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Words in the News
Chileans told to take off ties
23rd December 2011
The government in Chile has come up with a new way of saving energy. It's advised
Chilean men to take off their ties during the summer months, so they won't need to
switch on the air conditioning. From the Chilean capital, Santiago, Gideon Long reports:
It's a common sight during the Southern Hemisphere summer to see Chilean men
sweltering in suits and neckties.
From December to March, the temperature in the capital regularly tops 30 degrees
Celsius. In the bone-dry north of the country it gets even higher.
So the government's told the country's menfolk to shed their ties, undo their top
buttons and turn down the air conditioning.
It estimates that by doing so Chile can save around US$ 10 million during the four
hottest months of the year, and save 120,000 tonnes in carbon emissions.
The government launched its initiative with a video in which four ministers ripped off
their ties. Energy conservation is a key issue in Chile, which, unlike many countries in
Latin America, produces virtually no oil and gas.
It relies heavily on hydro-electric power, but that often runs low during the summer,
when the country's reservoirs are frequently hit by drought.
Gideon Long, BBC News, Santiago
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
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Vocabulary and definitions
the Southern Hemisphere the warmest season of the year in the bottom half of
summer the Earth
sweltering feeling very hot
bone-dry totally free from moisture
menfolk men (old-fashioned expression)
to shed something to take off something
carbon emissions gas produced by industrial processes that is released in
the atmosphere
launched its initiative announced its new measures
energy conservation efforts made to reduce the use of electricity
hydro-electric power energy generated with the use of flowing water, usually
a waterfall
drought a long period without rainfall
More on this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16172476
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/12/111223_witn_ties.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
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