Learning about the Sustainable Development goals has been eye-opening for me from many aspects. Every single goal aims to eradicate or at least reduce the world's biggest issues so they are all important in specific contexts. For the purpose of this reflective piece of writing, I will reflect on two of the goals that I am especially drawn to, given my personal background. 

 

The first goal that I am interested in addressing is the one that aims to reduce inequalities. I feel strongly for the most disadvantaged members of our society. As Thomas Reid wrote in his essay on the Intellectual Powers of Man, "a chain is as strong as its weakest link". I believe that to be completely true. I think part of the human moral is to care for others, to share, to practise selflessness and to do good to others even though nothing other than personal satisfaction can be gained through it. Caring for the weaker or less advantaged should be at the centre of our societies as well as empowering individuals to achieve goals. We are all different and that is exactly why we need each other. 

 

The second goal that I consider equally important is climate action. There is only one planet in which we can live (that we are aware of now) and its resources are limited. If we continue to abuse its limited resources by over-producing goods, wasting energy and over-consuming, life on earth will not be possible anymore at some point. Sustainable development goals such as number 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on land) are directly related to the climate action issue. The central problem that we are facing in today's society is the kind of capitalism that places too much value in owning as much as possible, at any cost. This topic also affects the matter of poverty addressed before. There seems to be no limits in terms of how much a person can own and consume as long as they have the money for it.

 

In conclusion, all world issues that the sustainable development goals are targeting, seem to be linked together by injustice and selfishness. The real issue is in the central values of our societies that put more weight on money than life itself and the wellbeing of the planet and everyone living in it.