From “Old” to “New Humanitarianism”: Dilemmas of Humanitarian Action in Conflict and PostConflict Contexts

Com o final da Guerra Fria, o conceito e a prática da ação humanitária sofreram mudanças significativas. O surgimento das denominadas “emergências humanitárias complexas” tornou claro que as respostas humanitárias tradicionais baseadas nos princípios clássicos de imparcialidade e neutralidade já não eram suficientes ou as mais apropriadas para responder a desafios tão complexos. A década de 90 vê assim emergir um “novo humanitarismo”, que incorpora objetivos mais amplos e de longo prazo, tais como o desenvolvimento e a paz. Contudo, esta nova abordagem ao humanitarismo viu também os seus traços e implicações mais negativos e preocupantes serem reforçados com as respostas militarizadas aos ataques terroristas de 11 de setembro de 2001, criando dilemas ainda mais complexos às organizações e atores humanitários. Procura‑se, com este artigo, traçar a evolução do conceito e prática do humanitarismo, olhando criticamente para as principais tendências que têm caracterizado os mais recentes paradigmas da ajuda e procurando perceber quais os grandes dilemas e desafios que se colocam ao futuro de uma ação humanitária eficaz.With the end of the Cold War, both the concept and practice of humanitarian action have signifcantly changed. The emergence of the so-called ‘complex humanitarian crises’ made it clear that traditional humanitarian responses based on the classical principles of impartiality and neutrality were not suffcient nor the most appropriate to respond to such complex challenges. The 1990s thus saw the emergence of a ‘new humanitarianism’ which incorporates much broader and longer-term objectives, such as development or peace. However, the most negative features and implications have been reinforced with the militarized responses to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, thus creating even more complex problems and dilemmas to humanitarian actors. This article aims at analyzing the evolution of the concept and practice of humanitarianism by critically looking at the main trends that have characterized the most recent aid paradigms and trying to understand the main dilemmas and challenges to an effective humanitarian action today

Addressing socio-economic inequalities as a basis for peace: an alternative approach to conflict?

Desde o final da Guerra Fria, o imperativo da paz liberal tornou-se um fim em si mesmo defendido com o intuito de legitimar os meios usados nas tentativas de prevenir e/ou resolver conflitos em sociedades étnica e religiosamente divididas, dando lugar a algumas contradições nas práticas atuais em matéria de peacebulding, visando construir paz. A ampliação dos esforços e estratégias da paz liberal face a conflitos violentos tem sido vista não só como uma solução para as complexidades das chamadas ‘novas guerras’ das periferias através da promoção de processos de liberalização, democratização e promoção dos direitos humanos mas também como uma espécie de projeto hegemónico levado a cabo por, e de acordo com, as normas, poder e interesses das grandes potências (Richmond, 2007: 75). Reconhecendo a necessidade de desconstruir visões simplistas sobre o papel dos fatores étnicos e religiosos com causas de conflito violento interno frequentemente assumidas e partilhadas por muitos dos atores envolvidos nestes processos, neste artigo argumentamos que a resolução eficaz deste tipo de conflitos e a promoção de dinâmicas de paz mais estrutural e sustentável implica evitar modelos e conceitos acríticos e, acima de tudo, responder às desigualdades sociais e económicas mais profundas e complexas que estão frequentemente em causa.Ever since the end of the Cold War, the liberal peace imperative has become an end in itself defended with the aim of legitimizing the instruments used in the attempts to prevent and/or resolve violent conflicts in ethnically or religiously divided societies, giving place to contradictions in current peacebulding practices aimed at building peace. Te broadening of goals and strategies sustaining liberal peace in the face of violent conflicts has been viewed not only as a solution for the complex nature of the so-called ‘new wars’ of the periphery through the promotion of liberalization, democratization and human rights promotion processes, but also as some sort of hegemonic project led by, and according to, the norms, power and interests of the major powers (RICHMOND, 2007, p. 75). Acknowledging the need to deconstruct simplistic visions on the role of ethnic and religious factors as causes of violent internal conflict, ofen assumed and shared by many of the actors involved in this processes, in this article we argue that an effective and sustainable resolution of these conflicts and the promotion of more structural peace dynamics requires avoiding acritical models and concepts and, above all, addressing the deep and complex socioeconomic inequalities usually at stake in these societies

Sudan: Between the Promise of Peace in the South and the Uncertainty of War in Darfur

For more than two decades, Sudan experienced a violent conflict, opposing the Northern Arab Muslim dictatorial government and the Southern Christian and Animist rebels. Often considered as an example of the ‘clash of civilisations’, this conflict is actually characterised by deep political and socio-economic inequalities. For the largest country in Africa, the promises of peace came with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed on 9 January 2005. But peace in Sudan is still uncertain, challenged by obstacles to the implementation of the Agreement, by genocidal violence in Darfur and an increasing instability in the East. Through a rigorous analysis of the complexities of war and peace in Sudan, this paper aims to analyse the recent developments of the peace process and the challenges posed to the prospects for a more peaceful and prosperous future in the country

A securitização de políticas ambientais o caso do Darfur

Face à identificação política do Darfur como o primeiro conflito violento resultante de alterações climáticas, este artigo analisa o caso do Darfur no quadro do processo de securitização ambiental, discutindo as dinâmicas que lhe estão subjacentes na situação actual. O artigo argumenta que a relação ambiente-segurança deve ser analisada na fronteira entre a esfera doméstica e internacional e que a não securitização das políticas ambientais em relação ao Darfur tem sido um obstáculo conceptual e operacional fundamental à paz. Deste modo, a internalização desta relação dialéctica na política e na acção é aqui considerada um passo essencial para responder às causas mais profundas do confl ito violento no Darfur

O Papel dos Irmãos nas Redes Sociais Pessoais de Idosos Portugueses

Os estudos sobre redes sociais pessoais nas fases finais do ciclo vital têm focado vínculos específicos, sobretudo intergeracionais, tais como as relações entre pais e filhos ou avós e netos. Menos atenção tem sido dada às relações intrageracionais do idoso, nomeadamente a relação entre irmãos. Tendo em consideração que as redes sociais pessoais contribuem de modo significativo para a integração psicossocial e bem-estar dos indivíduos, o presente estudo visa analisar o papel dos irmãos nas redes sociais de idosos portugueses. A amostra deste estudo abrange 481 indivíduos, maioritariamente do sexo feminino (62,37%), com uma média de idades de 75,54 anos, distribuídos por várias áreas de Portugal, mas com uma maior prevalência de residentes da zona centro. As informações foram recolhidas através do Instrumento de Análise da Rede Social Pessoal – Idosos (IARSP – Idosos), que consiste numa entrevista semiestruturada que possibilita a avaliação de diversas dimensões e variáveis da rede social pessoal do idoso, incluindo sobre os vínculos com os irmãos. Os resultados evidenciam que 29,1% dos inquiridos assinalaram a presença de irmãos na rede social. Entre aqueles que referiram irmãos, a maior parte identificou elementos do sexo feminino com idade igual ou superior a 65 anos. Do ponto de vista estrutural, as redes sociais que incluem irmãos são maiores, com níveis superiores de dispersão geográfica, maior durabilidade dos vínculos, menor frequência de contactos, maior heterogeneidade e menor densidade. Relativamente à dimensão funcional, as redes com irmãos são pontuadas por menos apoio emocional, material/instrumental e de companhia. Contudo, os idosos que mencionam irmãos apresentam maior satisfação com a rede. Estes dados suportam a importância de estudar as relações com irmãos nas fases finais do ciclo vital, estando estas associadas a diferentes características estruturais e funcionais da rede e a uma maior satisfação com a mesma. / The studies on personal social networks in the final stages of the life cycle have focused on specific bonds, particularly intergenerational, such as the relationships between parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren. Less attention has been given to intra-generational relationships of the elderly, specifically the relationship between siblings. Considering that personal social networks contribute significantly to the psychosocial integration and well-being of individuals, this study aims to analyze the role of brothers in the social networks of Portuguese elderly. The sample of this study includes 481 individuals, mostly female (62,37%), with a mean age of 75,54 years, distributed by various areas of Portugal, but with a higher prevalence of residents in the central region. The information was gathered through the Social Personal Social Network Analysis Instrument - Elderly (IARSP - Elderly), that consists in a semi-structured interview that enables the evaluation of various dimensions and variables of personal social network of the elderly, including on the links with brothers. The results show that 29,1% of respondents indicated the presence of brothers in the social network. Among those who mentioned brothers in their networks, the majority identified female elements, aged equal or over 65 years. From a structural point of view, the social networks that include brothers are larger, with higher levels of geographic dispersion, greater durability of the bonds, less frequent contacts, greater heterogeneity and lower density. Regarding the functional dimension, networks with siblings are punctuated by less emotional, material/instrumental and companionship support. However, the subjects who mention brothers have greater satisfaction with their social network. These data support the importance of studying the relationships with siblings in the final stages of the life cycle, these being associated with different structural and functional characteristics of the network and greater satisfaction with the same

Quality of High-protein Diet Bar Plus Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Grain Evaluated Sensorially by Untrained Tasters

The objective of this study was to develop, analyze composition and evaluate the microbiological and sensory characteristics of high-protein diet bars (PB) with the addition of chia grain (Salvia hispanica L.), partially replacing isolated soy protein and concentrated whey protein, in proportions of 0, 10, 15 and 20%. The proximate composition was analyzed of PB, for microbiological quality of Bacillus cereus, Filamentous fungi and yeast count, total fecal coliforms, and Salmonella ssp. search. Sensory analysis was performed utilizing acceptance testing of characteristics on a nine-point hedonic scale for various attributes, including purchasing intention of the tested PB. Bars showed 20% moisture, 2.3% ash, 20-23% protein and 19% lipids. The effect of increasing of chia was to increase crude fiber content and decrease total carbohydrate and total energy value. All samples were within the microbiological food standards established by current legislation. All PB formulations obtained a good overall impression index and all characteristics were above mean grades, with the exception of taste (63%) in the PB containing 0% chia. Chia grain has a positive influence on sensory aspects and appears to be an alternative way to increase the nutritional quality of high-protein diet bars

The management of product development in the construction material industry

Essa pesquisa, qualitativa e exploratória, focou nas empresas Cecrisa e Tigre, líderes na indústria de componentes para construção, e buscou identificar o grau de formalização, as etapas da gestão do desenvolvimento de produtos e as práticas e características peculiares à IMC, cotejando-as com a literatura. Excetuadas algumas diferenças relevantes, constatou-se uma prática atualizada em relação à literatura e um processo e estrutura formais e organizados. Observou-se a predominância de projetos derivativos, em especial topológicos; diferenças na captação de ideias, com recurso à grande variedade de informações; a inserção pela Cecrisa de depoimentos de especialistas sobre a imagem da linha e a atualidade da ideia no desenvolvimento do conceito do produto, com reflexos potenciais nas suas peças promocionais. A Cecrisa se destaca ainda por montar o produto em etapas iniciais, utilizando a matéria-prima e o processo produtivo finais. As duas empresas realizam o lançamento interno do produto, distinguindo-se pela forma como é feito, o que não é tratado na literatura. As empresas estudadas recorrem à estrutura leve de projeto, pois são empresas pequenas com distâncias hierárquicas menores, onde constantemente acontecem reuniões formais e encontros informais para discussões e esclarecimentos dos projetos.This qualitative and exploratory study, focusing on Cecrisa and Tigre, both leaders in the building material supply industry, attempts to identify the degree of formalization, the stages of the product development process (PDP) and the unique characteristics of the industry, comparing them with the reviewed literature. With the exception of some relevant differences, practices were up-to-date in relation to the literature and processes and structures were found to be formal and organized. Nevertheless, there are some relevant disparities. The findings of the study showed that in this sector incremental projects prevail, many oriented to topological projects. The process of capturing ideas gathers a larger amount of information, and in the concept development phase Cecrisa stands out because it includes expert opinions on the image of the product line, which may be used in its advertising. Cecrisa also stands out in the product design phase due to its development in the initial stages using raw materials and the final production process. Both companies launch their products internally, although each company does so in a different way, even though this phase is not included in the literature. These companies have lightweight projects because they are small, with smaller hierarchical distances, where formal and informal meetings are constantly held to discuss projects

A face de tiradentes na mídia e no livro didático: um estudo comparado sobre as percepções dos jovens alunos

Anais do II Seminário Seminário Estadual PIBID do Paraná: tecendo saberes / organizado por Dulcyene Maria Ribeiro e Catarina Costa Fernandes — Foz do Iguaçu: Unioeste; Unila, 2014Este trabalho é resultado de uma investigação em andamento que tem por objetivo comparar as diferentes representações e construções da imagem de Tiradentes na mídia, nos livros didáticos e na historiografia. O trabalho está sendo desenvolvido em três etapas. Na primeira etapa foi realizado um estudo comparativo entre a representação de Tiradentes em diferentes meios de divulgação em 2014. Na segunda etapa foi desenvolvido e aplicado um questionário aos alunos da 2° série do Ensino Médio sobre a representação da imagem de Tiradentes. Na terceira etapa é constituída pela análise dos resultados da investigação com os alunos das escolas vinculadas ao PIBID. Espera-se, como resultado, demonstrar aos estudantes que existem variadas interpretações sobre a imagem de Tiradentes e na maior parte das vezes construídas e desconstruídas no processo histórico, procurando com isso gerar uma consciência sobre a falsa concepção de verdade histórica propagad

The submarine canyons of the Argentine Continental Margin: a review of their formation and sedimentary dynamics

Los cañones submarinos son los mayores rasgos erosivos de los márgenes continentales tanto activos como pasivos. Desde los albores del siglo XX, representan un fructífero tema de debate e investigación por su gran relevancia como agentes de transferencia de sedimento y materia orgánica de continente a océano, por ser lugar de surgencia de aguas profundas, elevada producción primaria y riqueza en biodiversidad, y por ser potenciales factores de riesgo en las rupturas de infraestructuras submarinas. El presente trabajo comprende una revisión de las principales teorías de formación y evolución de los cañones submarinos así como de los procesos de interacción entre dinámica oceanográfica, flujos sedimentarios y morfologías asociadas a los cañones. El objetivo es presentar una síntesis del estado del conocimiento sobre los cañones del Margen Continental Argentino (MCA), discutir su formación y evolución en el marco de los modelos genéticos más aceptados en la actualidad así como proponer una hipótesis de trabajo vinculada a la dinámica sedimentaria del Cañón Mar del Plata (MdP), el más estudiado del margen. Este cañón, como la mayoría de los del MCA, por un lado se desarrolla exclusivamente en el talud (cañón ciego) y por el otro interrumpe un gran sistema depositacional contornítico relacionado con la circulación oceanográfica regional. De aquí que su génesis en principio se explicaría por el modelo de erosión retrogradante a partir de fenómenos de inestabilidad del talud, pero además podría funcionar como trampa de sedimento captando el material transportado por el Agua Antártica Intermedia a lo largo del talud medio. Se propone que en la Terraza Ewing, donde el cañón tiene su cabecera, podrían generarse corrientes turbidíticas que afectarían a la evolución y dinámica del cañón. Estas corrientes se encauzarían cañón abajo contribuyendo a profundizar su valle y a conformar su trazado en parte sinuoso. En los sistemas de cañones Patagonia otros factores podrían activar la génesis de los cañones submarinos. Se ha sugerido la posibilidad que irregularidades morfológicas provocadas por la acción erosiva de las corrientes contorníticas sobre el fondo puedan dar origen a los cañones de esta zona. Este mecanismo podría no limitarse exclusivamente al sistema Patagonia sino aplicarse a los demás sistemas de cañones argentinos ya que el MCA está intersectado por intensas corrientes de contorno que operan a diferentes profundidades.Submarine canyons are the most outstanding geomorphologic features of continental margins. They play a fundamental role in transferring sediment and organic matter from shallow to deep waters. Also, they influence oceanographic and sedimentary processes, interact with productivity and benthic ecosystems, and pose a serious threat to seafloor infrastructures. Submarine canyons have been described as steep-walled, sinuous valleys with V-shaped cross sections, axes sloping outward as continuously as river-cut land canyons and relief comparable to even the largest of land canyons. The understanding of the origin and evolution of submarine canyons has been matter of intense debate since the first geologists observed them characterizing both passive and active margins. Canyons have been interpreted as (1) the off-shore prolongation of river systems that during low sealevel stages migrated seaward; (2) the product of the erosion caused by gravity dense flows- called turbidity currents- produced at the shelf-slope transition; (3) the deepening of pre-existing tectonic structures (e.g. faults) and (4) the result of slope instability combined with headward erosion. The first model only explains the genesis of the breaching-shelf canyons that connect with river systems, but does not resolve the formation of those that are unrelated to fluvial input. Turbidity currents take place at the shelf break when sufficient amount of sediment is injected into the water column by (re) suspension, resulting in a flow with higher density than the surrounding waters. These high-density flows, moving down-slope under the effect of gravity, cut the valleys that finally evolve into submarine canyons. Turbidity currents, though effective agents of erosion, do not account for the formation of slopeconfined canyons. From the other side, tectonic control can apply for limited examples of canyons, which are located in specific geological contexts. Continental slopes often show scars that are left behind by instability events. Mass wasting processes may arise from fluid escape, sediment over pressure and steepening or be triggered by seismic shocks. These initial scars would evolve into rills and then into valleys by a process that combines localized slope failures, sediment funneling and headward erosion. According to this genetic model, slope-confined and shelf-breaching canyons are, respectively, the early and mature stages in the evolution of canyons, which starts with a pre-canyon rill that advances upslope by retrogressive failure and ends with the canyon cutting the shelf break. The objective of this contribution is to review the knowledge on the submarine canyons from the Argentine Continental Margin and to suggest a working hypothesis concerning the sedimentary dynamics of the Mar del Plata Canyon, by far the best known canyon of this margin. Four main systems have been described: La Plata River, Colorado-Negro (or Bahía Blanca), Ameghino (or Chubut) and Patagonia (or Deseado). Mar del Plata Canyon, belonging to the first of these systems, cuts the slope between ~1000 m (Ewing Terrace, middle slope) and ~3900 m (lower slope-continental rise transition) as a deep valley with steep walls. In its proximal sector, between 1100 and 3000 m, it shows a sinuous path whereas the thalweg is mostly linear between 3000 an 3900 m. Seismic profiles, obtained during the Meteor research cruise M78/3a, demonstrate no evidences of incisions that could suggest past fluvial connections with the canyon head. For this reason, the origin of this canyon has been explained as an example of headward erosion. During the Holocene, the sedimentation rate inside the canyon is much higher than outside. This occurs because the large amount of sediment mobilized by bottom currents along the Ewing Terrace is intercepted by the canyon. In contrast, during the Late Glacial and deglaciation phase, turbidite accumulation has been attributed to slope instability of the drift deposits at the southern flank of the canyon. In this study, we put forward the following working hypothesis: the canyon most probably generated from slope instability and retrogressive erosion. However, when the valley moved upslope and etched the Ewing Terrace (middle slope), turbidity currents might have been produced at this water depth (1000-1200 meters) by the peculiar oceanographic dynamics driven by the interaction between bottom currents and seafloor. If confirmed by future investigations, this hypothesis would account both for the turbidite deposition and the sinuous path of the canyon in its proximal sector, which is more typical, although not exclusive, for canyons routed by turbidity currents. The detailed morphological investigations, performed in the Patagonia Canyons system by a Spanish research group in 2011, add a stimulating source of discussion about canyon formation in the Argentine Margin. These authors have proposed that topographic irregularities shaped by scars resulting from the sea-floor erosion under strong contour currents and the step separating terraces located at different water depths, might be the precursors for a pre-canyon incision. This hypothesis, of great relevance in a continental margin where downslope and along-slope sedimentary processes often coexist and interact, probably apply not only to the Patagonia but also to the other, less investigated, canyons systems of the Argentine Margin.Fil: Bozzano, Graziella. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Martín de Nascimento, Jacobo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Spoltore, Daniela V.. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval; ArgentinaFil: Violante, Roberto Antonio. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval; Argentin

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells and associated events in urethane-induced lung cancer

OBJECTIVES: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells contribute to the immunosuppressive microenvironment during tumor development and limit the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Identifying myeloid-derived suppressor cells and associated factors is the first step in creating strategies to reverse the suppressive effects of these cells on the immune system. METHODS: To induce lung cancer, we administered 2 doses of urethane to BALB/c mice and observed these animals for 120 days. After this period, we evaluated the percentage of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the blood, lung and bone marrow. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-β, Toll-like receptor 2, Toll-like receptor 4, and interleukin-6 was also determined in the lung tissue. RESULTS: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells were increased in all evaluated tissues after lung cancer development in association with increased Toll-like receptor 4 expression and decreased interleukin-6 expression in the lung. We observed alpha-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-β expression in lung nodules. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the early diagnosis of cancer through determining the blood levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells followed by the depletion of these cells should be further investigated as a possible approach for cancer treatment.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESPConselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq)Federal University of São Paulo Immunology DivisionFederal University of São Paulo Pathology DivisionFederal University of São Paulo Psychobiology DivisionFederal University of São Paulo Physiology DivisionUNIFESP, Immunology DivisionUNIFESP, Pathology DivisionUNIFESP, Psychobiology DivisionUNIFESP, Physiology DivisionSciEL