Climate change will accelerate death for many, let's talk about it

Death is something we all have to confront, understand and deal with, eventually,  and yet for many its arrival will be accelerated unless significant societal changes are made to address and slow the advance of Death 

Cake is a staple at the Death Cafe.

Many compartmentalise death and avoid discussing it arguing that any familiarity with this once-in-a-lifetime event will bring it on quicker. That's false!

Death can be likened to climate change  as both appear such prickly problems, without a solution, that people will simply not go there.

Dearth will be the topic this Saturday for a discussion in Shepparton’s Maude St Mall. 

Shepparton’s first Death Cafe movement next Saturday.

The city's first Death Cafe will be held in the Maude St Mall at 10:30am.

Death Cafes began in London in 2011 using model developed by Jon Underwood and Sue Barsky Reid, based on the ideas of Bernard Crettaz, they spread quickly across Europe, North America and Australasia. 

Shepparton’s Robert McLean has initiated the city’s first Death Cafe and quotes the movement in saying: “Our objective is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." 

He said those at a Death Cafe, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. 

A Death Cafe is a group discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. 

Enjoy a cup of tea and
talk about death.

Mr McLean said, ”It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.”

The first Death Cafe will, interestingly, not be held in an actual cafe as Mr McLean was uncomfortable about suggesting the idea to any local venues fearing their cafe might then become known as the “Death Cafe”.

Subsequently, he has opted for a neutral venue, the Maude St Mall, and that will be something like a “picnic in the park” - that is people bring their own cakes, tea, coffee and chairs, and of course, Mr McLean said, “Their thoughts about death.”

Those with questions about the Death Cafe can phone Mr McLean 0400 502 199 and more details about the Death Cafe movement can be found at Death Cafe.