[Greenbuilding] FW: Green Death

[George J. Nesbitt]

I recall that in a country bordering Inda they leave the dead for the 
voultures.
Natures way of recycling.



Bill Hutchins wrote:

>from my wife.......
>
>and lawrence, what is your source
>for emissions from cremation?
>
>best,
>bill
>www.heliconworks.com
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Beth Knox [mailto:bethknox at earthlink.net]
>Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 12:21 PM
>To: Bill Hutchins
>Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Green Death
>
>
>Hi Lawrence,
>Re: your green death message
>Green burial - ie not embalmed, not cremated - is a very viable alternative
>to the present scenario.  It is gaining in popularity as individuals get
>educated on these topics.  I am executive director of a non-profit called
>Crossings (www.crossings.net) which educates exactly on these topics.
>Embalming is never required by law, so don't let anyone tell you it is.  It
>is not a matter of state law that mandates embalming, but the funeral home's
>policies.  Families have the right to care for their own departed, foregoing
>the intervention of a funeral home and these policies, in 45 out of the 50
>states. Every state needs a green burial preserve.  For a list of the
>current ones, go to www.forestofmemories.org.  Also, green burial is often
>allowed on private land.
>
>There are options besides the one you propose (they are going to embalm the
>dickens out of you at a medical school and THEN cremate you), more
>ecologically sound, psychologically healing, and spiritually nurturing.  To
>say nothing of being more loving.
>
>all the best,
>beth
>
>
>
>|
>| -----Original Message-----
>| From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
>| [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org]On Behalf Of Lawrence
>| Lile
>| Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 9:57 AM
>| To: Greenbuilder list
>| Subject: [Greenbuilding] Green Death
>|
>|
>| So much for recycling: Burials in America deposit 827,060 gallons of
>| embalming fluid-formaldehyde, methanol, and ethanol-into the soil each
>| year. Cremation pumps dioxins, hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, and
>| carbon dioxide into the air.  It is actually legal in some states to
>| bury corpses without embalming, however it takes special procedures (I
>| know someone who insisted they be buried in this manner).
>|
>| Alternatively . . . A Swedish company, Promessa, will freeze-dry your
>| body in liquid nitrogen, pulverize it with high-frequency vibrations,
>| and seal the resulting powder in a cornstarch coffin. They claim this
>| "ecological burial" will decompose in 6 to 12 months.
>|
>| I wonder how much Carbon Dioxide each of us will turn into if we are
>| cremated?
>|
>| Personally I'll donate my body to science.  Let some med student learn
>| how to transplant livers on me.  They'll end up cremating me anyway but
>| at least I'll hit a lick for science on the way out.
>|
>|
>| -Lawrence Lile
>|
>|
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