The
levels of poverty and inequality have soared in South Africa. We live in a
world of extreme riches and extreme poverty and according to the chairperson of
the Bench Marks Foundation, South Africa has the highest level of inequality in
the world. Bishop Jo Seoka, chairperson of the Bench Marks Foundation, stated at
the launch of the Bench Marks Centre for Corporate Social responsibility that "the optimism for obtaining equality depends upon big
businesses doing things differently in the new South Africa" (paragraph 1). The aim of The Bench
Mark Centre is to contribute towards sustainable development through integrated
research that involves communities. What this organization has seen over the
past years through their research of mining companies is that they see not only
a free for all approach to exploit labor but to exploit communities and the
environment as well. Most communities are actually worse off due to the mining
activities in the area. There are many damaging effects due to the emissions
from the mining sites such as cultural shock, loss of livelihoods, and health
problems that are negatively affecting the well being of various communities.
Mines often relocate people and don't take their lifestyles into account as
they are moved from a rural existence into the market economy. The Magobading
community used to not consider themselves poor but once they made way for
mining, they lost their cattle, crop production, and their total way of life
and now consider themselves to be poor and helpless even though reports try and
make them look as if they are better off. Bishop Seoka feels that "we are
living in a world dominated by greed and selfishness; a world where corporations
dominate ideas and values" (paragraph 10). Globalization dictates that
each country should do what it can do best (paragraph 11) and for South Africa,
this means having to rely on mineral production. Thus, the bishop also feels
that "We need to be talking about what economic sustainability means and
how it can be translated into development for people, and how our minerals can
develop this country. Not how it only benefits shareholders"
(paragraph 12).
The
problem of inequality that South Africa faces seems to be a growing issue for
many poor countries as globalization continues to cause more and more
exploitation of people in poor nations. South Africa is a good example of
dependency theory since they are dominated and exploited by the mining
companies just so other people can live well while they are forced to suffer
and live so poorly. The idea of comparative advantage is also represented as
South Africa is to rely on mineral production since it is "what they do
best." However, most of the population is still poor since they don't reap
the benefits of their so called comparative advantage. Bishop Jo Seoka speaks
the truth when he talks about how corporations dominate the ideas and values of
our world. It is apparent that all these companies are concerned with is
finding labor as cheap as possible. They do not care about the actual
conditions that these poor people work and live in and the effects that it has
on their lives simply because they would rather have convenience and cheap
labor. I also agree with the bishop when he states that economic sustainability
needs to be translated into development for people. What has become the problem
today is that many companies are only concerned with their own profits and
benefits, only wanting to make money, rather than actually having concern for the
people they exploit and helping these people in these poorer countries better
develop instead of making their situation worse. Therefore, I believe that
globalization has worsened the conditions of many people around the world and
that it is something that needs a better resolution. This example of South
Africa gives only a small insight into what the situation is like in many peripheral
countries today.
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