Big Loss For Planet Earth
On November 5, 2000, David Brower died at his home in Berkeley, California. He was a great man, and we have all lost something for his passing.

David was "the" elder statesman of the environmental movement. Outspoken founder of Friends of the Earth and Earth Island Institute, he was inspirational to his allies and enemies alike. The Earth Island Institute has done a great job of memorializing his life at their web site www.earthisland.org/brower

David was a friend to kenaf. Gar Smith, the editor of the Earth Island Journal, relates how David described the kenaf tree-free paper concept. "This is important, d*mmit!" David demonstrated the importance when it came time to publish "Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run." He insisted

it be printed on 100% kenaf tree-fee paper. In fact, both the hardcover edition, and the recently reprinted paperback edition were done on 100% kenaf tree-free paper!

The Japanese translation of, "Let The Mountains Talk, Let The Rivers Run" was delivered to him 10 days before he died. It was a big achievement. Special thanks go out to the translator, Professor Kazuhiko Sameshima of Kochi University in Japan, and for the support of David's co-author Steve Chapple. David was very pleased to know that his words were so highly regarded in Japan.

As David Brower said, kenaf is important. Here are some reasons why:

Saves Trees:
Every ton of kenaf used to make paper saves one ton of trees.

Uses Less Chemicals and Energy:
Kenaf contains less lignin than wood, so less chemicals and energy are required to turn it into pulp.

Generates Less Pollution:
Since milder chemicals are used to convert kenaf to pulp, and because the chlorine-free bleaching process we use produces no dioxins, less pollution is produced in the conversion of raw fiber to paper.

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