How this New York island became a mass grave

And why Hart Island is changing after the coronavirus pandemic.
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Hart Island, a small piece of land off the Bronx in New York City, resurfaced in national headlines in April 2020, when New York City was the epicenter of the US coronavirus pandemic. News footage of the island’s cemetery showed trenches being filled with pine coffins, and sent shockwaves around the world. But these mass burials taking place during the pandemic are just the most recent in Hart Island’s long history.
Hart Island’s “potter’s field” cemetery dates back to 1869, and for over 150 years has served as a burial ground for over 1 million New Yorkers. Over the years, infrastructure problems and a lack of reliable public access have earned Hart Island a tainted reputation.
A 2021 analysis by Columbia Journalism School’s Stabile Center and THE CITY found that over 2,300 New Yorkers were buried on Hart Island in 2020. That’s more burials than any year during the AIDS epidemic, another recent health crisis. They also found that New York City is on pace to bury one in 1 in 10 Covid-19 victims on the island. The analysis of these burials shows who is more likely to be buried on Hart Island: Black and Latino residents, frontline workers, and those who have little access to health care.
To understand how this ties together and what’s next for Hart Island, watch the video above.
This story was produced in collaboration with THE CITY and Columbia Journalism School’s Stabile Center of Investigative Journalism, as part of “MISSING THEM,” THE CITY’s ongoing collaborative project to remember every New Yorker killed by COVID-19.
“MISSING THEM’s” memorial and form: projects.theci...
Sources and additional reading:
THE CITY: www.thecity.ny...
THE CITY: www.thecity.ny...
The Hart Island Project: www.hartisland... ​
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[@Vox]

What should a memorial for Covid-19 victims look like? This feature from Vox's The Highlight explores the role of memorials in processing our collective grief: bit.ly/3uv45yN

[@coastalcapybara]

I think that, in the same manner we memorialize the tragedy of the September 11 attacks, we should (on January 13th, the date of the first known COVID-19 case in the U.S), memorialize the victims of COVID-19, on January 13th.

[@ericfan1223]

I think three figures standing up, a doctor, a nurse and an emt

[@yuch1102]

Shouldn’t we cremate them instead? Why are we wasting tax dollars ?

[@atakorkut5110]

I personally have buried people in this cemetery with my own hands as inmate labour it felt so effed up cuz I felt like we are all unwanted using the unwanted to burry the unloved for free

[@ArtisticlyAlexis]

@@yuch1102 Not every faith allows for cremation, and I think the city is trying to be respectful to the unclaimed & their loved ones.

[@giovannigarcia9972]

I feel Hart Island has the potential to become a really nice memorial park, with lots of greenery and an information centre explaining the history as well as records of everyone buried there

[@JrsSd619]

picnic sandwhiches would be floating around lol

[@ZenJr]

Bryant Park was a potter's field too.. so yeah, once you forget what happened on the land you just have picnics over it!

[@Dr_Yi]

@@JrsSd619 so the governor’s island

[@Songbird645]

Sounds like a great idea. Teaching history while preserving nature.

[@S1N999]

That's what the hart island project does. It was in the beginning of the vdoe

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

This video also brings up another issue: why is it that you have to be related to the person you designate as your next of kin? In the case of Roderick Paulus, he designated a friend as his next of kin and she has no legal rights to claim his body or execute his wishes or death plan. How is that just? A lot of people are cut off or estranged from their families, so they should be able to designate whoever they wish as their next of kin.

[@AbsolXGuardian]

Next of kin is a shorthand for an automatic process that gives one's legal relative many different legal relationships. I assume Roderick simply wrote his friend's name in the next of kin section of a form. Perhaps she was legally his medical proxy. However he needed a death plan in his will to be allowed to deviate from the one the given to us all by the state. In New York, the appropriate form to designate someone else to be responsible for your body simply requires two adult witnesses, no mandatory fees or lawyer/notary involvement. So the problem here was a lack of education

[@liamtahaney713]

this is wayyyy better than how burials are managed in many cities. I think with tentative care, attention, and FUNDING, this could become a very nice memorial to New York's forgotten and overlooked populations. I hope the next 5-10 years will see more attention given and the improvement of amenities so New Yorkers can easily and safely visit their neighbors.

[@AbsolXGuardian]

The unclaimed dead have to go somewhere. And the way to cutdown on the unclaimed dead lays elsewhere. Hart Island must exist, it just needs to be given proper care to remove its problems.

[@Mandrew_]

@@AbsolXGuardian An alternative is cremation. It would mean no issues of space or erosion. Also, compare hart island to the pairs catacombs.

[@AbsolXGuardian]

@@Mandrew_ that could go againist people's religions. And the whole point of unclaimed dead is that very little is known of them. If we've decided to stop respecting the religous beliefs of the dead and their living loved ones, then we should do the most beneficial to the living solution- eat the dead, only stopped by sanitary restrictions

[@hellohi1089]

This hits differently. Died and buried without a proper ceremony, without a family or friend.

[@cman7113]

Happens everywhere all the time

[@TheElectrizantee]

it's normal, everyone dies alone

[@blondie7240]

What is wrong with that? They are dead.

[@skywastaken7300]

It’s so sad that it’s only about 5 miles from my House

[@skywastaken7300]

@@blondie7240 stop

[@stev6963]

As heartbreaking as it is, I’m sure Vox made a big difference in honoring Roderick’s life and death by putting him in this video and educating the public on this situation. I hope his best friend finds peace and is able to gain access to the island soon so that she can visit his burial site and grieve properly as everyone deserves. RIP to all the souls lost who are buried there.

[@Jack-on2fb]

That woman’s story was heart breaking and I pray that she will be able to have a memorial for him with her family ASAP. Rest In Peace.

[@FrancesLocke]

What a good friend that woman is. I'm honestly moved. I wish more people in the world were that loyal and kind.

[@jannetteberends8730]

What a sad story, I sincerely hope it becomes a beautiful place. In my country, the Netherlands, and in Belgium, we have city poets. They make a poem for every city burial.

[@Big007Boss]

never thought a city could have the equivalent of a drawer that you put old keys and cards in... just a sad image

[@djctai9288]

where else are you going to put them? I'd be more in favor of just cremating the body and spreading their ashes in a national park or something.

[@Big007Boss]

@@djctai9288 I always thought NYC was like a part of some land mass, I guess it's an island like Hawaii or something, my bad.

[@samthewizzy]

@@djctai9288 yeah it would make since to cremate them

[@giginelson3016]

@@Big007Boss its a city on a few islands less than a mile of the cost of the East of the US.

[@giginelson3016]

@@Big007Boss Hawaii is thousands of miles in the middle of the Pacific.

[@613julie]

Thank you for bringing Roderick's story to light. Hoping Anita and his friends & loved ones will find peace during their healing process.

[@caslook.kalliades]

I want to be buried under a new tree. Let it feed on me and give it and myself a new life.

[@user-ry5eb8ti9v]

🤯🙏🙌👏

[@gsjourney3054]

That’s what my mom wants not under a tree but she wants to give the earth life back not be eaten by worms

[@junirenjana]

Actually, among some of the Toraja people in my country, they put deceased newborns to rest _inside_ tree trunks, which will continue to grow as the bodies decompose... (Google up "Toraja baby graves". Or just read about their burial rituals in general, they're pretty interesting)

[@jinjunliu2401]

@@gsjourney3054 being eaten by worms is giving your life back to the earth though

[@caslook.kalliades]

@@junirenjana Thank you for sharing.

[@bosseursem9123]

To all people saying the island should me renamed. ❤Hart means heart in dutch. So it is already called heart island❤

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Hart Island should be given a massive memorial, and probably a museum to the COVID era.

[@blondie7240]

Waste of money

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

@@blondie7240 I guess WW2 memorials are a waste as well? Like those in Pearl Harbour?

[@blondie7240]

@@napoleonibonaparte7198 those memorialize actual struggles

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

@@blondie7240 So, what about Holocaust memorials? Did they not ‘struggle’?

[@blondie7240]

@@napoleonibonaparte7198 no

[@Danielevans2]

The story of Roger the toy store owner proper got me teary 🥺😰

He was a postal worker and toy-collector

[@raybeesmustsuck]

Me to.. found the grave on the website...

[@faybrink-yourhoustonrealtor]

Thank goodness that New York is doing something about this devastating situation.

[@Arjun593]

I had no idea, and I’ve been here my whole life

[@evansuddreth388]

Where manhattan or hart island

[@samartikov6045]

“don’t be afraid of dead they no longer can harm you, be afraid of living”

[@AdamNZ]

My Nan told me that as a kid.

[@ld7599]

Same, my nan heard it from her mom

[@josemendez9641]

I just gotta say this: RIP RODRICK & ANYBODY THAT WAS FORGOTTEN ON HART ISLAND. YALL ARE NEVER EVER FORGOTTEN.

[@bluesquare23]

That was really sad. They need to build a memorial on that island and let people visit.

[@loreleigrove3030]

Lived in NY my whole life, never knew about Hart Island until now.

[@skysthelimitvideos]

As a kid on Long Island they told us Hart Island was cursed and that the government would shoot you if you tried to visit. It’s funny what they’ll exaggerate to kids to scare them.

[@LivenSixtyFive]

I've never been told that. Such a Bizarre explanation. Ngl as a kid on LI, I have never even heard people on Long Island talk about Hart Island.

[@oddle_doddle]

@@LivenSixtyFive its almost like two people in the same place can have different experiences...

[@clevernamegotban1752]

@@LivenSixtyFive I'm sure skys is from an area closer to hart Island than you, im from LI but further away from The Bronx and I've never heard a peep about hart Island before COVID.

[@RevolutionClann]

So many bodies and stories... yet the island is still plagued with eternal despair and loneliness.

[@Thim22Z7]

Exactly, which is why I think that a memorial would be right here. That all of those people who are burried there arent burried on a poorly maintained bad looking island, but on a well kept island respecting those who have died. It even touches me, someone who lives on the other side of the Atlantic and has no connection to NYC at all.

[@indinesle6254]

love how everyone looks at New York and thinks that’s where they go to on holiday, but they’re actually going to small little islands (I’m talking about NYC)

[@fathfez7991]

But.... Little islands are a holiday destination too, Carribbeans?

[@indinesle6254]

@@fathfez7991 yeah

[@callistoarmy5576]

Because I'm not famous like other singers that's why no one see my singing videos. Just see once❤,,

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodcl4824]

@TsunamiFPS Are you at bronx im at Queens

[@coughingpenguin4346]

HAHA

[@emrecakiral2266]

Why do I feel like New Yorkers have an island for everything. Like they got that one spooky island where they put infected ppl, they got a prison island...not to forget Ellis and Liberty Island. This one is just an addition to the collection at this point.

[@Putindidnothingwrong]

i learned recently that they have an island where they send 1/3 of the cities waste and trash to be burned

[@xorlux]

Ikr , they have islands as if its a collectible

[@bilals8188]

She’s a smart lady, my condolences goes to her and her family. Love from the UK my sis. 🇬🇧❤️

[@nishakgrewal2049]

This story was incredibly insightful and moving. Love the work you do for this channel.

[@aboybaker123]

If NYC invested more money & care to Hart Island, it could become a proper memorial site that draws in many visitors like Arlington or Oak Ridge Cemeteries.

[@flakgun153]

I doubt it. It's too far out of the way, and the dead people there aren't very relevant. It's just going to be yet another way the city throws our money away

[@sirhayden5516]

@@flakgun153 thats the most braindead take ever.

[@Nanancay]

Learnt about this from Pose - This breaks my heart. It feels like even after death, this is a reminder these people are alone - separate from the mainland. I know they won’t care much because they’re gone, but they were probably alone in their final moments. Life is painful but I hope regardless, people will try to seek out a better future for themselves.

[@rebeccab1335]

This was very powerful. I hope New Yorkers do gain access to a place transformed to one of peace and rest.

[@nicknunez846]

Many of these people should not be forgotten. They should be remembered in history due to these horrible events in history 💧

[@JD-jz5rr]

*Most western countries are switching from burial to electric cremation* The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing steadily with the national average cremation rate rising from 3.56% in 1960 to 53.1% in 2018~ *The cremation rate in Canada has been increasing steadily with the national average rate rising from 5.9% in 1970 to 68.4% in 2009.* ~ ~ Cremation rates in the Nordic European countries vary from Norway's 36% to Finland's 51%, Sweden's 70% and Denmark's 76%. In all countries the cremation rate in large towns is generally between 70% and 90%.~ ~ Cremation remains a minority practice in rural France where burial places are available, but is increasingly common in urban areas. In 1979 just 1% of funerals involved cremation: in 2012 it was 32%, rising to 45% in Paris.~ ~ Similar trend is happening in UK, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

[@JD-jz5rr]

*The patented Living Urn is America's first and leading bio urn & planting system designed to grow a beautiful, enduring memory tree, plant, or flowers with cremated ashes!* ~ The patented Living Urn is complex in its design, but simple and easy to use. Place your loved one's cremated ashes in the BioUrn and add the proprietary RootProtect additive on top. Next, lower the roots of the young tree into the special BioUrn, add the premium growth mix, and plant it in the ground. A beautiful, enduring living memorial will then grow up from the urn and the cremated ashes to keep your loved one's memory present in your life!

[@JD-jz5rr]

In 1998, the Singapore government announced a policy to limit the burial period to 15 years. Bodies are then dug up and either cremated or interred in small plots to save space in the case of Muslims and other groups whose religions require burials. ~ ~ Singapore's environment agency says most people are choosing cremation over burial, with the proportion rising from 66 percent in 1992 to 80 percent in 2011. ~ ~ Ang Jolie, funeral director at Ang Yew Seng Funeral Parlour, said the need to remove the body after 15 years is the main reason why many of her customers opt for cremation.~ ~ Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex is the only cemetery in Singapore still accepting burials. On 1 November 1998, the NEA implemented a policy to limit the burial period of all graves to 15 years, due to a shortage of space in the cemeteries. After being buried for 15 years, graves are exhumed and the remains removed. If the religion of the deceased permits cremation, the exhumed remains are cremated and stored in government columbaria niches; otherwise, the remains are re-buried in smaller individual plots. ~ In the days of British rule, the number of Chinese burial grounds in Singapore increased very rapidly and the colonial government had little power to control burial spaces because it did not possess sanctions of sufficient strength. ~ *The local authorities began to view these cemeteries as hazardous sources of disease-causing vectors such as mosquitoes, as well as a form of land waste.* There were urgent demands on space in land-scarce Singapore in the name of national development. In the words of E. W. Barker, then the minister for law, environment, science and technology, "The needs of Singapore's young population must require the use of sterilised land, for the economic and social good of all citizens of Singapore." ~ In the 1965 Master Plan, which was designed to guide land-use development in Singapore, cemeteries were identified as land "considered available for development", and cremation was mooted as a viable option to deal with the exhumed bodies from these burial grounds, and as a way to dispose of people who died. To encourage the population to adopt this relatively new way of treating the dead, the state employed the help of "funerary middlemen" who could erode the distrust of cremation because they were respected for their knowledge of death rites and disposal. ~ *In addition, the rallying cries of national development, the common good, and the country's future were used to encourage the populace to take up the idea of cremation and to abandon their insistence of traditional burial grounds.* ~ In 1972, the state made it clear that it would close all cemeteries near and around the city area to "conserve land". ~ As an alternative means of managing the disposal of the dead, the state offered burial space at a state-owned public cemetery complex at Choa Chu Kang, *although it made it clear that it considered cremation as the only viable long-term option.*

[@SaturnDahlia]

I live on the island to the left on the map, city island, and apparently body parts from hart island would wash up on the beaches on city island every now and then but it was a while ago. There's some type of beauty to hart island, how rustic it looks. I know there's people on the island that are living still but it's almost like it hasn't been touched in the almost 200 years all that's been there. There's a song by a band called the moldy peaches, NYC's like a graveyard. It's one of my favorite songs by them and thinking about hart island that song fits perfectly.

[@nickhuysen4643]

As much as death is a taboo topic for many, I force myself to watch these kind of videos.. Because at the end of the day, death is a necessary part of life..

[@danielgreaney7178]

People must be taught about death. Growing up on a farm has shown me that. It is an important part of life.

[@lianaothmannn]

💋Best adult contact site💘👇 Click Here 》》 livegirls19. com 《《 Leurs états de santé respectifs les empêchent de s'approcher trop près l'un de l'autre. 在整個人類歷史上，強者， 富人和具有狡猾特質的人捕食部落，氏族，城鎮，城市~sae和鄉村中的弱者，無力防守和貧窮成員。 然而，人類的生存意願迫使那些被拒絕，被剝奪或摧毀的基本需求的人們找到了一種生活方式，並繼續將其𝔻𝕅𝔸融入不斷發展的人類社會。 說到食物，不要以為那些被拒絕的人只吃垃圾。相反，他們學會了在被忽視的肉類和蔬菜中尋找營養。 他們學會了清潔，切塊，調味和慢燉慢燉的野菜和肉類，在食品市場上被忽略的部分家用蔬菜和肉類，並且學會了使用芳香的木煙（如山核桃，山核桃和豆科灌木）來調味食物煮的時候 1618752916

[@maimounasiby2178]

Anita Perry’s interview almost broke me, incredible video great job Vox!! More videos like this please!

[@littleladyoreo]

Almost broke me when she called me and told me he passed and where he was. I'm happy New York is working to change the departments so others, like my family, can have find some peace from all of this.

[@cmhosam]

What a fantastic video that shows the importance of remembrance and the ways that allocation of resources can have decades-long consequences

[@klwin1123]

Everybody deserves the best memorial even with or without relatives.

[@dudeofmedicine8010]

Your journalism skills are just absolutely mind blowing, you inspire me to run a medical journalism channel

[@elishh8567]

Please do it! I wilm watch

[@dudeofmedicine8010]

@@elishh8567 sure I am working on it

[@OHNO-k9l]

I just subscribed. I'll be looking forward to your videos in the future.

[@StellarAvenger]

Pose season 2 episode 1 brought attention to this island. I wasn't aware of it prior.

[@avariceseven9443]

I think it's still too early to be making memorial for covid-19 victims. Only when we finally have control over it should it be erected as a symbol of remembrance and love for those that have fallen, for victory of those who are still standing and did the right thing and of shame for those who chose not to do anything.

[@matthewcubbon1264]

I worked for NYS parks for 8 years. Unfortunately not anymore, but if/when they get their hands on that, they will completely transform that place into a beautiful, inviting area.

[@DirtCobaine]

What a great video vox! Little Big stories like this often go unheard

[@evuhhlen]

Wow, this video taught me so much. Looking forward to seeing the positive ways Hart Island will change under NYC Parks.

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

I can already see so many potential problems with "if they can't contact anyone" Phones aren't a right in this country. Internet access isn't a right in this country.

[@annatati]

I actually learned about Hart Island through Pose strangely enough

[@hannibalwheatley700]

I live in New York City and I've never heard of Hart Island this is incredible and I'm going straight down the rabbit hole cuz I want to find out everything about it

[@JD-jz5rr]

In 1998, the Singapore government announced a policy to limit the burial period to 15 years. Bodies are then dug up and either cremated or interred in small plots to save space in the case of Muslims and other groups whose religions require burials. ~ ~ Singapore's environment agency says most people are choosing cremation over burial, with the proportion rising from 66 percent in 1992 to 80 percent in 2011. ~ ~ Ang Jolie, funeral director at Ang Yew Seng Funeral Parlour, said the need to remove the body after 15 years is the main reason why many of her customers opt for cremation.~ ~ Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex is the only cemetery in Singapore still accepting burials. On 1 November 1998, the NEA implemented a policy to limit the burial period of all graves to 15 years, due to a shortage of space in the cemeteries. After being buried for 15 years, graves are exhumed and the remains removed. If the religion of the deceased permits cremation, the exhumed remains are cremated and stored in government columbaria niches; otherwise, the remains are re-buried in smaller individual plots. ~ In the days of British rule, the number of Chinese burial grounds in Singapore increased very rapidly and the colonial government had little power to control burial spaces because it did not possess sanctions of sufficient strength. ~ *The local authorities began to view these cemeteries as hazardous sources of disease-causing vectors such as mosquitoes, as well as a form of land waste.* There were urgent demands on space in land-scarce Singapore in the name of national development. In the words of E. W. Barker, then the minister for law, environment, science and technology, "The needs of Singapore's young population must require the use of sterilised land, for the economic and social good of all citizens of Singapore." ~ In the 1965 Master Plan, which was designed to guide land-use development in Singapore, cemeteries were identified as land "considered available for development", and cremation was mooted as a viable option to deal with the exhumed bodies from these burial grounds, and as a way to dispose of people who died. To encourage the population to adopt this relatively new way of treating the dead, the state employed the help of "funerary middlemen" who could erode the distrust of cremation because they were respected for their knowledge of death rites and disposal. ~ *In addition, the rallying cries of national development, the common good, and the country's future were used to encourage the populace to take up the idea of cremation and to abandon their insistence of traditional burial grounds.* ~ In 1972, the state made it clear that it would close all cemeteries near and around the city area to "conserve land". ~ As an alternative means of managing the disposal of the dead, the state offered burial space at a state-owned public cemetery complex at Choa Chu Kang, *although it made it clear that it considered cremation as the only viable long-term option.*

[@JD-jz5rr]

*Most western countries are switching from burial to electric cremation* The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing steadily with the national average cremation rate rising from 3.56% in 1960 to 53.1% in 2018~ *The cremation rate in Canada has been increasing steadily with the national average rate rising from 5.9% in 1970 to 68.4% in 2009.* ~ ~ Cremation rates in the Nordic European countries vary from Norway's 36% to Finland's 51%, Sweden's 70% and Denmark's 76%. In all countries the cremation rate in large towns is generally between 70% and 90%.~ ~ Cremation remains a minority practice in rural France where burial places are available, but is increasingly common in urban areas. In 1979 just 1% of funerals involved cremation: in 2012 it was 32%, rising to 45% in Paris.~ ~ Similar trend is happening in UK, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

[@JD-jz5rr]

*The patented Living Urn is America's first and leading bio urn & planting system designed to grow a beautiful, enduring memory tree, plant, or flowers with cremated ashes!* ~ The patented Living Urn is complex in its design, but simple and easy to use. Place your loved one's cremated ashes in the BioUrn and add the proprietary RootProtect additive on top. Next, lower the roots of the young tree into the special BioUrn, add the premium growth mix, and plant it in the ground. A beautiful, enduring living memorial will then grow up from the urn and the cremated ashes to keep your loved one's memory present in your life!

[@butter231997]

Hart Island, Lake Lanier. The older I get, I can’t believe places like this still exist

[@DarkTwilightGuitar]

Nice footage dude!

[@CH-rp1zl]

Shoutout to all of the "forgotten" souls buried here, and Roderick and Anita Perry.

[@lohphat]

Cenotaphs are important. Having a place commemorating a human's existence is consoling for those in the future seeking family and friends, even decades and centuries later. My family has chosen cremation and scattering but we have cenotaphs placed on their parents' graves to document their existence.

[@nhatleminh1396]

I love stories like this so much. That's life at its core, most humane aspect it could be. As the US is escaping the horrors of Covid-19, these stories featuring the dark sides seem off, but still very much relevant to the lives of those amazing but often marginalized people in New York society. Thanks Vox for bringing this to worldwide audience like us. I really appreciate it.

[@leonleon2021]

Remember that someone back in 2020 said "it was just a flu"?

[@hgfhfghfghfg755]

yup

[@InfinityHS]

Tried calling it a hoax too and even tried saying he didn’t say that.

[@LoudMime]

The first time I knew about Hart Island was a depiction of it in Pose FX. It was such a heavt scene to watch because of all the loneliness and pain

[@Physicsope875]

Thanks vox team for such detailed research!!

[@Bmanritchie]

OF COURSE it can be changed. 1-Make every burial a natural grave 2- Plot a couple trees per person 3-Name those trees according to person buried underneath 4-Rename the island in place for the largest ‘human forest’ in the world

[@JD-jz5rr]

Fun Fact: *The cremation rate in the United States has been increasing steadily with the national average cremation rate rising from 3.56% in 1960 to 53.1% in 2018* ~ The cremation rate in Canada has been increasing steadily with the national average rate rising from 5.9% in 1970 to 68.4% in 2009.~ ~ Cremation rates in the Nordic European countries vary from Norway's 36% to Finland's 51%, Sweden's 70% and Denmark's 76%. In all countries the cremation rate in large towns is generally between 70% and 90%.~ ~ Cremation remains a minority practice in rural France where burial places are available, but is increasingly common in urban areas. In 1979 just 1% of funerals involved cremation: in 2012 it was 32%, rising to 45% in Paris.~ ~ Similar trend is happening in UK, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand.

[@JD-jz5rr]

*The patented Living Urn is America's first and leading bio urn & planting system designed to grow a beautiful, enduring memory tree, plant, or flowers with cremated ashes!* ~ The patented Living Urn is complex in its design, but simple and easy to use. Place your loved one's cremated ashes in the BioUrn and add the proprietary RootProtect additive on top. Next, lower the roots of the young tree into the special BioUrn, add the premium growth mix, and plant it in the ground. A beautiful, enduring living memorial will then grow up from the urn and the cremated ashes to keep your loved one's memory present in your life!

[@JD-jz5rr]

In 1998, the Singapore government announced a policy to limit the burial period to 15 years. Bodies are then dug up and either cremated or interred in small plots to save space in the case of Muslims and other groups whose religions require burials. ~ ~ Singapore's environment agency says most people are choosing cremation over burial, with the proportion rising from 66 percent in 1992 to 80 percent in 2011. ~ ~ Ang Jolie, funeral director at Ang Yew Seng Funeral Parlour, said the need to remove the body after 15 years is the main reason why many of her customers opt for cremation.~ ~ Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex is the only cemetery in Singapore still accepting burials. On 1 November 1998, the NEA implemented a policy to limit the burial period of all graves to 15 years, due to a shortage of space in the cemeteries. After being buried for 15 years, graves are exhumed and the remains removed. If the religion of the deceased permits cremation, the exhumed remains are cremated and stored in government columbaria niches; otherwise, the remains are re-buried in smaller individual plots. ~ In the days of British rule, the number of Chinese burial grounds in Singapore increased very rapidly and the colonial government had little power to control burial spaces because it did not possess sanctions of sufficient strength. ~ *The local authorities began to view these cemeteries as hazardous sources of disease-causing vectors such as mosquitoes, as well as a form of land waste.* There were urgent demands on space in land-scarce Singapore in the name of national development. In the words of E. W. Barker, then the minister for law, environment, science and technology, "The needs of Singapore's young population must require the use of sterilised land, for the economic and social good of all citizens of Singapore." ~ In the 1965 Master Plan, which was designed to guide land-use development in Singapore, cemeteries were identified as land "considered available for development", and cremation was mooted as a viable option to deal with the exhumed bodies from these burial grounds, and as a way to dispose of people who died. To encourage the population to adopt this relatively new way of treating the dead, the state employed the help of "funerary middlemen" who could erode the distrust of cremation because they were respected for their knowledge of death rites and disposal. ~ *In addition, the rallying cries of national development, the common good, and the country's future were used to encourage the populace to take up the idea of cremation and to abandon their insistence of traditional burial grounds.* ~ In 1972, the state made it clear that it would close all cemeteries near and around the city area to "conserve land". ~ As an alternative means of managing the disposal of the dead, the state offered burial space at a state-owned public cemetery complex at Choa Chu Kang, *although it made it clear that it considered cremation as the only viable long-term option.*

[@joshh.2159]

I've been within a 100' of there because they won't let you on the island in its real creepy, like really creepy. Building falling apart, just the history of how many different uses it had, now its just basically a cemetery there's like billions of bodies buried on this little tiny island it's just haunting

[@wiltedflower2545]

These people seem to be eradicated at the size of their tomb from the community, but, some of them are still not forgotten to be buried at the core of their loved ones' hearth.

[@Paco1337]

All fun and games until water level goes up and bodies start floating around

[@DiamondCalibre]

Man, a cities' police department being one of the causes of a problem a city is facing? I'm absolutely shocked. /s

[@Tkkalas]

Very good video! Love when you guys do local issues like this and international stuff!

[@kimberlysingh5909]

such a well done video, so informative. acknowledging the collective grief would go a long way

[@michaelallmon8424]

Love your videos :)

[@yangfan2440]

the saddest part in life is sometimes when dying alone, and nobody remembers you anymore.

[@petergray2712]

Cremation is neither more efficient nor ecologically friendly. Natural decay burial- where the remains are not infused with a preservative like formaldehyde and is interred in a biodegradable casket- is the best way.

[@adorablegodzilla5628]

Wouldn't it be easier to cremate them and do an a building cemetery like what you'd see in some Asian cities? Also, if the family is found, they can pay to take the urn and that spot can be used for someone else.

[@TheLunoLion1]

That was exactly what I thought. If you have bodies with no relatives & no loved ones, why don't you just cremate them. That's way better.

[@abibnoor]

Rename it to *HEART ISLAND* and build a giant red heart. Like The Bean (Cloud Gate) in Chicago

[@helloworld1457]

That would actually be quite nice

[@cstnfacu]

"How this New York island became a mass grave" I thought you were referring to Manhattan.

[@darealist690]

Isnt Manhattan a burrow of NYC idk I leave in CA

[@TheStig_TG]

@@darealist690 Yes.

[@chesterplemany]

Under Washington Square Park in Manhattan are thousands of bodies buried in a potters field created in 17th century during Dutch settlement period. So yes, Manhattan is a New York island that also became, at one point in its early history, a mass grave.

[@tv0562]

I am a Korean herb farm. I learn a lot from watching videos. I wish you good farming and good health and happiness. 영상잘보고갑니다. 유투브도 승승장구하시길 응원합니다

[@lucacomba]

You did such a great job explaining. Thank you!

[@Jackrobertsch]

this makes me remember how much I preferer cremation than burial at some point we will run out of burial places.

[@10fttall6ftwide]

This was very touching. I hope NY can heal. ♥️🗽

[@claireconover]

They should make hart island park-like (similar to a typical cemetery) and open it up to visitors.

[@MyDNAAStory]

Wow 1 million people... That’s a lot

[@temlee7865]

Yeah so sad! By the way your DNA 🧬🧬🧬 Videos are great man

[@cleo6485]

@@temlee7865 DNA??? Huh???

[@dailybrother9180]

yeah seriously i didn't think that many people were buried there

[@WesleyMarsh9758]

I lived in NYC my whole life and have literally never of this island before. Very informative Vox

[@jasonyang7842]

I would rather let mushrooms decompose my body naturally. Returning my body back to the earth.

[@dzakiassuhud1825]

Vox could you make a video about Myanmar and what international world could do to help them?

[@novabxnynova5381]

Great video, lived in nyc for 20 years and never heard of hart island. As a nyc unión carpenter I’ve worked at Roosevelt and randles island and knew a little history from both their past, but didn’t know what nyc currently does with bodies now. The cemetery’s now are super full and people pay outrageous prices for a plot. Glad to see there is somewhere else for these people.

[@srfurley]

Lived in London, England all of my 66 years. I have heard of Hart Island and have Melinda’s book, it took about a month to get it from Amazon. I have never been to the island, but have looked over to it from City Island on a visit to New York about fifteen years ago. Hope it becomes easier for people to visit the island in future.

[@nooneinparticular9837]

Very moving. Thank you.

[@karad4193]

I learned a out this island from the Michael Douglas & Brittany Murphy movie called Don't Say a Word. It was really haunting and I never forgot it. I'm so glad to hear that NYC is fixing it up properly. Maybe one day I'll get there to see it.

[@aleztj]

It reminded me about the movie called "The Saint Of Fort Washington" starring Danny Glover and Matt Dillon,. It photographs the reality and makes further sense of this episode. Thanks for sharing as always love your publications.

[@sanketpatel5137]

Imagine someone after 1000 years dig here

[@drdurianz328]

They'd think it's a secret homocide

[@zihadsultan4492]

Another quality vid from vox, you guys rocks

[@ikeyshuster9801]

I love this kind of content

[@Randy_Butternubs]

Americans think of cemeteries and burial grounds too taboo. It's sad.

[@HI-jm2ij]

I think it’s because it’s for people who bodies were unclaimed

[@AuroraWolf655]

Hart island kinda embodies the new American ideals, where those who have power are remembered, and those who have little to nothing are forgotten (especially minorities)

[@AbsolXGuardian]

Heart breaking that they'll only let family members recognized by law claim someone's body. Roderick clearly left paperwork indicating that he saw Anitta as his next of kin, even if he didn't have the knowledge to realize that he should have had her made legally his next of kin. (I don't know if New York inherently has fees for this one. If it does, that's another systemic barrier reinforcing traditional family structures). Something for everyone to think about. Who is your legal next of kin? Do you have one? Would you trust them to make medical decisions while you're unconscious, arrange your funeral, or raise your kids?

[@realestateinvestmentsworldwide]

I think I might get buried on hart island to stand for all those that were forgotten ❤️

[@bisimedia]

Vox, you guys are amazing.

[@johnkon2810]

This would be wonderful to fix at some point. That said... Hart Island has to be tabled & sent to the back of the list. There are far more important things we need to be worried about at this minute in time.

[@Dr-UnBox]

Great video👍👍

[@danielharmon15]

Thank you Pose s2X1

[@lolamclemente]

yes!

[@DanzaMissBanana]

Never knew any of this. Very intriguing and sad info!

[@Kai.onionex]

😢 so sad!!!!!!

[@MrDingo-lo7zs]

Vox is awesome 👏🏼

[@Anjushree]

Isn't this like the perfect trope for a thriller/fantasy/horror story? Waiting for someone to use it...

[@rooftoprumble7845]

Can you make a video on what's going on in Northern Ireland please would be an interesting subject

[@Happy_Shopper]

This really made me care. Thank you

[@GiantPetRat]

The fact that families regularly go into debt because they have to bury a loved one continues to baffle and outrage me to this day.