Europe Resources
Natural burial in Belgium
Unfortunately it seems that natural burial is illegal in Belgium, but we do have the following details of a Belgian organisation which is similar in ethos to the UK NDC: www.ndc-horizon.be (e-mail: ndc-horizon@pi.be).
Natural burial in the Netherlands
Woodland Burial Site Bergerbos opened in January 2003. It is located in the south of the Netherlands - within reach of Germany and Belgium (both borders are about 10 miles away).
In 2001 the Dutch Natural Death Centre started with setting up an information website about death, dying and natural burial in the Netherlands. Its primary goal at that time was to provide information to the general public about (alternative) ways of dying and the possibilities of natural burial.
Since then the website (and NDC) has evolved, and more and more people started to find and use the information. Media picked up the growing interest in these matters and discussions followed, ranging from alternative funerals and the founding of the first natural burial ground in the Netherlands, to renewed discussions about subjects like codicils and euthanasia.
Unfortunately, despite the efforts of a few individuals, no more natural burial grounds have been established since the first in 2003. Protests by local groups of concerned citizens were the cause for the cancellations of plans for at least three natural burial gorunds. This made it clear that lack of good information and co-ordination were the stumblingblocks. In the meantime contact had been made with national politics to create more awareness for natural burials, changing attitudes towards palliative care, hospices, etc.
At the moment they are working on a short documentary (to be used for lectures and to show local authorities what natural burial is about) and a longer version, to be shown on television. They do not mean to convince people, only providing information in order that well-informed decisions can be made.
At the moment the Dutch NDC is going through an important transformation. Very soon they'll open an webshop to provide the public with a broad collection of related books, dvd's and cd's. This will be expanded to include eco-friendly coffins, urns and other products.
Furthermore the scope of information has changed also. Subjects like life-threatening diseases, like Aids and cancer, environmental issuses related to cremation and funerals, and conscious living and dying are amongst them.
They are still looking for enthousiastic individuals and organisations to cope with the growing work.
The easiest way of contacting them is through the website (http://www.natuurlijkdoodcentrum.org) or by email: centrum@natuurlijkdoodcentrum.org
Mail can be sent to:
NDC
Archimedesplantsoen 141-hs
1098 KB Amsterdam
Netherlands
Natural burial in Italy
Milan
The Capsula Mundi Project is the first ever project to promote ecological burial in Italy:
"To try to transform the tradition of urban wall cemeteries and to offer the alternative of memorial woodland burial sites."
If you can make this happen or give advice from personal experience, please get in touch with Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel (email: info@capsulamundi.it; web: www.capsulamundi.com).
Natural death in Poland
The Source Association: A pioneering group of people from Warsaw trying to break the silence around dying and death. "The problem of dying and improving of the quality of dying are still taboo in Poland. Me and my friends have just started a group to work on this problem. We are still at a preparatory stage we are gathering materials and need more information" (Marta Trojanowska).
Innovation in Sweden
Promessa Organic AB, part of The Promessa Foundation has developed an alternative method of body disposal.
"Within a week and a half after death, the corpse is frozen to minus 18 degrees Celsius and then submerged in liquid nitrogen. This makes the body very brittle, and vibration of a specific amplitude transforms it into an organic powder that is then introduced into a vacuum chamber where the water is evaporated away. The now dry powder then passes through a metal separator where any surgical spare parts and mercury are removed. In a similar way, the powder can be disinfected if required. The remains are now ready to be laid in a coffin made of corn starch. There is no hurry with the burial itself. The organic powder, which is hygienic and odorless, does not decompose when kept dry. The burial takes place in a shallow grave in living soil that turns the coffin and its contents into compost in about 6-12 months time. In conjunction with the burial and in accordance with the wishes of the deceased or next of kin, a bush or tree can be planted above the coffin."
Website: www.promessafoundation.org
E-mail us with updates and any other information you think might be useful:contact@naturaldeath.org.uk
The Natural Death Centre is a sister project of the Global Ideas Bank.
