The author discusses the taboo nature of death in Russia, where the topic is often avoided and funeral services are seen as a necessary evil. They express disgust at the current state of funeral services in Russia, including the exploitation of grieving families by ritualists and the lack of regulation in the industry. The author also touches on the environmental impact of traditional burials and the growing trend of cremation. They highlight alternative, eco-friendly options for dealing with death, such as biodegradable coffins and mushroom-based decomposition. The author concludes by emphasizing the importance of accepting and discussing death in order to appreciate life.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker has a negative view of cemeteries and funeral services in their country.
2. Death is a taboo topic in the speaker's country.
3. The speaker compares their country's attitude towards death to Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations.
4. The speaker mentions a woman named Caitlin Doughty, who runs a YouTube channel called "Ask the Undertaker" and has written books on death.
5. Caitlin Doughty founded a movement promoting a positive attitude towards death.
6. The speaker discusses the commercialization of death in their country, including the high cost of funeral services.
7. The speaker mentions that in the USSR, funeral services were not commercialized, and people were involved in burying their loved ones independently.
8. After the collapse of the USSR, the funeral industry remained unformed, and cemeteries developed spontaneously.
9. The speaker notes that there is no centralized production of burial accessories, no transport for hearses, and no standardized system for recording burials.
10. The speaker mentions that the funeral business in their country is not licensed, and there is no quality assessment system or state standards.
11. The speaker discusses the environmental impact of traditional burials, including soil pollution and groundwater contamination.
12. The speaker mentions alternative methods of burial, including cremation, eco-friendly suits, and resomation.
13. The speaker notes that some companies offer to send ashes to the moon or into space.
14. The speaker mentions a company in Russia that offers cryonic preservation services.
15. The cost of preserving one's brain is $15,000, while preserving the entire body costs $36,000.
16. The speaker notes that cryonic preservation is not a guarantee of immortality, but rather a chance to be revived in the future.
17. The speaker believes that society's attempt to escape from the topic of death only provokes fear and rejection.
18. The speaker thinks that the funeral industry must change and transform to become more accepting of death.
Note that some of these points may be opinions or personal beliefs rather than objective facts.