【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. imported / ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəd / (adj.) – referring to something brought in from another country
Example: The restaurant serves only imported beer.
2. sanction / ˈsæŋk ʃən / (v.) – to punish or penalize a country by stopping trade and financial aid
Example: The United Nations sanctioned the country for its misuse of political power.
3. poultry / ˈpoʊl tri / (n.) – a group of birds raised for their meat and eggs
Example: The farm sells poultry products such as chicken meat and eggs.
4. dairy / ˈdɛər i / (adj.) – referring to any food product made from milk
Example: You can find the butter in the supermarket’s dairy section.
5. oversee / ˌoʊ vərˈsi / (v.) – to look after and supervise people doing a process
Example: My dad oversees all procedures done in our farm.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Russia has recently started throwing away and destroying food products from the European Union, Australia, and other Western countries.
Last year, Russian president Vladimir Putin banned citizens from selling and consuming imported food products from the European Union, Australia, Norway, Canada, and the United States. This was after the said countries sanctioned Russia for taking control of Ukraine by creating policies that negatively affected Russia’s banking, oil, and weapons industries. But because the ban was not properly implemented, President Putin ordered that all banned imported products be destroyed.
Among the imported food products banned in Russia are pork, beef, and fish products. Imported poultry products such as chicken meat and eggs are also banned in the country. Russians also cannot sell nor consume dairy products, including cheese, milk, and butter from Western countries. Even imported processed and canned goods are not allowed in the country.
This August, the government started destroying the available supply of these food products. Two government officials oversaw and documented the said procedure. But because the country threw away food products that were still in good condition, many critics expressed their disapproval of the program. Many people have even signed an online petition to donate the food supplies to charity instead of destroying them.
Because of this Russian policy, farmers who used to send their produce to Russia are now experiencing a significant decrease in their profit. In the United Kingdom, for example, the total demand for dairy products has decreased because of the ban in Russia. As a result, the price for milk in the United Kingdom has declined by about 25% since last year.
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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 approve of Putin’s order to destroy imported food products from Western countries? Why or why not?
· How do you think this ban has affected food prices in Russia?
Discussion B
· How can we lessen food wastage?
· How can we ensure that our food supplies will still be sufficient in the future?
