LEY AMBIENTAL EN LOS CAMPOS PETROLEROS DE LA AMAZONÍA: La promesa y peligro de las normas internacionales

Hoy bajo las normas internacionales del comercio gobernante existe un mecanismo legal significativo para mantener una compañía responsable para piratear un vídeo de Madona; pero no para una comunidad contaminada, provisiones de agua y calderos con deliberada contaminación industrial

Ley Ambiental en los campos petroleros de la Amazonía: promesa y peligro de las normas internacionales

Hoy bajo las normas internaciona les del comercio gobernante existe un mecanismo legal significativo para mantener una compañía responsable para piratear un vídeo de Madona; pero no para una comunidad con taminada, provisiones de agua y calderos con deliberada contaminación industrial. En la última década se ha visto una expansión considerable de mecanismos internacionales para definir e imponer normas económicas que fomenten y protejan mercados mundiales, además de asegurar y favorecer los derechos e intereses económicos de corporaciones transnacionales (TNCs). Pero los esfuerzos por parte de los gobiernos para expresar e imponer normas globa les para proteger el medio ambiente y los derechos de los indígenas y otras comunidades afectadas han quedado rezagados en el proceso de desarrollo. Existe un considerable desfase permanente entre las nobles promesas en discursos y documentos y la disposición o capacidad de los gobiernos para ponerlos en práctica

Modeling the Impact of Tuberculosis Control Strategies in Highly Endemic Overcrowded Prisons

International audienceBACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) in prisons is a major health problem in countries of high and intermediate TB endemicity such as Brazil. For operational reasons, TB control strategies in prisons cannot be compared through population based intervention studies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A mathematical model is proposed to simulate the TB dynamics in prison and evaluate the potential impact on active TB prevalence of several intervention strategies. The TB dynamics with the ongoing program was simulated over a 10 year period in a Rio de Janeiro prison (TB prevalence 4.6 %). Then, a simulation of the DOTS strategy reaching the objective of 70 % of bacteriologically-positive cases detected and 85 % of detected cases cured was performed; this strategy reduced only to 2.8% the average predicted TB prevalence after 5 years. Adding TB detection at entry point to DOTS strategy had no major effect on the predicted active TB prevalence. But, adding further a yearly X-ray mass screening of inmates reduced the predicted active TB prevalence below 1%. Furthermore, according to this model, after applying this strategy during 2 years (three annual screenings), the TB burden would be reduced and the active TB prevalence could be kept at a low level by associating X-ray screening at entry point and DOTS. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We have shown that X-ray mass screenings should be considered to control TB in highly endemic prison. Prisons with different levels of TB prevalence could be examined thanks to this model which provides a rational tool for public health deciders

Disregarding Environmental Law: Petroleum Development in Protected Natural Areas and Indigenous Homelands in the Ecuadorian Amazon

The Oriente region of Ecuador is one of the most biologically diverse rain forests in the world. This Article explores the negative effects of oil development on the Oriente\u27s environment. The author discusses the direct devastation oil development wreaks on both the environment and the indigenous people of the Oriente. This Article also discusses the collateral consequences of oil development which include massive road building and colonization of the rain forest. The author explains the deficiencies in existing environmental regulations in the Oriente, and suggests the need for extensive study of the environmental impact of oil development and the need for stricter regulations