Topics:  1. The TIR Convention

The CITES

Grammar revision: English verb tenses

Text 1

The TIR CONVENTION

    International carriage of cargo by road vehicles involves crossing the borders of one or more countries and passing through customs clearance and control.

    To simplify the formalities and to minimize delays at the borders the TIR Convention was signed in 1975 and came into force in 1978.

    TIR is the abbreviation for Customs Convention on the International Transportation of Goods. The TIR system allows to replace expensive physical

inspection in the countries of transit for checking seals and the external conditions of the vehicle. It contains four main requirements:

    (1) With regard to security it requires that goods must be carried in such road vehicles or compartments of containers that no goods can be removed from or introduced into the sealed part of the vehicle without breaking customs seal.

    (2) The second principle is the guarantee system. The system ensures that customs duties and taxes during transit operations are paid at any moment by a National Guaranteeing Association, if the transport operator cannot be held responsible.

    (3) The third principle is the TIR Carnet. The goods must be accompanied by an internationally accepted document – Carnet, issued at the check point within the country of departure and serving as a control document at the borders in the countries of departure, transit and destination.

    (4) The last principle is the international recognition of customs control measures: when goods are transported under this transit regime, the Customs office of departure checks the goods, seals the vehicle, reports it in the TIR Carnet and the cargo is transported without further unloading and inspection in the countries of departure, transit and destination.

    When the cargo arrives at the Customs office of destination, they become responsible for the goods to be transferred to another Customs procedure.

    Nowadays the Convention has been signed by more than 50 Contracting Parties. It covers the European Union, North Africa, Near and Middle East, the USA, Canada, Chile and Uruguay. A number of countries in Western and Central Africa and Latin America are also considering the establishment of the TIR system.

    Since 1978 the Convention has proved that it is one of the most successful transit systems because it contains provisions for a multi-modal transit regime in line with modern techniques and requirements and offers transport operators and Customs authorities a simple, cost-effective and safe regime for the international transportation of goods across frontiers.

WORKING ON THE TEXT

Ex.1. SKIMMING:

a. Read the headline and the first sentence of each paragraph of the text. Pair up to discuss the guessed-at topic of the article.

b. R ead the first paragraph and the last paragraph of the text. Then work in pairs to discuss the guessed-at contents of the piece.

c. Read the text during two minutes. After two minutes, get into pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

Ex.2. SCANNING:

a. While scanning the text find the answers for content-specific questions given by the teacher.

b. While scanning the text read the sentences containing the key vocabulary words given by the teacher.

Ex.3. READING:   Read and translate the text “The TIR Convention”.

Ex.4.1. WORDS: Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

международные перевозки; автотранспортное средство; задержки на границе; внешнее состояние; основные требования; безопасность; таможенная пломба; система гарантий; международный документ; страна отправления, транзита, назначения; меры таможенного контроля; разгрузка; таможенный режим; стороны, подписавшие конвенцию; перевозчики;

Ex.4.2. Make word combinations with the words from the text and the following verbs:

a) to simplify b) to minimize c) to sign d) to replace e) to contain f) to break

g) to guarantee h) to issue i) to check j) to establish k) to offer

Ex.5. PREPOSITIONS: Insert prepositions.

1) to carry cargo _____ road vehicles

2) to come _____ force

3) to replace inspection _____ checking seals

4) to remove something _____ or introduce _____ the sealed part of vehicle

5) the duties are paid _____ a National Guaranteeing Association

6) it serves _____ a control document

7) to transport goods _____ transit customs regime

8) the goods must be accompanied _____ a Carnet

9) the cargo is transported _____ reloading

10) to be responsible _____ the clearance of goods

Ex.6. QUESTIONS: Answer the questions:

1) What does TIR stand for?

2) Why was the Convention signed?

3) What is the main advantage of the system?

4) Are there any special requirements in respect of security?

5) What if transport operator cannot pay the duties during the transit operation?

6) What document must accompany the cargo while it is transported under the TIR procedure?

7) Are the goods checked by the Customs in the countries of transit?

8) Are there many contracting parties to the TIR Convention?

9) Why is the TIR Convention so successful?

Ex.7. TRANSLATION: Translate the sentences from Russian into English:

1) Главная цель транзитных таможенных систем – обеспечить

международные перевозки грузов и обеспечить надежность таможенного контроля.

2) Грузы перевозятся в таких транспортных средствах или контейнерах, которые полностью исключают возможность доступа к перевозимому грузу без видимого нарушения пломб и печатей.

3) Груз должен сопровождать международный карнет TIR, выданный в стране отправления и действительный в качестве контрольного документа в странах транзита и назначения.

4) Таможенные органы могут обращаться в Национальное гарантийное объединение в случае каких-либо нарушений.

5) Меры таможенного контроля, предпринятые в стране отправления,

признаются в странах транзита и назначения.

6) К транспортным документам должны прилагаться фотографии

транспортного средства с изображением регистрационного номера и пломбы.

7) Информация в карнете TIR представлена на английском и французском языках.

8) Система TIR позволяет увеличить скорость доставки и значительно

сократить транспортные расходы, и, таким образом, способствует развитию международной торговли.

Ex.8. VOCAB EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

Ex.9. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information on the TIR

Convention. Share your findings with your class next lesson.

Ex.10. ABSTRACT: Using the writing instructions from the ADDENDUM

(Writing skills) write the Abstract of this text.

Ex.11. SPEAKING: Speak on the topic “The TIR Convention”

Ex.12. RUSSIAN ARTICLE TRANSLATION: Find the article in Russian

language covering the application of the TIR Convention. Translate it into English.

 

Text 2

What is CITES?

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Widespread information nowadays about the endangered status of many prominent species, such as the tiger and elephants, might make the need for such a convention seem obvious. But at the time when the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1960s, international discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new. With hindsight, the need for CITES is clear. Annually, international wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens.

The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines. Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade in them, together with other factors, such as habitat loss, is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future.

Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union). The text of the Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington DC., United States of America, on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force. The original of the Convention was deposited with the Depositary Government in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic.

CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

For many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership, with now 175 Parties.

 

WORKING ON THE TEXT

Ex.1. SKIMMING:

a. Read the headline and the first sentence of each paragraph of the text. Pair up to discuss the guessed-at topic of the article.

b. R ead the first paragraph and the last paragraph of the text. Then work in pairs to discuss the guessed-at contents of the piece.

c. Read the text during two minutes. After two minutes, get into pairs to discuss the contents of the piece.

Ex.2. SCANNING:

a. While scanning the text find the answers for content-specific questions given by the teacher.

b. While scanning the text read the sentences containing the key vocabulary words given by the teacher.

Ex.3. READING: Read and translate the text “What is CITES?”

Ex.4. CHAT: Talk in pairs or groups about   the “the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”.

Ex.5. CITES BRAINSTORM: Spend one minute writing down all of the

different words you associate with the words ‘the Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora’. Share your words with

your partner / group and talk about them.

Ex.6. 2-MINUTE DEBATES: Students face each other in pairs and engage in the following 2-minute debates. The subject is “The importance of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”.

Ex.7. VOCAB EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

Ex.8. TRUE / FALSE: Look through the article and guess whether these

sentences are true or false:

a. The aim of CITES is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. T / F 

b. But at the time when the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1996s, international discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new. T/F

c. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines. T/F

d. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 10,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs. T/F

e. CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of WCO (The World Customs Organization). T/F

f. The original of the Convention was deposited with the Depositary Government in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic. T/F

g. For many years CITES has been among the conservation agreements with the largest membership, with now 200 Parties. T/F

Ex.9. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information on the treaty. Share your findings with your class.

Ex.10. LETTER: Write a letter to the FCS executive explaining your views on the matter described.

Ex.11. PUBLIC POLICY: You are the leader of your country. Create a speech on the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” and its application in your country.

Ex.12. RENDERING: Render the text.

 

GRAMMAR REVISION

Ex.1.Grammar Tenses Mix

Fill the gaps with the correct tenses.

HADRAN’S WALL

1. In the year 122 AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian (visit) ________ his provinces in Britain.

2. On his visit, the Roman soldiers (tell) _______ him that Pictish tribes from Britain's north (attack) ________ them.

3. So Hadrian (give) __________ the order to build a protective wall across one of the narrowest parts of the country.

4. After 6 years of hard work, the Wall (finish) _________ in 128.

5. It (be) _________ 117 kilometres long and about 4 metres high.

6. The Wall (guard) _________ by 15,000 Roman soldiers.

7. Every 8 kilometres there (be) ______ a large fort in which up to 1,000 soldiers (find) _______ shelter.

8. The soldiers (watch) ______ over the frontier to the north and (check) ________the people who (want) _________ to enter or leave Roman Britain.

9. In order to pass through the Wall, people (must go) ________ to one of the small forts that (serve) _________ as gateways.

10. Those forts (call) ________ milecastles because the distance from one fort to another (be) ________ one Roman mile (about 1,500 metres).

11. Between the milecastles there (be) _______ two turrets from which the soldiers (guard) _________ the Wall.

12. If the Wall (attack) ______ by enemies, the soldiers at the turrets (run) ______ to the nearest milecastle for help or (light) ________ a fire that (can / see) _______ by the soldiers in the milecastle.

13. In 383 Hadrian's Wall (abandon)__________.

14. Today Hadrian's Wall (be) ­­­_______ the most popular tourist attraction in northern England.

15. In 1987, it (become) ___________ a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

WORKING ON THE ARTICLE