"Not specifically, no, but I was aware that oil spills are generally considered an environmental problem."

So putting it back in the ground is a good thing, right?

swansont, your point and others, is that business pollutes intentionally to save money, reducing the cost to their product or service (productivity). What I'm saying is those savings would be trivial to what the actual cost of bad publicity means to most business and certainly all the majors. Some unfavorable accusation in one small town in Maine, can easily mean lost sales around the world and billions in sales, lost market capitalization and in most cases both....Business's simply don't take the chance and those that have, even if unintended have paid dearly or are gone.

 

Taking a position that depends on it not happening is arguing from a false premise.[/Quote]

 

Nobody is saying human activity doesn't add to our perception of a quality environment, but to plant life, that perception is toxic. Light Bulbs in themselves don't pollute, but in the production of the energy to light the bulbs, some pollution enters the atmosphere, never mind the amount would be the same, if none of the electricity was used from and back to the source.

swansont, your point and others, is that business pollutes intentionally to save money, reducing the cost to their product or service (productivity). What I'm saying is those savings would be trivial to what the actual cost of bad publicity means to most business and certainly all the majors. Some unfavorable accusation in one small town in Maine, can easily mean lost sales around the world and billions in sales, lost market capitalization and in most cases both....Business's simply don't take the chance and those that have, even if unintended have paid dearly or are gone.

 

You are arguing that something that has been documented to happen, doesn't happen. I don't know how to respond to that. It's like saying that nobody would ever attempt to assassinate the president of the US, and simply ignore the long list from Booth and Guiteau to Oswald to Hinckley.