1 . Free school meals are back in the news. Footballer Marcus Rashford’s petition(请愿书) to extend free school meals provision(供给) into the school holidays has collected 1.1 million signatures, causing the government to reverse policy. It has restarted the debate over free school meals, fuelled, most recently, by figures forecasting that if the government ends as planned the current £20 top-up(附加款), another 200,000 children will slip into poverty. This is in addition to the 550,000 children already living in poverty previous to Covid-19.

The roots of the current school meals system lie in the mid-19th century. In Manchester, independent charities as well as official bodies started to provide free meals for undernourished children in the 1870s. When education became compulsory in the following decades, the extent of the issue became apparent. Proponents of feeding starving children pointed out that it was due to government order that children were in school, not working and contributing to the family food budget, so the government should pay.

Reception was mixed. Then, as now, children rejected foods they weren’t used to. Diaries of the time talk of “little bags of mystery” (sausages). Some children were put off brassicas(芥菜类) for life. Finding the balance between cheap and good proved hard. The chief medical officer talked about the lack in calorie value and elements of a well-balanced diet which a needy child does not get at home, such as milk, cheese, eggs, green vegetables, fruit and meat”. In 1980, the Tory government, desperate to cut costs, made provision largely optional and abolished nutritional standards. Over the next 15 years convenience and cost became the most important.

Today, school meals provision is linked to benefits: in England around 17 per cent of children are entitled to free school meals. Provision is outsourced(外包), leading to huge variation. In the last year, we’ve seen all of the age-old debates repeated once more. How do we decide who is entitled? How do we guarantee quality? Who decides what children eat? Who pays? Undernutrition does not just have physical effects, but also affects behavior and ability to learn. It has a lifelong impact. The arguments around free school meals seem never to end. But they are hugely important and, until poverty is ended, they will not and should not go away.

3 . Humans are not the only ones who underwent self-domestication. So did our close relatives, the bonobos, and the species we call our best friend. A tiny proportion of the genome differentiates dogs from wolves, and yet millions of dogs are comfortably curled up in our homes, while wolves move around at the edge of extinction.

When our research group began its work almost 20 years ago, we discovered that dogs also have extraordinary intelligence: they can read our gestures better than any other species. Wolves, in contrast, are mysterious and unpredictable. Their home is the wilderness, and that wilderness is shrinking.

But not so long ago the evolutionary race between dogs and wolves was so close, it was unclear who would win. Dogs, in fact, did not descend from wolves. Instead, dogs and wolves shared a wolflike ancestor.

Folklore supposes that humans brought wolf puppies into camp and domesticated them. Or as wolf expert David Mech wrote in 1974, “Evidently early humans tamed wolves and domesticated them, eventually selectively breeding them and finally developing the domestic dog from them.” But this story has not held up. Taming an animal occurs during its lifetime. Domestication happens over generations and involves changes to the genome.

So how did wolves turn into dogs? Back in the Ice Age, as our human populations grew more sedentary, we probably created more rubbish, which we then dumped outside our camps. These leavings would have included tempting pieces of food for hungry wolves. Not every wolf would have been able to scavenge, however. These animals would have had to be unafraid of humans, and if they displayed any aggression toward us, they would have been killed. After generations of selection for friendliness without intentional selection by humans, this special population of wolves would have begun to take on a different appearance. Coat color, ears, tails: all probably started to change.

Animals that could respond to our gestures and voices would be extremely useful as hunting partners and guards. They would have been valuable as well for their warmth and companionship, and slowly we would have allowed them to move from outside our camps to our firesides. We did not domesticate dogs. The friendliest wolves domesticated themselves.

5 . Granada is Spain’s most visited city, drawing tourists from all over the world, most of whom are eager to see the famous world heritage sites. Also, some people can enjoy the wonderful music and dance festivals there. Located in Spain’s most southern region, you are guaranteed lovely hot weather during the summer. However, as it is set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, there is skiing during the winter, making it a popular destination all year round.

Centuries ago, Granada was once a city filled with hundreds of public baths. One of the few that remains undamaged dates back to(始于) the 11th century. However, Granada’s most popular attraction is the Alhambra. The name Alhambra means “red castle” because of the color of the stone, which is particularly beautiful at sunset. As you walk through its narrow streets and beautiful gardens, you will be able to experience the charm of this particular region.

Within the Alhambra is the Parador(旅馆) Granada, which is one of Spain’s most popular hotels. It was originally part of a palace and later turned into a convent(女修道院), it’s a place where you can calm your mind. Its tranquil courtyard and lovely views are some of the reasons why so many guests enjoy their stay.

Located on the hill not far from the Alhambra is Albaicin. This used to be an Arab silk market, but today the small streets are filled with shops selling local handicrafts. From Albaicin, there is a steep walk up to a church, but it’s well worth the effort. With the mountains in the background, you will be able to get a beautiful view.

Granada has its own airport with flights from London and Stansted, so flying out for a long weekend couldn’t be easier. Why not discover for yourself why so many people around the world love coming to this charming city ?

6 . Globally, forests are being cleared for development at a horrifying rate. Seeing the destruction of his native land, Omar Tello wanted to take on a mission of a lifetime. 40 years ago, Omar Tello bought a patch of land near Puyo city in Ecuador. He gave up his job as an accountant to work full time on this land, creating a forest rehabilitation (修复) project.

“People thought I was mad, but I’ve watched this whole paradise disappear, to the point where seeing a wild animal alive and free is a luxury... So I said to myself, I have to do something to save the species,” Omar explains.

Across Ecuador, deforestation has been increasing. In 2008, scientists warned that Ecuador had the highest deforestation rate in South America.

Omar Tello’s project, Jardin Botanico Las Orquidias, focuses on planning, implementing and evaluating strategies, guidelines and actions to consolidate a culture of respect for the natural environment, contributing to the protection of the environment through scientific research for the Amazonian flora and fauna (动植物).

Over these 40 years, Omar has gleaned (四处搜集) rare seeds and cuttings from the Amazon basin and repopulated these species within his project. The wildlife has slowly been attracted into the area. Snakes, birds, insects, bees and even the endangered “glass frog”, which was thought to be on the brink of extinction, have been spotted in his forest.

The rescue center of the Amazonian flora and fauna is now a benchmark for research on ecosystem restoration. Omar Tello has also become recognized as an expert in the field of long-term forest restoration. His work now is to work with educational institutions, community centers and local farmers to give other landowners the power to do the same as him.

The wife of Omar states that “(although people) come from far away to see and learn about the project, people around Puyo are not that interested. They don’t respect what Omar has done. No one from local government or authorities has shown any interest.

7 . After graduating as a graphic design major in 2018, Chen Minlin didn't hunt for a job that fits it, but became a trekker(远足者).

“Completing different trekking routes is like collecting cards in childhood-a lot of fun,” the 24-year-old told China Daily.

Like Chen, more young people are going on journeys to rediscover the simple and beneficial joys of walking. According to Youxiake,a Hangzhou-based tour operator, more than 140,000 travelers signed up for trekking trips from May 1 to Oct 31.   This represents a 9. 3 percent increase over the same period last year.

For most trekkers, exploring nature by foot can help them keep fit. Hiking or trekking in nature enables them to breathe fresh air, gives the whole body a workout and keeps them away from the crowds in urban public places, making for a tranquil experience.

“I felt that exposure to nature and physical exhaustion helped me counteract the negative effects of my distress(痛苦）at that time,” Zhang Peng,33, co-founder of Beijing Hiking Club,said. Trekking “is a liberating experience to enjoy the tranquility in the wilderness. And the exhausting climb makes me feel the vigor(活力） of life.”

Trekking has, indeed, been integrated into his lifestyle. With great passion, Zhang has gone on many classic routes across the country. The longest trail he's ever finished was 240 kilometers.

With poor internet access in the wild, it encourages people to chat and interact with one another on the long walks along the trails. Zhang enjoys the social interaction, and the friendships it brings about.

For Liu Yanli, also a trekker, what she cherishes most is that the activity brings her mental strength.

Until this year, her life had always run smoothly and lacked hardship. She craved the sense of achievement that can be felt after overcoming the difficulties offered by trekking.

Ever since 2013, she's trekked in many countries, including Nepal, Japan, Greece, New Zealand, Italy and Jordan. In one situation, she felt she was at the point of collapsing, but she carried on. “I was impressed and moved by my willpower. I'd never experienced that feeling in my daily life,” Liu said.

It's perhaps this unusual feeling that appeals to more youths. “Each time when I came back from a trip,the contrast between the harsh conditions in the wild and my cozy home helps to strengthen my happiness in everyday life,” Liu added.