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Week 7: Challenges in SD


Salam all, this week, I learnt new knowledge about the challenges we face in achieving sustainability, and it truly opened my eyes to how complex and interconnected these issues are. I was especially struck by the idea that sustainability is not just about protecting the environment, but also about building a fair society and a just economy with good governance. Alhamdulillah, I feel grateful to be exposed to this deeper understanding, because now I realise that injustice and inequality are at the heart of many unsustainable practices in the world today.

One thing that really stayed with me was the comparison between the income of an average African person and the subsidy received by a cow in Europe. SubhanAllah, it's heartbreaking to think that a human being struggling to survive gets just about the same as an animal does in a wealthier country. It made me reflect on the global imbalance we live in, and how much work still needs to be done to make things fair. Truly, how can we talk about sustainability when basic justice is missing?

I also learnt that inequities exist in many forms, not just economically, but culturally, socially, even in education and language. These hidden layers of inequality affect people’s lives in ways we often overlook. For example, differences in family background or language can shape someone’s access to opportunities, and this creates long-term disadvantages. It reminded me that if we want to build a sustainable future, we need to fix the systems that cause these inequalities in the first place.

Alhamdulillah, learning all this makes me feel more aware and responsible. As a student, I hope to be part of the solution—by being more conscious of the issues, by speaking up for justice, and by making choices that support fairness and sustainability. I believe that with the right knowledge and sincere intentions, we can move closer to a world that truly values both people and the planet.

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