Unequal debates on ethics leadership around the world

Issued by SABC Education Digital Online: Africa is one of the major players in global politics. Like all other players, African countries are subject to international codes of good practice, politically and otherwise.

One of the debates raging across Africa in the recent past concerns the International Criminal Court (ICC). Since its inception in July 2002, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) has faced two primary critiques: first that it has been inefficient, and second that it has preoccupied itself with Africa and failed to investigate equally severe conflicts elsewhere. These criticisms do not arise in a vacuum, however, and must be understood within the context of the court’s recent creation, administrative and personnel challenges, legal impediments imposed by the Rome Statute, and external pressure to prosecute as many cases as possible in order to satisfy its value-oriented goal of “guarantee[ing] lasting respect for and the enforcement of international justice.”

Values and ethics enhancing decision-making processes

Issued by SABC Education Digital Online: Values and ethics are often used interchangeably. The terms are linked, and together they form a basis for decision-making. However, they are two separate concepts with their own meanings.

Most people have a certain set of values and a certain code of ethics by which they live. Values are the basic beliefs that an individual thinks to be true. They observe and interact through their own set of values. Values are in a sense the guiding principles in a person’s life. People typically do not deviate from their values. They make decisions regarding good and bad, right and wrong, and what is important or not. Values are motivating in that sense.

Society must be mindful of environmental justice

Issued by SABC Education Digital Online: It is indisputable that the environmental crisis is now one of the most pressing concerns of our planet. In September 2014 environmental activists from across the world descended to Cape Town to devise strategies to put pressure on cities to be mindful of environmental pollution. Cape Town is one of the cities that the activists are concerned about when it comes to pollution.