As global warming tends to spread its tentacles, nations and nationals take to measures to reduce the impact of the dragon destined to devour the globe. North Americans are now thinking of dying green.
Green funeral in Europe has already achieved a landmark, so it’s now planning to across the Atlantic. Not a bad idea when we know that the U.S. to be the largest polluter on earth. So, the North Americans have to pay for what they reap.
Canadian environmentalists are harping on the idea to give a green funeral to the dead, by doing so contributing their bit to the environment. Moreover, the trend would mean the dead contributing to a sustainable environment.
Green send-offs could lessen the impact on our environment by cutting extravagancy like embalming, headstones or grave linings and a memorial tree can be planted to mark the grave, and plaques can be fixed on a nearby wall. Instead green send-off would cover usage of shrouds and biodegradable containers. Rigid cardboard or willow coffins are encouraged. The aim of these burial grounds is to provide a natural environment and encouraging a diversity of wildlife.
But, its not going to be applicable unless environmental organizations take it on as something they could add to their list of things must to be done and people have to contribute in their way by asking the cemeteries and funeral parlors for it more often.
Embalming is done to preserve the remains of the body for public display at funerals. But its impact on environment proves hazardous in long term. Within 10days of embalming the body start decomposing, organs sucked out and replaced with carcinogens and generation of two potentially toxic chemicals formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde. And when bodies are cremated, mercury (mostly from dental fillings) gets into the atmosphere and rivers.
Currently, there are no green cemeteries in Canada. The Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada’s Pacific coast, has offered to shift to the organic option.
Britain has about 200 natural burial sites to give a green send-off.
Great idea isn’t it? Contributing your bit even after you are gone? But, the idea is of little use in countries like India, where a dead body is exposed to the fire and than the mortal remains are immersed in the rivers.
Via: Reuters
