From the balcony looking difference: examining the cultural dimension of immigration in Castilla y Leon

Este artículo pretende exponer una serie de aspectos culturales considerados básicos para la integración de los inmigrantes. Debemos ser conscientes que la cultura es uno de los elementos más importantes de las sociedades, y sobre ellas nos socializan. El artículo analiza los diferentes aspectos que suelen ser un inconveniente para la integración de los inmigrantes en un país de acogida. Como son el desconocimiento del idioma, la conservación de los valores culturales de origen por no corresponderse con los de destino o la religión. Este artículo es producto de una investigación que hemos realizado en Castilla y León. This paper sets out a number of issues essential to the cultural integration of immigrants. We must be aware that culture is one of the most important elements of society, and we socialize them. This paper discusses the different aspects which are often considered inconvenient for the integration of immigrants in a host country. For instance ignorance of the language, the preservation of original cultural values because of lack of correspondence to the target culture and religion. This paper is an outcome of research we have done in Castilla and Leon

La inclusión de los niños en el proceso de mediación familiar: reflexiones desde el caso neozelandés

El texto analiza la inclusión de los niños en el proceso de mediación. Reflexiona sobre ello partiendo del programa piloto emprendido por el Gobierno de Nueva Zelanda, el cual ha dado resultados positivos. Aborda el asunto desde diferentes perspectivas con el objeto de explicar los beneficios de los menores ante una incorporación en el proceso de mediació

El espejismo de una energía social. La economía del hidrógeno

This paper is a critical examination of proposals for a “hydrogen economy.” In Jeremy Rifkin’s The Hydrogen Economy (2002) such an economy was proposed as a solution to the many problems associated with the use of fossil fuels including the dangers of global climate change. The promise has been echoed since by many others who have been concerned by energy policy. Hydrogen has increasingly been viewed as a “dorado” energy that would greatly benefit all humanity, especially the most disadvantaged. But the golden age of energy has not yet appeared and may never do so. There are multiple problems in the development of a hydrogen economy. One of these problems concerns social impacts, which have especially been ignored. It is the potential social impacts of a hydrogen economy that are given special attention here, in order to explore some of the reasons for doubting that the social economy of hydrogen will be able to realize the many hopes associated with it.El texto reflexiona sobre la economía del hidrógeno. Una esperanza que abrió Rifkin en su obra La economía del hidrógeno (2002) como solución a los carburantes fósiles y al efecto invernadero. Este nuevo “dorado” energético que iba a solucionar los problemas energéticos de la humanidad, en especial a los más desfavorecidos, no ha llegado, y posiblemente nunca llegue en los términos de Rifkin. Las cuestiones que impiden desarrollar la economía del hidrógeno son múltiples, entre ellas sus impactos sociales. La divulgación de las tesis de Rifkin abrieron la esperanza a muchos sectores de la sociedad, y tras el paso de los años esto no se ha cumplido y está lejos de hacerse realidad. Se exponen algunas razones por las cuales la economía “social” del hidrógeno no podrá convertirse en esa energía de salvación social

(BIO)Technological Images about Human Self-construction on Spain Context: A Preliminar Study

The study of (bio) technology has a great social significance. As time goes by, the human being is getting more linked to technology. (Bio)technology and society are, therefore, two inseparable fields. Furthermore, this study shows the importance of setting a new context of analysis for (bio)technology. This context will be a polycontexture formed by biological, technical, psychological, sociological and axiological factors. In order to analyze this polycontexture, we consider that one of the most powerful methods is that used by social imageries. Social imageries have been studied by many researchers, but we believe that Juan Luis Pintos has developed the best method. In the end, this paper concludes that the materialization of this polycontexture is the cyborg metaphor. Keywords: Cyborg; Policontexture; Juan Luis Pintos; Socials Imagerie

Nacionalismo: identidad, educación y construcción social

El texto que aquí se presenta, realiza una reflexión de cómo el nacionalismo ha tomado la cultura como instrumento en su construcción, y se ha apoyado en la educación para alcanzar los objetivos deseados. A modo de reflexión, se realiza una sucinta observación de como las políticas educativas puestas en escena siguen los mismos parámetros de actuación que los nacionalismos. En este caso, el error está en que generalmente son empleadas para la asimilación y no la convivencia de diferentes culturas

Responsabilidad social de la actividad científica.

The paper offers a reflection on the importance of Ethics in research and application of science. The appearance of new research fields: biotechnology, genetic, nanotechnology, etc., implies the emergency of new questions on the expectations and consequences of its application to Society. The former reflection involves the need to approach their responsibility on the scientific activity, but it cannot be accomplished under traditional parameters, but attending to new criteria. Taking this into account, it is necessary to formulate such as questions: What those limits should be? What are their limits? Whether is society trained to assume new challenges? etc. since Ethics should never restrain knowledge.El artículo presenta una reflexión sobre la importancia de la ética en la investigación y aplicación de la ciencia. La aparición de nuevos campos de investigación, biotecnología, genética, nanotecnología, etc., da lugar a nuevas preguntas y con ello nuevos problemas, plasmando la necesidad de analizar la responsabilidad de la actividad científica, no tomada en los parámetros de la responsabilidad tradicional, sino aplicada a los nuevos espacios surgidos y necesidades sociales. La ética en sí misma es compleja, y su aplicación en ciencia todavía mucho más, pero los campos que están surgiendo amplían el campo de debate de la ética. Aparecen nuevas expectativas, nuevas posibilidades, pero también desconfianzas, riesgos y daños; por lo tanto, aparecen nuevas preocupaciones. Ante este hecho, cabe formularse un sin fin de cuestiones que necesitan ser resueltas si existe un deseo de poner reglas éticas o límites éticos a la ciencia. En esta misma línea es conveniente formularse cómo deben ser esos límites, qué se desea limitar, etc., porque la ciencia debe seguir avanzando

A social constructed human beeing : a (bio)technological approach

As a social construction, (bio)technology1 should not be studied out of the social field. From a Social Imaginaries approach, (bio)technology can be considered as a contemporary social magma formed by biological, technical, psychological, sociological and axiological factors. Orbiting around the the cyborg metaphor, in this article we intend to build a multidisciplinary approach of this polycontextureComo una construcción social, la (bio)tecnología no debe ser estudiada fuera del campo social. Desde una perspectiva analítica sobre los imaginarios sociales, la (bio)tecnología puede ser considerada como un magma social formado por factores biológicos, técnicos, psicológicos, sociológicos y axiológicos. Orbitando alrededor de la metáfora del cyborg, en este artículo nos proponemos construir un enfoque multidisciplinar de esta polycontextura

Gap in Techno-Scientific Activity: The Iberoamerican Context

The aim of this paper is to apply the hermeneutic approach to social imaginaries of science and technology. Special attention will be given to discuss how the techno-scientific system intends to face poverty, although the system focuses to a different direction, which is a growing inter-penetration with the economic system. The techno-scientific system, as well as its politics, sets aside poor people. In such a context, the scientific-technologic gap continues to grow, generating gradually two different paces of international development. Factors like the cyborgization, robotization, the development of ITCs, etc., have an impact into the poorest regions, ending up into situations of technologic-scientific neo-colonialism. In spite of peripheral states efforts, the possible development of these regions is an always faced and never overcome challenge. Transformations of the scientific-technologic system, which are more and more scientifically and technologically dependent every day, constitute as a gap. Key words: Science; technology; poverty; scientific-technologic ga

The associations of immigrants: integration and funding

As associações de imigrantes desempenham um papel fundamental na recepção e integração dos imigrantes. Esta associação surge da necessidade de conhecer, diferenciar e representar. Este artigo analisa os diferentes tipos de organizações de imigrantes e de apoio a imigrantes, enfatizando a relação entre eles e as autoridades. A forte submissão das associações ao financiamento público e a dificuldade ou facilidade de acesso ao circuito subvencional são cruciais no desenvolvimento da sua própria gestão e sobrevivência das organizações. Por último, apresentamos um caso real em que se analisa o nível de reconhecimento e limites para a concessão de auxílios ou subsídios. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a dependência é condição estrutural dessas entidades e tornou-se parte integrante do seu funcionamento. Immigrant associations play a fundamental role in the reception and integration of immigrants. This association arises because of the need to meet, to differentiate and represent. This paper analyzes the different types of organizations to support immigrants and migrants, stressing the relationship between them and public authorities. The strong submission to public funding and the difficulty or ease of access subsidies are crucial elements in developing their own management and survival. Finally, we present a real case study which allows the assessment of the level of recognition and limits for grants and subsidies. These results lead to the conclusion that the dependence is a structural condition of these institutions and has become an integral part of its operation