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This paper aims to analyze the theoretical-conceptual assumptions concerning cultural heritage and its link with Latin American cultural identity. To achieve this goal, we reflect on cultural heritage as a material, tangible and intangible asset of humanity, whose value is not obtained in a utilitarian way, but through its connection with the ancestral legacy and with social identification towards it. On the other hand, it points out the importance of the ownership and conservation of heritage buildings, which is why cultural management is essential, whose purpose is to summon the citizenry, the State and private entities to respect and value heritage, assuming a responsible, sustainable and sustained attitude towards emblematic historic buildings in Latin America, which have been victims of human intervention, violence, and various natural disasters. Finally, by understanding that adequate care and understanding of the historical, social and philosophical relevance of historical heritage buildings would improve not only the material conditions of the buildings, but also the citizen's conception of their identity and the role they play. as a mechanism of resistance to the changes sponsored by globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the results of the policies applied in Latin America and the Caribbean, based on the study of various economic and social indicators in two groups of countries, one of which is made up of those that formed part of the so-called "progressive wave" of the 21st century (Group 1) and the other of those whose governments responded to liberal orthodoxy by maintaining a neo-liberal economic model (Group D). The structural changes that occurred and their subsequent development are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a Third World vision, the present paper deals with some international methods to evaluate sustainability in Projects and realizations, at architectural and urban scale, in order to, valuate in a comparative way, strengths and weakness, mainly taking into account their possible application in developing countries, and particularly in Cuba. The research started by looking for a method to evaluate sustainability in the University of Informatics Sciences, and it was later on extended with the inclusion of the African experience. The evaluative categories differ from one system to the other, but all of them emphasize the environmental dimension of sustainability. Only two methods coming from developing countries include social dimension and the necessity of an endogenous approach, which is an important current challenge for Latin America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses some of the challenges related to integration and cooperation in Latin America: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a clear platform that involves every country in the region, as well as various actors, and trade negotiations in the twenty-first century, in particular, mega-regional agreements whose scopes are limited to a few countries. Latin America is currently exploring the possibilities of convergence and cooperation in a context of diverse geopolitical interests. This will require adopting a flexible and inclusive approach. The experiences of Asia and Africa in this arena will undoubtedly be relevant. Achieving convergence will be crucial to fostering cooperation and coordinating policies to respond to the challenges of globalization. The region will also have to find new resources and models for national and international funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key aim of this paper is related to discuss -from a theoretical perspective- core aspects regarding humanitarian aid and its link to development processes and conditions. Concept of development, here, will include human dimensions, as well as economic and social aspects. The central claim to uphold in this research focus on the consideration that humanitarian aid -without the feature of credits or eventual financial return- constitute an unquestionable variable to promote social inclusion of sectors that are living under extreme marginal conditions. Fundamental context for this presentation are less developed countries especially those of the Latin American region. Basic conceptual frame of development is based on that which has been formulated by United Nations Organization, since its first worldwide, Human Development Report in 1992. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing economic and political ties between China and Latin America have sparked controversy among scholars, pundits, and policy-makers. Some scholars contend that China is a rising imperial power engaged in a scramble for the resources of the developing world and a competitive threat to Latin America. Others applaud China's unorthodox development strategies and portray China as a successful model for developing countries. This paper interrogates the competing narratives about China's growing influence in Latin America and examines the implications of China's rise for the future of international economic law and international environmental law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two of the solutions that governments propose in order to foster economic and social development are economic growth and international commerce. In this context, a greater understanding of the influence of international commerce and economic growth in undernutrition in Latin America would be necessary; this is the objective of this paper, that we achieve thanks to the bibliography available. Concerning the fight to undernutrition, both solutions separately are not enough, and the improvement of undernutrition indexes in Latin America should be accompanied with measures that allow the deprived people to benefit from commerce and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows a conceptual synthesis of the project proposed for the city of Mérida as as Urban Biosphere Reserve, based on the particular space physical qualitiethat define the significance of the place, as enclaved into the mountains surrounded by unique natural landscapes. This project has its justification in the degradation of the environment that has undergone Mérida as a product of an uncontrolled and disordered urban growth and the outdatedl concepts of the urban planing normative that do not respond in time with the exigencies of the dynamics and contemporary city. This work is based in the sustainable development and the urban ecology, on which the theoretical contributions of architect Ruben Pesci are fundamental since they look for the solution of the problems oriented to the Latin American city. The article concludes with an intention of zoning of the city of Mérida under the criteria established by this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third millennium begins in a globalized world: 6.3 thousand million people, 850 millions hungry, 1,200 without drinkable water, 2,400 without proper healthcare, 850 millions illiterate, 10 million children die annually. Meanwhile, 10% of the population enjoys 70% of wealth. Social explosions, wars, hurricanes, earthquakes, environmental contamination, floods, global heating, AIDS, proliferate. Rural communities have economic and socially collapsed, unemployment increases for technologies of low labor force, migration to the cities persists. The "Green Revolution", of specialized and industrialized agriculture of developed countries has generated environmental conflicts and has not been any solution. The geophagy and power thirst of countries and political leaders, generate more unbalanced distribution of wealth. In our planet, positive results with agroecological systems of production are plentiful, demonstrating its possibility to solve great number of problems. In Latin America and Cuba, large number of experiences based on knowledge of rural and indigenous traditions, research and commercial production exist, with feasible solutions for this called third world", where the neediest countries are. There are possible roads to reach the desired agricultural development. This paper summarizes some examples of these advances. The future challenge is to integrate agroecosystems components to achieve synergies, consolidating holistic agroecological systems, with biological, productive, economic, energetics and environmental efficiency. It is hopefull to think in an agroecological future together to political will for the economic and social development, can contribute in a high degree to liberate our third world countries of the critical current situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I show the experience obtained in Mexico and Latin America from the application of the Methodological Framework for the Evaluation of Management Systems with Sustainability Indicators between 1999 and 2005. These are diverse efforts to increase and evaluate the sustainability of agro ecosystems under various conditions, with different constraints and results; in some cases, these include the comparison of contrasting systems and, in others, the changes obtained for the same system under alternative ways of management. All the cases are attempts to make operative the concept of sustainability applied to sustainable development, specifically supported over the experience of evaluating agro ecosystems under the conditions of the Latin American countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]