Commons Sense: Saving the Seas
① Mostly belonging to no one and out of sight—beyond the horizon and under the surface—ocean waters are the ultimate global commons: unregulated, underappreciated and overexploited.
② Today officials from 60-odd countries begin a two-day summit in Malta to discuss reversing these trends.
③ At last year's edition, hosted by America's then secretary of state, John Kerry, participants pledged $5.2bn for sustainable fisheries, pollution reduction and other oceanic causes.
④ A UN jamboree in June saw some progress, with vows to more than double the size of "marine protected areas", to 7.4% of the high seas.
⑤ But gripes could already be heard that President Donald Trump's America is losing interest, despite being flanked by two oceans.
⑥ Mr Trump has yet to fill important posts in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
⑦ In Malta he will be represented by an acting assistant secretary of state.
⑧ Mr Kerry, also in attendance, won't be the only one disappointed.
生词好句
common /ˈkɒmən/: n. 公共领地；公共资源
reverse the trend: 扭转趋势
pledge /plɛdʒ/: vt. 承诺
fishery /ˈfɪʃ(ə)ri/: n. 渔场 (可数名词)；捕鱼业 (不可数名词)
oceanic /ˌəʊʃɪˈanɪk//ˌəʊsɪˈanɪk/: adj. 海洋的
jamboree /ˌdʒambəˈriː/: n. 大型集会；狂欢
high seas: 公海
gripe /ɡrʌɪp/: n. 抱怨
flank /flaŋk/: vt. 位于......两侧
atmospheric /atməsˈfɛrɪk/: adj. 大气的
"We must plant the sea and herd its
animals using the sea as farmers
instead of hunters. That is what
civilization is all about—farming
replacing hunting."
Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer
