This week as we discussed death rights and burial procedures, I reflected on my own squeamishness around death. I've been blessed to not lose anybody close to me throughout my life, and the last time I think I truly reflected on the mortality of myself and those around me resulted in me having a mental breakdown at age seven. As I learned, this attitude is reflected widely throughout western nations. Death is the inevitable conclusion of life, but the shroud of death as a taboo topic hangs in the air.
Over 50% of Americans are buried using conventional burying methods, where they are pumped full of embalming fluid, put in a casket, and buried in a concrete burial liner to prevent decomposition of the body. This leads to millions of tons of concret and millions of gallons of embalming fluid being buried each year, which contribute to climate change. Embalming fluid is a carcinogen, which when leaked into the soil can harm plant life. In addition, while it d