But then I realized, "I am somebody."

接著我發現原來「我就是那個人。」

I had my first "aha, I am somebody" moment when I was walking down the street,

當我第一次意識到「噢！我就是那個人」的那個瞬間我正走在街上，

in my native New York city,

我走在我土生土長的紐約街道，

and happened upon what I can only describe

接下來的事就發生在牠身上，

as a pulsating, brown, furry,

一個有脈動、咖啡色、毛茸茸

and yet kind of slimy little ball at my feet,

且有點黏稠稠的球狀物靠在我的腳邊，

that was in grave danger of being smashed to bits

當時情況極度危險， 因為牠會被搗碾成小碎塊，

by a very angry sanitation worker, with a very large shovel.

一位非常生氣的清潔工拿著一個超大鏟子正要處理牠。

I had no idea what this little alien thing was, but instinctively,

我根本不知道這個小外星生物是什麼，但我出於本能地

I threw myself on top of it, screaming, "No, no, no, no, no!

讓自己擋在牠上面且大喊：「不不不不不！

I'll take it."

我把牠帶走。」

Of course the guy thought I was totally nuts, but I did,

當然那個男的覺得我根本是個瘋子但我還是做了，

and took this little ball, and I put it in a box, and I took it to Central Park,

我把這個小球狀體帶走，然後放進一個盒子裡接著我帶著牠去中央公園，

and I sat there staring at it for a couple of hours, not knowing what to do.

我在公園裡坐著盯著牠看了好幾個小時，不知道該如何是好。

And all of a sudden, the box started to move,

接著突然間盒子開始動了起來，

and the flaps on the top of the box opened,

然後盒子最上層的盒蓋打開了，

and not one, but two beautiful bats flew out over my head

不只一隻而是兩隻美麗的蝙蝠飛過我的頭

and into the night sky.

飛向夜空。

Apparently, what had happened, or it's the best guess of the experts,

很顯然地，剛剛發生的事或專家猜測極有可能，

is that two bats had become stuck together in the throws of passion -

那兩隻蝙蝠是因為交配才卡在一起的。

(Laughter)


(笑聲)

- and fallen from a rooftop somewhere, and landed at my feet.

然後不知道從哪裡的屋頂掉下來掉到了我的腳邊。

So, for me, I didn't know what this little thing was,

對我來說，我並不知道那個小東西是什麼，

but it was pulsating, right?

但牠有脈動，對吧？

So that meant it must have had a pulse, which would mean probably a heartbeat,

所以那代表牠有脈搏，也就是說牠可能有心跳，

which would mean it could suffer.

也就代表牠可能會感到痛苦。

And that just wasn't going to happen on my watch.

我不允許這樣的事情發生在我眼前。

So, I don't know what makes some people watchers and other people doers.

我不知道什麼驅使一些人當旁觀者而另一些人當實踐家。

I don't know what plants a seed that blossoms into a calling.

我不知道什麼是種下一顆種子就能綻放無窮的使命感。

I do know that, for me, it's a compulsion,

但我知道我有一股強烈的慾望，

to speak for those that cannot speak for themselves.

為那些無法發聲的動物說出心聲。

Uncomfortable, though, it may be

雖然這個過程令人不自在，

for somebody who never raised her hand in class,

對於一個從沒在教室舉手發言的人來說，

hated to be called on to read aloud,

對於一個討厭被叫起來大聲朗誦的人來說，

and was described by every teacher as "painfully shy."

對於一個被每位老師稱為「極度內向」的人來說相當不自在。

I guess something in me must have connected to those

我猜我內心深處一定和那些動物產生了連結，

that seemed invisible and voiceless.

和那些看似被忽視和無聲的動物有了連結。

Perhaps, something in me saw myself as one of them,

也許，我內心深處知道自己也是牠們的一員，

needing rescue and a voice.

牠們需要有人拯救和發聲。

All I know is I have no choice in the matter anymore.

我只知道對於這種事情我再也不會放任不管。

I was born for this, and I raise my hand for animals every chance I get.

這是我的使命，所以每當有機會為動物發聲時我都舉起我的手。

I remember the first time that I was shown footage

我記得第一次看到一段影片，

obtained by undercover investigators,

這段影片由喬裝的調查人員拍攝，

of how animals had suffered and died for my dinner, my clothing,

內容是動物如何痛苦地死去且成為餐桌上的晚餐、變成我的衣服

my entertainment, and my well-intentioned charitable contributions.

變成娛樂和成為我出於好意的慈善捐贈。

I stood in stunned silence, tears were racing down my face,

我站著驚訝地說不出話，眼淚從我臉龐滑落，

and my hands were covering my eyes

我的雙手摀住我的雙眼，

and I was hit with such rage and such pain,

滿腔的怒火和無法言語的悲痛對我襲來，

that I could barely speak.

讓我幾乎說不出話來。

Unlike these cows that you might recognize from YouTube,

我看到的影片和你在 YouTube 上看到的乳牛影片不一樣，

this footage that I saw was dark and grainy,

這段影片黑壓壓的且模糊不清，

but images of eyes wide with terror will haunt me forever.

但那充滿恐懼且睜大的雙眼影像讓我永遠也忘不了。

Animals on factory farms, and laboratories, zoos, circuses,

那些被關在養殖場、實驗室、動物園、馬戲團

aquariums, amusement parks, rodeos, all of it, they are all routinely beaten.

水族館、遊樂園和競技場的動物時常受到凌虐，

They are denied everything natural to them.

牠們被剝奪屬於牠們的大自然。

They are isolated, burned, electrocuted,

牠們被單獨圈養、火燒和電刑，

brain-damaged, blinded.

牠們的腦部受到損傷且失去視力。

They are beaten, as I said before, and they are whipped into submission.

就像我剛才說過的，牠們受到凌虐而且因遭到鞭打而屈服。

They are left to linger in cold cages, alone, without any painkillers,

牠們被單獨留在冰冷的籠子裡等死，牠們沒有止痛劑，

until they are killed.

牠們會痛苦到被宰殺的那一刻。

My brain had to process that this is legal.

我必須催眠自己這是合法的。

This is the way that billions upon billions of animals live.

這就是數十億動物的生活方式。

This is the way that they die.

這就是牠們死去的方式。

This is what lurks behind closed doors

這就是緊閉的大門後潛藏的真相，

that only ardent animal advocates dare to open.

只有熱血的動物倡導者才敢打開那扇門。

I was hit with such a wave of guilt, that I barely recognized myself.

如潮水般的罪惡感打在我身上，我幾乎認不得自己是誰。

These images changed me.

這些影像改變了我。

They gutted me.

這些影像掏空了我的身心。

They made me realize that all of these labels that I so detested,

這些影像讓我發現，我所厭惡的這些標籤，

like "oppressor," and "bully,"

像是「迫害者」和「惡霸」， 


could just as easily be applied to me, regardless of intent,

都能夠輕易地也貼在我身上，即使我不是故意的，

because I was a contributor to industries that view animals

我也對這些產業有所貢獻，

as nothing more than property and machines.

這些產業視動物為資產和機器。

So, the little girl that wouldn't dare raise her hand in class

所以那位不敢在教室舉手的小女孩，

grew up to be somebody that wants to raise the roof for animals,

長大後成為了為動物勇敢發聲的人，

because I found that I could no longer live in peace

因為我發現我再也無法一邊安穩地過日子，

while there's a war being waged against animals.

一邊看著一場針對動物的戰爭正在開打。

I could no longer feel full while they're being starved,

當動物正在挨餓的同時我再也無法感到飽足，

or feel warm knowing that they're being enslaved in cold cages.

當我知道牠們受困在冰冷的籠子裡我無法感到溫暖。

I couldn't feel safe while they're being brutalized,

當牠們被殘忍地對待時我無法趕到安然無恙，

and I certainly couldn't feel free while they are still oppressed.

當牠們遭受壓迫時我當然無法感到自由。

Activism destroys me,

雖然動物保護主義讓我的心支離破碎，

but it also heals me, every day.

但也一天天幫我重新拼湊起來。

And every day we're faced with new challenges.

我們每天都面臨新的挑戰。

How to educate the public within a digestible way?

如何用容易理解的方式來教育大眾呢？

Because let's face it: if we're too graphic,

因為承認吧！如果我們曝光真實的影像，

people turn away; they don't want to know.

人們會轉身走開，他們不會想了解。

If we're too gentle, then we don't make any impact.

如果我們太過和緩又一點效果都沒有。

So, for me, sometimes my activism is loud, and it's aggressive,

所以有時候我盡力為動物保護主義發聲，且採取積極手段，

and it's blaring through megaphones outside of slaughterhouses.

透過屠宰場外的擴音器發出動物們刺耳的心聲。

But at other times, it's in soft, measured tones,

但有些時候，我們用平靜和緩的口氣，

speaking about orcas and dolphins in captivity

講述虎鯨和海豚受到囚禁，

to little children entering Sea World.

我們將實情告訴正要進入海洋世界的小朋友們。

And sometimes, yeah, my message goes viral,

再者有些時候，我要傳達的訊息會被瘋傳，

with me being let away from this scene in handcuffs.

且夾帶著我被警方銬上手銬帶走的這個畫面。

I believe that activism starts as a whisper in our soul,

我相信動物保護主義從心出發，那是靈魂耳語的聲音，

a voice, way down deep inside, almost like intuition,

一個聲音從內心深處發聲，幾乎就像是直覺一樣，

that presents itself as an unmistakeable knowing

保護動物是絕對不會錯的，

that nudges us to look our conscience dead in the eye,

那股直覺激發我們去審視自己的良心，

and ask ourselves the tough questions, such as,

讓我們捫心自問，像是，

"Is this moral?"

「這樣道德嗎？」

"Is this the right choice for me?"

「這對我是正確的選擇嗎？」

"Can I sleep at night knowing what I know now?"

「我現在知道這些實情後我還能在夜晚睡得安穩嗎？」

"Am I living my truth?"

「我活在自己認可的真理之下嗎？」

And often times, the answers will surprise us.

很多時候答案往往讓我驚訝。

A revolution begins with an idea, a truth in ourselves that we cannot deny,

革命始於一個想法，一個在我們心中不可否認的真理，

and feel compelled to spread, regardless of the facts

且懷抱著散播此真理的使命，不論實際情況如何，

that, yeah, it might isolate us from those close to us,


這可能會讓我們和親朋好友疏離，

it might take our safety, our freedom, and put them at risk,

這可能會讓我們冒著失去安全和自由的風險，

it can drive us to our darkest depths of despair,

這可能會讓我們掉入最黑暗的絕望深淵，

and break our hearts.

且撕裂我們的心。

But it's worth it. Oh man, it is worth it!

但這一切都值得。天啊！這一切都是值得的！

Because a revolution brings about change whose time has come,

因為革命帶來轉變，而這轉變的時機已經到來，

and we are at a tipping point of this revolution,

我們正處在這場革命的臨界點，

that begins and builds with each of us

革命就從我們每一個人開始且拓展，

recognizing what we know is true

我們意識到自己所知道的是事實，

in the most sacred places of our hearts, and acting on it.

我們深信心中最神聖的地方且付諸行動。

For me, giving these animals a voice,

對我來說為這些動物發聲，

these choiceless animals,

幫助這些沒得選擇的動物，

helps illuminate these dark, cold, bearing enclosures

為充滿黑暗且淒涼的屠宰場帶來光明，

that bring out, with cries of pain, loneliness and torture,

抹去痛苦的淚水、遠離孤獨和折磨

voices begging to be seen, to be recognized,

讓這些祈求被看見、祈求受到重視的聲音被聽見，

to know that they are not alone, and that yes, they are heard.

讓牠們知道自己不孤單，是的牠們的心聲我們聽到了。

And maybe, somehow, this makes me feel less alone.

或許，不知怎麼地，這讓我覺得比較不孤單。

Acting on behalf of these animals that I will never meet,

我為這些動物提出訴求且發聲，雖然我永遠也見不到牠們，

but fight for every day,

但我每一天都為了牠們而戰，

has connected me to a global cry for justice

這讓我連結全球志同道合的人，我們都為了正義而吶喊，

that has moved mountains for other social justice movements.

這股力量也讓其它的社會正義運動大功告成。

It has taken me from feeling like a powerless individual

這讓我從覺得自己是個沒有力量的人，

to an important, proactive part of the wheel

變成轉動革命齒輪中重要且積極的一部分，

that is a driving force toward making this world

就是這一股驅動力即將讓這個世界，

a kinder, and gentler, and more sustainable place to live,

變得更善良、更溫柔且變成一個更永續的生存之地， 


connecting me to my highest self as a citizen of the world that I live in.

讓我在我所居住的世界，作為一個世界公民達到最高的自我實現。

I have planted a seed of change,

我已種下了改變的種子，

and I delight in seeing it grow,

而且我雀躍地想看見它茁壯，

as more and more animals are awarded rights,

有越來越多的動物都被賦予權利，

and veganism takes its place in the mainstream.

且維根主義也在主流世界占有一席之地。

We all have this in us, no matter what our calling.

不論我們的使命是什麼，我們心中都存在著這樣的信念。

We can all change the world.

我們每個人都可以改變這個世界。

We can all raise our hands.

我們每個人都可以舉起我們的手。

For me, I promise you, I will not rest

我發誓我絕不會停歇，

until every cage is empty,

直到每一個籠子都是空的，

and every tank is drained.

每一個水族箱都是乾的為止。

What might it be for you?

那你的使命是什麼？

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Cheers) (Applause)

(歡呼) (掌聲)