Scientist says cremation should meet a timely death (contributes to global warming)

[oberliner]

SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian scientist called Wednesday for an end to the age-old tradition of cremation, saying the practice contributed to global warming.

Professor Roger Short said people could instead choose to help the environment after death by being buried in a cardboard box under a tree.

The decomposing bodies would provide the tree with nutrients, and the tree would convert carbon dioxide into life-giving oxygen for decades, he said.

"The important thing is, what a shame to be cremated when you go up in a big bubble of carbon dioxide," Short told AFP.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070418/sc_afp/lifestylewarmingdeath_070418143046

[trotsky]

1. Hmm, and I was thinking that's how I'd like to be disposed of.

Guess I'll have to rethink those plans. Bummer.

[arcane1]

2. I'm all about the natural burial, no additives or preservitives

plant a tree in me! :D

[grasswire]

3. great! thank you!

I was considering burial in my grandmother's grave in order to save grave space. I like this even better, but I don't know what the local "authorities" will say about the trend. I suspect it will not be allowed.

[RC]

4. If some diseases kill you, they can contaminate the site for

hundreds of years.

[piedmont]

12. Only prions are that stable. nt

[NashVegas]

5. I Was Already There

Having made the decision some years ago that I wanted to be buried in the cheapest pine box available and be worm food ASAP. I've sucked a lot of nutrients from the earth and have no issue with returning to the ground.

[El Supremo]

6. Better yet. Become Soylent Green! n/m

[achtung_circus]

7. Darn,

you beat me by 2 minutes.

[achtung_circus]

8. One downside to burial

is the amount of land it consumes. How about composting. The technology exists for large volumes of livestock, should be a simple transfer to another species. Not sure about the carbon footprint, however.

[EstimatedProphet]

9. Sorry dude. I'm planning to have a Viking funeral

Boat, flaming arrows, the works.

[Forkboy]

10. And it denies the worms a good time.

[arcane1]

11. let the worms and gentle rain grok me

:D

[Wiley50]

13. Crap! Decaying Corpses Generate Ozone-Depleteing Methane

Just another religonut hawking his slanted acience

[Cleita]

14. You could be put on a platform to be eaten by vultures.

This doesn't contaminate the soil or put gasses in the atmosphere and it feeds the birds. Some primitive societies have been doing this since the Stone Age. After the bones are picked clean, you can then either keep them in an ossuary or bury them. Just another thought.

:shrug: