新奇事件簿 冰桶挑战有利于慈善事业（在线收听）

You have probably seen videos on social media of your family and friends pouring a bucket of ice-cold water on their heads for charity. They have taken part in the Ice Bucket Challenge, the latest viral campaign to emerge on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other networking sites. The challenge involves dumping icy water on top of your head or donating $100 to various ALS charities. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - also known as motor neurone disease (MND) – destroys muscle, making it difficult to speak, swallow and breathe. Ice Bucket Challenge participants post a video online and invite friends to follow suit. More than 1.1 million donors in the USA have donated over $53 million since July the 29th.

你或许在大众媒体的视频中看到过自己的家人和朋友将一桶冰冷的水倒在自己的头上。他们是在参加冰桶挑战，而且这一活动最近在Facebook, YouTube, Twitter等其他社交网站上疯狂传播。这一挑战包括在自己头部倾倒冰冷的水，或者向多家ALS 慈善机构捐款100美元。肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症（ALS），也称作运动神经元疾病（MND），这一疾病将会毁坏肌肉，致使病患难以讲话，吞咽困难，甚至无法呼吸。冰桶挑战的参与者会在线发布视频，并邀请朋友参加。自7月29日以来，美国多达110万的捐款人，已经捐献了5300万美元。

The viral campaign is giving ALS and MND charities valuable global exposure to raise awareness of the disease and raise funds. It exploits people's willingness and desire to post selfies or videos of themselves online, while feeling good about helping a charity. Communication and Media Studies professor Mark Glantz said: "You get the message directly from friends and acquaintances. It kind of appeals to the same side of people that wants to post a selfie." The challenge has even reached the President of the USA. Barack Obama decided against the dousing but said he would donate instead. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure within three to five years from the onset of symptoms.

这一疯狂的活动为ALS和MND的慈善机构做了有价值的全球性宣传，并且提高了人们对这一疾病的关注度，募捐了更多基金。这一活动利用人们的意愿和希望来在线发布自己的自拍照或视频，而且人们还会因为能够帮助慈善机构而感觉良好。通讯和传媒研究教授马可表示，人们可以从朋友和熟人那里直接获得信息。这是吸引具有相同立场的人发布自拍照的一种方式。美国总统奥巴马拒绝了这一挑战。但是奥巴马表示他会捐款。大多数患有ALS疾病的人，在症状出现3到5年之后，会死于呼吸衰竭。