Health officials want to turn the scantily clad women who sell betel nuts at stands along Taiwan's roadways into anti-AIDS campaigners.
Betel nuts, chewed as a mild stimulant, are popular among truck and taxi drivers — and vendors often compete by staffing roadside sales booths with young women in bikinis, translucent blouses or nurses' uniforms with miniskirts.
The government plans to have the women give their customers boxes containing condoms and an AIDS warning, Yang Shih-yang, an official at the Center for Disease Control, said on Apr. 7.
PHOTO: LIN ZHI-QING, TAIPEI TIMES
"Research done from Africa to Himalayan countries has proved one thing: The AIDS virus is spread along the highways," Yang said.
He was apparently referring to truckers and cab drivers engaging in prostitution or sex with multiple partners.
However, Yang said the plan is still under study because authorities do not want the act to accidentally promote the sale and chewing of betel nuts — which many physicians say could cause cancer.
In recent years, the provocatively dressed roadside saleswomen called "betel nut beauties" have become part of Taiwanese culture.
Several of the saleswomen, interviewed recently by Sanli Cable News, dismissed the anti-AIDS proposal as too sexually suggestive, and said it could expose them to risk of assault.
The plan "might give people wild thoughts," said one, whose name was not given.
Officials say AIDS cases have been rising by about 3,000 a year in Taiwan.
In an attempt to contain the spread of the HIV virus, authorities recently began a program under which convenience stores distribute free needles for drug addicts. (AP)
衛生官員希望能讓台灣路邊檳榔攤穿著清涼的檳榔西施，化身反愛滋人士。
嚼起來有如興奮劑的檳榔，廣受卡車與計程車司機歡迎，商家往往在路邊檳榔攤雇用年輕女性員工，讓她們穿著比基尼、若隱若現的罩衫或裙子超短的護士服來搶生意。
疾病管制局組長楊世仰四月七日表示，政府計畫請這些女性發給顧客內附保險套並印上愛滋警語的檳榔盒。
楊世仰說︰「從非洲到喜馬拉雅山的國外研究都發現︰愛滋病毒沿著公路蔓延。」
他顯然是暗指嫖妓或有多重性伴侶的卡車與計程車司機。
不過，楊世仰說由於政府不希望這項行動意外促銷檳榔與嚼檳榔，計畫仍在研究階段。許多醫師指出檳榔會致癌。
穿著清涼養眼、在路邊賣檳榔的女性銷售員近幾年來被稱為「檳榔西施」，已成為台灣文化之一。
最近接受三立新聞採訪的幾位賣檳榔女性，都認為這項反愛滋計畫有過多的性暗示，可能會讓自己冒上性侵害風險。
其中一位匿名者表示，這項計畫「可能讓人產生瘋狂聯想」。
官員表示，台灣一年已增加三千個愛滋病例。
為了抑制愛滋病毒傳播，官員最近已展開便利商店免費發放針頭，供毒癮者使用的計畫。
（美聯社／翻譯：賴美君）
SAY WHAT? 說說看
under study 研究中
If a plan is under study, then it is being reviewed and does not have final approval. Phrases with a similar meaning include under review and under consideration. You can also say something is being studied, is being reviewed or is being considered. "We really like your proposal for a new park in this neighborhood, but there are lots of complicated issues involved. At this time, your plan is still under review, but we'll tell you as soon as we have made a decision."
An understudy is an actor who prepares as backup in case another actor can't perform.
假如一項計畫正「under study」，即指正在研究中，尚未獲得最後批准。類似的片語還有「under review」與「under consideration」。你也可以說某件事「is being studied」、「is being reviewed」或「is being considered」。例如︰「我們真的很喜歡你在社區打造新公園的計畫，但還牽涉到許多複雜問題。目前你的計畫仍在評估中，但我們決議後會儘快通知你」。
一個「understudy」就是替角演員，以免另一名演員無法登台表演。
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Peggy: Hey! On my way over here, I passed a betel nut stand.
Kristen: See anything unusual?
Peggy: Well, I noticed the vendors are handing out condoms and an AIDS warning.
Kristen: That's news to me. I'd also say it sounds like a good plan.
Peggy: Yeah, it complements the needle distribution program too.
佩姬︰嘿！我來這裡的路上經過一處檳榔攤。
克莉絲坦︰有什麼不尋常的嗎？
佩姬︰我注意到小販在發送保險套與愛滋標語。
克莉絲坦︰挺新鮮的。我認為聽起來是個好主意。
佩姬︰是啊，它還配合發送針頭的計畫。
news to someone 挺新鮮的，沒聽說過
If something is news to you, than you didn't know it before. "Sarah is getting married?! That's news to me! When's the wedding?"
假如有事情「news to you」，你從未聽過這種事。例如︰「莎拉要結婚了！我居然不知道！婚禮是什麼時候？」
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