Getting Ready at Our Local R&S Elementary School

Under the Poplar: Issue 1, 2012

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finishes with teaching environmental lessons Getting Ready at our local R&S elementary school. Everyone is expected to be thoroughly March is upon us already, exhausted at this point- just in time for the which can only mean one thing- journey home! it’s time to start thinking about planting those trees! The Roots Trees are generally planted in the month of & Shoots team is saying goodbye April because of the weather requirements for to humid Shanghai, and hello to the delicate saplings. The temperature needs sunny Kulun Qi! Beginning on to be approximately 10°C with winds no more th April 9 , the members of Roots & than 10km/h, just after the winter thaw has Shoots will be running back and left a moist topsoil. The saplings are very forth to meet new groups fragile, and otherwise may not survive infancy. travelling north to help plant the The window to grow healthy, strong trees trees. This year we have thirty relies very heavily on encountering good two confirmed business and conditions during the spring season. school groups! The 2012’s planting trip will include a new Meeting at the Shanghai airport, experience- this is the first year we will be participants will fly to Shenyang planting two different tree species together! together with staff, after which While in the past we have experimented with there will be a five-hour bus ride Yellowhorn and Pine trees in the area, never from the airport to our small before have we planted them together in the town of Kulun (at the eastern tip same plot of land! Always aiming to expand, of Inner Mongolia). The stay will develop, and grow, the goal of diversifying include a traditional Mongolian our biodiversity (with local forestry expert ceremony, courtesy of our hotel consultation) is to create the healthiest and partners, and a hearty Mongolian strongest forest possible. We wish our tree- breakfast (think buckwheat, planters well and good-luck on their way to yogurt, and cheese). The opening Inner Mongolia! welcomes will be followed by two full days of desert-exploring, tree- Does this sound interesting? Contact visit planting with the local farmers www.mtpchina.org for more information on under the Mongolian sun, and how to get involved!

Under the Poplar: Issue 1, 2012

Rainbow Bridge International Other creative initiatives from the Green Club School Update: this semester included DVD sales from their winter concert, recycled books, and a raffle. We began following one school in their 1,000 One of the most popular activities among the tree Challenge at the beginning of September. staff has been the students’ idea to create an Rainbow Bridge International School (RBIS), area for teachers to leave reusable items (ex. situated inside the Shanghai Zoo and comprised cereal boxes, water bottles, etc.) that other of grades K-6, has officially doubled our teachers could use for other class projects. challenge! The students and community have They even held an assembly and used skits to raised a forest of 2,000 trees in seven months, teach the school how to use the area! and will now send two representatives to plant and report on the progress in the area.

How did the Green Club manage such great success? Constant participation and enthusiasm! RBIS students and representatives have been continuously doing their own programs and joining ours throughout the year! Here is a brief look:

Jennifer Vaughn, teacher-leader of the Green st Club, attended our 1 International Youth And finally, they can be found at this year’s th Summit on February 25 , meeting teachers and ROCK! For Roots & Shoots selling their students from 14 other International School specialized merchandise for trees. Not only will R&S clubs, learning about successful fundraising. one of their teachers be performing on-stage, She especially enjoyed “listening to [keynote but the students are organizing themselves to speaker, student activist NGO creator] Adam sell RBIS Million Tree T-shirts, handmade Hall…because he found a way to make his voice bracelets, and other fun souvenirs! They are heard about an environmental issue he is graciously donating all proceeds from their passionate about.” booth to the rock forest of the evening.

Also, two of this semester’s biggest fundraisers RBIS’ forest will be planted during the second included the great soccer tournament which week of April in Kulun Qi, Inner Mongolia. had teachers and students squaring-off, and the Teachers Jennifer and Franco Rodriguez will be highly-successful Read-a-thon which raised the hardworking planter-delegates, sharing 15,000 RMB for RBIS kids dedicating time to their experiences with their primary students books! Students for the school-wide read-a- upon return. Looking into the future, there are thon collected donations on a per-minute-basis, only words of hope from Jennifer. “Now that with the top reader reading for over 80 hours in we’ve been through this [once], we want to two weeks! They incorporated fun learning and make it even better next year!” environmental passion with this activity.

Under the Poplar: Issue 1, 2012

…and in other school news…

Thanks a Million

Our successful 1,000 Tree Participants for 2012 include:

Shanghai American School (SAS) Puxi ES

Shanghai American School (SAS) Pudong Shanghai American School (SAS) Puxi HS Rainbow Bridge International School (RBIS) Shanghai Korean School China European International Business School Semiconductor Manufacturing International Company Private School (SMIC) Shangde Experimental School Shanghai High School International Division Utahloy International School Yew Chung International School (YCIS) Gubei Yew Chung International School (YCIS) Pudong

All together this year our schools have helped us raise over 15,000 trees for the fight against the desert in China. Each new successful school will http://shanghai.talkmagazines.cn/issue/2012-02/young- receive a plaque and a sticker. These will be achiever-edwin-zen Full article accumulated each year until the completion of Edwin Zen, President of Shanghai American our forest in 2014! Keep up the good work! School (Pudong)’s Roots & Shoots club has been featured as Shanghai Talk!’s “Young Achiever” in Also, a special mention to all of our participating February. Edwin talks about his involvement in schools this year: R&S at school, organizing 50-70 members to do Brookwood Elementary School U.S.A., Concordia projects such as composting with the cafeteria, International School Shanghai, Emma Willard organic gardening, a recycling project which Private School U.S.A, Nanjing Jinling High School, earns money for their club, and their carbon- Shanghai Community International School offset program for school-related travel. Even (Hongqiao), Shanghai Singapore School , with his busy schedule, Edwin will take time to Shanghai United International School (Shangyin come planting in Inner Mongolia with the MTP Campus), and Suzhou Singapore School following the success of 3,200 trees donated for Young Achiever Award this year’s 1,000 Tree Challenge! Congratulations Edwin!

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Shanghai Roots & Shoots’ First inspired participants to try the varied programs International School Summit, a Huge available or create their own. Success! The Summit also featured R & S club photos, By Kathleen Kelly ROCK! For Roots & Shoots ticket sales, a display of R & S merchandise available to sell as On Saturday February 25, 2012 over 130 members fundraisers, and an organic juice tasting and market and teacher advisers from fifteen Shanghai Roots & research station. One of the goals of the daylong Shoots clubs in International Schools attended the event was to provide students from different first International School Summit. The theme of the international schools in Shanghai the opportunity to day was “Achieving Sustainable Change by using meet each other and share ideas for club activities. your Passion.” Pictures of penguins and the purple theme color reminded participants that change is more likely to become reality when those involved are passionate about the change. Keynote speaker Adam Hall described his experience as a student activist when he created a foundation called Moonwalk for Earth. www.moonwalkforearth.com.

The goal of Moonwalk for Earth was to raise awareness about the need for sustainable energy sources. Adam demonstrated his style of moonwalking which earned him a place in A special double workshop session was conducted the Guinness by George Kaye of ARTSpring and guest artist Book of World Jianwei Fong. Student participants created symbols Records and a for their own ecovalues, painting them on rice paper TV pilot for using Chinese brush MTV. Adam and ink. These will urged his now be combined with audience to original art created by focus on the other organizations in positive aspects of change and to build interest and Shanghai and commitment by providing activities which are fun displayed at the spring and motivational as well as educational. 2012 Eco Design Fair, to be held on April 14 Fifteen workshops provided concrete information from 10:00 to 17:00 at about Roots & Shoots resources including the three the Cool Docks, 505 web sites, membership guidelines, the Million Tree Zhongshan South Project, Eco-audit Program, recycling in Shanghai Road. and Organic Garden and Worm Farm programs. Workshops were led by R & S staff, consultants, R The afternoon closing session featured an interview & S club teacher advisers and student leaders who by Tori Zwisler, founder of Shanghai R & S, with Shanghai entrepreneur Teoman Alemdar who

Under the Poplar: Issue 1, 2012 donated the 100% organic juice for tasting at lunch. Special thanks to the leaders and staff of Shanghai Teoman has modeled leadership in fundraising for Community International School, (SCIS) Hongqiao charity by using his personal celebrations of campus who provided the space for this event to be birthdays, wedding and birth of a child as held. opportunities to raise money for Roots & Shoots. Alemdar announced at the Summit that he will donate 20% of all purchases at his showroom, Ankyra Home, to Shanghai Roots & Shoots. His showroom features imports from Turkey including the organic juice as well as home decorations and handcrafts from Turkey. Watch www.jgi-shanghai for his donation coupon.

The day concluded with awards to schools which achieved success in the 1000 Tree Challenge, the Eco-audit Program and the Organic Garden and Worm Farm projects. The last activity was a ceremony with participants making green pledge commitments and placing them on a large tree. These will be published soon on this Shanghai R&S website www.jgi-shanghai.org.

the MTP on a deeper level (without NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: physically traveling to Inner Mongolia). We would like everyone to be able to use the The “MTP in ACTION” fundamental concepts of our project- think about them, apply them, and take real action Challenge in and around the city. We are looking for your help! All MTP We are currently in the process of creating a student groups will have MTP IN ACTION new Learning Guide for the Million Tree forms distributed to them with a paragraph Project. This learning guide will teach R&S of background information on an groups, companies, and the general public environmental concept of our project. Write about what we are doing with our tree back to us with your favourite lesson, planting, how we are doing it, and how it is activity, event, etc. in school or community, having an effect on the environment and our relating to this topic, and we will publish communities. The goal of this Learning your club in our learning guide! Include Guide is to be able to educate everyone in your club’s photo IN ACTION and school Shanghai and urban areas about the methods logo, and send to Natasha.Pei@jgi- of the MTP, and to be able to connect with shanghai.org by April 30, 2012 and help to educate the greater Shanghai area!

Under the Poplar: Issue 1, 2012

y now everyone should have received Shanghai R&S monthly desktop for March. Use this calendar to keep up to date on all of your important international holidays and R&S prized B environmental drawings. But ever wonder what else is going on in the world? What kind of national days are celebrated in Paraguay or Cambodia? Now you will always have an excuse to celebrate with this advent of special dates. There is a day for everyone’s interest! Wondering what some of these mean? Click on the hyperlinks to find out more! Just for fun:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 Newspapers Start of Doll Festival in our Nineteen Day (Japan) school week Fast (Bahá'í Observance) & Africa Hero’s Day Lent (Christian Environment (Paraguay) observance) Day

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bubble gum Multiple Michelangelo International Barbie’s Employee week Personalities Buonarroti’s Women’s Birthday Appreciation Crochet Day (USA) (Sistine Chapel Day Day week Artist) and No Smoking Oreo® Day National Cookies Poundcake Birthdays Day (USA) 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Buzzard Day Commonwealth Cheltenham Pi Day (π) The Ides of World Sleep St. Patrick’s (USA) Day (Horse March Day Day Racing) White Day Girl Scouts Day Festival (Japan, Korea, 5 Holy Days of China) Pronia Chinese Arbour (Iran/Iraq) International Day Day of Action for Rivers 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Johnny Father’s Day Earth Day World World Water Day of the Sea Chocolate Appleseed (Belgium, Italy, (UN) Poetry Day Day (Bolivia) Covered Day (USA) Portugal, Spain) Raisin Day World (USA) Meteorological Day 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Greek Bangladesh World Something Coca Cola’s Doctor’s Day World Back- Independence Independence Theatre Day on a Stick Anniversary Up (data) Day Day Day Day

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 April Fool’s World Autism Find-a- Children’s Cold Food Good Friday Passover Day Awareness Day Rainbow Day Festival (Christian begins Day (Hong Kong/ (Korea) Observance) (Jewish Palm Taiwan) Observance) Sunday Hanuman World (Christian Jayanti Observance) (Hindu Health Day Observance)

Theravada Buddhist New Year 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Easter Day of the Golfer’s Cosmonautics Scrabble 100th Sunday Finnish Language Day Day Day Anniversary (Christian of Titanic Observance) Thailand, sinking Cambodian, Laos New Years 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Week of Patriot’s Day International Humorous Day of Queen’s the Young (USA) Juggler’s Day Day Silence Official Child Birthday World (UK) McDonald’s Entrepreneurship Anniversary Day

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Earth Day World Book and Pigs-in-a- Secretaries Hug a Friend Arbour Day World Day (USA) Copyright Day Blanket Day Day for Health Day (USA) and Safety at William Anzac Day Work (Australia, New Shakespeare’s Freedom Zealand) Kiss your Birthday Day (South Africa) Mate Day

29 30 World Walpurgis Night Dance Day (Europe)

Showa Day Queen’s Day (Netherlands) (Japan)

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R&S Recent Events

February 12: BioFarm and Dream Land Eco-Farm provided us with organic fruits and vegetables for our 3rd Green Kitchen volunteer salon. With hands-on crafting of beautiful platters and carving competitions, the group learned about the benefits of organics and healthy eating habits. Winners were selected by group vote, including “Best Colour Award”, “Best Creativity Award”, and “Best Design Award”.

February 24: Million Tree Project representatives attended new donor, for the MTP forest in only one day! Employees Ermenegildo Zegna’s large employee from across China contributed to the effort by appreciation dinner and gave a speech to a texting tree pledges, and were thanked for their crowd of managers, employees and leaders from diligence in ending desertification. Zegna also their stores around China. Zegna has stunned has a “Zegna Baby Forest” which plants a tree everyone with their fundraising drive which for every baby born to a staff member in 2011, raised 10,000 trees as a meaningful present to their employees.

February 25 & 26: Two workshops were held “environment”. A local artist will now combine with ARTSpring this weekend, where 27 all individual pieces with similar drawings from students in total learned from local artists, how ther environmental organizations in Shanghai, and display it at this year’s Eco Design Fair. to paint traditional Chinese symbols using ink on Catch a glimpse of the masterpiece and learn rice paper. Participants explored their feelings how to make your own eco-art at the Fair, April towards nature and everyday life in a series of 14th, 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at the Cool Docks drawings, and then combined them in a (505 Zhongshan Road South) representation of a new Chinese character for

February 28: Marriott Hotel Group’s warming general managers and employees travelled to meal for Pudong’s Jinde Migrant School to serve our dumplings to our primary school students! KidStrong Wanting to serve the migrant community, students! participants then delivered the 4,000 Dumpling dumplings straight into the hands of the s were children! The day was full of laughter and a hand prepared the night before in a heated competition by the staff.

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Staff Eco-Challenge:

“There are many plants around us such as trees, flowers, bushes, etc., that we take for granted every day. Do we know their names and really understand their functions? In one week, get to know a plant around you. Use your camera to capture its leaves, seeds, and fruits; then send us the pictures along with some information about this species. The most interesting plant will be featured in the next issue of Under the Poplar!” -Sun Litao

Last issue’s winner…. “My friends came to visit me in Shanghai over the Spring break. The four of us were walking through Yishan Metro Station (Lines 9/3/4), and trying to decide which line was better- 3 or 4. They both go to the same stations for 10 stops. We decided to test- out the times by partnering and splitting up. This turned into two against two when we each started walking faster, and then turned intoR&S an all-out New run. All Donors four of us ran up the stairs from Line 9 to lines 3 and 4. I had my eye on line 3 just pulling away from the station, and knew we could beat them as long as line 4 hadn’t also just left. Our train came 50 seconds later, and we beat the other two to Zhongshan Park Station. The only problem, they had run up the wrong side of platform 3 and ended up going in the opposite direction. They turned up a couple trains and 15 minutes later with an interesting story to bring back home.”

-Ruth Anne

Congratulations Ruth Anne! You are the winner of our “Stairs” eco-challenge story! You are not only healthier for choosing the stairs, but you have also reduced your carbon footprint by not using the elevator!

Have you heard??? Our new Million Tree Project backpack is on sale! 50RMB/each (includes one tree for Inner Mongolia)

Sturdy and strong to last long, these back packs will outlast any plastic bag, and are much more fashionable than your typical clear grocery bags!

Have fun decorating the back with your own environmental message and let everyone know how green you are! Contact [email protected] for purchase. “Down with Evil Plastic Bags!”

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New Sponsors

Ermenegildo Zegna, men’s luxurious fashion designer, made the MTP an initial commitment of donating one tree per baby for Zegna employees. As of April 2012, The Zegna Baby Forest is 24 poplar seedlings strong. The company then went above and beyond at their Greater China Annual Conference, having individuals pledge via SMS and company matching to raise trees for Inner Mongolia. In the span of time it takes to watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ermenegildo Zegna together reached a forest of 10,000 trees!

Fluor, one of the world’s largest publicly-owned construction and engineering corporations, has once again sponsored us a forest of 2,000 trees! With operations spanning six continents, Fluor’s approach to stakeholder promises and environmental sustainability comes in the form of calculating their carbon footprint, offsetting it, and monitoring and managing it year-round.

Cedar Essentials, organics importing company is newly opened and spreading around China, bringing everyone organic products in popular stores. No more do you need to search for specialty stores or online. All products are USDA and/or European certified organic, and includes items such as veggie wash, lotions, soaps, and household cleaners. This company is offsetting its transportation carbon footprint, and getting its customers involved too!

Anna Maya Vegetarian, local restaurant and café on Taojiang Road, serves fresh and healthy vegan meals, deserts, and drinks. Products are organic and local when possible. This cozy restaurant is a great place to try something new and delicious, and for the month of March they are donating proceeds from their affiliated yoga workshops to the MTP. Find the monthly class schedule at 3 Taojiang Lu.

Perkin Elmer, this global technology leader, they specialize in services such as disease and therapeutic research, prenatal screening, environmental testing, and industrial monitoring. Their company makes a promise to focus on creating an excellent workplace environment (health and safety), as well as natural environment!

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Bands who ROCK … for International School, Franco’s passion was primarily music and being a part of rock n’ the Desert roll for a good cause; it was only after he learned about the R&S connection at his By Natasha Pei school that he started working at full-speed The biggest-ever ROCK! For Roots & Shoots is with the grade 5 and 6’s to make sure they coming up on March 31st at Mao Livehouse. have a voice on Earth Hour too! Graduated from the crammed Yuyintang, we have more talent and more entertainment in Gone Before Now; all students at Shanghai a night of fun for all. What can you expect to American School (Pudong), this band is see at the concert? Why has everyone thrilled to be playing at a venue as large and dedicated their time to this project? Here is a popular as Mao Livehouse. This will be the taste from the entertainers you can expect to first time they have taken a stage of this size see at the end of March. for the public. They are rallying their school to come support them onstage, as SAS Pudong Boys Climbing Ropes; band member Jordan has one of the biggest Roots & Shoots clubs in Small is one of the main organizers behind Shanghai! Band member Kyle McGinley says the rock he got involved because concert/fundraiser. Going not only will they have a back to 2007, BCR has chance to introduce consistently rallied-up themselves to Shanghai their friends to throw a and the downtown great party in the name of nightlife scene, but they trees. But why do it for are able to help the the MTP? Jordan says at environment at the same the time, his wife Hilary time. “[It’s] a dream come Bauer, was just working true.” on developing the new Million Tree Project for R&S while he was preoccupied by the local Hilarious Kungfu Comedian, Drew Fralick, music scene; and “one day it just clicked”. adds that for him, it’s a great way for the The night had an outstanding response with environment to see the Chinese community musicians eager to help raise awareness and come together with the expat community. You generate funds for the blooming project, can expect a good set that both Chinese and while the audience packed the bar out onto English speakers will be in pain laughing to. the street. The first show was so successful Don’t wait! Tickets are 60RMB/each and they have repeated it three times, always with include one tree planted in Inner Mongolia, a great group of people willing to contribute one drink, and pizza! Find them at the Camel their talents to the trees. Sports Bar (1 Yueyang Rd.), Boxing Cat The Horde; band member Franco Rodriguez Breweries (82 Fuxing W Rd/ 519 Fuxing M has not only volunteered his band for the Rd.), and Organic Kitchen (57 Fuxing W Rd.); night, but is also spearheading a group of R&S or call 6352 3580 student club members on the night to support the MTP. As a teacher at Rainbow Bridge

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How many chemicals does the What is the goal of your company? We have a few different goals: average woman rub into her 1.We want to provide natural and organic body each morning before work alternatives to the overwhelming amount of chemical products that have become starts? ubiquitous in our lives; 2. We want to create awareness in China for A. 168 the health and environmental concerns that are linked to the products we use every day. That was my introduction to Rudi Messner, 3. We want to build a business that is founder of the new Cedar Essentials company. meaningful for all employees and I disliked him immediately. Not in a personal stakeholders, it is more about people and a sense, as Rudi is one of the most warm- satisfying work day rather than just growth, hearted people you will meet in Shanghai. especially since these days what companies The feeling was more directed towards call “growth” has become just a faster destruction of natural resources. coming face to face with the reality of the 4. Have an impact and be heard as a voice for harmful chemicals around us. I consider the environment in China. myself a fairly health-conscious person (minus the occasional beer or wine), but that You used to be management in large number is hard to swallow. Without leaving corporations. What made you change your us hanging, Rudi went on to name: shampoo, profession and move towards soap, lotion, floor cleaner as you walk, dish environmentalism? I quit my job a few months after my son was soap on utensils, cleaner on taps and door born and went searching for a different life. I handles, fabric soap and softener, etc. wanted to get into the environmental Paranoid yet? While there are safe levels of industry but knew little about it. A friend all things, and we can’t eliminate everything pointed me into the direction of applying my around us, we are now living in an experience selling consumer goods to [sell] environment where chemical accumulation is organic products. a justified concern. This seems like a scary and sometimes Enter: a solution; products that are so natural risky process for many people. How did and organic, you can eat most of them. Rudi’s you make the transition? new importing business is introducing China I am still in transition (ha ha). It may look risky and scary before you get started, but to the organics scene in the stores you once you are on the way, the belief you are already shop at. Lotions, soaps, veggie wash, doing the right thing becomes a good laundry detergent, all with USDA and/or motivating force every day! European organic stamps of approval. But how does the organic industry fair in China? Where have you found support? Do people know what organics are? Rudi took Friends, business contacts, government time from talking with his new organic departments and more. In fact there are many, chocolate partners to give us a little many people out there [who are] very sympathetic to the environmental cause, background on how he has managed to willing to help and to support. launch this program. What do you see as the biggest barriers for environmentalism and sustainability in China?

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The mentality of growth and “catching up” and instant gratification. It is a race between these interests and the interest to preserve the environment. In fact there are many positive signals and policies coming from the government in China; it will just take a while until people make the connection between the product they use and the big chemical plant or chicken factory down at the river! [We need] to understand [we] are voting every time [we] enter a shop or buy a product!

Can you offer any advice to people wanting to get involved with the green movement in a more meaningful way?

I have read somewhere that the best thing you can do is to plant a tree 10 years ago. The second best thing is to plant one today! (quote anonymous).

Comic Relief Corner

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Dragon’s Year, Dragon Tree ! By: Emma Chateauneuf

When you think of something being endangered, you probably automatically think of animals. This is true most of the time. However, despite the great importance of protecting animals in danger, there is also an importance about taking care of the threatened tree species.

One of these is the Dragon Tree. Unfortunately, the Chinese climate does not enable the tree to grow here. The Dragon Tree is primarily located in the Canary Islands and Morocco. Because of its impressive appearance (tall and colorful) many stories have been told around the world. Most of them come from Europe and are centuries old.

Some of them say that in Ancient Rome, the sap was used as a colorant to cover iron, tools and clothes. Various Greek myths talk about the Dragon Tree too. This specimen inherited its name from mythical origins: the story of Hercule and the Apples of Hesperides. When Hercule finally killed the hundred-headed dragon in order to bring back the three golden apples, it is said that many little Dragon Trees sprung up from the Dragon’s blood. The blood flowed across Greece and more trees grow up. The tree exudes ‘dragon’s blood’ (a reddish sap) when it is cut.

Today, this tree is considered endangered. It is extremely hard to find one and the tree is facing difficulties regenerating due to animals eating the seedlings of the Dragon Tree.

Good-Bye Litao! We wish our Forestry Manager a safe trip back to Inner Mongolia this month! He was back in Shanghai’s office for the winter months, but now, Million Tree Project Manager Sun Litao is heading back to Kulun Qi, Inner Mongolia where he lives 8 out of 12 months of the year. He takes care of our forests, talks with the local farmers, and reports back from 1,900 km away. Recently married, in his hometown of Henan, Litao will now run off again to prepare for the planting season. We will see him again shortly, bringing an army of 250 eager planters.

News from Around the World

This past year has seen many developments on the environmental front. While China is now the forerunner towards the clean technologies movement, it seems the West has gone in the other direction. This past December, 2011 Canada became the first country to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol. Read what local papers are saying:

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Canada formally abandons Kyoto Protocol on climate change

Bill Curry AND Shawn McCarthy

OTTAWA — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Published Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 5:14PM EST

Canada is formally withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, abandoning the world’s only legally binding plan to tackle global warming.

Environment Minister Peter Kent confirmed the decision on Parliament Hill just hours after returning from a United Nations climate conference in Durban at which he repeatedly avoided questions about Canada’s commitment to the protocol.

Mr. Kent said staying in Kyoto would force Canada to spend about $14-billion buying carbon credits abroad because the country is so far behind in meeting its targets. He blamed the previous Liberal government, saying it agreed to targets without a plan to achieve them.

“Kyoto, for Canada, is in the past,” he said, confirming that the government would invoke its legal right to withdraw from the agreement. He predicted other countries will follow suit.

“It’s really only the Europeans who are staying with Kyoto,” he said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made no secret of his disdain for the Kyoto Protocol, arguing that a legally binding deal that fails to include the world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters – China and the United States – would hurt Canada’s competitiveness and prove ineffective at reducing global emissions. Mr. Kent said he remains hopeful that world leaders will agree on a new legally binding deal under the UN umbrella that includes the largest emitters.

The Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005, and Canada committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to 6 per cent below 1990 levels during the period of 2008 to 2012. However, recent estimates indicate Canada’s emissions are more than 30 per cent above that target.

Environmentalists and opposition MPs rejected Mr. Kent’s “apocalyptic” language and said Canada’s reputation has been damaged by its role in disrupting other countries’ efforts to approve a second phase for Kyoto. […]

Find the rest of the story with more details about Canada’s government and the environment here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-formally-abandons-kyoto-protocol-on- climate-change/article2268432/

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