People gather to bid their final farewell to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa
Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s body will undergo a water-based process, an eco-friendly alternative to cremation.
The process involves placing the body in a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide, using pressure and heat to break down the body through alkaline hydrolysis.
This was “what he (Tutu) was looking forward to as an environmental campaigner,” Michael Weider said.
Thousands of South Africans gathered to pay their respects and homage to Archbishop Tutu’s body at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town.
Thousands were moved by the news of his passing a week ago at the age of 90.
One of them, Wally Mdloli, traveled over 1,000 km from Bloemfontein to Cape Town – seeking help from family and friends to cover some of the journey and sleeping at a gas station along the way to see Tutu’s body.
“I feel at peace after seeing the coffin. It’s as if his spirit is with me,” he told the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Cape Town.
Wali Madlouli traveled over 1,000 kilometers to see Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s body
Madlouli added, “This is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. I hope that I, and all South Africans, can live up to Tutu’s values.”
The burial of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s “ashes” is expected this weekend. It is not yet known whether his family will choose to hold a private ceremony with limited attendance or make it public.
Tutu had recommended that his memorial service should be simple and not extravagant, and that he be placed in the “cheapest coffin available”, with the only flowers in the cathedral being “a bouquet of carnations from his family”, according to Legacy Desmond and Leah Tutu.
Tutu’s “ashes” will be buried behind the pulpit at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town – the Anglican diocese where he served as Archbishop for 35 years.
How to break down a dead body using water
Aquamation, which uses water, is an eco-friendly alternative to cremation. Practitioners of this method claim that it produces up to 90% less carbon dioxide than cremation.
The technical name for the process is alkaline hydrolysis – it involves heating the body to 150°C in a mixture of potassium hydroxide and water for up to 90 minutes.
This process breaks down the body’s tissues, leaving only the bones – which are then washed at 120°C, dried, and crushed into a coarse powder using a cremation machine.
Once these steps are completed, the remains can be buried or scattered according to the deceased’s wishes, just like in a traditional cremation.
Analyzing the Aquamation of Archbishop Desmond Tutu: An Environmental Legacy
As a famous blog news writer, I have been following the news of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s passing and the unique method chosen for his body’s disposition – aquamation. According to reports, Tutu’s body will undergo a water-based process, an eco-friendly alternative to cremation, known as alkaline hydrolysis [[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/02/what-is-aquamation-burial-practice-desmond-tutu-requested-instead-greenhouse-gas-emitting-cremation/). This method involves placing the body in a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide, using pressure and heat to break down the body [[2]](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/africa/desmond-tutu-funeral-south-africa-intl/index.html).
This choice of disposition reflects Tutu’s commitment to environmental causes and sustainability. As an environmental campaigner, he would have likely been drawn to the eco-friendly nature of aquamation. The process is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s a departure from the more traditional methods of burial and cremation. According to Michael Weider, this was “what he (Tutu) was looking forward to as an environmental campaigner” [[3]](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-59843925).
The outpouring of support and respect from the South African community is a testament to Tutu’s impact on the country. Thousands gathered at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town to bid their final farewell to the Archbishop [[2]](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/01/africa/desmond-tutu-funeral-south-africa-intl/index.html). The funeral procession was a beautiful tribute to his life’s work, and the eco-friendly method chosen for his body’s disposition serves as a reminder of his commitment to environmental causes.
As we reflect on Tutu’s legacy, it’s clear that his commitment to sustainability and environmentalism was not limited to his work. His choice of aquamation over traditional methods of burial or cremation reflects a desire to minimize his ecological footprint even in death. As we look to the future, it’s inspiring to see individuals like Tutu leading by example, showing us that even in our final acts, we can choose to make a positive impact on the environment.
the aquamation of Archbishop Desmond Tutu serves as a powerful reminder of his commitment to environmental causes. As we bid farewell to this remarkable individual, we are reminded of the importance of living a sustainable lifestyle and making choices that minimize our ecological footprint.