Related Greening Articles
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Greening: When will people see “Green” as “Better”?
There is an old saying that goes like this, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" - this really pisses me off...
Who said anything was “broke” and who in...
2009/10/01
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Greening: This post has zero notoriety by any means, it's simply a set of personal complaints I have about almost everything that affects my life as an environmentally conscious South African - yes, I have...
2009/11/15
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Greening: What’s new in the Eco-preneurial Industry?
There has been a lot of speculation in terms of what the "next big thing" will be in tech and marketing for the "Go Green" industry. Everything from new...
2010/05/15
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2010/02/15
Greening:
"Grave Danger" |
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One of the greatest challenges of our time has been and will be the struggle to gain control over the carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. Now, in our current time as a species on this planet, than ever before has such an issue been so pertinent and globally felt. The “greenies” of the world are now sitting back and laughing to themselves saying dreary and ridiculously obvious statements such as, “we told you so” and “we told you so”…and with more impact than that…”we TOLD you so”…! Yeah, we get it…trust me…although, without the signing of the Climate Summit at Copenhagen this past December, the “greenies“ have unfortunately lost some momentum with regards to making carbon-reductions official in major and developing countries throughout the world.
This greening issue extends further than what most consider everyday practise. I’m sure that many people over the past couple of months have been making a concerted effort to minimize their own carbon footprint and take on new and “potentially exciting“ recycling prospects. So maybe it hasn’t been as exciting for you as it has been for some, but the issue still remains that new and greener lifestyles need to be adopted, rather sooner than later. One rather macabre issue that not many people consider when discussing issues of the “green nature” (no pun intended) is the disposal of human remains and bodies. The human body is the most advanced organic being on the face of the Earth but like everything else in the organic matter chain, once we expire, our body will decompose and degrade into eventual nothingness. In essence, we are one of the most efficient sources of fertilizer on Earth. |
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Sensitive today hey?
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With regards to the quoted report on the state of our country’s cemeteries, there is an environmental solution, which unfortunately has not yet been considered. The lack of consideration shown towards this option can be narrowed down to the following issues: religion, sentimentality and money. Firstly, many religions believe that burying a body is the quintessential sign of respect to the recently deceased. The preservation of the last moments or physical being is honoured as a respect and a longing for “eternal life”. Sentimentality plays a major role in the burial of a human body due to the fact that once a person has passed on, family members and friends have a specific place or gravesite to visit. Money, it is the be all and end denominator when it comes to this issue. The government is clearly making more money from their overcrowded graveyards than they can currently count it. It seems like everyone from the gravedigger to the funeral planner are making money and the person who is losing out is you and your family.
Without making this a political and or a monetary debate, let us refocus on what can be done in terms of using alternative methods for what seems to be like an imminent issue for all of us.
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Quoted report from News24:
Johannesburg - Ekurhuleni could soon face a serious shortage of burial space as most cemeteries in the area have a life span of five years or less, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday.
"If the Ekurhuleni metro does not take swift action, Ekurhuleni will run out of space to bury its dead. Of the 20 cemeteries in the metro, 12 have a lifespan of less than five years," said the party's environmental portfolio committee member Jackie Reilly.
Zuurfontein, Mooifontein, Vlakfontein, Nigel, Alra Park, Brakpan, Phumlane, South Park, Alberton and Kromvlei were among the cemeteries affected.
Alra Park and Bakerton have already reached their capacity.
The eight other cemeteries had a lifespan of around 15 to 20 years.
"The DA had repeatedly raised the matter in the past, but the ANC-led metro had taken no notice.
"Unfortunately it appears to be accepted practice in Ekurhuleni to leave problems until they reach crisis proportions before reacting to them," she said.
Other issues the municipality failed to address related to vandalism of cemeteries.
"Our cemeteries are in a shocking state. Grounds aren't maintained. Graves are collapsing and most cemeteries have very little security and as a result theft and vandalism at these sites, which are supposed to be sacred, continues," she said.
Reilly added that it was the responsibility of the municipality to monitor and ensure contractors hired to maintain cemeteries did their job.
Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini could not be immediately reached for comment.
- SAPA
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The Cemeteries
The cemeteries are starting to fill up, but not in the way that you think. More so than the bodies that get placed in the ground, it is the additional materials that accompany a recently deceased that are rendering graveyards “dead space” – excuse the pun. Traditionally, when a body is placed in the ground it is usually done so in a coffin. Most modern day coffins contain extreme consistencies of adhesives and glues that eventually land up filtering into the ground when the coffin does finally decompose. Other harmful materials such as metals, certain treated woods, never mind the cloth, linen and velvet that makes up the inside of each “subterranean hammock”. In the case of the gravesites themselves, some graves are filled with steel and concrete, which also adds to the long list of infectious materials to accompany nature’s best fertilizer. Let’s not forget formaldehyde, which is the main ingredient in the embalming process.
Formaldehyde is another toxic subject, which will re-enter the Earth’s life cycle evidently affecting everything around it.
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Cremation: Effective but harmful
As efficient as cremation is, there are more negatives than positives to this quick “flamed grilled” situation. Firstly, the positives…cremation is a space saver. Cremating bodies doesn’t require ground and burial space for the recently deceased unless specified. It is also somewhat cheaper than having a physical burial, which is highly important to remember in terms of local South African context. The negatives go as follow, pollution…the end. A crematorium releases extremely harmful toxins and gases such as formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, dioxins and mercury into the atmosphere. The cremation process evidently adds to greenhouse gas emissions and incinerators also require fairly high amounts of energy to run.
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Going, Going, Green
The basis for this article centers around the opportunity to create a greener, more environmentally friendly solution to the burial methods in South Africa. In the United Kingdom for instance, soon to pass members of society have opted for a greener passing from this lifetime. Companies have been established that secure a “wild yet manicured” site for your remains. These Eco-Burial sites and Memorial Gardens as they have become known are starting to become somewhat trendy in the last couple of years especially amoung the green communities. What makes this “experience” appealing is that instead of placing an obtusely large head stone at your grave, one can opt for a greener option by going for your favourite flower or tree.
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Short and sweet...nice.
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This use of the natural surroundings negates all feelings of the cold and sterile feelings one would have for any typical graveyard. Along with the option of this greener final resting place, one can also opt for more environmentally friendly solutions to the other side of a funeral. In a natural burial, the body will not be embalmed and the coffin will be made from easily decomposable products such as wicker. Unfortunately we in South Africa have not yet been given the options for particular green burial sites and memorial gardens, as to why, only the South African government will know the true answers to that. In the meantime, what we can do as a nation who is constantly trying to better ourselves and our society by making more informed decisions, we can adopt a few of the “green guidelines” and ensure that our exit from this Earth is not only a memorable one, but a responsible one.
Other more responsible options for coffins consist of environmentally friendly choices such as woven branches, wicker, bamboo and papier-mâché.
Niche burial companies have been popping up all over the world offering greener alternatives to coffin based burials. As a good example, there is a company based in Australia called “Eternal Reefs”. The company prides themselves on being the only ocean based-after-death replenishment funeral service. The company receives your ashes after cremation and then nullifies your “cremation carbon footprint” by mixing your ashes with an environmentally friendly compound used to rejuvenate coral reefs, which form part of Australia’s greatest sights. The compound is shaped and formed to resemble the existing coral reefs especially where the natural reefs have been damaged or broken due to pollution and human interference.
Generally, the more intricate and complex coffins take longer to biodegrade and thus create more harm to the soil than these eco-friendly options. Even basic options can include materials such as simple linen shrouds and bags, which are broken down even easier once the decomposition process starts.
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Cheating Death through Science
Another extremely valuable option is also available for those “on the way out”. Many people feel cautious and suspect of what happens to bodies used for medical science and research, but with the strict medical guidelines of today’s standards, there is a guarantee that nothing will happen to you after you expire than what has been agreed upon by you and the medical team assessing your body for either donation or research.
Here are some excellent details to assist you if you are interested in donating organs or your body for research on medical grounds:
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Yummy.
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- Anyone under age 70 not suffering from diabetes, hepatitis, cancer or HIV/Aids can be a donor. Costs of the procedure are covered by the hospital or state.
- Discuss the decision with your next-of-kin, as they must give approval to have your organs removed upon your death.
- Call the Organ Donor Foundation’s toll free number (0800 22 6611) to register. You’ll receive a donor card, and stickers for your ID document and driver's license.
- You can specify which organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas) or tissues (corneas, heart valves, skin, bone) you’d like to donate.
- Once you’ve been declared brain-dead by two independent doctors, the specified organs and/or tissues are removed, and the body returned to your family. The procedure doesn't disfigure the body, which can be buried or cremated like any other.
- If you change your mind about donation, simply tear up your card, remove the stickers and inform your family.
This all might sounds extremely cold and clinical, but without donors in this world, many a life would be lost due to lack of donations and fresh organs, which still can be used!
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Money
The bank always wins...
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It’s an issue for many in this country especially when it comes to the end of life expenses. A funeral service can cost anything from R5000.00 to the tens of thousands of Rands…this kind of expense is not one that many can take upon themselves to make when wanting to look after a family member. Fortunately in South Africa there are many funeral plans offered by insurance companies. With this new direction and green movement with regards to “giving back while giving up”, there is the opportunity to save money while contributing to the replenishment of the Earth long after you have expired.
Would you rather go into the ground, be turned into ash and kept in a jar or returned from “whence you came”…? Personally, I can think of nothing more fulfilling than being buried in the dirt and having a cherry blossom tree planted directly on top of me. When it blooms…you can think of me.
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Writer, David Alves 
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