■ <B>Practise more physical exercise! </B>

Mauritius is among the countries most affected by heart disease. Associations and networks have been set up to make people aware of the risks ahead. But all these laudable initiatives will in no way be efficient if each and every citizen does not decide to practise more sports. Only saner daily habits ? including sports as a top priority ? can help us reduce the rate of people affected with heart disease. We have the chance to have a good climate and landscapes that should encourage us to practise sports? So, let us put on our training shoes and no longer find excuses for our laziness! Twenty-minute walks should be enough!

■ <B>Adopt a more balanced diet! </B>

After the orgies of end-of-year parties, our bodies undoubtedly need to be ?purified?. Too many fatty dishes, too many alcoholic drinks may have sickened us? It is now or never to go on a diet! This may not even be aimed at losing weight but simply at removing all toxins from our bodies. And we should make it a point to adopt a more balanced diet all year long. If sports are a must, a balanced diet ? not a strict slimming diet ? appears as important to prevent heart problems from attacking us!

■ <B>Defend our principles? in a responsible way! </B>

It seems that Mauritian citizens appear a bit half-hearted in certain cases. This does in no way mean that we should become advocates of revenge and protest against every single decision? Let us take the example of the education counter-reform! There were only a few of us to show our disagreement to the comeback of harsh competition at the end of the primary cycle. Although the great majority were aware that the reform would be unbearable for many 11 year-olds, not many have moved to state their discontent? However, individual interests and blackmails should not be part of the protests!

■ <B>Develop awareness to the environment! </B>

We are not among the most environment-friendly citizens in the world? Although we can boast having some of the most beautiful viewpoints and landscapes worldwide, we can?t really say that we take good care of them! This must change in 2007! The ministry of the Environment should be more present to educate people and make them understand how important it is to keep our environment clean. If we want to rely on our tourist industry, we would be well advised to make sure we protect our natural resources!

■ <B> Keep our resolutions? after 2nd January! </B>

? All these resolutions would be totally useless if we do not commit to keep them all year long. The diet should not end after we have lost 2 kg, practising sports should not stop as soon as work resumes! By making a small effort, we would all have a better place to live in!