Assignment 05

SUS1501 – Sustainability and Greed

Declaration:

By submitting this assignment, I implicitly declare that this is my own work.

I am aware that if ANY unacknowledged copying is detected in ANY part of this assignment, I
will get 0 (zero) for the entire assignment.

INSTRUCTIONS:
 Read the “1. Background Facts” and “2. Introduction” sections below;
 Fill in your assignment contributions under the relevant headings 3 – 5 below;
 Save the file as a Word document with a short name (myUnisa will reject files with long names);
 Submit this file into the Assessment 5 – 867326 assignment space on myUnisa;
 Take a screen grab of the final submission acknowledgement on myUnisa and save this
somewhere safe in case of any disputes:
 Check under the Assignments tool that there is a date in the “Processed” cell for the SUS1501
Assignment 5.
 NB – DO NOT RESUMBIT AN ASSIGNMENT AFTER THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED EVEN IF THE
SYSTEM ALLOWS YOU TO DO SO. THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR SUBMISSION DATE AND YOUR
SUBMISSION WILL REFLECT AS LATE

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1. BACKGROUND FACTS

 “In the 2018/2019 financial year, Bob van Dijk, the CEO of Naspers earned a total
remuneration (salary, incentives and options) of R 1.9 billion.”
 “60% of the world’s cobalt is mined in the DRC. Significant amounts of this is mined
under appalling conditions often by child labourers.”
 “Of the top 10 wealthiest people (all men), seven are tech billionaires. Their net worth is
US$ 847 billion or ZAR 13 trillion!”

2. INTRODUCTION (written for me by Prof Eccles)

In assignments 2, 3 and 4 we have, as a group, reflected on the facts above. We debated whether it was
ok for Bob van Dijk to earn ZAR 1.9 billion in a single year. Some of us thought this was a reflection of a
job done excellently. Some of us thought that this was morally outrageous.

We then debated the issue children working in appalling conditions in cobalt mines in the DRC. Although
most of us thought that this was a problem, we saw how other ethical interpretations were possible.

And in the final analysis we considered the possibility that these two scenarios – great wealth and great
poverty – might in fact be linked. On the basis of this, we debated whether the whole picture looked ok.
I think it is safe to say that most of us were left feeling a bit uneasy about things.

That is all well and good. But what about me? In this short essay, I’m going to think about this question.
I’ll start out by trying to figure out where I currently fit in in this picture. Then I’m going to think forward
in time. Specifically, I’m going to imagine what I hope my legacy will have been over the course of the
good (eudaimonic) life I have lived. In formulating this vision of a life well lived, I’m going to make
reference to key virtues or excellences (arête) that I think I will need to develop in order to achieve this
good life. And I’m going to think about the sort of problems that these excellences might present if
taken too far or not far enough.

3. WHERE DO I FIT IN NOW? (200 words)

The world inequality is the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and power that shapes well-
being among the people all over the world. According to the world inequality database, it states clearly
that the position that I’m in, or where I fit in amongst the world, amongst the tech billionaires that takes
everything unfairly, and also amongst the Bob van Dijks earnings that are worth billions. I’m in the
bottom 45%, that is I’m on the side of the poor people around the world, but it’s different when it
comes to my country where is states that 66% of the population in South Africa is poor than me.

This illustrates that from the position I’m in the world, it’s impossible to make a change in something no
matter how small it can be, but according to my country I’m not encouraged seeing my self-richer than
the 66% of the population but I was encouraged that since there is so much inequality , as of my position
its states that I’m able to make a change in my country, I have a power that whenever I see an unequal
distribution of opportunities and resources I can amend that, I can make a good influence, such as
making a change and letting those who cannot get to get something. This position or location means
that I can make a change where I’m in my country, but not in the world.
4. AT THE END OF MY LIFE …… (300 words)

For me legacy, I entitle it as a long lasting impact of life, events and actions also recognitions that
continue even if the founder or the proper of that particular thing is no more, like something that keeps
on living even when you are not around on earth or (dead). For me as a woman my legacy is very broad
in such a way that, it does not even entail all material things that human nature is lusting on. As a
parent, my legacy is to make sure I teach life as a standard basic way of living to my kids and the youth
surrounding them. Teaching basics of how to handle life and live accordingly.

This legacy might sound a little unimportant as most people would say when I tell about it, but for me to
see kids following their dreams and doing what’s right for them gives me happiness and joy, and this is
what I would love to leave behind all youngsters grooming each other infinitely, because I know if they
live positively all that they want but not need will last in their lives because they have learnt to know the
truth and what is right in their lives, this is the legacy I would really love to see happening.

Knowing that this is my legacy and what I would love to see, the only easy part for me to accomplish it is
to become and educator hence it is one of my best careers that I will follow because I know that all I
want to teach and let it live not for me but for life itself, I can easily pass it by being an educator. This
role can easily pass my teachings that I trust and I know that are good food for the ears of the young for
them to know what’s real and what’s true this is the legacy I would love to leave behind, people seeing
what I have thought to my kids and their kids to keep going.

5. CONCLUSION (100 words)

Having known all what’s happening around the world and that is affecting our community as a whole,
the only way to solve this, is for an individual to play a good role from where they are in the world, since
I have noticed that I do have an effect in my country, then I would use this as a good opportunity to
influence what’s good to people and youngsters, which can keep going on even when I’m not around,
because what’s good is good and for me good Is better than bad always. With this principle “do what’s
right”, inequality can be eliminated if we can all be honest. But since I cannot do that, I will start doing it
from where I’m, to teach people to do what’s right.