M+A. Revista Electrónica de Medioambiente
M+A. Revista Electrónica de Medio Ambiente (ISSN-e 1886-3329) is published every six months and complements the Environmental Science Institute Research Journal, Observatorio Medioambiental. It is an international scientific publication that strives to maintain high standards and quality.
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Justification and convenience of the criminal responsibility of legal entities in Chile, in crimes against the Environment
The article refers to the revision of the principle "societas delinquere non potest", as well as to the pragmatic and dogmatic problems associated with the criminal responsibility of companies, particularly in relation to the so-called ecological crimes, with the purpose of elucidating the convenience of its establishment in Chile. For these purposes, the origin of the criminal intervention in environmental matters is reviewed, as well as the close relationship that, in this matter, exists between Criminal Law and Administrative Law. Likewise, the investigation includes the study of the different positions formulated in the debate about the possibility of criminally sanctioning the collective entities, the different models of imputation proposed by the doctrine and the sanctioning systems prevailing in Spain and Chile. Finally, a brief analysis of the sanctioning administrative system that exists in Chile, in environmental matters, is carried out.
Landscape and territorial identity of the natural, rural and urban environment of Jumilla (Murcia, SE Spain)
The municipality of Jumilla located in the Region of Murcia, has a territory that houses significant elements, the product of a long historical process, which has led to the existence of a unique territory. Through the landscapes, reflection and character of the territory, one can deepen in a better knowledge of the territorial identity of Jumilla. A better knowledge will allow facing new future challenges, taking advantage of those elements and / or processes that can not be delocalized, because they are endemic, in particular, that agricultural tradition associated with the cultivation of the vine and the production of wine. Through the study, analysis and assessment of landscapes, it helps to define the cultural identity of Jumilla. Its main objective is to determine the dominant landscapes of the municipality of Jumilla and elements that may contribute to its territorial identity. For this, an adapted template is used as reference, where elements of the landscape to be analyzed and evaluated are described.
Effect of different conservation agriculture techniques on soil respiration in almond orchards in the Mediterranean region (SE Spain)
The soil-management system in agricultural lands could be affected substantially on dynamics of CO2 fluxes from soil. An experiment was carried out in Lanjarón (SE Spain) to evaluate the effect of three soil-management systems in almond plantations: 1) minimum tillage with spontaneous vegetation strips (MTSV), 2) minimum tillage and thyme (Thymbra capitata L.) strips (MTT), and 3) minimum tillage without plant strips (MT). The CO2 emission rates from soil presented the following increasing trend MTSV>MT>MTT, showing highly variability in the short term. Also, higher CO2 soil emissions were recorded during the spring, in contrast to autumn. Moreover, the soil- water content was the most influential environmental factor. Consequently, the use of conservation agricultural techniques such as minimum tillage and plant strips to sequester atmospheric carbon are sustainable measures for Mediterranean rainfed agro-ecosystems.
Environmental responsibility in Chile. Analysis based on community and Spanish regulations
The law Nº 19.300 of 1994, base on the Environment, among other things, integrated into the legal system rules that has been constituted a special regime of environmental responsibility. Then, with the reforms introduced by the Law Nº 20.417 of 2010 and the Law Nº 20.600 of 2012, which have created the new environmental institutionality, the Environmental Courts is recognized as a competent part to know the actions of reparation for environmental damage. In this context, it is necessary to carry out a review of the environmental liability regulation in order to clarify the modifications that have contributed to the improvement of the system. The study is based on 2004/35/ EC Directive on environmental liability in relation to the prevention and repair of environmental damages, with the Law Nº 26/2007 on Environmental Responsibility.
Re-adjustment of apparent density and carbon retention: Suitable models for cuban sands
In the present study a sampling of coarse sands was requested, to readjust the modeling of the apparent density and the carbon retention that had been carried in the Beaches of Eastern Havana. The samples were collected in the beach of Varadero and Felipe and La Jaula loans. It´s analyzed: granulometry, composition, apparent density and carbon retention in samples of fine, medium and gross sand, according to the Wentworth classification. It was found that the results fit a normal distribution. The results obtained in the Beaches of Eastern Havana and in Varadero Beach, were gathered, ordered and related them in mathematical models with 95% confidence. To choose the ideal models, values were predicted based on particle size and compared with the sampling results of the underwater sands used for artificial beach nourishment. It was recommended to investigate and improve the representativeness of the models.
La educación ambiental en las Agendas 21 Locales de la provincia de Valencia
La Educación Ambiental nació con la vocación de colaborar en la mejora ambiental, para ello, es de suma importancia incorporarla en los procesos de participación ciudadana de las Agendas 21. Consecuentemente se hace necesaria la planificación de la Educación Ambiental Municipal mediante planes y programas en las Agendas 21 Locales. En este trabajo analizamos en qué medida se ha incorporado la Educación Ambiental en la Red de Municipios firmantes de la Carta de Xàtiva en la Provincia de Valencia. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó el cuestionario estructurado que fue enviado a los 213 municipios firmantes de dicho documento. Los resultados obtenidos nos permiten afirmar que son escasos los Planes o Programas de Educación Ambiental a nivel local. Esto supone una falta de coherencia entre los compromisos públicos adoptados por las corporaciones locales y las acciones que realmente se están llevando a término para la aplicación de la Agenda 21 Local.
Perceptions and attitudes above sustainable energy for some students of Secondary Education and activities proposal
In this work, it has been studied the perceptions and attitudes about sustainable energy of two groups of students (2nd and 4th year of Secondary Education) of the Community of Madrid. The datacollection tool has consisted of an open questionnaire prepared based upon the literature. In addition, it has been performed an attractive and dynamic school activity based on the Winogradsky column as a previous work of the microbial fuel cells-taking into account that 2014 was declared the year of Biotechnology in Spain. This proposal may be considered a reference point for teachers who want to reinforce and extend content of Physics, Chemistry and Biology in the framework of a responsible and committed Environmental Education in Secondary Education. Transversely but not least, we have tried with this proposal to increase the interest in the experimental sciences and encourage new scientific vocations among the students.
Anthropic risks in the field of sustainability in complex spaces
In the present work an analysis and assessment of the importance is carried out that they charge today geographic research, studies on risk, in general, and, anthropic, in particular, who have clearly shown their ability to address current problems, with an important real contribution to its solution in the so-called complex spaces. On the other hand, point out that the various studies have amply demonstrated that the image that the inhabitants of dangerous places have about their risks and the ways to avoid or mitigate them is usually quite different from the ones that technicians and politicians have. Equally, we can assure that the anthropic risks are found in the primary stages of the process of identification research of variables. There is not yet a general theory, although important contributions have been made, this is included in the present investigation.
International Cooperation for Climate Change. Case study: Latin America and the European Union
The problem of climate change has become one of the axes on which international politics revolves. Dealing with it is crucial to decimate it’s consequences and to do so through cooperation among countries is the best tool againts it (especially for least developed countries). The cooperation between two of the most important regional blocks will be described: the European Union and Latin America. A description of their cooperative flows and in the main areas in wich they work, the programs used to carry them out, the main sectors where they work more, etc., and from all this the results of some of the applied programs are described.
Ecoethics in the Perú. Citizen participation in the care and protection of the environment
“Ecoethics", also known as environmental ethics, is a discipline that seeks to incorporate moral principles, values, conduct norms, and decisions into the daily lives of individuals. These elements should bring forth a harmonious relationship with the environment. This relationship will be inspired in the search of social justice for all, and it will not discriminate between ideology, race, sex, religion, or nationality. To achieve this, the research hereby presented will consider the relevance of ecoethics as an integral part of the human being in that for every decision that he makes, he will have to consider any possible effects on the environment. This way the message will be delivered to every human being, as a responsible citizen, that it doesn't matter how insignificant a failed outcome - it is enough to generate an adequate behavior and the environmental conscience in the process of critical decision-making.
Environmental, tourist and social impact of the discovery of the Lord of Sipán in Lambayeque
In 1987, Walter Alva and Alva, a Peruvian archeologist and specialist in the pre-Inca cultures of the Northern Andes, managed to paralyze a massive plunder that was being carried out by the Huaqueros in the Huaca Rajada, a pyramidal ensemble attributed to the Moche culture. This complex was later dated and is attributed its development around 250 AD. At present, the objects extracted and recovered are in the museum Tumbas Reales of the city of Lambayeque, some buildings that were projected according to the Moche culture.The finding and excavations generated a notable impact. Archeology included a new landmark, because, for the first time, it was possible to find intact a burial of a notable man of the middle of the third century. Yes, for a few hours, because the Huaqueros were about 50 centimeters from the grave. In a short time, the so-called Lord of Sipán became a cultural, tourist and social phenomenon that is in force.
Modeling apparent density and carbon storage: Carbonate sands of Cubans beaches
The apparent density and carbon storage of the carbonated sands, it´s modeled since the granulometry on the beaches of eastern Havana. The absence of references about the chemical composition of the dune and postdune, solicited the sampling of the sands. It´s analyzed granulometry, composition, apparent density and carbon storage, for the fine and medium sands classified according to Wentworth. The normal provenance of the data was checked for 95% confidence. The data was organized, linked and adjusted on mathematical models. The equations adjusted are good for estimate apparent density and carbon storage in sand and to evaluate the carbon deposition in beach nourishment projects. It´s recommended analyzing the gross sand.
Germination and recruitment of clusia spp. (linneo) in a tropical fragmented and very humid colombian forest
Tropical forest fragmentation increases the size of the edges and make micro environmental gradients between zones of the same fragment (border and interior), altering biotic and abiotic interactions necessary for the establishment of plants. After fragmentation processes, the juvenile stages of plants, such as germination and recruitment are the most vulnerable and crucial for the establishment of populations. In this study, the incidence of the edges and the inside was evaluated in a fragment of tropical forest on the germination and recruitment of Clusia spp. naturally present along eight transects on the interior and edge of a fragment. higher germination and recruitment was found on the edge than on the inside of the fragment. The results are mainly attributed to increased availability of light at the edge due to loss of canopy density over the death of trees by wind buffeting, and a higher concentration of nutrients too, as it is a buffer zone. However, variables act jointly and simultaneously complicating the individual analysis is done on them.
Self-consciousness towards nature. A debate between different and the complex
In the development of the XXI century, the study of the peculiarities of philosophical self-consciousness in the analysis of man and nature where the link between the diverse and complex relation is highlighted, is an important factor to be considered in investigations concerning this subject look. This requires theorizing about the philosophical foundations that support this self-awareness to set about the differences in schools and representative philosophers. Defined the philosophical point of view, theoretical methods were used: historical and logical, analytic-synthetic, inductive-deductive, among others. Summarizes the main conclusions of this work are part of that self-consciousness towards nature contains a diverse range of economic, cultural and social aspects in general for study that are based on feelings, moods and spiritual perspective conscious so, it is a sign of the complexity of its study where complex, diverse, continuous and discuntínuo prevail.
Technical code of building as instrument for the protection of the environment: A look at the colombian case
This research has as objective to study the convenience or not of the implementation of Technical Codes for a Sustainable Building in Colombia. Specifically, it seeks to analyze whether Resolution 0549 of 2015, which dictates the guidelines for sustainable construction for new buildings and that is structured before the need to incorporate green buildings in the country is optimal to reduce the negative impact that leaves The building industry in the environment. Once the subject of sustainable construction has been deepened, it intends to analyze in detail the Colombian regulations and identify their shortcomings, with a view to proposing a series of reforms that will make Colombia the leader in Latin America in green buildings.
Rural development in rural areas: The pyrenees of navarre
European mountain areas are currently experiencing depopulation and decline in their economic activities. This paper highlights the Pyrenees of Navarre as a study region, and it aims to define how those characteristics can determine his future. It begins with the hypothesis that endogenous resources are suitable to energize this region in the coming years. Given this, the objective is to find a pattern able to begin development models focused into making the region more dynamic. Those models will be based on the new valorization of rural areas and their endogenous goods. That vision begins as a contrast the abandonment of agricultural activities and depopulation. To achieve the proposed objectives, it will be necessary to pluralize economical activities and understand that the primary sector and tourism are interdependent.
Discovery and settlement of Alaska coaster
Tsar Peter the Great ruled Russia between 1689 and 1725. Its domains, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. From north to south, its empire stretching from the Arctic Ocean to the borders with China and India. Tsar Peter I tried to extend the geographical knowledge of his government and the rest of the world. He was also interested in the expansion of trade in Russia and in the control of trade routes. Feodor Luzhin and Ivan Yeverinov explored the eastern border of the Russian Empire, the trip between 1719 and 1721 and reported to the Tsar. They had crossed the peninsula of Kamchatka, from west to east and had traveled from the west coast of Kamchatka to the Kuril Islands. The information collected led to the first map of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. Tsar Peter ordered Bering surf the Russian Pacific coast, build ships and sail the seas north along the coast to regions of America. The second expedition found equal to those of the previous explorers difficulties. Two ships were eventually thrown away in Okhotsk in 1740. The explorers spent the winter of 1740-1741 stockpiling supplies and then navigate to Petropavlovsk. The two ships sailed eastward and did together until June 20, then separated by fog. After searching Chirikov and his boat for several days, Bering ordered the San Pedro continue to the northeast. There the Russian sailors first sighted Alaska. According to the log, "At 12:30 (pm July 17) in sight of snow-capped mountains and between them a high volcano." This finding came the day of St. Elijah and so named the mountain.
Ecohumanists. Protection of physical ecology demands respect human ecology
What is the human being? Which is its origin and its end? What is the influence of the nature in the man and what is his impact on nature? Forthe animalists, men are like other animals; freedom and rationality are not signs of superiority, nor having rights over the animals. For the ecohumanists, human beings are part of nature, but is qualitatively different and superior to animals; and is the creator of the civilization. We analyze these two ecological looks. A special point is the contribution ofecohumanists -from the first half of the Renaissance, who dealt in extenso the dignity and freedom of the human being-, of Michelangelo and finally, of Mozart, through his four insurmountable operas, which display the difficulty of physical ecology to engender so much beauty, so much wealth, so much love for the creatures and so much variety.
Optimal location of solid waste containers in Alcalá de Henares
The waste’s rise is a problem that affects the environment as a whole and we cannot forget about it. A good waste’s management is the key to improve the future prospect, and the waste collection is key within the management activities. To find out the better way to collect wastes leads to a reduction of the social, economic and environmental cost. With the use of the Geographic Information Systems it has been intended to elaborate a methodology which allowed us to identify the most suitable places for the location of the collection containers of the different sorts of the solid urban wastes. Taking into account that different types of wastes exist, not all of them should be managed in the same way. Therefore we have to differentiate between models where we apply efficiency and models where we apply equity for the collection of wastes, bearing in mind the necessities of each waste.
International polices por gender equality
At the turn of the year, we reflect on the remarkable events that have taken place around the world in 2015. 2015 is a year of global transformation, the year of the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals, and, at the same time, of the launch of the new Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. This year has also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Advancement of Women, held in 1995, and it´s Implementation Platform, the so-called Beijing Chart. Gender equality is essential to ensure the realization of an economically sustainable and socially equitable development. The gender question is more on the stage today, during the modern phenomenon of globalization and mass immigration, which affects female matters. We will question how the activity of several agencies, institutions, and international organisations are affording the way to reach parity and equity of gender, of young and old, rich and poor, in every field of activities or social questions.
An uncertain enviromental future for United Arab Emirates
The country of the United Arab Emirates has a desert ecosystem and limited natural resources. Over the years, they have significantly increased energy expenditure and its capacity and demand for imported products and other natural resources from abroad. As a result, the UAE has placed first as the country with per capita ecological footprint highest in the world. The objective of this project is to present the environmental problems faced by the country due to the poor management of their resources; and to create an action plan to make the water and waste sectors, cleaner and more efficient, with the use of renewable energies and new technologies. For the development of this project different methodologies were used. As qualitative sources, I met and visited private and public companies in the energy sector and as quantitative methods, I created questionnaires.
Structural study of an eco-sustainable noise barrier
The object of the present study is to check the structural strength of a noise barrier made of ground gardening pruning, coming from the palm groves in Gran Canaria. Clay has been used as agglutinative material, mixing it with water. Both materials (pruning and clay) are used in equal proportions (50% and 50%). For the real barrier built we have measured a strength which is superior to 2.000 kg/m2 and we have checked that it is structurally stable. By means of the SOLIDWORKS simulation we check its stability and its behaviour in windy and rainy conditions. Following the analysis of the test results we can state that the barrier has good stability even in heavy rain conditions.
Attitudes and beliefs of residential electricity consumption: case applied to the metropolitan area of Monterrey
The main purpose of this work is analyse the impact of certain proactive attitudes and knowledge that people have about the consumption of electricity in homes. For this, a survey was applied to 1100 households in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. We used a regression model to explore some relations within the sample selected. The results show that income levels are important to determine the habits of use, for that reason, a higher income level implies a greater willingness to consume electricity at home. Also, it is found that the price of energy service, is a variable that helps to ration electricity use, like some attitudes and beliefs.
Territory and sustainability: some environmental problems in Spain (I)
This work aims to provide an overview of the development models and Territorial Organization from the perspective of the relationship between the urban environment, "rururban" and rural case study, in the field of water consumption in Spain. Therefore, once know and appreciate the conceptual and thematic approach, is studied the urban growth in Spain in recent decades, analyzing in detail the importance which has claimed and charges the legislative implementation of laws, plans and policies, both in itself and urban growth in demand for housing in the Spanish cities and, similarly, linking both to the price of housing, relating to the issue of "rurbanization" and rural. At the same time takes into account the activities that have been and are being carried out to manage water demand through conservation and efficiency measures, in addition to the use of unconventional resources such as treated wastewater and stormwater.
Health tourism on San Pedro del Pinatar saltworks and Sandy Areas Regional Park (Murcia, SE Spain)
Health tourism in the Regional Park of the Salinas de San Pedro del Pinatar, is located in the mud pond baths next to the town of Lo Pagan. The number of visitors has increased from less than 100,000 people in the late twentieth century, more than 223,000 people in 2010. Building a car park and a series of walkways that provide access to the beach improved these facilities remarkably. Both were made by the Regional Public Administration in 2003, and an environmental rehabilitation project on the road that runs between the Quintin mill and La Calcetera one, executed by the National Ministry of Environment in 2005. On a year basis, in August, when maximum number of visitors occurred, this area seems to have reached maximum carrying capacity, as the data shows from 1984, a steady number of visitors estimated at about 50,000 people.
Hydrogeological survey methodology and set wells drilled with a hand pump. Application in the region Crystal Caimbambo (Benguela, Angola)
A methodology based in both economical aspects and the possibility of its use for local technicians for prospection and putting in service boreholes of small yield and hand manual pumps for disperse rural populations of less than 1000 inhabitants is proposed. The methodology is based in the recognition through satellite images of geomorfological areas favorable to the development of weathered formation over the rocks, its cartography, the use of simple electrical resistivity surveys of 1D, the introduction of social aspects as the proximity to the villages, and the estimation of the potential of the wells through bailer manual procedures. Those proposed approaches based in low cost techniques occupy an intermediate position between the so bad resulting blind sitting procedures that have been apply profusely in Sub- Saharan Africa and those that follow the most sophisticated and expensive techniques that often are inoperant and unviable. In this paper the results obtained from the use of this methodology in Caimbambo area (Angola) are showed so that can be used and contrasted in other regions of the world with the same characteristics.
The interaction society-nature and an approach to sustainability
The article deals with the interaction society-nature through the history of mankind and how this led to the present environmental crisis that became evident through the contradictions and limitations of the prevailing models of development, which at the same time led to the concept of sustainable development stated in the Brundtland Report in 1987. Furthermore, in addition to the study of the evolution of the technical relations between society and nature, the ideas of Classical Thermodynamics, the basis of the General Theory of Systems and the analysis of the flaws in the concept of sustainable development stated in the above mentioned report, the article offers a new insight of sustainable development from a dialectic, systemic and thermodynamic point of view that takes into account the shortcomings and contradictions that came into view as the concept evolved. Key words: Society, nature, sustainability, development
GIS in hydrogeological studies of remote areas: Erg Chebbi (Morocco)
Hydrogeological studies in desert and remote areas are difficult to tackle and often logistically complicated. However, in some of these areas the exploitation of groundwater resources is essential for the survival of the communities that inhabit them. The dunes of Erg Chebbi (Morocco), is a water-table aquifer which supplies drinking and irrigation water for local communities. With an average annual rainfall of less than 150 mm, erg Chebbi represents an extremely delicate hydrological system that requires a very well designed exploitation to enable a sustainable development. This paper addresses the hydrogeological characterization of an erg by applying geography information systems and field visits. The methodology used allowed the characterization the dune system and setting of a hydrogeological model. The results are relevant to the management of groundwater exploitation of the system studied, and for the application of the methodology to other areas with similar characteristics.
Wind small investors: economic and enviromental reflexions
The development of renewable energy in recent years was largely facilitated by the rise of wind energy, solar energy, being an enhancer element lower environmental impact. In the context of financial crisis, high financial dependence for the implementation of a wind farm has been an obstacle to their development, assuming in many cases the reduction of environmental items. In this paper, an analysis of international financing models of wind projects by small investors, have consolidated a sector where there are traditional protagonists energy business groups, and in which environmental concerns dealing a priority.
Development model, environmental degradation and environmental hazards: case study
In this paper we study and analyze the economic, social and environmental realities of the "new" cities, where their development is linked to the emergence of "smart cities". In these cities the local actors aim to seek a meeting and communication through new technology -telecommunications and information- and the "cultural industries". Finally, is performed an approach to the dynamics of urban development in regions called "Atlantic Arc", from the case study.