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The paper intends to examine a specific area of research concerning the pollution of large rivers – the Tiber above all but not exclusively – and the resulting contamination of water and air as well as the depletion of fish fauna and related food risks. The data on the damage to fluvial (but also lake and marine) habitats are not presented by the intellectuals of the Flavian-Trajan and Antonine ages (Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, Galen) in an ‘environmentalist’ perspective stricto sensu, but each time presented in terms of moral condemnation, or of political propaganda aimed at seeking consensus or even in terms of risk to health and/or possible economic damage. In spite of this, from a legal point of view, appears undeniable a concern of the State to introduce measures aimed at limiting environmental damages as well as protecting and conserving natural resources, although certainly not systematic, but dictated by completely pragmatic needs and by occasional or emergency circumstances.

The Istituto Idrografico della Marina, founded in Genoa in 1872, is responsible for the national hydrographic service and the production of the official nautical documentation, both paper and digital, relating to Italian seas. Today the cartography is entirely produced with the help of the computer and sent to users in digital format or printed on special kinds of paper via digital machines: in short, the process has been strongly standardized and industrialized, losing part of the romantic and of craftsmanship aura it had in the past. The electronic cartographic portfolio published by the Istituto Idrografico consists of 262 charts and is splitted for navigation purposes, ranging from large-scale maps of Italian territorial waters, coasts and main ports, to small-scale maps covering all the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

The following paper is based on a research41 made on school environments that promote learning in children. Its objective was “to determine the physical and socio-emotional factors of school environments that promote learning.” To this end, the investigation had both an exploratory and descriptive approach in terms of the various physical and emotional elements that influence the classroom environment and, therefore, the learning process. In this paper, reference is made only to the data provided by the child population. Such group was comprised of 307 boys and girls of public schools from six provinces in the country, intentionally selected through coordination and negotiation with the authorities of schools that agreed to participate. The data collection instruments used were two questionnaires with closed and open questions, an anecdotal record, and a guide on which the observation technique was performed. The analysis of the information derived from the technique and instruments used was developed by complementing quantitative data with qualitative data. Emerging categories were created to interpret the latter. The information provided by the boys and girls will hopefully serve as input to raise awareness among universities, authorities and teachers about the imperative need for school environments that are aesthetic, pleasant, motivating, comfortable, clean and promote the emotional stability every human being requires for the learning process to be successful.

In 1976, art historian and curator Enrico Crispolti—charged with organizing the show, Ambiente come Sociale, for the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale—radically rethought the exhibition form. In an unconventional move, he strategically chose not to house any artworks within the confines of the gallery space. Instead, he sprawled documentary photographs, videos, texts, pamphlets, and audio recordings on tables like the products of field research. The artworks themselves were site-specific and located elsewhere in various towns and cities across the country. Adhering to the Biennale’s overarching theme of environment and decentralization, Crispolti championed artists working in Arte Ambientale (environmental art), who were making art located in the urban context and social reality. Yet, Crispolti turned the institution’s theme inside out: while visitors came to its center to see the art, they were thrust outwards towards the peripheries, and outside the city, where the actual artworks were sited. The ingenuity of this action, and the re-conception of what could constitute installation art, is evident when Crispolti’s exhibition is compared to Germano Celant’s 1976 Biennale show Ambiente / Arte, a diachronic art historical study of this new art medium. While Celant presented self-referential examples based on formal qualities, Crispolti exponentially broadened the boundaries of installation art to include the environment, urban context, social questions, and political contingency. This paper examines Crispolti’s curatorial strategy as it aligned, but also critiqued, the Biennale as a cultural institution. Furthermore, it frames the exhibition as a medium for artistic innovation, particularly in the definition of environment and installation art.

The multidimensional approach of marital satisfaction includes three dimensions: context, individual and interaction, all of which explain couple relationships. In this paper the elements of each dimension are reanalyzed. In order to achieve this aim, 131 participants from Mexico City answered 3 open-ended questions; these revealed that financial situation, respect, time and shared activities, sense of humor, and personality are the most important elements that influence marital satisfaction.

El propósito de este trabajo es reflexionar sobre la relación existente entre la bioética y la salud ambiental, exponiendo algunos ejemplos del trabajo desarrollado en el área de la Salud Ambiental en Cuba. Se intenta explicar la interacción entre el medio ambiente y la salud de la población, así como los valores morales y éticos que debe tener cada ciudadano frente a la naturaleza, para contribuir a mejorar su salud y garantizar así la supervivencia de las presentes y futuras generaciones.The purpose of present paper is to reflect on the relation between the Bioethics and the Environmental Health showing some examples from the paper developed in the Environmental Health area in Cuba. Authors tried to explain the interaction between the environment and the health of the population, as well as the moral and ethical values indispensable in each citizen in face of nature to contribute to improve its health and to thus guarantee the survival of present and future generations.

Humanity is looking for solutions to the environmental degradation problem, which is generated by the economic and demographic growth, the indiscriminate use of resources, deforestation and pollution. The «sustainable development» concept, which considers social, economical and environmental aspects, was created twenty years ago, but it is still not producing the desired effects, and its application generates discussion, propositions and alternatives. As a geographer, I am interested especially in two aspects, which I consider, could lead the city development to sustainability: 1. adjust the development to the advantages and limitations of the natural media of the region where the city is located, and 2. that the urban activities do not transfer the costs and environmental problems to the surroundings of the city and to the future generations. In this paper I’ll try to put both postulations taking as an example the Yurimaguas city development. This city, located at a strategic point in the route between two oceans, has a past and a future linked to the conditions of the natural environment. The paper has an introduction where the theoretical aspects of both postulations are explained, then comes an analysis and discussion of the relationship between the natural environment and development of the Yurimaguas city, and finally some propositions are suggested to improve the quality of the city environment in order to lead it to a sustainable development.

Santiago, founded in the Universidad de Oriente (1970) by Nils Castro Herrera, appeared until 2001 in paper format, thus closing an editorial cycle that has been called Printed Stage, to distinguish it from the current management model. In its more than three decades as a printed serial, only issues related to Environmental Education were discussed, highlighting in this sense the criteria of Roberto Segre (1985) and Yamila Reytor. This article proposes an approach to these texts, which are part of the documentary legacy of Santiago and constitute an antecedent for the current perspectives of analysis on the subject in the eastern part of the country.

This paper aims to analyze the perceptions of social and environmental aspects related to the practice of adventure activities in nature of 11 elderly participants. It is a descriptive exploratory field search with qualitative approach. After a practical intervention of two adventure activities in nature – stand up paddle and trail – the survey data were obtained by a semi-structured interview, designed specifically for this research. The information collected were organized in NVivo software, version 10.0, and analyzed descriptively by the technique of content analysis. The results show that the participants have the perception of the establishment of positive social relations during the practice intervention, either between the participants or the instructors. About the environmental issues considerations, the participants mentioned several aspects as degradation, conservation, behavior, feelings and actions related to nature; and punctual aspects, such as deforestation, pollution and water shortage.

Moquehue is a small mountain settlement located in Aluminé department, Neuquén, Argentina. It aroses in the 40's, as a product of the development of cattle raising and forestation. Since these activities began, the permanent settlement and first commercial activities appeared, in order to cover the new demands. Nature has given the region a beautiful landscape that acquires value since the 70's, when the population of nearby localities began to usufruct tourism in the region. Even though the lands belong to the Provincial State, since 1984 they are under the control of the Pulmarí Interstate Corporation (PIC), which regulates their use. In 1980, tourism was stimulated by state politics that lead to the growth and expansion of Villa Pehuenia and Moquehue, defining a new territorial configuration, in which different social actors have an active role. In the last decade, this dynamism was accentuated in Moquehue, a zone without regulation of the occupation and in an area with limited provision of services. The objective of this paper was the analysis of territorial transformations promoted by social actors that established the current uses of the land and its environmental consequences, considering the role of municipal and provincial government in these transformations. Research includes compilation of information, interviews and field survey of new occupations. This information was digitized. Four relevant social actors are recognized in the development and growth of Moquehue, linked especially to tourism activity: the municipality, that defines parcels for permanent residential use and services; private actors, that increase accommodation supply; historical local people who subdivide and sell land irregularly, and new actors who settle in the area with permanent residence, linked to other activities that made them choose this place because of its environmental values. As a result, zones with different types of transformation are identified, in which these actors have a decisive role giving different characteristics and dynamics to each one. It can be concluded that the development of tourism in this region has promoted the expansion of Villa Pehuenia-Moquehue, however it has not been accompanied by management and ordering politics aimed in order to preserve the environment. Overlapping jurisdictions and land tenure have placed difficulties in control and regulation of urban growth and land use. This is also evidenced by the lack of infrastructure and provision of basic services in order to improve the life quality of the population, and respond to sustained growth and tourism demands.

Este artigo apresenta resultados de pesquisa que aborda a percepção dos moradores sobre os problemas ambientais, a forma de resolução e os agentes envolvidos. Os problemas ambientais urbanos são pesquisados no nível domiciliar através da percepção que os moradores têm de suas qualidade e condições de vida. Para apresentar as diferenças nas percepções, nas atitudes e nas condições sócio-ambientais do município, foram escolhidas três regiões que representam os estratos de alta, média e baixa renda que residem nas regiões central, intermediária e periférica. Os resultados da pesquisa mostram que, apesar das conhecidas diferenças entre áreas centrais e periféricas, os moradores revelam uma grande dependência da ação governamental. As diferenças na ênfase dada aos problemas entre as três regiões mostram que enquanto os mais excluídos privilegiam o aspecto quantitativo -garantia do acesso ao serviço- os moradores dos bairros centrais e intermediários privilegiam uma perspectiva global do serviço -limpeza dos rios, fontes de água e reservatórios de água. Os resultados reforçam as já bem conhecidas diferenças e desigualdades entre as áreas centrais, intermediárias e periféricas da cidade, sendo que neste complexo contexto urbano, a realidade sócio-ambiental de uma grande parte da população está caracterizada pelas dimensões da exclusão, dos problemas, do risco, da falta de informação e dos canais de participação.This paper reviews the differences in household perceptions of what constitutes environmental problems, what should be done about them, and who should take action. Built on a household survey undertaken in the city of São Paulo, the paper presents the environmental conditions in three selected areas: one central, one intermediate, and one peripheral. People's responses to improve the environment are then compared. In the lower peripheral area, the main concern relates to the lack of service in general, and the major solution would consequently be to expand public investments. The intermediate and central areas are less affected by poor infrastructure; however, they suffer more from air pollution. This is overwhelming in terms of priority in government action. In spite of the differences between central and peripheral regions relating to access to services, both express a very strong dependency on government action.

The paper analyzes the development of Mexican geomorphology and specially its contribution to environmental issues. To this end, a thorough literature review was carried out; papers were differentiated according to the type of journal (Mexican and international). Special emphasis was placed on analyzing whether the interest on environment was derived from a well defined theoretical framework, in particular in terms of the insertion of geomorphology in the geographic arena in Mexico. The review has focused on secientific papers duly refereed and available at the Internet. Thus other research was not included. However, that the database described in this paper represents a solid sample of the entire universe of the efforts of Mexican geomorphologists.

Abstract Health inequalities are very well documented in epidemiological research: rich people live longer and have fewer diseases than poor people. Recently, a growing amount of evidence from environmental sciences confirms that poor people are also more exposed to pollution and other environmental threats. However, research in the social sciences has shown a broad lack of awareness about health inequalities. In this paper, based on data collected in Portugal, we will analyze the consciousness of both health and environmental injustices and test one hypothesis for this social blindness. The results show, even more clearly than before, that public opinion tends to see rich and poor people as being equally susceptible to health and environmental events. Furthermore, those who have this equal view of the world present lower levels of depression and anxiety. Following cognitive adaptation theory, this “belief in an equal world” can be interpreted as a protective positive illusion about social justice, particularly relevant in one of the most unequal countries in Europe.

The concern with the entry and exit of veterinary antimicrobials in the environment is rising, taking into account the expressive increase of intensive systems of poultry farming. The presence of several classes of antimicrobials in poultry litter, material with a varying composition which is distributes over the floor of sheds, and that has been thrown in agricultural soil after prohibition of its use in animal feed, has contributed to increase the presence of these compounds in soil and surface water. Although Brazil is the third largest producer of chicken meat, only few studies that investigate the presence of these compounds in poultry litter and in the environment have been described. Considering these aspects, this paper aims to present a discussion about poultry litter as a source of antimicrobials to the environment, as well as levels of these compounds found in other matrices, based on a literature research performed between 1999 to 2013 in the databases Web of Science, SciFinder, and Scopus. Gaps in this knowledge area are pointed out as suggestions for future studies, which could provide tools to improve decision for treatment and/or final disposal of waste generated by poultry farming.

This paper summarizes the recent findings from studies investigating the potential environmental modulation of the genetic variation of apolipoprotein genes on metabolic traits. We reviewed nutrigenetic studies evaluating variations on apolipoproteins-related genes and its associated response to nutrients (mostly dietary fatty acids) or any other dietary or environmental component. Most revised research studied single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and specific nutrients through small intervention studies, and only few interactions have been replicated in large and independent populations (as in the case of -265T > C SNP in APOA2 gene). Although current knowledge shows that variations on apolipoprotein genes may contribute to the different response on metabolic traits due to dietary interventions, evidence is still scarce and results are inconsistent. Success in this area will require going beyond the limitations of current experimental designs and explore the hypotheses within large populations. Some of these limitations are being covered by the rapidly advance in high-throughput technologies and large scale-genome wide association studies.

A temática saúde e ambiente vem sendo amplamente discutida através de disciplinas tanto do campo da saúde quanto das ciências ambientais. No âmbito de uma visão ampliada de saúde, torna-se desejável que os profissionais desse campo de conhecimento apresentem um maior envolvimento na discussão acerca da temática saúde e ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar e compreender as percepções, ideias e imagens de alguns profissionais da Saúde da Família sobre a articulação entre saúde e ambiente. A presente pesquisa foi realizada na perspectiva das Ciências Sociais sendo desenvolvida no contexto da abordagem qualitativa. Realizou-se a análise das informações obtidas de profissionais pertencentes a uma regional de Saúde de Belo Horizonte. Para a definição do número de participantes, foi utilizado o critério de saturação. Como técnica de análise das informações, utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo, desenvolvida na perspectiva da representação social. A coleta de informações foi realizada através de entrevistas semiestruturadas. A partir da análise das informações obtidas, foram apreendidas duas categorias de análise. Foi possível observar que, apesar da significativa percepção em relação à interação entre saúde e ambiente, essa percepção se mostra limitada e reducionista. A despeito de toda a complexidade do sistema de organização da Saúde da Família na atenção à saúde, a discussão sobre saúde e ambiente, como um saber necessário à prática ampliada da saúde, parece não se fazer presente de maneira abrangente e integrada com a discussão atual. Encontra-se, ainda, desvinculada de um enfoque ecossistêmico de saúde.La temática salud y ambiente ha sido ampliamente discutida en todas las disciplinas del campo de las ciencias de la salud y del medio ambiente. Dentro de una visión ampliada de la salud, es deseable que los profesionales en este campo del conocimiento tienen una mayor participación en la discusión sobre los temas de la saludy el medio ambiente. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar y comprender las percepciones, ideas e imágenes de algunos profesionales de la salud de la familia sobre la relación entre la salud y el medio ambiente. Esta encuesta se llevó a cabo desde la perspectiva de las ciencias sociales que se desarrollan en el contexto de un enfoque cualitativo. Hemos llevado a cabo el análisis de la información de los profesionales que pertenecen a una regional de salud de Belo Horizonte. Para definir el número de participantes, el criterio de saturación. Como técnica para el análisis de la información se utilizó el análisis de contenido, desarrollado desde la perspectiva de la representación social. La recolección de datos se realiza a través de entrevistas semi-estructuradas. A partir del análisis de la información incautada había dos categorías de análisis. Se observó que, a pesar de la percepción significativa con respecto a lainteracción entre la salud y el medio ambiente, muestra que la percepción es limitada yreduccionista. A pesar de la complejidad del sistema de organización de la salud de la familia en el cuidado de la salud, la discusión sobre la salud y el medio ambiente, como un conocimiento práctico necesario para la salud ampliado, parece no estar presente en un amplio e integrado con el debate actual. Quedarse quieta, alejada de un enfoque ecosistémico para la salud.The thematic of health and environment has been widely discussed by both disciplines in the health and environmental sciences. Within an expanded vision of health it is necessary that professionals in this field of knowledge have a greater involvement in the discussion on the theme of health and environment. The objective of this paper is to identify and understand the perceptions, ideas and images of some public health professionals from the Family Health about the connection between health and environment. This survey was conducted from the perspective of social sciences being developed in the context of a qualitative approach. The analysis of information was obtained from professionals at a regional of health. For the definition of number of participants the criterion of saturation was used. As technical analysis of the information has been used content analysis, developed from the perspective of social representation. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews. From the analysis of information two categories of analysis were seized. Despite the significant insight regarding the interaction between environment and health, it was observed that this perception is limited and reductionist. Despite all the complexity of the organization of the Family Health in health care, the discussion on health and environment, as a practical knowledge necessary to expanded health, doesn't seems to be present in a comprehensive and integrated way with the current discussion. Lying still, separated from an ecosystem approach to health.

La infección por Helicobacter pylori afecta a más del 50 % de la población mundial y constituye la causa principal del desarrollo de afecciones como úlceras gástricas y duodenales, y el cáncer gástrico. Aún así, se conoce que la mayoría de las personas infectadas no desarrollan ninguna de estas enfermedades porque la patogénesis inducida por este microorganismo depende de diferentes factores que incluyen características del hospedero, el ambiente en el que se desarrolla y la cepa infectante. En este trabajo se revisó y actualizó el tema de la patogénesis de la infección por H. pylori para ampliar el conocimiento de los principales factores que conducen al desarrollo de las afecciones severas y, por tanto, coadyuvar al mejor tratamiento de esta infección en nuestra población, que tiene alta prevalencia de H. pylori.Infection due to Helicobacter pylori affects to more than 50% of world population and it is the leading cause of development of affections like gastric and duodenal ulcers and the gastric cancer. Even so, it is known that most of persons infected don't developed any of these diseases because of the pathogenesis induced by this microorganism depends of different factors including host features, the environment where it is developed and the infectious strain. In present paper the subject on pathogenesis of infection due to H. pylori was reviewed and updated to expand the knowledge of the main factors leading to the development of severe affections and thus, contribute to a better treatment of this infection in our population, due to the high prevalence of H. pylori.

This article approaches biodiversity and traditional knowledge, having the notion of risk as its background. The data presented come from an ethnographic study carried out among a network of ecological farmers, Ecovida, in Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Ecovida is an agro-ecological network of farm producers, consumers and intermediaries. The paper aims to show that in the global context of the advent of the intellectual property regime, especially the provisions on cultivars (plant variety and seed breeding), biodiversity and farming traditional knowledge, as well as their modes of plant breeding, suffer a double "erosion": the decrease on the availability of crop varieties; and it creates a uniformity and depleting of local knowledge. The potential standardization of seeds and knowledge entices new risks to both rural production and social sustainability. Our argument is that all these social actors -- that compose the so called ecological network -- in their activities, seeking to carry on the multiplication and variability of seeds and promote the diversity of knowledge, are also creating collective strategies of social resistance vis a vis nature and knowledge modes of control. As a political outcome of the collective efforts, the network of participatory certification works revealing the risk homogenization and corporate control over crop production.

Trabalhos de geografia médica sobre hanseníase discutem o papel da ocupação dos territórios como fundamento da permanência de focos leprógenos. No Brasil, os Estados que apresentam as mais altas taxas de detecção, historicamente, se localizam na região amazônica, o que evidencia uma desigual evolução regional da doença. Este trabalho analisa a evolução da hanseníase contextualizando os processos migratórios que ocorreram no Estado de Mato Grosso a partir da segunda metade do século XX. O crescimento econômico ocorrido no Estado nas décadas de 1970, 1980 e 1990 provocou taxas de crescimento populacional maiores que a média nacional. Os dados analisados permitem uma associação entre o crescimento e dispersão dos coeficientes de detecção da hanseníase com o processo de ocupação do território mato-grossense. Entretanto, a permanência da hanseníase em municípios da Baixada Cuiabana, assim como em outros municípios que sofreram perda de população, parece apontar a existência de contextos geográficos de diferentes vulnerabilidades à produção social da doença. A migração explicaria a instalação e evolução da hanseníase, entretanto consideramos que a manutenção da endemia pode estar associada a fatores contextuais relacionados com o ambiente.Studies on medical geography about leprosy discuss the role of the detailed report of the occupation of the territories as a basis of the permanence of leprosy focus. In Brazil, the states that present the highest rates of detection historically are in the Amazon region, which shows an uneven regional evolution of the disease. This paper analyzes the evolution of leprosy contextualizing the migratory processes that occurred in the State of Mato Grosso since the second half of the 20th century. The economic dynamism that occurred in the State in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s caused population growth rates higher than the national average. The data analyzed permitted an association between the evolution of leprosy and the process of occupation of the mato-grossense territory. However, the permanence of leprosy in the municipalities of the Baixada Cuiabana, as well as in other municipalities that lost population, seem to point to the existence of geographic contexts of different vulnerability to the social production of the disease in the tate. The migration would explain the appearance and evolution of leprosy. However, we consider that the maintenance of the endemic can be associated to contextual factors related to environment.

The purpose of this paper is to present, through episodes, modifications made by the teacher during the interaction in the research environment, a state public school in the outskirts of Belem. Were analyzed four episodes, in which we see significant changes in his posture classroom. The episodes are meant to highlight these changes, which we believe are the interactions of the characters from the environment, the teacher with the teacher-researcher and it with his students

La posibilidad de construir y de consolidar grupos de trabajo académico en el contexto universitario es una tarea fundamental. El desarrollo de comunidades y de capital social permite que la producción de esos grupos se potencie, por lo tanto, resulta prioritario comprender la dinámica de esas categorías, evidenciando si su estructura posibilita trabajos grupales. El objetivo de esta investigación consistió en comprender las dimensiones comunitarias y el capital social, como elementos dinamizadores de un grupo de trabajo, en el núcleo Salud-Ambiente, dentro de una universidad en Bogotá, Colombia. Por medio de un enfoque cualitativo de tipo hermenéutico, se encuestó a 15 profesores del área de conocimiento en Ciencias de la Salud, entrevistas cualitativas a cinco docentes (dos dentro del grupo original, tres fuera de él), quienes desarrollaron trabajos en torno al núcleo temático de salud-ambiente, realizando una actividad colectiva de indagación y observación participante, a través de la metodología de grupo focal, cuyo objetivo era conocer las dinámicas de interacción entre profesores del área de conocimiento en Ciencias de la Salud de la universidad y revisión de documentación académica producida por los docentes participantes de la investigación. Nada parece indicar que las dimensiones comunitarias y el capital social sean elementos dinamizadores de un grupo de trabajo en el núcleo salud-ambiente dentro de la institución. Sin embargo, la explicación de este hecho no se encuentra en el núcleo mencionado sino en los bajos niveles de desarrollo de las dimensiones comunitarias, como los dominios cognitivo y estructural propios del capital social.The possibility of forming and consolidating academic work groups in the university context is a fundamental task. The development of communities and social capital allows to increase the potential production of these groups, being therefore essential to understand the dynamics of those categories to determine if its structure makes working groups possible. The objective of this research consisted in understanding the community dimensions and the social capital as dynamic elements of a work group in the Health-Environment nucleus within a University in Bogota, Colombia. By means of a qualitative approach survey of hermeneutic type, 15 professors from the Health Science area were interviewed, five additional qualitative interviews (two within the original group, three outside) were conducted with professors, who had investigated and written papers on this theme. A collective activity of inquiry, participative observation through the methodology of focal group, whose objective was to understand the dynamics of inter-action between professors of the Health Science Area of the university and to review the academic work produced by the educational participants of the investigation, was realized. Nothing seems to indicate that the communitarian dimensions and the social capital are elements which promote a work group in the nucleus health-atmosphere within the institution. Nevertheless, the explanation of this fact is not in the mentioned nucleus, but in the low levels of development of the community dimensions such as cognitive and structural dominions inherent to social capital.

This paper seeks to develop indicators that allow us to progress in the evaluation of the sustainable use of water in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. In order to measure sustainability, a systematic model was proposed involving society, institutions, infrastructure and the environment that would allow us to advance in the knowledge about interaction between society and its environment. Progress was achieved in the developing and measurement of some indicators, such as those related to quality of life and current state of water infrastructure and treatment. Using existing data, it was possible to develop and measure the following indicators for the sustainable use of water: 1. secure access to water; 2. access to adequate sanitation systems; 3. domiciliary connections; 4. water price; 5. water consumption, and 6. waste water treatment. Results indicate that the municipal water system of Ciudad Juarez presents good indicators for sustainable use of water, however, they do not take into account the negative rate of rechargeextraction of the city's water supply system or of the quality of water for human consumption. The author considers that other indicators related to institutional and legal frame works, citizen participation, water quality, and environmental impact must be developed and estimated.

Este artigo apresenta resultados da pesquisa realizada, em 2003/04, na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo - municípios de São Paulo, Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema - sobre as relações entre atenção básica em saúde e meio ambiente. Avaliou-se o Programa de Saúde Família, uma política estratégica do Ministério da Saúde/Brasil, que visa a reversão do modelo assistencial vigente, contemplando a complexidade do quadro nosológico atual em que doenças relacionadas aos estilos de vida e ao meio ambiente adquirem crescente importância. O conceito de Promoção da Saúde, incorporado ao Programa, propõe a viabilização de ambientes favoráveis à saúde, entendendo que a Saúde se realiza na confluência de múltiplos fatores, atores e interesses; sendo vista, menos como um compartimento da administração pública, mais como um pressuposto na formulação de políticas, planos, programas e projetos. Neste ponto aparece, de modo inequívoco, que a proteção do ambiente e a conservação dos recursos naturais devem ocupar tempo e recursos do setor. O caráter inovador da temática levou a um estudo de modelagem sócio-antropológica, que permitiu identificar os principais problemas e aspectos da conexão saúde/ambiente na esfera do cotidiano das populações envolvidas e nas práticas dos profissionais da saúde.This paper is focused on the relation between health basic care and environment and how it is considered on the Family Health Program (PSF), an strategic policy of Ministry of Health/Brazil wich aims the revertion of usual health policies, strongly based on medical and health tecnologies resources and failing to avoid the incresase of incidence and prevalence of diseases due to environmental issues and way of living. Health Promotion concept is added to this program in order to make true the construction of kindly health environments, as health is more than a part of public administration, but the effect of public policies, plans, programs and projects proposed and executed by government agencies. On this point of view, environmental protection and nature resources conservation have to be considered as an important issue by health promotion program as PSF. In order to evaluate how PSF is implemented in four cities of São Paulo metropolitan area (São Paulo, Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema), a socio-antopological approach was adopted, wich allowed identify the main aspects of health/environment links in dayly activities of community and health professionals.

Environmental education is a relatively new area on the primary school curriculum of Trinidad and Tobago.Because of the close relationship between human activities and the degradation of the natural environment in Tobago,environmental education will become increasingly important to the preservation and conservation of the island ’s fragile natural resources.Current teaching methods rely heavily on text books and utilise a lecture style that does not promote student interaction. Unfortunately, these methods are not very conducive to environmental education.As such,this paper examines a pilot program in which staff from the Buccoo Reef Trust taught students from 15 primary schools about coral reefs using interactive tools and hands-on methods as described in People &Corals:an Education Package for Primary Schools (People &Corals ).The pilot program ran over an eight week period with prepared lessons being taught every two weeks and student evaluations taking place once before the first lesson and once after the last lesson.The lessons were supplemented with a field trip to a coral reef ecosystem.Despite several challenges that were faced in the implementation process,the overall outcome of the pilot program was successful.Teachers and students reacted positively to the information that was being shared,thereby reinforcing the effectiveness of using a dynamic,active method of teaching to advance environmental education.La educación ambiental es un área relativamente nueva en los currículos de las escuelas primarias de Trinidad y Tobago.Debido a la relación entre las actividades humanas y la degradación del ambiente natural,la educación ambiental va a ser cada vez más importante para la preservación y conservación de los frágiles recursos naturales de la Isla de Tobago.Los métodos de enseñanza actuales se basan principalmente en libros de texto y utilizan un estilo de lectura que no promueve la interacción de los estudiantes.Desafortunadamente,éstos métodos no son ideales para la educación ambiental.Así,este artículo examina un programa piloto en el que trabajadores del "Buccoo Reef Trust "enseñaron a estudiantes de 15 escuelas primarias acerca de los arrecifes coralinos usando herramientas interactivas y métodos manuales.Este programa piloto tuvo una duración de ocho semanas,con lecciones cada dos semanas y dos evaluaciones para los estudiantes: antes de la primera lección y después de la última.Las lecciones se complementaron con una gira de campo a un ecosistema de coral.A pesar de algunas dificultades en el proceso de implementación,en general el programa fue un éxito.Los profesores y estudiantes reaccionaron positivamente a la información compartida,reforzando así la necesidad de usar métodos dinámicos y activos para mejorar la enseñanza en educación ambiental.

A doce años de la Cumbre de la Tierra, el planeta presenta peores condiciones ambientales y sociales. La Agenda 21, propuso preservar los recursos naturales y reducir desechos. La apertura imponía imperativos de competitividad, planteando una dicotomía en la relación ambiente - industria. . Por lo tanto, se definía la actividad productiva entre los postulados de la Eco 92 y la competitividad. El artículo analiza cómo se estancó el proceso de aprendizaje socioinstitucional que considera cambios políticos, científicos y tecnológicos, de allí que la relación ambiente industria esté hoy más caracterizada por controversias que por búsqueda de soluciones.Twelve years after the Earth Summit, the planet shows worse environmental and social conditions. The Agenda 21 proposed the preservation of natural resources and the minimization of wastes. The opening economy, implied competitive imperatives, establishing a dicothomy in the environmental - industry relation. . Thus, productive activities were defined between the postulates of ECO-92 and competitiveness. This paper discusses how a socio-institutional learning process that considered scientific, technological and political changes was affected, fact that shows that the environmental - industry relation today is characterized by controversies instead of the search of solutions.

Desde os anos 70, o movimento ambientalista vem discutindo as implicações do avanço tecnológico sobre o ecossistema planetário. Através da noção de impactos e riscos ambientais, a Sociologia Ambiental tem apontado os diversos efeitos das modernas tecnologias sobre o meio ambiente, muitas vezes em uma perspectiva tecnofóbica e defensiva. Com a perspectiva da inovação, o presente trabalho quer explorar novas questões acerca da problemática tecnológica. Ao invés de enfocar tecnologias específicas e seus efeitos imediatos, o tema da inovação lança um olhar abrangente e sistêmico sobre o fenômeno tecnológico. A constituição de redes sociotécnicas descentralizadas e democráticas e ambientes de inovação plurais e eficientes representam atualmente questões fundamentais para o ambientalismo.Since the 70s, environmental movements have discussed the impact of technological advance upon the planet ecosystem. With notions such as environmental impacts and risks in mind, environmental sociology has pointed out many effects of modern technologies on environment, mostly in a technological phobic manner and a defensive way. From the perspective of innovation, this paper aims to debate different positions regarding technology. Instead of focusing on specific technologies and immediate effects, innovation provides a broader and systemic view on technological practices. The building of democratic and decentralized social and technological networks and efficient and multiple innovation environments represent today essential conditions for environmentalism.

Este artigo trata de uma pesquisa aplicada de jornalismo científico on-line que fundamenta a questão energética contemplada no contexto do desenvolvimento sustentável. A pesquisa, desenvolvida em nível de mestrado, originou uma mídia digital on-line com informações científicas e tecnológicas que permitem visualizar não somente o âmbito técnico, mas também a efetiva relação interdisciplinar do tema com outras áreas de conhecimento, o que constitui um fato de particular importância no contexto de abordagem do desenvolvimento sustentável.This paper treats of a research applied to on-line scientific journalism which is the basis for the electrical power issue in the context of the sustainable development. The research was developed on a Master Degree level, which gave origin to an online digital media with scientific information and technologies which allow a visualization of not only the technical range, but also the effective interdiscipline relation with reference to other areas of knowledge. This is very important for an approach of the sustainable development.

This paper seeks to evaluate the current situation of the traditional and ecological brick kilns in Juarez. The evaluation is addressed in both the environmental and socio-economic context. The brick production belongs to the informal economic sector without any regulatory scheme and without taxation. Its very low technology has serious impacts on the binational environment of the Paso del Norte region, through the highly polluted emissions to the atmosphere. However, the social and economic context of people working in this industry does not allow important changes, thus, making difficult any initiative for the brick kilns improvements and relocation. The main information source was a very concise survey applied to whole universe of brick makers. Data survey was registered in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment allowing us the analysis of the brick kilns in a spatial context. Finally, this document presents a descriptive profile of the brick kilns production and for the brickmakers.

A construção do sentido do termo natureza abrange diferentes áreas do conhecimento e tem sido objeto de reflexão tanto das ciências naturais quanto sociais. Nos desdobramentos do conhecimento produzido sobre esta temática existem diversas abordagens que, da perspectiva das ciências sociais, podem ser identificadas. O propósito deste artigo é considerar algumas dessas abordagens e relacioná-las com as novas práticas sociais que determinam formas de intervenção inéditas sobre a natureza, e que colocam questões para estas ciências, enquanto produtoras de conhecimento sobre o tema. De igual forma, explicita-se a substituição deste termo pelo de ambiente e, posteriormente, o aparecimento do desenvolvimento sustentável, como parte do cabedal conceitual com que a problemática em torno das relações naturezasociedade é abordada nas ciências sociais.La construcción del sentido del término naturaleza abarca diferentes áreas del conocimiento y ha sido objeto de reflexión tanto de las ciencias naturales como sociales. Los desdoblamientos del conocimiento producido sobre este tema muestran que existen diversos abordajes que pueden ser identificados desde la perspectiva de las ciencias sociales. El objetivo de este artículo es considerar algunos de esos abordajes y relacionarlos con las nuevas prácticas sociales que determinan formas de intervención inéditas sobre la naturaleza y que sugieren cuestionamientos para estas ciencias, como productoras de conocimiento sobre este tema. De igual manera, se explicita la substitución de este término por el de ambiente e, posteriormente, el aparecimiento del término desarrollo sostenible como parte del acervo conceptual con que es abordada la problemática alrededor de las relaciones naturaleza-sociedad en las ciencias sociales.The construction of the term nature involves different areas of knowledge and has been the object of inquiry of both natural and social sciences. The knowledge produced under the auspices of this concept falls into several categories that can be studied from the perspective of the social sciences. This paper intends to analyze some of these approaches, and to establish their relationships to the new social practices that are determining new forms of intervention in nature. The purpose of this analysis is to question some of the assumptions of the social sciences in this respect, as generators of knowledge on the matter. The substitution of nature by the term environment is also taken into account as well as the irruption of sustainable development, thus completing the conceptual scenario that takes over the issues of nature-society relations, from the view of the social sciences.

Se sostiene que uno de los grandes desafíos que enfrenta la Epidemiología contemporánea está situado en el campo teórico, y consiste esencialmente en la exigencia de revisar la conceptualización del objeto de la epidemiología dominante que reduce la salud de las poblaciones al comportamiento de los riesgos concebidos con abstracción de los vínculos particulares que los sujetos guardan con sus corporeidades geográficas y medioambientales. El artículo pretende reintroducir la perspectiva dialéctica que deja de lado la visión sustancialista de la realidad de las poblaciones de un lado y del medio ambiente, del otro lado, para proponer una visión estructural, funcional e histórica de ambos conceptos, desarrollando, en este sentido el espíritu de la obra del Gran Geógrafo Brasileiro.This paper argues that one of the major challenges that contemporary Epidemiology has to face is at the level of theory. In essence, it is necessary to revise the abstract conceptualization of the dominant Epidemiology object, which has reduced the health of the population to behavioral risks, without taking into account the link that people have to their geographical and environmental corporities. This article then seeks to reinsert the dialectical perspective that leaves aside the substantialist view of population reality, on one side, and that of the environment, on the other, in order to propose a structural, functional and historical perspective of both concepts, developing, in this way, the spirit of the Great Brazilian Geographer's work.

El presente artículo muestra la evaluación realizada al programa “Aula al Aire Libre” de la Reserva Los Coyotes (Mata de Plátano, Goicoechea, en San José, Costa Rica), con el fin de presentarlo como una metodología innovadora y efectiva para la educación formal. Durante el 2010, se evaluó el nivel de conocimiento de los estudiantes participantes (n= 1085) antes y después del trabajo de campo utilizando pruebas cortas. El análisis de los resultados indicó que el momento de la prueba (antes/después) tiene un efecto significativo en la nota obtenida; es decir, como consecuencia de su trabajo en Los Coyotes la cantidad de respuestas correctas aumentó de manera significativa. Para comparar la eficiencia de esta metodología con la del sistema tradicional de enseñanza, las evaluaciones post-visita fueron también administradas a un grupo control (n=498). Los resultados revelaron que los estudiantes participantes tienen un mejor manejo de los temas en cuestión que los estudiantes del grupo control. Además se aplicaron encuestas a los estudiantes y docentes de las escuelas participantes; tanto docentes como estudiantes mostraron altos niveles de satisfacción y consideraron el programa como una herramienta eficiente en la enseñanza de los contenidos formales. La encuesta además permitió identificar las fortalezas y debilidades del programa, dando así al personal de Los Coyotes información importante para reformular y mejorar la práctica. This paper presents the evaluation of the program "Outdoor Classroom" of Reserva Los Coyotes (Mata de Plátano, Goicoechea, in San José, Costa Rica), in order to evince it as an innovative and effective methodology for formal education. During 2010, the level of knowledge of participating students (n = 1085) was assessed before and after the field work, using quiz-like instruments. The analysis of the results indicated that the moment of testing (before / after) has a significant effect on the grade obtained, ie as a result of their work at Los Coyotes the number of correct answers increased significantly. To compare the efficiency of this methodology to the traditional education system, post-visit assessments were also administered to a control group (n = 498). The results revealed that participating students have a better handle of the topics developed than the students in the control group. Additional surveys were applied to students and teachers from the participating schools; both teachers and students showed high levels of satisfaction and rated the program as an effective tool in the teaching of formal contents. The survey also identified the strengths and weaknesses of the program, thus giving Los Coyotes staff important information to reformulate and improve practice.

This article presents a methodology for the analytically-enriched discussion of meaning in recorded popular song. It argues for a middle way between assumptions of universal and entirely relativist meaning, based fundamentally on Gibson’s ecological psychology. It begins from the position that a listener encounters not a recording as communicable object, but a persona instantiated by a recording. Focus on the persona necessitates discussion of the personic environment constituted by the remainder of the musical fabric, and leads to a formulation of authenticity which acknowledges the weight put on this quality by many audiences. The paper then explores embodied meaning as a way of approaching the way that music feels, again acknowledging audience concern, and closes with a focus on the ecological position. Each of these stages in the argument is provided with a variety of illustrations.

La ciudad de Neuquén, capital de la provincia homónima, se encuentra asentada en el piso de los valles elaborados por los ríos Limay y Neuquén respectivamente y sobre la superficie, laderas y piedemonte de la meseta localizada hacia el norte del casco céntrico. Hasta la década del `70 la mancha urbana se encontraba rodeada de áreas agrícolas, de uso intensivo dotadas de infraestructura de riego y limitada por los cursos fluviales antes mencionados y por un relieve mesetiforme con un marcado escalón topográfico de fuertes pendientes disectado por una densa red de surcos y cárcavas. Este frente presenta estratos de dispar resistencia a los procesos imperantes originando, por ende, un perfil escalonado caracterizado por una sucesión de escarpas y conos de detritos que brindan una apariencia compleja al mismo. Se debe considerar que, para una mejor comprensión de la naturaleza y por ende para un adecuado ordenamiento territorial, es imprescindible conocer la dinámica natural de las regiones secas, la que pone en evidencia la diversidad de procesos morfogenéticos responsables de los modelados actuales. En el marco de las características climáticas imperantes, los procesos pedogenéticos o edáficos son débiles permitiendo de esta manera, que los procesos iniciales de meteorización o intemperismo, actúen directamente sobre los afloramientos rocosos influyendo sobre el modelado. La desagregación mecánica y los movimientos gravitacionales generan, a partir de la pendiente inicial, nuevas geoformas caracterizadas por la depositación de detritos, que enmascaran en sectores, la litología original. A ello se suman las modalidades propias de la acción del agua corriente, donde el escurrimiento, predominantemente concentrado, es función de dos valores fundamentales: la intensidad de los chaparrones por un lado, y la velocidad de infiltración en el suelo, por otro. Las escasas precipitaciones y la elevada evapotranspiración potencial definen un marco fisonómicamente homogéneo caracterizado por una estepa arbustiva rala, con elevados porcentajes de suelo desnudo. Además, la baja cobertura vegetal y la características propias de los suelos propician la acción directa del viento sobre la superficie favoreciendo los procesos de erosión -deflación, abrasión y atrición- y acumulación eólicos. Es por ello, que se considera la interacción de los elementos biofísicos de la naturaleza (clima, topografía, vegetación, suelos, agua), agentes y procesos generadores de las formas del relieve, en un abordaje sistémico a fin de entender la dinámica natural, preservar su equilibrio y generar las bases que conducirán a la elaboración de estrategias de ordenamiento territorial. Abstract The city of Neuquen, capital of the province, is located on the valleys' soils product or Limay and Neuquén rivers and on the surface, slopes and foothills of the plateau, located north of the town center. Up to 70s decade urban region was surrounded by agricultural areas, with intensive irrigation infrastructure and limited by rivers and relief with a marked topographic steep slope dissected by a dense network of rills and gullies. This front has layers with different resistance, then, a stepped profile with a succession of cliffs and debris cones that provide a complex look of the terrain. For a best understanding of nature and proper land management is essential to study the natural dynamics of dry regions. This demonstrates the diversity of morphogenetic processes responsible for the current modeling. Under the prevailing climatic conditions, soil pedogenic processes are weak or allowing the initial processes of weathering or weathering, act directly on the rocky outcrops influencing modeling. The mechanical breakdown and gravitational movements, generate from the initial slope, new landforms characterized by the deposition of debris, masking en some sectors, the original lithology. This is compounded by the action of running water, where runoff, predominantly concentrated, is based on two fundamental values: the intensity of rainfall, and the rate of infiltration. Low rainfall and intense evapotranspiration define a framework characterized by a homogeneous sparse shrub steppe, with elevated percentages of bare soil. Furthermore, the scarse plant covering and soil characteristics favor the direct action of wind on the surface incrementing the processes of erosion-deflation, abrasion and attrition, and build farms. This paper considers the interaction of biophysical elements of nature (climate, topography, vegetation, soil, water), agents and processes generating the forms of relief, in a systemic approach to understand the natural dynamics, to preserve balance and to generate the basis to elaborate land use strategies.

A cidade constitui-se num considerável desafio aos estudiosos do ambiente urbano, principalmente quando se trata de ambiente urbano-metropolitano. Abordá-la numa perspectiva interdisciplinar tendo os problemas ambientais como cerne das preocupações, impõe o exercício conjunto de diversos campos disciplinares. A metodologia de trabalho interdisciplinar, embasada num suporte teórico aliado a uma perspectiva empírica, tendo como objeto de estudo a cidade de Curitiba e a região metropolitana de Curitiba, foi uma rica experiência de estudo interdisciplinar de problemáticas ambientais urbano-metropolitanas levada a cabo no âmbito do Curso de Doutorado em Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento da UFPR, entre 1996 e 2000, cujo processo de elaboração e prática é objeto deste artigo. Indisciplinary approach of the urban-metropolitan environmental problematic: methodological scketch of the UFPR MA & D doctors program about RMC - Curitibas Metropolitan Region Abstract The city consists in a considerable challenge to the urban environment studious, principally when it repports to the urban-metropolitan environment. To approach this subject in a interdisciplinary perspective, the environmental problems in the center of interests, imposes the joint exercise of different disciplines. An interdisciplinary works methodology based on theoretical support and an empirical perspective wich Curitiba city and its metropolitan region was the object study, was created and experimented by the Environment and Development Doctors Program of UFPR from 1996 to 2000. That experience is the subject to this paper.

La obesidad se ha convertido en un serio problema de salud a nivel mundial, por su estrecha vinculación con las principales causas de morbimortalidad. La relación obesidad-resistencia insulínica-diabetes mellitus-hipertensión arterial adquiere cada día mayor importancia, por el papel cada vez más relevante de la obesidad en el desarrollo de cada una de ellas. Los conocimientos sobre la fisiología del mantenimiento del peso corporal, a partir de la ruptura de los mecanismos fisiológicos que dan origen a la obesidad, el descubrimiento y la caracterización de la leptina y sus mediadores, así como los factores ambientales perpetuadores de un fenómeno que tiene causas genéticas, pero que a la vez tiene condicionadores ambientales socioculturales, dan origen a este trabajo con el que nos proponemos profundizar en el tema de la obesidad como un fenómeno multifactorial con graves consecuencias clínicas.Obesity has turned into a serious health problem worldwide because of its close link to the main causes of mortality and morbidity. The obesity-insulin resistance-diabetes mellitus-blood hypertension relationship has a greater importance today due to the ever increasingly relevant role of obesity in the onset of each of these entities. Knowledge about the physiology of body weight maintenance, on the basis of rupture of physiological mechanisms giving rise to obesity, the discovery and characterization of leptin and its mediators as well as the environmental factors that perpetuate a phenomenon which has genetic causes and are at the same time sociocultural environmental conditioners constitute the main elements of this paper aimed at delving into the topic of obesity as a multi-factor phenomenon with serious clinical consequences.