SUS1501_ Portfolio Assignment_9

SUS1501_ Portfolio Assignment_9. SUS1501 - Sustainability And Greed. 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: If we put on our “veil of ignorance” there are millions living in poverty without food, water and shelter in comparison to three of the richest people in the world is unjustifiable. Correct steps whereby all, irrespective whether rich or poor must have access to basic human rights and equal opportunities will need to come into effect to correct such immoral wealth balances. 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: “6 degrees” may sound like a small figure however we need to look at the greater good of humanity and not just one’s self. Over-utilizing fossil fuels affects earth’s ecological footprint and the planet will remain unsustainable for future generations therefore individually, we need to assist. 3. “If the present growth trends in world population, industrialization, pollution, food production, and resource depletion continue unchanged, the limits to growth on this planet will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years. The most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. I don’t believe this tale of doom. b. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast, but I don’t think this is a problem as there is plenty of time to find technological solutions to problems that emerge c. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth. d. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is for rich people to reduce their consumption significantly. e. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority is for poor people to not have more kids than they can afford. f. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. And frankly I don’t see any solution because increasing consumption is the basis of our economic growth. Choice now: C Choice in assignment 1: C Notes: As it stands, our current lifestyles has made our planet unsustainable, our resources are unable to meet our needs. It is important for everyone to be educated on family planning in an effort to reduce the population growth. There will be less people and we will eventually be able to ensure that our resources are adequately used. 4. “If arctic ice melting continues, we are likely to see the loss of two thirds of the world's polar bear population within 50 years.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Who cares? b. If it boils down to choosing between driving a luxury SUV and worrying about polar bears I’ll take the car any day. c. While this is sad, polar bears aren’t really very important to my personal welfare which is my primary concern. d. While this is sad, polar bears aren’t really very important to general human social welfare. e. I don’t think polar bears are all that important to human welfare. However, their plight is a symptom of climate change which is a big problem to future human welfare. f. I think it is morally unacceptable for humans to put their interests ahead of the rights of other species like polar bears. Choice now: F Choice in assignment 1: E Notes: My choice has changed as we need to consider the intrinsic value of polar bears and it is their God given right to live. Humans are the cause of the pollution affection the climate change and therefore it is morally right and ethical for us to ensure that the polar bear population is preserved. 5. “Let’s imagine you find out that some students get together, buy good assignments from previous years and use them, taking care to not use the same example twice on one group site and making sure the name of the original author is replaced by their own.” My personal opinion about this practice is most closely described by: a. I have heard that Unisa might be using sophisticated plagiarism detecting software like Turnitin and, if this is the case, the chances of getting caught are just too great. I don't want to get into trouble. b. Not only will I participate, I am going to be the one who sells assignments next year for cash. c. I am not sure what the rules say but if this is against the rules I won’t do it. d. I am not sure what the right thing to do here is or what is expected of me now that I know this? e. This is another example of how unfair life is. Now students get marks undeservedly. f. Someone needs to report this because it is intellectual fraud, and that someone is going to be me. Choice now: F Choice in assignment 1: F Notes:I will not hesitate to report such dishonesty and fraud. People need to learn to be responsible and held accountable for their actions and own up to their unethical behavior. 6. "#FeesMustFall" My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. I don’t really care about this so long as no-one tries to disrupt my studies. b. If these people want education let them earn the money to pay for it like me. c. Education is everyone’s right, not just the right of the rich. d. Education for everyone is in the interests of the whole country and so it should be fully funded by the state. e. #FeesMustFall – see you on the streets Comrades!!!!!! Choice now: C Choice in assignment 1: D Notes: My choice has changed as I immediately think of Rawl’s permissible inequality. ‘Education is the key to the future, the key to success.” If only the rich have access to this, then the poor will never have a chance to remove themselves from a life of poverty. The poor and the rich should have equal access to education. 7. “Every day some 20,000 children die prematurely from poverty related causes, mostly treatable diseases.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Who cares? b. It’s hard to say it, but given the rising human population, perhaps this is a blessing in disguise for the human species as a whole c. It’s hard to say it, but this just means less people competing with me for scarce opportunities and resources. d. This is morally wrong, but practically, I think that it would cost too much money to solve e. It is morally unacceptable for a single child to die of a preventable disease and we should collectively fix this irrespective of the cost. Choice now: E Choice in assignment 1: E Notes: Firstly no child asks to be born, therefore we do not have the right to decide allowing them to die will reduce the human population growth. The very thought of this is wrong. There should be more funding allocated by the state for more clinics to be built in these poverty stricken areas supported by trained staff and adequate medication. More importantly, these families should be educated on family planning in an effort to reduce population growth by having smaller family sizes. 8. “The business of business is to increase profits for shareholders” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. This is how it is AND how it should be b. This is how it should be. Unfortunately in reality businesses have become distracted by social and environmental issues c. This is how it should be. Unfortunately governments have been messing around with business and have imposed all sorts of unnecessary social and environmental responsibilities d. This is how it should be, so long as there are strong legal frameworks in place to ensure that this doesn’t lead to negative social and environmental consequences e. Unfortunately this is how it is. Ideally business should have a much wider set of responsibilities, including both social and environmental responsibilities. f. This narrow view on the responsibility of business is incorrect and went out of fashion in mainstream business years ago. Choice now: D Choice in assignment 1: D Notes: When an entrepreneur makes the decision to take on the risk to start a business, the main intention is to make a profit and they should run their businesses in a legal and responsible manner that does not affect society or the environment. 9. “The world population is 7 billion. 4 billion live in poverty” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Who cares? b. If population growth rates of the poor were not so high they wouldn’t be so poor. c. This is sad but there is not much I can do about it. d. This is sad, but to be honest, it is not going to stop me from focusing on my own wellbeing first. e. I think that individually we can and should strive to eliminate poverty. Choice now: E Choice in assignment 1: E Notes: More than half the population living below the poverty line is unfair. There is clearly an imbalance of wealth in this world. Taking steps and getting involved in reducing poverty is the only way for the greater good of humanity, the utilitarian approach. 10. “Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Absolutely – any threats to the free market must be squashed b. Yes – capitalism is how we create wealth, but the markets must still be managed a little c. I’m not sure about this – I think that it might be time to consider some sort of different economic system d. No – the market needs to be extensively managed to ensure that the wealth that is created is good wealth rather than bad wealth e. Rubbish – capitalism creates monstrous wealth for a few and abject poverty for many. We need a much more equitable economic system Choice now: E Choice in assignment 1: E Notes: The very definition of capitalism is private businesses owning the trade and industry making profits. The rich will become richer and the poor will remain poor. There is no benefit to the greater of humanity. 11. “In 2010, Whitey Basson the CEO of Shoprite earned ZAR 620,000,000.00.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Good for him – he worked hard to earn this b. The only problem I have with this is that this money is in Basson’s bank account and not in mine c. No problem with this. I'm sure Basson donates huge amounts to charities d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to earn that much money e. I think that active steps should be taken to correct such immoral executive remuneration practices Choice now: E Choice in assignment 1: E Notes: It’s been proven in Kant’s universal law that it is unconditionally not the right thing to do as it does not benefit the world population but only one man. This is just pure greed for someone to earn so much of money where more than half the world population live in poverty. This is an excessive desire for wealth. 12. “It is estimated that humans are consuming natural resource at a rate that is 30% above the renewal rate. If we continue to consume in this way we are likely to suffer dire consequences which could include extinction.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast, but I don’t think this is a problem as there is plenty of time to find technological solutions to problems that emerge b. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth. c. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is for rich people to reduce their consumption significantly. d. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. And frankly I don’t see any solution because increasing consumption is the basis of our economic growth. e. I don’t believe this tale of doom. Choice now: B Choice in assignment 1: B Notes: The supply of natural resources not meeting the demand from human population. The planet has become unsustainable as we are already using in excess of the natural resources available. Therefore people need to be educated around reducing family sizes. Less people, sufficient natural resources and we can become sustainable for the needs of future generations. 13. "You discover that your best client is selling tickets to win cars, however, the winners are not chosen at random. The client makes a huge profit after marketing expenses and bonuses." My personal opinion of what should be done is most closely described by: a. Everyone is doing this kind of thing these days but still I worry that I will get into trouble if, this gets out. Maybe someone should try to convince the client to stop? b. I want to know how they decide who gets the cars. Maybe I can get one too! c. This should be addressed in a written report so that the client can respond formally. d. This should be discussed with the client from the perspective of the relevant laws to urgently find a solution which will be fair for participants but also good for the business. e. If this is a significant irregularity then it must be reported to the authorities as required in various prescripts. If this causes the client cancel my contract then I have a duty to report the facts to my successor. f. I worry a lot about the victims who bought these tickets and about why they are not adequately protected against this kind of scheme. I am going to tell the client that I do not want his business and I am going to lobby for more effective laws and enforcement thereof. Choice now : D Choice in assignment 1: E Notes: My choice has changed as we cannot just accept unethical, wrong behaviors as a common practice and allow it. We need to individually take accountability and resolve the problem to ensure that everyone is fairly treated. 14. In my opinion, the financial crisis which began in 2008 was caused by…: a. Government interference in the financial markets b. A lack of regulation of the financial markets c. Corporate greed d. Government incompetence e. Inevitable economic cycles Choice now: B Choice in assignment 1: C Notes: My opinion has changed because this financial crisis could’ve been avoided. Financial institutions recklessly lent to borrowers that were not credit worthy, increasing their overall debt and as a result borrowers could not afford to repay this debt. Regulations are now in place to avoid these situations from recurring. 15. “The only way to make money out of poor people is to keep them poor.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. This is how it is AND how it should be. b. This is how it should be. Unfortunately, a bunch of do-gooders are trying to mess up this natural law. c. Fortunately this is just not true. d. This is unfortunately true, but there is nothing I can do about it other than make sure I am not poor. e. This is unfortunately true in today's world, and I believe we are morally obliged to try and do something about it