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親愛的扶輪社員們： Dear fellow Rotarians, 「環境」這個詞對我們每一個人有不同的含意。有人可能想起綠色的森林、海洋、及山脈，有人會想到青翠的平原和野生動物。當我們考慮到環境的挑戰時，我們可能想到資源回收或能源保存、工業廢棄物、或氣候變遷。我們通常想起比自身還重要的問題，而且這些問題有時候似乎非常抽象。 The word environment conveys different things to each of us. One person might think of green forests, oceans, and mountains, another of grassy plains and wildlife. When we consider environmental challenges, we may think of recycling or energy conservation, industrial waste, or climate change. We tend to think of issues that are much larger than ourselves as individuals, and they can seem very abstract at times. 但是對我們每一個人來講，實際上我們的四周就是我們的環境：我們呼吸的空氣、我們喝的水、我們腳下走的土地。環境就是我們的房子、我們的院子、我們的街道。環境是我們的社區、我們的國家、以及我們的星球。數百英里外的水潔淨與否可能攸關從我們的水龍頭流出來的水質。遙遠的城市的空氣品質能影響我們吸入肺裡的東西。從我們的車子、煙囪、及發電廠排放出來的東西不只影響我們自己的家庭，也影響今後全世界各地世世代代的家庭。 But for each of us, our environment is literally what surrounds us: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we walk on. Our environment is our house, our yard, our street. It is our community, our country, and our planet. The cleanliness of water hundreds of miles away can affect what comes out of our tap. The cleanliness of the air in a distant city can and does affect what goes into our lungs. And what comes out of our cars, chimneys, and power plants affects not just our own families, but families around the world for generations to come. 環境問題不僅是非常地域性的，而且完全是全球性的問題。一條滿是垃圾的溪流對那些依賴它飲用水的人影響最大，但它也破壞了整個生態系統。一個污染嚴重的城市不僅傷害它自己的居民的健康，也傷害到下風數百英里內居民的健康。當我們知道及更瞭解有關氣候變遷的過程，我們更深刻體會到決策不能有地域性。我們做的任何事都會影響他人。 Environmental concerns are both intensely local and completely global. A garbage-filled stream has the most impact on those who rely on it for drinking water, but it also damages an entire ecosystem. A heavily polluted city hurts the health of its own inhabitants as well as those hundreds of miles downwind. As we learn and understand more about the course of climate change, we become more acutely aware that there are no local decisions. Everything we do touches others. 當我們考慮我們要怎麼做以及怎們改變來處理一個環境問題時，我們必須記住，我們的決策絕對不只跟我們自己有關。 When we consider what we are willing to do and what we are willing to change to address an environmental problem, we must remember that our decisions never concern only us. 扶輪學到的經驗之一是一個人就能改變現狀。我們在我們的扶輪社及地區看見這一點，尤其是透過根除小兒痲痹等疾病計畫。當我們進行只能幫助一些人的小計畫時，很難往後退一步便看到我們如何真正在改變世界。我們很難從資源回收一份報紙或一個塑膠瓶、用走路取代開車、或節省用水，看出這些能真正帶來更美好及健康的明天。但是如果許多人一起來做，那些小改變將為我們子孫帶來巨大的改變。 One of the lessons of Rotary is that one person can make a difference. We see this in our clubs and our districts, and particularly through PolioPlus. When we work on small projects that help only a few people, it can be hard to step back and see how we really are changing the world. It can be difficult to see how recycling a newspaper or a plastic container, walking instead of driving, or using less water can really bring a better and healthier tomorrow. But if many people make them together, those small changes will make an enormous difference to our children and grandchildren. 作為扶輪社員，我們很清楚這些小改變──這些私人的、個人的抉擇──能累積成巨大的改變。我們做的決定似乎很小，但事實上這些決定一點也不小。這一點我請你們都要記住，因為你們是社區的領導人，而且你們已經選擇協助帶頭前進到一個更好的未來。在環保責任這件事，如同在其他所有事情，我們必須率先以身作則來領導，做出正確的選擇，以帶給我們一個更健康的明天。 As Rotarians, we know very well that these small changes – these private, individual choices – can add up to something tremendous. The decisions we make may seem small, but they are nothing of the kind. I ask all of you to remember that, because you are leaders in your communities, and you have chosen to help Lead the Way to a better future. In the matter of environmental responsibility, as in all others, we must first lead by example by making the choices that will bring us a healthier tomorrow.
W.B. (Bill) Boyd 白義德 國際扶輪2006-07年度社長 President, Rotary International, 2006-07
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