Charity and Volunteerism

　In conformity with the American custom that it is considered to be a virtue for one who retires one’s job early, and to be engaged in philanthropy, Bill Gates announced he would leave the front line of management and software development at Microsoft in July, 2008, and would concentrate on the activities of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (B6M GF, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). Bill Gates ?　Yes.  Windows had the largest market share in the world in the second half in 1990. Bill Gates' gross assets in 2007 were a successful 58,000,000,000 dollars, about 6,500,000,000,000 yen. He endeavors to eradicate AIDS in developing countries as well as malaria and tuberculosis. His foundation also aims to improve literacy and education,  decrease poverty and raise health standards through its rich fund, and it's said that they're expanding donations increasingly.

　Charity is a public interest-like activity performed based on philanthropy, brotherly  love or charitable spirit ; an act ; or an organization which does that. Active charities are seen in all parts of the world, and most of them have a religious background. Charity takes many forms; the rescue operations for a victim and the bereaved; social welfare for a person with a physical disability or the elderly; local food relief for the poor, refugee relief in troubled areas due to national disaster or an accident. But it may be said that the overall contribution to society is charity without these abnormal conditions. In addition, the expenses of charities are often paid by contributions and donations. It is said to be philanthropy in Japanese A volunteer is a person who participates in social activities voluntarily and does homage. In Japan the word also may point to the activity itself. In English, they say volunteering. Public character is strong in charity but volunteerism often calls for personal activity.

　I’ve been working as a volunteer of document rearranging at the art museum nearby since retiring. In addition, I have been sending prints of Japanese TV programs for the education of Japanese who live in the United States and they are very pleased by that. Also, I know some friends who care for hospital patients as volunteers and also I know someone who voluntarily does services such as Braille or the reading aloud of guidance or otherwise assists those with vision or hearing disabilities. It may seem like a small matter for us but everybody should make an effort to be useful. I sometimes feel regret that our society lacks admiration for contributing to our society and charitable undertakings for some reason. The power of volunteerism may be insufficient yet.