The Editor,

Thanks for your article ["Slinging mud to save the trees", Phnom Penh

Post, March 7-20, 1997]. It appears to be useful for promoting the work here. I would

like you to make the following corrections, though:

1. The Battambang social center that is being built with these mud techniques belongs

   to the Khmer Foundation for Peace, Justice and Development, a local NGO. The Japanese

   organization Arigato Aino Kai contributed to the building.

2. The main technique of earth-building in Yemen is "Bauge" (molded mud

   in plastic-solid state), with complete cities of multi-story buildings without iron

   or concrete.

3. The Troglodyte process is commonly used in various countries.
4. Vaulted ceilings do need a drainage system, of course. The additional advantage

   of a vaulted ceiling is the pre-sloped shape of the structure. It can be used as

   direct support for the roofing material, saving a lot of wood. And roofing tiles

   can be produced directly on site,with or without cooking.

Thank you for making these corrections, as some of your readers might have been

confused. For more details on the topic, and others, the technical training center

in Battambang will open soon. You are welcome.

- Thierry David, Architect DPLG Hiscal Battambang.