A supermarket checkout assistant was praised as striking a blow for (拥护)modern manners and a return to the age of politeness after refusing to serve a shopper who was talking on her mobile phone.

Sainbury’s was forced to apologize to the customer who complained when she was told her goods would not be scanned unless she hung up. Jo Clark, 26, said, “I don’t know what she was playing at. I couldn’t believe how rude she was. When did she have the right to give me a lecture on checkout etiquette (礼节)? I won’t be shopping there again.

But users of social media sites and Internet forums were very angry that the store gave in and the public appeared to be rallying (支持) behind the angry checkout worker. “Perhaps this is a turning point for mobile phone users everywhere. When chatting, keep your eyes on the folk around you. That includes people trying to serve you, other road and pavement users and especially people behind you on the stairs,” was a typical post.

“It’s about time checkout staff fought back at these people incessantly chattering on their phones. They can drive anyone crazy. It’s rude and annoying. I often want to grab someone’s phone and throw it as far as I can, and I am not even a checkout girl, just a passer-by,” said another.

WillNorman of The Young Foundation said that the majority of people still valued good manners very highly, despite growing pressures from work, mobility and technology. “Being civil to each other is part of the oil which makes communities work. In our research taxi drivers and shop workers described being invisible which is fine as a one-off but day after day it makes people feel undervalued and undermined. It is quite simply rude,” he said. “New rules and codes of conduct take a while to develop and we are still in a development phase for mobile phones,” he added.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of parenting site Netmums.com said, “While clearly this checkout operator doesn’t have the authority to order customers to switch off the phone, you can see why she felt so frustrated. No matter how busy you are, life is nicer when you and those around you have good manners.”

Social Integration — Welcoming the Newcomers

Social integration is the process through which minority groups interact, come together or are incorporated within a community, Increased social integration helps reduce conflict and tension in society, and it can help the new migrants feel more connected to their new community. How do different groups remain relatively cohesive in society?

A few countries around the world have adopted integrated frameworks for their economic, social, political and cultural policies with regard to accepting these migrants into the local society. 【小题1】. This is to allow them to achieve their full potential in life. There are still ongoing efforts to integrate different cultures and races, and the governments have encouraged their immigrants to take an active part in social, cultural, economic and political activities.

Integration takes place in neighbourhoods. work places, schools and public places where people from diverse backgrounds spend most of their time. 【小题2】 Especially among the younger children, being in the same class as their foreign counterparts will teach the local children the meaning of tolerance and empathy. Participation in sports, community engagement and volunteer work are also other possible ways that eliminate discrimination and other forms of intolerance. From participating in arts programmes to being parent volunteers in schools, these platforms provide opportunities for people to interact and work towards a common cause. Sports programmes have also been used to encourage social integration. In fact, sport can strengthen social networks and promote non - violence and respect. In these ways, meaningful relationships among those of different ages, racial groups or faiths are built on the basis of common interests.

【小题3】 still, countries have also acknowledged that human movement across borders cannot be stopped. Instead, it should be better managed so that migration is safe, legal and beneficial for everyone. 【小题4】 Indeed, the government and local communities play a key role in integrating these newcomers and empowering them to contribute to their new communities, while maintaining their identities.

There you are in your favorite clothing store. You don’t really need to buy anything, but everything is so cheap and stylish! Before you know it, you leave the store with bags and bags of new clothes.

On the surface, this doesn’t seem so bad. However, there are a lot of hidden costs behind the cheap price tags put forward by fast fashion brands.

To put it plainly, the fashion industry is terrible for the planet. Not only does it use up a lot of resources, but it also heavily pollutes the environment with chemicals, microplastics and unwanted waste. Fashion is one of the least sustainable (可持续发展的) industries on the planet, commented Michael Stanley-Jones, a program management officer with the United Nations Environment Program. “We’ve all become our own waste managers, hoarding fashion waste in our closets,” he noted. It doesn’t just take up space in our closets, though. It also ends up in landfills, too. In fact, three out of every five garments end up either being incinerated (焚毁) or sent to landfills.

But, thankfully, the fashion trend tides are changing.

People are increasingly examining their own consumption and what changes they can make to become sustainable, Jane Fellner, founder and CEO of sustainable fashion retailer Loopster, told the Guardian. In particular, with its typically lower prices and rare fashion finds, shopping secondhand has become an increasingly popular and eco-friendly option.

According to online reseller ThredUp, the secondhand market is predicted to reach $80 billion (about 518 billion yuan) by 2029. And, although fast fashion will continue to grow 20 percent over the next 10 years, secondhand fashion is expected to grow an unbelievable 185 percent in that same amount of time.

Fellner continued: “Secondhand has become more socially acceptable and, for some, cool. Thrifting (节约) is now massive on TikTok.”

The only true sustainable way to shop is to not shop at all, Rachel Kibbe, a brand consultant for ensuring sustainability in fashion, told Insider. Unless you’re buying clothes that already exist.