http://www.newsweek.com/id/161054/page/1

The Tsunami That Changed My Life
A famous Chinese actor almost lost his children during an island vacation. His world view changed, and he started a foundation dedicated to disaster relief.
By Jet Li | NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 27, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Oct 6, 2008




On Dec. 25, 2004, I arrived very late at night at the Four Seasons hotel in the Maldives with my wife and two youngest daughters, who were then 1 and 4. It was dark out, but you could still sense how beautiful and peaceful the island was.

The next morning, at 7:50, I felt the earth move. I knew it was an earthquake, because I'd already been in several in China and San Francisco, and I didn't really think much about it. My daughters were very excited to go to the beach, so we set off earlier than planned, at around 10:10. We were just outside the hotel, by the pool and slightly above the beach, when I saw the water come.

It wasn't like in the movies, with a giant wave rolling toward you; the water just rose very fast, covering sunbathers on the sand. People started running toward the hotel, but they were still laughing. I picked up my 4-year-old, Jane, while the nanny took Jada, and we turned toward the hotel. In that instant, the water rose to my knees.


I took two steps and the water was at my hips. Two more, and it was at my chest. Then it was just under my nose. I put Jane on my shoulder and was trying to hold on to the nanny's hand; she was struggling because her head was already underwater. I turned back, and everything—the beach, the swimming pool—was gone. I was just standing in the ocean, in nothing.

I tried to hold on to the nanny, but the water was strong and pushed her and Jada away from me. Luckily, I'm famous and people knew I was there. They'd been looking at me. I shouted at the top of my lungs for help, and four guys swam toward us and saved Jada and the nanny. And I was OK; the water didn't go any higher than my mouth.

In those few seconds after a disaster strikes, you don't have time to think—you just move forward and instinct kicks in. When the wave was gone, there was nothing left. The electricity was down, all communications were down but for the hotel's satellite phone, and we were told we had water for five days and food for three.
That night, everybody camped in the hotel lobby. I held Jada as she slept in my arms, but I couldn't sleep myself, and I had a lot of time to think. I thought that if God had saved me, it must mean something. That day in the Maldives was a real turning point for me. I had spent the first 41 years of my life thinking about Jet Li first, wanting to prove I was special, wanting to prove I was a star. Everything I'd done was self-centered. In that lobby, however, I saw people of different colors, speaking different languages, helping each other. It was very much like in the movies, with people putting women, children and the elderly first, and I thought that if everybody helps, if everybody does a little bit, it will make a big difference.

I also realized that all the money and power in the world would not have saved me from the water. That night I decided that I couldn't wait until I was retired; I had to do something right away. A few days later I announced my plans to start the One Foundation. Still, I didn't quite know where to begin. I wanted to do something in China first, because that's my home country, but I also had to do it right. So it took me a couple of years to do some research and talk to people to understand what could be done there.

I finally set up the One Foundation in 2007. My formula is very simple: one person + one yuan per month = one big family. That is, if everyone contributes a little it will unite us. Sure, governments and companies have responsibilities for ordinary people, but I want to spread the belief that every human being has a responsibility too. It's not just when you've made your millions, when you're a captain of industry or a star. It starts with everybody, with just a little help.

At this stage, the One Foundation is primarily about helping with disaster relief. Since we started, we've already been involved with seven disasters, including the Sichuan earthquake. I chose disaster relief because of what happened to me in the Maldives. Usually when a disaster strikes, you hear about it, you see the pictures and then you donate. This means it can take days or weeks before help reaches those who need it desperately. I want to be prepared. I want to have some money already set aside, to buy food and water, so we can act immediately.

And it's not only about material things. People need to know that someone will come and help them. I know this from experience. You need to hang on and hope you're going to be rescued; we want to show people that help is on the way. I've taken a year off from filmmaking to dedicate all my time to the foundation. But I plan to go back to work next year, since being an international actor is a good platform for promoting the foundation. For me it's not just about raising money but also about changing people's beliefs, spreading a love virus. I want to use my name to do good, to give back to the world. Nothing is more important than this now.

In the past few months, most of my time has been occupied by the study and promotion of the commonwealth.  Friends always ask me "Why do you devote so much time to helping others?", to which I reply "Have you ever received any support or help from others during difficult times in your life?".  Most of them answer "yes". 

The truth is, nobody is able to grow without the concern of other people.  These "others" could be your parents, teachers, friends or members of society at large.  But when we, ourselves, are members of society, then we also have the ability to do a little to contribute to it's commonwealth.  Even devoting just one yuan (unit of currency) or one hour from each month -- as long as its done out of a heart-felt concern for society -- then it is enough.

Over the past year, the One Foundation has grown and progressed quite a bit, thanks to all of your help.  For the next year we have a higher goal: The One Foundation will work hard to become the catalyst for China's charity culture and philanthropy industry.  This goal will be primarily implemented through the "International Philanthropy Forum" and the "One Foundation Philanthropy Award".

The "International Philanthropy Forum" has been established by the One Foundation and the Boao Asian Forum.  It's purpose is to invite charity organizations from around the world, famous enterprises, government officers, and researchers to communicate around four commonwealth topics: "environment, education, the alleviation of poverty, and health".  It also serves to further promote the growth of the international philanthropy industry through a well-organized and tightly connected high-level community platform.  

The "One Foundation Philanthropy Award" is based on giving public credit to those professionals, or industry forces that meet the elements of a good commonwealth organization.  It also serves to create an industry example and create a spark in the philanthropy industry, urging organizations and individuals to push forward and promote the commonwealth industry within China.

Academia Expert Volunteers

Also, in the past half year, I have spent a lot of time learning from many commonwealth academic teachers.  I've come to the conclusion that the best method is to invite educators to join the One Foundation, so that they can contribute to the basic theory and structure of this platform directly and, through this devoted academic support, help make the One Foundation a more perfect charitable system, with a foundation of communication and public credibility.

Some of these teachers and educators are:

Cui Jin - Deloitte's China Accounting Firm Co., Ltd., Cofounder / Auditor
Ding Yuanzhu – National Development and Perform Commission (NDRC) Bureau of Macroscopical Economic Research, Researcher
Huang Haoming – China Association of NGO Cooperation, Secretary-general
Jia Xijin – NGO Research Center of Public Policy & Management Tsinghua University, Vice director
Kang Xiaoguang – NPO Research Center of Renmin University of China, Director
Liang Feng – Shangde Law Firm, Lawyer/ Cofounder
Liang Xiaoyan – Friends of Nature, Director-general
Liao Xiaoyi - Global Village of Beijing, China, Founder / Director
Lv Chao – Shanghai Pudong NPI Center, Director
Lv Zhi – CI-Shanshui Natural Protection Center, Director
Shang Yusheng – China NPO Network, Chairman of board
Sheng Jun – ZhongLun Law Firm, Lawyer
Wang Ming - NGO Research Center of Public Policy & Management Tsinghua University, Director
Xu Yongguang - Narada Foundation, Secretary-general
Yang Tuan – The Social Policy Research Centre Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director
Yuan Ruijun – Peking University Institute of Civil Society Development, Executive director
Zhuang Ailing – Shanghai NPO Development Center, Chairman of board

These experts are all NGO industry professionals with a rich background of experiences.  They are my teachers in the field of commonwealth charity.  The One Foundation is a young kid, and requires the nurturing guidance and assistance of teachers.

Expert volunteers from other industries

Many expert volunteers from other industries have also joined to help form the model of the One foundation commonwealth as it works together with various industries.

These are leaders of industry with great influence.  As expert volunteers, each of them have devoted one hour of every month to take action to help the commonwealth.  We hope to call on more people to join the One foundation to devote their influence and energy to help others.   These leaders include: Alibaba Group Chairman, Ma Yun, Haiyuan Group President Zhu Xinli, Cheng Kong Graduate School of Business President Chang Xiangbing, AsiaInfo CEO Zhang Xingsheng, Sequoia Capital China Foundation Zhang Fan, Huayi Brothers President Wang Zhongjun, MTV China Executive Vice President Li Yifei .. and many others from a variety of industries.  For a full list of volunteers please visit the One Foundation's website: http://www.one-foundation.com/html/cn/volunteers_07.htm

On top of all this, I've also been able to visit Harvard University, M.I.T., and the Rockefeller Foundation to study from international experts in philanthropy and charitable giving, so that I may learn how to best promote charity and philanthropy.  Last year the NBA, MLB, World Snooker China Open, Disney, Universal, General Electric, Ogilvy & Mather Advertising Agency, BBDO, Adidas, Mont Blanc, and several other international enterprises, came to support the One Foundation in all sorts of ways, offering resources or becoming our corporate partners.

I would like to thank all of the educators, leaders of enterprise and experts for joining the One Foundation, and express my appreciation to all of the friends who care about what we are doing and offer suggestions via the internet.  I can't thank you all in person, so I will transfer my heartfelt gratitude into action, working to make the One Foundation Project the perfect vehicle for supporting all of our friends.

I'm always dreaming about our family's work -- sometimes it requires words and sometimes it requires actions.  And we can only see the results after a period of time, but before that time so much work is done that no one ever hears about. 

I will try to share with all of you the story of this important work.

Jet recently appeared at the 2nd APEC Business Advisory Council's SME Summit, sharing the floor with Alibaba's Jack Ma in an enlightening discussion.  He asked us to post this video up to share it with the rest of you.  (Chinese only).

http://video.china.alibaba.com/video/view/122801.html




The following is an article (in Chinese) about the event:

http://info.china.alibaba.com/news/detail/v5003495-d1002587191.html

Jet Li is currently hard at work in the U.S., promoting his upcoming film, "The Mummy - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor". 

This blog is to highlight some of the information both here on alivenotdead and on Jet Li's official website, jetli.com, that is related to his activities and this film.  We will update this blog entry as more information becomes available. 

The Trailer

Video: http://www.youtube.com/v/b2jtv39oLgU&hl=en&fs=1

Photos
Click on each image to go to the gallery and learn more about the event or pictures.

Production Stills (jetli.com)



U.S. Domestic Press Junket with Michelle Yeoh



2008 ESPY Awards with Brendan Fraser



News and Information

Universal Studios Production Notes (jetli.com)
"The Mummy franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the spectacular action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the global adventure series ..."