There are usually two sides to every story. The Sunday coverage of the paper industry in Brazil (Oct. 22) is one of those.

I lived in Brazil long enough to know about the social, economic and environmental consequences of the eucalyptus industry. There is no doubt the paper and lumber corporations are getting rich, but at whose expense? I have seen small farmers intimidated to sell their land. Those who refused were simply encircled by eucalyptus trees that soon drained all the underground water, and the farmers consequently lost their crops. The smell might “mean money” as one article said, but what does it mean for the health of the people and animals? Even birds never come near these trees.

Of course the multinationals gave the reporters a nice visit, and the Brazilian people are friendly and hospitable. However in a third-world country with such economic difficulties, the landless farmers of the area have no choice but to work for whatever salary they can get. Knowing the Brazilian reality well, I question how many paper industry workers earn good salaries with vacations, health insurance, child care and paid holidays. Maybe some of the top supervisors do, but I doubt it is widespread.

If the two reporters would have spoken Portuguese and had been free to really check out the full story, we would all know the other side of the story.

Claire Lepage, Lewiston