[Greenbuilding] [BULK] FW: Green Death

[Lawrence Lile]

My wife woted these firgures to me, and said they came from an article
in Science Magazine, January 2006 issue.  We also recently read a
fascinating book called "How We Die", not to leave the impression I sit
around reading morbid stuff all the time, but it was very interesting
about the science of dying.  Ah, but we stray off topic here.  

--Lawrence



-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Bill
Hutchins
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 12:44 PM
To: Greenbuilder list
Subject: [BULK] [Greenbuilding] FW: Green Death
Importance: Low

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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