Climate-induced migrations in Mesoamerica with a gender perspective

The objective of this article is to analyze climate migration from Mesoamerica, integrating systemic factors of poverty, pandemic, environmental disasters, survival dilemma, insecurity, and violence within a gender perspective. Climate disasters have increased systemic risks and generated cascading processes due to weak governmental policies of prevention, mitigation and adaptation. In addition, U.S. anti-migrant policies, border militarization, and organized crime have increased regional violence, forcing poor people to migrate within caravans. During these journeys, women through their support have achieved greater equity, justice and empowerment in highly adverse conditions. These learnings have generated recognition and more inclusive cultural norms that were demanded even when the migrants were repatriated to their countries, where they have promoted a care economy. They were able to adapt to climate disasters and participate in local politics, where they have promoted sustainable productive practices that have improved the economy and equity in their society. They are overcoming extreme poverty and violent-discriminatory patriarchal patterns by improving their family economy and protecting the community from increasingly more severe climate impacts.Migraciones inducidas por el clima en Mesoamérica con perspectiva de géneroEl objetivo es analizar la migración climática desde Mesoamérica, integrando factores sistémicos de pobreza, pandemia, desastres ambientales, dilema de supervivencia, inseguridad y violencia dentro de una perspectiva de género. Desastres climáticos han aumentado los riesgos sistémicos y generado procesos en cascada por insuficientes políticas gubernamentales de prevención, mitigación y adaptación. Adicionalmente, políticas norteamericanas anti-migrantes, una militarización de las fronteras y el crimen organizado han aumentado la violencia regional, forzando a personas pobres a emigrar dentro de caravanas. Durante estos trayectos, las mujeres, por sus apoyos, han alcanzado mayor equidad, justicia y capacitación en condiciones altamente adversas. Estos aprendizajes han generado reconocimiento y normas culturales más incluyentes, que fueron aplicados aun cuando los migrantes fueron repatriados hacia sus países, donde han promovido una economía del cuidado. Esta permitió adaptarse a desastres climáticos y participar en la política local, donde se han promovido prácticas productivas sustentables que han mejorado la economía e igualdad en la sociedad. Están superado pobreza extrema y patrones patriarcales violento-discriminatorios al mejorar la economía familiar y proteger a la comunidad ante impactos climáticos crecientemente más severos

Swiss paediatrician survey on complementary medicine

In Switzerland, complementary medicine (CM) is officially recognised within the healthcare system and mainly practised in an integrative manner, in conjunction with conventional medicine. As in other countries, there is high demand for and use of CM with children. However, there has so far been no research into the attitude towards, training in and offer of CM among paediatricians in Switzerland. Our study addresses this gap by investigating these topics with an online survey of paediatricians in Switzerland.METHODS: We conducted a national online survey using a 19-item, self- reporting questionnaire among all ordinary and junior members of the Swiss Society of Paediatrics (SSP). A comparison of the study sample with the population of all paediatricians registered with the Swiss Medical Association (FMH) allowed an assessment of the survey’s representativeness. The data analysis was performed on the overall group level as well as for predefined subgroups (e.g. sex, age, language, workplace and professional experience).RESULTS: 1890 paediatricians were approached and 640, from all parts of Switzerland, responded to the survey (response rate 34%). Two thirds of respondents were female, were aged between 35 and 55 years, trained as paediatric generalist and worked in a practice. Apart from young paediatricians in training, the study sample was representative of all Swiss paediatricians. 23% had attended training in CM, most frequently in phytotherapy, homeopathy, acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and anthroposophic medicine. 65% were interested in CM courses and training. 16% provide CM services to their patients and almost all paediatricians (97%) are asked by patients/parents about CM therapies. More than half of the responding paediatricians use CM for themselves or their families. 42% were willing to contribute to paediatric CM research.CONCLUSIONS: In a representative sample of paediatricians in Switzerland, their personal attitude towards CM is positive, emphasised by great interest in CM training, a willingness to contribute to CM research and a high rate of paediatricians who use CM for themselves and their families. In contrast, the percentage of paediatricians offering CM is currently rather low despite strong demand for CM for children. This study provides key pointers for the future development of complementary and integrative medicine for children in Switzerland

Reconceptualizar la seguridad en el siglo XXI

El libro revisa desde los aspectos filosóficos, pólíticos, socioeconómicos, culturales, ambientales, de género y de leyes internacionales las instituciones y las políticas de seguridad existentes y propone cambios en su comprensión que lleven hacia una profundización del concepto de seguridad. En el contexto regional de América Latina se propone seguritizar humana, social y ambientalmente el bienestar, para abrir el camino hacia políticas y prácticas sociales que permitirán mitigar los riesgos y desafíos que se presentarán en este siglo XXI.1. Conceptos básicos de seguridad. 2.Debate filosófico sobre seguridad en Mesoamérica y Brasil. 3. Globalizacion y transnacionales en América Latina. 4. Reconceptualizar la seguridad en el siglo XX

A call for transparent reporting to optimize the predictive value of preclinical research

The US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke convened major stakeholders in June 2012 to discuss how to improve the methodological reporting of animal studies in grant applications and publications. The main workshop recommendation is that at a minimum studies should report on sample-size estimation, whether and how animals were randomized, whether investigators were blind to the treatment, and the handling of data. We recognize that achieving a meaningful improvement in the quality of reporting will require a concerted effort by investigators, reviewers, funding agencies and journal editors. Requiring better reporting of animal studies will raise awareness of the importance of rigorous study design to accelerate scientific progress

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Seguridad, disponibilidad y sustentabilidad energética en México

This article explores a sustainable concept of energy security based on the wellbeing of the Mexican society that is able to fulfill the NDC committed to UNFCCC in 2015 and ratified in September 2016 by the Senate. It first analyzes the concept of energy security in the international context and then for Mexico examines globally the evolution of hydrocarbon extraction, conflicts, geopolitical pressures on oil prices, and the impact on public finances in Mexico and its oil company Pemex. The political-military approach of energy security reviews the increase of illegal actors involved in the robbery of fossil fuels. The article shows that energy security is not only a military-political issue, where powerful pressures of global actors affect oil prices by manipulating supply and demand. On the contrary, the text proposes that the current crisis in oil prices opens for Mexico the possibility to promote its abundant renewable energy potential (wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, and biomass). Further, the restructuring of Pemex towards an efficient enterprise would stimulate public investments. Therefore, a holistic concept of energy security integrates human, environmental, economic, gender and societal security. This may open for Mexico the possibility of a long-term energy policy, based on sustainability, equity, and collective citizen’s welfare.Este artículo explora un concepto de seguridad energética sustentable fincada en el bienestar de la sociedad mexicana y que integra los compromisos asumidos en el Acuerdo de París ante la Convención Marco de Cambio Climático de la ONU (CNUMCC), en 2015 y ratificado en septiembre de 2016 por el Senado. Analiza el concepto de seguridad energética en el contexto internacional y en el mexicano, examina la evolución de la extracción de hidrocarburos, los impactos geopolíticos en los precios globales del crudo, los conflictos, las repercusiones en las finanzas públicas y en Petróleos Mexicanos, así como el incremento de actores ilegales que roban los combustibles fósiles. El texto propone que la crisis actual en los precios de los hidrocarburos abre a México la posibilidad de estimular las energías renovables, que el país posee en abundancia, si bien el gobierno mexicano ha fincado su seguridad energética en hidrocarburos fósiles y pretende cumplir con los compromisos internacionales produciendo energía limpia mediante inversión extranjera. Finalmente, se propone un concepto holístico de seguridad energética que integra factores de seguridad humana, ambiental, económica, societal y de género, que abre a México la posibilidad de una política energética a largo plazo, fincada en la sustentabilidad, la equidad y el bienestar ciudadano colectivo

Dual vulnerability among female household heads

This article investigates the impact of women's double vulnerability, the social and environmental vulnerability that makes them household heads, and the processes that enable them to overcome vulnerability and empower themselves at the local level. An empirical study conducted in the Yautepec river basin in the state of Morelos in Mexico explores the impacts of climate change and socio-environmental migration on this rural population. The study combined quantitative and qualitative methods. In the context of the concept of dual vulnerability, environmental and social, the research analysed the relationship between environmental degradation and adverse social conditions, and an Index of Social Vulnerability was developed. The research results showed that when families are faced with a survival dilemma, men migrate, leaving women overburdened with a workload which leads to illness and malaise. At the same time, having assumed the role of household head with all its productive, caring and educational activities, women become empowered. They become involved in local public activities and are able to break up existing corrupt male chiefdoms. In conclusion, the study found that the feminization of agriculture and local public services had allowed women to recover eroded land thanks to organic farming, and to improve public services in their communities.Este artigo investiga o impacto que vem tendo a dupla vulnerabilidade, ambiental e social, nas mulheres transformadas em chefe de família, quando seus companheiros emigraram e os processos que lhes permitiram superar seu mal-estar e empoderarse a nível local. O estudo empírico, feito na bacia do rio Yautepec explora os impactos da mudança climática e da migração socioambiental na população rural; combina métodos quantitativos e qualitativos e analisa a dupla vulnerabilidade, ambiental e social; além disso inclui a construção de um Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social. Os resultados mostraram que diante de um dilema de SOBREVIVÊNCIA, o chefe de família emigra frequentemente, deixando uma sobrecarga de trabalho, o que provoca mal-estar na sua esposa. Não obstante, ao assumir a chefia do lar, várias mulheres se empoderaram e além disso começaram a ocupar cargos públicos locais que, encontravam-se nas mãos de homens corruptos. Como conclusão, encontrouse que a feminização da agricultura e dos serviços públicos locais permitiram aos chefes de família recuperar solos erodidos graças à agricultura orgânica; e ao mesmo tempo, várias mulheres melhoraram os serviços públicos das suas comunidades.Este artículo investiga el impacto que ha tenido la doble vulnerabilidad, la ambiental y la social, en las mujeres transformadas en jefas de hogar, cuando sus parejas han emigrado y los procesos que les han permitido superar su malestar y empoderarse a nivel local. El estudio empírico, llevado a cabo en la cuenca del río Yautepec explora los impactos del cambio climático y la migración socio-ambiental en la población rural; combina métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos y analiza la doble vulnerabilidad, ambiental y social; incluye, además, la construcción de un Índice de Vulnerabilidad Social. Los resultados arrojaron que ante un dilema de supervivencia, el jefe de hogar emigra frecuentemente, dejando una sobrecarga de trabajo, lo que provoca malestar a su esposa. No obstante, al asumir la jefatura del hogar, varias mujeres se han empoderado y han incursionado además en cargos públicos locales, donde han tenido que romper cacicazgos que se encontraban en manos de hombres corruptos. Como conclusión, se encontró que la feminización de la agricultura y los servicios públicos locales han permitido a las jefas de hogar recuperar suelos erosionados, gracias a la agricultura orgánica; a la vez, varias mujeres han mejorado los servicios públicos en sus comunidades

The 2030 Agenda as Agenda Setting Event for Water Governance? Evidence from the Cuautla River Basin in Morelos and Mexico

Policy science has developed various approaches, such as agenda-setting and goal-setting theory, aimed at explaining the emergence of policy shifts and behavioural changes. The 2030 Agenda sets an ambitious vision for human development in times of global environmental change and makes for an interesting subject to study the explanatory power of these approaches. While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enshrined in the 2030 Agenda resulted from a process of intergovernmental negotiations, they will ultimately have to be implemented by national governments. Using the case of Mexico, we take the governance of water as a starting point to investigate whether the 2030 Agenda has indeed become a focusing event for sustainability transformation. Building on data from 33 expert interviews and findings of a Social Network Analysis of communications between water stakeholders from different sectors in the Cuautla River Basin, we conclude that major paradigm shifts in water governance in Mexico are thus far rather attributable to domestic focusing events and windows of opportunity than to the motivating impact of globally set goals. The Mexican case also illustrates that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is strongly dependent on political will at the highest level. Ensuring the continuity of its implementation across administrations will, therefore, require mainstreaming and anchoring the SDGs into the sectorial strategies that determine activities at the lower working level of government

Entwicklung der Reglementierung von 10 MEM-Berufen im Kontext von Bildungsreformen und dem Wandel in der Arbeitswelt: Eine Kurzstudie im Auftrag von LIBS: Eine Kurzstudie im Auftrag von LIBS Industrielle Berufslehren Schweiz, Baden

Im Auftrag der LIBS Industrielle Berufslehren Schweiz, hat die KOF die Entwicklung von 10 MEM1-Berufsbildern seit dem ersten Berufsbildungsgesetz dargestellt und diese eingebettet in eine kurze Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Etappenschritte des Schweizer Berufsbildungssystems