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Don’t let birth rates become a crisis
化解低生育率危机
Don’t let birth rates become a crisis
化解低生育率危机
随着美国出生率降至历史最低，人们对老龄化社会的担忧与日俱增。照此趋势，到2055年，美国85岁以上的老年人口将超过5岁以下的儿童。自2007年的峰值以来，出生率已下降了23%。对此，日本采取了明智的应对措施，例如将空置学校改造为美术馆。现在，我们不应只将这一现状视为危机，而应寻找智慧之道，去适应一个孩子越来越少的世界。
Here's a number that might shock you.
有一个数字可能会让你大吃一惊。
By 2055, Americans over age 85 will outnumber children under five.
到2055年，85岁以上的人口将超过5岁以下的儿童。
Believe it or not, the US birth rate just hit a record low.
尽管难以置信，但美国的出生率确实创下了历史新低。
It dropped 23 percent since its peak in 2007.
自2007年达到峰值以来，这一数字已经下降了23%。
Now, everyone is worried about an aging society.
现在，所有人都对老龄化社会感到担忧。
We usually think this is a huge crisis.
我们通常认为这是一场巨大的危机。
But actually, some countries are finding smart ways to adapt.
但事实上，一些国家正在寻找明智的适应方法。
Take Japan for example.
以日本为例。
They closed thousands of schools because there weren't enough students.
由于生源不足，数千所学校已经关闭。
Instead of leaving them empty, they repurposed 75 percent of those buildings.
他们没有让这些建筑空置，而是将其中75%进行了改造再利用。
They turned them into art galleries, hotels, and community cafes.
它们被变身为美术馆、酒店或社区咖啡馆。
We can also try "alloparenting."
我们也可以尝试“协同育儿（alloparenting）”。
This means neighbors and friends help raise kids, not just parents.
这意味着不只是父母，邻居和朋友也会一起帮忙抚养孩子。
It helps with childcare and stops people from feeling lonely.
这不仅有助于育儿，还能缓解孤独感。
We can't make the world younger, but we can make it wiser.
虽然我们无法让世界变得更年轻，但可以让她变得更智慧。
It's time to plan for a world with fewer children.
现在是时候为这个孩子越来越少的世界制定计划了。
Quiz 🧠
Q1. When a town has fewer children, some local schools may close.
查看答案
✅ True
如果一个地区的孩子变少，就会因生源不足而导致一些学校关闭。
With fewer young students in an area, schools often close because there are not enough children.
Q2. What does 'repurpose' mean in 'repurpose an old building'?
查看答案
✅ use in a new way
repurpose 的意思是不废弃建筑物或物品，而是改变用途加以重新利用。
To repurpose something means to change it so you can use it for a different purpose.
Q3. Why do some communities ask neighbors to help raise local children?
查看答案
✅ To support busy parents
邻里共同帮忙照顾孩子，不仅可以减轻父母的育儿负担，还能减少孤独感。
Sharing childcare with neighbors helps parents with daily care and makes families feel less lonely.
Dialogue 🎧
Michael: Emma, did you see that number about the year 2055? It is truly shocking and hard to believe.
Michael: Michael，你看到关于2055年的那个数据了吗？真的太惊人了，简直不敢相信。
Emma: I did. By then, Americans over age 85 will outnumber children under five. The population is shifting rapidly.
Emma: 看了。据说那时候美国85岁以上的老年人会比5岁以下的小孩还要多。人口结构的变化速度确实太快了。
Michael: Wait, that doesn't make sense. Will there really be more people in their twilight years than little toddlers?
Michael: 等一下，这太离谱了。老年人口真的会比年幼的孩子还多吗？
Emma: Believe it or not, the US birth rate just hit a record low. It dropped 23 percent since its peak in 2007.
Emma: 尽管很难相信，但美国的出生率刚刚创下了历史新低。自2007年达到顶峰以来，已经下降了23%。
Michael: That sounds like a huge crisis for the future. Everyone is worried about an aging society and the shrinking economy.
Michael: 感觉未来会面临巨大的危机啊。大家都很担心老龄化社会和经济萎缩。
Emma: It is serious, but some countries are finding smart ways to adapt. We can prepare for a nation with fewer children.
Emma: 确实是个严肃的问题。但有些国家正在寻找明智的适应之道，提前为孩子变少的社会做准备。
Michael: Really? How? Usually, empty schools just become a drain on municipal resources and can even invite crime.
Michael: 真的吗？他们是怎么做的？通常空置的学校只会消耗政府预算，甚至容易成为犯罪的温床。
Emma: Look at Japan for example. They closed thousands of schools because there simply weren't enough students left to fill them.
Emma: 以日本为例。日本因为学生人数严重不足，已经关闭了数千所学校。
Michael: So they just left those buildings empty? That sounds like a big waste of space for a community.
Michael: 那这些建筑就一直空着吗？对社区来说，这可是巨大的空间浪费。
Emma: No, they repurposed 75 percent of those buildings. They turned them into beautiful art galleries, hotels, and community cafes.
Emma: 不，他们将其中75%的建筑改变了用途。把它们改造成了漂亮的美术馆、酒店，还有社区咖啡馆。
Michael: Art galleries in old schools? That is a very clever way to handle a shrinking tax base and keep buildings useful.
Michael: 把废弃学校改成美术馆？在税收减少的情况下，这确实是持续利用建筑的聪明办法。
Emma: It really is. These new spaces help the neighborhood stay functional and pleasant for everyone living there.
Emma: 没错。多亏了这些新空间，社区保持了活力，也为居民创造了良好的居住环境。
Michael: That is wise. But what about the families who still have children? Childcare is so expensive now.
Michael: 确实很智慧。但对于还要养孩子的家庭该怎么办呢？现在的育儿成本太高了。
Emma: We can try alloparenting. This means neighbors and friends help raise kids, not just the parents themselves.
Emma: 那种情况下，可以尝试“协同育儿（alloparenting）”。也就是不只靠父母，邻居和朋友也一起参与抚养。
Michael: Oh, so it takes a whole community to help? That helps with childcare and stops people from feeling lonely.
Michael: 哦，就是说全村人一起帮忙？这样既能减轻育儿负担，也能防止产生孤独感。
Emma: Exactly. We can't make the world younger, but we can certainly try to make it wiser as we age.
Emma: 正是如此。虽然我们无法让世界重返年轻，但可以让变老的世界变得更有智慧。
Michael: I guess it’s time to plan for a world with fewer children. It doesn't have to be a disaster.
Michael: 看来确实到了该为孩子变少的世界做打算的时候了，这并不一定就是灾难。
Emma: Right. With a little foresight, we can futureproof our country and ensure the future is still functional and pleasant for everyone.
Emma: 对。只要我们眼光放长远一点，就能让社会做好迎接未来的准备，创造一个让所有人都能生活得便利、愉快的环境。