Donate Your Body To Florida Non-Profit That Uses Ashes To Save Coral Reefs

A nonprofit in Florida has come up with a remarkable and eco-friendly way to restore coral reefs and provide an eternal resting place for those who want to put their remains to help marine habitats that have been severely impacted by Climate change.

Climate change has been affecting coral reefs for years now. There are more bleaching events than ever before, and marine life is greatly suffering. In a 2020 report from The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, They found corals in more than 100 countries, and while they only cover 0.2 percent of the ocean floor, they are responsible for supporting at least 25 percent of marine life. However, with the temperatures in the ocean rising, a lot of this magnificent coral has been lost.

Source: International Coral Reef Initiative/Youtube

Eternal Reefs is a non-profit based in Florida that is dedicated to helping save the oceans and doing something amazing with human remains. The company creates ‘reef balls’ with the cremated remains of humans or pets and then drops them into the ocean floor to create new ecosystems for marine life.

Source: Eternal Reefs/Youtube

According to their website, Eternal Reefs began in the late 1980s when two college roommates went diving off the Florida Keys. Over the following years, they saw the reefs deteriorating and knew they needed to do something. After they got out of school, they began to talk about what they could do to help protect the fragile ecosystems. That there is where the concept of reef ball was formed. They planned to rehabilitate and rebuild the dying reefs and create new habitats for marine life.

They knew they needed to create a design to attract marine life that would be able to withstand currents and tidal movement. In 1992, the Reef Ball Development Group and Reef Ball Foundation finished their first project off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale.

One of the men’s father-in-laws died and had discussed having his cremated remains put into a reef. They then mixed his cremated remains into the reef ball concrete and it was placed in the ocean soon after.

Source: Eternal Reefs/Youtube

The reef balls are round and hollow, and the intelligent design puts 80 percent of the eight on the lower quarter of the reef, which makes it stable underwater. The concrete mixture brings the pH content of the reef ball to nearly neutral. The pH level and texture allow microorganisms to land, burrow and mature on it.

Creating an Eternal Reef takes a few days, and families and friends are encouraged to participate if they wish. Friends and family have the opportunity to mix their loved one’s ashes into the concrete to create a ‘pearl.’ The ‘pearl’ is placed into the reef ball, and another layer of concrete goes on top where the family can decorate and personalize it.

A few days later, loved ones can come back to say a final goodbye. Then they will go out onto a boat and head to the Eternal Reef site. Before they lower the reef into the water, the individual’s name is announced. What an amazing way to use our bodies to help fight Climate change and save the oceans!

Sign this petition to ban dangerous sunscreen ingredients that kill coral reefs and other ocean creatures!

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