Disposing of the dead seems a little too out of the ordinary for me to write a huge blog post on... but nonetheless it is something that we all have to do one day. I feel like after going through several funerals, most of my family has gotten used to the idea of simple cremation. None of my family has ever really been buried in a cemetery because our culture usually goes to India and drops the ashes in a water source or other place of choice usually near where the deceased lived. I found the fact of putting a deceased relatives' ashes in an urn or container and putting it on a mantle to be very fascinating since in our culture there is a huge belief in an afterlife, and the afterlife can only come about when the ashes have been properly "disposed" of back in India.
How else are the dead disposed of?
Well I think the most intriguing way of disposing of the dead would be to do it the "green" way. I have never actually been that conscious about being green until just recently. Apparently in Florida there was a funeral home that created a way of disposing bodies in a green way by dissolving bodies in heated alkaline water... interesting right? The technique they have is called the Resomator and was created in Scotland. I found that pretty "green" but it has apparently been used in the US state, Ohio, along with Australia, but as it so happened, they had to shut it down because it didn't fit with state regulation. "Resomation" has also made it on the "Top 10 Unusual Ways to Dispose the Dead" at number 8.
Resomator from Resomator LTD.
Also interesting enough to be on the chart of Top Ten Unusual Ways to die, are: space burials, memorial diamonds, and endocannibalism.
Space burials seemed to be pretty unique, if you ask me. Starting the chart at number 10, this burial costs anywhere between $1000-45,000 depending on the type of burial you would want. I feel like this would be one of the most intriguing ways to dispose of a body, but nonetheless it comes with a pretty hefty pricetag. Apparently you can "... have your cremated remains launched into space and returned to earth, launched into an earth orbit, launched to the moon, or launched into deep space." Among those that actually bought one of these is the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry.
Simulated version of a Space burial
Memorial diamonds are another unique way to dispose of the dead. At number 9 on the chart, and starting at $2700, you can have the remains of a PET OR LOVED ONE turned into synthetic diamonds that can be added to a ring, bracelet, necklace, or pretty much anything else you can think of. The diamonds come in a variety of colours including blue, yellow, red, green, or for those who like to keep it simple, clear. Pretty cool huh? I don't know if I would personally want to carry a dead relative on my hand or neck, but hey, whatever floats your boat :).
An example of a memorial diamond
Ahh.. Endocannibalism...At number 2, it is classic in some parts of New Guinea and even India for that matter. Mostly found in First Nation's cultures, it is believed by some groups that it can give them supernatural powers, such as the Aghoris in India or keep the deceased alive like some tribes out in Brazil. To a lot of us this seems like a pretty disturbing way to get rid of remains, but nonetheless it should be respected as a unique and cultural adaptation. Why no picture for this one? Pretty sure we don't want to see humans eating other humans, do we?
Which of the above burials would I choose?
If I had a choice of which of the above burials I would choose, it would have to be the simulated version of a space burial. Even the thought of death right now urks me a little bit because this semester has been so hard on me with so many deaths. It makes me happy to think that my relatives would always have a constant reminder of me in an accessory they get to wear all the time. Although the thought is unique, it would be a little bit strange to my parents and family since no relatives have been properly buried, but cremated, and their ashes spread in India along a body of water that was considered sacred to them. I do, however, wonder what they would think of putting me in a diamond ring. They know my fascination with jewlery, so maybe they wouldn't mind.
Special thanks to:
Resomation image and information:
Top Ten Unusual Ways to Die information and images:
The simulated space burial picture is amazing !
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