World radiocommunication conference 12 : implications for the spectrum eco-system

Spectrum allocation is once more a key issue facing the global telecommunications industry. Largely overlooked in current debates, however, is the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). Decisions taken by WRC shape the future roadmap of the telecommunications industry, not least because it has the ability to shape the global spectrum allocation framework. In the debates of WRC-12 it is possible to identify three main issues: enhancement of the international spectrum regulatory framework, regulatory measures required to introduce Cognitive Radio Systems (CRS) technologies; and, additional spectrum allocation to mobile service. WRC-12 eventually decided not to change the current international radio regulations with regard to the first two issues and agreed to the third issue. The main implications of WRC-12 on the spectrum ecosystem are that most of actors are not in support of the concept of spectrum flexibility associated with trading and that the concept of spectrum open access is not under consideration. This is explained by the observation that spectrum trading and spectrum commons weaken state control over spectrum and challenge the main principles and norms of the international spectrum management regime. In addition, the mobile allocation issue has shown the lack of conformity with the main rules of the regime: regional spectrum allocation in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) three regions, and the resistance to the slow decision making procedures. In conclusion, while the rules and decision-making procedures of the international spectrum management regime were challenged in the WRC-12, the main principles and norms are still accepted by the majority of countries

Evolution of representation of the hands in plastic arts A evolução da representação da mão nas artes plásticas

The interaction between art and science was high during the Renaissance and it declined later to return significantly in the 20th century, mainly with the use of identification techniques, dating of art works and the development of new materials. The relationship between plastic arts and hand surgery is intense and artistic reproductions of hands are frequent in the illustration of scientific texts. With the objective of understanding the role of the hand in plastic arts, reproductions of works of art (sculptures and paintings) representative of several periods or styles in the history of art were analyzed emphasizing the study of the hands. Anatomical details, relationship with other structures of the human body, role in the composition and symbolic aspects of the hands were studied in historical and artistic contexts of art works in the Paleolithic period (pre-history) until the 20th century. The representation of the hands in plastic arts is directly related to the style or period of the work and to the individual ability of interpretation and execution by the artist.<br>A interação entre arte e ciência foi intensa durante o Renascimento, sofrendo declínio nos anos posteriores com retomada significativa no século XX, principalmente com o uso de técnicas de identificação, datação de obras de arte e o desenvolvimento de novos materiais. O relacionamento entre artes plásticas e Cirurgia da Mão mantêm-se intenso , sendo freqüente o uso de reproduções artísticas da mão nas ilustrações de textos científicos. Objetivando compreender o papel da mão nas artes plásticas, reproduções de obras de artes (esculturas e pinturas) representativas de vários estilos ou períodos da história da arte foram analisadas com enfoque no estudo das mãos. Detalhes anatômicos, relacionamento com outras estruturas do corpo humano, papel na composição e aspectos simbólicos das mãos foram estudados no contexto histórico e artístico de obras de arte do período paleolítico (pré-história) até o século XX. A representação da mão nas artes plásticas está diretamente relacionada ao estilo ou período da obra e à capacidade individual de interpretação e execução do artista

Feminist solidarity?:Women's engagement in politics and the implications for water management in the Darjeeling Himalaya

This article explores the motivations of a diverse group of women in the Himalayan region of Darjeeling district in India to engage (or not) in politics, and discusses how women, like men, are vulnerable to power and politics. In Darjeeling, class, ethnicity, and other divides are accentuated by unresolved, decades-long identity-based political conflicts that also obscure practical everyday needs and challenges. This defines which women engage in the political domain and, in the dominantly patriarchal political space, how these women relate to the region's enduring water challenges. In such a setting, it would be ideal to wish for solidarity among women that would overcome class and ethnic divisions and individual political aspirations, making space for gendering political causes and practical challenges. Such solidarity would be especially pertinent in the Eastern Himalaya, given the region's projected climate vulnerability and fragile democracy. However, reality is far removed from development discourse and policy which suggests an assumed camaraderie among mountain women: an imagined empathy and solidarity in relation both to environmental causes and concerns and the practice of equitable power and politics. In looking at how a diverse group of women in varying positions of power and powerlessness in Darjeeling District are unable, reluctant, or simply uninterested in addressing critical water injustices experienced by some, this paper calls for retrospection on both gender–environment myths and gender–politics fictions

Notas e comentários sobre a dinâmica do comércio Brasil-África nas décadas de 1970 a 1990

Este artigo traz algumas reflexões acerca da presença empresarial brasileira no mercado africano, enfocando particularmente a visão de diferentes autores que se voltaram para o estudo das relações comerciais entre o Brasil e a África. O texto objetiva responder a duas questões principais. Primeiramente, sob que motivações o comércio Brasil-África obteve um notável crescimento entre os anos 1970 e 1990? Segundo, quais as perspectivas que se apresentam para o empresário brasileiro que deseje iniciar negócios na África? Através da pesquisa bibliográfica e entrevistas com executivos que atuaram na África no período mencionado, além de especialistas em comércio exterior, constatou-se que nos anos mencionados o governo brasileiro concedeu generosos incentivos aos empreendimentos direcionados para o mercado africano. Com o fim dessa política privilegiada, muitas empresas fracassaram, no entanto algumas permanecem em atividade, a exemplo da Câmara de Comércio Afro-Brasileira e da Construtora Norberto Odebrecht cujas trajetórias proporcionaram a entrada de outras empresas brasileiras no mercado africano, além de propiciarem importantes lições a empreendedores que desejam iniciar negócios no mercado africano. Concluímos que, a despeito da redução do apoio estatal e das mudanças no ambiente econômico interno e externo brasileiro, as oportunidades comerciais no continente africano existem e não podem ser ignoradas pelos homens de negócios, que tendem a julgar a África como um todo em função dos aspectos negativos ressaltados pela imprensa, da mesma forma que muitos empresários africanos desconhecem a qualidade dos nossos produtos e serviços.<br>This article brings some reflections about the presence of Brazilian enterprises in the African market, focusing particularly the vision of different authors that had studied the trade relationship between Brazil and Africa. The text aims to answer two main questions. Firstly, under what motivations the Brazil-Africa trade obtained a notable growth between the 70's and the 90's? Secondly, what are the perspectives to the Brazilian entrepreneurs that want to begin a new business in Africa? Through bibliographical research and interviews with businessmen that worked in Africa in the mentioned period and with foreign trade specialists, it was found that in the mentioned years the Brazilian government gave generous incentives to the entrepreneurship directed to the African market. With the end of this privileging policy, many firms failed, nevertheless some of them are still active, for instance the Afro-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the construction company Norberto Odebrecht, whose trajectories propitiated the entry of other Brazilian enterprises in the African market. Besides that, they propitiate important lessons to the entrepreneurs that wish to initiate a business in the African market. We conclude that, in spite of the reduction of the state support and the changes in the Brazilian internal and external economic context, the commercial opportunities in the African continent exist and can not be ignored by the businessmen, that tend to judge Africa as a whole by its negative aspects, which are stressed by the media, in the same way that many African businessmen are unaware of the quality of the Brazilian products and services