Uprooting graves:

[Iain...]

Malta is in the EU and "grave cleaning" goes on regularly here.  They are running out of space and we don't yet have a crematorium on the island  Our graves are a little different in that there is no soil covering the coffins.  They are sealed with cement and covered with marble.  The graves are like small rooms and I believe, although I haven't seen it myself, that its possible to see the remains from previous burials.  When a grave is "cleaned" more space is made for new burials.  If it is a public grave any remains are removed to an ossuary at the cemetery, if its a private grave I think they remain in the grave but are moved to another area within the grave.  I don't think I grave can be re-opened for two years even if another death occurs in the family.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101202/letters/death-and-indignity-at-addolorata-cemetery.338834

Luzzu  

Luzzu... that's amazing !

[Redroger]

Malta is in the EU and "grave cleaning" goes on regularly here.  They are running out of space and we don't yet have a crematorium on the island  Our graves are a little different in that there is no soil covering the coffins.  They are sealed with cement and covered with marble.  The graves are like small rooms and I believe, although I haven't seen it myself, that its possible to see the remains from previous burials.  When a grave is "cleaned" more space is made for new burials.  If it is a public grave any remains are removed to an ossuary at the cemetery, if its a private grave I think they remain in the grave but are moved to another area within the grave.  I don't think I grave can be re-opened for two years even if another death occurs in the family.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101202/letters/death-and-indignity-at-addolorata-cemetery.338834

Luzzu  

Luzzu... that's amazing !

Much the same thing happens in places where land is at a premium for use by the living, at its root is the problem of finding space for 7 billion people to live, but that's another story.

[Luzzu]

Malta is in the EU and "grave cleaning" goes on regularly here.  They are running out of space and we don't yet have a crematorium on the island  Our graves are a little different in that there is no soil covering the coffins.  They are sealed with cement and covered with marble.  The graves are like small rooms and I believe, although I haven't seen it myself, that its possible to see the remains from previous burials.  When a grave is "cleaned" more space is made for new burials.  If it is a public grave any remains are removed to an ossuary at the cemetery, if its a private grave I think they remain in the grave but are moved to another area within the grave.  I don't think I grave can be re-opened for two years even if another death occurs in the family.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101202/letters/death-and-indignity-at-addolorata-cemetery.338834

Luzzu 

Luzzu... that's amazing !

I was both shocked and amazed at the same time when I attended a burial for the first time.  The sooner they introduce cremation in Malta, the better.  I think even that is going to be an up hill struggle considering the letter I've just read in today's newspaper:-

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111031/letters/Burial-versus-cremation-1-.391519

Luzzu

[Nick29]

Much the same thing happens in places where land is at a premium for use by the living, at its root is the problem of finding space for 7 billion people to live, but that's another story.

A good question for a pub quiz - "Which country has the highest birth rate (as a %) ?"

Most people will say China.  The correct answer is Niger.

[Redroger]

I was both shocked and amazed at the same time when I attended a burial for the first time.  The sooner they introduce cremation in Malta, the better.  I think even that is going to be an up hill struggle considering the letter I've just read in today's newspaper:-

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111031/letters/Burial-versus-cremation-1-.391519

Sooner these people realise that death is for ever the better in my opinion.