We can't afford to wait
シアトルのTV station King5は、東日本大震災による津波で流されたとみられる船がカナダ沖の太平洋上で発見されたと伝えました。報道通りであれば、自然の力の脅威を改めて感じさせられる一件です。
記事にはキャントウエル上院議員の声明が紹介してあります。直接的に述べられてはいませんが、一番、関心があるのは放射能汚染だということは明らか。それは標題のcan't afford to V（wait/cut）という表現が連続して、２度も使われていることでもわかります。
「まっすぐに（af）、水を渡って進む（ford）」という語源のaffordはcan、be able to Vを伴って、否定・疑問文で用いられるのがほとんどです。とくに強調したいときに好まれるようです。
９５年だったか、デトロイト空港のCathy Pacific ファーストクラス・カウンターで、ソウル便への乗り継ぎをめぐって、韓国の方と思われる乗客が、"Yes, we can afford."と大きな声で言っていたのを思い出しました。（UG）
Japanese fishing boat lost at sea in tsunami found off Canada
SEATTLE -- A Japanese fishing boat that washed away last March following earthquake and tsunami has been located off the coast of British Columbia.
The office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D, WA) reports to KING 5 News the 150-foot vessel was located drifting about 120 nautical miles off the Queen Charlotte Islands. The boat was found floating right-side-up.
Japanese officials confirmed the boat was lost after the tsunami.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association is aware of the situation as well.
It is estimated the boat would make landfall in about 50 days, but it will likely be removed by then because it is a hazard to navigation.
This is the first large piece of debris found on the West Coast following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan one year ago.
Sen. Cantwell issued a statement saying there needs to be a clearer response and cleanup plan for tsunami debris.
"Hundreds of thousands of jobs in Washington state depend on our healthy marine ecosystems. We can't afford to wait until more tsunami debris washes ashore to understand its potential impact on Washington state's 10.8 billion dollar coastal economy. And we can't afford to cut the NOAA marine debris program by 25 percent with no plan in place for Japanese tsunami debris," said Sen. Cantwell. More details to come.
