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Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn't know for sure?
還記得科學家們認為吸煙會致人死亡，而那些懷疑者們卻堅持認為我們無法對此得出定論嗎？
That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain?
還記得懷疑者們堅持認為缺乏決定性的證據，科學也不確定的時候嗎？
That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way?
還記得懷疑者們堅持認為反對吸煙的游說是為了毀掉我們的生活方式，而政府應該置身事外的時候嗎？
Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.
許多美國人相信了這些胡言亂語，在三十多年中，差不多有一千萬煙民早早的進了墳墓。
There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming.
現在出現了與吸煙類似的令人感到難過的事情。科學家們前仆后繼，試圖使我們意識到全球氣候變暖所帶來的日益嚴重的威脅。
The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth's atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man-made.
最近的行動是由白宮召集了一批來自國家科學院的專家團，他們告訴我們，地球氣候毫無疑問正在變暖，而這個問題主要是人為造成的。
The clear message is that we should get moving to protect ourselves.
明確的信息表明是我們應該立刻著手保護自己。
The president of the National Academy, Bruce Alberts, added this key point in the preface to the panel's report: “Science never has all the answers.
國家科學院院長 Bruce Alberts 在專家團報告的前言中加上了這一重要觀點：“科學解答不了所有問題。
But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future,
但是科學確實為我們的未來提供了最好的指導，
and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions. ”
關鍵是我們的國家和整個的世界在做重要決策時，科學能夠提供的關于人類現在的行為對未來影響最好判斷，我們應該以此為依據。
Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it's OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure.
就象吸煙問題一樣，來自不同領域的聲音堅持認為有關全球變暖的科學資料還不完整。在證實這件事之前可以向大氣中不斷的排放氣體。
This is a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late.
這是一個危險的游戲：到了有百分之百的證據的時候，可能就太晚了。
With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.
隨著風險越來越明顯，并且不斷增加，一個謹慎的民族現在應該準備一份保單了。
Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention.
幸運的是，白宮開始關注這件事了。
But it's obvious that a majority of the president's advisers still don't take global warming seriously.
但是顯然大多數總統顧問并沒有認真看待全球氣候變暖這個問題。
Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research -- a classic case of “paralysis by analysis. ”
他們沒有出臺行動計劃，相反只是繼續迫切要求進行更多的研究――這是一個經典的“分析導致麻痹案例”。
To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research.
為了成為地球上有責任心的一員，我們必須積極推進對于大氣和海洋的深入研究。
But research alone is inadequate.
但只有研究是不夠的。
If the Administration won't take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures.
如果政府不爭取立法上的主動權，國會就應該幫助政府開始采取保護措施。
A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start.
弗吉尼亞的民主黨議員 Robert Byrd 提出一項議案，從經濟上激勵私企，就是一個良好的開端。
Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs.
許多人看到這個國家正準備修建許多新的發電廠，以滿足我們的能源需求。
If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.
如果我們準備保護大氣，關鍵要讓這些新發電廠對環境無害。
