This article aims to shed light on the unique green cremation process known as aquamation and its environmental impact. Further, we will delve into the life, achievements, and beliefs of Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who chose this eco-friendly method for his cremation.
What is Aquamation?
Aquamation, also known as flameless cremation, is an alternative to traditional cremation methods that is considered more environmentally friendly. The process utilizes only a fifth of the energy required in a conventional fire-based cremation, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 35%.
The procedure involves immersing the body in a mixture of water and strong alkali in a pressurized metal cylinder, heated to approximately 150 degrees centigrade. This combination of water flow, temperature, and alkalinity accelerates the breakdown of organic materials, leaving behind bone fragments and a neutral liquid called effluent.
Effluent is sterile and comprises salts, sugars, amino acids, and peptides. Post aquamation, there remains no tissue or DNA, making it a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to traditional methods.
Origin and Development of Aquamation
This process traces its roots back to 1888 when Amos Herbert Hanson, a farmer, developed and patented it hoping to innovate a method to create fertilizer from animal carcasses. Years later, in 1993, the first commercial system was installed at Albany Medical College. Since then, aquamation has been utilized widely by hospitals and universities with donated body programs and is now recognized internationally by the Cremation Association of North America (CANA).
Alternative Names for Aquamation
Apart from aquamation, this process is also referred to as water cremation, green cremation, chemical cremation, or alkaline hydrolysis.
Desmond Tutu: A Human Rights Activist and Noble Laureate
Desmond Tutu, a South African Anglican archbishop, is renowned globally as a passionate human rights activist and anti-apartheid campaigner. His relentless efforts in resolving and ending apartheid earned him the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu is often recognized as the voice of the voiceless for Black South Africans, advocating for civil rights equality.
On becoming South Africa’s first Black president, Nelson Mandela appointed Tutu as the chairperson of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. This restorative justice body was assembled post-apartheid in 1996 to foster a democratic and just society without racial divisions.
Desmond Tutu’s Contributions
As the chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Desmond Tutu propagated the following minimum demands for a fair society: equal civil rights for all, the abolition of South Africa’s passport laws, a common system of education, and the cessation of forced deportation from South Africa to the so-called “homelands”. Tutu’s decision to undergo aquamation for his cremation signifies his unfaltering commitment to environmental conservation.
This article was sourced from IE.
