Welcome to Save Prakriti, an initiative to encourage people towards electric cremation against open-air wood pyre cremation. We believe that our environment deserves our attention and it is our duty to protect it.
It has been over a few decades that India holds the status of a “developing third world country”, the citizens are eagerly waiting to belong to a “developed nation”, but are we actively (as a community) doing enough to bring the transformation? Well! This is only achievable when we change mindsets and ideologies, when we bring tradition and science together when we learn and unlearn and most importantly, when we become environmentally conscious. Moreover, when we consider this one earth our home.
Open-air wood pyre cremation has been a traditional method for centuries, but we must understand that it is causing severe harm to our environment.
| Impact Factor | Daily | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Deaths | 25,649 | 93,61,885 |
| Trees Cut for Cremation | 115240 | 4.30 crores |
| One tree upon burning emits Carbon Dioxide | 11,5240 Tonnes | 4.30 Tonnes |
| One tree produces oxygen So the 4.30 Crore trees produce |
6000 Liters 25800 Crore liters |
21,90,000 Liters 94,17,000 |
| One tree consumes Carbon Dioxide So 4.30 Crore Trees consume |
3000 Liters 12900 Crore Liters |
1095000 Liters 4708500 Crore Liters |
Every open-pyre cremation means sacrificing 4.3 trees – a triple blow to nature. Each fallen tree, a giver of oxygen, a carbon absorber, now turns into a carbon emitter. Our actions rob us of the very air we breathe.
As carbon dioxide steadily climbs, and oxygen levels constantly fall; it's not just a number—it's a danger to life on Earth. This isn't just about people; it's about every living being. If we let this continue, it's like a ticking clock threatening our planet's existence. The air we breathe, the vibrant life around us—all at high risk. It may shorten life span, not just ours but all beings. If we don't act immediately, life on earth could vanish. It's a wake-up call to protect our home. We must act now to keep life thriving on this incredible planet.
Remember back to our school days when we learned that cutting down trees leads to soil erosion, floods, and less rainfall? Well, let's go beyond the books and understand the consequences in real context.
Plants are taking in carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen which we take in. So, plants are the primary source of oxygen.But by taking away the trees we are decreasing the oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide in enormous amounts. Without the trees, none of us would be here today. When trees are cut down, the amount of oxygen in the air decreases, which is essential for human survival.
Source: treeamigos
The roots of trees bind the particles of topsoil together. Due to this binding of soil particles, the wind and water are not able to carry away the topsoil. When the forests are cut down during deforestation, the bare topsoil becomes loose quickly by the force of falling rainwater and erodes rapidly. This is called as soil erosion, which causes the loss of top fertile soil needed for agriculture and farming.
Another major aspect of soil erosion is disruption of water cycle Deforestation in hilly areas upsets the water cycle. Trees play a crucial role—absorbing water from the soil, releasing it through transpiration, and attracting rainfall. However, when trees are removed, this balance is disturbed. Clouds still gather water from urban areas, but without trees in the hills to encourage rain, the natural flow is interrupted. This disturbance not only alters the local climate, inviting heat waves in the hills but also creates further disasters. As a consequence, the plains experience water shortages, depicting how deforestation in one area can intricately upset the entire water cycle and impact distant regions.
The roots of forest trees help in absorbing some of the rainwater and make it percolate into the ground. This reduces the amount of rainwater which rushes quickly into rivers and flooding does not occur. When the forest trees are cut down, the water holding capacity of soil weakens, which leads to floods in cases of excessive rainfalls.
In addition, the eroded soil is carried by flowing rainwater into rivers. The eroded soil keeps on collecting on the river bed and decreases depth of the river gradually. Due to this, the water carrying capacity of the river is reduced, so when heavy rain occurs the excess water overflows causing the flood. These flood damage standing crops, houses and even drown people living in nearby areas
There are some 250 million people who live in forest and savannah areas and depend on them for subsistence and income. Eighty percent of Earth’s land animals and plants live in forests, and deforestation threatens species including the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, and many species of birds.
(source: fao)
When natural habitats of animals are destroyed, they will shift to towns and cities causing a threat to human life, opening the door to zoonotic diseases. In 2014, for example, the Ebola virus killed over 11,000 people in West Africa after fruit bats transmitted the disease to a toddler who was playing near trees where bats were roosting.
All animals, in one way or another, get energy from plants. Plants make energy from the sun. Herbivores [plant eating animals] eat plants. Carnivores [flesh eating animals] eat herbivores, which gained their energy from plants. This is called as food chain. If no plants are present, there is no food in the ecosystem and animals starve.
Also, as deforestation increases, the number of unique species of plants and animals decreases as well, leading to extinction worldwide.
All green plants take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen during photosynthesis. But when forests grow, they take in more CO2 than what they release. This surplus carbon is stored in tree trunks and roots and in the soil.
When forests are cut down, that stored carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere again which is the main cause of global warming. This also leads to greenhouse gas emissions, which leads to changes in weather patterns.
Despite all such ill effects of cutting down trees, wood-based cremation is still the preferred way for 99% of the population. Burning of wood has even severe effects on our health, and leads to increasing air pollution levels.
Wood smoke is a mixture of solids, gases, and liquids.
Much like cigarette smoke, wood smoke contains hundreds of air pollutants that can cause cancer and other health problems in the respiratory tract.
One of these pollutants that is of most concern is fine particles
These tiny particles are so small that they reach the deepest areas of the lungs (the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs, where oxygen enters the blood stream) and can cause many respiratory problems and decreased lung functioning.
Source: ecology
The toxins in wood smoke either make their way into the lungs, brains and bloodstreams of humans and animals, or they eventually wind up on the ground and in our waterways, where they become part of our environment and our food chain. While in the atmosphere, some of the toxins in wood smoke chemically change and may become even more harmful. Some also contribute to ozone formation. Wood burning also emits short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon, brown carbon, methane and carbon monoxide, and raises levels of atmospheric CO2 Which is responsible for global warming
Most of the harmful pollutants from wood burning don’t rise. They hang around at ground level for up to ten days.
On cold winter days (when people tend to burn wood) the problem is even worse, because the weather conditions create temperature inversions that put a lid over the lower atmosphere, trapping hazardous pollutants close to ground level.
Source: familiesforcleanair
In the teachings of Jainism and Buddhism, there's a sacred idea called 'Ahimsa' which means non-violence. This principle goes beyond just avoiding harm to people – it includes being kind to even the tiniest creatures. However, during traditional cremation, this principle is not followed. When bodies are placed on open wood pyres, small beings like woodworms, beetles, and ants also suffer in the fire. If we truly believe in the 'Live and Let Live' philosophy, our commitment should go beyond just our final moments. The solution is to adopt eco-friendly cremations, so our last rites are in harmony with our beliefs. Save Prakriti encourages you to think about this contradiction and make a change. Take the Save Prakriti Pledge today – a promise to respect all life, from the beginning to the end, in a way that aligns with our deepest beliefs. Let our actions show what we truly value. Join us in protecting nature and all its living beings.
As we unveil the truth about open wood-pyre cremation, we see the toll it takes on our environment – losing oxygen, emitting harmful gasses, and cutting down 4.3 crore trees yearly. Now, it's time to act. Take a simple pledge on Save Prakriti for eco-friendly cremation. Share this choice with your loved ones. Let's protect our planet, leaving a better world for the next generation.
TAKE THE PLEDGE
Join us to Save Prakriti.
We're on a mission to protect the environment, and we believe that everyone can contribute to this cause. At Save Prakriti, we encourage the use of eco-friendly electric cremations over traditional open pyre cremations. We want to hear from you - share your ideas and thoughts with us on how we can promote eco-friendly practices. Write to us today and let's work together to save our planet!
Are you a writer, photographer, artist, or other professional who is passionate about saving the planet? We need your help! Join us at Save Prakriti and contribute your skills and talents to our cause. We welcome climate-conscious individuals from all walks of life who share our mission to promote eco-friendly practices. Let's work together to make a difference!