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Monday, November 24, 2008

Enviro Dead Energy

Posted by Charles Mudede on Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 9:10 AM

What does this mean?

Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a gritty, working-class town outside Barcelona, has placed a sea of solar panels atop mausoleums at its cemetery, transforming a place of perpetual rest into one buzzing with renewable energy.

Flat, open and sun-drenched land is so scarce in Santa Coloma that the graveyard was just about the only viable spot to move ahead with its solar energy program.

The power the 462 panels produces — equivalent to the yearly use by 60 homes — flows into the local energy grid for normal consumption and is one community's odd nod to the fight against global warming.

A thought: How does this particular use of a graveyard relate to Vico's profound claim that private property has its point of birth in the practice of burying the dead? By honoring and returning to an area one buried relatives, a sense of attachment to a piece of land was born in the hearts of early humans. Therefore, to use a graveyard for the generation of energy (the very essence of existence) is to dishonor the dead. It's a detachment from the land, and this detachment/dishonor revels an increasing break with the source of private property. It marks a replanting of the private from its dead beginnings to one that is newly rooted in the living.

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Charles, I love your thoughtful commentary, but how about a different point of view. Our ancestors labored so that we could be here - they must have loved some of us, at least. Why would they begrudge supporting our wasteful, electricity-driven life-styles a little more from the great beyond?

Or, one could believe, you know, that when you're dead, you're dead - and don't care what other people do with your grave.

Posted by schweighsr on November 24, 2008 at 9:29 AM

I think the solar panels are a great idea... graveyards are a waste of space. Like Carlin said, "what's the point of saving up all the dead bodies?"

Posted by Urgutha Forka on November 24, 2008 at 9:35 AM

Vico was wrong.

Posted by Fnarf on November 24, 2008 at 9:55 AM

Haven't they already bastrdized the concept of burying and a return to earth by storing them in a multi story building?

Posted by Eightway on November 24, 2008 at 9:58 AM

Aren't they worried that all this energy so close to the corpses will create an army of zombies that will descend on the town to eat brains?

Posted by Mahtli69 on November 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM

This is the ultimate solution to NIMBYism. I guarantee that the residents of this property will not complain.

Posted by Greg on November 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM

yes, solar powered zombies indeed. and for the record i don't think rotting corpses care what you do with the dirt on top of them. if you're ok with it, their probably fine with it.

Posted by douglas on November 24, 2008 at 11:23 AM

Beautiful poetry Charles. I beg however to differ with some poetry of my own:
Though those we love may be departed now, their light and the light of our ancestors shines more brightly than ever and guiding us to a better future. The eternal flame for the 21st century.

Posted by sasha on November 24, 2008 at 11:41 AM