The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a journal on environmental issues.” Over the past year, the Crust Copper Company (CCC) has purchased over 10,000 square miles of land in the tropical nation of West Fredonia. Mining copper on this land will inevitably result in pollution and, since West Fredonia is the home of several endangered animal species, in environmental disaster. But such disasters can be prevented if consumers simply refuse to purchase products that are made with CCC’s copper unless the company abandons its mining plans.”

The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a journal on environmental issues.

“Over the past year, the Crust Copper Company (CCC) has purchased over 10,000 square miles of land in the tropical nation of West Fredonia. Mining copper on this land will inevitably result in pollution and, since West Fredonia is the home of several endangered animal species, in environmental disaster. But such disasters can be prevented if consumers simply refuse to purchase products that are made with CCC’s copper unless the company abandons its mining plans.”

Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

The author states that if consumers refuse to purchase products that use CCC’s copper, the company will abandon its plans. While it is true that pollution and environmental damage are inevitable in any industry, it is equally true that disasters can be prevented through proper and careful environmental regulation. If CCC wishes to continue operating, it needs to comply with environmental regulations. Without such regulations, the company stands to suffer massive fines, imprisonment, or both. While the author is correct that West Fredonia is home to several endangered species, it is equally true that the company’s operations will affect its surroundings. For example, the company might drain large amounts of water from the wetlands and rivers in the area, causing severe droughts. The animals in the area will suffer if the wetlands are dry, and humans will struggle to keep them alive. The animals that rely on those wetlands for food and shelter might go into starvation if the wetlands are dry for long enough. For these reasons, the author’s argument regarding environmental disaster is debatable. CCC must comply with environmental regulations, and the fate of the animals and humans in that area may depend on it.