MEP Godfrey Bloom launches attack on EU ‘corpse dissolving’ proposal

PROPOSALS which would allow undertakers to dissolve dead human bodies and flush them into the sewage system have been attacked by MEP Godfrey Bloom.

Mr Bloom, the UKIP member for Yorkshire and the Humberside, said the EU is currently investigating the proposal, which has come from the Flemish Association of Undertakers as a way of cutting down on the amount of land taken up by burials.

The plans would see people’s deceased loved ones being placed in containers containing salts and water. These containers would then be pressurised and some time later the liquid and mineral ash left over could be flushed into sewage systems or be put into urns and given to loved ones.

Mr Bloom, who lives near Selby, said:“We are talking about dissolving the dead and flushing them into the sewage system. I am appalled that the European Commission is even looking into this shameful and disrespectful suggestion.

“I find the whole concept macabre and have no doubt that the straight talking people of Yorkshire will think the same.

“It’s the European Parliament that wants dissolving and flushing down the sewers.”

Comments(43)

Garrowby Turnoff says...
9:33am Thu 22 Jul 10

PROPOSALS would allow undertakers to dissolve dead human bodies and flush them into the sewage system
That should add body to our water...

gerry merryweather says...
9:51am Thu 22 Jul 10

As opposed to letting them rot in the ground or burning them?

sheddie says...
10:01am Thu 22 Jul 10

Press, why are you doing propaganda for UKIP?

Did you make any effort to investigate whether there is any truth behind this before regurgitating it as a story?

Even if there is, it's a shoddy, desperate smear on the EU for what appears in fact to be a proposal from the Flemish Association of Undertakers. The EU can't control what is proposed to it!

The headline clearly suggests the proposal comes from the EU itself. False. Will you correct it or do you prefer to let this blatantly political spin stand? Do you like being used as a propaganda mouthpiece by UKIP?

A quick Google found only a single story from the Daily Mail to back this bit of silly posturing up. 'Nuff said.

Council Care Worker says...
10:02am Thu 22 Jul 10

As far as I am concerned, being non-religious, when I pass away I am nothing more than waste matter and I am happy to be flushed away!!

hifive says...
10:18am Thu 22 Jul 10

Council Care Worker wrote:
As far as I am concerned, being non-religious, when I pass away I am nothing more than waste matter and I am happy to be flushed away!!
Same here! I'll be dead so I won't know either way!

Silver says...
10:23am Thu 22 Jul 10

hifive wrote:
Council Care Worker wrote: As far as I am concerned, being non-religious, when I pass away I am nothing more than waste matter and I am happy to be flushed away!!
Same here! I'll be dead so I won't know either way!
Nah go for cremation, then get released into the wind when my attractive female neighbour is doing her washing....it'll take weeks for her to get me out of her knickers hehe

Council Care Worker says...
10:27am Thu 22 Jul 10

I would go for cremation but have you paid for one lately!!

The Fin says...
11:07am Thu 22 Jul 10

Er, incredibly misleading story.

It's not a plan to cut down on land used for burials, it's a greener alternative to cremation. It's a process that would "use less energy than a crematorium - It would also not emit any harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere" (Sky News).

After the process all that is left is a liquid and ash-like substance which can then be placed in an urn or scattered at the 'loved-ones' desired spot. Much like cremated ashes.

The EU is only judging whether the preposal is safe. It is not interefering with one country's (and it is only Belgium that is looking to introduce this) right to make it's own decision. Something that I thought the madcap UKIP party would have been pleased about.

Come on York Press, do some investigating, don't just quote the comments fed to you by politicians. You're supposed to help us be informed, not hinder us.

Pedro says...
11:27am Thu 22 Jul 10

What are they going to call it: The Dennis Nilsen law?

Jassy says...
11:33am Thu 22 Jul 10

just how exactly is it any more macabre than being burnt in an industrial furnace and then run through a coffee grinder?

spiritofyork says...
11:37am Thu 22 Jul 10

Indeed, the story has been rebuked on the Tabloidwatch blog. Further proof that the Press is becoming more like it's national right wing buddies.

evelyn_trent says...
11:56am Thu 22 Jul 10

Personally, I'd prefer to be pickled in alcohol rather than dissolved in water. Then, after a few months, I'd like to be cremated. It's called 'going out with a bang' and the explosion would take out most of Bishopthorpe.

sheddie says...
12:20pm Thu 22 Jul 10

From the Tabloidwatch story (which I'm sure a crack Press reporter can find, just as I did with a little Googling):

---------
The EU Representative to the UK pointed out:

"Whatever Belgian undertakers decide regarding funeral arrangements is a matter for the Belgian authorities. Just like it’s a matter for the UK authorities in this country."

"The EU has no competence in this matter and to suggest otherwise is wide of the mark."

--------------

Well, I suppose running this rubbish gives us a pretty good idea what to think of UKIP.

BL2 says...
12:31pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Sounds like a great idea to me! Personally I'd prefer to be frozen in Liquid Nitrogen then shaken into little bits, but I can't remember where they were on about doing that :-)

Silver says...
12:35pm Thu 22 Jul 10

For anyone who had a bet on the comments being taken down about the injured lad seems half 12 was the time....anyone know which comment likely knocked it off? Was out for lunch

Zetkin says...
12:38pm Thu 22 Jul 10

As a straight-talking Yorkshireman, this sounds like an excellent way of disposing of corpses.
`
Thanks are due to Mr Bloom and his buddies at Press for bringing it to my attention.
`
Don't you think, though,that there are many things the EU actually DOES do that you could criticise instead? Such as not checking properly what MEPs claim in expenses?

invisibleman says...
12:43pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Seems a bit macabre in a way, but a lot of blood etc is flushed down the drain at an abattoir anyway so no different I guess. As said above, I'll be dead so wont care what happens to whats left of me.

Taken for a Mug says...
12:47pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Will these Undertakers also provide a pine stripping service? because I could do with some doors doing...

The Fin says...
12:47pm Thu 22 Jul 10

@silver

Think it was the ones pointing out the differences between the video and the story. They've changed the online story, removing mothers 'quotes' and paraphrasing so the storys match...Will be interested to see what the printed one says.

Now this story has been shown to be incorrect how long before comments closed/story changed?

Silver says...
12:59pm Thu 22 Jul 10

The Fin wrote:
@silver Think it was the ones pointing out the differences between the video and the story. They've changed the online story, removing mothers 'quotes' and paraphrasing so the storys match...Will be interested to see what the printed one says. Now this story has been shown to be incorrect how long before comments closed/story changed?
Cheers for that....**** I was hoping for it to be a funnier reason then that ah well there's always another story of expectant sympathy for moronic behaviour anyway

Taken for a Mug says...
1:20pm Thu 22 Jul 10

I see the tent woman has made it onto Look North tonight.....

hifive says...
1:29pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Taken for a Mug wrote:
I see the tent woman has made it onto Look North tonight.....
Complete with can of stella! Don't know who's comment knocked it off - this gambling lark isn't going so well...

karen29 says...
1:36pm Thu 22 Jul 10

If Mr Bloom hates the European Parliament so much why is he a member of it? Nothing to do with the big fat pay cheque and expenses is it?

Ex-Rowntree says...
1:42pm Thu 22 Jul 10

So let me get this straight - if the majority of people on here don't agree with the Press's latest "bleeding heart" story, they take all the comments down to make it seem as though it is once again a valid news item.

p.s. flush me - who cares!

Guy Fawkes says...
2:11pm Thu 22 Jul 10

This is a classic confusion of science with emotion. From all the coverage I've read of this procedure, no-one is seriously or credibly suggesting that there is any safety issue with it. The substantive issue is that many people find the prospect of having this done to themselves or people close to them distasteful and, basically, icky - especially the flushing down the sewer bit, which I'm also not comfortable about. As far as I'm concerned, unless there are serious and substantive safety worries with this procedure, make it legal and then if anyone wants it, they can use it.
I agree with two points above. No. 1 - and I write as an instinctive UKIP supporter who usually votes for them in Euro elections - that this is shameless politicking on Bloom's part. The EU is imposing enough bad laws and wasteful spending on us as it is. He really doesn't need to go for an emotional, below-the-belt issue like this one to bash the EU with. They've given themselves enough real rope, and he should concentrate on hanging them with that, even if this does mean concentrating on more boring issues that are more difficult to make headlines out of. No. 2 - I, too, really don't like the idea of cremation. At a time when energy security is a major issue and we're wondering how we'll be able to keep the lights on in a few years' time, wasting several dozen kilowatt hours per body when there are far more efficient alternatives is to me stupid and offensive. I like the idea of 'green' woodland burial myself: at least some of the energy stored in my body will then be recycled back into the ecosystem as it decomposes.

AngryandFrustrated says...
2:16pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Silver wrote:
The Fin wrote: @silver Think it was the ones pointing out the differences between the video and the story. They've changed the online story, removing mothers 'quotes' and paraphrasing so the storys match...Will be interested to see what the printed one says. Now this story has been shown to be incorrect how long before comments closed/story changed?
Cheers for that....**** I was hoping for it to be a funnier reason then that ah well there's always another story of expectant sympathy for moronic behaviour anyway
Didn't have chance to enter the sweep on this young lad as comments were removed far too quickly, unlike "tent-gate" yesterday when it took them 'till almost 6pm to take them down. Funnily enough, it was only after the tented woman's supporters came on and began abusing the rest of us that the thread was removed completely.

As for being dissolved - not for me! Most people think I'll burn in hell anyway so cremation is the way to go!!!

metsa says...
2:21pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Honestly, Bloom is a turning into an absolute charicature of himself. He seems perfectly content in putting out press-releases that make him look a complete tw@ If he really is the best quality candidate that UKIP can attract to stand as an MEP then the party is knackered...

1speedisalluneed says...
2:34pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Taken for a Mug wrote:
I see the tent woman has made it onto Look North tonight.....
I see the comments stream for the tent story has gone, was enjoying that one :-)

TooRelaxed says...
3:05pm Thu 22 Jul 10

In other "news":
Christmas is cancelled and we're all forced to celebrate ramadan.
We all have to take off our crosses, but you'd be arrested if you asked someone to remove their turban.
Finally, muslims force swimming pools to be plunged into darkness.
.
That tabloidwatch blog shows investigative effort worth a thousand of YorkPress.
.
It's incredible in this modern culture of blame and litigation that media organisations can get away with such misleading half-truths and the Press and everyone else should be ashamed of themselves.
Even more embarrassed should be Loony Bloom!

TooRelaxed says...
3:09pm Thu 22 Jul 10

PS: ...who isn't loony at all, just pretends to be so he can get away with being offensive and unpleasant.

Silver says...
3:31pm Thu 22 Jul 10

TooRelaxed wrote:
PS: ...who isn't loony at all, just pretends to be so he can get away with being offensive and unpleasant.
I prefer the term in need of medication

meme says...
4:15pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Why wait until some of the more undesirables in society are dead...Judges should be able to order ...Send him down to be melted in acid and flushed down the khasi..

Much cheaper than jail

Frodo Baggins says...
5:14pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Council Care Worker wrote:
I would go for cremation but have you paid for one lately!!
Not while I'm alive!

idlehousewife says...
5:32pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Really enjoying the humour on this one! Almost as good as the Tesco trolley saga!

tonezzzznoddedoff says...
6:22pm Thu 22 Jul 10

I think I'll have some of this and start up a dissolving factory why should undertakers have all the fun and money £50 quid a go sound about right.

Silver says...
6:49pm Thu 22 Jul 10

You bring em we dissolve em? Much of a classic advert line?

Cold_as_Christmas says...
7:39pm Thu 22 Jul 10

You may find you have no choice:
Beware!
Last year 100% of our unleaded petrol was contaminated with bio ethanol and this is causing damage, especially to older vehicles.
So, the EU may force this measure of how human remains are disposed of on the ordinary public.
How might they do this? Make cemetery burials subject to a mega land fill tax while cremations being subject to mega Global Warming (If warming ever comes) tax.
You make jokes of Godfrey Bloom but he is right and battling the EU from the inside. We are powerless to challenge their directives and decisions!

Silver says...
8:01pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Cold_as_Christmas wrote:
You may find you have no choice:
Beware!
Last year 100% of our unleaded petrol was contaminated with bio ethanol and this is causing damage, especially to older vehicles.
So, the EU may force this measure of how human remains are disposed of on the ordinary public.
How might they do this? Make cemetery burials subject to a mega land fill tax while cremations being subject to mega Global Warming (If warming ever comes) tax.
You make jokes of Godfrey Bloom but he is right and battling the EU from the inside. We are powerless to challenge their directives and decisions!
Or we use dissolved human bodies as a form of fuel. Hence solving the whole energy crisis and driving your car becomes a lot cheaper?
Seriously you honestly believe all that? No one is that harsh to tax to that level of limitation and think they'll have a job the day after.

humpty numpty says...
9:48pm Thu 22 Jul 10

sounds like the script of a charlton heston film Soylent Green, only needs a factory to start selling flemish green biscuits and its a winner

piaggio says...
10:19pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Soylent Green!! ah yes brill film .make.s you wonder

flemish green ?? they from belgium then?? wierd place. made up country innit??

TooRelaxed says...
10:54pm Thu 22 Jul 10

hot_as_may june july august, surely you *are* Godders?

humpty numpty says...
11:20pm Thu 22 Jul 10

piaggio wrote:
Soylent Green!! ah yes brill film .make.s you wonder

flemish green ?? they from belgium then?? wierd place. made up country innit??
made up of wallonia and vlemench (walloons and flemings to you) innit!!

Lizzie Browning says...
9:12pm Sat 24 Jul 10

Sounds a good idea to me. We should all be able to choose our final....erm...form. Paul could be blended and his juices used to mark out cycle lanes, I'd like to be cremated and used to grit the Bootham Crescent terraces in winter, TooRelaxed could be ground down for herbal calming powders and Sciencefan.....erm..
..nah, not sure there is a use for him, even in death! :-)

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