SUS1501 Sustainability and Greed Student Number 63175967 Date Teaching Assistant Name 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. Instructions Please read the instructions on myUnisa carefully especially Step 2. Please download the most up to date version of this template from the additional resources tool on myUnisa. Do not rely on the digiband copy First, go through the MCQs again, and record your current choice We suggest that you dont look at your original choices before you have been through all questions Second, for each question, record your original choice in assignment 1 Please ensure that you record your original and current choices for ALL 20 questions in your portfolio Third, jot down any notes which explain why your opinion changed if it did, or why it didnt if it didnt. Note that we would expect to see comments/notes for at least 10 of the questions.
These comments must be quite substantial a paragraph or two or around 200 words. Your Conclusion must be substantial around 500 words. A good conclusion will have a very big effect on your final grade By now you should know that it doesnt matter what opinion you give.
So long as your opinion is supported with a good argument you will get the appropriate grades. Once you are done, save the file (as a Word document or as a PDF file) with a short name (myUnisa will reject files with long names). Delete all these Instructions before you submit this 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 The assets of the three richest people in the world match the combined annual GDPs of the 48 poorest countries. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Good for them they worked hard to get their wealth The only problem I have with this is that this money is in their bank account and not in mine No problem with this many of these people give huge amounts to charities I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to have that much money I think that active steps should be taken to correct such immoral wealth imbalances Choice now A Choice in assignment 1 E Notes South Africa has law related to exemption of taxation and In South African law it is stated that people who donate money to orphanage or charity get tax reduction and that made me realized that many richest people in South Africa like Patrice Motsepe avoid paying too much taxation by donating money to orphanage or charity. Many people who earn too much money try to Avoid PAYE (Pay As You Earn) just by helping poor people with money they than being taxed too much money. This has influenced my previous answer from Assignment 1.
Unless fossil-fuel use slows dramatically, the earths average temperature could rise by six degrees Celsius in the next 100 years. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Who cares I dont believe this climate change nonsense Six degrees will make winters much more bearable to me personally Im a bit concerned about this, but there is nothing that I can do about it Im a bit concerned about this, but why should I invest my personal time, effort or money in solving a general social problem I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good Choice now C Choice in assignment 1 F Notes I have observed with my own eyes that people who burned car wheels or rubbish change our earths atmospheres or temperature. This has influenced my opinion in that peoples action can affect the earth temperature and that means we have control on the temperatures change. This bring us to a situation that if we keep on using fossil-fuel slowly, that will keep our temperature down and that will cause us to experience winter, since we are not polluting earths temperature by using too much fossil-fuel.
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 I dont believe this tale of doom.
Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast, but I dont think this is a problem as there is plenty of time to find technological solutions to problems that emerge Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is for rich people to reduce their consumption significantly. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast.
The first priority is for poor people to not have more kids than they can afford. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. And frankly I dont see any solution because increasing consumption is the basis of our economic growth. Choice now C Choice in assignment 1 E Notes Since Economy is measured in term of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and high growth ensure increase in the production of Goods or services.
If population increase and country is unable to produce plenty of goods and services that means our country will encounter poverty since there is scare goods or service that means there will be inflation where business increase goods and services. If population can decrease this means we can be able to meet the needs of people. This has influenced my previous answer since I have realized that in South Africa, people give birth everyday just to get child support grant and not realizing that they are increase population and this means business are unable to meet the needs of people.
If arctic ice melting continues, we are likely to see the loss of two thirds of the worlds polar bear population within 50 years. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Who cares If it boils down to choosing between driving a luxury SUV and worrying about polar bears Ill take the car any day. While this is sad, polar bears arent really very important to my personal welfare which is my primary concern. While this is sad, polar bears arent really very important to general human social welfare. I dont 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. I think it is morally unacceptable for humans to put their interests ahead of the rights of other species like polar bears.
Choice now Choice in assignment 1 D Notes 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 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 dont want to get into trouble. Not only will I participate, I am going to be the one who sells assignments next year for cash. I am not sure what the rules say but if this is against the rules I wont do it.
I am not sure what is the right thing to do here or what is expected of me now that I know this The problem with cheating is that it undermines everyones qualification, not just those who are participating Someone needs to report this because it is intellectual fraud, and that someone is going to be me. Choice now A Choice in assignment 1 F Notes Improvement of technology has influence my previous answer in Assignment 1, Since technology can reveal things people are not aware of and also to expose people who do corruption or fraud. for practical example, in most business like pep store, Game, Shoprite, etc. there is machine that scan people when they enter and go out of the business and also securities measure like Video, camera, etc.
that can prevent customers from stealing businesss product FeesMustFall My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by I dont really care about this so long as no-one tries to disrupt my studies. If these people want education let them earn the money to pay for it like me. Education is everyones right, not just the right of the rich. Education for everyone is in the interests of the whole country and so it should be fully funded by the state. FeesMustFall see you on the streets Comrades Choice now C Choice in assignment 1 D Notes Throughout this module, I have learned that education is for everyone, poor and rich people and it is not entitled to certain group. The reason for fees must fall it is because of poverty cycle where poorer people can afford less education and this reduce their opportunities to go to Universities because of the background and this can result in imbalance between the rich and the poor.
When fees have dropped this can guarantee equal opportunities between poor and rich in universities, and again it can reduce the gap between poorer and rich people in the workplaces. Free education is stated in the freedom charter that is why our government did not remain stubborn when fees must fall issues come. 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 Who cares Its hard to say it, but given the rising human population, perhaps this is a blessing in disguise for the human species as a whole Its hard to say it, but this just means less people competing with me for scarce opportunities and resources. This is morally wrong, but practically, I think that it would cost too much money to solve 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 My answer still the remain, because the cause of poverty is unemployment, without means of earning income, people have no way to satisfy their basic needs like food, shelter and water.
Most children die prematurely because most mothers do not have foods that have nutrition, because it is difficult for them to afford those foods. Poverty is something that can be prevented because it is man-made not non-man made. As we see in South Africa poverty is greatest problem, because our government is corrupt and money is not going where it is supposed to go, since it is used for personal gains of the public servants. This is morally unacceptable because poverty must be prevented regardless of the cost of money because the life of one child is priceless once is taken there is no ways you can regain or bring it back unlike any property once is take can you can reclaim it as long as someone is still alive he/she can regain it and by preventing poverty that will result in reduction lack of basic needs.
Let me conclude by stating law which is related to this option Chapter 2 Bills of Rights, section 11 of the Supreme Law of the Republic South Africa (constitution) has confirmed that Everyone has the right to life. Even if it can cost our country billion it is okay, because the life of the people comes first. 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 Good for him he worked hard to earn this.
The only problem I have with this is that this money is in Bassons bank account and not in mine. No problem with this. Im sure Basson donates huge amounts to charities. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to earn that much money.
I think that active steps should be taken to correct such immoral executive remuneration practices Choice now Choice in assignment 1 C Notes The wealth of the few depends upon the poverty of many. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by So long as I am amongst the few I dont care This is just not true – the rich are simply more diligent, intelligent, and above all frugal. This is just not true if it were not for the generous wealthy, the poor would be even poorer than they are. 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 This is absolutely true and given how much poverty there is we ought to do something about it Choice now Choice in assignment 1 C Notes One out of every five South Africans lives below the food poverty line. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Who cares If population growth rates of the poor were not so high they wouldnt be so poor. If they worked harder, they wouldnt be so poor. This is sad, but to be honest, it is not going to stop me from focusing on my own wellbeing first.
I think that individually we can and should strive to eliminate poverty. Choice now Choice in assignment 1 B Notes Do not lets lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Absolutely any threats to the free market must be squashed Yes capitalism is how we create wealth, but the markets must still be managed a little Im not sure about this I think that it might be time to consider some sort of different economic system No the market needs to be extensively managed to ensure that the wealth that is created is good wealth rather than bad wealth Rubbish capitalism creates monstrous wealth for a few and abject poverty for many. We need a much more equitable economic system Choice now Choice in assignment 1 B Notes 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 Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast, but I dont think this is a problem as there is plenty of time to find technological solutions to problems that emerge Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast.
The first priority in solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. The first priority in solving this is for rich people to reduce their consumption significantly. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. And frankly I dont see any solution because increasing consumption is the basis of our economic growth. I dont believe this tale of doom. Choice now Choice in assignment 1 B Notes 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 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 I want to know how they decide who gets the cars. Maybe I can get one too This should be addressed in a written report so that the client can respond formally. 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. 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.
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 Choice in assignment 1 F Notes Hard work always pays My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by I absolutely believe this.
The evidence supports this look at the likes of Bill Gates. Perhaps this works sometimes. The evidence doesnt support this look at mine workers in South Africa. I just dont believe this.
Choice now A Choice in assignment 1 A Notes My answer remained the same since I have beheld with my own eyes by our former president of South Africa Nelson Mandela who has served 27 years in prison just to fight against imbalance between white people and back people. Now he is known all over the country because of his hard work of redressing imbalance of the past. In 2014, Whitey Basson donated boerewors valued at R100 000 to schools in the country.
My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by If it were not for the good people like Basson, the lives of the poor would be so much worse than they already are. As with most wealthy people, Basson clearly takes his responsibility to society very seriously. R100 000 is about 0.016 of the R620 million he earned in 2010.
So if he had earned R 1 million he would have donated R161 worth of boerewors. All this charity just makes rich people look like heroes that they are not. How can you possibly say something as ungrateful as option d Choice now Choice in assignment 1 A Notes I have missed my assignment 6 deadline for SUS1501 because I had an Economics assignment which is just more important to me. My personal opinion of what should be done, is most closely described by Im going to a doctor I know to get a doctors certificate saying I was sick I wasnt really sick. Im going to come up with a really tragic story about my best friend passing away in a car crash and having to attend the funeral Im sitting with my best mate now having a good laugh about this. I really cant afford to fail this module so Im going to do A. above even though I really feel bad about it.
Im not going to do any of the above because there is always a chance that Unisa will find out and charge me with misconduct. Im not going to do any of the first three above because eventually Prof Eccles is going to stop believing these stories and then someone who really does have a problem is going to suffer. Im not going to do any of the first three above because they are morally wrong. Choice now Choice in assignment 1 D Notes Save the rhino My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Why Let the people who want to use this resource pay to protect it. We have bigger problems than worrying about rhinos. We must save the rhinos for our children.
We must save the rhinos because it is the right thing to do. Choice now E Choice in assignment 1 D Notes With a shift of only 2 percent of global household income, all the great deprivations of the poorer half of humankind could be avoided. My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by Who cares Let the poorest work for their money like the rest of us. So long as no one takes 2 percent of my income. Just proves – if poverty was an issue for the rich we would solve it by throwing money at it. Lets solve it then Choice now E Choice in assignment 1 D Notes Throughout this module, I have learned that if rich people and government can work together, these issues of inequality can be eliminated. If majority of people are not working and minority works, the economy of our country will not be stable even if minority are earning large amount of income, poverty will prevail due to large amount of unemployed. Government gets money from citizens in form of taxation, so that it can provide goods and services to those poorer and rich.
If four people are employed out of ten people, government fail to provide quality services to those citizens, since income it receives from four it is not sufficient. But if rich people can help government to create jobs and also to provide services to those citizens, majority people will start working, poverty rate will change and economy will improve A woman was near death from a rare form of cancer. There was one medicine that the doctors thought might perhaps prolong her life. This was sold at the only local pharmacy at 10 times the cost. The woman had no medical aid cover and her only son could simply not afford the medicine. The most ethical option available to the son is best described by The son should not steal the medicine because he might end up in prison. He should steal the medicine regardless of a possible prison sentence because saving his mother for a few more months would bring them the most happiness.
He should not steal the medicine because stealing is bad and he is not a criminal he tried to do everything he could without breaking the law so no one can blame him for the consequences. The son should steal the medicine but also accept the prescribed punishment for the crime and eventually pay the pharmacist what he is owed actions should have consequences. He should steal the medicine because everyone has a right to life, regardless of the law. He should not steal the medicine, because others who are fortunate enough to be able to pay for it may need the medicine just as badly. Their lives are equally significant. Choice now Choice in assignment 1 F Notes Greed is good My personal opinion of what should be done, is most closely described by Its not good or bad. Its just how things are. Absolutely If it wasnt for greed we would never achieve anything.
Im not sure. Sometimes I think that its good. At other times I think that its bad. It depends on how you define greed. Absolutely not Greed is bad. It leads to much pain and suffering. Choice now E Choice in assignment 1 B Notes While I was busy doing this module I have realized that Greed is not a good, because the results of it are not good at all, I have learned that sometime greed can be used as motivation, but its results are unbearable.
We can take practical example of our latest former president of Republic of South Africa he was involve in corruption, because of greed, now his actions of corruption are hunting him even though he is no longer the president. NB Note If your inclination here is to say that this module has taught you that greed is indeed good, this is ok go ahead and defend this. However, if you tell us that the course material has told you that greed is good, then you are very likely to fail this module. The course material quite explicitly states that greed is not good. If you think that the material says otherwise, then you need to go and read the material again. Summary Number unchanged Insert number of questions where the answers were the same here Number changed Insert number of questions where the answers were different here Conclusion To conclude, looking at the preceding sections of this portfolio, the most important things which I learned in this module were complete this in a few paragraphs.
NB This should be the most substantial comment in this portfolio and must give us a clear indication whether you have thought deeply about this module. It should be at least 500 words long. Y, dXiJ(x(I_TS1EZBmU/xYy5g/GMGeD3Vqq8K)fw9xrxwrTZaGy8IjbRcXIu3KGnD1NIBsRuKV.ELM2fiVvlu8zH(W uV4(Tn7_m-UBww_8(/0hFL)7iAs),Qg20ppf DU4pMDBJlC52FhsFYn3E6945Z5k8Fmw-dznZxJZp/P,)KQk5qpN8KGbe Sd17 paSR 6Q bSources SelectedStyleAPASixthEditionOfficeOnline.xsl StyleNameAPA Version6 xmlnsbhttp//schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/bibliography xmlnshttp//schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/bibliography/bSources
