Portfolio Assignment
SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed
Student Number: 61796727
Date: 17 October 2025
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.
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Distribution of this document is illegal R13,625 per year?
, 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: d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to have that much money
Choice in assignment 1: c. No problem with this – many of these people give huge amounts to
charities.
Notes:
John Rawls’s difference principle says that distribution of wealth should be done in such a matter so as
to not leave someone worse off, but to assist them to be better off. If the rich distribute their money to
the poor I have no problem with this, but it is wrong for people to be treated unequally to others.
Capitalism is when goods are owned by individuals and they distribute the goods in whatever way they
want, they decide when and what people should eat. If we say that we have to manage this, we might
just as well believe in Capitalism – which I believe is not fair. Therefore I will just say that I think that it is
morally wrong for anyone to have that much money.
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?
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, 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. I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater
good.
Choice in assignment 1: d. I’m a bit concerned about this, but there is nothing that I can do about it.
Notes:
The three forms of fossil fuels are natural gas, coal, and oil which are being used worldwide and has an
effect on the earth’s temperature. I do believe that some cities will be flooded within the next 100 years
as a result of fossil fuels. Some countries have already introduced electric vehicles that will lessen our
carbon footprints (CO2 emissions in tonnes per year). I am changing my option to option F as I think that
we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good. Every little effort will help and we
can start by buying fuel-efficient cars with a low CO2 emission level if we cannot afford an electric car
(as they are quite expensive).
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. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is to
put the brakes on human population growth.
Choice in assignment 1: c. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in
solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth.
Downloaded by: sashenchet | Want to earn
Distribution of this document is illegal R13,625 per year?
SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed
Student Number: 61796727
Date: 17 October 2025
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.
Downloaded by: sashenchet | Want to earn
Distribution of this document is illegal R13,625 per year?
, 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: d. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to have that much money
Choice in assignment 1: c. No problem with this – many of these people give huge amounts to
charities.
Notes:
John Rawls’s difference principle says that distribution of wealth should be done in such a matter so as
to not leave someone worse off, but to assist them to be better off. If the rich distribute their money to
the poor I have no problem with this, but it is wrong for people to be treated unequally to others.
Capitalism is when goods are owned by individuals and they distribute the goods in whatever way they
want, they decide when and what people should eat. If we say that we have to manage this, we might
just as well believe in Capitalism – which I believe is not fair. Therefore I will just say that I think that it is
morally wrong for anyone to have that much money.
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?
Downloaded by: sashenchet | Want to earn
Distribution of this document is illegal R13,625 per year?
, 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. I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater
good.
Choice in assignment 1: d. I’m a bit concerned about this, but there is nothing that I can do about it.
Notes:
The three forms of fossil fuels are natural gas, coal, and oil which are being used worldwide and has an
effect on the earth’s temperature. I do believe that some cities will be flooded within the next 100 years
as a result of fossil fuels. Some countries have already introduced electric vehicles that will lessen our
carbon footprints (CO2 emissions in tonnes per year). I am changing my option to option F as I think that
we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good. Every little effort will help and we
can start by buying fuel-efficient cars with a low CO2 emission level if we cannot afford an electric car
(as they are quite expensive).
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. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is to
put the brakes on human population growth.
Choice in assignment 1: c. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in
solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth.
Downloaded by: sashenchet | Want to earn
Distribution of this document is illegal R13,625 per year?
