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　　一個人可能有“brother”或者“sister”。我們也可以叫他們“siblings”。“Mom” 和“Dad”是對“parents”的稱呼。他們也可以有一個或者兩個“sibling”。媽媽的姐妹是“Aunt”；爸爸的兄弟是“Uncle”。如果他們有孩子，他們是你的 “cousins”。

　　John: “Do you have any siblings?”你有兄弟姐妹嗎？

　　Sam: “No, I am an only child. What about you?”沒有，我是獨生子。你呢？

　　John: “I have 2 brothers and a sister!”我有2個兄弟和1個姐妹。

　　Sam: “Wow, a big family… I would have liked a sister”哇噢，好大一傢子...我也想要有1個姐妹。

　　John: “Yes, my brothers are both married and have kids. Family gatherings can be quite lively”是啊，我的哥哥們都結婚瞭，有孩子瞭。傢庭聚會總是很活潑熱鬧。

　　Parents of parents are called “grandparents” and the families of people we marry are our “-in-laws”. The person you used to be married to is an “ex”. And should you remain married it’s simply “husband” or “wife”. 父母的父母叫做“grandparents”，和我們結婚的人的傢裡人是我們的“-in-laws”。你之前的結婚對象叫做“ex”。如果你結婚瞭，就是 “husband” 或者“wife”。

　　Sam: “So you have nieces and nephews then?”那麼你有侄女或侄子嗎?

　　John: “Oh yes. My sister divorced my brother-in-law before they had any kids but my brothers…”有的，我的姐姐和我姐夫之前離婚瞭，他們有孩子的，但是我哥哥...

　　Sam: “Your parents must be very proud!”你的父母肯定非常自豪！

　　John: “It’s Gran that is most proud. Grandfather and her love to baby sit.”Gran最讓我們自豪，祖父和她非常樂意照料孩子。

　　Sam: “Do you get along with your sisters-in-law?”你和你的姐夫相處得怎麼樣？

　　John: “They are really nice. Suzie, my eldest brother’s wife is an Olympic swimmer!” 他們非常好。Suzie,我的大嫂是奧林匹克遊泳運動員！

　　Dad’s uncle or my parents’ grandparents, would be described as ‘great-’.爸爸的叔叔或者我的父母的祖父母，應該被叫做‘great-’。

　　Sam: “I can’t believe that your grandparents are still alive!”我無法相信你的祖父母還活著！

　　John: “Hah! You should sit down then, because I still have both great grandparents on my mom’s side!”哈哈，你應該坐下來。在我媽媽這邊，我還有大祖父母呢。

　　Sam: “Goodness! I have a great uncle living in Canada, but I never see him”太好瞭！我有一個大伯住在加拿大，但是我從來沒有見過他。

　　John: “You should get in touch. It’s great to have a sense of one’s family tree”你應該和他保持聯系。瞭解你的傢譜是一件很重要的事。

　　Sam: “Where do you all live?”你們都住在哪裡？

　　Families can be described with many interesting adjectives, such as “big”, “small”, “close”, “estranged” or “Open”, “broken”, “nuclear” or “one-child”. And how are the members of your family doing? 有很多有趣的形容詞可以用來形容傢庭，比如“big”, “small”, “close”, “estranged” or “Open”, “broken”, “nuclear” 或者“one-child”。你的傢庭成員是做什麼的啊？

　　John: “Well, Troy lives in New York and has really done well”Troy住在紐約，他過得很好。

　　Sam: “What does he do?”他是做什麼的？

　　John: “He became a lawyer right out of school and became partner of his firm within 3 years!”他從學校畢業的時候成為瞭一名律師，後來3年內就成為瞭律師事務所的合夥人瞭。

　　Sam: “Wow, he really has gone far quickly”哇噢，他真的發展得很快。

　　John: “My other brothers both work for my dad in the family business.”我其他的兄弟們都為在傢族企業中為我爸爸工作。

　　Last, what does your family do for fun together? You might want to talk about “public holidays”, “hobbies” and “likes”. Maybe your family enjoys “picnicking” or “riding bikes”.最後想問問你，你們傢平時一起參加的娛樂活動是什麼呀？你可能會談輪到“public holidays”, “hobbies”和“likes”。可能你的傢庭喜歡“picnicking”或者“riding bikes”。

　　Sam: ‘Do you have any dreams to travel or work overseas?’你夢想過到國外旅行或者工作嗎？

　　John: ‘I am very happy at home. I have a good job and having weekends and public holidays off is very important to me’.我呆在國內覺得很開心。我有一份好工作，有愉快的周末和假期對我而言也很重要。

　　Sam: ‘What do you do in your spare time?’你平時閑暇時間做些什麼呢？

　　John: ‘The kids keep me very busy with picnics and sports days at school’經常要帶孩子們去野餐，去學校參加體育活動。

　　Sam: ‘Well, I envy your loving family environment!’我很羨慕你的傢庭氛圍！

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Marriage between races and ethnic groups has reached an all-time high in the United States as public acceptance has grown, according to a Pew Research Center study on Thursday. Couples of different race or ethnicity made up a record 8.4 percent of all married couples in 2010, up from 3.2 percent in 1980, the study showed. About 15 percent of all new US marriages in 2010 were between spouses of a different race or ethnicity, more than twice the share in 1980, the report said. Intermarriage is more common in Western states. About 20 percent of newlyweds there married someone of a different race or ethnicity between 2008 and 2010, compared with 14 percent in the South and 13 percent in the Northeast. Forty-three percent of Americans say more people of different races marrying each other benefits society. Just more than a third say a member of their immediate family or a close relative is married to someone of a different race. Asian Americans are the most likely to enter mixed-race marriages, at 27.7 percent of newlyweds in 2010. They were trailed by Hispanics at 25.7 percent, blacks at 17.1 percent and whites at 9.4 percent. Pew based its report on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2008 to 2010 and on telephone polling. 據周四皮尤調查中心發佈的研究結果，隨著跨種族和跨民族婚姻逐漸被公眾所接受，跨種族及跨民族婚姻數量在美國達到瞭歷史最高峰。 研究顯示，2010年不同種族或民族結合的夫婦在所有新人中占瞭8.4%，打破瞭歷史記錄，而在1980年這一比例為3.2%。 研究報告指出，2010年在美國結婚的所有新人中，約有15%的新人是來自不同的種族或民族，這一比例是1980年的兩倍多。 異族婚姻在美國西部各州更為普遍。2008年至2010年間在美國西部結婚的新人約有20%是與不同種族或民族的人結合的，而在美國南部這一比例為14%，美國東北部為13%。 43%的美國人認為，更多不同種族的人結合對社會有益。稍過三分之一的人稱，自己的直系親屬或近親中有人和不同種族的人結婚。 亞裔美國人最有可能跨種族結合，2010年結婚的亞裔美國人中有27.7%是跨種族結合。緊隨其後的是西班牙裔，占瞭25.7%，黑人這一比例為17.1%，白人為9.4%。 皮尤調查中心的這一報告基於美國人口普查局的2008-2010美國社區調查數據，以及電話調查。

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每個管理部門在推出實名制時，都有著合理的邏輯和美好的初衷，從最初的維護社會誠信，到現在成為“維穩”良藥，但實名制的推行多數並未達到令人滿意的效果。 　　近年曾引起關註的種種實名制中，真正效果良好，實現瞭政策制定者初衷的並不多。不少實名制在熱鬧過後不瞭瞭之，有的名存實亡，有的進退兩難。 　　中國社科院社會政策研究中心秘書長唐鈞說，隻有那些涉及個人信用以及國傢安全的才可以實行實名制，其他的領域則是給老百姓的自由越多越好。 　　關於微博實名制的另一隻靴子落下瞭。2012年2月7日，北京市網管辦負責人在一個關於微博管理的座談會上透露，自3月16日起，新浪等四大門戶網站的微博，將全部采取前臺自願、後臺實名註冊，未實名用戶將被強制攔截，禁止發言。 　　這隻是關於實名制的最新一次行動。事實上在春節前後，北京“菜刀實名制”的消息就已傳得沸沸揚揚，引發媒體對“實名制”的又一撥議論熱潮。北京警方隨後澄清，說隻有管制刀具才需實名購買。 　　“實名制”作為一種公共管理手段，新世紀以來，在中國以各種理由廣泛推行，並影響到生活的方方面面。從儲蓄、看病等少數能為社會廣泛接受的實名，到網絡、手機、自行車這些與生活息息相關的物件的購買和使用，再到個別地區連購買豬肉、避孕藥也要“實名制”。幾乎每一種實名制的推行，都會引起關註和爭議。 　　每個管理部門在推出實名制時，都有著合理的邏輯和美好的初衷，從最初的維護社會誠信，到現在成為各部門“維穩”的良藥。但實名制的推行多數並未達到令人滿意的效果。事實上，回望近年曾引起關註的種種實名制中，真正效果良好，實現瞭政策制定者初衷的並不多。大部分實名制在熱鬧過後不瞭瞭之，有的名存實亡，有的進退兩難。 　　開啟時爭議小 　　對實名制比較通行的解釋是，人們必須以真實姓名作為進行各種社會活動的標識。照此解釋，過去，在航空、固定電話、出入境等領域實名制早已存在。 　　“實名制”引起社會廣泛關註是在2000年。當年4月1日，國務院下發瞭《個人存款賬戶實名制規定》。當年國傢推行儲蓄實名制的目的有，為瞭遏制金融詐騙、整頓金融秩序、打擊公款私存、遏制貪污腐敗。 　　但實行的效果與政策的初衷尚有距離，廣東省監察廳副廳長武田曾撰文指出效果“十分有限”。實名制之後，金融犯罪仍居高不下，原因在於配套措施沒有跟上，戶籍管理的缺陷，使很多人有多個身份證明。此外，規定本身不徹底，沒有對2000年4月1日前的虛名存折進行清理，有的至今還在使用。 　　在打擊貪腐方面效果也不明顯，一些貪官用親屬之名存款，加之沒有財產申報制度等相應配套的制度，這些都影響瞭實名制的效果。 　　迄今，所有文章無一例外地都認為，我國的存款實名制離真正的金融實名制“有十分遙遠的距離”。但存款實名制，由此開啟瞭“實名制時代”。 　　2002年，我國實行證券賬戶實名制，解決瞭機構用多賬戶操作股價的問題，但目前的條款還有對違反實名制的罰則。 　　2003年，北京市推行看病實名制，解決瞭“一人參保全傢看病”的冒名看病問題，但政策始初宣傳的“打擊號販子”的問題，仍然沒有解決。 　　這幾項實名制，盡管還存有政策自身的漏洞，以及沒有解決的問題，但社會接受度較高，爭議也小。 　　網絡實名激辯升級 　　隨著網絡的迅速發展，實名制被管理者視為網絡管理的有效手段。2002年4月29日，清華大學新聞學教授李希光在訪談中提出，“人大應該立法禁止任何人匿名在網上發表言論”，一時在網上引起軒然大波。2005年後，實名制在網絡加速推行，爭議也接踵而來。 　　2005年3月，教育部要求所有大學校園網的BBS轉為校內平臺，學生實名登記不對外開放。當年7月，騰訊QQ開始推行實名制，隨後，實名制浪潮席卷瞭網絡的每一個角落，網遊實名、網店實名、博客實名、版主實名，直到今年又開始微博實名。 　　一項項實名制並未管住網絡上的泥沙俱下。如防止網遊沉迷的實名認證，系統隻會識別身份證號碼是否“成年”，卻無法識別在玩遊戲的人是否成年人，這直接帶來很多青少年在網上買成年人的身份證號，輕松繞過系統。 　　網店實名制，在現實中同樣可以遭輕松破解，一些人花幾十元購買一個身份證生成器就對付瞭。 　　網絡實名制尚沒有上升為全國性的規定，國內隻有少數省市嘗試這一做法，杭州是全國第一個通過地方立法實施網絡實名的城市，根據該市人大常委會審議通過的《杭州市計算機信息網絡安全保護管理條例》，2009年5月1日起，發帖、寫博、網遊都要提供有效身份證明。當地的初衷是防止匿名在網上散佈謠言、制造恐慌和惡意侵害他人名譽。 　　此條例當年一發佈，就遭到瞭質疑，認為此舉會收縮公民訴求表達的渠道，而且如何界定“惡意攻擊”也是難題，隨後媒體集中報道瞭杭州“網絡實名制遇冷”。這項法規的執行不瞭瞭之。 　　在與網絡有關的實名制推行之時，國內爆發多起網民信息泄露事件，2011年12月21日，國內最大的程序員社區CSDN上600萬份用戶資料曝光。22日，多傢網站近5000萬用戶信息泄露，29日，廣東出入境政務服務網400萬用戶信息泄露。“實名制是否危及用戶隱私”的話題再度被熱議。 　　中國的網絡實名制，重要的學習對象是韓國的實名制。不過2011年12月，韓國廣播通信委員會提出，從2012年起逐步廢除已經實施瞭4年多的互聯網實名制。作為世界上第一個也是唯一一個實行互聯網實名制的國傢，韓國已開始走回頭路。 　　但這些都沒改變中國的網絡管理部門用實名制管理網絡的決心。2011年底，面對微博制造的一波波輿論，北京市的應對方式，仍是推行微博實名制。 　　“手機實名制”有名無實 　　與網絡實名制同時推行，當然也飽受爭議的，還有“手機實名制”。這個政策的出發點是治理不良短信，但實行已三年，詐騙、色情、違法開票的垃圾短信照舊漫天飛。 　　推行此政策的關鍵點，在於如何在購買手機卡環節保證實名。南方周末記者在北京瞭解到，現在用戶去幾大移動通訊運營商的直屬營業廳辦理手機卡，需要出示身份證，三級代理商去營業廳批發卡號，也需要憑身份證，但用戶到代理商處購買，則不需身份證，在這裡手機實名制形同虛設。 　　眾多實名制中，商業預付卡實名也正面臨“形同虛設”的尷尬。2011年5月23日，國辦轉發瞭七部委聯合制定的《關於規范商業預付卡管理的意見》，其中最為關鍵的就是要求預付卡辦卡實名。 　　但北京市海淀區檢察院反貪局副局長羅猛接受媒體采訪時就指出，意見規定瞭不記名的商業預付卡面值不超過1000元，購買者很容易每次購買不超過1000元，通過化整為零的方式逃避監管。另外，意見隻規定瞭購卡實名制，卻沒有用卡實名制，也給腐敗留下瞭漏洞。 　　對於普遍老百姓而言，實名制出現在生活的更多方面，比如買自行車。2007年9月27日，商務部、公安部、工商總局和質檢總局發佈瞭《關於規范自行車購銷管理的通知》，規定從當年12月1日開始，凡是新出廠的自行車售賣實行“實名制”。具體做法是，自行車、電動自行車在出廠前刻制獨一無二的15位編碼，作為“身份證”，顧客購買時需提供身份證，銷售網點通過非機動車管理網進入錄入、登記。 　　自行車實名制的出發點是，群眾在自行車丟失後報案，公安機關在追回被盜車輛後可及時返還給失主。不過4年已過，隻有北京、上海、浙江、廣東等幾個省份出臺瞭類似文件，且具體執行仍難如人意，購買自行車，並不需要出示身份證。廣東省自行車行業協會秘書長馬助森對南方周末記者稱，廣東省沒有執行自行車實名制。 　　已實行自行車實名制的浙江杭州餘杭區，一位警方人士告訴南方周末記者，當地情況也不樂觀，目前的管理體制不順影響實名制的推行，公安、質檢、工商都在管，多頭管理加大瞭執行成本，使落實難上加難。最為關鍵是現在丟失自行車，沒幾個人會報案，公安機關又有多大可能去追查一部自行車？ 　　消失的豬肉和避孕藥實名 　　1月31日，廈門市停止瞭為期4個多月的市級儲備肉投放，喧囂一時的“賣肉實名制”也劃上瞭句號。2011年8月，面對高漲不下的豬肉價格，廈門市動用政府儲備肉，以低於市價15%的價格銷售，同時規定購買2公斤以上者需出示身份證，每人限購5公斤。 　　此舉迎來瞭好評，也帶來瞭質疑和批評。2月3日，廈門市商務局市場處處長胡衍國說，全市350萬人才投放瞭600多噸市級儲備肉，主要是中低收入人群購買。這批肉投放有平抑物價的作用，更主要是保證對中低收入人群的供應。 　　至於身份證，他說並不是為瞭限制購買，而是防止有人大量購買之後再倒賣。今年春節後，廈門肉價回落，儲備肉停止投放，“賣肉實名制”也不再有。 　　消失的還有“避孕藥實名制”。2009年12月31日，福建省藥監局下發《關於加強緊急避孕藥品監督管理的通知》，要求藥品零售企業銷售緊急避孕的米非司酮（10mg）等非處方藥時，要登記顧客姓名、身份證號碼、聯系方式等。 　　2011年底，福州、廈門、三明等市要求“購買避孕藥實名制”被曝光，引起爭議。藥監局的解釋是，當時實施實名制主要是出於監管緊急避孕藥用於非法終止妊娠，並沒有什麼過多的原因。2012年2月4日，福建省藥監局辦公室相關人士回應說，這份文件已經廢止瞭。 　　眾多實名制中，快遞業的實名制處於進退兩難的境地。據公開報道，2010年，國內查獲大量通過快遞渠道的違禁品，其中毒品案件327起、各類危險品1400餘起。 　　公安部、國傢安全部、國傢郵政局為此聯合發出瞭《關於加強寄遞渠道治安管理工作的通知》，要求快遞企業要在郵件、快件收寄、分揀、運輸、投遞等環節安裝監控設備，同時自2011年開始將浙江紹興縣作為試點推行快遞實名制。 　　2012年2月3日，南方周末記者從紹興縣公安局禁毒大隊瞭解到，目前試點運行良好，全縣25傢快遞企業均已實行實名制。 　　2011年8月，有媒體報道此舉將在全國推行，但隨後就有聲音表示全國推行面臨客戶隱私外泄風險，且加大瞭快遞企業的運行成本，甚至會流失客戶。上海、南昌郵政部門明確表示暫不執行。至今尚無全國推廣的下文。 　　中國社科院社會政策研究中心秘書長唐鈞說，隻有那些涉及個人信用以及國傢安全的才可以實行實名制，其他的領域則是給老百姓的自由越多越好。不能什麼事情覺得不好管就用實名制，這實際是行政權力的濫用，他擔心這種濫用會進一步擴大。 　　現實中，實名制從網絡和社會生活中深入到涉及個人隱私的領域，2010年7月17日，武漢對賣淫嫖娼人員進行實名曝光。2011年3月，還是武漢，在市屬媒體上實名曝光瞭40名亂闖紅燈、亂扔垃圾的市民

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Australia's Marie Claire magazine has come up with their image of the ideal woman, plucking the best features of some of the world's most famous celebrities and composing them into one, strangely recognisable, ensemble. Using data from leading surgeons around the world, the team have pulled together the most requested celebrity looks as received by plastic surgery experts in the past 12 months. Published in the April edition of the glossy magazine, the rendition of the unreal woman suggests that looks can indeed be bought. Mad Men beauty January Jones has cheeks that are hankered after, while Anne Hathaway's eyes are a winner. Natalie Portman's small, streamlined nose is chosen above all others and paired with Scarlett Johansson's mouth - her famous full pout attracting the attention of the cosmetic patients. Halle Berry's sculpted jawline was chosen as the ideal way to shape a face, while, though not a cosmetic procedure option, the image was finished with the blonde, gently curling tresses of country singer, Taylor Swift. No mention of skin complexion, forehead, eyebrows or teeth is made, never mind the rest of the body, though most of the 'ideal' looks may be recreated using face lifts, fillers and rhinoplasty. All of the features come from of-the-moment American A-listers - suggesting that fashions and trends must in part influence the choices. In Australia, women will spend $850 million on modifying their looks and bodies, while in 2009, Americans spent a staggering $10 billion on cosmetic procedures, according to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 澳大利亞版《嘉人》雜志最新推選出完美女性形象，從一些全球最著名的明星身上取出最美之處，組合成令人不可思議的整體效果。 團隊成員將整形外科專傢在過去一年中客戶要求最多的明星相整合在瞭一起。這些數據都來自全球的頂級整形外科醫生。 虛構的這張最美女性相貌發表在今年4月刊的《嘉人》時尚雜志上，同時也表明，美貌是可以花錢買來的。 人們最希望擁有《廣告狂人》劇中的美女詹紐瑞•瓊斯的面頰，和安妮•海瑟薇的眼睛。 娜塔莉•波特曼小巧的流線型鼻子得分最高，再配上斯嘉麗•約翰遜的嘴，她著名的飽滿的翹嘴唇吸引瞭眾多整容人士的註意。 哈莉•貝瑞頗具造型的下頜輪廓被認為最能勾勒臉型。最理想女性形象還擁有鄉村歌手泰勒•斯威夫特金黃色的輕柔卷發，盡管這尚未成為整容手術的一個選擇。 最理想女性形象沒有提到膚色、前額、眉毛、或者牙齒，不用擔心身體的其餘部分，雖然大部分的“理想”相貌也許都是通過整容、填充和隆鼻再造的。 所有的特征都取自當今的美國一線明星，這表明時尚潮流也在某種程度上影響瞭人們的選擇。 在澳大利亞，女性會花費850美元整型塑身，而根據美國美容整形外科學會的數據，美國人在2009年的整容消費高達100億美元。

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日前，27歲的臺灣日籍藝人Makiyo涉及毆打的士司機被臺灣檢方列為毀損等罪的被告，並限制出境。

被毆打的出租車司機，傷勢嚴重，有2至3根肋斷折、顱內出血。

 

 

 

The Taipei Prosecutors Office said Tuesday the 27-year-old Taiwanese-Japanese star Makiyowas accused of kicking a taxi door after her companion, who allegedly was drunk, dragged the driver out and beat him.

Makiyo has apologized and pledged to stop drinking after the Thursday night incident，accompanied by her mother.

Makiyo has been barred from leaving Taiwan. And Takateru Tomoyori, a Japanese friend of Makiyo, was ordered not to leave Taiwan Saturday after he was arrested and charged with causing bodily harm to the taxi driver.

The driver, surnamed Lin, suffered serious head injuries, two fractured ribs, a brain hemorrhage and concussion after being struck.

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Suicides in Japan top 30,000 for 13th straight year

日本警察廳發佈的初期數據顯示，2010年日本的自殺人數為31560人，連續13年超過3萬。其中，男性自殺者22178人，女性9382人，延續瞭男性高自殺率的趨勢。不過，2010年的自殺人數比上一年下降瞭3.9%，為過去十年間自殺人數第二低的年份。日本政府從2009年9月起成立瞭緊急應對小組，與民眾團體和醫師合作，共同應對自殺問題。該小組推出的對策包括，增加窗口，向有心理疾病和債務負擔的人提供咨詢；根據警務策略以地區為單位編寫預防自殺手冊等。 The number of people who committed suicide in Japan totaled 31,560 in 2010, topping 30,000 for the 13th straight year, the National Police Agency said in a preliminary report on Friday. But the number declined 3.9% from the previous year, or a decrease of 1,285 cases, hitting the second-lowest level over the past 10 years, according to the report. Since assuming power in September 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan-led government has taken steps to help those at risk of suicide. The government’s anti-suicide campaigns last year appear to have had some effect as the number of people who committed suicide declined in the months immediately following the campaigns, falling 15.9% in April and 13.5% in October from a year earlier. In November, however, the number of cases rose 10%, partially because of the prolonged economic downturn. The number of people committing suicide declined for six months in a row in the first half of last year but rose and fell in successive months. While 2008 and 2009 saw some months in which over 3,000 people committed suicide, the number of cases remained below 3,000 each month last year. Of those who committed suicide last year, 22,178 were men and 9,382 women, continuing the trend for a higher number of cases among men. The government set up an emergency strategy team at the Cabinet Office in autumn 2009 in concert with civic groups and doctors working on suicide prevention. The team worked on measures to be implemented by related ministries and agencies, including expanding public counters where people can get advice about mental health and debt problems, and compiling region-by-region suicide prevention steps based on relevant police statistics. The government set up a task force involving cabinet ministers last September to carry out the measures.

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日本3月11日大地震和海嘯引發的核危機使得日本東部地區面臨能源短缺的困境。在酷熱夏季到來之時，日本環境省發起瞭“超級清涼夏裝”行動，要求全國將室內空調溫度上調至28攝氏度，鼓勵人們脫下西裝，改穿T恤、短袖襯衫、運動鞋甚至夏威夷花襯衫和涼鞋等清涼便裝上班。環境省大臣表示，推行清涼夏裝行動並不隻是為瞭讓大傢熬過夏天，而是要改變日本人的生活方式。除此之外，日本不少行業都開始實行彈性工作制或者允許員工在傢辦公，同時采取減少辦公室照明，縮短工作時間等方式節約能源。

Neckties are out and casual shirts in, even aloha shirts, as Japanese businessmen shed their conservative dress and stodgy image to save electricity.

　　Neckties are out and casual shirts in, even aloha shirts, as Japanese businessmen shed their conservative dress and stodgy image to save electricity.

　　Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami set off an ongoing nuclear crisis at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, meaning that the eastern part of the country faces a severe power shortage as it heads into the sizzling summer months.

　　Spearheading efforts to stay cool in the office, the Environment Ministry launched its "Super Cool Biz" campaign on Wednesday, a stepped-up version of summer dress-down movements carried out over the past few years.

　　"As we are lacking electricity, the Japanese government is asking for a 15 percent reduction in electricity consumption," said Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto.

　　"This is not just about surviving this summer, but is a big turning point for changing the way Japanese live and our lifestyle."

　　Workers at the ministry turned to casual attire, coming in tieless and wearing short-sleeved shirts, including brightly-colored Hawaiian-style shirts. Sneakers, blue jeans and t-shirts are all allowed as well.

　　Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which runs the Fukushima Daiichi plant, has said it expects summer electricity demand in eastern Japan to be 55 million kilowatts, with the supply tight.

　　Electricity use soars in the steamy summers, when temperatures can rise as high as 40 C (104 F).

　　Public response to the campaign was mixed, with some lauding it for conservation efforts while others said care still had to be taken for appearances.

　　"I think people should choose what they wear, because you can look sloppy," said Yasuko Yokoyama, a 48-year-old housewife.

　　Businesses are adopting their own measures, with some shifting workdays to the weekend, when demand will be lower, setting thermostats higher, and keeping lighting to a minimum.

　　KDDI, one of Japan's largest communications firms, will allow employees to leave early and work from home from June 27. It already is cutting down on lighting use and has set thermostats at 28 C (82.4 F)

　　"Up to now, Japanese had stereotypical habits of working from Monday to Friday, 9 to 5," said Kou Iizawa, a manager at the company.

　　"Though we have had this unfortunate incident, it is acting as a catalyst to change our work habits. I hope we will become as progressive as Western countries -- and we should enjoy our leisure hours more."

 

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The Japanese government made a formal decision to buy islands at the center of a dispute with China, a move to prevent the islands from ending up in Japanese nationalists' hands but one that provoked an angry response from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. 日本政府已正式決定購買中日爭議島嶼，此舉目的在於防止爭議島嶼落入日本民族主義者手中，但引發瞭中國國務院總理溫傢寶的強烈不滿。 Japan's chief government spokesman said it had agreed with the islands' private owners to purchase them, stressing it was in line with the government's policy of maintaining control of the islands in a 'peaceful and stable' manner. 日本內閣官房長官說，日本政府已經與私人島主就購島事宜達成瞭協議。他強調說，此舉符合政府以和平穩定的方式維護對這些島嶼控制權的政策。 'The government has been renting the islands since fiscal 2002 to keep them under peaceful control. But since the current private owners intended to put them on the market, we've decided to buy them,' Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a regular news conference. 日本內閣官房長官藤村修(Osamu Fujimura)在例行記者會上說：自2002財年以來政府就租下瞭這些島嶼，以使之處於和平的控制中；但現在的私人島主打算將島嶼出售，於是我們決定購買這些島嶼。 On Tuesday, the cabinet approved the funding for the purchase, Mr. Fujimura said, adding that the ¥2.05 billion ($26 million) in funding would come from the government's reserve fund. 藤村修說，內閣周二批準瞭購島撥款，並稱這筆20.5億日圓（約合2,600萬美元）的款項將來自政府的預備金。 He also said that Japan and China have been in contact on the issue. 他還說，日本和中國在這件事情上一直保持著聯系。 'Both governments have been communicating closely through diplomatic channels to avoid misunderstandings and unforeseen incidents' pertaining to the situation, Mr. Fujimura said. 'We do not wish for this matter to adversely affect the bilateral relationship.' 藤村修說，兩國政府一直在通過外交途徑密切溝通，以免發生誤解和始料未及的事件；我們不希望此事對兩國關系產生負面影響。 In addition, Japan has sent its most senior diplomat in charge of relations with China to Beijing, a government official said. The diplomat, Shinsuke Sugiyama, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to return tomorrow. 除此以外，一位政府官員說，日本已派遣負責對華關系的最高級別外交官前往北京。這名外交官是外務省亞洲及大洋洲事務局局長杉山晉輔(Shinsuke Sugiyama)，按計劃他將於明天回國。 The move to buy the islands prompted anger from the highest levels of the Chinese leadership, with Mr. Wen saying late Monday that the islands-controlled by Japan, which calls them the Senkaku, but claimed by China and Taiwan; they're called Diaoyu in Chinese-are an inalienable part of China's territory. He said China would 'absolutely make no concession' on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. 此舉引發瞭中國最高領導層的強烈不滿。溫傢寶周一晚間說，釣魚島是中國領土不可分割的一部分。據新華社報道，溫傢寶說，在主權和領土問題上，中國政府和人民絕不會退讓半步。爭議島嶼目前由日本控制，但中國大陸和臺灣也聲稱對其擁有主權，這些島嶼在日本被稱為“尖閣列島”(Senkaku)，中文稱之為“釣魚島”(Diaoyu)。 The Japanese central government decided to buy the islands after Tokyo's nationalist governor, Shintaro Ishihara, said the city was negotiating such a purchase. Mr. Ishihara had proposed building facilities on the islands, including a port, to fend off landings by Chinese activists opposing Japanese control. 在日本中央政府決定購買爭議島嶼之前，東京都知事、民族主義者石原慎太郎(Shintaro Ishihara)曾說，東京都正在與島主協商購島事宜。石原慎太郎提議在島上修建包括港口在內的設施，以防止反對日本控制這些島嶼的中國活動人士登島。 Japanese officials have said the central government's purchase plans are aimed at preventing nationalists such as Mr. Ishishara from seizing control of the islands, a move which would be certain to further inflame nationalistic sentiment in China.A team from the Tokyo metropolitan government this month conducted a survey of the islands from surrounding waters. 日本官員一直說，中央政府的購島計劃旨在防止石原慎太郎這樣的民族主義者掌握島嶼的控制權。如果石原慎太郎掌握瞭爭議島嶼的控制權，無疑將進一步加劇中國的民族主義情緒。東京都政府的一個小組本月早些時候從周邊海域對爭議島嶼進行瞭調查。 The central government and the owner had agreed on the purchase Friday, Mr. Fujimura said, although he declined to comment on the price. 藤村修說，日本中央政府和島主上周五已經就購島事宜達成協議，不過他拒絕透露價格。一位曾參與購島談判的政府官員上周說，可能的價格將會是20.5億日圓（合2,600萬美元），並且說政府不會尋求在島上進行任何開發項目。 A government official involved in the negotiations said last week the government wouldn't pursue any development on the islands. 此外，藤村修還對日本政府購島決定可能會令中日關系惡化的看法不予理會，他重申這些島嶼不存在領土爭端問題。 Mr. Fujimura also shrugged off views that the decision may worsen ties with China, reiterating that no territorial dispute exists over the islands. 'This is a domestic matter which should not trigger any diplomatic issues,' he said. 藤村修說，這是一個國內問題，不應引發任何外交爭端。 Earlier Monday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said the country would take 'necessary measures' to protect what it believes is its territory following the Japanese government's announcement. The spokesman, Hong Lei, didn't specify what measures the country would take, and reiterated Beijing's stance that any unilateral moves by Japan over the islands are 'illegal and invalid.' 在日本政府宣佈購島消息後，周一早些時候中國外交部發言人洪磊說，中國將采取必要措施維護國傢領土主權。他沒有詳述中國將采取哪些措施，隻是強調瞭北京方面的立場，即日本對釣魚島及其附屬島嶼采取的任何單方面措施都是非法、無效的。 It is unclear whether China will escalate its response beyond the standard rhetoric. The Chinese government is trying to maintain a diplomatic status quo ahead of a sensitive, once-a-decade leadership transition set to begin later this year. 目前尚不清楚中國是否會在這套標準辭令之外進一步加強對事態作出的反應。中國政府目前正試圖在今年晚些時候領導人換屆選舉之前保持外交現狀。每10年一次的換屆選舉在中國極為敏感。 But the spat prevented a formal meeting between the two nations' leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vladivostok, Russia, this weekend. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Chinese President Hu Jintao only held a 15-minute discussion Sunday on the sidelines of the forum. 但是，中日島嶼之爭導致雙方領導人未能在上周末亞太國傢峰會上舉行正式會晤。在周日於俄羅斯符拉迪沃斯托克舉行的亞太經濟合作組織峰會期間，日本首相野田佳彥(Yoshihiko Noda)與中國國傢主席胡錦濤僅在會議間隙進行瞭15分鐘的會談。 While the two sides agreed not to disclose the contents of the talks, Xinhua said Mr. Hu had told Mr. Noda he was against nationalization of the disputed islands, and that he believed the move would be invalid. 雖然中日兩國同意不披露會談內容，但新華社報道稱，胡錦濤對野田佳彥說，他反對日本將爭議島嶼國有化，他認為此舉是無效的。 China appeared to take a small step Monday to ratchet up economic pressure on Japan. At a news conference, Dong Yang, secretary-general of the state-backed China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, linked slowing sales of Japanese cars to the diplomatic tussle. 為增加對日本的經濟壓力，周一中國似乎邁出瞭一小步。受政府支持的中國汽車工業協會(Association of Automobile Manufacturers)秘書長董揚在新聞發佈會上表示，日系車在華銷量放緩與中日外交沖突有關。 'I don't want to comment much, but I guess Japanese brands' sales slowed in August mostly due to the Diaoyu issue,' Mr. Dong said. 董揚說：我不想做過多評論，但我猜測日本品牌汽車8月份在華銷量放緩的主要原因是釣魚島問題。 Sales of Nissan Motor Co. 7201.TO -1.74% vehicles in China slowed slightly in August, said Kimiyasu Nakamura, president of Dongfeng Nissan, on Saturday. The company sold 95,200 cars in China in August, compared with 98,100 in July. 東風日產(Dongfeng Nissan)總裁中村公泰(Kimiyasu Nakamura)上周六說，日產汽車(Nissan Motor Co.)8月份在華銷量放緩。該公司8月份在華售出汽車95,200輛，低於7月份的98,100輛。 Despite frequent eruptions of anti-Japanese sentiment in China, Japan has tried to keep tensions under control with its biggest trading partner. This contrasts with Japan's tough stance toward South Korea, an economic rival, with which it also has a territorial dispute. 盡管中國國內頻繁爆發反日情緒，但日本一直試圖讓自己與這個最大貿易夥伴的緊張關系處於控制之中。相比之下，日本在對韓國這個經濟對手的態度上就較為強硬。日韓兩國也有領土之爭。 'It's not in the interest of either Japan or China to let this situation adversely affect the overall relationship between the two countries,' Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said in a recent interview. 日本外務大臣玄葉光一郎(Koichiro Gemba)近日接受采訪時說，讓這種局勢對日中兩國的整體關系造成負面影響，這不符合雙方的利益。 In September 2010, China strongly protested after Japan filed charges against a Chinese fishing boat captain involved in a collision with Japanese coast guard vessels near the islands. 2010年9月，中國一艘漁船在釣魚島附近和日本海岸警衛隊船隻相撞，日本對中國漁船船長提起訴訟，中國對此表示強烈抗議。 Tensions flared again last month when activists from Hong Kong landed on one of the islands. Japanese officials didn't press charges and instead deported the members. 上月，香港活動人士登上釣魚島後，中日關系再度緊張。日本官員這次沒有起訴登島者，而是將他們驅逐出境。 來源:http://www.kekenet.com/read/201209/199145.shtml

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'Yes we Kan' T-shirts a boost for Japan's new PM

As Japan's new Prime Minister Naoto Kan took power Tuesday, he received an unexpected boost from online sales of T-shirts bearing his picture and the message "Yes we Kan".

 

While Kan was being sworn in by Japan's Emperor Akihito, Japanese retailer ClubT said it had sold more than 100 T-shirts online with the catch phrase, a reworking of US President Barack Obama's election motto "Yes We Can". Meanwhile sales of shirts poking fun at his scholarly predecessor Yukio Hatoyama, who stepped down last week, were also surging as people snapped up memorabilia of the premier who carried the moniker "The Alien". A Washington Post columnist in April called Hatoyama hapless and "increasingly loopy" over his contradictory comments in a dispute over a US airbase that badly strained ties with Washington and finally led him to resign. Hatoyama later conceded in parliament he may indeed be described as loopy, leading ClubT to print a T-shirt that read: "Self-professed loopy Hatoyama". "When Hatoyama went into office, his T-shirts didn't sell but they soared after he resigned," company executive Tomohiro Miyake said. "On the other hand Kan's T-shirt is selling well on his inauguration. It's a sign that the quality of the two leaders' level of popularity is different." 日本新任首相菅直人於本周二正式走馬上任，在上任之際，他獲得瞭一種意想不到的支持——一款印有他頭像及口號“Yes we Kan”的T恤衫在網上熱賣。 日本一傢名為ClubT的零售商稱，在日本明仁天皇正式任命菅直人為日本首相之時，他們已在網上賣出瞭100多件這款印有“Yes we Kan”口號的T恤，該口號是根據美國總統貝拉克•奧巴馬的競選口號“Yes We Can”（是的！我們能！）改編而來的。 與此同時，取笑上周剛辭職的前任首相鳩山由紀夫的T恤銷量也大增。被稱為“外星人”、學究味很濃的鳩山辭職後，人們紛紛搶購關於他的紀念品。 鳩山由紀夫因在美國駐日空軍基地的搬遷問題上出爾反爾，被《華盛頓郵報》的一位專欄作傢在四月份（的一篇文章中）描述為“倒黴”，“越來越糊塗”。該事件嚴重影響瞭美日關系，並最終導致瞭鳩山的下臺。 後來，鳩山在日本國會承認自己或許真的可以被稱為“糊塗蛋”，所以ClubT公司據此想出瞭一個“自認糊塗的鳩山”的標語。 ClubT公司負責人三宅友廣說：“鳩山上任時，他的T恤衫賣得很差，但他辭職後銷量反而大增。” “而菅直人就任當天，他的主題T恤就賣得很好，由此可以看出兩名首相人氣上的差距。”

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日本民主黨7日確定黨內重要人事更替，為菅直人內閣鋪路。總體來說，新領導層平均年齡比上屆低。據報道，8日，日本天皇將在在皇宮宮殿出席新首相任命與內閣認證儀式。

民主黨7日下午召開國會參眾兩院議員大會。除小澤等數人，幾乎所有民主黨議員參會。會議確定以黨首菅直人為首的新一屆領導班子，批準枝野幸男出任幹事長、玄葉光一郎任政策調查委員會委員長、樽床伸二任國會對策委員長。 　　據日本共同社報道，宮內廳稱，天皇從6日晚起出現身體不適。由於新首相任命儀式及內閣認證儀式將於8日在皇宮宮殿舉行，天皇還是決定謹慎行事。天皇夫婦4 日起前往葉山禦邸靜養，計劃至8日。 　 【熱門事件學英語】 　　日本政壇可謂是經歷瞭一番地震般的動蕩啊。首相總是逃脫不瞭“短命”的怪圈。今天日本新內閣走馬上任，我們來學習一下“上臺” 的英文怎麼說吧。 　　首先來看這段話： 　　Japan's Prime Minister-elect and Democratic Party of Japan chief Naoto Kan will officially name his Cabinet on Tuesday as the ruling DPJ gear up for upper house elections to be held in July。(小編註：文中“DPJ”指的是“the ruling Democratic Party of Japan”。) 　　Yukio Edano, 46, will replace Ichiro Ozawa, the political kingpin, colloquially known as "The Shadow Shogun," responsible for orchestrating the DPJ's rise to power last September, as Secretary General and Kan's right-hand man。 　　在上面這段話中，“rise to power”就是 “上臺，掌權”的意思。 　　同時，我們也可以用“come into power”來表示。比如說：The new government will come into power next month. (新政府將在下月開始執政。) 　　另一種說法是“come on the stage”，表示“登上政治舞臺”，值得註意的是，這個詞組同時還能表示 “上場”。比如說：They applauded their favorite comedienne as she came on the stage. (當他們最喜歡的女喜劇演員登臺時，他們鼓掌歡迎。)

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Tens of thousands of people have rallied near Japan's crippled Fukushima plant demanding an end to nuclear power as the nation marked the first anniversary of a disastrous earthquake and tsunami. Memorial ceremonies and anti-nuclear demonstrations were held across the northeast region where an estimated 160,000 people were forced to evacuate after the monster waves triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Around 16,000 people gathered at a baseball stadium in Koriyama some 60 kilometres away from the plant. Participants called for an end to nuclear energy in Japan and compensation for victims from operator Tokyo Electric Power, a year after the March 11 quake-tsunami sparked the world's worst atomic disaster in a generation. "Our town has turned out to be another Chernobyl," Masami Yoshizawa, who ran a cattle farm in Namie, 10km from the plant, shouted through a loudspeaker. "We are in despair now, but I will get back my hometown even if it takes me the rest of my life," said Yoshizawa as he stood atop a wagon displaying pictures of his cows lying dead in their shed. "I won't be beaten, no matter what. I will keep on fighting," he said. A group of monks in brown and white robes chanted Buddhist sutras as activists carried banners reading: "We never forget the March 11 Great Earthquake. We will never forgive the nuclear accident." "Fukushima is being forgotten day by day," said Yumiko Ono, a 34-year-old graphic designer from Tokyo. "If we don't raise our voices right now, another accident could happen. We want to tell the world that the crisis and the hardship is still going on," she added. A moment of silence was observed at 14:46, the moment the 9.0-magnitude quake struck below the Pacific sea floor, sending monster waves into Japan's northeastern coast. The tsunami swamped cooling systems at the plant and sent three reactors into meltdown, spewing radiation into the environment. (Read by Emily Cheng. Emily Cheng is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

日本大地震和海嘯災難發生一周年之際，數萬名日本民眾聚集在廢棄的福島核電站前，要求停止使用核能。 日本東北部多地都舉行瞭紀念儀式和反核能示威。在海嘯引發福島第一核電站危機後，據估計有16萬人被迫疏散。 大約1.6萬人在距核電站大約60公裡的郡山市一處棒球場舉行瞭集會。 參加者呼籲日本停止使用核能，要求東京電力公司補償受害者損失。一年前的3月11日，日本發生強震和海嘯，引發瞭這個時代最恐怖的一場核災難。 吉澤正見拿著揚聲器大聲喊：“我們的傢園已成為另一個切爾諾貝利。”他在距離核電站10公裡處經營一傢養牛場。 “我們現在陷於絕望中，但我一定要回到傢鄉，即使要付出餘生的代價。”他站在貨車上，向大傢展示多張養牛場內奶牛屍體的照片。 他說：“無論如何，我不會被擊垮，會繼續奮鬥。” 一群僧侶身穿棕色和白色的長袍，吟著佛經，抗議者舉著橫幅，上面寫著：“我們不會忘記3•11大地震，不會原諒核事故。” 34歲的東京平面設計師小野裕見子說：“人們正一天天忘記福島。” 她補充說：“如果我們現在不發出聲音，就可能發生另一場核事故。我們想要告訴世界，危機和苦難還沒有過去。” 下午14點46分，人群一起默哀。去年3月11日14時46分，太平洋海底發生9級強震，在日本東北海岸引發海嘯。 海嘯淹沒瞭核電站的冷卻系統，摧毀瞭3座核反應堆，並引發核輻射。

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共同社6月2日報道稱，日本首相鳩山由紀夫(63歲)在2日上午召開的日本民主黨兩院議員大會上表示，由於駐日美軍普天間機場搬遷問題造成日本社民黨退出聯合政府等政局混亂局面，自己將引咎辭職。 　　受內閣和民主黨內支持率低迷影響，即將在7月參院選舉中進行改選的議員之間要求鳩山下臺的呼聲高漲。鳩山自去年9月的政權更迭之後僅在任8個多月便宣告下臺。 　　與此同時，鳩山內閣近期將全體辭職。在眾院占多數的民主黨將加緊選出後任黨代表，並經首相提名後繼續維持政權運營。後任首相候選人中，日本副首相兼財務相菅直人(63歲)的呼聲較高。 　　(以上新聞摘自環球網) 　　日本政壇這兩年也是風雲動蕩，常有首相辭職事件發生。那麼“辭職”、“離任”這樣的短語用英文該如何表達呢？我們來看一段英文報道： 　　Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama has said he intends to resign on Wednesday。 　　Public broadcaster NHK said Wednesday that Hatoyama told his party executives he intended to step down over his broken campaign promise to move a U.S. Marine base off the southern island of Okinawa。 　　從此段新聞當中我們可以看到，“辭職”的英文就是resign。此外也可以用“step down”表示“下臺”、“離任”。小編要提醒大傢resign指的是自動提出的離職，如果是被“開除”，就應該用dismiss。