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The city of the living or the dead: On the ethics and morality of land use for graveyards in a rapidly urbanised world

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  • Allam, Zaheer

Abstract

Different religious practices sport varying beliefs and principles regarding death, but many of them converge towards the burying of the dead to help in the ascent towards a peaceful afterlife. As documented in various anthropological works, this practice has been perpetrated in the Anthropocene, but is primarily dictated by religious grounds; which is a driver of sociological mannerism through psychological means. However, as the world witnesses unparalleled demographic growth, coupled with a proportional urbanisation rate, land space is becoming scarce; hence leading to a surge in property prices which drives housing unaffordability and societal inequity; which ultimately impacts on liveability levels and economic growth. This paper explores the case of the city of Queens in New York and dwells in, through a review of literature, the contemporary discourse in ethics and morality as to the question of who is more important to be housed, the living or the dead, in contrast to contemporary issues of rising importance regarding urbanisation relating to land scarcity, gentrification, and housing unaffordability.

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  • Allam, Zaheer, 2019. "The city of the living or the dead: On the ethics and morality of land use for graveyards in a rapidly urbanised world," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:87:y:2019:i:c:s0264837719302509
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104037
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    1. Bui Thi Dieu Hien & Mai Thi Xuan Ngan & Tran Minh Hoan, 2024. "Improving the Efficiency of Ground Clearance for Cemetery Land and Cemeteries in Nhon Hoi Economic Area, Binh Dinh Province, Case Study of the Southwest Urban Area Project in Nhon Ly Commune," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3), pages 2284-2293, March.
    2. Komang Adi Kurniawan Saputra & Daniel T. H. Manurung & Lia Rachmawati & Eka Siskawati & Franklin Kharisma Genta, 2021. "Combining the Concept of Green Accounting with the Regulation of Prohibition of Disposable Plastic Use," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(4), pages 84-90.
    3. Anna Myślińska & Jakub Szczepański & Witold Dłubakowski, 2021. "The Impact of Decommissioning Cemeteries on the Urban Ecosystem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-13, August.

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