Call to abandon use of wooden chopsticks [ 2007-08-10 14:11 ] Download
Restaurant owners and patrons should abandon the use of disposable chopsticks for the good of their health and the environment, an official with the China Cuisine Association (CCA), has said.
Bian Jiang, its secretary-general, recently called on restaurant operators to phase out one-use cutlery, especially wooden chopsticks, in preparation for next year's green Olympics. The country produces and discards more than 45 billion pairs of wooden chopsticks every year, at a cost to the environment of about 25 million trees, Bian said.
"That's a heavy blow to the country's dwindling forests," he told China Daily.
"On the run-up to the Olympics, the catering industry should not ignore the green call from the organizing committee for no disposable tableware to be used during the grand feast of national pride."
In a bid to discourage the use of wooden chopsticks and protect timber resources, the government imposed a 5 percent consumption tax on them in April.
"I think most restaurants will be willing to do their part," Bian said.
The use of disposable chopsticks has been debated for years.
Both restaurant owners and consumers prefer them, their supporters say, and an industry has grown up around their manufacture.
"I would be happy to stop using wooden chopsticks for environmental concerns, but some diners prefer them for hygiene reasons." Wang Yucheng, who runs a restaurant in Beijing, said.
To help restaurants become more environmentally friendly and energy efficient, the Ministry of Commerce recently issued a range of provisions relating to the catering industry, which discourage the use of wooden chopsticks.
Though not mandatory, the provisions, slated for implementation on December 1, are the first to include the strong suggestion to get rid of disposable chopsticks, Bian said.
Besides its domestic consumption, China is also a major exporter of chopsticks, with Japan its largest trading partner. Despite boasting the world's highest forest coverage at 69 percent, Japan imports all 25 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks it consumes every year.
(China Daily 08/10/2007 page 3)
Vocabulary:
disposable chopsticks:一次性筷子
Questions:
1. How many trees are used to produce 45 billion pairs of chopsticks every year?
2. Why do diners prefer to use disposable chopsticks?
3. Which country does China export the most chopsticks to?
Answers:
1. About 25 million.
2. Because of hygiene.
3.Japan.
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
6月英语六级听力考试讲义与笔记(4)
12月六级听力长对话2解析
英语六级听力精练的短对话5
英语六级听力精练的长对话6
英语六级听力精练的短对话4
英语六级听力备考讲义和笔记(四)
6月英语六级听力SectionC
英语六级听力短对话试题解析
英语六级听力精练的短对话27
英语六级听力精练的长对话4
英语六级听力精练的短对话8
英语六级听力精练的短对话10
6月英语六级听力短文真题解析
英语六级听力精练的短对话1
英语六级听力精练的短对话18
英语六级听力临场应对及答题方法
大学英语六级考试听力的预测试卷(3)
英语六级听力精练的长对话5
大学英语六级考试听力的预测试卷(1)
英语六级听力精练的长对话1
英语六级听力精练的短对话3
英语六级听力精练的短对话7
英语六级听力备考讲义和笔记(八)
英语六级真题听力原文
英语六级听力精练的短对话26
大学英语六级考试听力的预测试卷(2)
英语六级听力精练的短对话12
英语六级听力备考讲义和笔记(五)
英语六级听力精练的短对话30
英语六级听力精练的短对话11
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |