Ebook readers more environmentally friendly than paper books ?

Are ebook readers (such as Kindle, Sony e-reader...) more environmentally friendly than paper books ?
Apparently yes, according to a CleanTech life-cycle analysis report which indicates that, on average, the carbon emitted in the lifecycle of a Kindle is fully offset after the first year of use.
http://cleantech.com/news/4867/cleantech-group-finds-positive-envi
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10320334-54.html
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/why-the-kindle-is-good-for-the-planet/

The corruption is inherent in the system : Senate votes against eliminating $ 21 billion in taxpayer handouts for BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil,and Shell

Americans, your senators are not representing your interests, but those of big oil multinationals.

A Center for American Progress Action Fund analysis found that:

Each senator who voted for Big Oil [on May 17] received on average more than four times as much [money from oil interests] as those who voted to end the subsidies.

Despite the fact that around 3/4 of the population are against such subsidies (a recent Wall Street Journal poll found that 74 percent of voters support erasing oil company tax breaks).

See full article here : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/climateprogress/lCrX/~3/lnawTU5lsjE/

Amazon vs other online bookshops

Amazon has the advantage of being cheap and reliable, but perhaps not the most ethical of companies...
http://www.word-power.co.uk/viewPlatform.php?id=580
This independent Scottish book shop - http://www.word-power.co.uk/ - has some interesting articles too :
http://www.word-power.co.uk/viewPlatform.php?id=583

I also sometime use :
http://www.pickabook.co.uk/ (free UK delivery for orders over £15)
or
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/?a_aid=ajcairns (UK) or http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=ajjcairns (US) (free worldwide delivery to over 90 countries)
or ebay for 2nd hand books.

From a sustainable development point of view, your local library is the best bet. (Plus lending to / borrowing from friends).