Cremation

Clerics carry the coffin after the funeral for Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Jan 1, 2022.

What is aquamation, the burial practice Desmond Tutu chose instead of cremation? 

Science & Technology

Aquamation is a corpse decomposition process that uses water instead of fire to produce similar results — an urn of ashes. It’s seen as a “greener alternative” to carbon-emitting cremation. 

A man stands at a counter holding an urn with many urn designs behind him

Greece’s first and only crematorium opens despite pushback from the church

Religion
Recompose artist's rendering

Going green — after death

Lifestyle & Belief

Polluted waters, deforestation complicate India’s cremation rituals

Environment

Dutch company turns cremation remains into global charity

Environment

Outrage builds over Air Force dumping parts of soldiers’ remains in Virginia landfill

Global Politics

Partial remains of at least 274 soldiers processed at Dover Air Force Base were dumped in a Virginia landfill, rather than disposed of in a cemetery or in a way that most would consider honorable.

The World

Following Cremation, Recycling Surgical Implants

Conflict & Justice

Have you ever wondered what happens to those metal medical implants after die? A Dutch company has been recycling them, giving the bulk of the proceeds to charity.

The World

MOTHER GANGES

Richard Schiffman reports from Benares, India on the banks of the Ganges River on the essential role the river plays in people’s daily lives which includes drinking, washing, bathing in Hindu religious rites, and even as a destination for cremated human ashes. Pollution is a problem along the river and a subtle campaign of clean-up […]

The World

Mother Ganges

Richard Schiffman reports from Benares, India on the banks of the Ganges River on the essential role the river plays in people’s daily lives which includes drinking, washing, bathing in Hindu religious rites, and even as a destination for cremated human ashes. Pollution is a problem along the river and a subtle campaign of clean-up […]

The World

Library of Dust

Arts, Culture & Media

For over twenty years the Oregon State Psychiatric Hospital stored the cremated remains of patients in copper containers. Photographer David Maisel found them. His exhibit, ‘Library of Dust,’ is currently at the California Museum of Photography.