Visit http://brazil.sunjournal.com for more stories and multimedia from Brazil.



Theres something intriguing about seeing how a magic trick is done; discovering how something seemingly impossible is accomplished.


We got a chance to do that recently, and now, so do you.


Maines paper industry has been struggling mightily, but futilely to keep its mills open. To stay alive. Its especially critical to the economy of our area, to the thousands of people families and neighbors affected in one way or another by papermaking in Maine.


The whole domestic industry is in a funk: The net export of U.S. finished paper products dropped 70 percent between 1997 and 2002 from $1.75 billion to $500 million.


So how do you explain Brazil?


Its paper industry is booming. More than $12 billion was invested there between 1993 and 2003; $14 billion more is planned for the next decade. Insiders project 9 percent growth a year. Two new Brazil mills make 2 million tons of pulp a year; Maine mills all together produce 9 million tons.


We wanted to know how they were doing it. How they performed the magic. A foundation that helps newspapers see how global events affect their readers was wowed by our application. They offered financing. We were off to Brazil.


Join us today to see what we found and what it means to Maine. Inside, wrapped with our Living section, is Seeing green, words, photos and graphics showing what we learned about the industry, the country and its people.


And the tree it has up its sleeve.



About the project

Staff: Seeing green was written by staff writer Carol Coultas and photographed by staff photographer Amber Waterman. Other staff included: designer Nick Masuda, editor Mark Mogensen, graphic artist Pete Gorski, photo editor Doug Van Reeth, Webmaster Eric Kaiser and copy editors Keith Hagel and Doug Fletcher.


Time and distance: 10 days and 12,000 miles.


Itinerary: Maine to Boston, to So Paulo, to Mogi Guau, to Curtiba, to Arapoti, and back.


Support: Financed primarily through the International Center for Journalists and the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.