Portfolio Assignment
SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed
Student Number:
Date: 02/10/2018
Teaching Assistant Name: Prof Eccles
Declaration:
By submitting this portfolio, I implicitly declare that this is my own work except for the
“Introduction” which was kindly written for me by my lecturer.
I am aware that if ANY unacknowledged copying is detected in ANY answer, I will get 0 (zero)
for the entire assignment.
Introduction
My aim in compiling this portfolio was to reflect on the things that have struck me throughout
this crazy module.
My starting point for doing this was to revisit my opinions to the multiple choice questions
which were presented in the Crossroads assignment. I present these current opinions, together
with my original opinions, and some brief notes in the section entitled: “Back at the
Crossroads!”
Once I have done this, I draw some key conclusions about this crazy module and about the
things that did indeed strike me.
, Back at the Crossroads!
1. “The assets of the three richest people in the world match the combined annual GDP’s of the 48
poorest countries.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by:
a. Good for them – they worked hard to get their wealth
b. The only problem I have with this is that this money is in their bank account and not in mine
c. No problem with this – many of these people give huge amounts to charities
d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to have that much money
e. I think that active steps should be taken to correct such immoral wealth imbalances
Choice now: e
Choice in assignment 1: e
Notes: I still feel that the active steps must be taken to correct inequality regarding wealth imbalances,
even though they legally attained the assets and wealth, it should be carefully investigated to ensure
steep taxation is applied to their income. If steep taxation is applied – they will not “miss” any monetary
value of their money, because they have so many – but it can then be equally distributed in the poor
countries (48) as stated above.
2. “Unless fossil-fuel use slows dramatically, the earth’s average temperature could rise by six degrees
Celsius in the next 100 years.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by:
a. Who cares?
b. I don’t believe this climate change nonsense
c. Six degrees will make winters much more bearable to me personally
d. I’m a bit concerned about this, but there is nothing that I can do about it
e. I’m a bit concerned about this, but why should I invest my personal time, effort or money in
solving a general social problem
f. I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good
Choice now: f
Choice in assignment 1: f
Notes: As indicated, my choice has not changed because my morals have not changed – Keeping this in
mind, we should all strive to resolve this future facing issue because it is affecting our living
environment, alternate means of transportation should be considered, regulations regarding the use of
fossil-fuel as well as fossil-fuel equipment usage should be tightly regulated and penalties should apply
for the disregarding of these regulations should be applied to the ignorant parties. By doing this, we
would have minimal use of fossil-fuel, if motor companies were to be penalized severely, they will most
definitely find a way to cater for the vehicle market in such way which will not affect / use of fossil fuel
whatsoever.
SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed
Student Number:
Date: 02/10/2018
Teaching Assistant Name: Prof Eccles
Declaration:
By submitting this portfolio, I implicitly declare that this is my own work except for the
“Introduction” which was kindly written for me by my lecturer.
I am aware that if ANY unacknowledged copying is detected in ANY answer, I will get 0 (zero)
for the entire assignment.
Introduction
My aim in compiling this portfolio was to reflect on the things that have struck me throughout
this crazy module.
My starting point for doing this was to revisit my opinions to the multiple choice questions
which were presented in the Crossroads assignment. I present these current opinions, together
with my original opinions, and some brief notes in the section entitled: “Back at the
Crossroads!”
Once I have done this, I draw some key conclusions about this crazy module and about the
things that did indeed strike me.
, Back at the Crossroads!
1. “The assets of the three richest people in the world match the combined annual GDP’s of the 48
poorest countries.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by:
a. Good for them – they worked hard to get their wealth
b. The only problem I have with this is that this money is in their bank account and not in mine
c. No problem with this – many of these people give huge amounts to charities
d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to have that much money
e. I think that active steps should be taken to correct such immoral wealth imbalances
Choice now: e
Choice in assignment 1: e
Notes: I still feel that the active steps must be taken to correct inequality regarding wealth imbalances,
even though they legally attained the assets and wealth, it should be carefully investigated to ensure
steep taxation is applied to their income. If steep taxation is applied – they will not “miss” any monetary
value of their money, because they have so many – but it can then be equally distributed in the poor
countries (48) as stated above.
2. “Unless fossil-fuel use slows dramatically, the earth’s average temperature could rise by six degrees
Celsius in the next 100 years.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by:
a. Who cares?
b. I don’t believe this climate change nonsense
c. Six degrees will make winters much more bearable to me personally
d. I’m a bit concerned about this, but there is nothing that I can do about it
e. I’m a bit concerned about this, but why should I invest my personal time, effort or money in
solving a general social problem
f. I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good
Choice now: f
Choice in assignment 1: f
Notes: As indicated, my choice has not changed because my morals have not changed – Keeping this in
mind, we should all strive to resolve this future facing issue because it is affecting our living
environment, alternate means of transportation should be considered, regulations regarding the use of
fossil-fuel as well as fossil-fuel equipment usage should be tightly regulated and penalties should apply
for the disregarding of these regulations should be applied to the ignorant parties. By doing this, we
would have minimal use of fossil-fuel, if motor companies were to be penalized severely, they will most
definitely find a way to cater for the vehicle market in such way which will not affect / use of fossil fuel
whatsoever.
