3 . Mexico has more than just beaches. Several Mexican cities have been recognized as forming part of the heritage of humanity and are considered to be of outstanding universal value.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca and the nearby archaeological site Monte Alban have both been recognized by UNESCO. Oaxaca, the capital city of the state of the same name, was founded in 1529 and offers a good example of previous Spanish town planning. Oaxaca is considered one of Mexico’s best foodie destinations. Learn what foods and drinks you should try in Oaxaca.

Guanajuato

As a silver mining town in the past, Guanajuato seems special. The winding streets and small squares give it a more friendly feel than some of the other cities. This is a student town with a vibrant culture and an important cultural festival — the International Cervantino Festival which is held every October.

Puebla

Puebla is one of Mexico’s large cities, but its historical center can easily be explored on foot. It has some special historical structures such as the 16th-century cathedral and some other fine buildings with walls covered in tiles.

Morelia

Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacán, was originally called Valladolid, but its name was changed in honor of independence hero José María Morelos y Pavón. The Museo del Dulce is a stop you shouldn’t miss in Morelia. Visits to nearby Patzcuaro or the reserves are also recommended on a trip to Morelia.

4 . A French company called SolarSoundSystem is celebrating its 24^th year of hosting solar-and-bicycle-powered parties in Europe. Founder Cedric Carles says “it is necessary to perform in public spaces in order to increase the level of general knowledge and catch public concern about climate change.” The solar-powered sound systems started off in Lausanne, Switzerland, but have now taken off in France, Berlin, the Basque region of Spain and Tel Aviv.

The principle is simple, during the day batteries are charged by solar energy. These are attached to generators which allow the speakers to function and power the DJ turntables (唱机转盘) too. Impressively, the sound quality is so high that it can provide music for up to 500 people. In terms of how long the music can last, the team explains that even with partial sun clouds, the machines can operate for 5 hours without bicycles and 6 to 8 hours with bicycles. With plenty of sun in the sky, the party can go on until dark. Then at night, party-goers are encouraged to take turns donating pedal power, by riding the bikes to keep the music going.

To mark the 23^rd anniversary of the parties last year, the eco-friendly sound system released a vinyl record (黑胶唱片) of the electronic artists that have been playing on their systems over the years. The chosen songs pay tribute to the eight international artists who have supported SolarSoundsystem in the past years, such as Jay Ka and Gregorythme.

5 . Growing up in Canterbury, Scartozzi recalls swimming in rivers as part of her childhood. When she returned many years later, however, she noticed things had changed. “Some of the places where I could swim before now have signs saying ‘polluted water, do not swim’,” she says. “I wanted to take my kids to places to swim but we couldn’t because these signs were up.”

Although the experience was sad and surprising, it has also served as fuel for Scartozzi, who’s now focusing on restoring the health of waterways. Her company called eCleanEnvirotech is developing technology to remove pollutants from waterways such as rivers, ponds and streams. It involves feeding polluted water into a system housing microbes (微生物) that eat or break up the pollutants.

The “engineered” nature of the technology, Scartozzi explains, means it’s adaptable for different environment conditions. Each system can be personalized with its own unique “soup” of microbes to remove the pollutants in any waterway where it is installed (安装).

Other advantages of the technology, she says, are that it can process water relatively quickly and that it can be used to treat waterways in a variety of sizes and locations.

She says she hopes to create cleaner water for the benefit of future generations. “My passion is around restoring the health of these waterways. And my purpose is to do anything that I can to return them to their former condition. That’s what drives me every day. If I can do anything, it is so that in the future, my kids and grandchildren have somewhere where they can go swimming and fishing.”

8 . Summer is coming, and soon beaches will be full of the sounds of people having fun: splashing (泼洒) in waves and playing in the sand. But imagine finding a quieter spot of ocean. If you could stick your ears under the water, you might hear other sounds. And many of those sounds are made by fish.

People have known that fish make sounds since ancient Greece; that is why they gave some fish names like red drum, pig fish or croaker. “They’re based on the sounds these fish make,” said Audrey Looby. She studies fish sounds at the University of Florida.

So far, about 1,000 fish species have been recorded making sounds. Looby’s favorite-sounding fish is the Gulf toadfish. It makes an amazing sound like a boat whistle. Scientists are not sure how many fish make sounds. Some think that it might be as many as 22,000 types, about two-thirds of the 34,000 fish species known. And those are just the sounds fish make on purpose.

Fish sounds are important because they give a lot of information about what is going on to other fish, and to scientists. If scientists hear a fish chewing, then they know there is food available. The warning noises of certain fish species give information, too. They can tell scientists how many fish are living on a reef and where they are located. And fish sounds can tell where the endangered species are located, too, said Looby.

Fish sounds might even help preserve and bring back fish habitats. For example, scientists want to try playing healthy fish sounds in a reef that is dying. The healthy sounds might encourage fish to return and live in the dying reef. “Learning about fish sounds lets us learn about underwater environments and hopefully manage them at the same time,” Looby said.

9 . We all want to do our part in reducing waste and improving the well-being of our planet. And it does require some mindfulness and effort. Below are ways to reduce waste in and out of the home.

Prepare now, eat later.

Preparing food in advance can save money and reduce waste. Spending a few hours at the beginning of the week can really make your week run smoother because each day your food is already ready to go. Also, by preparing meals in advance, we’re better able to use all the groceries we’ve bought without leaving them so long in the fridge that they go bad.

Use a reusable water bottle.

Using a reusable water bottle can cut down on plastic consumption (消耗). A reusable water bottle can also help keep you properly hydrated (补充水分) because you’ll have it on hand.

Reusable food containers are your friend.

Using reusable food containers will pair nicely with preparing food in advance. These containers can be used and washed over and over again so you won’t need to buy additional options.

Order small portions (份额) when eating out.

Starting small when eating out is a great way to prevent food waste! We understand that eating out is enjoyable, and this way ensures that you only order what you’ll eat. Also, you’re always able to order more if you’re still hungry. If you do happen to order too much, box it up and take it home for later.

One or two of these tips can help reduce the amount of resources and food that go to waste in your daily life. Every step is positive for the planet.