Some Updates

Hello, world!

I want to share the good news the organization has received in the time that I've been away from this blog:

The work received a Bronze Medal in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and President’s Volunteer Service Award. Recognition from these programs gives Spearmint a greater platform on which to spread awareness of the important environmental issues behind the work, so I think they are worthy 

You can read more about our accomplishments in the press here:

1) http://spirit.prudential.com/view/page/soc/31599

2) http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/ct-prudential-idUSnBw105013a+100+BSW20150210

On another note, the Pope Francis's upcoming Papal Encyclical— akin to the Pope's State of the Union Address—will discuss the relationship between religion and the environment! I believe it has the potential to change the discussion around environmental action and, hopefully, spur immediate environmental action. Yale University recently hosted a panel discussing the event’s predicted impact and other relevant issues. 

Check it out here.

Yesterday, April 8, we live-streamed the panel at Choate Rosemary Hall’s Kohler Environmental Center. Afterwards, we had a pizza reception! I get hungry just smelling the clothes I wore yesterday—Is that strange? They smell of cheese.

That’s all for now! Stay tuned for more exciting happenings.

First Post?

Yup.

Well, I've actually been updating the Personal Journal tab of this blog with FOOD NEWS and just plain interesting news. If you're looking for some insight into my school life or some FOOD NEWS (yes, food), check it out!

Keep checking back for more updates! (Maybe I'll post a substantial post on the main page next time...hmm?)

-Jane

Welcome!

Welcome to Spearmint! We are an environmental organization whose mission is to bring the environmental movement to urban areas around the world in refreshing and meaningful ways.

My name is Jane Zhang, and I am the founder of Spearmint. Why Spearmint? The idea stemmed from my experiences in Shanghai, China. I had been born and raised in the United States until elementary school. I moved back to Shanghai, China with my parents in sixth grade. During the first year I lived in China, I got sick many times because I was not used to the smoggy and polluted urban environment. I realized that many other people that visit or live in polluted areas must also be getting sick as well. The air pollution was not only causing many public health problems in China; it was also making the city and China less beautiful.

Is there a way to prevent other people from getting sick like me? As I learned more about the environment through taking environmental classes, participating in environmental clubs, my environmental initiative grew.

I interned and participated with some environmental organizations in my freshman year of high school, but I realized that not many environmental organizations focus on or emphasize the values behind events. Realizing that this gap was important to fill, I began thinking about how I could hold an event that communicated the importance of urban environmentalism and the values behind environmentalism. I applied for a grant from my high school to use to start my first event, a Clean-up Day in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. The goal was to raise environmental awareness in Wenling and its surrounding cities while cleaning up Wenling city. More information about the project is here.

Spearmint welcomes you to take part in our efforts and cause. If you would like Spearmint to organize events in your country or city, we would like to hear from you! Any suggestions for further events or other comments are also welcome.

In the future, Spearmint will post updates about its current actions. Stay tuned for more environmental action and some of my personal musings about the environment!