12月8日,法国“黄马甲”新一轮抗议运动在巴黎上演。始于11月中旬的这场运动,如同其标志物——司机常穿的黄色交通反光马甲背心一样,醒目、乍眼。香榭丽舍大街的商铺被砸,凯旋门的雕像被破坏。红色的火光、黑色的浓烟、黄色的背心、白色的催泪弹雾,巴黎这块在人们心目中浪漫精美的画布,渐渐被泼上了异样的色彩。
这场抗议运动的导火索是法国宣布全面调涨燃油税。自2018年来,法国油价已飙升近20%,再加税,将造成民众生活成本急速上涨。底层民众被激怒,矛盾一触即燃,没有明确领袖,没有明确组织……任何人穿上黄色安全背心,就可以加入进来,甚至还有数百名有严重暴力倾向的极端派别人员混入。从和平游行,到打砸抢烧,渐渐变得失控。
如今的法国,民怨沸腾。连续四个周末的“黄马甲”示威游行,似乎让这个冬天变得更为寒冷。近日,法国内政部长表示将考虑实施紧急状态,以确保国家公共秩序的稳定和民众安全。法国总统马克龙也已回国,处理执政以来最严重的危机。
本篇课程首发于2018年12月12日,选自 The Economist Espresso APP
文本难度:
话题难度:
Yellow fever: France's riots
① Three days after urban rioting shook central Paris, Edouard Philippe, the French prime minister, is due to hold talks later today with representatives of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests).
② Most of the protesters are peaceful, and first rose up against an increase in the green tax on diesel.
③ But troublemakers infiltrated the weekend protests, and were partly to blame for the violence.
④ Another demonstration is due on December 8th.
⑤ Meanwhile the Senate will also speak with Christophe Castaner, the interior minister, today about how the protests have been policed.
⑥ For the president, Emmanuel Macron, this is his first real political crisis.
⑦ The grass-roots movement has broadened into general anger at him.
⑧ Nearly three-quarters of the French say they support it.
⑨ Mr Macron has styled himself as a leader who does not give in to the street.
⑩ But he cannot afford to appear indifferent to ordinary concerns.
⑪ The way he handles it could determine his presidency.
▍生词好句
yellow fever: 黄热病(文中暗指黄马甲运动的狂热)
riot /ˈraɪət/: n. 骚乱;暴动 v. 骚乱
urban /ˈɜːbən/: adj. 城镇的
representative /ˌreprɪˈzentətɪv/: n. 代表
vest /vest/: n. 背心;马甲
rise up: 奋起反抗;起义
green tax: 环保税;绿税
diesel /ˈdiːzəl/: n. 柴油
troublemaker /ˈtrʌbəlˌmeɪkə(r)/: n. 闹事者;捣乱者
infiltrate /ˈɪnfɪltreɪt/: vt. (使) 潜入
protest /ˈprəʊtest/: n./v. 抗议
demonstration /ˌdemənˈstreɪʃən/: n. 示威游行
due /djuː/: adj. 预期的
senate /'senɪt, ˈsenət/: n. 参议院
interior minister: 内政部长
interior /ɪnˈtɪəriə/: adj. 内部的;国内的
police /pəˈliːs/: vt. 维持治安
political crisis: 政治危机
grass-roots: adj. 基层的;一般民众的
broaden /ˈbrɔːdn/: vi. 扩大
style /staɪl/: vt. 设计;标榜 n. 风格
indifferent /ɪnˈdɪfərənt/: adj. 漠不关心的
▍词汇拓展
1. urban: adj. 城镇的
· urbanize/urbanise: vt. (使) 城镇化
2. due: adj. 预期的
When is the next meeting due?
下次会议将在什么时候举行?
The baby is due in January.
孩子一月份就要出生了。
· in due course: 到时候;在 (将来) 适当的时候
You will receive the notification in due course.
到时候,你自然会收到这个通知的。
3. green tax: 环保税;绿税
· environmental tax: 环保税;环境税
▍责任编辑
李秋健、武志琳、章晓丹
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