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慈善活动是社会活动的重要组成部分，反映了当时社会的一些状况。纵观中国慈善史，中国古代的慈善救济活动可以分为三个阶段：一是汉唐时期的寺院慈善活动。二是宋元时期朝廷推动的慈善救济事业。三是明清时期民间慈善事业的兴起。现代中国的慈善事业是建立在社会主义基础之上的，其思想随着社会主义制度的建立和完善及对社会主义认识的深化而呈现出阶段性特点，并最终形成了具有中国特色的社会主义慈善福利思想。
The submission of China's first draft charity law to the State Council is an important step towards regulating and encouraging philanthropy in the world's most populous country marked by an increasingly big wealth gap.
A Ministry of Civil Affairs official said that the problem with charity work is no longer indifferent and unwillingness to help the needy, but lack of information of how to donate and manage.
It is true that more and more individuals, companies and organizations are involved in the charity cause in recent years, especially since 2008 when the Sichuan earthquake on May 12 evoked an outpouring of love and care for those who suffered. According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs statistics, donations the nation received in 2008 were valued at 107 billion Yuan ($15.7 billion), an increase of 350 percent over the previous year.
However, it only accounted for 0.356 percent of our GDP, leaving a big potential for us to tap. The significance of charity work in today's China is obvious. It can help improve the livelihood of the disadvantaged, and bridge the wealth gap between the rich and the poor, and urban and rural areas. It plays a vital role in achieving social equity and harmony.
We have to clear many hurdles down this road. Just as the Ministry of Civil Affairs official pointed out, many citizens do not know where and how to donate. Some entrepreneurs who donate are mistaken for tax evaders because they do not have a team to design the project, track the use of money and manage public relations. Therefore, charity awareness should be further promoted, and methods and channels of donation should be made clear to the public. An information system showing who most needs the help should also be made known to charity organizations so that funds can be more precisely targeted.
Another big problem is that the public does not have faith in many charity organizations because of fund mismanagement and embezzlement. People prefer to donate directly to the beneficiaries, making it difficult to form a long-term mechanism for management. We hope the charity law, which stipulates on the organization and donation of charity and voluntary work and related policies that reward and encourage philanthropy, will provide needy legal guidance for those who want to help.
An encouraging sign in recent years is that grassroots social organizations have become increasingly active in charity. Many of them work on projects together with the government. Public participation is needed to shift the current government-domination pattern. This will ease the burden of the government, which can concentrate on providing a better platform for companies and individuals to carry out charity cause. Once the legal and institutional framework is fully established, the chief players in charity work should be private enterprises, social organizations and individuals.
慈善活动(charity drive)是一种有益于社会与人群的社会公益活动(common wealth activity)，是政府主导下的社会保障体系(social security system)的一种必要的补充。慈善事业是在政府的倡导或帮助、扶持下，由民间的团体(private association)和个人自愿组织与开展活动的、对社会中遇到灾难或不幸的人，不求回报地实施救助的一种无私的支持与奉献的事业。慈善事业实质上也是一种社会再分配(social wealth redistribution)的实现形式。与世界各国相比较，中国慈善事业具有如下特色：一是慈善思想源远流长。二是慈善活动与上层建筑(super structure)的关系密切。三是近代的慈善事业是受西方的影响而发展起来的。
Charity begins at home.
慈善首先惠及家人。
They did so under the mask of charity.
他们是打着慈善的幌子这么做。
Earthquake disaster victims need our help.
地震中受灾的人们需要我们的帮助。
Most famous companies do a lot for charity.
大多数著名的公司都做了大量的慈善事情。
This charity aims to help people to help themselves.
这一慈善团体的宗旨是帮助人们进行互助。
The door of charity is hard to open and hard to shut.
善门难开且难闭。
Many charities sent money to help the victims of the famine.
许多慈善团体捐款赈济饥民。
The Sichuan earthquake caused an outpouring of charity.
四川大地震引发了慈善浪潮。
The Sichuan earthquake has unleashed a flood of domination.
四川汶川地震激起了爱心捐赠的热潮。
Let's join together to help rebuild these people's lives with our love.
让我们一起用爱帮助受灾的人们重新生活。
All walks of life made caring donation to the victims of the deadly earthquake in Sichuan.
社会各界纷纷对四川大地震的灾民进行爱心捐赠。
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to donate blood to help victims of the quake that rocked Sichuan.
卫生部号召广大公众义务献血支援四川地震灾区。
We call upon all of us to assist the thousands of victims in the disaster-hit areas in Sichuan Province, southwest China.
让我们伸出援手，救助中国西南四川灾区数以千计的人们。
The artists said one after another that in the charity show they would act out their best performing talents and skills in top spirits.
艺术家们纷纷表示，要用最饱满的精神状态将最精湛的技艺投入到赈灾义演中。
The grand fund-raising show undertaken by CCTV attracted more than 1000 literary and arts celebrities, collecting RMB 1.514 billion in donations.
由中央电视台承办的大型赈灾晚会《爱的奉献》吸引了1000多名文艺界名流参加，共筹得善款15.14亿元。
The new wave of quake-related charity has accelerated changes that could have a long-lasting impact on Chinese society.
与地震相关的新一轮慈善潮流加速了中国社会的转变步伐，而这些转变可能对其产生深远影响。
According to Charity Federation and Red Cross, the commodities in urgent need such as tents, cotton-padded quilts, food, drinking water, medical supplies and water disinfectants.
市慈善总会和市红十字会表示，目前灾区急需帐篷、棉被、紧急食品、饮用水、医疗用品、环境消毒剂和饮水消毒剂等物资。
Aware of the political backlash if the relief effort were tarred by corruption, the State Council announced yesterday that any officials caught misappropriating earthquake funds would receive severe punishments.
中国政府清楚，救援活动中如果存在贪污腐败问题，将会带来政治后果，因此中国国务院日前宣布，如果发现任何官员盗用赈灾款项，将严惩不贷。
Petter: Hello, my name is Petter, I'm calling on behalf of the Save the Children Fund. Have you heard of our organization before?
皮特：你好!我是皮特，我代表救助儿童基金会给你打电话。你以前听说过我们这个机构吗？
Mr. White: Um... yes, I think so… Don't you do some kind of charity work, like taking care of starving children in Africa or something?
怀特先生：恩，是的，我听说过。你们不是做慈善工作的吗？比如关心非洲忍饥挨饿的儿童或者类似的事情？
Petter: Yes sir, that's it exactly. We don't only service the children in Africa, but we also take care of children in porverty all over the globe. Well sir, I'm calling today to ask for your contribution to our charitable organization.
皮特：是。先生，非常正确。我们不仅为非洲儿童服务，而且还关心全世界受穷的孩子。先生，我今天打电话来是想请你为我们慈善机构捐款。
Mr. White: Is that right…?
怀特先生：你的意思是……？
Petter: We're a service organization that is a legally registered charity. We operate in more than a hundred countries, but most of our adminstration and workers are all volunteers. When you contribute to our cause, one hundred percent of your donation goes directly to the children who need it.
皮特：我们是合法注册登记的服务性慈善机构。我们在100多个国家有业务活动，但大多数的管理人员和工人都是志愿者。你如果为我们的事业捐款，全部捐赠直接交到需要救助的儿童手里。
Mr. White: What kind of contribution are you asking for?
怀特先生：你们需要什么样的捐赠？
Petter: We accept donations of any amount, depending on your ability and desire to share. We can accept donations any where from twenty dollars to more than a thousand dollars. Additionally, your contribution is completely tax deductible. Can I count on you for support this year?
皮特：多大数量的捐赠我们都接受，这取决于您的能力和捐赠的愿望。我们接受的捐赠从20美元到1 000多美元不等。此外，您的捐款全部免税。今年你能支持一下我们的工作吗？
Mr. White: Sure, I'm willing to support your cause. How can I make a donation?
怀特先生：当然可以，我愿意支持你们的事业。怎么办理捐款？
Petter: You can log on our website, search for the related charity activities and donation account. Fill in the amount you donate.
皮特：您可以登录我们的网站，在网站上查询相关的慈善项目以及捐款账户。填入您的捐款数额即可。
Mr. White: How do I know that my donation has been successfully remitted?
怀特先生：我如何知道我的捐款是否顺利汇出呢？
Petter: You can set your mind at rest. The opposite side will affirm on internet when receiving your money.
皮特：这个您可以放心。当您的捐款成功汇出后，对方会在网站上进行确认。
Mr. White: OK, I know.
怀特先生：好的，我明白了。
Petter: Thanks a lot for your support!
皮特：非常感谢您的支持!
Mr. White: My pleasure.
怀特先生：这是我应该做的。