VOA常速英语:UN Embraces Hybrid Session for General Assembly During Pandemic

The 75th session of the UN opened Tuesday on a changed New York city.
星期二联合国第七十五届会议在一个不一样的纽约市开幕。
The meetings and speeches are still happening but the crowds and traffic are not.
会议和演讲仍在进行，但街上却没有行人和交通。
So uh this year well be having a video statements delivered in in our large iconic general assembly hall,
所以今年，我们将在我们的大型标志性的大会大厅里发布一个视频声明，
and well have one person per every member state in the general assembly hall in order to cut down on numbers because of covid 19.
因为新冠疫情，我们决定每个成员国选出一个人出席大会，减少人数。
Yet the new online format has increased the number of world leaders taking part in these virtual meetings says UN spokesman Brendan Barma.
然而，新的在线形式增加了世界领导人参加这些虚拟会议的人数，联合国发言人布伦丹·巴尔马说。
So actually this year uh because its virtual were actually seeing bigger numbers of world leaders,
所以实际上今年呢，因为这是虚拟的，我们实际上看到了更多的世界领导人，
that are going to address the general assembly,
在大会上发表讲话，
so this year we have around almost 120 heads of state that will be giving addresses via video message,
所以今年我们有近120个国家元首将通过视频信息发表讲话，
also around 54 heads of government which includes prime ministers,
还有包括总理在内的54个政府首脑，
so were definitely seeing larger numbers.
所以我们肯定看到更多人。
In the past we would have had around 70 to 80 heads of state briefing in person and this year its almost 120.
过去，我们会亲自听取大约70到80位国家元首的简报，今年几乎是120人。
New Yorkers who live nearby the UN building have mixed feelings about the absence of foreign visitors this year.
住在联合国大楼附近的纽约人对今年没有外国游客的感受喜忧参半。
I live in the neighborhood and Ive been living here for about five years,
我住在这附近，我在这里住了五年了，
and its very busy and also it feels a little bit dangerous at night,
晚上人很多，感觉有点危险，
so Im really happy that this time Joannas not in session they they just do it virtually.
所以我很高兴这一次乔安娜没有参加会议，他们实际上只是在做这件事。
Its actually a big event here and its kind of exciting to see people from all over the world coming here,
这实际上是一个重大的事件，看到来自世界各地的人们来到这里是一件令人兴奋的事情，
to try and help make the planet a better place for everybody.
努力让这个星球成为对每个人来说更美好的地方。
I also feel bad for the small businesses in the area.
我也为这个地区的小企业感到难过。
While New York city has largely curbed the pandemic with restrictive social measures,
尽管纽约市在很大程度上通过限制性的社会措施来遏制这一流行病，
a full economic recovery could take years say experts.
专家们表示，经济全面复苏可能需要数年时间。
A study by a civic group partnership for new york city,
纽约市公民团体合作组织的一项研究称，
says one third of the citys small businesses or some 77 000 employers will likely vanish,
该市三分之一的小企业或约77,000名雇主可能会消失，
because of the lack of economic activity.
因为缺乏经济活动。
The UN general assembly with thousands of international participants could have eased the citys financial burden,
有数千名国际代表参加的联合国大会本可以减轻这座城市的财政负担，
but not with this years online format.
但不是今年的在线格式。
The United Nations is right down the block,
联合国就在这一带，
normally there are hundreds of people who are here for breakfast happy hour lunch and dinner so it will affect our bottom line.
通常，有数以百计的人在这里吃早餐，享受快乐时光，午餐和晚餐，所以这会影响我们的底线。
On the other hand New Yorkers will not miss street closures and block long lines of cars stretching through parts of Manhattan,
另一方面，纽约人不会错过街道关闭的机会，也不会阻止汽车长队延伸到曼哈顿部分地区，
which normally happen when the general assembly is in session.
通常发生在大会开会的时候。
I like the fact that therell be less traffic and congestion.
我喜欢这样，交通和拥挤会减少。
The absence of that familiar UN bustle is one more indicator that covid 19 has not been conquered.
没有了熟悉的联合国喧嚣，这又是一个迹象，表明新冠疫情还没有被征服。
But I also think its its a kind of sad reminder that the whole world has been put on pause.
但我也认为，这是一种可悲的提醒，整个世界已经暂停。
Im hopeful itll come back next year.
我希望它明年能回来。
Aaron Fedor for VOA news New York
艾伦·费多尔收听美国之音纽约新闻