Wildlife conservation initiatives offer a meaningful way for individuals to actively participate in the protection of endangered species while gaining insights into how they can contribute to their preservation. For those passionate about wildlife, several programs present opportunities for involvement:

◆ Animal Rescue Project, South Africa:

Engage alongside experienced conservationists in Cape Town, solving the challenge of finding new homes for homeless dogs and cats. The project involves an animal hospital equipped to cater to their medical needs and an adoption center dedicated to finding them permanent homes. Due to financial constraints, the center relies heavily on volunteers to handle daily tasks and provide hands-on care for these animals.

◆ Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Sri Lanka:

Witnessing a decline in sea turtle populations due to various commercial activities, this project focuses on supporting hatcheries(孵化场) in their conservation efforts. Participation in the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in Sri Lanka supports hatcheries in their conservation efforts, including providing financial assistance.Your participation not only aids in providing financial support to these hatcheries but also contributes to the sustainability of sea turtle populations.

◆ Wildlife Conservation Program, Australia:

Immerse yourself in activities such as animal care, facility maintenance, and enrichment tasks, offering an incredible opportunity to gain firsthand international work experience. This program also serves as an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful contribution while fostering connections with like-minded individuals from across the globe.

◆ Marine Conservation Program, Bali:

Set in Tianyar, where coral reef degradation threatens the ecosystem, this initiative aims to restore and conserve the reef to ensure a sustainable future for the local community and marine life.

Fifth-graders gathered around a large tank inside their school’s greenhouse. Plants hang overhead, and trays of seedlings (幼苗) fill the shelves. Small silver fish pop their heads out of the water as Blanka, 10 years old, holds out food. “If you put your finger in a little bit, they might bite it. It doesn’t hurt; it just feels funny,” explains Blanka.

At Manzo Elementary Schools in Tucson, raising fish at school was one small answer to a big problem faced by many people in the neighborhood — food insecurity. While the students could have breakfast and lunch at school, their families often struggled to provide dinner. The teachers came up with an idea: could the students raise food at school for the neighborhood?

It wouldn’t be easy. Being in a desert region, water was a scarce resource in Tucson. Apart from that, the soil doesn’t always have the nutrients plants need to grow, so the students would need to add a natural fertilizer. Inspired by the Aztecs’ ancient practice of chinampas, floating farms on lakes near Mexico City, Counselor Moses Thompson introduced an aquaponics (鱼菜共生) system where fish waste served as fertilizer for the plants, while the plants’ roots purified the water in the fish tank. Apart from fish, other animals played an important part in supporting the students’ mission to feed their neighbors. Chickens laid eggs, and visiting pollinators (传粉者) like bees and butterflies helped transform flowers into vegetables.

Once the students had harvested enough food, it was time for Market Day. They offered vegetables as donations to people in the neighborhood and sold eggs and fish to raise funds for fish food and chicken feed. “We can plant good food and have fun while we’re doing something important,” says Blanka. “I’m so happy to be at this school.”

The most hated day of the week is misunderstood. When the Boomtown Rats, an Irish band, released   “I Don’t Like Mondays” in 1979, the song became an instant hit.

What many do recognise all too well is the difficulty of gathering the energy to get out of bed on Monday mornings in order to face the week ahead. Many bosses argue that starting off the week in person in the office creates good energy. However, plenty of employees beg to differ.

A paper published by the Journal of Applied Psychology, found that people tend to be more ill-mannered on Mondays, and grow more polite as the week unfolds. The authors have diagnosed a new condition, Mondayitis, which is defined. as “a systemic illness with collections of symptoms including tiredness, light-headedness, dry mouth and headache”. These symptoms typically appear on the first working day after a period off work, which could be a weekend or a longer holiday. They can lead sufferers to call in sick, decide to work from home or, if they do show up in the office, come across as detached (冷漠的) and unavailable. Mondayitis appears to be infecting other days of the week.

However, the covid-19 pandemic has led many people to re-evaluate their work-life balance. A lawyer in London who spends weekends working on cases likes to ease into the formal workweek with an elegant breakfast in a fancy restaurant. A broader movement is promoting the idea of a four-day work week, one arrangement of which would make Monday part of the weekend. Less ambitiously, and more realistically, asocial-media campaign for   “bare-minimum Mondays” argues for a gentle start to the week.

You may have prepared or merely enjoyed a more elaborate meal than a sandwich. You may have gone for a walk in the park or simply lay in bed. Either way, you almost certainly cleared your head. When revived and spirited, you will have a fresh start.