SUS1501 Assignment 8 PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 2 2025 - DUE 14 October 2025

SUS1501 Assignment 8 PORTFOLIO (COMPLETE ANSWERS) Semester 2 2025 - DUE 14 October 2025... FINAL PORTFOLIO: BACK AT THE CROSSROAD? NB THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO TURNITIN TO CHECK FOR PLAGIARISM Phew! Almost done. Just one last thing to do – assemble a portfolio. But before we get down to the nitty gritty of that, I’m curious. In the module welcome message on the home pages, wepromised you a crazy module. In fact we warned you that: “ If by the end of this module you have not: wondered whether you are registered for the wrong degree; wondered whether your lecturers have lost their marbles; wondered whether you have lost your marbles; had to go for a walk to clear your mind; wondered what the point of all this stuff is; or wondered what the point of everything is; well then you need to check that you have a pulse! ” So, did you? ...... Did you: wonder whether you were registered for the wrong degree?; wonder whether your lecturers had lost their marbles?; wonder whether you had lost your marbles?; have to go for a walk to clear your mind?; wonder what the point of all this stuff was?; or wonder what the point of everything was? Hope so! Ok, let’s get on with the final activity. AIM OF THE PORTFOLIO The aim of this portfolio is for you to reflect, in a reasonably organized fashion, on the things that you have thought aboutthroughout this crazy module. INSTRUCTIONS: Step 1: Download the Portfolio Template from a bit further down in this section. ASSIGNMENT Assessment 8 - 590471  13/08/2025, 23:07 SUS1501-25-S2-241T: Assessment 8 - 590471 Portfolio Template 25-S 31 July 2025, 6:09 PM Step 2: Fill in the template as per the instructions in it. In addition to the instructions on the template, you should understand that ultimately, we are really looking to see that youhave critically thought about your original choices in the multiple choice assignment with the benefit of all of the stuff youhave read – both the theory and any discussions. Now obviously all of this reading might have done 3 things: Put you to sleep – it will really help us improve the module if you explain this to us; Confirmed your original views – in this case we are looking for “Notes” which indicate how certain of the theoryor discussions have reinforced your original views. Changed your original views – in this case we are looking for “Notes” which explain how theory or discussionshave forced you to re-think your world view. In all cases be specific - which theories, which discussions. If we don't see references to theory and other discussions, itis highly unlikely that you will get more than 60% for this assessment. Besides these things, you might also have comments on the questions or options themselves. In terms of all these notes, we are really not looking for a "Note" on every single one of the questions unless your worldhas really totally shifted. We would rather have a good quality note on a handful – at least 10 – than a rubbish note (e.g. "Ichanged my mind") on all 20. Finally, please don't forget to do a good conclusion. A good conclusion will really make a huge difference to your mark. Back at the Crossroads! 1. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) “It’s easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” (Mark Fisher) My personal opinion on this statement, is most closely described by: a. Who cares? b. This is what comes from a world population that believes that the path to enlightenment is X. c. Capitalism is absolutely the only viable economic system, so yes, this is true and right. d. I had never thought of this, but as unreasonable as this might sound, it is actually so true. e. I think that we need to work on our imagination then because this is clearly absurd. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 2. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) "The wealth of the few depends upon the poverty of many." My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. So long as I am amongst the few I don't care. b. This is just not true – the rich are simply more “diligent, intelligent, and above all frugal”. c. This is just not true – if it were not for the generous wealthy, the poor would be even poorer than they are. d. This is absolutely true – there is only so much wealth in the world at any one moment so if one person has more than their share someone else has to have less than their share. e. This is absolutely true and given how much poverty there is we ought to do something about it. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 3. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) “Under American philanthropy, much of the new wealth created historically has been given back to the community.” (Acs & Phillips, 2002) My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Exactly – look at Bill Gates. b. My personal aim is to become part of this virtuous movement. c. I’m not sure this is borne out in reality? Why have the rich gotten richer and the poor gotten poorer? d. “We can talk about all these stupid philanthropy schemes, … but c’mon we’ve got to be talking about taxes …. All the rest is BS.” (Rutger Bregman at WEF) e. Haha – what a load of rubbish – Acs & Phillips should read Marx’s Capital. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 4. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) “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. I don’t believe this climate change nonsense b. Six degrees will make winters much more bearable to me personally c. I’m a bit concerned about this, but why should I invest my personal time, effort or money in solving a general social. d. I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good. e. I think it is time for radical action to disrupt the fossil-fuel cartel. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 5. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) "In 2024, Elon Musk's net worth increased by about ZAR 12 billion every day!" My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Good for him – he is brilliant and worked hard to earn this. b. The only problem I have with this is that it wasn’t me getting ZAR 12 billion richer every day! c. No problem with this. I'm sure all of these billionaires donate 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 earnings Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 6. “It’s a fact! You cannot expect to have economic growth when there is the threat of expropriation without compensation.” (van der Merwe) My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Obviously! b. I don’t know about economic growth, but those who wrote the Constitution of South Africa knew what they were doing so private property is sacred and must be respected at all cost. c. The notion of private property is a Western individualist notion. d. Hmmmm …. you have to admit that the economies of the global north grew very handsomely on the basis of expropriation without compensation? So, this is not an immutable natural law. It's just how the rules are currently structured right? Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 7. “Drill baby drill!” (Donald J Trump) My personal opinion on this statement, is most closely described by: a. Trump = visionary; environmentalist = fools. b. What happens when the US runs out of oil and gas? c. This represents a huge setback for global climate change mitigation efforts. d. Trump is clearly banking on Musk’s SpaceX to get the human race to Mars because planet earth is doomed. e. Time for an environmental liberation movement – bomb the pipelines and oil wells! Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 8. “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: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 9. “The Great White Shark is listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN and has a declining population.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. I really don’t care. b. Good. Great Whites eat beautiful cuddly seals. c. Good. Great White Sharks are horrible people eaters! d. Great Whites are critical for controlling seal populations. Without them, other fish species might go extinct. e. We must save Great Whites because it is just the right thing to do. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 10. (YOU MUST WRITE NOTES ON THIS QUESTION) “In order to have the continued opportunity to express their ‘generosity,’ the oppressors must perpetuate injustice as well.” (Paulo Freire) My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. This is crazy ‘commie’ nonsense from Freire – it’s a disgrace that Unisa allows this rubbish to appear in its official study material. b. This is rubbish - if it were not for the essential goodness of the wealthy, the lives of the poor would be so much worse than they already are.. c. So let me get this straight – Freire is saying that in order for some (like Bill Gates for instance) to continue being generous, wealth AND poverty need to be sustained? I’m going to have to think about this. d. Freire is absolutely right - all this ‘generosity’ just makes rich people look like the heroes when actually they are the villains. e. How can you possibly say something as ungrateful as option d? Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: