On Charity
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A Chinese billionaire's banquet, sponsored by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, was held yesterday.
The media has linked this event to "The Giving Pledge," a project initiated by Gates and Buffett on June to call on billionaires of the United States to donate the majority of their wealth, 50 percent or more, to charity. That is the reason why Chinese billionaires were reluctant to accept the invitation.
We should think of this banquet as a good opportunity to learn some concept of organized Western system of donation to the charity, and apply it to China.
China has a long tradition of charity. Chinese people's donations in the recent natural disasters at home and abroad demonstrate their care and love about others.
In China act of philanthropy lacks a systematic support. The Chinese society has not yet formed a culture of charity. In fact, the concept of philanthropy is spontaneous not self-conscious. Still Chinese rich people do not have a mature view of wealth and social responsibility.
Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that by the end of 2009, charity foundations in China was less than 1,800 (the U.S. had almost 100,000) and the total amount of donation was approximately 10 billion yuan which was less than one thirtieth of the U.S. volume.
The western concept on philanthropy is worth of thinking. Many Western people think donation as a moral practice. For example, about 70 percent of American families made donation in 1998. In the West, donation became a culture and the social responsibility of entrepreneurs. This is represented by entrepreneurs such as Rockefeller and Gates.
Another concept that we can learn from the West is the system of construction of philanthropy. Mobilizing all channels of social resources is a major way, and the government needs to set up a regulatory or management system for charity foundations and non-governmental organizations. For example, Great Britain issued a charity law in the 17th Century, and incorporated a taxation system to encourage people to make donations to the charity and now it became a voluntary deed.
However, it does not mean to follow the Western countries exactly the same. Considering China's social and economic development, the rapid wealth accumulation, culture and tradition makes Chinese to develop its own concept of philanthropy. It is one's decision to donate or not and also the amount is personal to be decided that the Chinese society need to treat it with more tolerance.
Chinese people are good at learning strong points of others. With the social wealth growth and civilization development, the Chinese charity culture will grow quickly. Many foundations have established that the charity parties and celebrities' endorsements will promote the culture of charity in the Chinese society.
"Forget what you gave, but remember what you got." I hope the concept of charity will develop deeper into people's hearts. The further development of charity in China will enhance the harmony of our society.
(This article was first published in Chinese and translated by Li Shen.)
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