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Jet Li
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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. |
http://www.newsweek.com/id/161054/page/1
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那場改變我生命的海嘯
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在海島度假期間，一位著名的中國演員差點失去了他的孩子們。他的世界觀從此改變，開始建立一個致力於幫助受災民眾的基金會。
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李連傑| NEWSWEEK
2008年9月27日出版
摘自2008年10月6日出版的該雜誌文章
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2004年12月25日，我帶著妻子和年幼的兩個女兒(那時她們分別1歲和4歲)很晚到達馬爾代夫的四季酒店。天已經黑了，但你仍然感覺得到這海島非常美麗、平靜。
第二天早上7點50，我感覺到地在動。我知道那是地震，之前在中國和舊金山就經歷過好幾次，當時我沒考慮太多。女兒們對去沙灘感到非常興奮，所以我們提早出發，大約在10點10分。當我看到水漲上來時，我們就在酒店外面的遊泳池旁，沙灘前面一點點。
不象電影裏演的，有巨浪向你襲來，水只是漲得非常快，很快就淹到了沙灘上曬日光浴的人。人們開始向酒店跑，但還在笑著。我抱起4歲的女兒Jane，保姆抱著Jada，我們開始往酒店跑。那時水已經漲到了我的膝蓋。
才走兩步，水已經漲到了我的臀部，再兩步就到了胸膛，接著是鼻子下面。我把Jane放在肩膀上，努力去抓住保姆的手。她當時正在掙紮，因為她的腦袋已經在水下了。我轉過身，看見一切–沙灘、遊泳池–都不見了。我就這樣站在海洋中。
我努力想抓牢保姆，但水勢太強，把她和Jada從我身邊沖開。幸運的是我很有名，大家都知道我在這兒，他們一直在找我。我以最大的音量呼叫救命，4個家夥向我們遊過來，救了Jade和保姆。我沒事，水沒有再漲高到我的嘴巴。
災難降臨時，你根本沒時間思考–你只是往前跑，本能的求生。水退下後，什麽都沒留下。沒有電，除了酒店的衛星電話，所有通訊都阻斷。我們只剩5天的飲用水和3天的食物。
當晚所有人都在酒店大堂露宿。Jada睡在我懷裏，但我無法入睡，我思考了很長時間。我想，如果上帝救了我，那一定意味著什麽。馬爾代夫這天對我是個轉折點，過去41年我的人生中，首先想到的是李連傑，想證明我與眾不同、證明我是個明星，我所作的每件事都以自我為中心。但在那個大堂，我看到不同膚色、不同語言的人們互相幫助。很像電影裏演的，人們首先照 顧女士、孩子和老人。我在想，如果每個人都提供幫助、每個人都做一點點，將會有大的不同。
我還認識到世界上一切錢財和權力都無法把你從水中拯救出來。那天晚上我決定不等到退休，現在就得做些什麽。幾天之後我宣布了我的計劃，開始壹基金計劃。當時我還不大清楚從哪開始，我想先從中國開始，因為那是我的祖國，但我必須做好。我用了好幾年時間調研，和人們探討，了解如何才能成事。
2007年我終於建立了壹基金。我的想法非常簡單：每個人+每個月1元錢=1個大家庭。就是說，如果每個人都貢獻一點點，我們將團結起來。當然，政府和公司對普通公民負有責任，但我要宣傳的理念是，每個人都有責任。不是當你成為百萬富翁、成為行業領袖或明星才負有責任。我們從每個人開始，只需要提供一點點幫助。
在這階段，壹基金首先要救助的是遭受災難的人。我們已經參與救助了7場災難，其中就有四川大地震。我選擇災難救助是因為我本人在馬爾代夫的遭遇。當災難來時，你聽到消息、看到照片，然後捐贈。一般都需要幾天甚至幾周時間，救助才能到達急需幫助的災難發生地。我想預先準備好，先把購買食物和水的錢籌備好，行動才能更快速。
不僅僅是物質幫助，人們需要知道有人來救他們，我有親身經歷。人們需要堅持，知道會被救助。我們想告訴大家，救援正在路上。我停止拍片一年，把所有時間都貢獻給壹基金。但我明年會重返工作，因為作為一個國際演員，有很好的平臺宣傳基金會。對我來說，這不止是籌款，而是改變人們的信仰、傳播愛。我想用我的名字做好事，回報這個世界。現在沒有什麽比這個更重要。
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在海岛度假期间，一位著名的中国演员差点失去了他的孩子们。他的世界观从此改变，开始建立一个致力于帮助受灾民众的基金会。
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李连杰| NEWSWEEK
2008年9月27日出版
摘自2008年10月6日出版的该杂志文章
[if gte mso 9]>
2004年12月25日，我带着妻子和年幼的两个女儿(那时她们分别1岁和4岁)很晚到达马尔代夫的四季酒店。天已经黑了，但你仍然感觉得到这海岛非常美丽、平静。[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]
[endif]
第二天早上7点50，我感觉到地在动。我知道那是地震，之前在中国和旧金山就经历过好几次，当时我没考虑太多。女儿们对去沙滩感到非常兴奋，所以我们提早出发，大约在10点10分。当我看到水涨上来时，我们就在酒店外面的游泳池旁，沙滩前面一点点。不象电影里演的，有巨浪向你袭来，水只是涨得非常快，很快就淹到了沙滩上晒日光浴的人。人们开始向酒店跑，但还在笑着。我抱起4岁的女儿Jane，保姆抱着Jada，我们开始往酒店跑。那时水已经涨到了我的膝盖。[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]
[endif]
才走两步，水已经涨到了我的臀部，再两步就到了胸膛，接着是鼻子下面。我把Jane放在肩膀上，努力去抓住保姆的手。她当时正在挣扎，因为她的脑袋已经在水下了。我转过身，看见一切–沙滩、游泳池–都不见了。我就这样站在海洋中。[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]
[endif]
我努力想抓牢保姆，但水势太强，把她和Jada从我身边冲开。幸运的是我很有名，大家都知道我在这儿，他们一直在找我。我以最大的音量呼叫救命，4个家伙向我们游过来，救了Jade和保姆。我没事，水没有再涨高到我的嘴巴。[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]
[endif]
灾难降临时，你根本没时间思考–你只是往前跑，本能的求生。水退下后，什么都没留下。没有电，除了酒店的卫星电话，所有通讯都阻断。我们只剩5天的饮用水和3天的食物。
当晚所有人都在酒店大堂露宿。Jada睡在我怀里，但我无法入睡，我思考了很长时间。我想，如果上帝救了我，那一定意味着什么。马尔代夫这天对我是个转折点，过去41年我的人生中，首先想到的是李连杰，想证明我与众不同、证明我是个明星，我所作的每件事都以自我为中心。但在那个大堂，我看到不同肤色、不同语言的人们互相帮助。很像电影里演的，人们首先照 顾女士、孩子和老人。我在想，如果每个人都提供帮助、每个人都做一点点，将会有大的不同。[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]
[endif]
我还认识到世界上一切钱财和权力都无法把你从水中拯救出来。那天晚上我决定不等到退休，现在就得做些什么。几天之后我宣布了我的计划，开始壹基金计划。当时我还不大清楚从哪开始，我想先从中国开始，因为那是我的祖国，但我必须做好。我用了好几年时间调研，和人们探讨，了解如何才能成事。[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]
[endif]
2007年我终于建立了壹基金。我的想法非常简单：每个人+每个月1元钱=1个大家庭。就是说，如果每个人都贡献一点点，我们将团结起来。当然，政府和公司对普通公民负有责任，但我要宣传的理念是，每个人都有责任。不是当你成为百万富翁、成为行业领袖或明星才负有责任。我们从每个人开始，只需要提供一点点帮助。在这阶段，壹基金首先要救助的是遭受灾难的人。我们已经参与救助了7场灾难，其中就有四川大地震。我选择灾难救助是因为我本人在马尔代夫的遭遇。当灾难来时，你听到消息、看到照片，然后捐赠。一般都需要几天甚至几周时间，救助才能到达急需帮助的灾难发生地。我想预先准备好，先把购买食物和水的钱筹备好，行动才能更快速。
不仅仅是物质帮助，人们需要知道有人来救他们，我有亲身经历。人们需要坚持，知道会被救助。我们想告诉大家，救援正在路上。我停止拍片一年，把所有时间都贡献给壹基金。但我明年会重返工作，因为作为一个国际演员，有很好的平台宣传基金会。对我来说，这不止是筹款，而是改变人们的信仰、传播爱。我想用我的名字做好事，回报这个世界。现在没有什么比这个更重要。|
