【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. repeal /rɪˈpil/ (v.) – to abolish a law
Example: The president wants to repeal the law as it is no longer relevant nowadays.
2. pledge /plɛdʒ/ (n.) – a promise
Example: The mayor has kept his pledge to improve the town’s public transportation.
3. greenhouse gas /ˈgrinˌhaʊs gæs/ (n.) – any gas or compound that traps radiation, which warms the surface and atmosphere of the earth
Example: Greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to prevent global warming from worsening.
4. destructive /dɪˈstrʌk tɪv/ (adj.) – causing extreme damage
Example: Global warming can have destructive effects in the future.
5. scheme /skim/ (n.) – a plan or a project aimed to achieve a specific goal
Example: The government designed a training scheme to reduce unemployment in the country.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
The Australian Senate has voted to repeal the carbon tax that has been crippling Australia’s government for years.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has focused his campaign pledge on repealing the carbon tax. He said that scrapping the tax is a step to enhance economic growth. Thirty-nine senators, some from the Palmer United Party, have voted for the decision, while 32 were against it.
Under the carbon tax law, companies with the most carbon dioxide emissions are required to pay A$23 per metric ton of greenhouse gases produced. According to the former Labor government, this tax was designed to fight climate change. However, since the carbon tax implementation in 2012, electricity prices have gone up and have damaged people’s cost of living. Because of this, Prime Minister Abbott described this tax as useless and destructive.
As a replacement, the prime minister proposes a A$2.55 billion tax-payer fund that can help industries have cleaner emissions. He also commented that this move is a commitment to building a prosperous economy for a safer and more secure Australia.
On the other hand, oppositions have reacted with dismay against the repeal, saying that it is a backward step. Opposition leader Bill Shorten stressed that all major trading partners of Australia take climate change seriously. His party will even initiate an emission trading scheme during its 2016 election campaign.
Australia is among the world’s biggest producers of carbon emissions per head of the population. By 2020, the government expects to reduce the emissions recorded in 2000 by five percent.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Do you think scrapping the carbon tax is a good move? Why or why not?
· In your opinion, how will this move affect Australia’s economy?
Discussion B
· How can a country become prosperous without destroying the environment? Explain your thoughts.
· Which do you prefer: a prosperous economy or a clean environment? Explain your answer.
