Industry Event - One of Nigeria's richest men is set to be buried in Saudi Arabia [1]

End-of-Life Care Challenges - The industry faces a significant gap between the desire for documented end-of-life wishes (96%) and the actual completion of advanced care directives (17%) [2] - Approximately 60% of Canadians died in hospitals in 2022, highlighting the medicalization of death [4] - Current systems, institutions, and cultural norms contribute to a lack of death literacy, shielding individuals from the realities of death and dying [10] - Hospital environments often amplify stress for grieving families, underscoring the need for spaces designed for grief and ritual [13][14] Redesigning End-of-Life Care - The industry needs to shift from fearing death to embracing it through open conversations and acceptance [12] - Redesigning hospital experiences with community kitchens, sunlight, and family spaces can provide acts of care during difficult moments [16] - End-of-life care should prioritize dignity, autonomy, compassionate communication, and spiritual/emotional support [21][22] - Integrating artists and music therapists can bring creativity and meaning to the dying process and aid in grief processing [23][24] Future of End-of-Life Care - The industry should recognize that end-of-life care extends beyond hospitals and healthcare systems, requiring community involvement [24] - Future models should incorporate grief workers, social support, and death doulas, shifting the focus from individual patients to include their families, communities, and spirits [25] - Calls to action include talking about death early and often, designing care with dignity and beauty, planning for individualized care, and bringing community back into dying [26][27][28]

Core Message - The presentation explores diverse cultural perspectives on death and remembrance, emphasizing the importance of honoring life and legacies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] - The narrative highlights personal loss and a journey of discovery to understand the meaning of death across different cultures [1][5][6][12][22] - The presentation advocates for a shift in perspective towards celebrating life and creating meaningful experiences, even in the face of death [2][4][8][19][20][21][23] Cultural Practices & Rituals - The presentation showcases unique funeral customs, such as fantasy coffins in Ghana, which reflect the deceased's life or aspirations [3][4] - The presentation describes Día de los Muertos in Mexico, where families welcome back the spirits of their ancestors with altars and celebrations [6][7][8] - The presentation illustrates cremation practices in Varanasi, India, where the burning of bodies is believed to bring liberation [9][10] - The presentation mentions Ethiopian Orthodox Christian celebrations of Ganna Christmas and Fasika Easter, symbolizing resurrection and life beyond death [11][12] Personal Reflection & Impact - The presentation shares the speaker's personal experience with the death of their father and how it shaped their understanding of death [1][22] - The presentation discusses volunteering at a hospital in Berlin, taking photos of stillborn babies as a gift for the parents [12][13][14][15] - The presentation emphasizes the importance of owning one's story and leaving a lasting impact on others [20][23] Key Takeaway - The presentation encourages the audience to reflect on their own mortality and consider how they want to be remembered [20][21]

Who is afraid that AI is going to destroy human civilization. Now, don't be shy. It can't see you right now.Who knows someone who is afraid that AI is going to destroy human civilization. Who is afraid of dying. In a black box, AI and death share a room.What's inside this black box. We don't know. In a 2023 New York Times column, Ezra Klene wrote about AI.We do not understand these systems, and it's not clear we even can. I am an artist dealing in embodiment and livveness. As such, I have taken AI and death ...