When I die, recompose me | Katrina Spade

譯者: Helen Chang 審譯者: Regina Chu

My name is Katrina Spade, and I grew up in a medical family

我叫卡翠娜·史培德， 生長於醫生世家，

where it was fairly normal to talk about death and dying at the dinner table.

一直以來在餐桌上談論生死 是稀鬆平常的事。

But I didn't go into medicine like so many of my family members.

然而不像許多的家族成員， 我沒進入醫學院就讀，

Instead, I went to architecture school to learn how to design.

而是去學建築設計。

And while I was there, I began to be curious

在學習期間我開始好奇

about what would happen to my physical body after I died.

我死後身體會被怎樣處理？

What would my nearest and dearest do with me?

我最親愛、最親近的人 會如何處理我的遺體呢？

So if the existence and the fact of your own mortality

如果人活著、人壽有盡的事實

doesn't get you down,

沒使你們沮喪，

the state of our current funerary practices will.

當今的殯葬方式會。

Today, almost 50 percent of Americans choose conventional burial.

將近 50％ 的現代美國人 選擇習用的埋葬方式。

Conventional burial begins with embalming,

傳統埋葬的第一步是防腐，

where funeral staff drain bodily fluid

殯儀人員讓體液排出來，

and replace it with a mixture designed to preserve the corpse

注入混合防腐劑 使屍體看起來栩栩如生。

and give it a lifelike glow.

Then, as you know, bodies are buried in a casket

正如你們熟知的下一步，

把屍體放入棺材，

in a concrete-lined grave

埋在墓園的混凝土墓穴裡。

in a cemetery.

All told, in US cemeteries,

總而言之，埋在美國墓園裡的金屬

we bury enough metal to build a Golden Gate Bridge,

足夠我們建一座金門大橋，

enough wood to build 1,800 single family homes,

木材夠造一千八百戶 獨門獨院的住宅，

and enough formaldehyde-laden embalming fluid

用掉的甲醛防腐液

to fill eight Olympic-size swimming pools.

能填滿八個奧運尺寸的游泳池。

In addition, cemeteries all over the world are reaching capacity.

此外，全世界的墓地都接近飽和。

Turns out, it doesn't really make good business sense

原來，販售一塊墓地作為永生之道

to sell someone a piece of land for eternity.

根本沒商業道理。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Whose idea was that?

是誰的餿主意啊？

In some places, you can't buy a plot no matter how much money you have.

在某些地方，不管你有多少錢 都買不到一塊墓地。

As a result, cremation rates have risen fast.

因此，火葬的比例快速攀升。

In 1950, if you suggested your grandmother be incinerated after she died,

在 1950 年代 如果建議祖母死後火葬，

you'd probably be kicked from the family deathbed.

可能會被趕出去。

But today, almost half of Americans choose cremation,

但今天幾乎半數的美國人選擇火化，

citing simpler,

列舉的原因是簡單、

cheaper

便宜

and more ecological as reasons.

以及更為環保。

I used to think that cremation was a sustainable form of disposition,

我曾經認為火葬是種 永續的處置方式；

but just think about it for a second.

但只要稍微想一想，

Cremation destroys the potential we have

火化泯滅掉我們

to give back to the earth after we've died.

死後回饋地球的可能性。

It uses an energy-intensive process to turn bodies into ash,

使用密集能源把身體化成灰的過程

polluting the air and contributing to climate change.

污染了空氣，加劇氣候的變遷。

All told, cremations in the US

總而言之，美國每年火葬

emit a staggering 600 million pounds of carbon dioxide

所排放到大氣層的二氧化碳

高達六億磅之巨。

into the atmosphere annually.

The truly awful truth

真正可怕的真相是：

is that the very last thing that most of us will do on this earth

我們大多數人 在地球上做的最後一件事

is poison it.

是毒害地球。

（長嘆聲）

It's like we've created, accepted and death-denied our way into a status quo

就像是我們拼了命 爭取到不死的特權，

that puts as much distance between ourselves and nature

使自己遠離大自然。

as is humanly possible.

Our modern funerary practices are designed to stave off

現代設計的殯葬方式

the natural processes that happen to a body after death.

避掉死後人體 會自然發生的分解過程。

In other words, they're meant to prevent us from decomposing.

換句話說，就是不讓遺體分解。

But the truth

但事實上

is that nature is really, really good at death.

大自然對分解非常拿手。

We've all seen it.

我們都看到過，

When organic material dies in nature,

當有機體死在自然界裡，

microbes and bacteria break it down into nutrient-rich soil,

微生物和細菌

將其分解成富含營養的土壤，

completing the life cycle.

完成生命的週期。

In nature, death creates life.

在自然界中，死亡創造生命。

Back in architecture school, I was thinking about all this,

當我在學建築時思考這一切，

and I set out on a plan to redesign death care.

開始重新設計殯葬的處理方式。

Could I create a system

我能不能創建一套系統，

that was beneficial to the earth

一套對地球有益，

and that used nature as a guide rather than something to be feared?

以大自然為師，不畏懼大自然，

Something that was gentle to the planet?

對地球友善的系統呢？

That planet, after all, supports our living bodies

到底地球維持著

我們的身體和生命啊。

our whole lives.

And while I was mulling this all over

正當我在繪圖板上 醞釀這想法的時候，

over the drawing board,

the phone rang.

電話鈴響了。

It was my friend Kate.

是我的朋友凱特打來的。

She was like, "Hey, have you heard about the farmers

她說：「嘿，妳可曾聽過

農民把整條牛做成堆肥呢？」

who are composting whole cows?"

And I was like, "Mmmm."

我的反應是：「有意思。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Turns out that farmers in agricultural institutions

原來農業機構的農民

have been practicing something called livestock mortality composting

過去幾十年來一直在推行

用死畜堆肥。

for decades.

Mortality composting is where you take an animal high in nitrogen

死畜堆肥是把含氮量高的動物軀體，

and cover it with co-composting materials that are high in carbon.

用含碳量高的助腐物質覆蓋起來。

It's an aerobic process, so it requires oxygen,

這是個有氧分解的過程，需要氧，

and it requires plenty of moisture as well.

也需要足夠的水分。

In the most basic setup, a cow is covered with a few feet of wood chips,

最基本的做法

是用厚達數英尺的木屑覆蓋牛，

which are high in carbon,

木屑的碳含量很高，

and left outside for nature, for breezes to provide oxygen

放置戶外，讓大自然的微風提供氧，

and rain to provide moisture.

讓雨水滋潤。

In about nine months,

大約九個月後，

all that remains is a nutrient-rich compost.

剩下營養豐富的堆肥，

The flesh has been decomposed entirely,

肉身和骨頭全被分解淨盡。

as have the bones.

I know.

對。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So I would definitely call myself a decomposition nerd,

確實我稱自己是研究分解的書呆子，

but I am far, far from a scientist,

根本不算是個科學家；

and one way you can tell this is true

這顯而易見，

is that I have often called the process of composting "magic."

因我常把堆肥的過程稱為「魔術」。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So basically, all we humans need to do

基本上，我們人類只需

is create the right environment for nature to do its job.

營造一個讓大自然 好好工作的環境即可。

It's like the opposite of antibacterial soap.

這和殺菌藥皂恰恰相反，

Instead of fighting them,

它不抗菌，

we welcome microbes and bacteria in with open arms.

而是張開雙臂迎接微生物和細菌。

These tiny, amazing creatures

這些驚人的小生物

break down molecules into smaller molecules and atoms,

把分子分解成更小的分子和原子，

which are then incorporated into new molecules.

然後合併成新的分子。

In other words, that cow is transformed.

換句話說，那頭牛轉型，

It's no longer a cow.

不再是頭牛，

It's been cycled back into nature.

而是循環回到自然界。

See? Magic.

看到了吧？這就是魔術。

（笑聲）

You can probably imagine the light bulb that went off in my head

或許你能想像：

接到那通電話後我靈光一閃，

after I received that phone call.

I began designing a system

開始根據死畜堆肥的原理

based on the principles of livestock mortality composting

that would take human beings and transform them into soil.

設計能將人類遺體 轉化為土壤的系統。

《可擴展、複製，非營利的城市模式》

Fast-forward five years

快轉五年後，

and the project has grown in ways I truly never could have imagined.

計劃的展開遠超出我的想像。

We've created a scalable, replicable non-profit urban model

我們根據死畜堆肥的原理

建立一個可擴展、可複製、 非營利、城市模式的系統，

based on the science of livestock mortality composting

that turns human beings into soil.

把人類遺體轉化為土壤。

We've partnered and collaborated with experts in soil science,

我們合作的夥伴專精於土壤科學、

decomposition, alternative death care,

分解、其他可行的處理遺體方式、

law and architecture.

法律和建築。

We've raised funds from foundations and individuals

我們向基金會與個人募資

in order to design a prototype of this system,

來建立系統的雛型；

and we've heard from tens of thousands of people all over the world

世界各地有成千上萬的人告訴我們

希望能夠選用這種殯葬法。

who want this option to be available.

OK.

好。

In the next few years,

接下來幾年，

it's our goal to build the first full-scale human composting facility

我們的目標是在西雅圖市裡

建立首座全面性的人類堆肥設施。

right in the city of Seattle.

(Applause)

（掌聲和歡呼聲）

Imagine it,

想像一下，

part public park,

兼具公園、

part funeral home,

殯儀館、

part memorial to the people we love,

已逝親人的紀念館，

a place where we can reconnect with the cycles of nature

在這裡重新連結生生不息的大自然，

and treat bodies with gentleness and respect.

並且於進行過程中尊重、 和善對待遺體。

The infrastructure is simple.

基礎的設施很簡單：

Inside a vertical core,

在垂直的主設施裡

bodies and wood chips undergo accelerated natural decomposition,

身體和木片自然加速分解和堆肥化，

or composting,

and are transformed into soil.

轉化為土壤。

When someone dies, their body is taken to a human composting facility.

死者的遺體被送往遺體堆肥設施，

After wrapping the deceased in a simple shroud,

用簡單的長袍包裹，

friends and family carry the body to the top of the core,

親友護送遺體到

自然分解系統主設施的頂部

which contains the natural decomposition system.

During a laying in ceremony,

舉行下葬的儀式，

they gently place the body into the core

把遺體輕輕地垂入主設施，

and cover it with wood chips.

以木屑覆蓋。

This begins the gentle transformation from human to soil.

轉變遺體為土壤的和緩過程開始了。

Over the next few weeks, the body decomposes naturally.

人體在接下來的 幾個星期裡自然分解。

Microbes and bacteria break down carbon, then protein,

微生物和細菌先分解碳， 再分解蛋白質，

to create a new substance,

創造新的物質，

a rich, earthy soil.

也就是肥沃的土壤，

This soil can then be used to grow new life.

這土壤能被用來孕育新的生命。

Eventually, you could be a lemon tree.

最後，你可能變成檸檬樹。

(Applause)

（掌聲和哨聲）

Yeah, thank you.

是的，謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Who's thinking about lemon meringue pie right now?

此刻誰想起檸檬蛋白派呢？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

A lemon drop?

或者檸檬馬丁尼？

Something stronger?

還是更烈一點的東西呢？

So in addition to housing the core,

除了分解遺體的主設施外，

these buildings will function to support the grieving

這些建築物還提供緬懷追思，

by providing space for memorial services and end-of-life planning.

設置追悼會堂和規劃壽終的空間。

The potential for repurposing is huge.

這有著巨大的再利用潛力。

Old churches and industrial warehouses can be converted into places

舊的教堂和工業倉庫能轉換成

where we create soil and honor life.

孕育土壤和榮耀生命的場所。

We want to bring back the aspect of ritual

我們想找回過去數百年間

that's been diluted over the past hundred years

因火葬率上升、宗教聯繫降低

as cremation rates have risen

and religious affiliation has declined.

而被稀釋掉的儀式面。

Our Seattle facility will function as a model for these places

我們的西雅圖設施

將成為世界各地的典範。

all over the world.

We've heard from communities in South Africa, Australia,

南非、澳大利亞、英國、

the UK, Canada and beyond.

加拿大及其他各地都有 社區聯絡我們。

We're creating a design toolkit

我們正建立一個設計工具包

that will help others design and build facilities

來幫助其他人建設，

that will contain technical specifications

裡頭將會有技術規格

and regulatory best practices.

和符合規範的最佳監管做法。

We want to help individuals, organizations,

我們不只要幫助個人和組織，

and down the road, municipalities

更進一步，還要幫助城市

design and build facilities in their own cities.

設計和建造自己的設施。

The idea is that every one of these places should look and feel completely different

想法是：

儘管內部的系統相同，

with the same system inside.

各地設施的外貌和感覺 應該完全不同；

They're really meant to be designed for the neighborhood in which they reside

這些設施的設計應該符合

所在、所服務的社區。

and the community which they serve.

The other idea is for supportive staff to be on hand

另一想法是：應有關懷員在場，

to help families with the care and preparation of loved ones' bodies.

幫助遺族照顧和準備親人的遺體。

We're banishing practices that bewilder and disempower

我們汰除困惑、乏力的舊做法，

and creating a system that is beautiful and meaningful

建立美麗、有意義

and transparent.

而且透明的新方法。

We believe that access to ecological death care

我們堅信能選用符合生態的死亡護理

is a human right.

是天賦人權。

OK, so you know the old saying,

好。古諺云：

if you can compost a cow, you can compost a human?

如果能把牛做成堆肥， 就能把人做成堆肥？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Turns out, it's true.

原來，這話一點兒也沒錯。

Since 2014, we've been running a pilot project

自 2014 年起，

我們與西卡羅來納大學的 法醫人類學系

in the hills of North Carolina

with the Forensic Anthropology Department at Western Carolina University.

在北卡羅來納州的山丘試行。

Six donor bodies have been covered in wood chips,

被木屑覆蓋的六具捐贈大體，

oxygen provided by breezes,

有微風提供氧氣，

microbes and bacteria doing their jobs.

有微生物和細菌做功。

This pilot program has allowed us to demonstrate that it's possible

這個試行計劃讓我們證明了

to harness the incredible power of natural decomposition

利用不可思議的自然分解力量

to turn human bodies into soil,

把人體變成土壤是可行的。

and we're working with other universities as well.

我們也與其他的大學合作。

Soil scientists at Washington State University,

華盛頓州立大學的土壤科學家

the grad students, anyway,

和那裡的研究生，

are working to compost teeth with amalgam fillings

正在鑽研汞齊 填補的牙齒做成的堆肥，

so that we can understand what happens to the mercury therein.

以了解堆肥後裡頭的汞會怎樣。

Next up, we'll be beginning experiments

我們下一步將做實驗

to determine what happens to chemo drugs and pharmaceuticals

以確認化療藥物

during the composting process,

經堆肥過程後的結果，

and whether additional remediation will be needed.

決定是否需要增加補救步驟。

By the way,

順便一提，

composting creates a great deal of heat,

堆肥的程序產生大量的熱，

especially this particular type of composting.

尤其是這種堆肥類型。

One week after we began composting our fifth donor body,

在第五具大體開始分解後一個星期，

the temperature inside that mound of wood chips

那木屑堆裡面的溫度

reached 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

高達華氏 158 度。

Imagine harnessing that heat to create energy

想像駕馭這熱能，

or comfort the grieving on a cold day.

用在寒冬裡撫慰、溫暖悲傷的親人。

The death care revolution has begun.

死亡護理的革命已經開始了。

It's an exciting time to be alive.

這是個令生者振奮的時刻。

（笑聲）

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）