◎陳成良
Despite an escalating conflict in Syria and mounting civil unrest in Europe, the world became a more peaceful place in the last year, a study showed on Tuesday, highlighting particular improvement in Africa.
儘管敘利亞衝突及歐洲國家內部動盪情勢升高，在過去的一年裡，世界變得更加和平，尤其是非洲地區改善明顯，週二發表的一項報告顯示。
The Global Peace Index, produced by the Australia and U.S.-based Institute for Economics and Peace, showed its first improvement in two years. For the first time, sub-Saharan Africa was no longer the world’s least peaceful region, losing that dubious distinction to the Middle East and North Africa in the aftermath of the "Arab Spring".
總部位於澳洲和美國的「經濟與和平研究所」公布的「全球和平指數」兩年來首次上升。撒哈拉以南的非洲地區首次不再是世界最不安寧的地區，把這個不好的頭銜讓給「阿拉伯之春」席捲之後的中東和北非。
The survey studied 23 indicators across 158 countries, ranging from measures of civil unrest and crime to military spending, involvement in armed conflict and relations with neighbours. Aside from the deterioration in the Middle East, every other region in the world showed at least some form of improvement.
該調查研究了158個國家的23項指標，含括國內動亂、犯罪到軍費開支、武裝衝突和與鄰國的關係等。除了中東地區情況惡化，其他地區普遍或多或少有所改善。
Overall, survey founder Steve Killelea - an Australian entrepreneur who created the initial index six years ago - said there appeared to be several key drivers. Overall, global military spending looked to be beginning to fall - in part a consequence of the global financial crisis - while relations between countries were broadly improving, with leaders increasingly turning to diplomacy not violence.（Reuters）
6年前創立這項指數的澳洲創業家史提夫．基勒利亞說，整體來說，似乎有數個關鍵驅動因素。整體上，全球軍費支出看起來開始下降，部分是受到全球金融危機的影響；另一方面，國與國之間的關係普遍改善，領導人益發選擇外交手段而非訴諸暴力。（路透）
新聞辭典
aside from：片語，除～以外。例句：Aside from the birth of my children, today is the best day of my life.（除了我的小孩出生那天以外，今天是我一生中最棒的一天。）
entrepreneur：名詞，企業家、創業者。enterprise，名詞，事業；企業。 a government enterprise，公營事業。
turn to：片語，求助於、查閱。例句：You can always turn to me for help.（你隨時可以找我來幫忙。）
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