Problem: Article: When walking in public, you should avoid listening to music on a cell phone or other personal listening device. The music could distract you from various dangers, and someone could take advantage of you if you’re distracted by listening to your music. While it may seem like a normal thing to do, playing with or checking texts on your smartphone could distract you. A mugger may see this and identify you as a potential victim. In addition to your phone being a distraction, it might also be something a mugger wants to steal. As you walk, make sure to look around. Walk with your head up and look from side to side occasionally. Ultimately, the more you are aware of your surroundings, the easier it'll be to avoid being mugged.  If you see someone suspicious or threatening, walk away from them. Be careful turning corners. Try to make a long turn so you can see what’s around a corner before you turn it. After all, there could be a mugger waiting on the other side of the corner. The better lit a street is, the less likely a person will try to mug you without fear. As a result, stick to streets that are well-lit. In addition, avoid dark streets and darker areas of town.  If you’re going into a dark area, bring a torch and wear something reflective such as a high-visibility vest. Avoid shortcuts that are dark. Saving a couple of minutes isn’t worth jeopardizing your safety. If you’re unfamiliar with a certain area, you should ask locals about it before you walk about. This way, you’ll have an idea of whether an area is dangerous or not before you get there. Before you set off on a walk around town, have a good idea of where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. You can do this by asking for directions or by consulting a map before you start on the walk. This way, you won’t have to stop and ask strangers for directions or look to Google Maps on your phone – things that make you look vulnerable.
Summary: Avoid listening to music. Don’t play with your smart phone. Look around. Travel on well-lit streets. Ask people about the part of town you’re walking in. Review a map or ask for directions before you start your journey.

Problem: Article: You can make a simple African drum using disposable cups. This is an easy and non-messy activity that is great for very young children. First, you'll need to gather the necessary supplies.  You'll need Styrofoam, paper, or plastic drinking cups. You can wash used disposable drinking cups and use them for crafts.  You will also need glue, masking tape, shoe polish, a paintbrush, rags, and permanent markers. The first step is to glue the cups together. Apply a generous amount of glue to the bottom of each cup. Stick the bottoms together, hold until secure, and then let dry. If you're doing this activity with kids, they should be able to manage this step on their own. However, if you're working with a large group of children it may be easier to prepare the cups yourself ahead of time. Young kids especially may be impatient waiting for their cups to dry and want to hurry into to the decorating process. Once you have the cups prepared, cover them in masking tape. This creates a surface on which children can color and decorate the cups.  Use strips of masking tape 4 to 5 inches in length. If you're doing this activity with kids, you can allow them to tear off their own masking tape.  Coat the drum in small strips of masking tape, overlapping as needed so the whole drum is covered in a layer of tape. Now, you'll add the shoe polish. This will give your project a color similar to a traditional African drum. Use your paintbrush to brush a layer of shoe polish over the masking tape. Then, take a clean rag and wipe off excess polish. Allow the drums to sit until they're dry to the touch before use.  If you're working with kids, use your judgment regarding shoe polish. If you feel your kids are old enough to handle applying it on their own, allow them to do so with supervision. Very young children, however, may make a mess when using shoe polish. If you decide to let your kids apply the polish alone, have them wear old clothing or provide them with smocks. Shoe polish can smear easily.
Summary: Gather your supplies. Glue the cups together. Cover the cups in masking tape. Add shoe polish.

Problem: Article: Eating sustainably means eating foods that support both your own good health and the sustainability of the environment. If you’re eating seafood, make sure that it’s not at risk of being overfished, or farmed in a way that’s damaging the environment.  Try to buy from local growers whenever possible. Local farmers are usually invested in employing sustainable farm practices. Read the labels on your food products. If you don’t recognize more than ⅓ of the words found there, look for something less processed. This means eat less beef, which is higher on the food chain, and more roots, vegetables, and fruits. Smaller fish, such as anchovies, are usually better to eat than larger fish, such as tuna, which are higher up the food chain and typically higher in mercury. Plant-based foods require still less energy to produce. Shifting to a more plant-based style of eating will slow the deforestation that domestic meat production requires.  Healthy diet guidelines encourage at least 50% of your daily diet consist of fruits and vegetables. If you do eat meat, treat it as a condiment rather than a main dish. Be aware that factory-farmed meat is produced in ways that contribute to greenhouse gases and environmental degradation.  Learn to hunt deer for a more natural meat source. You’ll avoid the energy required to transport products from far away. In addition, getting to know your local food producers will help you understand how your food was grown and harvested.  Most fresh fish must be transported by air, if it’s not local. Even out-of-season frozen fish will be more sustainable than fresh fish flown in.  As the nutritional value of food diminishes with time, eating locally grown food increases the amount of nutrition you’ll receive. Many international food growers use unregulated or under-regulated environmental practices. American grown products, while not always perfect, are usually farmed with more sustainable practices. Take the time to research products you purchase regularly.  Good retailers will be well-informed on the way their sellers practice sustainability. Knowing more about your farmers and food sources through your retailers can help support local business, which are invested in protecting and preserving the environment.
Summary:
Make sure the food you’re eating is grown sustainably. Eat lower on the food chain. Look for food that’s grown locally. Buy from trusted retailers.