Burial alternative offers a chance for living legacy

Bevan Shields discusses an alternative to burial and cremation in his excellent article (“Dead but not fully buried”, June 21). I have already informed the family that I want a cardboard coffin. After reading the article, I am now confident that this method is by far the best option for me, especially since I am an avid gardener. My remains could fertilize any garden I tend: on the balcony, in the communal garden below, and in the neighborhood street garden. Alison Stewart, Waitara

I hope Alex Greenwich and Teresa Russell are successful with the bill that allows people to compost. I would also love to plant daisies when the time comes. Maybe my new hip can be recycled too. Rose Bark, Lilyfield

This may come as a surprise, but composting one’s remains has another benefit: reincarnation. Taken collectively, the number of religions advocating reincarnation in India reaches 1.6 billion people. And that’s just India. By not disturbing the body by using composting as a burial tool, you avoid the use of carcinogenic formaldehyde, the increasingly scarce hardwoods for coffins, and the incredible 160 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the 1,000-degree heat required to cremate a corpse. There is another important factor for people like me. Leaving the body undisturbed for three days after death makes it easier for the deceased to pass to the land they came from. Larry Woldenberg, Lodge

Tender Kate

Queen Elizabeth II As a Republican who greatly admires Elizabeth II’s diplomatic skills, I was surprised and intrigued to see the Princess of Wales’s essay on children, written after her visit to Reggio Emilia in Italy (“On a recent trip to Italy, I was reminded of what is important in life,” June 21). No doubt he was inspired by the town’s children. And she is not the Marie Antoinette whose tiresome ivory tower mentality fueled republicanism, but rather caring and analytical: “What we recognize in them (children) is a mode of existence in which mind, body and spirit quietly coexist,” and, like me, she values ​​childhood experiences “to ensure they do not disappear” but to ensure they “carry on into adulthood.” If my child is to continue living under the rule of a royal head of state, it is best that he be tough, empathetic, and have insight into the essence of human well-being. Andrew Cohen, Glebe

Justice delayed

My heart goes out to “Mel” and the many other victims of domestic violence who suffered or suffered under coercive or other forms of DV control (“Mel survived partner’s campaign of terror. Took years to find justice,” June 21). It is deeply disturbing to read that even after Mel left the relationship and reported her partner’s crimes to the police, she had to wait four years for the case to finally begin. While awaiting trial, Mel continued to fear for her life because Nick was released on bail following the charges. I assume this isn’t the only situation where women like Mel have had to wait so long for their ex-partner’s hearing. Former partners should not be allowed to use delaying tactics as Nick did in the case described. There are glaring problems in the legal system where it can take years to prosecute an abuser. It is as if the victims continue to live under oppressive control. As former British Prime Minister William Gladstone said 160 years ago: “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Margot Vaccari, Berowra

help at home

Finally someone more articulate than me put my thoughts into words. Thank you, Saul Eslake (“Five Minutes with Fitz,” June 21) It has long seemed obvious to me that people who whine about housing prices are not offering their own homes for less than the maximum they can afford. No one is looking around to find a buyer they think deserves a little help and a discount, right? As a Boomer with investment properties, I still think the budget is fair if you want to help balance the wealth scales a bit. As someone who probably managed to get ahead by working abroad years ago, I would recommend anyone with business skills to try it. Patricia Elkins, Kangaroo Point (Qld)

Experts only

Parnell Palme McGuinness criticizes the government for turning down his request for a review of the assumptions underpinning the federal budget (“Landmines still hidden in budget,” June 21). The opinion piece then goes on to show why this is a very sensible policy. He fails to understand how difficult and complex it would be to understand treasury modelling. Excellent qualifications, such as Alan Kohler, combined with many years of solid economic research and experience are needed. Eureka Report for example, understanding fame – budget analysis. McGuinness is a perfect example of why “budget lock-in,” which keeps journalists from looking at budget documents before they are released, is necessary. Bill Johnstone, Blackheath

hard to swallow

One of the signs for which I am extremely grateful was an English menu translation in the window of a tavern in Athens in the 1970s. It read: “Guts with Sauce” (“Signs of the times: Danger, nanny situation at work”, June 21). Alison StewartRiverview

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