Eco Friendly Burial Act (DRAFT)

[Keshiland]

Category-Environment

Preamble- This law will keep the environment safe from the harmful burial practices of sapient species after death.

Requires- All burials to be performed in the following way
first- The body must be stripped down to its natural state
second- The body must be buried in a hole no larger than 125% of its size
third- The hole must be covered back up with the material removed too make it.

Prohibits-
a- use of chemicals
b- decorations above or below ground
c- burning of the body
d- flushing out fluids from the dead body
e- preserving the remains in any way to avoid or impede the natural prosses of bio degrading of the body

Punishment-
Violators will face a minimum sentence of 1 year community service.

Exceptions-
Bio cremation- the use of biological process's to decompose the body.
Feeding body to animals
Eating the body

Only applies to WA nations.

[Essu Beti]

"So you basically want us to strip the body naked and throw them in the swamp. I'm sure that won't at all worsen our already-bad water quality problem," Iksana says with as much sarcasm as he can muster, which is quite a bit. "This also forbids so much as leaving food for the dead, or flowers for such cultures that prefer gifts of dead plants instead."

"This would also forbid the cremation of those who died of a horrible and contagious disease. I'm quite sure the undertakers appreciate that very much, being forced to risk death all for the sake of "natural "prosses" of bio degrading of the body.""

[Keshiland]

"So you basically want us to strip the body naked and throw them in the swamp. I'm sure that won't at all worsen our already-bad water quality problem," Iksana says with as much sarcasm as he can muster, which is quite a bit. "This also forbids so much as leaving food for the dead, or flowers for such cultures that prefer gifts of dead plants instead."

"This would also forbid the cremation of those who died of a horrible and contagious disease. I'm quite sure the undertakers appreciate that very much, being forced to risk death all for the sake of "natural "prosses" of bio degrading of the body.""

"Who the **** would throw a dead body into the water? Its called making a hole in the land. I never said put it in the water" Asks/says Sackeshi

[Essu Beti]

"My nation is all swamp. There is no non-wet ground to bury in that isn't being used for actually valuable stuff. Any kind of burial would be in the water." Iksana shakes his head. "You have to understand that not every nation is like yours."

[Keshiland]

"My nation is all swamp. There is no non-wet ground to bury in that isn't being used for actually valuable stuff. Any kind of burial would be in the water." Iksana shakes his head. "You have to understand that not every nation is like yours."

"What do you do with the dead then" Asked sackeshi

[Tinfect Continental States]

"I must agree with the Ambassador Gayan; this is simply a ridiculous measure that would present very little, if any, benefit to ecosystems, likely only causing damage both for the local ecosystem, and the population within it. Further, I must note that this would effectively outlaw traditional methods of handling the dead in the Union; cremation is a common and respected practice, necessary even, for those more pious members of our native faiths. To mandate that they be entombed in the earth, without any respect of memory, even, is to bind them to it forever; a curse to many, and not something done lightly. Simply put, we cannot allow anything of the sort, and I doubt you will find support for this legislation in other delegations."

[KiraKira Land]

I'm not a WA nation, but as a nation that bans embalming of bodies and western-style heavy coffin/vault burials due to the effects on the environment, I think this is far too strict. Banning of decorations? Burial shrouds? Cremation? What about bio-cremation? Not even we go that far.

It would be better just to ban the use of harmful chemicals for embalming, a well as banning things like thick caskets and mausoleums.

[Essu Beti]

Iksana flicks his ears. "We use cremation, with the bones crushed and scattered around the edge of the village along with the ashes. It's both practical and has a religious purpose behind it- the idea is that by burning the body, the spirit is released to go to whichever afterlife awaits them. In the old country the body would be allowed to desiccate in the desert first, but Essu Beti doesn't exactly have have any deserts to do that in."

[Giant Bats]

"What do you do with the dead then" Asked sackeshi

Atikitir, the spiritualist - some other vocabulary might have called her a priestess - of the Tikrr delegation, had shown up in case there was a chance to actually taste some recently-deceased alien, but disappointingly it sounded like yet another boring talk. However, questions like this were perfect for someone from her Wing.

"The dead belong to the Deep, where their spirits will be freed from their bodies. The bodies will then return their nourishment to the sky via nutrient fountaining, while the ancestral spirits will breathe life to the winds that hold us aloft!" She stood up on her perch and spread her wings. Though her wingspan wasn't quite as large as her Roostsister Ikiti's, she was still able to stretch her wingtips six metres apart.

- Atikitir Tikilikrr, Spiritual Advicer to the Head of the Diplomatic Wing, 9th generation mother of six

[Keshiland]

"I must agree with the Ambassador Gayan; this is simply a ridiculous measure that would present very little, if any, benefit to ecosystems, likely only causing damage both for the local ecosystem, and the population within it. Further, I must note that this would effectively outlaw traditional methods of handling the dead in the Union; cremation is a common and respected practice, necessary even, for those more pious members of our native faiths. To mandate that they be entombed in the earth, without any respect of memory, even, is to bind them to it forever; a curse to many, and not something done lightly. Simply put, we cannot allow anything of the sort, and I doubt you will find support for this legislation in other delegations."

We are all carbon and thus when we bio degrade we turn back into carbon dust and nutrients for the ground to be used for other life. That's why all natural burial required in this legislation.

[Keshiland]

I'm not a WA nation, but as a nation that bans embalming of bodies and western-style heavy coffin/vault burials due to the effects on the environment, I think this is far too strict. Banning of decorations? Burial shrouds? Cremation? What about bio-cremation? Not even we go that far.

It would be better just to ban the use of harmful chemicals for embalming, a well as banning things like thick caskets and mausoleums.

bio cremation I would make an exception for

[Araraukar]

*snip*

OOC: An OOC pointer to those who are not familiar with the Tikrr homeworld; for them to go "make a hole in the ground" to bury their people in, would be equivalent to requiring all RL humans to be buried in the abyssal plain.

[Willania Imperium]

"It's too restrictive on how one can bury their dead, has a short preamble that doesn't really expand on why this is being done and is just... idiotic. I'm sorry, but I say no."

[Tagons Toughs]

We are all carbon and thus when we bio degrade we turn back into carbon dust and nutrients for the ground to be used for other life. That's why all natural burial required in this legislation.

"NOT ALL OF US!" shouts the resident carbosilicate amorph, a greenish-brown amorphous creature as he...she...it? As it shovels Ovalkwik into it's maw with a gardening trowel. "I am a carbosilicate amorph, which means that I'm not entirely carbon. In fact, I'm just as much silicon as carbon at an atomic level. Your statement is incorrect, and your proposal fails to consider the needs of noncarbon-based life forms, or those who's remains might be damaging to the environment! Draconian baaz come to mind."

[Araraukar]

"NOT ALL OF US!" shouts the resident carbosilicate amorph, a greenish-brown amorphous creature as he...she...it? As it shovels Ovalkwik into it's maw with a gardening trowel. "I am a carbosilicate amorph, which means that I'm not entirely carbon. In fact, I'm just as much silicon as carbon at an atomic level. Your statement is incorrect, and your proposal fails to consider the needs of noncarbon-based life forms, or those who's remains might be damaging to the environment! Draconian baaz come to mind."

OOC: A little explanation to those unfamiliar with the comic. And no, the puppet acc isn't mine, I'm just a fan of the comic.

EDIT: Shouldn't it be "Genuine Imitation Ovalkwik"?

[Tinfect Continental States]

We are all carbon and thus when we bio degrade we turn back into carbon dust and nutrients for the ground to be used for other life. That's why all natural burial required in this legislation.

"Uh, huh. That's a quite... simple understanding of decomposition and biology. Anyway, that's an extremely poor reason to criminalize traditional rites with great importance to a culture. And if you want to take this angle, there's nothing Natural about tearing up the ground and dumping a foreign object in it either."

[Keshiland]

We are all carbon and thus when we bio degrade we turn back into carbon dust and nutrients for the ground to be used for other life. That's why all natural burial required in this legislation.

"Uh, huh. That's a quite... simple understanding of decomposition and biology. Anyway, that's an extremely poor reason to criminalize traditional rites with great importance to a culture. And if you want to take this angle, there's nothing Natural about tearing up the ground and dumping a foreign object in it either."

While true that would be a tad bit too extreme for me to sell so this will have to do, unless however, a massive group of extremist green partiers endorce that

[Essu Beti]

While true that would be a tad bit too extreme for me to sell so this will have to do, unless however, a massive group of extremist green partiers endorce that

"Your current proposal is too extreme for you to sell. Also, seriously? More mandatory punishments? Give it a rest with those."

[The Sheika]

I fail to see how this is a matter of WA concern. Why should you care how the Federation handles the departed? Why should the Federation give two {REDACTED} what Keshiland does with it's departed? That said, moving on...

Category-Environment

Preamble- This law will keep the environment safe from the harmful burial practices of sapient species after death.

Requires- All burials to be performed in the following way
first- The body must be stripped down to its natural state
second- The body must be buried in a hole no larger than 125% of its size
third- The hole must be covered back up with the material removed too make it.

The first part is a little unclear. Natural state? As in completely naked, no clothing, no coffin, no nothing? A little more clarity would be quite welcome.
The second part has me scratching my head. 125% the size of the body that goes into the hole? Did you account for depth? Do you understand the primary reason why graves are as deep as they are? 125% might be a slight understatement and I would consider dropping it.
The third part should be a no brainer. Unless of course there is good reason to use another material, in most cases that I can think of the material that was removed usually goes right back.

Prohibits-
a- use of chemicals

Even for embalming? That does count as a chemical you know.

b- decorations above or below ground

Does this mean no grave markers or headstones? If so, that is a shame. Families deserve to honor their relatives who have passed on, as do military service members who have passed away deserve to be honored for their service and in some cases sacrifice.

c- burning of the body

What about cultures who do not bury their dead, but burn them in a pyre?

d- flushing out fluids from the dead body
e- preserving the remains in any way to avoid or impede the natural prosses of bio degrading of the body

What is the point of prohibiting these? A little explanation would be quite welcome.

Punishment-
Violators will face a minimum sentence of 1 year community service.

You have a thing about delving out punishment as it has been seen in this proposal and others. Why? What purpose does it serve?

Exceptions-
Bio cremation

For those not in the know, explain.

Only applies to WA nations.

That's a given, but if you feel the need to include that, okay.

[Keshiland]

The first part is a little unclear. Natural state? As in completely naked, no clothing, no coffin, no nothing? A little more clarity would be quite welcome.
The second part has me scratching my head. 125% the size of the body that goes into the hole? Did you account for depth? Do you understand the primary reason why graves are as deep as they are? 125% might be a slight understatement and I would consider dropping it.
The third part should be a no brainer. Unless of course there is good reason to use another material, in most cases that I can think of the material that was removed usually goes right back

Natural state as in how they were at birth.
I guess I shall change that too with only with height being the normal 6ft
I put that in to stop a smart alic from using something else to fill the hole.

Even for embalming? That does count as a chemical you know.

Yes

Does this mean no grave markers or headstones? If so, that is a shame. Families deserve to honor their relatives who have passed on, as do military service members who have passed away deserve to be honored for their service and in some cases sacrifice.

Yes and the reason being is to use up less available space and leave the land as natural as possible.

What about cultures who do not bury their dead, but burn them in a pyre?

Carbon smoke is a no no

What is the point of prohibiting these? A little explanation would be quite welcome.

Well D normally uses another chemical to accomplish that task and E is to prevent bodies from taking longer then need be for bacteria or other microbes from breaking it down.

You have a thing about delving out punishment as it has been seen in this proposal and others. Why? What purpose does it serve?

Deterrent to make sure the law is followed.

For those not in the know, explain.

Turning the body into ashes through a biological prosses.

[Godular]

"What," Alexis begins, her right hand reaching forward and flexing as if wishing there were some form of weapon in her hand, "in the bloody hells does it matter to you how anyone else disposes of empty shells? Categorically and very nearly violently opposed."

[The United Artherian Federation]

"So, we can't have a headstone huh?" Asks soon to be WA representative Carl Kristy.
"Then we're against."

[Errana]

We agree with the sentiment behind this resolution, but cannot support it in its current form. Countries should consider the environmental impact of their burial and cremation practises, but it seems unlikely we will find a one-size-fits-all solution. I'm sure the majority of countries in this assembly have industry and practises more harmful to environment than cremation and putting decoration on graves, so while agree with the importance of environmental legislation, how we deal with our dead doesn't seem like quite the right point to start.

One aspect of this proposal we would endorse is banning embalming fluids and other materials that have been shown to be toxic and may get released into the ground water, which, much like emission of greenhouse gasses, is an international issue as it may effect more than just the polluting nation.

- Antonio

[Volitopia]

(OOC) Kind of interesting how a few days after Vox makes a video about how our modern burials are wasteful someone goes and makes a slightly half-baked proposal on NS about the topic... Really though. A better use might be to make a discussion thread in General based around the concept.

Anyhow, against. Both general and specific reasons against have been stated here, so there's no need to.. ahh who am I kidding.

Preamble- This law will keep the environment safe from the harmful burial practices of sapient species after death.

Weird thing, the WA is, not all of its members are human, so some might do things differently...

Requires- All burials to be performed in the following way

If you want a proposal that works, one should put regulations, rather than a decree; thereby providing WA member states with the proper guidelines required to not be wasteful, rather than dictating how to or how not to do so.

second- The body must be buried in a hole no larger than 125% of its size

*ahem* volume. If I wanted to be a mean official I could say that it meant the surface area of the body.

third- The hole must be covered back up with the material removed too make it.

The material could be unstable, like gravel from crushed rock.

a- use of chemicals

*sigh* Please change the structure of that phrase before a chemist slaps you.

b- decorations above or below ground

Ignores cultural items...

c- burning of the body

Why?

e- preserving the remains in any way to avoid or impede the natural prosses of bio degrading of the body

So you can't refrigerate one's dead self to wait for your entire family to come pay their respects?

Punishment-
Violators will face a minimum sentence of 1 year community service.

A tad specific. Some places will interpret "community service" as a synonym of gulag. Might want to instead create a committee responsible for this stuff and for doling out punishments, but I would say that it's far too much red tape. I'd suggest scrapping this section.

Exceptions-
Bio cremation

Definition in the proposal, please?

Only applies to WA nations

You don't say?

We agree with the sentiment behind this resolution, but cannot support it in its current form. Countries should consider the environmental impact of their burial and cremation practises, but it seems unlikely we will find a one-size-fits-all solution. I'm sure the majority of countries in this assembly have industry and practises more harmful to environment than cremation and putting decoration on graves, so while agree with the importance of environmental legislation, how we deal with our dead doesn't seem like quite the right point to start.

One aspect of this proposal we would endorse is banning embalming fluids and other materials that have been shown to be toxic and may get released into the ground water, which, much like emission of greenhouse gasses, is an international issue as it may effect more than just the polluting nation.

- Antonio

I agree. Possibly one should scrap this proposal's broad nature and focus on the abovementioned topic. I really think that "let's not pump massive amounts of toxic chemicals into our dead and then flush the nasty stuff down the toilet" is something people could really get behind.

[Essu Beti]

"So you're just going to ignore the legitimate concerns of others, is that it?" grumbles Iksana. "My nation has a serious problem with water quality, and a lack of dry land for burial. Why do you want us to poison our water supply with diseased, rotting bodies?"