Tzu Chi and Knightsbridge International
Held Joint Press Conference
(By Kevin Shih, New York; Translation by Stephen Tang, Northern
California)
Just after the September 11 tragedy, Tzu
Chi volunteers went to the New York disaster area to provide
relief. More than $600,000 has been distributed to over 1,000
families of victims, and the work is still going on. When
U.S. military operations began in Afghanistan on October 7,
Tzu Chi again started to help Afghan refugees.
Stephen Huang, executive director of the
Tzu Chi Foundation, and Sir Edward Artis, chairman of Knightsbridge
International, held a joint press conference on October 14
at the JFK Airport Sheraton Hotel in New York. Tzu Chi requested
Knightsbridge to help deliver a donation check to Afghan refugees.
Earlier, Tzu Chi had already arranged for
a forty-foot container filled with relief materials to be
delivered to Dushanbe. It was expected to arrive on October
15. Artis and three other members of Knightsbridge International
flew from New York to Tajikistan, bordering Afghanistan, to
manage the container materials and to prepare their own food
and clothing for the dangerous entry into Afghanistan.
This is the third humanitarian partnership
between Tzu Chi and Knightsbridge. Knightsbridge said that
they would follow Tzu Chi's approach and deliver some of the
materials directly into the hands of the refugees. The rest
of the materials, including blankets, food and cooking oil,
will be distributed to mountain areas by helicopters.
Knightsbridge planned to cross the Afghan
border, go to the Peshawar Valley by air or land, then take
the train to Mazar to meet with Karim Khalili and Mohaqiq.
Artis said that they are good men who represent most of the
refugees.
Artis remarked that this is a highly dangerous
mission. They will accomplish this mission under the protection
of the Northern Alliance and coalition forces. Stephen Huang
gave the Knightsbridge team Buddhist chanting beads and Tzu
Chi medals and banners. Artis said that they were going to
Afghanistan with Tzu Chi's blessings.
In addition to Artis, the three other members
of the Knightsbridge team are Dr. Sir James G. Laws, Mr. Walt
Ratterman, and Mr. Adrian Belic. When asked whether he was
nervous about his first Afghan trip, Ratterman said with a
smile, "One just needs to be careful." He said he
has been to Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Mongolia, implying
that he is an experienced traveler.
Tzu Chi members offered their blessings
for the safe return of these four brave men from their heroic
mission. Artis said the team planned to be back in the United
States on November 4, but they may stay longer if necessary.
Tzu Chi members bade them farewell with warm hugs and songs.
According to Stephen Huang, from February
to May of 1998, Tzu Chi and Knightsbridge International first
shared the relief efforts for Afghan civil war refugees. Knightsbridge
helped bring Tzu Chi donations of antibiotics, medicine and
equipment to Afghanistan. Huang emphasized the fact that Tzu
Chi's international relief goes beyond any race or religion.
Master Cheng Yen believes that only Great Love can ease human
suffering.
Artis observed that Knightsbridge International
missions must always be risky and humanitarian. He said this
particular mission is especially significant because the Christian
Knightsbridge organization and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
are working in conjunction to help Muslim refugees. It truly
symbolizes the ideal of world peace.
Even though this trip would be dangerous,
Artis guaranteed that all material supplies and money will
be distributed directly to the refugees, with a signature
from each recipient. After the successful completion of the
mission, Artis will go to Taiwan to visit Master Cheng Yen
and relay the refugees' thanks for what Tzu Chi has given.
