Sandstorm season is upon us, so it’s crucial to start preparing ourselves for all the flying particles. Maybe you're thinking of a small face mask or a pair of cool sunglasses, but for Beijing’s not-so-gentle spring, your protective gear should always start with a see-through scarf.

Are you a nyctophobe? If so, get out of Beijing this weekend, because there'll be nowhere to hide. Earth Hour is back this Saturday (Mar 31), and as in previous years a number of notable Beijing-based institutions will be marking the event by turning their lights off for 60 minutes between 8.30-9.30pm. Earth Hour always sparks a bit of debate, both about its own effectiveness and about climate change in general, and we expect this year to be no different, so to get the ball rolling, we've got details on who's taking part in Beijing and how you can get involved.

Who on earth would put Dame Jane Goodall and the Hash House Harriers in the same boat? All is not what it seems, though. On September 24, the Roots & Shoots China World Summit will be held at the Jane Goodall Institute of China, featuring stage performances, informational displays about NGOs and environmental programs and fun educational activities. We chatted with Executive Director Lei Wong about China’s youth and meeting the British premier.

Living in Beijing, we often feel out of touch with nature. High-rise buildings, pollution and concrete roads hardly call to mind dewy grass, fresh water streams and chirping songbirds.

Now, the Green Earth Volunteers – one of the oldest local environmental NGOs in China – is offering expats an opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors. They have been organizing a “River Watch” activity (乐水行) every Saturday for the past two years, but starting in July, they’ve arranged for monthly English-language translations as well. And their second one ever is taking place tomorrow morning (see details below).

Here’s a look at some news and opinions for the past week from the drain of sexpats on Beijing to China’s environmental efforts.