英语流行话题听力:Unit91 南极洲还是最后一片净土吗?

[00:00.19] Unit 91 Antarctica, Is It the Last Pure Land? [00:06.47] Although tourism to Antarctica is still small by global standard, it is growing. [00:12.43] But even the few people going there are damaging the environment, say scientists. [00:17.50] And because of this scientists want to put an end to travel to the region. [00:23.13] Most travel firms in the area have signed up to self imposed regulations on pollution, waste removal and other responsibilities, [00:31.34] but like any popular tourist spot, pressures on the environment are starting to destroy the very natural beauty which attracted visitors in the first place. [00:42.34] The fact that Antarctica is also an essential spot for scientists monitoring global environmental change is also a reason people are calling for an end to tourism there. [00:54.16] Tourists are simply getting in the way of the research. [00:58.55] For the British Antarctica Survey( BAS) the biggest concern is safety. [01:05.22] BAS is a 60-year old Cambridge based project, which has carried out the majority of scientific research on and around the continent. [01:15.16]" This year we will probably have four to five large ships with 1,000 people on board coming to Antarctica. [01:23.16] Several of those ships are not ice strengthened," says John Shears, the environmental officer of the BAS. [01:30.18]" If there is an accident or a ship hits an iceberg, there would be problems with health and rescue operations in the area. [01:39.30]" Shears adds. [01:41.38] The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators is a worldwide organization based in the US for companies operating tours to the region. [01:51.52] It promotes and practices safe and environmentally responsible Antarctic tourism. [01:58.04] It has strict regulations for its members, but many tour ships are outside the organization." We need strong safety regulations, [02:07.33] controls and shipping standards to protect all tourists going to this area," says Frank Samule, a member of the association. [02:17.32] Some attempts are being made to meet Samule's wants. [02:21.29] BAS and the British government are attempting to control all ships in the area with new shipping rules. [02:28.41] So far though, the impact of tourism on the environment has been small and threats from man made pollutants and the loss of the ozone layer over Antarctica are greater concerns. [02:41.20] But researcher fear that ships and tourists could bring in plant and animal species new to the area which could harm the environment. [02:50.20] Of greatest concern is the possibility of global, regional and local threats interacting in unexpected ways to have a significant impact on the Antarctic environment. [03:02.49] The complex nature of th global environment means science can not predict such event.

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