In many countries the level of crime is increasing and crimes are becoming more violent.
Why do you think this is and what can be done about it?
It is true that the crime rate is increasing in many areas of the world. Many governments react to this problem by building prisons to contain the criminals. This has proved so unsuccessful that each year bigger and tougher prisons are needed. Perhaps we need to go back to the basics of this problem and assess the possible causes.
的确,世界上许多地区的犯罪率正在上升。许多政府对这个问题的反应是建造监狱来关押罪犯。事实证明,这种做法非常失败,每年都需要更大、更坚固的监狱。也许我们需要回到这个问题的基础,并评估可能的原因。
One of the reasons that is often given is the increase in violence both on television and in computer games. While this may be responsible for making crimes more violent, I think, it is unrealistic to lay the blame for all criminal activity on the media. I think the main cause of the crime is the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, as well as the increasing use of drugs. The majority of crimes are being committed by people in need who are forced to take what they do not have and by people addicted to drugs.
经常被提及的原因之一是电视和电脑游戏中的暴力事件增加。我认为,虽然这可能是使犯罪行为变得更加暴力的原因,但把所有犯罪活动的责任都归咎于媒体是不现实的。我认为犯罪的主要原因是贫富差距的扩大,以及吸毒的增加。大多数罪行都是有需要的人所犯,他们被迫吃他们没有的东西,以及吸毒成瘾的人所犯。
Solving these problems is not easy. We could try to ensure that more jobs are created so that the divide between rich poor is reduced. However, criminals need to be trained and rehabilitated so that they can enter the workforce. Furthermore, providing employment only addresses part of this problem; so far there has been little success in the war against drugs.
解决这些问题并不容易。我们可以努力确保创造更多的就业机会,以减少贫富差距。然而,罪犯需要接受培训和改造,以便他们能够进入劳动市场。此外,提供就业机会只解决了这个问题的一部分;到目前为止,反毒品战争几乎没有成功。
I believe that crime will continue to rise, particularly in crowded and overpopulated areas, unless we can find an effective way to address these issues. Perhaps we can help to break the cycle by trying to ensure fewer young people enter a life of crime in the first place. We could do this through education and by making sure that they are able to work.
我认为,除非我们能找到解决这些问题的有效途径,否则犯罪将继续增加,特别是在人口拥挤和人口过剩的地区。也许我们可以帮助打破这一循环,首先努力确保更少的年轻人进入犯罪生活。我们可以通过教育和确保他们能够工作来做到这一点。
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