Just reading the latest National Geographic. They have a article about how the Peruvian rain forest is being cleared illeagally of mahogany and how 95% of the wood is being sold (illegally) to the United States- For coffins!
The way I figure it… dead is dead. The Coffin will be crushed by the packer they bring in the week after they bury the body. Why use mahogany?? If you are going to rape a resource wouldn’t it be better to go with a pine box and leave the mahogany for more useful (and permanent) furniture?
Cheers
M. Stehelin
Replies
I'll go so far as to say why pine? A decent grade of plywood with filler and a good finish (paint is good enough to me) will do the job. Don't see where simplicity is disrespectful in any way. Just seems like such a waste, and to what end? One would think that with death vanity would cease as well, but I guess that's not the case.
I'll probably never know if articles like the one you mention are true or not -- guessing that there is at least some truth.......
To prevent any contribution that I might make when I die, here's what I've done:
I've told all of my loved ones what is to be done with me when I'm gone. My wishes are based on one of the things I enjoy most in this life -- making my wife happy. I know, it seems sappy and mushy, but it is true. When I can make her smile, I am a happy woodworker.
One of her great pasttimes is gardening. She just loves growing things that are pretty, or that taste good and are healthy eating.
Combining her pasttime, with mine, after I'm gone? Simple. I've told all my loved ones (her included) that I am to be cremated, and mixed with her compost pile. Everybody that hears this thinks I'm nuts, or that I'm joking. Although I may be wacked, I'm actually quite serious. Being mixed with her compost keeps me in direct physical contact, and allows me, in some small way, to continue to make her happy, by feeding the plants that she loves to grow.
So, I get to continue my great pasttime, while she continues hers. And no mahogany will be buried in the shuffle.
Furniture or Coffins from the trees point of view they are the same.
Let other people use wood for what they want. It is not your wood.
You are right.
It isn't my wood.
It isn't anyone's wood.
It is stolen wood and soon there will be none.
Then we'll be digging up the dead in order to "reclaim" the wood. Which is kinda ironic.......
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