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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?

还记得科学家们认为吸烟会致人死亡，而那些怀疑者们却坚持认为我们无法对此得出定论吗？

That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain?

还记得怀疑者们坚持认为缺乏决定性的证据，科学也不确定的时候吗？

That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way?

还记得怀疑者们坚持认为反对吸烟的游说是为了毁掉我们的生活方式，而政府应该置身事外的时候吗？

Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.

许多美国人相信了这些胡言乱语，在三十多年中，差不多有一千万烟民早早的进了坟墓。

There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming.

现在出现了与吸烟类似的令人感到难过的事情。科学家们前仆后继，试图使我们意识到全球气候变暖所带来的日益严重的威胁。

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.

最近的行动是由白宫召集了一批来自国家科学院的专家团，他们告诉我们，地球气候毫无疑问正在变暖，而这个问题主要是人为造成的。

The clear message is that we should get moving to protect ourselves.

明确的信息表明是我们应该立刻着手保护自己。

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.

国家科学院院长 Bruce Alberts 在专家团报告的前言中加上了这一重要观点：“科学解答不了所有问题。

But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future,

但是科学确实为我们的未来提供了最好的指导，

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. ”

关键是我们的国家和整个的世界在做重要决策时，科学能够提供的关于人类现在的行为对未来影响最好判断，我们应该以此为依据。

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.

就象吸烟问题一样，来自不同领域的声音坚持认为有关全球变暖的科学资料还不完整。在证实这件事之前可以向大气中不断的排放气体。

This is a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late.

这是一个危险的游戏：到了有百分之百的证据的时候，可能就太晚了。

With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.

随着风险越来越明显，并且不断增加，一个谨慎的民族现在应该准备一份保单了。

Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention.

幸运的是，白宫开始关注这件事了。

But it's obvious that a majority of the president's advisers still don't take global warming seriously.

但是显然大多数总统顾问并没有认真看待全球气候变暖这个问题。

Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research -- a classic case of “paralysis by analysis. ”

他们没有出台行动计划，相反只是继续迫切要求进行更多的研究――这是一个经典的“分析导致麻痹案例”。

To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research.

为了成为地球上有责任心的一员，我们必须积极推进对于大气和海洋的深入研究。

But research alone is inadequate.

但只有研究是不够的。

If the Administration won't take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures.

如果政府不争取立法上的主动权，国会就应该帮助政府开始采取保护措施。

A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start.

弗吉尼亚的民主党议员 Robert Byrd 提出一项议案，从经济上激励私企，就是一个良好的开端。

Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs.

许多人看到这个国家正准备修建许多新的发电厂，以满足我们的能源需求。

If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.

如果我们准备保护大气，关键要让这些新发电厂对环境无害。