VOA常速英语:World Oceans Day 2018

On June 8th, much of the world observes United Nations World Oceans Day. The idea is to remind people how important the world’s oceans are to all life on Earth, to celebrate their beauty, and to bring attention to the impact human activity has on the oceans.This year, the theme is preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean.
6月8日，世界多地庆祝联合国世界海洋日。这一理念是为提醒人们世界海洋对地球上所有生命的重要性、赞颂海洋之美、使人们关注人类活动对海洋造成的影响。今年世界海洋日的主题是防止塑料污染并鼓励健康海洋的解决方案。

The world’s oceans cover nearly three fourths of the Earth’s surface, and contain 97 percent of our planet’s water. They produce over half of our oxygen, help regulate our climate, absorb carbon dioxide, and support the greatest abundance of life on our planet.Nearly half of all species on Earth depend on the oceans for survival,and for many of the rest, including for people, the oceans improve the quality of life.
世界海洋占地球表面积的近四分之三，占地球水储量的百分之九十七。海洋产生了我们所需的超过一半的氧气、帮助调节气候、吸收二氧化碳、供养地球上最丰富的生命物种。地球上近半数物种依赖海洋生存，海洋改善了包括人类在内的剩余许多物种的生活质量。

The oceans are also indispensable to the world’s economy, because they are key to transportation and recreation.And inasmuch as over 95 percent of the underwater realm remains unexplored,it is nearly a certainty that their depths may hold the cure to many a disease, the resolution to many a problem.And yet, as much as 40 per cent of the world’s oceans are heavily affected by human activities that result in pollution, over-fishing, and loss of coastal habitats.Of particular concern is plastic debris.Some of it comes from ships that ply our rivers, lakes and seas, and eventually makes its way into the ocean.But about 8 million metric tons of plastic waste washes off land into the ocean each year.Once there, it begins to break down until it turns into small fragments known as microplastics.
海洋对于世界经济而言也是不可缺少的，因为他们对交通运输和娱乐起关键作用。由于超过百分之九十五的水下世界仍未被开发，几乎可以确定的是海洋深处可能隐藏着许多疾病的治疗方法，和许多问题的解决方案。然而，多达百分之四十的海洋受到人类活动的严重影响，导致了污染、过度捕捞和沿海栖息地受损。特别值得关注的是塑料残骸。其中一些来自往返于河流、湖泊和大海上的船只，并最终流入海洋。但每年约800万公吨的塑料垃圾携带土壤进入海洋。一旦进入海洋，塑料垃圾就会分解成小块，形成塑料微粒。

Plastics are a serious threat, because they degrade very slowly, entangle sea creatures,damage habitats like coral reefs, and are ingested by marine animals.Researchers have documented impacts of plastic on over 650 different marine species—including sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, and fish.
塑料是严重的威胁，因为它们降解速度非常慢、缠绕海洋生物、破坏珊瑚礁一类的栖息地，并被海洋动物吞下。调查人员记录了塑料对超过650种不同的海洋物种产生的影响——包括海龟、海豹、鲸鱼、海豚、鼠海豚、海鸟和鱼类。

On World Oceans Day, we must remember that the health and safety of our oceans is our collective responsibility,one that we cannot afford to neglect. Only through good stewardship can we safeguard the health of our oceans,and ensure that the oceans continue to meet the needs of future generations.
在世界海洋日，我们必须记住海洋的健康和安全是我们共同的责任，是我们不能忽视的问题。只有通过良好的管理，我们才能保护海洋健康、确保海洋继续满足后代的需求。