To: Merilynne Rush, Chair, A2GBN
Support the A2 Green Burial Network
I support the A2GBN efforts to educate the public about natural burial and would like to see the development of more green burial options in our area.
Why is this important?
Dear Friends,
The newly formed Ann Arbor Green Burial Network (A2GBN) needs your support. The Network strives to educate our selves and others about natural burial with the goal of increasing natural burial options in our local area. We are collecting signatures of those who support this goal. (Please note that we encourage you to sign this petition no matter where you live--this is a movement that has no boundaries and if natural options are offered in one place, the more likely other places will do the same.)
A2GBN grew out of two recent events -‐ the Michigan Green Burial Conference in October 2014, and an interfaith clergy presentation on natural death care options in June 2014. The group is made up of members of the clergy and the general public (listed below).
These are the basics of why we endeavor to expand local natural burial options:
• Burial without embalming and without a vault was the tradition throughout history until only very recently, and is still the tradition in many cultures and religions.
• Currently in the U.S., coffins are required to be encased in concrete vaults by most cemeteries nationwide.
• Vaults use several tons of concrete, and concrete manufacture is a global leader in contribution to climate change (adding more CO2 to the atmosphere than the airline industry).
• Vaults are not required by any laws or health codes, they are only a matter of cemetery policy.
• Cemeteries that require vaults do so because they simplify maintenance duties.
• Cemeteries that do not require vaults usually charge extra to cover the additional
maintenance costs, thus, offering this option need not be a hardship to cemeteries.
• Cremation is on the rise, partly because people are not comfortable with the environmental impacts of conventional burials.
• Like concrete vaults, cremation also uses significant amounts of fossil fuels.
• The perpetual care of a cemetery plot that requires mowing, fertilizing, and pesticides adds up over time to a very significant environmental footprint.
• Cemetery plots that are landscaped naturally can provide crucial habitat for wildlife.
• Ann Arbor prides itself in being a leader in environmental sustainability, but we have no cemeteries that allow any form of natural burial.
• People like to be buried near their homes and families. The closest cemetery that offers natural burial is in Milan.
• Those who desire to reduce their environmental footprint in both life and in death would like more options in their local area, whether it be a burial without a vault, a burial plot that is landscaped naturally, or both.
To reach our goal of expanding natural burial options in our area, we plan to:
1. Educate the public about green burial, its benefits and where it is available currently.
2. Approach local cemeteries about offering natural burials (plots without a vault and/or plots that are naturally landscaped).
3. Assist local congregations that have land to begin offering green burial or other natural memorial options.
4. Approach city, village, township and county governments about the possibility of utilizing conserved land for natural burial.
5. Investigate opportunities for green burial in rural, abandoned or unclaimed cemeteries.
Our first task is to collect names of individuals and organizations that support our goals. A long list of supporters will demonstrate to cemeteries, congregations and local government entities that there is a growing number of people who desire these options. By signing this petition, you will add your voice to the myriad of local residents who have told us that they want green burial options for themselves and their loved ones.
If you would like to join the Network or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of us.
Sincerely,
Merilynne Rush and Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers
[email protected]
Some of the other members of the A2 Green Burial Network:
Rev. David Bell, Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth
Karlin Danielsen, In Sacred Balance
John Erdevig, 1st Unitarian Universalist Congregation
George Lambrides, Interfaith Round Table
Rabbi Robert Levy, Temple Beth Emeth
Barbara Lucas, Journalist
Catherine McClary, Ann Arbor Friends Meeting
Rev. James Rhodenheiser, St. Clare’s Episcopal Church
Phil Selden, retired business owner, Toledo, OH
Edward Vielmetti
Lauren Zinn, ZinnHouse
Please like the "Ann Arbor Green Burial Network" Facebook page and ask others to do the same. This will also show support, help us grow the Network and assist in publicizing our progress and upcoming meetings and events.

The newly formed Ann Arbor Green Burial Network (A2GBN) needs your support. The Network strives to educate our selves and others about natural burial with the goal of increasing natural burial options in our local area. We are collecting signatures of those who support this goal. (Please note that we encourage you to sign this petition no matter where you live--this is a movement that has no boundaries and if natural options are offered in one place, the more likely other places will do the same.)
A2GBN grew out of two recent events -‐ the Michigan Green Burial Conference in October 2014, and an interfaith clergy presentation on natural death care options in June 2014. The group is made up of members of the clergy and the general public (listed below).
These are the basics of why we endeavor to expand local natural burial options:
• Burial without embalming and without a vault was the tradition throughout history until only very recently, and is still the tradition in many cultures and religions.
• Currently in the U.S., coffins are required to be encased in concrete vaults by most cemeteries nationwide.
• Vaults use several tons of concrete, and concrete manufacture is a global leader in contribution to climate change (adding more CO2 to the atmosphere than the airline industry).
• Vaults are not required by any laws or health codes, they are only a matter of cemetery policy.
• Cemeteries that require vaults do so because they simplify maintenance duties.
• Cemeteries that do not require vaults usually charge extra to cover the additional
maintenance costs, thus, offering this option need not be a hardship to cemeteries.
• Cremation is on the rise, partly because people are not comfortable with the environmental impacts of conventional burials.
• Like concrete vaults, cremation also uses significant amounts of fossil fuels.
• The perpetual care of a cemetery plot that requires mowing, fertilizing, and pesticides adds up over time to a very significant environmental footprint.
• Cemetery plots that are landscaped naturally can provide crucial habitat for wildlife.
• Ann Arbor prides itself in being a leader in environmental sustainability, but we have no cemeteries that allow any form of natural burial.
• People like to be buried near their homes and families. The closest cemetery that offers natural burial is in Milan.
• Those who desire to reduce their environmental footprint in both life and in death would like more options in their local area, whether it be a burial without a vault, a burial plot that is landscaped naturally, or both.
To reach our goal of expanding natural burial options in our area, we plan to:
1. Educate the public about green burial, its benefits and where it is available currently.
2. Approach local cemeteries about offering natural burials (plots without a vault and/or plots that are naturally landscaped).
3. Assist local congregations that have land to begin offering green burial or other natural memorial options.
4. Approach city, village, township and county governments about the possibility of utilizing conserved land for natural burial.
5. Investigate opportunities for green burial in rural, abandoned or unclaimed cemeteries.
Our first task is to collect names of individuals and organizations that support our goals. A long list of supporters will demonstrate to cemeteries, congregations and local government entities that there is a growing number of people who desire these options. By signing this petition, you will add your voice to the myriad of local residents who have told us that they want green burial options for themselves and their loved ones.
If you would like to join the Network or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of us.
Sincerely,
Merilynne Rush and Rev. Melissa Anne Rogers
[email protected]
Some of the other members of the A2 Green Burial Network:
Rev. David Bell, Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth
Karlin Danielsen, In Sacred Balance
John Erdevig, 1st Unitarian Universalist Congregation
George Lambrides, Interfaith Round Table
Rabbi Robert Levy, Temple Beth Emeth
Barbara Lucas, Journalist
Catherine McClary, Ann Arbor Friends Meeting
Rev. James Rhodenheiser, St. Clare’s Episcopal Church
Phil Selden, retired business owner, Toledo, OH
Edward Vielmetti
Lauren Zinn, ZinnHouse
Please like the "Ann Arbor Green Burial Network" Facebook page and ask others to do the same. This will also show support, help us grow the Network and assist in publicizing our progress and upcoming meetings and events.