本文摘自高等教育自学考试<<口译与听力>>一书Unit Ten Habitation and Environment(Lesson One)是本人学习翻译的练习课程,请在翻译行业当中有所建树的同志赐教,谢谢!!!
原文:Secretary-General Kofi Annan's message on occasion of World Habitat Day."Cities For All,"to be marked October 1999(联合国秘书长科菲.安南在1999年10月举行的世界人居日"人人共有的城市"上发表的致词).
When the century opened,one in 10 people lived in cities.As we prepare to leave it,more than half of humanmind does.That is more than three billion people.What kind of environment are those three billion living in,on the eve of the new millennium?
当新千年到来的时候,十个人中至少有一个生活在城市里.当我们准备离开的时候,有超过一半的人也在这样做.那可是30多亿人呢!而当我们处在新千年前夕的时候,那30多亿人生活的环境又是怎样的呢?
The appeal of the city has always that it offers opportunity and the chance of a better life.But too often,it does not work out like that.Most of today's cities are sharply divided along class,race or ethnic lines——or even three at once(我不会翻译此句,请指教).Many millions of people live in overcrowded slums and squatter settlement,without access to basic services.And millions of the most vulnerable are women.
一个城市,只所以拥有难以抵挡的魅力,是因为它为美好的生活提供了可能和机会.但是事实往往并非如此.当今大多数城市都被按照阶级,人种或种族进行了硬性划分.有数以百万的人都生活在拥挤的贫民窟和违法的建筑区里,连基本的服务都享受不到.而在他们当中,最为脆弱的就是女性.
These people lead insecure lives,and have little or no say in decisions that shape their lives.But we can help them break free.We can give them security of tenure,they are likely to invest in creating better homes,better neighbourhoods and ultimately,better communities,and that when local government work in genuine partnership with civil socity——including the urban poor——the entire environment thrives.
这些人的生活毫无保障,在制定影响其生活的决策时也没有任何发言权,但是我们可以帮助他们冲破藩篱,获得自由.我们还能给他们可靠的房地产持有权,而他们,也就有可能创造美好的家园,更好的邻里关系,最终会创造一个更好的社会.当当地政府和民间团体以及城中的贫民能像真正的伙伴一样一起工作,整个就会变得生机盎然.
On this last World Habitate Day of twentieth century,let us recommit ourselves to making the Habitate Agenda come true and to ensuring that all people living in cities——young and old,rich and poor,man or woman——have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.Because cities that succeed are indeed "Cities For All",let's start building now.
在这个20世纪最后一个世界人居日上,让我们再次承诺:让人居议程成为现实并且保证所有生活在城市里的居民,不管是年青人还是老年人,穷人或是富人,男人抑或是女人在制定影响其生活的决策当中都有发言权,因为一个城市的成功就是实现"人人共有",让我们现在就开始着手建设吧!