interesting, successful, etc. as somebody/something else

7. 6.      causingtrouble or problems, especially concerning what you need or would like yourself

8. 7.      atthe last possible time; just before it is too late

9. 8.      totend to bring on; to give occasion for

10. 9.      usedto describe a process that removes carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmospherethan it creates

11. 10.  anupper limit, ceiling

12. 11.  except

 

V.

1.         Sometimes,without warning, the future warns us and awakens us to a realization of whatmight be, and such a realization is painful but valuable.

2.         Inever expected that my search for new ways to serve my purpose would lead me tothe honor of the Nobel Peace Prize.

3.         Wehuman beings are to blame for climate change, we have caused the crisis, andonly we can solve it through our action.

4. 4.        Unlike most forms of pollution that can be seen, or tasted or smelled, CO2 is invisible, tasteless and odorless.Because of this fact, many people fail to see the serious effects of CO2 on our climate, and if they don’tsee it, they won’t think about it.

5.         Whenimportant truths are really causing trouble or problems to some people, wholesocieties can, at least for a time, treat them as if they do not exist.

6.         Atthe same time, we must make sure that in our global unity to fight against theclimate crisis we do not encourage or expect ideological conformity, and we donot require everybody to take the same action in the same manner.

7.         Letus admit that if we want to compensate for the foolishly wasted time and speakagain with moral authority, then we must see the following truths that aredifficult to accept.

8.         Betweenwhat we believe we can do and what we actually must do there is a vast area ofthe unknown which we must explore in order to expand our knowledge of what isfeasible.

9.         Youare doing something new, and you have to figure out as you go along.

10.      Now we are standing at the placewhere the path is divides into two parts in two different directions, and whichdirection we decide to take will have an important impact on our future.

11. VI.

 

Phrases

 

1.       到明天就整整七年了

2.       造成全球变暖的污染

3.       使得越来越多的物种灭绝

4.       排放交易

5.       比目前想到的提前两年

6.       考虑到我们所处情况的严重性

7.       将纳税的负担从就业转移到污染排放

8.       （他们将）对未采取行动承担历史责任

 

Sentences

1.         这个不受欢迎的判决也带来了一份可贵的--虽然有些痛苦的—礼物，即提供了一个寻求实现自我目标的崭新方式的机会。

2.         我一生中最大的荣幸就是与这些尊贵的科学家们分享诺贝尔和平奖，他们将两种不同未来的选择摆在了我们的面前，而这一选择在我听起来类似一位古老的预言家曾说过的话：“生与死，福与祸，你们要选择生，那样，你和你的后代将可能存活下去。”

3. 3.        “他们陷在一个矛盾的怪圈中，决定的结果是举棋不定，毫不动摇地犹豫不决，坚定不移地随波逐流，强大有力却安于无能为力。”

4.         在去年9月21日，当北半球朝着离太阳的位置稍微倾斜之时（即秋季刚刚开始时），科学家们带着前所未有的恐惧报告说，北极冰冠“正在从悬崖落下。”

5.         在过去数月中，种种迹象显示我们的地球越来越失去平衡，这些迹象如此清晰，没有人会对此产生误解。

6.         而且，正在威胁我们的灾难是前所未有的，而我们经常错误地认为前所未有的就意味着是不可能的。

7.         这意味着采取新的原则、价值观、法律和协议，这些新事物都必须能够使社会各个层次以多种方式同时地并自然地响应，释放出他们的创造性和主动性。

8.         我们首先必须将共同拯救全球环境作为人类社会的最高组织原则。

9.         考虑到情况的严重性，要求各国首脑在协议完成之前每三个月开会一次应该是不为过的。

10.     这两个国家应该不再利用对方的行为作为僵持的借口，而应当为了在共同拥有的全球环境下的共存而制定议事日程。

11.     人们不该认为不做出努力、不付出代价、不进行改变就能解决问题。

12. VII.

13.       Bymistake a newspaper editor thought the inventor had just died and printed anarticle severely criticizing his life’s work and unfairly calling him abusinessman dealing in death because he had invented dynamite.

14.       Asa result, the earth’s average surface temperature has increased, thus globalwarming, and the globe is becoming warmer and warmer. The experts have told usit is not a temporary suffering that will recover by itself.

15.       Sooneror later, a wrong belief based on something not true clashes with a harshreality, and usually this happens on a battlefield.

16.       Humanbeings and the climate are in a relationship of mutual destruction. We humanbeings are destroying the climate as we know it, and, in turn, it will destroyus.

17.       Wehuman beings have done many things to damage the earth, and now it is time todo our best to repair the damage.

18.       Onceagain, it is the last possible time; we must act now or it will be too late.

19.       orwill we continue to be restricted by a dangerous false belief (that the threatof global warming is not real or imminent)?

20.       Inthe past our decisions and actions were guided by temporary and short-terminterests. Now it is time for us to make a change and to be guided by long-termvision and principles.

21.       Theworld needs an alliance, especially an alliance of those nations that play thelargest role in determining the future sustainability of the planet.