Summary

Modern societies depend on both renewable resources like wood and fish and crops and non-renewable resources like oil and metals. Logging, mining and fishing are among the largest industries in the world. Big business is most often blamed by environmentalists for damaging the environment for the sake of profit. Corporations believe that environmentalists have narrow views of their processes.

The hardrock mining industry is the leading toxic polluter in the United States. Mines pollute water with toxic chemicals and ores. Mines also use giant shares of local fresh water supplies. The disposal of debris including waste rock is also a problem. Depending on local laws, the debris is dumped into a river or ocean, piled up on land or piled up behind a dam. Tailings dams are generally poorly constructed and often burst sending the...