Humanity takes center stage at TED, but I would like to add a voice for the animals, whose bodies and minds and spirits shaped us.
人類是 TED 舞台的中心, 但我想加入一些 動物的聲音, 牠們的身體,思想和精神 塑造了我們。
Some years ago, it was my good fortune to meet a tribal elder on an island not far from Vancouver. His name is Jimmy Smith, and he shared a story with me that is told among his people, who call themselves the Kwikwasut'inuxw.
數年前,我很有幸 在離溫哥華不遠的小島上 見到一位部落長老。 他名叫幾米·史密斯, 他與我分享了一個 在部落住民間廣為流傳的一個故事, 這些住民自稱為 Kwikwasut'inuxw。
Once upon a time, he told me, all animals on Earth were one. Even though they look different on the outside, inside, they're all the same, and from time to time they would gather at a sacred cave deep inside the forest to celebrate their unity. When they arrived, they would all take off their skins. Raven shed his feathers, bear his fur, and salmon her scales, and then, they would dance. But one day, a human made it to the cave and laughed at what he saw because he did not understand. Embarrassed, the animals fled, and that was the last time they revealed themselves this way.
很久很久以前,他說, 地球上所有的動物是一樣的。 即使牠們有著不同的外表, 內在確是相同的, 牠們時常會相聚在 森林深處一個神聖的洞穴 慶祝牠們的同一性。 當牠們到那裡的時候, 牠們會脫去皮囊。 烏鴉脫去羽毛,熊脫去皮毛, 三文魚脫去鱗片, 然後,牠們跳舞。 但某一天,一個人類到達了這個洞穴 對著眼前的一切大笑 因為他無法理解這樣的行為。 動物們感到很尷尬,紛紛離開, 那是最後一次 牠們如此這般展現自己。
The ancient understanding that underneath their separate identities, all animals are one, has been a powerful inspiration to me. I like to get past the fur, the feathers and the scales. I want to get under the skin. No matter whether I'm facing a giant elephant or a tiny tree frog, my goal is to connect us with them, eye to eye.
古老的智慧, 在動物們各異的外表下, 所有的動物都是一樣的, 這給我帶來了巨大的靈感。 我想要穿透皮毛、羽毛 和鱗片。 我想要了解皮膚裡面的東西。 無論我是面對一頭巨大的大象 或是一隻小小的樹蛙, 我的目標是連結我們和牠們,心有靈犀。
You may wonder, do I ever photograph people? Sure. People are always present in my photos, no matter whether they appear to portray tortoises or cougars or lions. You just have to learn how to look past their disguise.
你可能會問,我拍攝人類嗎? 當然。人類時常出現在我的攝影作品裏, 無論是 假扮烏龜, 或是美洲豹, 或是獅子。 你只需要了解如何看穿偽裝。
As a photographer, I try to reach beyond the differences in our genetic makeup to appreciate all we have in common with every other living thing. When I use my camera, I drop my skin like the animals at that cave so I can show who they really are.
作為一名攝影師, 我試圖達到超越 我們基因不同之下 來領會我們 與其他生物的相同之處。 當我使用照相機, 我脫去我的皮膚, 就像那些洞穴里的動物一樣 於是我能展現出牠們真實的模樣。
As animals blessed with the power of rational thought, we can marvel at the intricacies of life. As citizens of a planet in trouble, it is our moral responsibility to deal with the dramatic loss in diversity of life. But as humans with hearts, we can all rejoice in the unity of life, and perhaps we can change what once happened in that sacred cave.
正如動物們 被理性思考的力量庇護著, 我們驚訝於生命的錯綜複雜。 作為生活在遇到麻煩的星球上的人, 我們有道德責任 來處理生物多樣性急劇降低的問題。 但作為有心有感情的人類, 我們可以慶祝生命的連結, 也許我們能改變 那個神聖洞穴裡層發生的事。
Let's find a way to join the dance.
讓我們加入動物們的舞蹈。
Thank you.
謝謝。
(Applause)
(鼓掌)