Cremation or A Cardboard Box Under a Tree??
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
April 20, 2007 9:25am CST
I am one of those people who choose to be cremated after death and I am also all for helping the environment but I don't like this scientist's idea for helping. Do You? Would you go this far? Do you think Al Gore would do this for a cause he is so passionate about???
An Australian scientist called Wednesday for an end to the age-old tradition of cremation, saying the practice contributed to global warming.
Professor Roger Short said people could instead choose to help the environment after death by being buried in a cardboard box under a tree.
The decomposing bodies would provide the tree with nutrients, and the tree would convert carbon dioxide into life-giving oxygen for decades, he said.
"The important thing is, what a shame to be cremated when you go up in a big bubble of carbon dioxide," Short told AFP.
"Why waste all that carbon dioxide on your death?"
Short said the cremation of the average male in Australia, during which the body is heated to 850 degrees Celsius (1,562 degrees Fahrenheit) for 90 minutes, produced more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of carbon dioxide.
And that doesn't include the carbon cost of fuel, or the cost of the emissions released during the production and burning of the wooden casket.
But to bury the hatchet with environmentalists, he suggested it would not be a bad idea to bequeath one's body as food for a forest.
"You can actually do, after your death, an enormous amount of good for the planet," he said. "The more forests you plant, the better."
http://www.terra.net.lb/wp/Articles/DesktopArticle.aspx?ArticleID=340501&ChannelId=49
9 people like this
8 responses
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
20 Apr 07
I definately want to be cremated when I pass on from this planet.My ashes will be spread over a small area I know of to allow the winds and waves decide where to lay the ashes .My long-time g/f has requested the same so we can be together forever.It sure sounds more romantic then sticking us in the ground to be used as fertilizer.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I am for cremation too.
and where did the wooden casket come in ? When they creamated my hubby no casket was involved at all.
And we had to take all metal off rings and belt and things like that.
We bought a cherry wood box to put ashes in big enough for my ashes too and on the side has a mountain with the moon coming up over it beautiful!
And where did they come up with all these facts to lead to global warming . I think they are raiseing a red flag where none is needed, What about every thing else that is in the air now?
And I dont think they should take away the way we want to be put away. Why would I want to feed the worms?
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Very interesting discussion Heather. I am one that plans to be cremated. Of course we never think of the effect this will have on the environment. But, my reasoning for the cremation is the fact that I don't want my children to feel guilt for not visiting a plot in a cemetary. I want my ashes to be spread near the ocean. If they want to visit me, go to the place where I loved most. Visualize me there. How morbid the thought of visiting a forest knowing that your loved ones body was rotting away. Yes, it would be great fertilzer for the plants and trees, but....
2 people like this
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
21 Apr 07
I don't really care what happens to me after I die. But the choices are limited in Mass. I wouldn't mind being "encardbordboxerated" myself, if it was allowed by law. And I'll have a fine Sugar Maple Tree sprouting from my belly button...lol
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
21 Apr 07
Who said "Dust thou art and unto dust you shall return"?
I love this idea. I've always thought that the cost of burying someone was a bit of a rip off. I quite like the idea of being fertiliser.
Let it hereby be known that I wish to be encarboardboxerated and buried under a Chinese Pistachio...my favourit shade tree, even if one has to be purchased. In a botanical type garden would be nice too. AMEN.
2 people like this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
21 Apr 07
That is a interesting concept. I have no problem with it as strange as that may sound. If you think about it you would be contributing to the life of a living thing. No it is not a person but it is a living thing just the same. I had always said I wanted to be cremated and have my ashes just scattered to the winds but that seems a better way. The only problem that I could see is loved ones want to come and visit a grave and the way he suggests they would not be able to.
1 person likes this
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
23 Apr 07
I personally think they would be better off putting these efforts into making products that continue to burn off the ozone layer better and less destructive to the environment. Spend some of the time and money put into "studying" cremation into creating a battery that will run a car for days on end, eliminating fumes, etc. I have a feeling there are fewer cremations then cars!
And as for burying a body in the ground without protective coverings, etc. I believe there are health reasons for NOT doing this. The decomposing body can cause harm to surrounding waters, etc.
I personally could care less what they do with me when I die. I have no use for the body anymore! LOL I prefer they give me to science or whatever. Why go to all the costs of "preparing" a body just to be decomposed and never used again anyways?
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
23 Apr 07
I made my decision quite some time ago that I wanted to be cremated but that I also wanted to make sure that my doner wishes were also carried out. Basically I want all the bits out of me of any use to anyone else, the rest gets burnt and the ashes scattered in a stone circle and return to the earth. The ultimate in recycling I would have thought is the donation of body parts then the ashes used as fertiliser - lol









