Our history and mission我們的歷史與使命我们的历史与使命

Our Mother Earth is the source of all life. Being a member of the global village, we are obligated to stay engaged in solidarity since we share one atmosphere and breathe the same air. The water from our daily usage also turns into ice, snow and rain to fall in every corner of the globe.

BECHA urges everyone to take actions in our daily life to save energy, reduce carbon emission, and cherish the resources to help build a living environment with green mountains, clean water, and sustainable resources. We also inherited the spirit of our Taiwan sister association in collecting baby carriers with the hope to convey the vision of the continuity of humanity in future generations through these near extinct needle works, so as to protect our Mother Earth, this beautiful planet that all living things are born and nourished.

地球母親是一切生命的源頭。身為地球村的一分子，我們同在一片大氣之下，呼吸著同樣的空氣，因此有責任團結一心、共同投入。我們日常所用的水，也會化為冰、雪與雨，落在地球的每一個角落。

碧波協會呼籲大家在日常生活中身體力行，節約能源、減少碳排放、珍惜資源，共同營造青山綠水、資源永續的生活環境。我們也傳承了臺灣姊妹會蒐集背兒帶的精神，希望透過這些瀕臨失傳的針黹手藝，傳達人類世代綿延不絕的願景，進而守護地球母親，守護這顆孕育、滋養萬物的美麗星球。

地球母亲是一切生命的源头。身为地球村的一分子，我们同在一片大气之下，呼吸着同样的空气，因此有责任团结一心、共同投入。我们日常所用的水，也会化为冰、雪与雨，落在地球的每一个角落。

碧波协会呼吁大家在日常生活中身体力行，节约能源、减少碳排放、珍惜资源，共同营造青山绿水、资源可持续的生活环境。我们也传承了台湾姐妹会收集背儿带的精神，希望通过这些濒临失传的针黹手艺，传达人类世代绵延不绝的愿景，进而守护地球母亲，守护这颗孕育、滋养万物的美丽星球。

BECHA is a public service platform to deliver the message of LOVE and HOPE. We espouse the ideals of Caring for the Earth and Equality to Life. Through organizing activities, sponsoring thematic exhibitions, and publishing books, we hope to inspire the attention and support of the community in order to achieve the vision of sustainable humanity and harmonious co-existence.

In addition, we also provide resources and information to support vulnerable groups, thus helping them to blossom the brilliance in life. Our future plan is to combine with other volunteer forces to expand the activities of LOVE in the community, such as providing care for elderly and children’s education. We hope that under the joint efforts of the public, HOPE and VISION will be awakened by LOVE and a good legacy will be left on this land.

碧波協會是一個傳遞「愛」與「希望」的公益平台。我們秉持「關懷地球、眾生平等」的理念，透過舉辦活動、贊助主題展覽與出版書籍，期盼喚起社會大眾的關注與支持，實現人類永續、和諧共存的願景。

此外，我們也提供資源與資訊，扶助弱勢族群，幫助他們綻放生命的光彩。未來我們計畫結合其他志工力量，在社區擴展愛的活動，例如關懷長者與兒童教育。我們希望在社會大眾的共同努力下，以「愛」喚醒「希望」與「願景」，在這片土地上留下美好的傳承。

碧波协会是一个传递“爱”与“希望”的公益平台。我们秉持“关怀地球、众生平等”的理念，通过举办活动、赞助主题展览与出版书籍，期盼唤起社会大众的关注与支持，实现人类永续、和谐共存的愿景。

此外，我们也提供资源与信息，扶助弱势群体，帮助他们绽放生命的光彩。未来我们计划联合其他志愿者力量，在社区拓展爱的活动，例如关怀老人与儿童教育。我们希望在社会大众的共同努力下，以“爱”唤醒“希望”与“愿景”，在这片土地上留下美好的传承。

BECHA will enlist more volunteers and workers to promote the charitable cause of providing financial relief for poor tribal villages in support of near extinct artifacts and advancing education on how to care for the Earth to save humanity as we do to love and care for our own mother. We plan to hold exhibitions of collected rare artifacts, such as hand woven baby wrappers from minority tribes and villages throughout the world, and host educational speaker forums to exchange views in caring for the Earth and humanity in the United States.

碧波協會將招募更多志工與工作人員，推動以下慈善事業：透過支持瀕臨失傳的文物，為貧困的部落村莊提供經濟援助；並推廣教育，讓大家像關愛自己的母親一樣愛護地球、拯救人類。我們計畫在美國舉辦所蒐集珍稀文物的展覽，例如來自世界各地少數民族部落與村落的手工編織背兒帶，並主辦教育講座論壇，交流關懷地球與人文的觀點。

碧波协会将招募更多志愿者与工作人员，推动以下慈善事业：通过支持濒临失传的文物，为贫困的部落村庄提供经济援助；并推广教育，让大家像关爱自己的母亲一样爱护地球、拯救人类。我们计划在美国举办所收集珍稀文物的展览，例如来自世界各地少数民族部落与村落的手工编织背儿带，并主办教育讲座论坛，交流关怀地球与人文的观点。

Since the start of this millennium, volunteers from Taiwan have been providing financial relief in poor and under-privileged ethnic minority tribes and villages via support of cultural heritage artifacts, particularly hand woven baby wrappers that are in danger of extinction. Volunteers at our sister association the Big Ball Earth Care & Humanist Association of Taiwan have held exhibitions of these artifacts in museums and universities and sponsored numerous speaker forums for advancing education on caring of the Earth as one would for their own mother for the sake of saving the humanity.

The BigBall Earth Caring Humanity Association (BECHA) was founded largely based on the inspiration and support from our sister association in Taiwan. Sharing the concern that the Earth, where the existence of 7 billion human beings and other living things rely on, is facing the threat of imbalance from global warming, such as the rise of sea-level , sharp decline in biodiversity , shortages of food and fresh water, as well as the frequent floods, droughts, heat waves, and typhoons due to extreme weather conditions. These various phenomena repeatedly remind us that our Mother Earth is under increasingly heavy burden.

In response to the green spirit of “Think Globally and Act Locally “, BECHA was founded by a group of people with lofty ideals and was registered on July 1, 2011 in California as a non-profit charity organization with IRS 501(c)3 status.

自本世紀初以來，臺灣的志工便透過支持文化傳承文物，特別是瀕臨失傳的手工編織背兒帶，為貧困弱勢的少數民族部落與村落提供經濟援助。我們的姊妹會「臺灣碧波關懷地球人文協會」的志工們，曾在博物館與大學舉辦這些文物的展覽，並主辦多場講座論壇，推廣教育，呼籲大家像關愛自己的母親一樣關愛地球，以拯救人類。

美國碧波關懷地球人文協會（BECHA）的成立，主要得益於臺灣姊妹會的啟發與支持。我們有著共同的憂慮：地球是七十億人類與其他生物賴以生存的家園，如今正面臨全球暖化帶來的失衡威脅，例如海平面上升、生物多樣性急遽減少、糧食與淡水短缺，以及極端氣候所造成的頻繁水災、旱災、熱浪與颱風。種種現象一再提醒我們，地球母親的負擔正日益沉重。

為響應「全球思考，在地行動」的綠色精神，一群懷抱崇高理想的人士創立了碧波協會，並於2011年7月1日在加州登記為非營利慈善機構，具有美國國稅局501(c)3資格。

自本世纪初以来，台湾的志愿者便通过支持文化传承文物，特别是濒临失传的手工编织背儿带，为贫困弱势的少数民族部落与村落提供经济援助。我们的姐妹会“台湾碧波关怀地球人文协会”的志愿者们，曾在博物馆与大学举办这些文物的展览，并主办多场讲座论坛，推广教育，呼吁大家像关爱自己的母亲一样关爱地球，以拯救人类。

美国碧波关怀地球人文协会（BECHA）的成立，主要得益于台湾姐妹会的启发与支持。我们有着共同的忧虑：地球是七十亿人类与其他生物赖以生存的家园，如今正面临全球变暖带来的失衡威胁，例如海平面上升、生物多样性急剧减少、粮食与淡水短缺，以及极端气候所造成的频繁水灾、旱灾、热浪与台风。种种现象一再提醒我们，地球母亲的负担正日益沉重。

为响应“全球思考，本地行动”的绿色精神，一群怀抱崇高理想的人士创立了碧波协会，并于2011年7月1日在加州注册为非营利慈善机构，具有美国国税局501(c)3资格。

BECHA is still run entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff, and led by our CEO, James Tang. Most years we travel to China: we visit families in Jilin province we have helped since 2014, bring treats and supplies to an orphanage in Dalian, and, with partner charities, help children from Tibetan and other minority villages get heart surgery. We also look for traditional baby carriers and visit heritage sites, teach English online, and keep the memoirs of a generation on this website.

碧波協會至今仍完全由志工營運，沒有支薪職員，由執行長唐宗英帶領。大多數年份我們都會前往中國：探訪自 2014 年起持續幫助的吉林省家庭，為大連一所孤兒院帶去點心和物資，並與合作的慈善團體一起，協助藏族及其他少數民族村落的孩子接受心臟手術。我們也尋找傳統背兒帶、走訪文化遺產、在線上教英文，並在這個網站上保存一代人的回憶錄。

碧波协会至今仍完全由志愿者运营，没有带薪员工，由首席执行官唐宗英领导。大多数年份我们都会去中国：走访自 2014 年起一直帮助的吉林省家庭，为大连一家孤儿院送去零食和物资，并与合作的慈善机构一起，帮助藏族和其他少数民族村庄的孩子接受心脏手术。我们还寻找传统背儿带、走访文化遗产、在线教英语，并在本网站上保存一代人的回忆录。

BECHA was granted Federal tax exempt status as a non-profit organization for public charity under IRS code 501(c)3 on August 3, 2012 and was also acknowledged with a tax- exempt status by California Franchise tax Board on October 31, 2012 effective the same date as Federal.

碧波協會於2012年8月3日獲美國國稅局依501(c)3條款核准，取得聯邦公益慈善非營利組織免稅資格；並於2012年10月31日獲加州稅務局（Franchise Tax Board）認可免稅資格，生效日期與聯邦相同。

碧波协会于2012年8月3日获美国国税局依501(c)3条款核准，取得联邦公益慈善非营利组织免税资格；并于2012年10月31日获加州税务局（Franchise Tax Board）认可免税资格，生效日期与联邦相同。

Thanks to help from BECHA volunteers, we are able to launch this BECHA website before end of 2012. We welcome viewer feedback to help us improve how we serve our community of earth caring & humanity. Please send your comments to [email protected]

感謝碧波志工們的協助，我們得以在2012年底前推出碧波協會網站。歡迎各位讀者提供意見，幫助我們改進服務，更好地服務關懷地球與人文的社群。請將您的意見寄至 [email protected]

感谢碧波志愿者们的协助，我们得以在2012年底前推出碧波协会网站。欢迎各位读者提供意见，帮助我们改进服务，更好地服务关怀地球与人文的社群。请将您的意见发送至 [email protected]

The sister association in China has been established in June, 2013 in order to collect hand woven baby wrapping carriers from the ethnic groups, such as Korean. Experience form the Taiwan sister association will be migrated for collecting near extinct art of making baby wrapping carriers by hand, as well as the caring and teaching for children with special needs in rural country side.

中國姊妹會已於2013年6月成立，目的是向朝鮮族等少數民族蒐集手工編織的背兒帶。臺灣姊妹會的經驗將移植過去，用於蒐集瀕臨失傳的手工背兒帶製作工藝，並關懷與教導偏遠鄉村的特殊需求兒童。

中国姐妹会已于2013年6月成立，目的是向朝鲜族等少数民族收集手工编织的背儿带。台湾姐妹会的经验将移植过去，用于收集濒临失传的手工背儿带制作工艺，并关怀与教导偏远乡村有特殊需要的儿童。

Starting in December 2016, a new community service has been added to provide a repository for memoirs of retirees. This new service is intended to provide a forum for retirees to share their memorable life stories which can be viewed by all BigBall members and supporters around the world. We also encourage new entries from anyone willing to share their significant real life experiences and stories. Please send all inquiries to [email protected]

You can find memoirs posting from the Menu bar under Community Services.

從2016年12月开始， 碧波提供一个新的社区服务项目，就是在碧波网站上开辟了一个“回忆录”栏目给退休人士。目的是为退休人士提供一个平台，把人生值得回忆的故事分享给全世界的网站读友。我们希望有新的碧波之友来共襄盛举，分享您的精彩人生故事，把回忆留下来给家人及新旧朋友们。请联系网站电邮地址[email protected]

回忆录可以從网站的大标题Community Services（社区服务）点开查找。