With just a few weeks left until the start of the 2016 Olympics, Brazil is still suffering from serious economic problems.
2016年奥运会还有数周就要开幕,但巴西依然被严重的经济问题困扰着。
The acting governor of Rio de Janeiro warned that the games could be a “failure” if his state doesn’t get its finances in order.
里约热内卢州代理州长弗朗西斯科•多内莱斯警告说,如果里约的财政状况不能重回正轨,奥运会恐怕将面临“失败”。
“I am optimistic about the games, but I have to show the reality. We can make a great Olympics, but if some steps are not taken, it can be a big failure,” Fransisco Dornelles told O Globo, according to CNN.
据CNN报道,弗朗西斯科•多内莱斯告诉巴西《环球报》:“我对里约奥运会持乐观态度,但我必须说明真实状况。我们可以办一届盛大的奥运会,但如果不采取一些措施,它或许会是一次巨大的失败。”
Brazil hasn’t followed through on a promise to provide Rio with extra funding for security and transportation, according to Dornelles. Police officers in the city aren’t being fully paid and may not even have enough money for gas.
据多内莱斯所言,巴西并没有落实此前的承诺,为里约提供用于安保和交通的额外资金。里约警察的工资尚未完全付清,他们甚至都没有足够的钱为警车加油。
There was a nasty surprise awaiting passengers in the arrivals hall at Rio De Janeiro's Galeao International Airport on Monday.
周一,里约热内卢的加利昂国际机场到达大厅里,还有一份糟心的意外恭候着旅客们。
Along with the relatives carrying flowers and taxi drivers waiting with name boards there were lines of off-duty police with banners that had a far more ominous message: "Welcome to Hell".
与捧着鲜花的旅客亲属和举着名牌等人的出租车司机站在一起的,是一排排休班警察。他们举着横幅,上面写着一句相当不吉利的标语:“欢迎来到地狱。”
"Police and firefighters don't get paid," the banners, in English and Portuguese, went on. "Whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe". Photos of the protest have been widely shared on social media and in the Brazilian press. The image above was posted on the photo sharing site Imgur, where it was viewed more than three million times in less than a day.
其他横幅上还用英葡双语写着:“警察和消防员都没拿到工资,来到里约热内卢的任何人都不会安全。”抗议活动的照片在社交网站和巴西媒体中广泛传播。上面这张图片发布在图片分享网站Imgur上,不到一天,浏览量就超过了300万次。
The missing funds are just the tip of Brazil’s iceberg of turmoil.
资金短缺只是巴西混乱局势的冰山一角。
Crime
犯罪
A functioning police force and transportation system are necessary, given the rising crime in Rio. Murder and robbery are up 15 percent and 30 percent, respectively, since last year, NPR reports. The city is trying to get new buses off the ground to help tourists avoid the favelas — areas vulnerable to violence, theft and gang activity.
鉴于里约犯罪率的上升,警察和交通系统的有效运行必不可缺。据NPR报道,自去年起,凶杀和抢劫的发生率分别上升了15%和30%。里约正在设法运营新公交车,帮助游客避开贫民窟。那里最易发生暴力、盗窃行为和帮派活动。
“How are people going to feel protected in a city without security?” Dornelles said.
多内莱斯说:“在一个没有安保的城市,人们怎么会感到安全呢?”
Political Unrest
政局动荡
After months of protest from angry Brazilians, the Senate last month voted to impeach President Dilma Rousseff over allegations that she lied about the country’s economic issues.
愤怒的巴西人抗议了数月之后,参议院上月投票通过了对总统迪尔玛•罗塞夫的弹劾案。罗塞夫被控在国家经济问题上撒谎。
Rousseff and several members of her cabinet are also accused of making billions off of the state-run oil company Petrobras.
罗塞夫及其内阁的几位成员还被控从国营的巴西石油公司攫取数十亿美元。
Wealth Gap
贫富差距
Economic inequality has long been an issue in Brazil. Recent figures indicate that the unemployment rate topped 11 percent last month. Wages are also down. Meanwhile, those involved in the Petrobras scandal are said to have made over $5 billion from bribes, kickbacks and money-laundering.
巴西的经济不平等问题由来已久。近期数据显示,上月的失业率高达11%,工资水平也下降了。同时,那些卷入巴西石油公司丑闻的人据说以收受贿赂、回扣和洗钱的方式获取了超50亿美金。
The Worst Recession In Decades
数十年来最严重的经济衰退
Brazil is facing one of the worst recessions the country has ever faced. The economy shrank 5.4 percent in the first three months of the year, the government said. Additionally, as FT points out, export prices have shrunk, household debt has increased, and inflation has risen even more than expected.
巴西正面临史上最严重的一次经济衰退。政府表示,今年前三个月的经济收缩达5.4%。此外,《金融时报》指出,巴西出口价格缩水,家庭债务增加,通货膨胀甚至比预期还要高。
The recent outbreak of the Zika virus has lead to athletes, journalists and other travelers vowing to skip the August games.
近期爆发的寨卡病毒已经导致多名运动员、记者和游客宣布放弃参加八月的奥运会。
Although the symptoms of Zika aren’t serious, the virus can lead to severe birth defects if contracted by a pregnant woman.
尽管寨卡病毒的症状并不严重,但孕妇一旦感染病毒,会导致严重的新生儿先天缺陷。
“Female athletes should not be forced to make a decision that could sacrifice the health of a child,” soccer star Hope Solo said.
足球名将霍普•索洛说:“女性运动员不该被迫决定参加奥运会。这可能会牺牲一个孩子的健康。”
There are currently no effective treatments or vaccinations.
当前,尚无寨卡病毒的有效治疗方法和疫苗。