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Case Study: The Ok Tedi Copper Mine

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The Ok Tedi Copper Mine
Define the main forms of pollution and resource depletion and identify the major problems associated with each form.
The main type of pollution at the Ok Tedi Copper Mine is the discharging of mining waste into the Ok Tedi River in Papua New Guinea. The pollution problem began in 1984 following the collapse of a tailing dam used by the company that was responsible for mining copper and gold at the site. By 2000, more than 90 million tons of mine waste had been released into the river and destroyed tens of villages, farms, rainforests, and fisheries downstream. The mine wastes were deposited along the 620 stretch of the river, leading to great loss of animal life and vegetation. The pollution is regarded as the most destructive environmental disaster. The main type of depletion at the mine is the loss of minerals and other natural resources such as vegetation.
Compare and contrast the views of (a) an ecological ethic, (b) Blackstone's ethic of environmental rights, and (c) a utilitarian ethic of pollution control. Which view seems to you to be the more adequate? Explain your answer.
Ecological ethics states that ecological systems are intrinsically valuable and that they deserve …show more content…

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