The economic boom that has transformed Ireland is now threatening up to 150 species of animals and plants with extinction.
The Notice Nature campaign, a public awareness campaign launched by Environment and Heritage Minister Dick Roche, said species include the red squirrel, several types of bats, the otter, the barn owl, the salmon, the mountain hare, a slug, insects and various plants and trees.
There are 29 different bird species and 120 flowering plants in "serious decline", according to the country's Heritage Service.
PHOTO: AP
"One of the main threats to our biodiversity is loss of habitats, and up to 150 species of plants and birds are now under threat of extinction," Notice Nature said.
"Furthermore, recently we have seen the impact of invasive alien species, like Japanese Knotweed," it said, adding that over exploitation and climate change have also hurt.
The new campaign aimed at preserving the species on red alert will involve collaboration between the ministry and the farming, tourism and building and construction industries.
"The biological diversity we see today is the result of billions of years of evolution," according to Notice Nature.
"While we all welcome our modern thriving economy, we must acknowledge the pressure that increased transportation, construction, inappropriate agricultural practices, poorly managed afforestation and climate change have put on Ireland's biodiversity.
The campaign says protecting the country's wildlife and biodiversity is vital for the tourism industry as many visitors are attracted by Ireland's scenery, animals and plants.
Economically, tourism is very important to Ireland's economy. Last year, 6.4 million tourists visited and the industry was worth 5.9 billion euros (NT$243 billion). (AFP)
愛爾蘭經濟起飛的轉型過程正威脅到高達一百五十種動植物瀕臨絕種。
愛爾蘭環境遺產部長迪克．羅奇發起的「注意自然」提升公眾意識活動指出，這些物種包括紅松鼠、幾種蝙蝠、水獺、倉鴞、鮭魚、山野兔、一種蛞蝓、昆蟲與多種植物與樹木。
愛爾蘭自然遺產服務部指出，共有二十九種鳥類與一百二十種花卉面臨「嚴重銳減」。
「注意自然」提到︰「其中一項對我國生物多樣性的主要威脅是棲息地的消失，多達一百五十種的植物與鳥類現在面臨絕滅危機。」
活動指出︰「更進一步說，我們最近看到了外來物種侵略的影響，如日本蓼科雜草。」它也提到，過度開發與氣候變遷也會造成傷害。
這項新活動的目標為保護達到紅色警戒的物種，由環境部和農業、觀光業、建築與營造業聯手合作。
「注意自然」提到︰「我們今日所見的生物多樣性是好幾十億年的演化結果。」
「在歡迎現代蓬勃經濟的同時，我們必須體悟到加速交通、建設、不當農務、管理不良的造林與氣候變遷的壓力。愛爾蘭的生物多樣性已承受壓力。」
活動也指出，保護野生生物與生物多樣性對觀光產業極為重要，因為許多遊客都受愛爾蘭風光與動植物吸引。
經濟層面來看，觀光業對愛爾蘭經濟非常重要。去年有六百四十萬名遊客拜訪，觀光業總值約五十九億歐元（新台幣兩千四百三十億元）。
（法新社/翻譯：賴美君）
red alert 紅色警戒
Red alert is a military term refering to the highest form of alert when troops are most ready to take action, since red is a color associated with danger: "We have put out a red alert to the entire battalion, and they'll be ready to move at a moment's notice." In this article, species on red alert refers to those species that are most in danger of being killed off soon.
Another phrase is red hot, which you can use to describe a product that is selling quickly. "I wanted to buy myself a PS3, but they are red hot this time of year and just flying off the shelves. "
「red alert」是一個軍事名詞，意指軍隊準備採取行動時，最高形式的警戒；因為紅色讓人聯想到危險。例如︰「我們已向這一營發布紅色警戒，他們將立即備戰」。本文中提到「species on red alert 」是指這些物種面臨即將絕種的危機。
另一個片語「red hot」是用來描述一推出就熱賣的產品。例如︰「我想買PS3，但它們在這個時節實在搶手，貨上架立即銷售一空。」
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Zach: I just read a report that talked about endangered species.
Bill: Oh yeah? What did it say?
Zach: That lots of animals are now in trouble due to loss of habitat and bio-invasion.
Bill: Hmm, sounds complicated and hard to stop. Bio-invasion especially.
Zach: I'll agree that solving these problems isn't a cakewalk, but we still have to try.
札克︰我剛才讀到一篇談到瀕臨絕種生物的文章。
比爾︰噢，是嗎？上頭寫什麼？
札克︰由於棲息地變少與外來生物入侵，許多動物現在麻煩大了。
比爾︰嗯，聽起來有點複雜，不易制止，尤其是外來生物入侵。
札克︰我同意這些問題並不容易解決，但我們還是要努力。
cakewalk 易如反掌，小意思，不算什麼
If something is a cakewalk, it is unusually easy. "I might not be able to hit homeruns, but hitting a single or double is a cakewalk."
假如某件東西是「cakewalk」，就是易如反掌般容易。例如︰「我或許擊不出全壘打，但擊出一、二壘安打簡直是小意思」。
A: Yet another shopping mall has just opened in Taipei. B: Do you mean the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Nangang? A: Yeah, the shopping mall run by Japanese Mitsui & Co. opened last week. B: I hear the mall features about 300 stores, Vieshow Cinemas and Japanese Lopia supermarket. A: With the opening, a war is breaking out between Taipei’s department stores. A: 台北又有新的購物商場可逛啦。 B: 你是說Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport 南港？ A: 對啊這家日本三井集團旗下的商場上週開幕。 B: 聽說商場有威秀影城、樂比亞日系超市，還有多達300家專櫃。 A: 新商場一開幕，看來又要掀起一場百貨大戰啦！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
A: Hey, didn’t you go to the opening of the Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Nangang last week? B: Yeah, there are about 300 shops, including the first overseas branch of Japan’s Mahou Dokoro — a famous Harry Potter-themed store. A: Wow, I’ve always wanted to get a magic wand. B: There are also a bunch of great restaurants, such as Smart Fish hotpot restaurant. A: I wish I had Harry Potter’s “apparition” and “disapparition” magic, so I could teleport to the mall right now. A: 你上週不是有去LaLaport南港的盛大開幕嗎？有什麼特別的？ B: 那裡有多達300家專櫃，包括魔法之地的海外首店——它可是日本知名的《哈利波特》專賣店。 A: 哇我一直想買根魔杖。 B: 另外還有各式各樣的美食，像是林聰明沙鍋魚頭。 A: 真希望我也有哈利波特的「現影術／消影術」魔法，能瞬間移動到商場去！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
When it comes to movies, some people delight in watching spine-chilling horror films. Surprisingly, apart from containing a few scares, horror movies may also offer an unexpected __1__. According to a study, watching 90 minutes of a scary movie can burn an average of 113 calories, which is roughly __2__ to taking a 30-minute walk. Researchers from the University of Westminster carried out an experiment in which they __3__ participants’ oxygen intake, carbon dioxide output, and heart rates while they were watching horror movies without any distractions. The results revealed that physiological responses to fear play a crucial role
Dos & Don’ts — 想想看，這句話英語該怎麼說？ 1. 你覺得這部電影怎樣？ ˇ What do you think of the movie? χ How do you like the movie? χ How do you think of the movie? 註︰What do you think of ＝ What is your opinion of。 think 的受詞是 what，不能用 how。 2. 你認為哪一個歌星唱得最好？ ˇ Which singer do you think is the best? χ Do you think which singer is the best? 註︰英語中 which singer 似乎是 do you think 的受詞，實則 do you think 是插入語，其他例子如下： 你以為他喜歡誰？ Who do you think he likes? 你以為我住在哪裏？ Where do you think I live? 你想我昨天在公園裏碰到了誰？ Whom/Who do you think I met in the park yesterday? 3. 他不論到什麼地方，總是帶著一把雨傘。 ˇ No matter where he goes, he
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