What else can you do
Schools involved in the Future Leaders Congress will be encouraged to take action to help protect our precious marine environments. Even if you can't participate in the 2006 Congress, you and your community can help by:
- Learning all you can. Read, surf the web and experience the ocean directly.
- Be a smart shopper. Ask stores and restaurants about the source of their seafood.
- Conserve water. Be careful when washing your car or watering your lawn.
- Reduce household pollutants. Cut down and properly dispose of herbicides, pesticides and cleaning products.
- Reduce waste. Dispose of rubbish properly. Where possible, recycle, reuse and compost.
- Reduce car pollution. Use fuel efficient vehicles or carpool. Recycle motor oil and repair oil and air conditioning leaks.
- Protect ocean wildlife. Don't dispose of fishing lines, nets or plastic items in or near the water.
- Be considerate of sea life habitats. Don't bother sea birds, mammals and turtles or their nesting grounds. Support marine protected areas.
- Get involved. Take part in a beach cleanup or other ocean-oriented activities.
- Care! Pass on your knowledge!
Take an Eco Test
We invite everyone to "take the test" from one of the options provided for you. Many of us do not realise how heavy our footprints are. One of the eco footprint measurement tools will help you evaluate what it is we can do better. It's easier than you think.
"Take the test"
http://www.myfootprint.org/
About your lifestylewww.originenergy.com.au/efficiency/wholesite.html
Energy efficiency is easy. By using a series of energy saving tips for each room in your house, this website shows you how to make your website more energy efficient.www.epa.vic.gov.au/eco-footprint/Households/default.asp
This data sheet asks detailed questions about your lifestyle, and provides you with your actual eco-footprint as calculated from real data, for example your household's energy bills.www.dse.vic.gov.au/thesustainables/
You don't need to be a superhero to save the planet. Making a difference to the environment is about the little things in life.
About your Car
http://www.ecovoice.com.au/evonline/evo-25/calculategreenhouse-evo25.html
A new online greenhouse gas emissions calculator to make it easier for people to calculate their impact on the environment has been launched by Men of the Trees Carbon Neutral Program.
About your School
www.epa.vic.gov.au/eco-footprint/Schools/default.asp
Want to bring sustainability thinking into your school? Use the eco-footprint. It makes this task fun, interesting, interactive and informative, both for primary and secondary schools. It communicates the challenges easily and links to all kinds of curricula, including maths, geography, science and social studies.www.powerhousemuseum.com/ecotude/audit.asp
This eco'tude calculator will ask you to come up with the best possible estimate of your schools ecological footprint and requires accurate answers to the questions from you. To help you they have produced the "Ecotude Auditing Toolkit".
Make a pledge
"Make a pledge" in 2006 to acknowledge how you intend to do things more sustainably for yourself and therefore for a more sustainable future.
