The New Reality: April 15

There is a poetic, even romantic thought about what happens to us when we die. The cycle of life – returning to the earth – is something many of us think about. But, in reality, the way we say goodbye to our loved ones, with embalming, and either cremation or burial – are not good for the environment or sustainable. One this week’s episode of The New Reality, Sophie Lui reports on an innovation could change that: human composting. Plus, the last three years have given many of us a different perspective on death — especially those who were unable to hold funerals for loved ones during the pandemic. Enter Tom Morton, who is a funeral celebrant. He helps mourners confront the loss of loved ones in a positive way, to celebrate life, rather than try to avoid death. Dawna Friesen talked to Tom from his home in the Shetland Islands.