By This is just strange:
A new method for disposing of corpses, which involves freezing bodies rather than cremating them, is raising controversy.
Ruling Grand National Party Representative Lee Eun-jae said a revised bill which would legalize the new promession method will soon be submitted to the National Assembly.
Invented by a Swedish biologist, promession — or as some call it an “ecological funeral” — involves freezing the body in liquefied nitrogen at temperatures of nearly minus 196 degrees Celsius.
The frozen body will shatter through vibration. The method is considered environmentally friendly because the ash emits no carbon dioxide and is quickly decomposed.
But the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs has yet to approve the promession method, citing lack of scientific proof. [KBS Global]
So what is the carbon footprint of the amount of energy needed to freeze dry the body and then vibrate it to shatter it? Plus this is ten years too late, the globe hasn’t warmed since 1998.
1:15 am on December 8th, 2008 1
I remember reading about cryonics when I was in elementary school…freaked me out how rich people could freeze themselves after death until a cure for their ailments would be found in the future.
6:57 am on December 8th, 2008 2
If the body is to be shattered once its frozen, those pieces of "ash" will start to get real rank within a few days…
11:06 am on December 8th, 2008 3
This will be a real boon to the soylent green, er, seaweed sheet manufacturers.
Also, I won't be eating any products called Man Spam.
12:55 pm on December 8th, 2008 4
Free Ride,
I was thinking something very similar. With cremation I don't worry so much as to what is in the Yakimandu, rotten raddish and pigeon at the worst. If they switch to newer "cheaper" available protein source the hordes may get a taste for it and all those zombie movie survial tips may start to pay off. At least the pink shirts will turn a more decent crusted blood red.