User:Tamra Williams/sandbox

= Article Review = Natural burial

The articles below will be used as sources to support and explain why green burial methods should be used, instead of the traditional burials and crematories. Green burials and Natural burials offer the planet sustainability and does not add to the current problems, like the Carbon footprint. It provides recycled nutrients for different species, and does not require much land use, since land availability is an issue in some parts. In fact, one of the methods of green burials, the Biodegradable Burial Pods promote the growth of trees, which ultimate will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the land can be used for other things, like farming or parks.

The entire concept of a “Green burial” is for people to take care of the dead in the most natural, Eco-friendly way possible. This includes allowing the body to decompose, and not using methods that greatly impacts the environment. “Being green” does not include using chemicals like embalming fluid to preserve the dead or using non-biodegradable materials, such as metals and coffin glues. The articles explain that crematories emit toxins that go into Eco-systems, and become dangers to other species. In turn, humans consume these organisms and the toxins enter into our bodies.

Sources for my Bibliography Summaries
===  Source #1 : “Toxic Burial: The Final Insult” === This article explains the modern practice of embalming bodies for delayed burials, and states that it is toxic to the environment. These chemicals damage the ecosystem, and does not allow other species to benefit from the natural process of recycled nutrients. This individual urges society to implement cheaper, Eco-friendlier practices like “green burials.” They also mention that most cemeteries are filled with non-biodegradable materials, such as metals and varnishes, and are “beautified” (2).

==== #2: "Capsula Mundi: An Organic Burial Pod" ==== The introduction of Capsula Mundi offers an eco-friendlier method to burials, and they are the way to preserve the earth. The pods are “organic biodegradable burial capsule that turns the deceased’s body into nutrients for a tree that will grow out of their remains” (5). They allow people to return back to the earth and continue the natural process. These trees will be a part of the “memory forests” (1) and will free up other lands that are being used non-constructively as cemeteries. The article goes on to explain the breakdown of nutrients and how the pods allow that, with the help of microorganisms. Most coffins do not allow microorganism access to the bodies, so the bodies do not break down if there are preserved.

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#3: "No room for the Dead. Burial Practices in a Constrained Environmnent" ===== In some parts of the world, there isn’t enough land space to do the essentials (to grow food, build houses and schools). Many factors lead up to this limitation of land, erosion, farming, buildings, and with the establishment of cemeteries, there are more difficulties. The journal explains that in the Marshall Islands, people are desperately trying to free up the lands. Often, they tried burial at sea, but the bodies would wash up on the shores and would not be buried. “Burial at sea remained an option and bodies washed ashore were often not buried but left to the sea to dispose of (5).” The people in that region do a lot of framing, and are close to ocean. The wash up of coral, corpses and other things could result in numerous issues (it could be a danger to their lives). “Since the burials now occur on land, the area taken up by the burials is going to become an increasing problem (18).”

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#4: "Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Dibenzofurnas, and Biphenyls in Fishermen in Finland" ====== The aquatic environment in Finland is filled with Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The fishes that live in this environment consume the PCD/F and PCB found in the water, and are consumed by humans. Hence, these toxins enter our bodies. PCD/F is one of the toxins found in crematories. When people scatter the remains of the deceased in seas and other water ways, they create dangers for other wild life, and other people, who consume theses wild life. “Consuming fish at least twice a week resulted in plasma concentrations of PCDD/Fs over five times those found in a corresponding non-fisherman population in Finland” (6-7). t.williams (talk) 19:32, 6 March 2018 (UTC)

very good summaries - which portion of the theme will you tackle ? also, great comments and feedback to other peoples work Karina Schafer (talk) 16:17, 29 March 2018 (UTC)