令人悲傷的一天
Japan has a long history of hunting whales, going back to World War II.
日本從二次世界大戰以來就有捕殺鯨魚的歷史。
In 1986, however, the country agreed to a ban on commercial hunting in order to protect whales.
不過在1986年，日本同意一項禁止條款，停止商業捕鯨以達保育目的。
agree(v.)同意ban(n.)禁令commercial(adj.)商業的protect(v.)保護
Now, just over 30 years later, Japan has decided to restart its whale hunting industry, causing rising anger among conservationist groups.
然而30年後，日本最近決定要重新展開捕鯨行動，造成保育人士的不滿。
restart(v.)重新開始conservationist(n.)保育者
International Whaling Commission (IWC), an organization endeavoring to stop commercial whale hunting worldwide, reached an agreement with all member countries, including Japan, to stop all commercial whale hunting in 1986.
致力於禁止全球商業捕鯨的國際捕鯨委員會，在1986年與包含日本在內的會員國達成協議，同意停止所有的商業捕鯨行為。
endeavor(v.)努力reach an agreement達成協議
However, Japan recently announced that they have officially withdrawn from IWC and will start commercial hunting activities again.
但日本近日宣布他們正式退出該委員會，並且將重新恢復商業捕鯨。
announce(v.)宣布withdraw(v.)退出
Analysts have said that there may be a connection between this decision and Prime Minister Abe’s hopes for re-election in 2021.
分析者指出，其背後原因可能是與日本首相安倍晉三2021年的連任競選有關。
analyst(n.)分析師connection(n.)關聯
His constituency includes cities where whale hunting is crucial to the local economy. It is being said that Abe has restarted whale hunting as a way of proving his leadership capabilities and determination to counter past criticisms of Japanese weakness.
安倍選區內的多所城市以捕鯨爲其經濟命脈。據說安倍恢復捕鯨是顯示他的領導能力，並決心駁斥外界認為日本對外態度較為軟弱的批評聲浪。
constituency(n.)選區crucial(adj.)至關重要的economy(n.)經濟It is being said...據說restart(v.)重新開始prove(v.)證明leadership(n.)領導力capability(n.)能力determination(n.)決心counter(v.)對抗criticism(n.)批評
No matter what made Japan break the protocol with IWC, there has been a lot of opposition to its actions.
不論是什麼原因使日本破壞與國際捕鯨委員會的協定，這個決定已經造成極大的反對聲浪。
protocol(n.)協議、公約opposition(n.)反對
“This is a sad day for whale protection globally,” said Nicola Beynon of Humane Society International, accusing Japan of beginning a “shocking era of pirate whaling.”
國際人道協會妮可拉貝農提到：「對於致力於全球鯨魚保育行動的人來說，這是個令人悲傷的一天。」同時她也指控日本開啟了一個「駭人的海盜捕鯨時代」。
protection(n.)保護accuse(v.)指控