Cayla Barbour

Tom & Grace

GST 101 002
2/20/2012
My Responsibility in Global Inequality
Question: Do I bear any responsibility to the harm/ injustice behind the global
inequality?

My stance: I am responsible for my decisions that may contribute to the

injustice behind the global inequality, but I am not responsible for the harm
or injustice to this situation as a whole.

Reasoning: According to Pogge, I bear responsibility because I live in a major

country and I support much of what my country does that creates this
inequality, whether or not I am aware of that fact. Because I am in a top
1% country, I take advantage of the crops grown, textiles made, and oil
produced by the hands of smaller, less powerful nations. Despite these
beliefs, after deep examination and thinking as a system, just how
responsible am I for the global inequality? I am not fabulously wealthy in my
own country; I try not to be wasteful as much as possible; and I am one
person.
Personally, I dont believe I am solely responsible for the global
situation. I am a contributor, but in some ways that it is out of my control. If I

stop eating this stolen food, will they stop serving it? If I tell my friends
they are contributors, but they do not share my beliefs, will my one tiny
effort affect the world as much as the combined effort would? I understand
that is not what Pogge is posing, but his goal is our awareness, and if I am
aware, I want to make a difference and I will try to advocate for this, but that
is not going to stop everyone I inform.
I think the major governmental and economical officials are more at
fault than anyone. They provide the goods that fuel inequality, and we
respond to them because of their influence. Awareness is of course the
answer, and maybe if I work for this on the corporate levels, and find a way
to make equality more profitable, than I can be held more responsible for this
situation, but at this present time, I am only at fault for my small decisions to
ignore that my clothes and food come from resources forced from other
areas. To rectify it, I can encourage awareness, and continue to give back as
a local and global activist. I try give as much as I take, and for what I take I
can consider myself responsible.

Outline:
I.

Pogge
a. I bear responsibility because I live in a major country and I
support much of what my country does that creates this
inequality, whether or not I am aware of that fact.
b. I take advantage of the crops grown, textiles made, and oil

II.

produced by the hands of smaller, less powerful nations.

Degree of my Responsibility

a. I dont believe I am solely responsible for the global situation.

i. I am a contributor, but in some ways that it is out of my
control.
ii. Will my one tiny effort affect the world as much as the
combined effort would?
iii. Pogge: goal is our awareness, and if I am aware, I want
to make a difference and I will try to advocate for this,
III.

IV.

but that is not going to stop everyone I inform.

Whos really at fault?
a. The major governmental and economical officials
b. They provide the goods that fuel inequality, and we respond
to them because of their influence.
Awareness is the answer
a. Maybe if I work for this on the corporate levels/ Find a way to
make equality more profitable
b. Right now, I am only at fault for my small decisions (I.e
ignore)
c. To rectify it
i. I can encourage awareness
ii. Continue to give back as a local and global activist
d. I try give as much as I take, and for that I consider myself
responsible.