CHINA has made ecological and environmental protection a national priority, being acutely aware that the country has to go to war against pollution. “We must     1     (firm) establish the concept of a socialist ecological civilization. We must develop a harmonious relationship between man and nature and     2     (do) everything to protect the environment for future generations,” said President Xi Jinping.

It would be fascinating to see     3    this impacts everyday life in China, in terms of the response of ordinary people, results,     4    the state of ecological awareness.

One of the popular activities is Riding for Kicks.

China’s bike-sharing companies are praised as     5    environmentally friendly alternative to the overcrowded public transportation system in most Chinese cities. The     6     (arrive) of dockless bikes in recent years is an innovation that     7     (welcome) agreeably in urban areas since its launch. Ofo Inc. was one of the first companies     8     (launch) a dockless e-bike-sharing scheme in Beijing. Shortly afterwards, other companies such as Mobike jumped on the bandwagon in major Chinese cities, and many other start-ups emerged. COVID-19 has also contributed    9    the popularity of this means of individual transportation. Hellobike reports that in all Chinese cities     10    it operates, so-called “long-distance” trips have doubled since April.

2 . Rayner Loi keeps a note on his iPhone with details of the fruit and vegetables that go bad every week at his home. That way, when he goes to the supermarket, he has a better idea of how many apples or bananas he actually eats in a week, and can adjust his shopping accordingly. He believes individual action like this is important to tackle the problem of food waste. But he also has higher goals.

In 2017, Loi founded Lumitics, a company that tracks food waste with the aim of helping hotels and airlines, which serve thousands of meals a day, figure out how much avoidable waste they are generating. Loi says most chefs can’t easily monitor all the food that never gets eaten and find it very hard to develop strategies and implement measures to reduce food waste.

Lumitics uses garbage cans equipped with weight sensors, cameras, and Al technology that can identify and track the type and amount of food that gets thrown out--including whether it’s spoiled, uneaten or kitchen waste. Later, Lumitics’ customers use the waste data to adjust the amount of food put out at a breakfast buffet, or cut back on buying certain ingredients. Loi points to company data that shows he has helped the hotels he work with reduce food waste significantly. That’s not only green, it’s good for the bottom line. Hotel restaurants often operate on relatively thin profit, “so any savings for them actually is really immense for their business” he says.

Loi and his small team are already working with major clients like the Four Seasons hotel in Singapore and airlines including Etihad Airways. Now, Loi is expanding his ambitions beyond Singapore: Lumitics is working to begin operations next year in hotels in the Middle East and in other cities across Asia. What they want to achieve is really tangible in terms of the number of meals saved and the amount of carbon emissions avoided.

4 . On Monday, August 21, millions of Americans across the country wore their protective eyeglasses to watch the highly expected total solar eclipse (日食). Though the eclipses, which occur about every 18 months, are not rare, this one was historic. It was not only the first total solar eclipse visible from the mainland US in more than 38 years, but also the first to be seen coast to coast in almost a century.

The crowds were thrilled as the moon briefly blocked the sun, covering cities all the way from Oregon to South Carolina (SC) with darkness. A cold ran down many spines (脊柱) as the temperatures dropped dramatically, by up to 12 degrees Fahrenheit, during totality (全食). Those fortunate enough to have clear skies not only saw the corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere, which is usually not visible in the sun’s glare, but also the bright stars and planets.

Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative everywhere. The crowds who gathered in Charleston, SC, the last big city in the path of totality, had to struggle against a thick cloud cover when the partial eclipse began at 1:17 pm. It did thin out a little as totality took place at 2:46 pm, allowing for a good view of the eclipse, but not the sun’s corona! However, some splendid flashes of lightning that occurred just as the moon covered the sun helped ease the disappointment somewhat.

All in all, the rare event, believed to be the most observed and most photographed eclipse in history, was a huge success. As Bill Nye, aka “the Science Guy” briefly put it, “Experiencing an eclipse changes the way we feel about space and how we are connected. This moment will remind us all that we share a common origin among the stars and that we are all citizens of the same planet.”

5 . The cat Bubby showed up on the doorstep of Wiseman’s father, Abbott, who was putting out food for a different stray cat (流浪猫).

Wiseman recalls that one day her father found a little three-legged cat in the kitchen eating the other cat’s food. Dad was kind of really surprised by this animal. It melted his heart to see this little cat with three legs looking after himself. Since then, her father and Bubby formed an unbreakable bond. They helped each other: Bubby got food and frequent visits to the house, while Abbott got a companion through a time of change in his life.

After Abbott died in 2017, Bubby’s visits to her family home stopped. The family couldn’t locate Bubby for almost two years until they saw his furry face in an online post.

According to volunteer McLeod, Bubby was brought to the shelter after a community effort to find the three-legged cat. McLeod remembers when she met Bubby for the first time, he was laying face down in his cage, exhausted. McLeod featured the cat in an online post, asking anyone if they knew of the animal’s history. Wiseman leapt at the opportunity to reunite with Bubby. Once Bubby was recovered enough to leave the shelter, the two decided McLeod would adopt Bubby and give him his forever home.

In a twist of fate, Wiseman revealed McLeod had actually met Abbott and Bubby previously, but had forgotten the encounter. “It’s like it came full circle. It was a very sad thing that turned into a beautiful thing.” Wiseman said. Wiseman still visits Bubby whenever she can, often helping with the cat’s special food and treats. She is thrilled that Bubby was able to find his forever home, and knows her father would feel the same.

6 . Given that breathtaking views await around every green comer, it’s no surprise that the UK is home to a treasure of great journeys.

Route No. 1

This has been the world’s shortest flight——just 53 seconds. For this journey, on board there is only room for the pilot and eight passenger seats. If it is busy, you may end up in the co-pilot seat up front. The experience of this great journey is a short, but dramatic one. You zoom off the runway and almost instantly the plane starts to land.

Route No. 2

The Caledonian Sleeper, a train with a mission to sweep you from London all the way to the Scottish Highlands, just as everyone else is going to bed, has all the drama of a great journey. The experience begins with a relaxing drink. The Caledonian Sleeper includes options for double beds and shower rooms, plus the Club Bar——open to anyone with a room rather than a seat. In the morning, guests can either have breakfast delivered to their cabin, or enjoy a cooked Highlands breakfast.

Route No. 3

The UK’s another overnight sleeper train, from London to Cornwall, operates six nights a week, and is best enjoyed in a twin or single sleeper compartment (隔间). The journey takes you from London at night, delivering you to the very edge of the UK by morning, where you’ll be served a bacon roll shortly after waking. The first sleeper train on this route ran in 1877. In 2018, the train was refurnished with buffet counters.

Route No. 4

The Snowdon Mountain Railway bills itself as an “unforgettable adventure”, soaring you off towards the summit of the highest mountain in Wales. The journey takes you past surging waterfalls to look out for the world’s fastest bird. By the way, the summit station and visitor centre are currently being refurnished and will be open to service in 2023.

7 . Since the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973, it has helped hundreds of species avoid extinction in the United States. The strong conservation policy has been used as a model in other countries. But it’s not as successful as it could be, a new study finds.

Researchers have discovered that most species are not being protected until their numbers became so small that their chance of recovery is slim.

In 1993, a study found that few species received protection under the ESA until their populations dwindled to very tiny numbers: on average, just 1,075 individuals for vertebrates (脊椎动物), 999 for invertebrates, and 120 for individuals for plant species.

For the new study, researchers repeated the methods in the earlier research to see if protections have become better since the problem was first noted. They also looked at trends in “wait times” — the amount of time between when a species is identified as potentially needing protection and when it actually receives protection under the ESA.

The researchers found that the population sizes of species when they first became protected under the ESA are not statistically different from those in the 1993 study. The findings showed that the population of vertebrates when listed is 999 individuals, invertebrates is 536, and plants is 192.

They also discovered that there are long wait times between when a species is identified as likely needing protection and when they actually receive them.

There have been several thousand species listed on the ESA over the past nearly five decades, and 99% of the listed species have avoided going extinct. But researchers point out that only 54 species — like the bald eagle and American alligator — have recovered so well that they no longer need protection.

Researchers say that the findings are timely due to the upcoming December meeting of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The members will finalize a plan for conservation efforts globally through 2030.

Polls (民意调查) over the years have demonstrated that most Americans support a strong ESA to protect endangered (濒危的) wildlife. And the ESA has the strong policy, if used correctly, to do that.

8 . This past January, Captain Preet Chandi set foot on a historic, though decidedly icy trail by becoming the first woman of color to reach the South Pole alone, without assistance. While others might have been content to make history with this singular accomplishment, “Polar Preet” Chandi is not one to rest on her achievements. The journey to the South Pole was merely “phase one” of a larger and even more extraordinary goal for the adventurous British Army officer.

“For the phase two”, the 33-year-old has set her sights on crossing Antarctica — once again doing the journey alone and unsupported to become the first woman to achieve this goal.

On November 14, Chandi departed from Hercules Inlet, an ice-filled bay at the southwestern section of the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf bordering the Weddell Sea in Antarctica. Her goal is to reach Reedy Glacier within 75 days, a coast-to-coast journey consisting of roughly 1,100 miles. And “roughly” is the key word here — she’ll be pulling a sled (雪橇) with equipment, weighing about 264 pounds altogether, and she’ll be doing so in temperatures that can sink to minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

Her journey thus far required years of training. Prior to her 700-mile South Pole journey, she prepared by attending a polar survival course in Norway. She continued her training back home in the UK by dragging tires, the closest thing to pulling a sled, and a month-long practice run in Greenland. Ultimately, Chandi went on to finish her first South Pole expedition in 40 days, a full eight days ahead of schedule.

When not otherwise setting records of human endurance in extreme conditions, Chandi tries to inspire others in her day-to-day work.

Chandi will be posting interval (间隔) voice blog updates of her phase two progress on her website, polar Preet. com, where a live tracking map will also provide her current location at every point along her journey.

“Nothing is impossible. I’ve always had this idea that I can achieve something great, something that allows me to be a role model,” Chandi shared on her blog.