比尔盖茨写在年度信之前

英语自学网

前言：每年一月，比尔?盖茨都会撰写一封年度信，其中涵盖了他对比尔和梅林达?盖茨基金会工作一些看法以及基金会达成目标的进展情况。人们对2009年度信表现出的浓厚兴趣也使得比尔决定开设Gates Notes网站。 Every January, Bill writes an Annual Letter, which includes his thoughts on the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and progress it is making toward achieving its goals. Interest in the 2009 Annual Letter was one reason Bill decided to create the Gates Notes website.
         
        　　我最近完成了2010年度信，这封信将于本周发表。在今年的信中，我会提到创新在解决一些世界重大问题方面的重要性。 I recently wrote my 2010 Annual Letter, which will be posted this week. In this year’s letter I talk about the importance of innovation for solving some of the world’s biggest problems.
         
        　　梅琳达和我都意识到创新成为影响未来社会的一个要素。信中也说明了我们将会为哪些理念提供资金支持，并将谈论到每一项目的益处，时限以及风险。 Melinda and I see innovation as the factor that will make the difference between having a bleak future and a bright one. The letter explains how we decide which ideas to fund and talk about the benefits, time frame, and risks of each one.
         
        　　我之所以决定提笔写年度信，是因为在2008年时，沃伦?巴菲特鼓励我寻求一种方式来与更多人分享基金会的目标，并且尽可能坦率地对项目成果做出评估。 I decided to write an Annual Letter because in 2008, Warren Buffett encouraged me to find a way to share my thinking more broadly about the foundation’s goals and to assess as frankly as possible our progress toward achieving these goals.
         
        　　我在2009年完成了第一封年度信，我必须承认，信件发表后引起的高度关注着实使我大吃一惊。我从没有料想到会有如此多的人会联系到我，并向我询问那些信中提及问题的最新进展。 I wrote my first Annual Letter in 2009, and I have to admit I was surprised by the outpouring of interest after it was published. I never anticipated that so many people would get in touch to ask that I continue to provide updates on the issues I covered in the letter.
         
        　　我计划每个年末都会写一封信，其中我会诚实地评价基金会的工作成果。包括协助发展中国家提升其卫生条件，降低贫困；以及改进提高美国本土的教育。 My plan is to write a letter at the end of each year to provide my honest assessment of how well the foundation is doing in its work to improve health and reduce poverty in the developing world and improve education in the U.S.
         
        　　在很多方面，Gates Notes网站都是作为年度信的延伸。我会提及一些与基金会相关的话题，也会有一些是与之无关的。（你同样会在基金会官方网站上找到与基金会有关的话题。） In many ways, the Gates Notes is an extension of the Annual Letter. I will write some about foundation-related topics as well as work that isn’t related to the foundation.
         
        　　与年度信如出一辙，我开设网站的初衷也是想诚恳地探讨那些我所关心的事件。同时我也衷心希望，人们会收获到一些有用的想法和信息，以此来帮助大家找到解决问题的方法。 My goal for the website, as it is in the Annual Letter, is to be as candid as I can about the issues I care about. Hopefully, people will find some ideas and information that will help them think about how to tackle some of these issues, too.