The Toilet Reinvented

After so many calls to address not only the water and sanitation issues facing First Nations, what is badly needed is some innovation. Or maybe we need to go back to the basics and remember that there was a time when we our society did not depend on intensive use of energy, infrastructure and massive amounts of clean (treated) water to transport away our waste. Indeed, we used to know that our 'waste' wasn't actually waste, that it could be fertilizer (just like every other living creature's waste!)

While I keep waiting for our governments to commit to innovation in addressing the waste and water problems we have, look at what The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is doing: a $41.5 million donation into new program investments and new strategies regarding waste, and in particular, the toilet. Check out the blog of One.org at http://www.one.org/blog/2011/07/20/reinventing-an-18th-century-invention-the-toilet/ for a full story (and a VERY COOL VIDEO) explaining what's happening in this project. The end result? Here's a bit from the blog:

The Gates Foundation’s Water Sanitation & Hygiene program collaborated with Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) in Global Health and challenged 22 universities to create a proposal for a technologically advanced toilet. The criteria for the toilets are pretty intense. Each toilet has to be hygienic, affordable, and independent from a sewage system.

Surprisingly, eight of these universities not only devised proposals that met the above criteria, they also used technological and scientific advances to make the toilets even more cutting edge. These proposed inventions even have the ability to transform waste into energy, clean water and nutrients. It’s pretty incredulous, but if you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself. The Gates Foundation has a list of the eight toilet proposals that were awarded grants.

Maybe we could consider some of this innovation to address our water and waste woes?

No First Nations Water - or any water- at COF talks

Probably because I sit on the Water Partners Advisory Committee to the Council of the Federation (COF) I just received an email forwarding a Press Release and Letter to BC Premier and Chair of the Council of the Federation Christy Clark regarding a request by Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak to amend Water Charter and related matters to water. MKO says:

The Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Inc. (MKO) recommends that the Council of the Federation amend the August, 2010 Water Charter to declare that "Whereas access to clean running water is a basic human right of all Canadians" and to further amend the Water Charter to include the corresponding action item “Ensure that all Canadians have access to clean running water”.

Further, they ask:

As Chair of the Council of the Federation, MKO urges you to ensure that the matter of “Access to Clean Running Water is a Basic Human Right of all Canadians” and the two amendments to the Water Charter as proposed above are placed on the agenda of the Council’s meetings being held on July 20, 21 and 22, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

It is really important that all First Nations (and all Canadians) urge the COF to keep water on their agenda and to do everything they can to address these long-standing issues. The danger that the item will drop off the agenda is already coming to pass as seen in the special report by Tom Siddon (federal fisheries Minister under the Conservative government from 1985-90) in the Vancouver Sun (see: http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/water+legislation+teeth/5127890/story.html). No mention of water by the COF so far.