On Monday October 28 prof. Ruth McManus (University of Canterbury, Christchurch New Zealand) will give a Metrodora Lunch Talk entitled "Ways forward: The Greening of Death in Aotearoa New Zealand"One thing certain about life is that we all die. The climate emergency is now official in Aotearoa, but when it comes to death, our current funeral, burial and cremation systems are polluting, environmentally unsustainable and reaching capacity. While some death industry individuals, businesses, organisations and branches of local government in Aotearoa are investigating and investing in more environmentally sustainable options, they are limited in reach and impact because, as ad hoc initiatives, the focus is on the specific concerns of the individual, business or organisation and it is usually beyond their scope to engage with longer term processes that share, connect, scale up, plan and roll out more effective practices, protocols and procedures. Using a methodologically innovative combination of a materiality matrix with Actor Network Theory analysis, this presentation identifies the connections that culminate into effective networks between personal practices, contextual considerations and logistical imperatives in relation to more sustainable body disposal practices. We report our findings on what and how local knowledges are integrating to accelerate synergistic pathways to the greening of death, and what roadblocks and disconnections hamper these efforts.  

WHEN: Monday October 28, 12:00-13:30
WHERE Stadscampus Building R room R.006

Everyone is welcome but registration is required via Katrien.Schaubroeck@uantwerpen.be​