Venezuelans Seek Treasure in Polluted River
委内瑞拉人民在受污染的河水里寻宝
Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America.
委内瑞拉曾经是拉丁美洲最富有的国家之一。
Today, images of poor Venezuelans eating from food waste in Caracas are evidence of the country’s deepening economic crisis.
如今，委内瑞拉的穷苦人民在加拉加斯开始吃残羹剩饭的景象说明这个国家现在正在经历越来越严重的经济危机。
Young men and boys often search the dirty waters of the Guaire River for small pieces of metal that might help feed their families.
年轻的男人和男孩们在瓜伊河的脏水里寻找着有助于贴补家用的小块金属。
One of these young men is 26-year-old Angel Villanueva.He searches the dirty, brown water for lost rings or other objects he may be able to trade for money.
26岁的安吉尔·维拉努瓦就是其中一个。他在棕色的脏水里寻找他人遗失的戒指，或者其他能卖钱的东西。
“Working in the Guaire isn’t easy,” he told the Associated Press.“When it provides, it provides. When it takes, it takes your life.”
“在瓜伊河工作并不容易，”他告诉美联社说。“它可以提供东西，也可以取走你的生命。”
The waters of the Guaire are known for being filthy.The river acts as a drain.It carries away rainwater from the streets and sewers, as well as industrial waste.
瓜伊河的水以脏出名。这条河就像是排水渠，可以带走大街和污水渠中的雨水，也可以带走工业废水。
Alejandro Velasco is a native of Caracas and teaches Latin American history at New York University.He says ,“As long as I can remember, the Guaire was this open sewage.It certainly seems to reflect the depth and extent of the desperation that this particular crisis has spawned.”
亚力山卓·维拉斯克是加拉加斯人，现在在纽约大学教拉丁美洲历史。他说：“从我记事起，瓜伊河就是这样开放的污水池。确实，这可以反映出这次危机引发的绝望的深度和广度。”
Venezuelans have lived under socialist rule for nearly 20 years.During that period, food and oil production have dropped sharply.Poor organization of state resources and a drop in world oil prices have made many Venezuelans desperate.
委内瑞拉人民在社会主义统治下已生活近20年。期间，粮食和石油产量大幅度下降。国家资源管理不当以及世界石油价格下跌都让许多委内瑞拉人民感到绝望。
Each morning, people go to the Guaire River from nearby neighborhoods to search for treasure.Some cover their fingertips in tape to protect from cuts and infections.They largely ignore any possible long-term health effects from standing in dirty water for hours each day.
每天早上，瓜伊河附近的人们都会去那里寻宝。一些人会用胶布把手指间包起来，避免割伤或感染。他们大都忽略每天站在脏水里数小时可能会对健康产生长期影响。
Calls to clean up the river and the large amount of money already spent have had no result.
之前清理该河道的呼吁以及投入的大量钱财都没有产生什么效果。
In 2005, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recognized the river’s filthy condition and promised a full cleanup.
2005年，委内瑞拉总统雨果·查韦斯认识到了这个河道的污染问题，并承诺彻底清理河道。
Seven years later, the Inter-American Development Bank provided a $300 million loan to build wastewater centers and treat waste that goes into the river.
七年后，美洲开发银行提供了3亿美元贷款用于建造污水处理中心，治理这条河流中的废物。
Nearly six years later, the water remains filthy.Bank officials refused to comment on the project.Venezuelan government leaders have also been silent on when the Guaire might be cleaned.
大概六年后，河水还是脏乱不堪的。银行官员拒绝对此项目给予评论。委内瑞拉政府领导人对于瓜伊河什么时候能变干净也保持沉默。
Some parts of the river smell of sewage.Other parts produce a toxic, harmful smell.
河流一些地方污秽难闻。一些地方还散发着有毒有害气体。
Most days, the treasure hunters go unnoticed by other people as they drive vehicles over the river on a major road.
