The Green Exchange
Newsletter of Green Across the Pacific, Inc., November 2008
- Green Across the Pacific seeks to improve cultural and environmental awareness and cooperation around the world
- To this end, Green Across the Pacific conducts exchange programs that function to establish an international community of learners
Excerpts from:
A Tale of Two Environments
My Green Across the Pacific Experiences
by
Liu Zumei
When I begin my 2006 journey in the forest of Vermont once more in my mind, I go back to the beaten grass in the muddy track where a moose had slept nights before; the fluffy brown fur of a bear on a tree trunk, shone by the reflected light of a white paper; the “grandmother” hemlock we stood around and for which recited a poem; the delicate nest made of branches in the remains of a tree trunk on the ground (which is really weird)... And most of the time I remember the word "link", which was used to describe a way of natural reservation, but meant much more to me throughout my trip.
When we were Keeping Track in a family-owned forest, the leading forest manager showed us some trees where mother bears hide their kids from adult males. She told us that these “refuge” trees and other parts of the forest must be linked with patches of trees to provide animals with a complete habitat. I looked at the trunk marked by bites and punches of the giant bears, and I realized how natural this is like the necessarily linked bathroom, dinning room, kitchen and such at our houses. This understanding came so naturally into my mind it felt like a part of my consciousness, and the environment around formed a link with my mind.
It was not just that. In our visit around Vermont, we were shown a lot of scientific operations and phenomena. Our questions, however silly they may seem, were solved with thoughtful, analytical answers, most of the times connected with many fields of study. We were also encouraged to use our imagination to understand the past. It seems the experts in Vermont had a lot of cross-subject knowledge. It really feels great having the questions solved explicitly and working and inspired by someone who really feels curious to nature.
On the other hand, I sometimes feel that we had the Chinese study in 2007 like touring around an untouchable museum. We saw various plants in the mountains and took down their names, subjects and special uses; we visited natural museums and got to see samples of native species; we visited medical companies and institutes. But most of the time I didn’t feel “linked” with what the teachers were showing us and I didn’t feel the teachers were very much “linked” with it. The studyin China, including my common classroom study, is all about teachers showing what happened, what the situations are like, but never what we individuals can do about it.
In Vermont, we paddled boats to remove the invasive water chestnut and we did presentations to publicon the projects we did including mercury contamination, wind farming, invasive species and so on. And our American peers are more positive and passionate, asking questions like “what can we do to help?” during our trip in China.
I guess this problem results from the limited participation individual Chinese people have in the government’s decision making, the limitation of the contact to environment with a perceptive mind and the historical and psychological background of mechanical storage and use of knowledge. While Vermonters have the power and awareness to pull some wind mill construction projects into question and halt it for the concerns of its negative effect to the environment and scenery (which seemed nothing in many Chinese’s eyes), Chinese people showed that their voices did little in asking the government to stop the demolition of the old Capital city, and preserve the historical heritages like Hutong (small lanes), Siheyuan (characteristic housing) in Beijing. While up to 70% of Vermont is cover with forest and many local people respect and do their parts to protect mother nature, the prevailing opinion in big Chinese cities is that “nature” is the synonym of the ill plants in gardens, and streets and humans can control nature with advanced technology.
This is part of the tale of my GATP 2006 and 2007 experience. It is my partial perception at the time and is not what will go on in the future. I guess here I am being too critical to the environment – ecologically, educationally, socially – of my homeland, out of my wish that the environment here will be better. The environments around the world are always changing. I hope that they will change in a better direction, on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, and in other parts of the world, with increased mutual understanding through exchange activities, people’s rising awareness and effort in environmental protection, and the improvement of the authority’s guidance.
Liu Zumei is currently a first-year student at Fudan University
Contact Us
Green Across the Pacific, Inc.
1594 North Orwell Road
Shoreham, Vermont 05770
ph & fx: 802-897-5232
e:
A Note from the Executive Director
Peter Lynch
In his recent book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, Thomas Friedman argues that “we need to redefine green and rediscover America and in so doing rediscover ourselves and what it means to be Americans.” And, “when you put people together you put the planet together, that there is nothing in the universe quite as powerful as six billion minds wrapped around one problem” (p.412). How we choose to rediscover ourselves in the United States, and how we choose to relate to the rest of the world matters.
In the face of domestic and global challenges, it is more evident to me than ever that we need to rediscover the long-term value of an investment in learning. Regardless of how they obtain it, young people will need to absorb knowledge, and learn how to use it creatively and well, as never before.
Last summer, despite numerous challenges, we managed to conduct our most effective domestic program yet. (Image Gallery at Enthusiastic and brilliant students, both Chinese and American, sunk their teeth into the complex exposure to field science, politics and business concerns that we typically provide for them. Their ability to connect (or “link,” as Liu Zumei says in her cover article) with the challenges that we put before them was evident at ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont, on Friday August 1st. Students excitedly discussed their interactive exhibits, including heat recovery in automobiles, amphibian indicator species, green architecture, and solid waste management, with visitors to the lake aquarium and science museum. The enthusiasm of students was infectious, and the joy with which they raced to interact with children and adults was met with equal interest.
My message to Green Across the Pacific’s (GATP) supporters today, is that we at GATP will do everything we can to maintain and expand upon our activity during these challenging times. Current financial uncertainty is having a profound effect on nonprofits and NGOs, and GATP is no exception. Yet, we have an increasingly professional and committed Board of Directors, and a growing body of alumni who credit GATP with positive change in their lives; and, with your continued support, we will muddle through the challenges that face us today.
“‘One day soon, you’re going to come here looking for me and find me planted in the ground, too,’ Haji Ali said, chuckling…. ‘What should I do… when that day comes?’ [Greg Mortenson] asked…. ‘Listen to the wind’ [Ali] said…. So… Mortenson did. …in the breeze whipping across the fragile shelf where humans survived, somehow, in the high Himalaya, he… heard the musical trill of children’s voices, at play in the courtyard of Korphe’s school. Here was his last lesson, Mortenson realized…. ‘Think of them,’ he thought. ‘Think always of them’” (Mortenson, G. & D. O. Relin, Three Cups of Tea, pp. 259-60).
In the concluding comments to Hot, Flat and Crowded, Friedman points out that “we are the first generation of Americans in the Energy-Climate Era. This is not about the whales anymore. It’s about us” (p.412).
Looking Forward to 2009
Students may apply for our summer 2009 Environmental Leadership Program in South China. We will accept twelve motivated American students, including those who participated in the 2008 Vermont summer program, for an expedition to South China.
We are excited to be returning to China after a season of domestic programs. We will spend time for orientation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and a program will be organized for us by HSFZ in Guangdong Province.
Application materials may be found online at We begin reviewing applications on Febraury 1st, 2009.
You can help: Please consider nominating a student for our program. A nomination form is available on our web site,
Recognitions
The following businesses, agencies, institutions and individuals gave of their time, wisdom or through in kind contributions during the summer of 2007:
Champlain College
ECHO at the Leahy Center
for Lake Champlain
OMYA
Columbia Forest Products
Physician’s Computer Company
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont
Marjorie Gale, VT Geological Survey
Mary Watzin, UVM Rubenstein Laboratory
July Sanders, Magnolia Bistro
Gregor Barnum, Seventh Generation
Will Patten, VBSR
Tom Myers
Representative Tony Klein
Representative Peg Flory
Governor James Douglas
Ben & Jerry’
Birds of Vermont
NRG Systems
Blue Spruce Farm
Millborne Farms
Shoreham Inn
Champlain Orchards
Golden Russett Farm
International Paper Ticoderoga Mill
Catherine Caum, Bowles Corporation
Paul Millman, Chroma Technology
Dorothy Schnure, GMP
Brian Leet, William Maclay
Architects & Planners
David Winer, BEDCO, Inc.
Robert Sterling, VT Dept. of F&W
Marshall Webb, Shelburne Farms
Richard Lutman
Livy Strong
Susan Morse, Keeping Track
Charles W. Johnson
Jim Andrews
Neil Monteith, VT State Forester
Doug Kievit-Kylar, VT Agency of
Natural Resources
Lori Cillo & Lyle P. Jepson
David & Joanne Calvi
Vincent & Susan Crockenberger
Eun Foster
Jennifer Francoeur
Karen & Michael Frost
Jean Terwilliger
Todd Kincaid
Tom & Nancy Merkel
Mary & Kip Mesirow
Linda & Charlie Peake
Bobby & Nancy Wong
Donors
We are grateful to the following corporations, foundations, and individuals who
contributed to Green Across the Pacific during the past twelve months:
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William G. Borders Revocable Trust
The Andrea Rabinowitz Fund of the
American Endowment Foundation
Blue Mountain Peak Ranch
Chroma Technology Corp.
Cream Hill Farm
The David Greenewalt Charitable Trust
Dynapower Corp.
The Goodrich Foundation
The Growald Community Fund
Inner Solutions Institute
International Paper Foundation
Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLC
Millborne Dairy, LLC
Morris and Bessie Altman Foundation
Morse & Morse Forestry and
Wildlife Consultants
Steiger Supply Co.
Ruth H. & Jean C. Berman
William & Mary Borders
Alex & Alexa Buskey
Kazue E. Campbell
Robert Creed
Elizabeth & John Carvellas
Victoria Chase
Janet & Eric Eisendrath
Lelia Greenewalt
Jim Hester
Warren King
Randall Kritkowski & Carolyn Schmidt
Margaret Fowle & Breckenridge Knauft
Tunney Lee
Mark Lembke & Katherine Willard
Catherine Lynch
Laura Lynch & Hans Peters
Peter & Jessica Lynch
Richard W. Lynch
Terence & Diane Lynch
Richard Lutman
Pam Marsh & Larry Maier
Rhys Marsh
Anna McKenna
Susan Morse
Marlene Pearson
David Reed
Jonathan & Marie Scott
Abigail Sessions
Philip Sharpsteen
Rufus & Karen Smith
Thomas C. Smith
Mark & Susan Spitzner
Will & Judy Stevens
Ruth Stokes
Current Board of Directors
Peter Lynch, President & Ex. Director
David Winer, Chair
Alexa Buskey, Vice-Chair & Secretary
Thomas Merkel, Treasurer
Reiko Kida
Lyle P. Jepson
Joseph White
Eric Knudsen
Hanna Brue
Honorary Directors
Governor James H. Douglas
Governor Howard Dean, MD
Wu Yingmin
Li Zhenchang
Richard Taylor
James D. Lazell, PhD