TIGed

Switch headers Switch to TIGweb.org

Are you an TIG Member?
Click here to switch to TIGweb.org

HomeHomeExpress YourselfPanoramaEthics in Development: Conduct-World fictional interview
Panorama
a TakingITGlobal online publication
Search



(Advanced Search)

Panorama Home
Issue Archive
Current Issue
Next Issue
Featured Writer
TIG Magazine
Writings
Opinion
Interview
Short Story
Poetry
Experiences
My Content
Edit
Submit
Guidelines
Ethics in Development: Conduct-World fictional interview Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by Samuel, United Kingdom Nov 20, 2008
Political Thought , Globalization , Environment   Interviews

  

This is a fictional interview by Conduct-World Magazine on the topic “Ethics of Development”.

Conduct-World Good Evening Samuel, How are you today?
Samuel Odekunle: I’m doing great, welcome to my home.

CW: Thanks Samuel, Do you want to give us a brief introduction of yourself and what you do?
SO: Sure, Hello Everyone. I am Samuel Odekunle originally from Nigeria but living in the UK right now- I previously lived in Trinidad and Tobago, in fact I’m a resident over there- I am just about to finish my second degree in Law and Economics and I am very passionate about international development, with a particular interest in Youth Affairs. I am a member and virtual volunteer with TakingITGlobal and also a member of GYCA amongst others. I am also the co-founder and director of a small international group called the Global Strategic Youth Partnership, currently still in its development stages.

CW: That’s interesting, so what do you plan to do when you finish your degree program?
SO: Take over the world! [Laughs] … Well, I really want to get more involved in development, particularly in terms of working with international organizations such as the UN, WHO and the World Bank, just to mention a few. I really envision myself as one day becoming an adviser to the UN Secretary General or something like that.
CW: Big ambitions
SO: Definitely; a friend of mine would always say “Think Big, Score Big” I have adopted that ethos in my life.

CW: That’s great, and the word you mentioned, ethos, brings us to the issue we will be dealing with today, which is Ethics in Development. Can you tell us what comes to mind when you hear the phrase?
SO: Hmm… That’s an interesting topic you have there. Well the first thing that comes to mind for me is “What are Ethics and how do they affect Development?” I think once you are able to answer those two questions then you are on the path to discovering the ambits of Ethics in Development.
CW: Ok
SO: You see, Ethics is all about right and wrong; it’s all about morality. Development also tends to have a moral dimension to it.

CW: Can you explain that?
SO: Of course. You see, Development is subjective. That means it is relative to the individual or area as the case may be. For instance one community might see Development as expanding their borders physically and otherwise and using the mined resources to achieve these goals while another community might see Development as developing methods to secure what they already have. Now can you imagine what would happen if these two communities were neighboring communities?
CW: That’s an interesting analogy
SO: Yes I know, but often it takes looking at things at the extreme ends of the spectrum to truly realize the gravity of the issue at hand.

CW: Do you think there are serious contentions in terms of Ethics in Development?
SO: Oh yes! We live in a world that comprises over one hundred and fifty nations, each with its own agenda, each with its own perspective on what development is, each with small communities that have their own take on development and everyone with a different priority. Development is a very big buzz word today; actually it has been for the last 50 years or so.

CW: So are you saying that ethics hinder development?
SO: When you talk right or wrong, there will always be a party which thinks something is right that would seem wrong in the eyes of another. That’s just the way the world is. But even when we come closer to the middle of the spectrum, we have instances where what is ethically or morally right cannot be done because of its negative impact on Development. For example, before the advent of the recycling era, even organizations that were against the cutting down of trees needed to communicate their messages to governments and other policy-makers. How did they do this? They wrote letters on paper, which came from trees. [Laughs] Yes, I know it seems like an oversimplified example, but you get the point I’m trying to make?
CW: Yes I do.

SO: Speaking about “green stuff”, now look at the USA, one of the most developed nations of the world. Yet they were not a signatory to the Kyoto accord. Why not? It’s simple, industrialization is a key component of the developmental process in the USA and industrialization is adverse to the issues covered in Kyoto. Now many organizations and states frowned at the US policy and would have considered this ethically wrong, but do you really think the Americans would have thought so? No. At the end of the day Development is about economics, it’s about wealth management, it is about poverty alleviation but at the same time, there are many roads to get there depending on each country. This I alluded to earlier.

CW: Thank you Samuel for that brief insight in to the issue
SO: Thank you for the opportunity.





 1     


Tags

You must be logged in to add tags.

Writer Profile
Samuel


I'm 26 years old.
And this is my creed.
My voice is a tool in destiny's toolbox.
My words are the ammo of providence's slingshot.
My thoughts are the paths in fate's journey,
My intentions projections of success divine.
I write because I choose to speak
of the things the cause the world to spin.
I write because I can
and i believe my words will someday make an impact.
I'm not an agent of change as some many conclude or think.
I'm just the wind that blows and spreads the forest fire.
Join me and together we can walk to destiny's dream.

Love to all
I'm not a poet
I'm just me
Comments
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.