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Kloof High School

Life Orientation Grade 12
Chapter 9 Summary
Social and Environmental Responsibility

Name: ____________________________

LO teacher: _______

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Chapter 9: Social and environmental responsibility

Unit 1: Community responsibility to provide environments and services that

promote safe and healthy living

1 .1 Responsibilities of various levels of government

People abuse the environment by, for example, polluting the air with smoke and
chemicals, dumping chemicals and rubbish into the rivers and the oceans, chopping
down too many trees, and overusing pesticides. In many parts of the world the
environment has become unsafe and unhealthy for people, animals, and plants.

The Constitution says that everyone has the right to a safe and healthy
environment. It is the responsibility of every person and every community to look
after the environment and to use resources responsibly. It is also the responsibility
of various levels of government to ensure that environments and services are safe
and healthy.

Laws, regulations and rules

Parliament makes laws for the whole country. Provincial governments make laws
for their own provinces.
Municipalities make by-laws for their municipal areas.
Both parliament and the provinces can make laws on agriculture, casinos,
education, health services, housing, nature conservation, road traffic, tourism and
welfare. Acts are usually quite general; they do not cover every
possible detail of a matter. Acts give ministers the power to Key
make regulations or add details to laws. Municipalities and words
provinces can also make regulations. Regulations can't conflict • laws — statutes
with the main Act or state something completely different. and Acts; sets
of rules
For example, the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 states • regulations —
only that the minister, provincial administrations and municipal the details
authorities may make regulations about the control of noise. It necessary to
doesn't say what noises or how loud a noise can be. implement laws
• rules —
Rules are similar to regulations. For example, there may be a procedures that
rule about how to measure noise levels and which instruments have to be
to use. followed, or
ways of doing
things

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Resource: Laws that promote safe and healthy living

Parliament creates and changes the laws that promote safe and healthy living for
the whole country. There are many acts; the following are some examples:
• The National Water Act, 1998 — regulates the management of water resources
so that everyone can have access to clean water; it protects the quality of water
resources.

• The National Health Act, 2003 — has rules about access to health care
services; basic health care for children; and how provinces and municipalities
should deliver quality health care services.

• National Environmental Management Act, 1998 — protects the environment;

promotes conservation; and has rules about pollution, ecological degradation,
waste management, and the use of natural resources.

• Meat Safety Act, 2000 — promotes the safety of meat and animal products; it
includes rules about how abattoirs should be operated so that meat is safe to be
eaten and so that animals are treated humanely.

• National Veld and Forest Fire Act, 1998 — its purpose is to prevent and stop
veld, forest and mountain fires.

• Environment Conservation Act, 1989 — monitors and protects the environment

against pollution (including noise pollution), deterioration, and poisoning so that
people can have a safe and beautiful environment in which to live.

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The Consumer Protection Act, 2008 came into effect on 31 March 2011. It makes
people responsible for the safety of the food they sell. Sellers must make sure, for
example, that they buy goods from manufacturers who follow standards set by
government; that they keep certain foods cold; and that they follow hygiene
standards. They must control pests and rodents, and dispose of waste such as
expired food in a safe way.

The responsibilities of government to promote safe and healthy environments

Different national government departments have particular responsibilities to keep
the environment safe and healthy, for example:
• Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities — facilitates
and supports health related programmes such as vaccination and HIV and AIDS
and access to health services; co-ordinates programmes for children living in the
street; redresses and discourages harmful practices such as forced marriage of
girls to adult men (ukuthwala) and the killing of women and children for muti
purposes.

• Department of Water Affairs — makes sure that South Africans gain access to
clean water and safe sanitation.

• Department of Labour — inspects workplaces to make sure that they are safe
and healthy.

• Department of Health — co-ordinates and monitors all health services in the

provinces and municipalities.

Provincial governments make laws for their provinces. For example, the Western
Cape Health Care Waste Management Act of 2007 deals with the safe storage and
disposal of dangerous health care waste which comes from hospitals, clinics,
laboratories and even tattoo parlours.

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This waste includes blood, needles, human tissue, chemicals, medicines, used
bandages and flammable liquids. This waste can cause infections, burns, poisoning
and explosions if it is not handled correctly.

The responsibility of local government and municipal councils is to promote safe and
healthy environments. They can make by-laws, which are laws and regulations that
apply in a particular area or town.

For example, a municipality may have by-laws for:

• Emergency services — fire prevention; burning refuse; fireworks; fire protection
in buildings; transport, supply and delivery of dangerous goods.
• Cemeteries and crematoria — disposal of bodies, coffins and graves, care of
graves, cremations.
• Public health — sanitary services including sewage system and toilets; water
supply, boreholes and wells; swimming pools; keeping of animals; nursing
homes; accommodation establishments such as hotels and boarding houses.
• Public open spaces — parks; prohibited activities including rules for walking
dogs; tree preservation.
• Street trading — prohibited and restricted conduct; cleanliness.
• Water services — applications and fees; unauthorised use and interference;
testing; sewage; drainage installation and maintenance.

Community services
Local government and municipal councils deliver services such as electricity, refuse
collection, water, traffic control, clinics, and fire services. Different levels of
government are expected to co-operate to deliver community services such as
electricity and health care.

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Further examples of community services .

• Provide free basic services such as Form community policing
•
water and electricity to people who are partnerships between the South
too poor to afford them. African Police Services and
• Build libraries. communities to fight crime.
• Construct and run sports facilities. • Look after the welfare of animals
• Have disaster risk management such as abandoned or mistreated
procedures in place to identify, prevent animals or pets of people who
or reduce disasters, for example, fires, can't afford to have them treated
floods, and outbreaks of disease, by when they are ill.
coordinating emergency services. • Look after street children,
• Create awareness of fire hazards and orphans, and abandoned children.
install fire extinguishers in schools. • Help addicts and their families.
• Provide water tanks to residents so that • Provide public transport.
they can collect rainwater in areas that • Run community health care
are affected by drought. centres or mobile clinics that
• Create employment opportunities and vaccinate young children, monitor
transfer skills through, for example, pregnant women, and promote
training people to upgrade roads in their health.
town or training people to remove alien • Provide public toilets.
invasive plants. • Develop and maintain cemeteries.
• Start and give funds for community food These community services may be
gardens. Run health programmes that provided by, for example,
deal with specific health issues such as municipalities, faith-based
nutrition, HIV and AIDS, TB, and the organisations, businesses,
health of women and children. volunteers, and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs).

1.2 Educational and intervention programmes: impact studies

There are a variety of programmes that have an impact on safe and healthy living.
The programmes may be organised by, for example, NGOs, organisations,
businesses, schools, community centres, religious institutions, municipalities, and
the Department of Health.

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Key
Educational and intervention programmes word
Educational programmes aim to teach people and make them • intervention —
aware about issues that affect them. Intervention programmes action taken to
address particular and urgent problems and try to improve them. improve
For example, iThembaLethu ('I have a destiny'), an NGO, has something
identified a problem in Cato Manor, Durban. They run school-
based intervention programmes to reduce the rates of HIV infection among young
people. They also facilitate the adoption of babies who have been orphaned or
abandoned as a result of HIV and AIDS.

Community Health Intervention Programmes (CHIPs)

These programmes promote healthier lifestyles in Cape Town through sports and
exercise. They were developed to address the growing number of people with
hypertension and diabetes. OptiFit, one of the programmes, is for people between
18 and 55, and has walking, running, aerobics, and indoor circuit training in
community centres.

Sports intervention programmes

Some municipalities and NGOs have developed intervention
programmes that aim to involve youth in healthy exercise, and
discourage crime, racism and substance
abuse through participation in sport. These programmes also raise HIV and AIDS
Indigenous games promote awareness. Regular activities and special events
include indigenous games, special participation in sport and recreation. These
children development programmes, school holiday sport camps, and sports days,
which are held at community centres and sports fields across the country

NICRO: Safety Ambassadors

Intervention programme for school-going youth (15—18 years) to promote gender
based violence awareness and community engagement. Safety Ambassadors are
chosen at schools for life skills interventions and to attend workshops on how to
implement school projects. They learn to take charge of their environment and to
include other youth in addressing crime-related issues.

Recycling Day
This is usually held in September during Cleanup SA Week. It aims to educate the
community about the social, environmental and economic benefits of recycling and
contributing to a cleaner, greener, and healthier South Africa.

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Youth Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness Programmes

These programmes are run by the South African National Council on Alcoholism
and Drug Dependence (SANCA). The programmes promote healthy lifestyles by
providing drug education and developing leadership and life skills in schools.
SANCA has offices all over South Africa.

Impact studies
Impact studies measure and monitor something to see if a Key
particular action would, or is, having an effect. For example, an word
environmental impact study may be carried out before building a • impact studies
road to see how it will affect water runoff, plants, animals and — research to
people. An impact study may be carried out after a youth find out if an
substance prevention programme to find out if it has worked and action has had
what in the programme needs to change. Impact studies are or will have an
effect on
also known as audits or assessments.
something

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Unit 2: Formulating a personal mission statement for life

Key
2.1 Personal mission statement
words
A mission statement usually sets out the purpose and aim of a
• mission
business, company, or organisation. It says what the business
statement —
does, what its vision is (what it wants to achieve), and what its
something that
values are. It states these aspects briefly. A mission statement is
states a
meant to guide a business, for example, to how it operates, how
it deals with its staff and customers, and how it shows purpose, aim
responsibility towards the environment. or goal
• views —

Your personal mission statement is similar. To formulate or draw opinions, ways

up your own mission statement, consider the following aspects. of thinking
about
Personal views something
Your personal views are your opinions and what you consider to • values —
be important. For example, you may view Mathematics as an beliefs about
important subject because you want to study to be an what is
accountant after school. Your best friend may think that English important,
is an important subject because she wants to study to be a acceptable or
journalist. Your personal views many be influenced by your valuable
goals for your future, your religion, culture, and values.

Values
Values are personal beliefs that guide the way you live your life. They are your
standards of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. They are aspects that are
important or valuable to you and have meaning for you. Some of the things that
shape your values are your life experiences, the environment in which you live, your
school, your interests and the important people in your life.

It is useful to know what your values are, because they help you to decide on your
goals. Your values help you to make decisions. When you have to set goals, your
values help you choose and prioritise what is important to you. The values that our
South African Constitution supports are common values that we all need to respect
and promote.

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Examples of values include:

honesty patriotism individuality truth
responsibility cleanliness concern for others hard work
accuracy punctuality trustworthiness faithfulness
loyalty orderliness respect volunteerism
truthfulness perfection kindness leadership
self-sacrifice freedom creativity courage
integrity equality justice fun.
generosity accountability openness

Belief system
Your belief system is the way you try to understand the world and your place in it. It
answers questions such as, why am I here? Who created the world? It is also your
set of beliefs about what is right and wrong, true and false. Your belief system may
be based on the teachings of a formal religion or it may be part of your cultural belief
system.

Religion
Your religion is what you believe and who or what you
worship. Religions usually have moral codes, rituals
and ways of behaving towards others. Religion is
based on faith and a belief in God or a god. Religion
can guide your values, attitudes and behaviour.
Examples of religions in South Africa include Christian,
Bahá'i Faith, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and African Traditional
Religion.

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Buddhism
Buddhism is a belief system that is tolerant of all other beliefs and religions. A basic
Buddhist value is that people should end suffering so that they can live at peace
with themselves and others.

Christianity
Christians follow the Ten Commandments, which are important value statements.
Doing good deeds is highly valued. There are many different churches within
Christianity to guide their followers. The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) does not allow
alcohol or smoking. It condemns sexual promiscuity and violence. As a result,
church members are known for their honesty, sound values and moral virtue.

Hinduism
Hinduism believes in freedom of belief and worship; it sees the whole world as a
single family. It promotes co-existence and living in a spiritually meaningful and
virtuous way. Non-violence is a highly rated value, as is tolerance, respect, wisdom
and compassion.

Islam
Islam is a religion that guides Muslims through sets of rules that govern every
aspect of life. The Qur'an and other teachings of the Prophet Mohammed tell
Muslims how to live according to their values. Followers are encouraged to practice
their moral responsibilities and live good lives. Family life is highly valued.

Judaism
Jews also follow the Ten Commandments. In addition, they have specific rules, for
example, how to run a business ethically and how to treat people and animals.

African Traditional Religion

In African Traditional Religion (ATR) the community is the most important part of life.
African Traditional Religion also supports moral values, order, security and harmony
in the community. These values are lived out on a daily basis in a practical way.
Rites of passage guide people how to live in each stage of development. Respect
for the ancestors is highly valued.

Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith focus on practical ways to deal with the moral and spiritual
challenges of the modern world. Bahá'í followers aim to reduce discrimination and
prejudice between people and value fairness and human rights.

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Ideologies
Ideologies are an organised set of beliefs, values and ideas. They are the way you
believe you should live in the world and the way society should operate. Political
ideologies include democracy, communism, nationalism, and fascism. Economic
ideologies include capitalism, socialism and Marxism. These different ideologies
have different ideas about, for example, social welfare, religion, patriotism, health
care, and the justice system.

Lifestyle (physical and emotional well-being)

Your lifestyle is how you live your life on a daily basis. For example, you may
exercise regularly, eat healthy food, practise safe sex, and not drink alcohol so that
you care for you physical well-being and health. You make sure that you are
emotionally healthy by spending time with friends, relaxing in nature, and taking part
in community activities. You find time to have fun and laugh. You follow a religion or
have a belief system that comforts and supports you.

Environmental responsibility
If you take your responsibility towards the environment seriously, you know you
need to treat nature with respect. You do not do anything that is harmful to the
environment such as litter or chop down trees, without planting new trees. You
recycle and get involved in environmental clean-up campaigns.

Goals for studies and career choices

Your goals for studies and career choices are your plans for the future, the steps
you need to take to achieve your later goals in life. For example, your goal may be
to have a good job and to own your own house in 10 years' time. Whether, for
example, you want to get a job after Grade 12 or to study further, depends partly on
your personal views on life, your values, and the kind of lifestyle you want to lead.

2.2 Formulate a personal mission statement for your life

It is useful to start to think about important life goals. A personal mission statement
will help you to focus on achieving these goals and to decide on your priorities and
what is important to you. A personal mission statement is your roadmap to your
future. It looks at where you are now and where you would like to be in 3—5 years.
Your mission statement will change and develop as you change and learn new
things about yourself.

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Some tips on creating your own mission statement include:

• Be brief and clear. Make your mission statement short enough so that you can
print or write it on one sheet of paper, in big letters, and hang it on the wall in
your room to inspire you.
• Show what you want to focus on and the kind of person you want to be.
• Say what you want to do and be, not what you don't want; be positive.
• Find a quote from someone you admire because of who they are and/or what
they have achieved. Add it to your mission statement to inspire you.

Formulate your own mission statement:

I aim to
___________________________________________________________________

(briefly describe your study or career goal) so that

______________________________________________

(give the reasons why this goal is important to you). I aim to do this
_____________________________________ (give the timeframe for achieving
your goal). I value _______________________________________(choose three
values that are most important to you) because
___________________________________________________________________
(give reasons why these values are important to you). So I will
___________________________________________________________________
(what you will do so that you live by these values). I want to be fit and healthy so that
I can _____________ ___________________________________________(give
reasons).
I will do this by
___________________________________________________________________

(actions you will take to be fit and healthy). I would like to be a person who is
respected by ________________________________________________________

(name the person whose respect you value) because I _______________

_____________________________________. I will strive to act responsibly

towards the environment by ____________________________________________

(List three ways)

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Unit 3: Impact of vision

To have a vision about your future gives you a direction about who you want to be
or what you want to achieve in five to 10 years' time, or even in 30 years' time. Your
vision is your dream. It is a mental picture of what the future will or could be like. It is
what will make your life exciting and fulfilling. Make your vision ambitious. It doesn't
necessarily have to be practical. It may even seem a bit crazy now. Dream big! A
mission statement is more practical; it focuses on your actions, behaviour, and
plans to achieve your dream.

3.1 Impact of vision on actions and behaviour in life

Your vision has an impact on your action and behaviour in life. It can:
• affect the choices you make
• drive you to achieve and do well
• give you inspiration and the will to carry on when there are challenges in your life
• make you achieve the impossible
• guide you when you set goals
• make you committed to achieving your goals
• make you work hard to achieve success
• be the light that shows you the way when you are not sure what to do

3.2 Impact of vision on immediate community and society at large

Your vision can have an impact on your immediate community. Your immediate
community is your family and friends, and the people with whom you live and work.
It can also have an impact on society at large, which means beyond your
community, beyond your village, town, province or country.

For example, Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, had a vision that ordinary people
would have personal computers on their desks. This vision seemed impossible at
the time because computers then took up a whole room. His vision has had a huge
impact on millions of people and made him one of the richest men in the world.

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(LO verbatim / Grade 12/ chapter summaries new/ chapter 9)