Case Study 1: Bhutan and Gross National Happiness

South Africa

1.

Achieve Universal Primary Education

Target 3- Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling

Education empowers the youth and provides a stepping stone for personal development. I believe that knowledge is power and
education holds the key that is needed to break the cycle of poverty.
2.

Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Target 1- Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than USD 1 a day

People who live on less than $1 have little money to save and this leads to a vicious cycle as people who already face hardships are left
vulnerable and cannot improve their socio-economic circumstances. As a result I believe that the MDG should be a priority for South
Africa
3.

Combat HIV/ AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases

Target 7- Have halted by 2015, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/ AIDS

In South Africa there is an estimated 6.4 million people living with the disease. Diseases negatively affects a country in terms of wealth
as there is a decrease in productivity and an increase in unemployment. There should be more done to combat diseases as they not only
lower the countrys life expectancy but also negatively impacts the standard of living and the economy of the country.
4.

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Target 10- Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water

Statistically speaking there are 16 million people who dont have access to sufficient sanitation and a further 3.5 million people who do
not have access to safe drinking water. If we are unable to accomplish the task at hand we are failing the people of the country as water
is a basic need and is fundamental for human existence.
5.

Reduce Child Mortality

Target 5- Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate

Every child has the ability to become key role players in their community. Every time a child dies you risk the loss of a future innovator.
Children make up the next generation of life. You cannot put a value on a childs life as it would be considered a crime to rob an innocent child of the right to
life.
6.

Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Target 4- Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005 and in all levels of education no later
than 2015

It will allow young children to learn to accept one another from an early age and this acceptance will transcend into adulthood which is
crucial. Traditional gender roles have been reversed and women have the same capabilities as men in the workplace and should therefore be given the
same opportunities as men.
7.

Improve Maternal Health

Target 6- Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality rate

A mothers love cannot be replaced and children need healthy mothers in order to flourish in life. Mothers play a key role in the
development stages of a childs life.
8.

Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Target 16- In cooperation with the developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth

Qualified and skilled youth are the driving force behind the development process of a country. Job creation is fundamental for socioeconomic development as people with good jobs tend to have a better standard of living
A few factors contributed towards the compilation of my final list. Debates derived from my prioritising of universal primary education.
Many people ranked the Millennium Development Goal for eradicating extreme poverty and hunger as the most important goal. I had to
differ from most of my peers as I believe that education should take precedence over all other MDGs. Eradicating poverty and hunger is
a short term resolution and the goal cannot be guaranteed to help future generations. In contrast, education has a lasting effect over
generations. My viewpoint was supported by a fellow student, L de Wet who had the following opinion on education I would debate
that promoting education can solve a countrys illness on a long term basis and not just numb the illnesss symptoms
on a short term basis. I believe that education is the starting point and that through education poverty and extreme hunger can be
significantly reduced. I have reconsidered my placing of the Millennium Development Goal that focuses on eradicating extreme hunger
and poverty. A fellow student, J Padayachee, held the opinion that saving human life in all aspects is far more important than
education. Although I firmly stand by placement of education I do agree with the stance that a persons life is invaluable and should be
of the upmost importance hence the revision of my list. There are laws that exist with regards to the minimum wage but these laws are
not always followed as there are a substantial amount of people who are still living on $1 (R11 Rand) a day. More needs to be done to
ensure people are paid an acceptable amount of money for their services . If people do not earn above the minimum wage their basic
human right to life is violated as their standard of living is compromised as they cannot meet basic needs and uplift themselves from
poverty.
Wealth doesnt necessarily equate to happiness. I believe wealth and the level of happiness one experiences is a subjective matter. For
instance:

A person may be poor and happy/ A person may be poor and unhappy
A person may be wealthy and happy/ A person may be wealthy and unhappy

From this I can conclude that merely Gross National Happiness is not a reliable way to measure the development of a country. Happiness
with other factors taken into consideration can possibly stimulate the economy of a country. This derives from the philosophy that the
happier people are the more productive they will be and this in turn will drive the economy of a country.
A person who is wealthy will have a better standard of living than a poor person. This is because they are financially stable and can
easily meet all basic needs where else a poor person faces financial hardships to meet basic needs.

References

Linde van der I HIV/AIDS in South Africa: At last the glass is half full
http://www.hsrc.ac.za/en/media-briefs/hiv-aids-stis-and-tb/plenary-session-3-20-june-2013-hiv-aids-in-south-africa-at-last-theglass-is-half-full
Date of use: 19 July 2014)
Report on the Right to Access Sufficient Water and Decent Sanitation in South Africa
http://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/report_right_access_water_sanitation2014_a.pdf
(Date of use: 20 July 2014)