While the Earth Summit + 5 is going on, world leaders are discussing action plans that will create sustainable development around the globe. But what can we do in our own lives to reduce our ecological impact in our own human environments? This column will present one idea each day. Our purpose is to provide ways that we in our lives can reduce our own "ecological footprint"...

REDUCE YOUR
ECO-FLUSHPRINT!

One of the most scarce resources in the world today is clean water. Millions of people in the world (actually one fifth of the world's population) spend hours transporting semi clean or contaminated water for their families to use each and every day. A large portion of these people fall victim to water born diseases.

Many of us here in Canada have fresh water just by turning on the tap. So, it may surprise us to learn that access to fresh water will be one of the most controversial political issues globally in years to come.

Here is an example of how you can make a change in your own life to alter your use of fresh water. Picture for a minute how your toilet works. Think of all of the clean water that literally goes down the drain each and every time we flush our toilets. Each time you flush your toilet, clean water is used to replace the mechanisms inside the big tank at back of your toilet to their proper balance. If you want to reduce your ecological footprint right now, here's how:

• fill a large plastic pop bottle with tap water
• place it in the back of your toilet (in the tank behind the bowl), and place it so that it does not disturb the round ball that floats on the top of the water (put it underneath)
• if a pop bottle is too big, fill a margarine or a yogurt container, and do the same

Although it sounds weird, each time the water rises to finish the flush, it will rise to the proper level with less water. If you fill up a two litre bottle of water, you will save two litres every time you flush! Who knew you could save the world every time you flush the toilet!