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JuliusMaadaBio_2019-_我对狮子山共和国的愿景_-
On Tuesday, January 16, 1996, 1996 年 1 月16 日星期二,
I walked into the office of the president as head of state of the Republic of Sierra Leone . 我以國家領導人的身份 走進獅子山共和國總統辦公室。
head of state:n.国家元首; Sierra:n.(尤指西班牙和美洲的)锯齿状山脉; Leone:n.利昂(塞拉利昂货币单位);
I had not been elected. 我不是被選出來的。
Four years earlier, 在那之前的四年前,
I was one of 30 heavily armed military officers, all in our 20s, who had driven from the war front into the capital city, Freetown . 我是三十位全副武裝的軍官之一, 那時我們都只有二十多歲, 從前線開車進入 首都自由城。
military:adj.军事的;军人的;适于战争的;n.军队;军人; Freetown:n.弗里敦(塞拉利昂的首都);
We had only one objective : to overthrow a corrupt , repressive and single-party dictatorship that had kept itself in power for over 25 years. 我們只有一個目標: 推翻腐敗、壓迫、一黨專政 霸占國家超過二十五年的獨裁政權。
objective:n.目标; adj.客观的; overthrow:n.推翻;倾覆;瓦解;vt.推翻;打倒;倾覆; corrupt:v.损坏;破坏;使腐化;使堕落;adj.贪污的;受贿的;腐败的;营私舞弊的; repressive:adj.镇压的;压抑的;抑制的; dictatorship:n.专政;独裁权;独裁者职位;
But in the end, it wasn't a violent coup . 最終整場政變並無預期的暴力。
violent:adj.暴力的;猛烈的; coup:n.政变; v.使…颠倒;
After we fired a few shots and seized the radio station, hundreds of thousands of citizens jumped onto the streets to welcome us as liberators . 在我們開了幾槍、攻佔電台後, 數十萬人民湧上街頭, 歡迎我們這些解放者。
liberators:n.解放者;释放者;
If you are thinking this seems like a movie script , I'm with you. 如果你覺得聽起來很像 電影劇本,我深有同感。
script:n.剧本;电影剧本;笔迹;广播(或讲话等)稿;v.为电影(或戏剧等)写剧本;
I was part of the ruling military government, and I served in several roles. 我原是軍事統治政府的一員, 有幾個不同的職銜角色。
Our goal was always to return the country to democratic civilian rule. 我們的目標一直都是 讓國家重回民主民治。
democratic:adj.民主的;民主政治的;大众的; civilian:adj.民用的;百姓的,平民的;n.平民,百姓;
But after four years, those multiparty democratic elections had still not happened. 但是,四年過去了, 多黨派民主選舉仍是紙上空談。
multiparty:adj.多党的;包括多党的;导致多党并存的选举制度的;包含多党党员的;
Citizens were beginning to lose faith in our promise. 人民開始對我們的承諾失去信心。
faith:n.信心;信任;宗教信仰;
But you know what? 但,你們知道嗎？
I like to keep my promises. 我是個守信用的人。
Some of my comrades and I staged another military coup, and this time, against our own head of state and commander . 我和一些同志策劃了 另一次軍事政變, 這一次,是對抗我們 自己的元首和指揮官。
commander:n.指挥官;司令官;
Again, it was a bloodless coup. 同樣的,這次政變也不血腥。
bloodless:adj.不流血的;无血色的;没有精神的;
That is how I became the new military head of state on January 16, 1996. 因此 1996 年 1 月 16 日, 我成了國家的新軍事領袖。
I was still only 31 years old. 當時我才三十一歲。
Of course, power was sweet. 當然,權力很甜美。
I felt invulnerable . 我覺得自己刀槍不入。
invulnerable:adj.无懈可击的;不会受伤害的;
I had thousands of heavily armed men and aircraft at my command. 我手下有數千名武裝人員和飛機, 供我使喚。
aircraft:n.飞机,航空器;
I was heavily protected, and I lived in luxury . 我受到嚴密的保護, 生活也很豪華。
luxury:n.奢侈,奢华;奢侈品;享受;adj.奢侈的;
But my obligations to my nation were always superior . 但我對國家的責任始終排在最前面。
obligations:n.[法]义务;债务;承付款项(obligation的复数); superior:n.上级;上司;adj.(在品质上)更好的;占优势的;更胜一筹的;
Millions of fellow citizens were either displaced or fleeing the violence and pillage of war. 數百萬的人民流離失所, 試圖逃離戰爭的暴力和劫掠。
displaced:v.取代;替代;置换;迫使(某人)离开家园;转移;(displace的过去式和过去分词) fleeing:v.迅速离开;逃避,逃跑;(flee的现在分词) violence:n.暴力;侵犯;激烈;歪曲; pillage:vi.掠夺;抢劫;vt.掠夺;抢劫;n.掠夺;掠夺物;
So I engaged in a series of diplomatic activities right across the subregion and convinced the reclusive rebel leader to initiate peace talks for the very first time. 所以我在各個被反叛軍瓜分的地區 展開了一連串的懷柔會談, 終於說服藏匿的反抗軍領導人 開啟和平對談, 這是有史以來的第一次。
engaged in:从事于;忙于; series:n.系列,连续;[电]串联;级数;丛书; diplomatic:adj.外交的;从事外交的;有手腕的;灵活变通的; subregion:n.[生]亚区;分区;[数]子区域;分压; convinced:adj.坚信; v.使确信; (convince的过去分词和过去式) reclusive:adj.隐居的;隐遁的; rebel:n.反政府的人;叛乱者;造反者;反抗权威者;v.造反;反抗;背叛;adj.造反的; initiate:vt.开始,创始; n.开始; adj.新加入的;
I also called a national consultative conference of civil society organizations and stakeholders to advise on the best way forward. 我同時也召開全國諮詢大會, 邀請公民社會組織和相關人士, 並向他們請益國家未來的走向。
consultative:adj.咨询的; conference:n.会议;研讨会;商讨会;体育协会(或联合会) organizations:n.组织,构造,有机体(organization的复数);组织机构; stakeholders:n.利益相关者;赌款保存人(stakeholder的复数); advise on:就…提出建议;
In both cases, I shared with them what I believed in then and now: that Sierra Leone is bigger than all of us, and that Sierra Leone must be a secure, peaceful and just society where every person can thrive and contribute to national development. 無論是和平會談還是諮詢大會, 獅子山比我們所有人都重要, 獅子山必須要是一個安全、 和平、公正的社會, 每個人才有成功發展的機會, 才能對國家發展做出貢獻。
thrive:v.繁荣;茁壮成长;蓬勃发展;兴旺发达; contribute to:有助于;捐献;
And so, I initiated peace talks with the rebels . 因此,我與反抗軍展開和平對談。
initiated:v.开始;发起;创始;使了解;传授;吸收;(initiate的过去式和过去分词) rebels:n.反叛者(rebel的复数形式);v.谋反(rebel的第三人称单数形式);
I organized the first multiparty democratic elections in nearly 30 years. 我安排了近三十年來 第一次的多黨派民主選舉。
organized:adj.有组织的; v.组织; (organize的过去分词和过去式)
(Applause) （掌聲）
I handed over power to the newly elected president, 我把權力交給 新選出來的總統,
I retired from the army, and I left my country for the United States of America to study -- all in three months. 我從軍隊退休, 然後我離開我的國家,來到美國, 來讀書── 所有這一切都在三個月內發生。
United States of America:un.美利坚合众国;
(Applause) （掌聲）
In many a long walk, 在許多漫長的旅程中,
I wondered how we could get it right again as a nation. 我思考如何才能讓 我們的國家步上正軌。
More than 20 years later, in April 2018, with a few more wrinkles and grey hair, 二十多年後, 在 2018 年的 4 月, 帶著多出來的皺紋和白髮,
wrinkles:n.皱纹;皱痕;v.起皱纹;皱起;(使)起皱褶;(wrinkle的第三人称单数和复数)
I was again head of state. 我再次成為國家元首。
But guess what? 但這次不一樣的是,
This time I have been democratically elected. 我是民選出來的總統。
democratically:adv.民主地;民主主义地;
(Applause) （掌聲）
At the polling stations last year, my three-year-old daughter, Amina, was in my arm. 去年,在投票所中 我懷裡的三歲大女兒阿米娜
polling:n.投票;民意测验;v.获得(票数);对…进行民意调查;(poll的现在分词)
She insisted on holding on to my ballot paper with me. 堅持要和我一起拿著選票。
ballot:n.投票;投票用纸;投票总数;vi.投票;抽签决定;vt.使投票表决;拉选票;
She was intent and focused. 她是那麼的熱切專注。
intent:n.意图;目的;含义;adj.专心的;急切的;坚决的;
At that moment, with my ballot papers in both our hands, 當我們共同握著選票那一瞬間,
I fully understood the one priority for me if I was elected president of the Republic of Sierra Leone; that is: How could I make the lives of Amina and millions of other young girls and boys better in our country? 我了解到如果我當選 獅子山共和國的總統 我的首要任務是什麼, 那就是:
priority:n.优先;优先权;[数]优先次序;优先考虑的事;
See, I believe that leadership is about creating possibilities that everyone, especially the young people, can believe in, own, work to actualize , and which they can actively fight to protect. 我堅信領導者是要 給所有人民創造機會, 特別是給年輕人 能夠相信、 能夠擁有、 能夠實現, 以及他們願意積極爭取保護的機會。
especially:adv.尤其;特别;格外;十分; actualize:v.实现;使发生;使现实化;
The pathway to power and leadership can be littered with impediments , but more often, with funny questions that may seemingly defy answers: 通往權力和領導地位的道路 可能充滿障礙, 更可能是充斥了 看似沒有答案的有趣問題:
pathway:n.路,道;途径,路径; impediments:n.障碍(impediment的复数);妨碍,困难; seemingly:adv.看来似乎;表面上看来; defy:vt.藐视;公然反抗;挑衅;使落空;n.挑战;对抗;
How does one take on the unique challenges of a country like Sierra Leone? 我應該如何面對擺在 獅子山共和國眼前的挑戰？
unique:adj.独特的,稀罕的;[数]唯一的;n.独一无二的人或物;
We had mined mineral resources for over a hundred years, but we still are poor. 我們開採礦產資源已有一百多年了, 但我們仍然很窮。
mineral:n.矿物;矿物质;汽水;adj.矿物(性)的;含矿物的;无机的; resources:n.[计][环境]资源; v.向…提供资金(resource的第三人称单数);
We had collected foreign aid for 58 years, but we are still poor. 我們接受外援 58 年了, 但我們仍然很窮。
The secret to economic development is in nature's best resource: skilled , healthy and productive human beings. 但經濟發展的祕訣 藏在大自然的最佳資源裡: 擁有技術、體力及生產力的人類。
economic:adj.经济的,经济上的;经济学的; skilled:adj.熟练的;有技能的;需要技能的; productive:adj.能生产的;生产的,生产性的;多产的;富有成效的;
The secret to changing our country lay in enhancing and supporting the limitless potential of the next generation and challenging them to change our country. 改變我們國家的關鍵在於開發和支持 下一代的無限潛力, 將改變國家的重責大任交付給他們。
enhancing:n.优化,增强;暖色加重效果;v.增强(enhance的现在分词); limitless:adj.无限制的;无界限的; potential:n.潜能;可能性;[电]电势;adj.潜在的;可能的;势的;
Human capital development was the key to national development in Sierra Leone. 發展人力資本是獅子山共和國 發展的關鍵。
As a candidate, 以總統候選人的身份,
I met with and listened to many young men and women right across the country and in the diaspora that were feeling disconnected from political leadership and cared little about the future of our country. 我會見並傾聽了許多的青年男女, 他們來自全國各地, 包含流徙離鄉的年輕人, 他們感覺與政治領導脫節, 對國家的未來也不太關心。
diaspora:n.离散的犹太人;犹太人的离散; disconnected:adj.分离的; v.切断(煤气、水或电的供应); (disconnect的过去式和过去分词)
How could we engage them and make them believe that the answers to transforming our nation was right in their hands? 我們該如何讓他們願意參與, 讓他們相信讓國家更好的前景 掌握在他們手裡？
transforming:v.使改变形态;使改变外观(或性质);使改观;(transform的现在分词)
Immediately after becoming president, 當選總統後,
I appointed some of Sierra Leone's brightest young people as leaders, with responsibility to realize our shared vision of transforming Sierra Leone. 我隨即委派國內一些最優秀的 年輕人擔任領導的角色, 賦予他們責任以期 實現我們共同的目標── 讓獅子山共和國變得更好。
appointed:adj.(时间)指定的,约定的; v.任命; (appoint的过去分词和过去式) vision:n.视力;美景;幻象;想象力;v.想象;显现;梦见;
I am grateful many of them said yes. 我很感激許多人答應了我的委任。
Let me give you a few examples. 讓我舉幾個例子。
Corruption had been endemic in governance , institutions and in public life in Sierra Leone, undermining public trust and the country's international reputation. 貪腐問題充斥於 獅子山共和國的機關單位, 公共生活方面也是, 破壞了公信力 以及國家在國際上的聲譽。
Corruption:n.贪污,腐败;堕落; endemic:adj.地方性的;风土的;n.地方病; governance:n.管理;统治;支配; institutions:n.机构;慈善机构;风俗习惯,制度;(institution的复数) undermining:v.逐渐削弱;使逐步减少效力;从根基处破坏;(undermine的现在分词)
I appointed a young attorney as Commissioner for the Anti-Corruption Commission. 我任命一位年輕的律師 擔任反腐敗委員會的行政長官。
attorney:n.律师(尤指代表当事人出庭者);(业务或法律事务上的)代理人; Commissioner:n.理事;委员;行政长官;总裁; Anti-Corruption:n.反腐败;反贪腐;廉政风暴;
In less than a year, he had a hundred percent conviction rate and recovered over 1.5 million dollars of stolen money. 短短不到一年的時間裡, 他達到了100% 定罪率, 追回了 150 多萬美元的贓款。
conviction:n.判罪;定罪;坚定的看法(或信念);坚信;肯定;
That is seed money for building the country's first-ever national medical diagnostic center in Sierra Leone. 這筆錢被用來建設獅子山的第一個 國家醫療診斷中心。
seed money:n.本钱;本金; first-ever:adj.第一例;前所未有; diagnostic:adj.诊断的;特征的;n.诊断法;诊断结论;
(Applause) （掌聲）
The Millennium Challenge Corporation recently gave us a green scorecard for the Control of Corruption indicator , and multilateral development partners that had left Sierra Leone are now beginning to return. 千禧挑戰計畫最近核發了綠卡給我們, 因為我們控制腐敗有成, 之前離開獅子山的多邊發展夥伴們 現正開始返回。
Millennium:n.千年期,千禧年;一千年,千年纪念;太平盛世,黄金时代; Corporation:n.法人;(大)公司;法人团体;市政委员会; recently:adv.最近;新近; scorecard:n.记分卡;一种用于检验或测试的系统或程序; indicator:n.指示器;[试剂]指示剂;[计]指示符;压力计; multilateral:adj.[数]多边的;多国的,多国参加的;
We are determined to break a culture of corruption and the culture of impunity that is associated with corruption. 我們有決心消除腐敗文化, 以及與腐敗相關的 有罪不罰的風氣。
determined:adj.决定了的:v.决定;(determine的过去分词和过去式) impunity:n.不受惩罚;无患;[法]免罚; associated:adj.有关联的; v.联想; (associate的过去分词和过去式)
Before I became president, 在成為總統之前,
I met a skinny , dreadlocked MIT/Harvard-trained inventor in London. 我在倫敦見了一位身材瘦削、 留著雷鬼頭的發明家,
skinny:adj.极瘦的;干瘦的;皮包骨的;紧身的;n.(不公开的)信息;内幕消息; dreadlocked:adj.有发绺的,?有发辫的;
Over coffee, I challenged him to think and plan along with me how innovation could help to drive national development in the areas of governance, revenue mobilization , health care , education, delivering public services and supporting private sector growth. 喝咖啡時,我挑戰他 與我一起思考計劃 怎樣的革新才能帶動國內的發展, 包括治理、促進稅收、醫療保健、 教育、提供公共服務 以及支持私營企業的成長等等。
innovation:n.创新,革新;新方法; revenue:n.收益;营业额;税务署; mobilization:n.动员;调动; health care:n.卫生保健; private sector:n.(国家经济的)私营部分;
How could Sierra Leone participate in the digital economy and become an innovation hub ? 獅子山又該如何投入數位經濟, 甚至成為創新樞紐？
participate:v.参加;参与; digital:adj.数字的;手指的;n.数字;键; economy:n.经济;节约;理财; hub:n.中心;毂;木片;
Guess what? 你猜後來怎樣？
He left his cozy job at IBM, and he now leads a team of young men and women within the newly established Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation in my own office. 他放棄了他在 IBM 安穩的工作, 來幫我帶領一個最近剛剛成立、 由年輕男女組成的團隊──
cozy:n.保温罩;v.蒙骗;抚慰;adj.舒适的;安逸的; established:adj.已确立的;著名的;v.建立;创立;设立;(establish的过去分词和过去式) Directorate:n.董事会;理事会;指挥部; Technology:n.技术;工艺;术语;
(Applause) （掌聲）
That young man is right in here. 那位年輕人今天也在場。
I challenged another young Sierra Leonean woman to set up and lead the new Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. 我同時也任命另一位 年輕的獅子山女性, 成立並帶領新的經濟發展部。
Ministry:n.(政府的)部门;
She consulted widely with Sierra Leoneans and produced, in record time, the medium-term national development plan, titled, "Education For Development." 她廣泛徵求人民的意見, 並在創紀錄的時間內 制定了名為「教育促進發展」的 中程國家發展計劃。
consulted:v.咨询;请教;商议;查阅;查询;参看(consult的过去分词和过去式) medium-term:adj.中期的;
We now have our national development needs in easily understandable clusters , and we can now plan our budgets , align development partner contributions and measure our own progress. 我們現在已經把國家發展所需 分成幾個清楚易懂的區塊, 如此就能規劃預算, 分配發展夥伴的資源, 同時衡量我們本身的進度。
understandable:adj.可以理解的;可以了解的; clusters:n.[植]簇;丛(cluster的复数形式);[计]群集; budgets:n.[财政]预算(budget复数形式);v.为…做预算(budget的第三人称单数形式); align:vt.使结盟;使成一行;匹配;vi.排列;排成一行; contributions:n.捐款;捐资;定期缴款;贡献;促成作用;(contribution的复数)
But the story of my government's flagship program is even more daring, if I can call it that. 其實有關我政府旗艦計劃的故事, 比前面這些更大膽, 起碼我這樣覺得。
flagship:n.旗舰;(作定语)一流;佼佼者;
Today, three out of five adults in Sierra Leone cannot read or write. 現在獅子山有 五分之三成年人是文盲。
Thousands of children were not able to go to school or had dropped out of school because their parents could just not afford the $20 school fees per year. 數千個孩童無法就學, 或者輟學, 因為家長付不起一年 20 美金的學費。
afford:v.给予,提供;买得起;
Women and girls, who constitute 51 percent of our population, were not given equal opportunity to be educated. 占我國人口 51% 的婦女和女童 沒有得到平等的教育機會。
constitute:v.组成;构成;(合法或正式地)成立,设立;
So the obvious answer is to put in place free, quality education for every Sierra Leonean child, regardless of gender , ability or ethnicity . 明顯的解決辦法是提供 免費及高品質的教育 不分性別、能力或種族。
obvious:adj.明显的;显著的;平淡无奇的; regardless:adj.不管的; v.不顾后果地; gender:n.性别; ethnicity:n.种族划分;
(Applause) （掌聲）
Great idea you've clapped for. 你們鼓掌是因為這是很棒的主意,
clapped:v.鼓掌,拍手;拍(手);击(掌);(clap的过去分词和过去式)
Right? 對不對？
But the only problem is we had no money to start the program. 現在只有一個小問題,我們沒有錢。
(Laughter) （笑聲）
Absolutely nothing. 完全沒錢。
Absolutely:adv.绝对地;完全地;
Development partners wanted to see data before associating with my vision. 發展夥伴想先看數據再談我的願景。
associating:n.姘居;v.结合;使联合;把…联系在一起(associate的ing形式);
Of course, political opponents laughed at me. 當然,政治對手嘲笑我。
opponents:n.对手(opponent的复数形式);
But I campaigned that a nation that invests in human capital development through free, quality education, affordable and high-quality health care services and food security will accelerate its national development program. 但我曾倡導, 國家若投資人力資源發展, 透過免費優質的教育、 負擔得起的醫療保健服務、 就能加速我們的國家發展計劃。
invests:v.投资;花费(invest的三单形式); affordable:adj.负担得起的; high-quality:adj.高质量的; accelerate:v.加快;加速;n.接受速成教育的学生;
I argued that for Sierra Leone to produce a highly skilled, innovative and productive workforce fit for the 21st century global economy, we needed to invest heavily in human capital development in Sierra Leone. 我認為,要使獅子山共和國培養出 富有技術、創新能力 與生產力的勞動力, 又符合 21 世紀全球經濟需求, 我們需要積極投資 獅子山的人力資本發展。
highly:adv.高度地;非常;非常赞许地; innovative:adj.革新的,创新的; workforce:n.劳动大军;全体员工; global:adj.全球的;总体的;球形的;
But we had no money, because the previous government had virtually emptied the coffers . 但是我們沒有錢, 因為上屆政府幾乎掏空了國庫。
previous:adj.以前的;早先的;过早的;adv.在先;在…以前; virtually:adv.事实上,几乎;实质上; coffers:n.金库(coffer的复数); v.用花格镶板装饰;
We clamped down on corruption, closed up the loopholes for fraud and waste, and we watched the money build up. 我們嚴厲打擊貪腐, 彌補舞弊及資源浪費等等的問題, 慢慢累積所需的資金。
clamped:adj.夹紧的;v.夹住;强制实行;用沉重脚步行走(clamp的过去分词); loopholes:n.漏洞;枪眼(loophole的复数); fraud:n.欺骗;骗子;诡计;
We successfully launched a free, quality education program in August last year, four years, four months later. 去年八月我們成功地啟動 第一個免費、高水準的教育計劃, 這是經過四年又四個月的努力。
launched:v.发射;发起;开展;开始;(launch的过去式和过去分词)
Today, two million children are going to school. 今天,有 200 萬個兒童在學。
(Applause) （掌聲）
Twenty-one percent of the national budget supports free, quality education. 21% 的國家預算 用在提供免費的優質教育。
In close collaboration and in partnership with development partners, we have now provided teaching and learning materials, safe spaces for girls, and started implementing school feeding programs across the entire country. 加上與發展夥伴們密切合作, 我們現在能提供教學和學習的材料、 提供女孩們安全空間, 並開始在全國各地 實施學校供餐計畫。
collaboration:n.合作;勾结;通敌; partnership:n.合伙;[经管]合伙企业;合作关系;合伙契约; provided:conj.假如; v.提供; (provide的过去分词和过去式) implementing:n.实施,执行;实现;v.贯彻,执行(implement的现在分词);
We have even paid backlogs of salaries for teachers. 我們甚至還付清了 之前積欠教師的薪水。
backlogs:n.[管理]积压的工作;积压待办的事务;大木材;vt.储备;把…积压起来;
Any girl admitted to university to study science, technology, engineering , mathematics and other related disciplines receives a full scholarship in Sierra Leone today. 現在獅子山任何一個女孩, 進大學主修科學、科技、 工程、數學還是其他相關學科, 都可獲得全額獎學金。
engineering:n.工程;工程学;v.密谋策划;设计制造;改变…的基因;(engineer的现在分词) mathematics:n.数学;数学运算; disciplines:n.[管理]纪律(discipline的复数); v.训导; scholarship:n.奖学金;学问;学识;学术成就;
(Applause) （掌聲）
And here is why this matters: in a few years, we will have a healthier, better educated and highly skilled young population that will lead and drive the country's national development. 所有這一切都至關重要: 因為幾年後,我們將擁有一個 更健康、教育程度更高、 高技能的年輕人口, 他們將領導和推動國家的發展。
They will be well-equipped to deploy science, technology and innovation. 他們會有足夠的能力去推動 科學、科技及創新。
well-equipped:adj.设备精良的;装备很好的; deploy:v.部署;利用;[军事]展开;(使)张开;
Then we'll attract investment in diversified areas of our economy, from tourism to fisheries and from renewable energy to manufacturing . 然後,我們將能吸引外資 投資不同領域促進經濟發展, 從觀光業到漁業, 從再生能源到製造業。
investment:n.投资;投入;封锁; diversified:adj.多样化的; v.增加…的品种; (diversify的过去式和过去分词) fisheries:n.渔业;渔场(fishery的复数);捕鱼术;渔业公司; renewable:adj.可再生的;可更新的;可继续的;n.再生性能源; manufacturing:n.制造业;工业;v.制造;生产(manufacture的现在分词);
That is my biggest bet . 這是我最大的賭注。
bet:n.打赌;赌注;预计;估计;v.下赌注(于);用…打赌;敢说;八成儿;
In my mind, this is what leadership is all about: a mission to listen with empathy to the craziest of ideas, the hopes and aspirations of a younger generation, who are just looking for a chance to be better and to make our country better. 在我看來,領導人的使命就是: 以同理心去傾聽 年輕一代的最瘋狂的想法、 他們的希望、他們的抱負, 因為他們尋找機會進步的同時, 我們的國家也向上提升。
empathy:n.神入;移情作用;执着; aspirations:n.愿望;
It is about letting them know that their dreams matter. 我的職責是讓他們知道 他們的夢想很重要。
It is about standing with them and asking, "Why not?" 在他們提出看似不可能的想法時, 跟他們站在一起,說:「當然好！」
when they ask seemingly impossible questions.
It is about exploring , making and owning a shared vision. 這其中包含了探索、創造 以及擁有共同的願景。
exploring:v.探索:考察:探查;(explore的现在分词)
The most audacious and nation-changing events or policies or even personal choices happen when we ask, "Why not?" 那些最具膽識、 改變國家的重大事項、政策, 只有在我們說了「當然好」後,
audacious:adj.无畏的;鲁莽的; policies:n.政策;方针;原则;为人之道;保险单(policy的复数) personal:adj.个人的;身体的;亲自的;n.人事消息栏;人称代名词;
then make bold choices and ensure those bold choices happen. 然後進一步去作出大膽的決定, 確定事情可以如期達成。
bold:adj.大胆的,英勇的;黑体的;厚颜无耻的;险峻的; ensure:vt.保证,确保;使安全;
I wake up every day believing that our country should no longer be defined by the stigma of the past. 我每天醒來都衷心相信, 我們的國家不再被過去的恥辱所限制。
defined:adj.有定义的,确定的; v.使明确; stigma:n.[植]柱头;耻辱;污名;烙印;特征;
The future offers hope and opportunity for all. 未來為所有人提供了希望與機會。
It matters to me that young men and women right across the country can imagine for themselves that they, too, can be and are part of the story of our nation. 我最在乎的是全國各地的年輕男女, 希望他們能夠看到自己也是 創造我們國家歷史的一分子。
I want to challenge them to build a nation where three-year-olds like my daughter, Yie Amie , can grow up in good governance, quality education, health care and good infrastructure . 我想挑戰他們 為下一代建立一個國家, 讓像我女兒阿米娜 這樣三歲大的孩子們 能夠在管理良善的環境下成長, 接受高水準的教育、 享受優質的醫療保健, 一個基礎設施完備的國家。
Amie:n.(法)女朋友; infrastructure:n.基础设施;公共建设;下部构造;
I want our children to become young men and women who can continue nourishing the trees that will grow from the seeds that we are planting today. 我希望下一代能成為 優秀的青年男女, 繼續滋養培育我們今天栽下的種子, 讓它們茁壯成為大樹。
nourishing:adj.有营养的;滋养多的;v.滋养;养育;(nourish的现在分词)
Now can someone tell me why we should not dare imagine that future in Sierra Leone? 現在有誰能告訴我, 我們為什麼不能 放膽想像獅子山的未來？
Thank you. 謝謝！
(Applause) （掌聲）