CNN創辦人、同時是慈善家與環保人士的泰德‧透納（Ted Turner），7日宣布捐贈100萬美金給位於亞特蘭大的黛安‧弗西大猩猩基金會（Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International）。這個基金會主要是拯救盧安達和東剛果地區瀕臨絕種的大猩猩。
亞特蘭大的佛班自然歷史博物館（Fernbank Museum of Natural History）7日晚間舉行晚會活動，透納在會中激勵其他人敞開心胸──和他們的銀行帳戶，來支持黛安‧弗西大猩猩基金會。
黛安‧弗西博士是位美國動物學家，在盧安達維龍加國家公園（Virunga National Park）山區森林裡一待18年，一直努力從事大猩猩研究。1985年黛安‧弗西在當地遭到謀殺，案子至今未破。她的事蹟在1988年改編成電影搬上大螢幕，即《迷霧森林十八年》（Gorillas in the Mist）。
在宣布捐贈消息的同時，透納也表示他很驕傲基金會是設立在他家鄉亞特蘭大的動物園，並讚許基金會透過位於非洲盧安達Karisoke研究中心（Karisoke Research Center）所做的一切。該研究中心由弗西博士於1967年所設立。
黛安‧弗西基金會在盧安達對山地大猩猩所做的保護，使得大猩猩成為當地唯一數量有所成長的靈長類動物。但在剛果的大猩猩，則因為所受保護較少，數量正大幅減少。
透納表示，「我從事環保活動很久了，包括保護這些美麗的生物。就像我們太常對這已經過度擁擠和過度污染的世界所做的事，當我們失去一種生物種類的時候，我們也失去了部分的自己。我想不出來有什麼事情是比保護我們的世界、我們的地球和我們的環境更為重要的。當然也必須保護棲息於這塊土地上的生物，包括非洲的大猩猩。」
「我們或許可以住在遠離非洲的另一個半球，但是在非洲發生的事情也會影響我們這邊所發生的事，也會對我們這個脆弱的地球任何一個地方都造成影響。」
黛安弗西基金會主席兼執行長克萊爾‧李察遜（Clare Richardson）表示，「基金會很幸運可以得到泰德‧透納的資助。這筆捐贈的剛好是在黛安‧弗西博士80周年的壽辰紀念日過後不久，使得這筆捐贈顯得更有意義。」
他接著表示，「由弗西博士在1967年開啟的工作，至今從未停止過，而且近年我們也有不少成果。但是相對的，困難也從沒少過，有了這筆資助，我們可以將專業知識拓展到其他有大猩猩居住且有需要幫助的地方，例如剛果。」
Karisoke研究中心目前有百餘位的員工。超過一半的成員投入研究、保護和監測大猩猩的工作。其他人則專注於生物多樣性和社會經濟的研究、教育、健康和經營管理等。
透納說，「每一隻大猩猩都得算進去，每個人都要保護大猩猩，而且每一分支持這項工作的錢都該被好好利用來保護大猩猩。這也是為什麼我今天晚上會宣布捐贈一百萬美元給黛安‧弗西大猩猩基金會。我希望這些錢可以讓基金會不只可以繼續已經做了好幾年的工作，更可以將工作範圍擴展，並盡可能地多做一點，為了大猩猩、為了人類還有為了他們做為家的環境。」
黛安‧弗西大猩猩基金會致力於大猩猩與其非洲棲息地的永續管理和保護。基金會是由黛安‧弗西所創立，一開始取名為Digit基金會（Digit Fund），然後在她死後改名為。該基金會負責盧安達Karisoke研究中心的運作，並且負責維持火山國家公園（Volcanoes National Park）裡的科學家、追蹤者（tracker）和反盜獵巡守隊的運作。
基金會也和剛果當地的保護區和國家公園社區團體合作，實施密集教育、健康和其他社區的延伸服務項目等。
Philanthropist, environmentalist and CNN founder Ted Turner tonight announced his contribution of $1 million to the Atlanta-based Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, which works to save endangered gorillas in Rwanda and eastern Congo.
At a special event at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta tonight, Turner also issued a challenge, urging others to open their hearts - and their bank accounts - and also support the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Dr. Dian Fossey was an American zoologist who conducted an extensive study of gorilla groups over a period of 18 years in the mountain forests of Rwanda's Virunga National Park. She was murdered there in 1985; the case remains open. Her work and her murder were the subject of the 1988 motion picture "Gorillas in the Mist."
In announcing his donation tonight, Turner expressed pride that the Fossey Fund is based at Zoo Atlanta in his hometown, and praised the work the organization does in Africa through the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda, founded by Fossey in 1967.
The Fossey Fund's work in Rwanda has resulted in the mountain gorilla being the only ape species whose numbers are increasing. But gorillas in Congo have received little protection and their numbers are plummeting.
"I've been involved in the environmental movement for a long time. And working to protect these wonderful creatures is part of that equation," Turner said tonight.
"When we lose one species - as we do too frequently in our over-crowded, over-polluted world, we lose part of ourselves," he said. "I can't think of a more important effort than protecting our world, our globe, our environment - and that includes protecting those who inhabit it, including the gorillas of Africa."
"We may live on the opposite side of the planet from Africa, but what happens there can and will affect what happens here - and all around our fragile planet," Turner said.
Clare Richardson, president and CEO of the Fossey Fund, said, "The Fossey Fund is very fortunate indeed to have the kind of support that Ted Turner is providing. It is made even more notable because his contribution comes just after the 80th anniversary of Dian Fossey's birth."
"The work she began in 1967 has never stopped, and we have made great gains in recent years," said Richardson. "But the challenges have never stopped either, and with this wonderful contribution, we can begin to export our expertise to other gorilla populations in need, such as in Congo."
The Karisoke Research Center currently employs more than 100 staff members. Over half are involved in research, protection and monitoring of the gorillas. Others are engaged in biodiversity and socioeconomic research, education, health, and administration activities.
"It comes down to this," Turner said, "every single gorilla counts; every single person counts in protecting the gorillas; and every single dollar counts in supporting the work to protect the gorillas. That is why tonight I am announcing my contribution of $1 million to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. It is my hope that this money will allow the Fossey Fund to not only continue the great work they do now - and have done for many years - but to expand that work and make it possible to do much more - for the gorillas, for the people, and for the environment in which they all make their home."
The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International is dedicated to the conservation and protection of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. Founded by Fossey as the Digit Fund and renamed after her death, the Fossey Fund operates the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda, and maintains a staff of scientists, trackers and anti-poaching patrols in Volcanoes National Park.
The Fund also works with community-managed reserves and national parks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and operates extensive education, health and other community outreach programs.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
