It is a topic that few people enjoy speaking about; however, it is one of the few things in life which we can count on. Death is certain but it should not be feared … “Death? Why this fuss about death. Use your imagination; try to visualize a world without death! ... Death is the essential condition of life, not an evil.” (Charlotte Perkins Gilman).
Pre-planning can save you money and your family heartaches from having to make difficult decisions on your behalf without any direction. Consider green burials when you leave this world to leave this world a better place. Standard burials can greatly damage the planet’s ecosystem while green burials are far less unfriendly. Here’s why.
There are no toxic embalming fluids used on the body. Bodies are refrigerated in between death and burial. The body can be encased in a casket made of completely biodegradable material. Upon burial, the body is sunk very shallowly in the ground. Therefore, the decomposing body will better nourish plant growth. Natural stones, bushes and/or trees replace headstones.
When you consider the additional materials used for burial, there is much more buried in our planet than just a corpse. Statistics from the National Funeral Directors’ Association cite an incredible amount of excess which finds its way deep into the ground … there is steel, copper and bronze (used in caskets); reinforced concrete (used in tombstones) and formaldehyde (used in embalming).
People are beginning to take more of an interest in planning green burials and why not? With choosing this route, you are not only opting for a dignified death, but you are sending a positive message to your surviving family and friends … a message that you care about our planet, even after you have left it.
