Thursday, May 31, 2018

Happiness no longer just a personal matter, but a policy issue 快樂不再只是一己之事,而是政策議題


新聞辭典
  • guarantee:動詞,名詞,保證(障)、擔保。 President-elect Donald J. Trump gave a "100 percent" guarantee that their jobs wouldn’t go to Mexico.(總統當選人川普「百分之百」保證,他們的工作不會外移至墨西哥。)
  • keynote:名詞,(演說的)主旨、(政策、行動的)基調。
  • disparity:名詞,不一致。When this disparity is addressed, the whole world stands to benefit.(當此差異的現象獲得解決時,全世界才會受惠。)

"Gross domestic product no longer serves as a measure of a society’s wealth. South Koreans are ranked 11th globally GDP, and yet they report a very low level of happiness. This shows that growth no longer guarantees happiness. We should now regard happiness not as a personal issue but as a social good and consider what the government can do to make our lives better," said Luigino Bruni, a professor at LUMSA University in Italy, during his keynote address at the opening ceremony 2016 Asia Future Forum on Nov. 23. 義大利羅馬聖瑪利亞自由大學教授路易吉諾.布魯尼,在11月23日舉行的2016年亞洲未來論壇開幕式上發表專題演講時表示,「國內生產毛額不再扮演衡量社會財富的角色。南韓國民的GDP位居全球第11,但他們卻表示快樂程度很低。這顯示,經濟成長不再是快樂的保證,我們現在不該把快樂視為個人議題,應當作社會公益,並思考政府在使我們的生活更好上,能有何作為」。


The forum is launched in 2010 to promote co-existence and shared prosperity in Asia and sustainable development and now in its seventh year.2010年發足的該論壇旨在促進亞洲的共存、共榮和永續發展,如今已邁入第7個年頭。

Focusing on the theme of "Beyond GDP:The Pursuit of Happiness for All," the event brought together South Korean and overseas experts from various fields - including academics, activists, entrepreneurs and policymakers - for a day of spirited debate. 本次論壇聚焦「超越GDP:為所有人追求快樂」的主題,讓包括學者、社運人士、企業家與決策者在內的各領域南韓和海外專家齊聚一堂,進行一天的熱烈討論。


"In a report analyzing inequality in Asia that was released in March, the International Monetary Fund found that South Korea has the highest level of inequality in Asia. While the economy has grown in size, intensifying social disparities and inequality appear to be affecting the level of people‘s happiness," said National Assembly Chung Sye-kyun during his congratulatory address. 南韓國會議長丁世均發表祝賀演說時提到,「在3月發布的一份分析亞洲不平等現象的報告中,國際貨幣基金發現,南韓的不平等現象在亞洲居冠,雖然經濟規模成長,但社會差距與不平等現象惡化,似乎影響人們的快樂程度」。


Thursday, May 24, 2018

Harry and Meghan tie the knot at British royal wedding 當哈利遇見梅根 英國王室婚禮盛大登場

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字
1. royal adj .王室的;皇家的 
2. tie the knot phr.結婚 
3. throne n.王位;寶座 
4. mixed-race phr.混血的 
5. stereotypical adj. 刻板的 



The British royal wedding on May 19 attracted global attention, as Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle tied the knot at St. George’s Chapel of Windsor Castle in England. The royal wedding could boost the British economy by 500 million pounds (about US$680 million), including 200 million pounds coming from tourism, travel and hotels.
Prince Harry is sixth in line to the throne. A divorcee of mixed-race heritage with an African American mother and three years older than the prince, the actress is certainly not the stereotypical English princess, but Meghan’s spirited start to her new life has helped breathe new life into the ancient institution, experts say.
Meghan “has so much more in common with the rest of the world than members of the aristocracy or blue-blooded people who’ve traditionally married into the royal family. . . and that can only be a good thing for the royal family,” said Roya Nikkhah, royal correspondent for the Sunday Times.



(CNA, translated by Eddy Chang)
全球矚目的英國王室婚禮五月十九日登場,哈利王子和美國女星梅根馬可在英格蘭溫莎城堡的聖喬治禮拜堂互許終身。盛大的皇家婚禮可為英國經濟帶來高達五億英鎊(約六億八千萬美元)的商機,包括來自觀光、旅遊、旅館業的兩億英鎊。
哈利王子位居王位第六順位繼承人,他的新娘是混血兒,新娘的母親是非裔美國人,這位離過婚的美國女星比王子還大三歲,自然並非刻板的英國王妃人選。但專家表示,梅根生氣蓬勃展開自己新生活的同時,也為古老的王室制度注入新氣息。
英國「星期泰晤士報」王室記者若亞尼柯哈表示:「相較於向來與王室通婚的貴族成員或名門望族,梅根與平凡世界有更多共通點…而這對王室只會有益無害。」


(中央社)

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Milky Way on earth: Spotting fireflies around the Island 火金姑「放閃」 來看螢火蟲漫天飛舞


TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字
1. firefly n. 螢火蟲 
2. light pollution phr. 光害
3. larva n. 幼蟲
4. glow v. 發光
5. twinkling a. 閃爍的

Fireflies, commonly known as “hue kim goo” (fire gold lady) in Taiwanese, can usually be seen starting after the end of the Ching Ming Festival. Mid-April to late-May is the time in the year that we get to see the most fireflies — often in the mountains and farms across Taiwan.螢火蟲在台灣俗稱「火金姑」,出現的時間點約在清明節過後;四月中旬至五月下旬左右,是螢火蟲最多的時候,台灣各地山間和農場常可見到它們的蹤影。
There are more than 2,000 species of fireflies known to exist around the world, of which more than 60 species can be found in Taiwan. Fireflies live only in places with clean water and low light pollution: there needs to be the right surrounding ecological environment with clean river water. 全世界目前已知有兩千多種螢火蟲,台灣已發現有六十多種。螢火蟲只生長在水源清澈、光害少的地方,周遭要有乾淨的溪流及生態環境。
Grass in woodland areas tends to contain many snails, which are the favorite food of firefly larvae. In March and April, adult fireflies will emerge and fly out in the evening to attract mates.  樹林下的草叢環境蝸牛多,是螢火蟲幼蟲最愛的食物,每到三、四月成蟲羽化,夜間便飛出求偶。
Increasing urban development and the use of pesticides have severely damaged their ecological environment so that seeing fireflies has become something of a luxury. 由於都市化與使用農藥的程度越來越深,使環境生態遭受嚴重破壞,對現代人來說,要看到螢火蟲已成為一種奢侈。
The glow from a firefly 螢火蟲的光
Adult fireflies emit light through a light emitter in their abdomen. The glow from the light emitter is composed of a combination of light-emitting cells at the end of the abdomen. Upon contact with oxygen, a reduction-oxidation reaction (redox) occurs to produce light. 螢火蟲成蟲藉由腹部末端的發光器發光,發光器是由發光細胞等結構組合而成,和氧作用後產生氧化還原反應,而產生亮光。
Each species of firefly emits light of different color and frequency. For example, a Taiwan Pyrocoelia analis glows with continuous yellow-green light, while the Aquatica ficta Olivier emits twinkling yellow light. 每種螢火蟲發光的顏色與和頻率都不同,如台灣窗螢發著持續的黃綠色光,而黃緣螢則是發閃爍的黃色光。
The firefly’s light flashes at a specific rhythm — it is the language they use to communicate with others, as well as a means for males to attract females to mate.螢火蟲的光閃爍著特定的節奏,是螢火蟲用來交換彼此訊息的語言,也是雄蟲利用亮光,找尋雌蟲交尾的工具。
The glow behavior of fireflies also has additional functions including attracting, alerting and intimidating predators, providing illumination and camouflage. 此外,螢火蟲的發光行為還有誘集、警戒、恫嚇捕食者、照明、偽裝等功能。

Firefly observation tips 賞螢小提醒
Flashlights should be covered with red cellophane to avoid harming the fireflies. 夜晚使用手電筒要加上紅色玻璃紙,才不會對螢火蟲產生光害。
Never catch fireflies with your hands, as they will die if they are disturbed or touched. 千萬不要用手抓螢火蟲,因為螢火蟲只要受驚嚇或被觸摸就會死亡。


The best time to observe fireflies is between 6pm and 8:30 pm. 賞螢最佳時間約為晚上六點~八點半之間。
Firefly viewing spots 賞螢景點
Taipei City: Daan Forest Park, Ronxing Garden Park, Cui Lake in Muzha District 
台北市:大安森林公園、榮星花園、木柵萃湖
New Taipei City: Wen Sun Farm in Xindian District, Homei Trail and 53 other locations 
新北市:新店文山農場、和美山步道等五十五處賞螢景點
Taoyuan City: Xiao Jing Ling Firefly Resort in Guishan District
桃園市:龜山區小精靈螢火蟲館
Hsinchu County: Xinghai Firefly Area at Dongwo River in Neiwan Village
新竹縣:內灣東窩星海螢區
Miaoli County: Springcreek Hostel in Zhuolan Township, West Lake Resortopia in Sanyi Township, Firefly Farm in Tongxiao Township
苗栗縣:卓蘭鎮岩川森林民宿、三義鄉西湖渡假村、通霄鎮飛螢山莊
Taichung City: Dongshih Forest Garden, Sijiaolin Coffee Farm
台中市:東勢林場、四角林咖啡莊園
Nantou County: Four major firefly habitats (Sun Moon Lake, Aowanda, Guosing Township, and Chulu), Sun Link Sea Forest Recreation Area 
南投縣:日月潭、奧萬大、國姓、竹鹿四大賞螢區、杉林溪
Chiayi County: Meishan, Jhuci, Alisha, Jhongpu Townships
嘉義縣:梅山、竹崎、阿里山、中埔鄉
Tainan City: Meiling in Nanxi District, Guanshan in Nanhua District, Hsinhua Forest Farm 
台南市:楠西梅嶺、南化關山、新化林場
Kaohsiung City: Namasia District 高雄市:那瑪夏
(台北時報林俐凱整理)

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Steroids rely on liver to metabolize 類固醇靠肝臟代謝


TODAY’S WORDS 今日單字
1. allergy n.過敏 
例: Other alternatives are available for people with a penicillin allergy. (對盤尼西林過敏的人有其他選擇。)
2. arthritis n. 關節炎 
例: Her arthritis got so bad that she had to stop playing the piano. (她的關節炎嚴重到要停止彈琴。)
3. prescription drug n. phr.處方藥 
 例: What is a prescription drug in one country may be an over-the-counter drug in another country. (在一個國家也許是處方藥的藥品,在另外一國家可以是非處方用藥。)

Officials from the Food and Drug Administration under the Department of Health say steroids are used to treat inflammations of the body, and are appropriate for rheumatism and allergies, including rheumatoid arthritis as well as allergies and inflammation of the eyes or nose. Since steroids are a prescription drug, they must be administered by a certified doctor. 衛生署食品藥物管理局官員表示,類固醇是治療身體發炎的症狀,適用風濕性疾患與過敏性疾病,因此包括風濕性關節炎、眼睛、鼻子過敏與發炎等,都可能使用。由於是醫師處方用藥,必須由合格醫師開立使用。


Yang Ti-shan, head of orthopedics at Ton Yen General Hospital in Hsinchu County, says steroids rely on the liver to metabolize and have too many side effects, adding that they are not used in orthopedics to treat osteoarthritis or arthritic pain any longer. When dealing with muscular inflammations or when drug treatment is not working, he does not use steroids unless absolutely necessary and keeps the dosage under 0.5 cubic centimeters. Yang also administers an equal dosage of pain relievers to ensure that the body is able to metabolize everything within 24 hours. 新竹縣東元綜合醫院骨科主任楊迪山說,類固醇因靠肝臟代謝,有太多的副作用,目前醫界骨科幾乎都不再用於治療退化性關節炎或關節疼痛。他在面對肌膜發炎且經藥物治療都無效下,實在逼不得已才會使用,使用的劑量則控制在零點五CC以下,而且還必須搭配一比一的止痛藥,以確保患者一天就能代謝掉。

Yang says that he only administers steroids to be taken orally for an extended period of time in cases of rheumatoid arthritis, systematic lupus erythematosus, and anklosing spondylitis, and he only administers them together with pain relievers during treatment. 楊迪山說,目前只有類風濕性關節炎、紅斑性狼瘡、或是僵直性脊椎炎等,才會以長期口服的方式,合併使用類固醇及止痛藥進行治療。
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)

Friday, April 20, 2018

Earth Day Series 地球日系列: Cutting Carbon Emissions 碳排放

Nations Strike Historic Deal to Curb Shipping Emissions 減少船運碳排放 各國達成歷史性協議

TODAY’S WORDS
今日單字
1. shipping industry phr. 航運業 
2. carbon emissions phr. 碳排放 
3. heavy fuel oil phr. 重油 
4. rising sea levels phr. 海平面上升 
5. container ship phr. 貨櫃船 

Most of the world’s nations agreed to an historic deal that for the first time will limit emissions from the global shipping industry. 全球多數國家已達成了一個歷史性的協議,首次對各國航運業進行排放的限制。
After a week of negotiations at a London meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a UN body, envoys from 173 countries agreed to cut emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 from 2008 levels. Saudi Arabia and the US both objected. 聯合國專門機構國際海事組織在倫敦舉行的會議中,來自一百七十三個國家的特使經過了一週的談判,同意在二○五○年前,將排放量減少至二○○八年基準的百分之五十以下。沙烏地阿拉伯和美國皆表示反對。
The accord is a significant step in the fight against global warming. Shipping, the only industry not included in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, would rank as the sixth-largest greenhouse gas emitter if it were a country, according to the World Bank. If left unchecked, that share could account for 15 percent of global carbon emissions by 2050, a five-fold increase from today. 這個協議是對抗全球暖化所踏出的重要一步。在二○一五年巴黎氣候協議中,航運是唯一未納入規範的產業。根據世界銀行統計,如果把整個航運產業算作是一個國家,那麼它會是全球第六大溫室氣體排放國。如果放任不管,到了二○五○年,航運業的碳排放量可能會佔全球總量的百分之十五,比現今增加五倍。
“It is likely this target will tighten further, but even with the lowest level of ambition, the shipping industry will require rapid technological changes,” said Tristan Smith, a reader at University College London’s Energy Institute. 倫敦大學學院能源研究所高級講師崔斯坦‧史密斯表示:「這個標準很可能會變得更嚴,但即使是要達到最低限度的目標,航運業也需要趕快革新技術。」
Vessels typically burn heavy fuel oil, one of the cheapest but also among the dirtiest fossil fuels. The industry wasn’t included in the Paris agreement because each country presented an individual plan to reduce their own emissions, while the seas were left out. 船舶所燃的通常是重油,這是最便宜,也是最髒的化石燃料之一。航運業之所以未納入巴黎協議,是因為巴黎協議是以國家為單位提出計畫來減少境內的碳排放,因此海洋便成三不管地帶而被遺漏了。
Last Friday’s agreement commits to pursuing emission cuts that will be consistent with the Paris deal goals. 上週五各國所達成的協議承諾將致力減少碳排放,這和巴黎協議的目標是一致的。


Hot Issue 熱議問題
Reducing the industry’s emissions has been a hotly contested issue. One of the most vociferous proponents of emission controls have been the Pacific island nations, where rising sea levels are already swallowing up land, and the rate is expected to increase in the coming decades. 減少航運業的碳排放一直是爭議激烈的問題。最大力提倡限制碳排放的是太平洋島國──由於海平面上升,這些島國已有土地沒入海中,預計未來幾十年土地被海水淹沒的速度還會加快。
Other countries have resisted targets. Oil producing nations including Saudi Arabia have expressed concern about the impact of the measures on their fuel supply business, while some countries have said controls could penalize those that are far from the world’s main consumer hubs. 有些國家則抵制這碳排放的標準。包括沙烏地阿拉伯在內的石油生產國擔憂這些措施會對他們的燃料供應產業造成衝擊;另有一些國家表示,控制措施可能會對距世界主要消費中心遙遠的國家不利。
This isn’t the first time the IMO has tried to be cleaner. 這並非國際海事組織第一次要讓環境變更乾淨。
Six years ago, the organization adopted design requirements to make new vessels more energy efficient. More than 70 percent of container ships built between 2013 and 2017 exceed the standard, which sets limits on carbon emissions per ship, according to analysis from Transport & Environment, a Belgian NGO. 六年前,國際海事組織採用了新的設計標準,使新造的船更加節能。根據比利時非政府組織「運輸與環境」分析,二○一三年至二○一七年間所建造的貨櫃船,有百分之七十以上的船隻,其碳排放量低於所規定的限度。
“The IMO should and could have gone a lot further but for the dogmatic opposition of some countries,” said Bill Hemmings, shipping director at Transport & Environment. “Scant attention was paid to US opposition. So this decision puts shipping on a promising track.” 「運輸與環境」的航空及海運部門主任比爾‧漢明斯表示:「若不是因為某些國家獨斷的反對,國際海事組織本應可以做得更多。」「美國的反對並未被重視,因此這個協議得以達成,把航運推向有前景的正途。」
(Bloomberg台北時報林俐凱編譯)


Saturday, April 14, 2018

Elephant water battle heralds Thai new year 大象打水仗 宣告泰國新年起跑

Water Element and Elephant Pose Harmony



New Words:

  1. tradition (n.)/traditional (adj.)
  2. Songkran (n.) 潑水節
  3. Buddhist (adj.)
  4. karma (n.)
Elephants used their trunks to shower floral-clad Thais with water on Wednesday in a street fight celebrating the kingdom’s traditional new year, a raucous festival known as Songkran that will bring revelers out for a nationwide water battle this week. 週三在慶祝泰王國傳統新年的一場街頭對戰中,大象用牠們的象鼻子把水噴灑在穿著花衣裳的泰國人群身上。喧鬧的泰國傳統新年節慶又稱「宋干節」,本週將會吸引狂歡的人群一起出外參加全國遍地開花的打水仗活動。
The animals, whose wrinkled hides were decorated with paint, splashed and sprayed in the streets of Thailand’s former capital Ayutthaya, a tourist hotspot famed for its ancient temple ruins.滿佈皺紋的象皮被妝點上油彩顏料,大象們在泰國的舊首都──阿瑜陀耶──的街上潑起水來,噴灑著水花。阿瑜陀耶是一個觀光勝地,以眾多古老寺廟的遺跡聞名。
A mix of Thais and foreigners armed with water guns and buckets fired back at the elephants, who were controlled by handlers — known as mahouts — riding on their backs.混合泰國人與外國人的另一組人馬,用水槍和水桶武裝自己,向大象們「開水」射擊。被稱為「象夫」的管象人,則騎在大象的背上,控制這些動物。



“Today our children (elephants) are having fun and the foreigners who come to Ayutthaya are happy to inherit the Thai tradition,” Tawan Sudso, an organizer of the annual event, told AFP.這個年度活動的籌辦人塔彎‧蘇德索告訴法新社:「我們的象孩子們今天玩得很開心,造訪阿瑜陀耶的外國人也很樂於傳承此一泰國傳統。」
The Buddhist new year festival officially starts on April 13 and runs for three days.這個佛教新年節慶於四月十三日正式開始,一連持續三天。
Traditional celebrations include paying respect to elders and sprinkling water over Buddha figures at local temples, a ritual believed to accrue good karma.傳統的慶祝活動包括向年長者致敬,隨後對地方廟宇的佛像潑灑清水,這個儀式咸認為可以增添福報。


But the holiday has also become known as one of the world’s biggest water fights, drawing massive crowds of Thais and tourists to soggy street parties that bring much of the country to a standstill. 這樣的新年假期卻也逐漸成為世界上最大規模的水仗之一,每年吸引大批的泰國人與觀光客人潮參加濕答答的街頭狂歡活動,導致泰國絕大部分地區陷入停擺。
Police expect about 60,000 partiers to cram into just one Bangkok neighborhood for the watery warfare later this week.警方預估,光是鄰近曼谷的單一地區,本週稍晚就會湧入約六萬名的派對人潮,參加濕淋淋的潑水大戰。
Under military rule, Bangkok’s Songkran water fights have become less raucous in recent years with alcohol sales restricted and regular appeals from authorities to avoid provocative dancing.在軍政府統治下,酒精飲料販售受限,當局也經常呼籲大眾避免跳著煽情的舞蹈,因此曼谷的「宋干節」水仗近年來喧鬧程度稍減。
Similar but smaller water festivals are also held in neighboring Buddhist countries like Myanmar and Laos.內容類似但規模較小的潑水慶典也會在包括緬甸、寮國等鄰近佛教國家舉行(AFP)


Thursday, April 12, 2018

Earth Day Series 地球日系列: 台灣的性侵害有多普遍呢? How common is sexual assault in Taiwan?

 Love your Mother (Earth)愛你的母親(地球)
Stop all violence against women停止對婦女的所有暴力. There is a correlation between the exploitation of women and the exploitation of the environment. 在利用婦女與剝削地球天然環境之間的關係。
These yoga flows are focused on healing from trauma and will focus on releasing the psoas muscle(腰大肌) and emotional trauma stored in the hips這些瑜伽流程主要集中於創傷治愈,並將重點放在存儲在臀部的腰大肌 和情緒創傷。

READING: Saudi Arabia releases video showing husbands how to beat their wives 沙烏地阿拉伯發佈影片,向丈夫展現如何毆打他們的妻子

新聞辭典
  • self-styled:形容詞,自稱的,自封的。例句:He is the self-styled president of the island.(他自封為該島的總統。)
  • vent one’s anger on sb:動詞片語,發洩怒氣。例句:A teacher should not vent his anger on his students.(老師不應將怒氣發洩在學生身上。
  • forsake:動詞,放棄,拋棄。例句:I won’t forsake my vegetarian principles.(我不會放棄我的素食原則。)


The national television of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has aired a video, in which a self-styled Islamic family doctor is seen teaching men in the country how to ‘properly’ beat their wives.沙烏地阿拉伯國家電視台播放一部影片,片中有一名自稱伊斯蘭家庭醫師的人士,教導該國男性如何「適當地」毆打他們的妻子。

According to the doctor Al-Saqaby, husbands should not immediately attack their wives, but should discipline them ‘properly’ first. He suggests the aim of beating a wife "is to discipline, not to vent one’s anger".該名醫師阿沙卡比說,丈夫不應立即攻擊他們的妻子,而是應先「適當地」管教她們。他指出,毆打妻子的目標「是為了管教,而非發洩怒氣」。



Al-Saqaby teaches in the video that the men should follow the steps below. The first step is to remind her of your rights and of her duties according to Allah. Then comes the second step – forsaking her in bed. The third step, beating, has to correspond with the necessary Islamic conditions before taking action.阿沙卡比在影片中教導男性應遵照下列步驟,第一步是提醒她根據真主履行權利與義務;接著是第二步—在床上離棄她;第三步才是毆打,而且在採取行動前必須符合必要的伊斯蘭條件。



Al-Saqaby says the beating should not be performed with a rod, nor should it be a headband, or a sharp object. Instead, husbands should use a teeth-cleaning twig or with a handkerchief to beat their wife. The wife will feel that she was wrong in the way she treated her husband.阿沙卡比說,不應以棍棒予以毆打,也不能使用頭帶或利器。丈夫應以牙籤或手帕毆打他們的妻子,妻子將會體認到,她對待丈夫的方式是錯誤的。


Grammar語法


名詞 Noun

動詞 Verb

形容詞 Adjective

慣用語 Idiom