One for the 'Only in America' File
9 July 2001 at 1:07 pm
News from the Los Angeles Times and Daily Grist magazine reports that you can now plan to have your cremated ashes sunk in the ocean as part of an eco-friendly artificial reef!
A company from Georgia called Eternal Reefs is promoting the concept as the “only death care option that is truly an environmental contribution and also creates a permanent, living memorial for the deceased and their families.”
And how does it work? Well, Eternal Reefs mixes the ashes into a concrete mix that it specially designed to last in salt water and it is then drilled with fish- attracting holes and sunk in designated areas mostly off the Florida Coast of the USA.
More expensive individual reefs can be produced or less expensive group reefs can also be arranged! So far about 60 memorial reefs have been sunk and the company hopes to be able to offer its customers the option of spending eternity in the Pacific in the not too distant future!
Is there a fundraising idea here? Who knows…but for now this is surely one for the ‘only in America’ file!
If you are curious to know more check out the web site and the picture gallery of the memorial reefs at www.eternalreefs.com/eristory.htm.
And if any of our environment-based Not for Profits come up with a way to use this concept in Australia drop us an e-mail at probono@probonoaustralia.com.au.
