Do Death Differently!

Baring a truly revolutionary medical breakthrough, the fact is that all of us are one day going to die. But that doesn't mean the spirit of forward thinking has to die with us! This week we look at some emerging alternatives for caring for human remains. From a company that wants to feed us to trees, to a method of shattering bodies Terminator-style, to turning us into vinyl records; we examine some of the more interesting and environmentally friendly methods of doing death differently.

We want to hear from you! What do you want done with your remains? Something traditional? Something wild? Let us know in the comments below!
----------------------------------------­----------------

Subscribe to Fw:Thinking:

For the audio podcast, blog and more, visit the Fw:Thinking website:

Category
Science & Technology
License
Standard YouTube License

[blondelebanese]

My husband is terminally ill -- heart and lung failure. He is, as I write these words, trying to decide his own plan for what becomes the next phase....i'd rather use that term than the usual "his funeral plans". In fact, he has made it very clear that he absolutely does NOT want a funeral, of any kind. Right now he is reading brochures about body donation. There are a few to check out but he's well aware that his time is limited. Thanks for some new ideas. I'm going to show him this video and see what he thinks. For me, I'll probably do the same plan that he does...I don't want my family to be burdened by the cost nor the ordeal of having to do something with my remains. We've been married almost 47 years...id like to think we can, in some way, be in the same place. =)

[Nofretari]

I like the idea of being planted in the ground and having my earthly body used to help a tree grow.

[kenitowills]

I like the compost idea. If it becomes available before I die, I will instruct my family to go that route.

[Thosetimis]

i've always thought that being burried under an apple tree would be pretty cool. Then my descendants would be able to eat fruit grown from my body. one last peice of joy i could give the people i leave behind

[thecaninestingray]

Tree food seems pretty awesome. Imagine visiting a graveyard that is actually just a forest

[Volkyno]

Life after death or reincarnation could mean going back to the nature so your cells will transform in something else and again be a part of the nature. This is the circle of life on Earth.

[lunaasonininongry]

I like the tree idea, it's like becoming one with nature

[oipr]

I have never cared for funerals, caskets or cemeteries.. I prefer recycling the body to Earth naturally unless of course life extension / anti-aging and other technologies that would enable us to live longer and healthier. In all my life I've only gone to one burial and thought it was a waste of money and land space.

[MrMisanthrope_]

i just decided. i'm not dying, i cant be bothered

[rexlinesleong]

Memorial Forest Building, Tree Graves, The building should not have an eerie sensation as you walk through, it should be well kept, like a stroll in a historical forest. - Inspiration from the Avatar.

[OttoInNC]

Being buried, unembalmed, under a tree sounds good.

[davidm.johnston]

I don't want to pass away. I'm sticking here whether you want me or not.

[robinhyperlord]

Taken from a comment chain on a video by Emphemeral Rift;
Amazing Aliteration! Always attains attention! Awesome!

Doing discussions during daylight doesn't define dangerous diplomacy! Don't drive democracy downwards! Do decline derogatory declarations definitely!

[maniacalo]

Time is fascinating, entropy, chaos, cause and effect, motion. A force of great change.

[liranpiade]

As for - if I do die - what will happen with my body? The cheapest option that won't permanently take up resources like space. For example - the Italian idea of burial under a tree sounds good. Of course, that only comes in case my organs couldn't be donated or my body donated to science. Basically, if humans can't make use of my body for anything (1st priority being organ donation, 2nd priority being donation to science), just throw it under a tree so that SOMETHING could make use of my body, like a tree using the nutrients contained in my body.

[Yui]

I can't comprehend not existing. It doesn't make sense. Constant panic from the reality of death fuels all of my ambitions.

[mickbosscher]

I want my remains to be put into party poppers

[signsofevil]

I think that the expressions 'what do you want done with your remains' is paradoxical, because in my opinion when you are no longer able to express preference or make a choice you are no longer 'you'. You are when you can choose, if you can't you are no longer.
So If i'm choosing now what to be done with my remains it's like choosing if I want to build a house with bricks or wood, its not about me. I won't be there so i want the people that will be to do whatever makes the most sense.

[Charles-igfr]

If we have our bodies turned into compost, does that mean we need to rewrite the classic sci-fi line to read:
"Soil makes green of people?"

[mathieug.]

'futhurologist', expanded my vocabulary and finally I know what i want to become in life