"Something to talk about..." Note: Emails are organized in the order received, with first received at the top. *** I have found a nice use for the Forest Facts document. When reduced appropriately, it makes a nice Christmas tree decoration. Seen by all who admire the beauty of the season in one's home. Bill Fuller Federal Way, Washington USA *** Jim: Nice. As Copenhagen evolved, did you notice a very peripheral reference to reforesting tropical forest as an offset? With the opportunity to sell the pollution rights. The deforestation was mostly (I think) caused by poor (both meanings) farmers. I suppose they have moved on due to the thin soil. I'm probably an Uncle Silas. George Mead Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA *** Jim, I read with interest your newsletter and enjoy it each week. I can relate to your current issue and "Uncle Silas" and sad to say I am rapidly approaching the age where I too may begin to ramble on like "he" often did but now that I am living in Finland I'm not sure that many of the people sitting around the dinner table would understand me!!! I like your forest industry facts but have to take exception to one of them. I agree that from an electricity and process heating standpoint most modern pulpmills are energy self-sufficient (and I know of many that actually sell electricity to the local grid) but I am not aware of any mills that are providing energy to the lime kiln from "internal" sources. Unfortunately we have not yet reached the point where we are able to fire the lime kiln (unfortunately the big "energy hog" in the mill) but we are working on ways to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels in this area. In the mean time, we are constantly working on ways to reduce the energy consumption of this beast and one day I am confident that we will be able to provide 100% of the energy requirements of the entire pulp mill from renewable resources. Robert J. Diaz Finland and Roswell, Georgia USA --- Robbie: Many years ago, I was corporate manager of process engineering for a major company. I made regular trips to our mills where process engineers reported to me. On one such trip, to a mill with a couple of large lime kilns, my troops related they had figured out a new use for lime kilns: if you put a human body through a lime kiln, there would be no forensic traces left, as all known elements in the body were already present in the kiln. A new energy source? I don't know, but I made sure I was not alone with these two characters after that! Jim ### Have a comment? Send your email to jthompson@taii.com. Unless you tell us otherwise, we will assume we can use your name if we publish your letter.