The life of the dead, in Wandsworth

You will die. While Ecclesiastes may be right that man also knoweth not his time,[1] the ONS has produced a handy calculator which should give you some idea when.[2] I was surprised that my parents currently have a better absolute life expectancy than I do, though I guess they have successfully crossed a lot of roads I have yet to come to.

If you have an immortal soul, you will know better than me how to look after it.?But what of your body? The natural environment is well-placed to recycle it swiftly.?Although possibly lacking the glamour of the Tibetan vulture,[3] the humble British maggot, ably supported by a caste of other decomposers, can efficiently break down redundant human flesh in 6 months under the right conditions, and bones can decay in perhaps 20 years.[4]?

However, it is not usually given the chance.?There has been a relentless rise in cremation in the British Isles from 0.38% (1,992 cremations) in 1921 to 78.5% (542,774 cremations) in 2020.[5] Instead of a large corpse, we are left with a small amount of ‘ashes’, which are no such thing, rather ground-up bones. These create their own issues: I have stumbled through ashes on top of a Scottish mountain; a friend sprinkled some of her father’s in the grounds of Glyndebourne (or rather, covertly dumped them in a flower bed); Hunter S Thompson had his fired from a canon;[6] and we should not forget The Big Labowski’s cautionary example.[7]?

Cremation is bad for the environment: 99% of crematoria are gas powered and for every gas cremation, approximately 245kg of carbon is released into the atmosphere which amounts to over 115,000 tonnes of carbon released each year from UK cremation.[8] Cremation also emits NOx and mercury (from amalgam fillings), although crematoria should by now have fitted mercury abatement and other measures.[9]?

Burial also entails environmental hazards.[10] Due to the preference to see our beloved after death, toxic embalming fluids are used, hazardous for the embalmer, and the environment post-burial. Typical embalming fluid contains a mixture of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde , methanol, humectants and wetting agents, and other solvents. Formaldehyde content generally ranges from 5-35%, and the methanol content may range from 9-56%.[11] Further, wood, brass etc go make up coffins, and while doubtless looking smart (briefly), only serve to slow the decomposition process, possibly by decades. Apparently Americans put in the ground each year through traditional burials: 20 million feet of wood, 4.3 million gallons of embalming fluids, 1.6 million tons of reinforced concrete, 17,000 tons of copper and bronze, and 64,500 tons of steel.[12] Don’t get buried in synthetic clothes: they will last for ages.[13]?More supposedly environmentally-friendly high-tech options are being developed, though they are struggling to gain acceptance.[14]? Greener alternative 'woodland' burials are increasingly available.

But once buried, what then??I used to live near to Wandsworth Cemetery, and could see the life-cycle of remembrance.

First, the initial burial accompanied by flowers.

Second, the well-tended, frequently-visited grave.?

Third, the untended grave, trimmed by the Council...??

??

Finally, gentle obliteration.

This cycle has its own pathos, and even my stony heart was moved as I took these photos recently.?But I wonder, why would you wish for a memorial that will outlast anyone who has ever met or even heard of you? And one that carries just the barest administrative details (name, birth, death)? Please just leave me to the maggots!

[1] Ecclesiates Chapter 9, verse 12 https://biblehub.com/kjv/ecclesiastes/9.htm

[2] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/articles/lifeexpectancycalculator/2019-06-07

[3] https://tibetpedia.com/lifestyle/sky-burial/

[4] https://crimeclean-up.com/blog/human-decomp-without-embalming. ?There is a more detailed account of decomposition here.?https://www.theguardian.com/science/neurophilosophy/2015/may/05/life-after-death

[5] https://www.cremation.org.uk/progress-of-cremation-united-kingdom?Even higher rates in England, Wales, Isle of Man, Channel Islands: over 80% on 2020.

[6] ?https://www.nyswritersinstitute.org/post/hunter-s-thompson-s-ashes-were-blasted-out-of-a-cannon-on-this-date-15-years-ago

[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4ezPvzKe5M ??

[8] https://www.thecdsgroup.co.uk/news/the-uk-cremation-industry-emissions

[9] https://www.cremation.org.uk/content/files/PG5-2%2812%29.pdf

[10] This US article discusses impacts – and advocates cremation! https://safepassageurns.com/blogs/blog/environmental-impact-of-burial-funerals

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embalming

[12] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/smarter-living/green-funeral-burial-environment.html ??I couldn’t find UK data.

[13] https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/clothing-decompose-rate??Look out for spandex – listed as ‘indefinite’!??

[14] https://resomation.com/