Environmental Impact of Greenpeace Founder's Corpse

The founder of Greenpeace, Lyle Thurston, is dead and this raises the sticky question of what to do with his body. I hope that his organization’s members will do their upmost to ensure that he is disposed of safely.

Let’s look at the options:

Burial at Sea

In his later years, Thurston joined the Sea Sheppard Society, so this might have a strong appeal.

But there’s the aforementioned sticky-ness. First there is the medication in his system - environmentalists in Toronto are demanding action be taken to prevent medication from entering the water supply - Greenpeace would not want to contribute to that problem. But even if that were not a problem, they also need to keep in mind the casket and shroud:

When preparing the body for burial, no embalming is allowed as this preservative could cause water pollution. Instead, a cotton sheet or biodegradable body bag may be employed. In fact, no materials may be included in the coffin which could present a danger to the marine environment. This includes the body itself (a certificate acknowledging that it is free from fever and infection should be obtained) and the coffin itself (which must not be made of synthetic materials, zinc, lead or copper).

Taking that into account, there are the toxic chemicals in any person’s body (see Burial on land) that it would be unconscionable to put into the ocean - especially where any stray endangered fish could consume them.

This should be ruled out.

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