Cremations versus burials.

What happens after we die is an evolving scene of cremations replacing burials.  Ten years ago cremations represented just fifty-five percent and burials forty-five percent of funerals - but today that ratio has increased to sixty-five against thirty-five.    The statistician predicts that seventy - thirty will not be long in coming.

Several factors have accelerated this trend.   The explosion of land prices have made land acquisition for new cemeteries prohibitive, and the existing cemeteries are fast running out of room for new burials.  Already there is talk of limited tenure for that burial plot !

Then there is the question of the upkeep of old graves.  How many neglected suburban cemeteries blot the landscape - with calls for them to be bulldozed and turned into parks to serve the living ?

Perhaps the biggest factor is now the cost of a funeral.  Burials are still available, but at a much higher cost than a cremation, and as most people are now pre-paying into funeral insurance schemes - the cost of a future event is hitting wallets now.   As a result, the decision between burial/cremation is no longer something awaiting the time of death - but needs to be decided while that person is still living.

Some religions favour burial - and there are a few that insist on burial for what appears to be very suspect reasons - but in this twenty-first century we suffer a space problem.   Earth has a population of seven billion people - and eventually all of them will die and their bodies will need taking care of.   Just how much ground do we set aside for that purpose - and at what cost ?

Once again the " after death " scenario is evolving into a matter of money.  For the very rich there is the opportunity to illustrate their elevation over " the common herd " by using that money to have the body installed in a family crypt.

For the rest of us, a niche the size of a brick will house our ashes, and our resting place will be commemorated with an etched brass plate.

And even that may one day take up too much space.   It all depends on just how many people this poor old planet gets to call " home " !