The book, published by Virgin Books, was launched at Achins Bookshop, Inverkirkaig, on Tuesday evening, when Mandy gave a reading, signed copies, and give a slideshow of pictures from the global journey she undertook to research the book.

In 2006 Mandy travelled overland from her home in Assynt through Finland, Russia, China, Vietnam and down through South-East Asia to Sumatra, Indonesia, and then continued around the globe to the USA and Canada before returning to Scotland. The purpose of the journey was to discover where all the paper we use comes from, where the contents of the paper recycling bin go, and what happens in between.

Mandy said: "It was an amazing journey. I visited forests, witnessed illegal and industrial logging, toured pulp mills and paper factories and met many inspiring people who explained the environmental and social impacts of paper manufacture and what we can all do to reduce them."

She added: "Most people think of paper as a harmless, natural product, but in fact the paper industry causes three times as much climate change emissions as aviation, uses more water than any other industrial product as well as threatening forests and human rights in some producer countries.

"Fortunately there is a lot that we can all do, like recycling and reducing junk mail, to lessen our paper footprints."

The book has been described by a leading paper industry professional as profoundly important, and it left one reviewer "with a satisfying sense of empowerment that you can crack your paper addiction".

Mandy now co-ordinates a network of environmental activists around Europe who are working to limit the worst effects of the pulp and paper industry.

This is the third book from Mandy in just over a year. Her poetry collection, Castings, was published by Two Ravens Press in 2007. Her first novel, The Last Bear, was published by Two Ravens Press earlier this year.

"It's like number seven buses," she said. "I've been writing away for years with no sign of a book, and now three have come along at once!"

Paper Trails: From Trees to Trash – The True Cost of Paper, by Mandy Haggith (ISBN: 9780753513293) is available from all good bookshops, direct from the author or from the publisher at virginbooks.com

A video trailer for the book can be seen below

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---