Leveraging star power for charity
Huang was tasked with a special assignment — cleaning a cage spanning nearly eight square meters. This enclosure housed over 20 birds, predominantly parrots, along with two Chinese bamboo partridges, a feisty crested mynah, and two common hill mynahs that incessantly emitted sounds resembling an electric car alarm.
In the cage, Huang remembered hearing a peculiar sound from a parrot that consistently mimicked human speech, as if conversing with someone. Initially intrigued, Huang engaged with the parrot, only to later feel a sense of cruelty upon learning from the zoo caretaker that the bird had been abandoned by its owner.
"The bird had been conditioned to speak in response to humans, potentially compromising its innate survival skills in the wild," Huang explains in his speech.
Huang also shared his observations of pets, vividly describing a cat at his friend's house that is cool, independent and enjoys hiding and playing on its own. "I was very curious about the cat and often stared at it, imagining how my perspective of the world might change if I were in its place," says Huang.
"Huang offers a fresh perspective that sparks an intriguing discussion on animal protection. It serves as a reminder of how humans should treat animals as equals rather than looking down on them and acting as benefactors," comments Zhang.
Female celebrities have demonstrated strength, bravery and insight in their fields. For instance, TV host-turned-entrepreneur Yang Lan addressed the topic of artistic education in rural areas. Actress Tao Xinran shed light on the greater challenges girls face in rural areas compared to boys. Duan Rui, the wife of successful businessman Cai Lei who was diagnosed with a terminal disease, discussed how she manages the financial burden to support her husband's research for a cure.
Zhang says they hope that the heartfelt stories the celebrities share will inspire compassion, motivating more individuals to engage in charitable events and understand the essence of giving.
