Portfolio AssignmentSUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed Student Name: Student Number: 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. No problem with this – many of these people give huge amounts to charities d. Good for them – they worked hard to get their wealth b. for each question.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 think that active steps should be taken to correct such immoral wealth imbalances Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: . 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. I present these current opinions. “The assets of the three richest people in the world match the combined annual GDP’s of the 48 poorest countries. go through the MCQs again. I think that it is morally wrong for anyone to have that much money e. Rather put fewer comments and make them worth reading.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Note that we would expect to see comments for at least 6 of the questions. jot down any notes which explain why your opinion changed if it did. Back at the Crossroads! Instructions: First. These comments should be quite substantial. Delete all these Instructions (the stuff in red) before you submit this assignment! 1. The only problem I have with this is that this money is in their bank account and not in mine c. and record your current choice We suggest that you don’t look at your original opinions before you have been through all questions Second. or why it didn’t if it didn’t. record your original choice AND Third. pollution. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. 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: . And frankly I don’t see any solution because increasing consumption is the basis of our economic growth. I’m a bit concerned about this. b. I think that individually we can and should strive to solve this problem for the greater good Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 3. The first priority in solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth. I don’t believe this climate change nonsense c.2. but why should I invest my personal time. the limits to growth on this planet will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 4. “If the present growth trends in world population. e. Six degrees will make winters much more bearable to me personally d. The first priority in solving this is for rich people to reduce their consumption significantly. “If arctic ice melting continues. d. and resource depletion continue unchanged. f. industrialization. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. Who cares? b. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. 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. The most probable result will be a rather sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity. but there is nothing that I can do about it e.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. I’m a bit concerned about this. effort or money in solving a general social problem. food production. “Unless fossil-fuel use slows dramatically. the earth’s average temperature could rise by six degrees Celsius in the next 100 years. I don’t believe this tale of doom. Who cares? b. I think that it would cost too much money to solve e. "It is for the sake of trivial gains that the world's affluent. This is morally wrong. While this is sad. but practically. but this just means less people competing with me for scarce opportunities and resources. We must mobilize ourselves and rebel against this unjust state of affairs. mostly treatable diseases.000 children die prematurely from poverty related causes. I don’t think polar bears are all that important to human welfare. Rubbish! b. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 5. . d. but given the rising human population. “Every day some 20. "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer" e. "The only way to make money out of poor people is to keep them poor. While this is sad. f. and their governments and international organizations are keeping the poorer half in severe often lifethreatening poverty. perhaps this is a blessing in disguise for the human species as a whole c. If it boils down choosing between driving a luxury SUV and worrying about polar bears I’ll take the car any day. their plight is a symptom of climate change which is a big problem to future human welfare. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 6. It is morally unacceptable for a single child to die of a preventable disease and we should collectively fix this irrespective of the cost.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. I think this it is morally unacceptable for humans to put their interests ahead of the rights of other species like polar bears. It’s hard to say it." c. polar bears aren’t really very important to my personal welfare which is my primary concern. polar bears aren’t really very important to general human social welfare. Who cares? b." My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. d. Who's to say what is trivial? d. It’s hard to say it.a. c. e. However. c. “The business of business is to increase profits for shareholders” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. d. Unfortunately this is how it is. This is how it should be. This narrow view on the responsibility of business is incorrect and went out of fashion in mainstream business years ago. but to be honest. Ideally business should have a much wider set of responsibilities. e. Who cares? b.Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 7. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 8. including both social and environmental responsibilities. This is how it should be. This is how it is AND how it should be b. “The world population is 7 billion. I think that individually we can and should strive to eliminate poverty. f. This is sad but there is not much I can do about it. Unfortunately in reality businesses have become distracted by social and environmental issues c. 4 billion live in poverty” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. it is not going to stop me from focusing on my own wellbeing first. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: . 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. so long as there are strong legal frameworks in place to ensure that this doesn’t lead to negative social and environmental consequences e. If population growth rates of the poor were not so high they wouldn’t be so poor. This is sad. Who cares? b. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast.000. . c. The first priority in solving this is to put the brakes on human population growth.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Yes – capitalism is how we create wealth. We need a much more equitable economic system Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 10. “Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. It is open markets. Whitey Basson the CEO of Shoprite earned ZAR 620. Rubbish – capitalism creates monstrous wealth for a few and abject poverty for many.000. Absolutely – any threats to the free market must be squashed b. it is capitalism. The only problem I have with this is that this money is in Basson’s bank account and not in mine d.00. I’m not sure about this – I think that it might be time to consider some sort of different economic system d. The first priority in solving this is for rich people to reduce their consumption significantly. No – the market needs to be extensively managed to ensure that the wealth that is created is good wealth rather than bad wealth e. but I don’t think this is a problem as there is plenty of time to find technological solutions to problems that emerge b. “It is estimated that humans are consuming natural resource at a rate that is 30% above the renewal rate. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. 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: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 11.9. Good for him – he worked hard to earn this c. If we continue to consume in this way we are likely to suffer dire consequences which could include extinction. but the markets must still be managed a little c.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. “In 2010. Let the people who want to use this resource pay to protect it. c. the financial crisis which began in 2008 was caused by…: Government interference in the financial markets A lack of regulation of the financial markets Corporate greed Government incompetence Inevitable economic cycles Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 13. This is how it should be. b. And frankly I don’t see any solution because increasing consumption is the basis of our economic growth. Yes we are consuming natural resources too fast. Why? b. d. c. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 14. This is how it is AND how it should be. a bunch of do-gooders are trying to mess up this natural law. and I believe we are morally obliged to try and do something about it. e. This is unfortunately true in today's world. “The only way to make money out of poor people is to keep them poor. In my a. e. but there is nothing I can do about it other than make sure I am not poor. c. d. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 12. Unfortunately. b. This is unfortunately true.” My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. I don’t believe this tale of doom. e. "Save the rhino!!" My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. opinion.d. We have bigger problems than worrying about rhinos. Fortunately this is just not true. . If the human species is to be sustainable. Like any other species. which one of the following is the most ridiculous suggestion? a." My personal opinion on this statement is most closely described by: a. Sustainability and economic growth may be incompatible ideals. If the human species is to be sustainable. the free-market as we know it cannot be tampered with under any circumstances. In your opinion. b. we should consider alternative economic systems. d. we should consider dramatic mechanisms to distribute wealth more equitably. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: . So long as no one takes 2 percent of my income. If the human species is to be sustainable. e. Let's solve it then! Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 16. d. Just proves . e. c. "With a shift of only 2 percent of global household income. Choice now: Choice in assignment 1: Notes: 15. c.d.if poverty was an issue for the rich we would solve it by throwing money at it. e. Who cares? b. We must save the rhinos for our children. all the great deprivations of the poorer half of humankind could be avoided. the human species could go extinct. We must save the rhinos because it is the right thing to do. Let the poorest work for their money like the rest of us. > . the most important things which I learned in this module were: <complete this in a few paragraphs – i. we expect more than one sentence! This should be the most substantial comment in this portfolio and must give us a clear indication that you have thought deeply about this module.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.e. looking at the preceding sections of this portfolio.