"Would be a nice memory" - Man wants to scatter his father's ashes in Antarctica, but it doesn't go according to plan
Globetrotter Will wants to scatter his deceased father's ashes amidst icebergs, mountains, penguins and ice-blue ice. But nothing comes of it.
Will McGough travels around the world and writes about it. After his father's death, he wanted to scatter his ashes in Antarctica. "I took the bag with me because, like many travelers, I thought it would be a nice memory to scatter my father's ashes in a special place," the globetrotter told CNN .
"I was ready to scatter the ashes on this hike amidst icebergs, mountains, penguins and glacier-blue ice."
But before Will could take action, the tour guide gave him a safety briefing. There are strict rules in Antarctica: Nothing is allowed to touch the ground except your shoes. No sitting. No snow angels. No backpacks on the ground. No throwing away food or spilling drinks. Under no circumstances is anything allowed to be left behind, so the instructions.
These rules are designed to protect the delicate ecosystem of Antarctica. Violating these rules would be illegal and would endanger the delicate environment. Will's father's ashes would also harm the environment.
In Germany, it is generally not permitted to freely scatter the ashes of a deceased person.German burial culture is heavily regulated and subject to the so-called cemetery requirement, which states that the ashes of the deceased must be buried in a cemetery. However, there are some exceptions and special regulations that can vary from state to state.
In some cases, a burial outside a cemetery can be permitted, e.g. in special meadows or in natural burial areas offered by certain cemeteries. A burial at sea is also possible under certain conditions if this is in accordance with the wishes of the deceased.
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