Rich and Poor by Singer - Book Report/Review Example

Review of 2 Chapters: “Rich and Poor”, “Climate Change” Table of Contents Review of Chapter 8: “Rich and Poor” 3 Overview of the Chapter 3 Reactions to the Chapter 3 Description of the Chapter 3 Respond to the Author’s Opinion 4 Explore Issues 4 Relate to Larger Issues 5 Conclusion 5 Review of Chapter 9: “Climate Change” 6 Overview of the Chapter 6 Reactions to the Chapter 7 Description of the Chapter 7 Respond to the Author’s Opinion 7 Explore Issues 7 Relate to Larger Issues 8 Conclusion 8 Reference 10 Review of Chapter 8: “Rich and Poor” Overview of the Chapter In the 8th chapter titled, “Rich and Poor”, Singer (2011) emphasises the two sides of one coin referring to the differences persistent among the poor and the rich even in the current societal context. When elaborating on the differences, Singer (2011) highlighted the sufferings of the poor and pleasures of the rich. According to the discussion of the chapter, in one hand, poor people lack the basic facilities of living and on the other hand, the rich and the fortunate ones have surplus money to spend in luxurious living even after having their basic needs satisfied. The chapter thus discusses about the current situation where apart from poverty, people are dying from natural disasters and other diseases. Singer (2011) also argues in this chapter that everyone can help the poor directly through the organizations taking initiatives to help the poor by sufficing their fundamental needs. Simultaneously, the growing population was the other important consideration highlighted in the chapter, further arguing that it should be brought under control. With the increase in population, the distributions of basic amenities are diminishing, resulting in malnutrition, poor sanitation and health treatment and unsafe drinking water. Reactions to the Chapter Description of the Chapter The chapter on “Rich & Poor” argues with a number of interesting themes. However, among others, the most interesting and argumentative theme was concerning the differences between the rich and the poor and how can such gaps be minimized. It is a factual matter that rich people are using the poor as steps towards their profits with only a negligible proportion of value addition to the living of the poor. Thus, as a result, the rich are became affluent and the poor are becoming increasingly poverty-stricken (Singer, 2011). Respond to the Author’s Opinion From a critical perspective, Singer (2011) can be stated to have noted it rightly that if the rich people are sacrificing their luxurious dreams and are committed to serving the poor delivering a bit greater value to their choices, this difference shall be minimised accordingly. People should encourage the development and welfare of the needy towards the successful establishment of governmental measures to suffice the basic needs of the community. As Singer (2011) quotes, “We can juxtapose a picture of ‘absolute affluence’ against this picture of absolute poverty” (pp. 193). Explore Issues In chapter 8, Singer (2011) raises many critical and important issues that should be considered when dealing with poverty. Among these various issues, the arguments drawn in the chapter that the citizens of a country must take greater onus in dealing with poverty was indeed crucial. Singer (2011) also explored that rising population is the most important concern, which is the root cause of poverty and abnormal distribution of the resources. Expanding the views, this chapter further relates poverty with maximised degree of health problems and mortality rates within countries. The chapter also addresses and explores the issue that extreme poverty increases gaps in the wealth distribution of an economy. It is thus that greater attention must be delivered by the government in motivating citizens to contribute for the development of the poor in the nation. As Singer (2011) addresses, many Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are currently working actively to assist the poor with basic amenities like food, cloth and health care services, which provides greater scope to the common citizens to contribute for the poor and benefit the economy overall. Relate to Larger Issues Apparently, the discussion in Chapter 8 of the referred book relates to larger issues in relation to poverty. For instance, Singer (2011) argues that as the poor lack enough education they are forced to perform hard manual labors at cheap costs to earn their meal per day. Poverty also fuels the issue of child labor in a nation, diminishing the future development of the economy further. With such inhibitions, the poverty challenges faced by the nation are quite likely to sustain in the long-term, making the issue more hostile1. Conclusion From the discussion of chapter 8, it becomes apparent that the issues highlighted are paramount to any country of the modern era that correlates with the long-term achievements of the entire nation. Exploring the further grave challenges related to poverty, Singer (2011) explores issues like population increases, deaths and diseases to be brought under control. The only solution that this chapter emphasises is to curtail the differences between rich and poor, by providing opportunities for the poor, which is only possible with citizens taking greater onus to the matter. Review of Chapter 9: “Climate Change” Overview of the Chapter In chapter 9, Singer (2011) discusses about the ethical responsibilities of every human being, as primary requisites to the development of the country’s natural resources. This chapter emphasises the issue that resources are used abnormally, resulting in calamities such as flood, earthquake, drought and global warming among others. Singer (2011) thus argues that natural resources should be utilized within the limit to keep the atmosphere under control. To justify the arguments, this chapter also draws the readers’ attention that in the past few years, for global warming the number of deaths have increased as compared to previous years. Elaborating on the issue, Singer (2011) asserts that because of the rising temperature, crops are failing to grow, safe drinking water is becoming increasingly unavailable, further giving rise to different kinds of climate-sensitive diseases. In addition, as the chapter elaborates, due to global warming ice is melting faster in the polar region, besides that greenhouse gases such as carbon-dioxide, methane and ozone, which must be brought under control to save the earth. People’s carelessness for the natural resources and the atmosphere also has led to the further deterioration of life on earth. It is thus that Singer (2011) suggests reduction target for the greenhouse gases as critical so that the temperature can be controlled. Hence, the chapter focuses that proper measures should be taken to evaluate how much gas the environment could absorb without increasing the temperature. Singer (2011) also argues with the perspective that it is the responsibility of every individual to reduce the rate of global warming by curtailing the use of fossils fuels, saving for the better use of water, helping the needy people, and using the resources within limit so that the next generation can live peacefully. Reactions to the Chapter Description of the Chapter The chapter emphasises that climate change has become the most crucial topic in the present situation. With the increasing temperature, the risk of the lives has also increased substantially. By analysing the causes of global warming, it has further become important to look after the left over resources so that the environment can be saved. Respond to the Author’s Opinion Observably, in the stated chapter, Singer (2011) wishes to remind everyone about their responsibility and duty towards this situation. Human activities against environment and rapid industrial developments have been a few of the causes to increasing temperature of the environment. It is thus that people should take measures against drought and flood so that the situation can be controlled and the effect of these disasters can be minimized. Explore Issues In chapter 9, Singer (2011) explores various issues related to preventive measures to be taken against drought, flood, earthquake and other disasters in relation to climate change and the involvement of people in the same. Singer (2011) thus argues that with the increase of the ozone layer in the atmosphere, the chances of skin cancer and related diseases have increased today, which demands utmost attention from the various dimensions of human civilization in the current era. The chapter also argues that government should take preventive measures and set a proper planning to reduce the effect of climate change. People should look after their surroundings as well and try to retain environmental cleanliness so that they can cope with the changing situation. Relate to Larger Issues Relating with larger issues associated with climate change, this chapter argues that as the environment affects the agricultural system, proper actions should be taken. Correspondingly, Singer (2011) recommends that by harvesting the rain water and with proper irrigation plan, drought’s affects can be minimized. By proper planning of drainage system, flood effects can also be prevented to a large extent. As the chapter narrates, because of high temperature, cultivation gets affected failing to fulfill the demand of the country. Hence, different chemicals are used to produce crop in time that may cause many diseases and increase mortality rates within the economy. Climate change has also led to substantial increase of fire outbreaks and stronger storms, worsening natural habitation in places. These further results in the overall economic downfall of a country. Singer (2011) further argues that climate change has also affected the sea levels with accelerated chances of tsunami. It is in these grounds that Singer (2011) argues in the chapter that preventive measure should be taken and it is the duty of every individual to prevent climate change2. Conclusion Referring to the overall discussion of Singer (2011) in chapter 9, the chapter summary shall exhibit that as the climate warms, it changes the entire process of the ecosystem, nature of global rainfall, and ecological, biological as well as geological systems. Global warming has thus emerged as the threat for our global society. The adverse affects of the climate change is however mostly experienced by poor and low-income people, as was argued in the chapter. It is fundamentally because they fail to cope with the changes occurring in the climatic conditions owing to lack of resources and hence fail to recover their losses. Thus, Singer (2011) recommends that natural resources should be distributed within limits and government should take proper action to fight against the adverse situations arising thereon. Reference Singer, P., 2011. Practical Ethics. Cambridge University Press. Read More