Social metabolism and material flow analysis applied to waste management: A study case of Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Waste Management in megacities is one of the most relevant issues around the world due to its environmental impacts and economic costs. In this work, we evaluate the application of the theoretical-methodological framework provided by Social Metabolism and Material Flow Analysis to analyze the Municipal Solid Waste Management in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Argentina). The quantitative results evidence that 46% of the city's waste was disposed of in landfills outside its geographical limits, transferring environmental costs to the population on the outskirts of the city and other administrative jurisdictions. The city recycled the other 54% of the waste using different strategies like green centers for recyclable domestic waste (operated by 5500 registered Urban Recyclers/waste pickers recover), a Plant for treatment of pruning activities waste, a Plant for the treatment of construction and demolition waste, and a Mechanical-Biological Treatment Plant. Also in the city work, approximately 5000 informal waste pickers contributing to recycling waste. The approach shows the importance of the inclusion of waste pickers in the formal recycling system, and the failures of costly and inefficient large-scale technologies, as the Mechanical-Biological Treatment Plant. Also, the application of Social Metabolism and MFA allowed a characterization of the flows and processes that make up Municipal Solid Waste management in the area of study, despite the lack of systematized quantitative information. It facilitates a holistic visualization of waste management in the city for decision-makers.

La epidemiología crítica y el despojo de tierras y territorios: una reflexión teórica / Critical Epidemiology and Dispossession of Lands and Territories: A Theoretical Reflection / A epidemiologia crítica e o despojamento de terras e territórios: uma reflexão teórica

Resumen Introducción: la epidemiología crítica, como propuesta epistémica para comprender los procesos de salud, articula un sistema conceptual e instrumental que permite explicar cómo la salud y la enfermedad están determinadas socialmente. Para el caso de la población rural, el impacto de fenómenos geopolíticos como el acaparamiento y el despojo de tierras y territorios es determinante de sus procesos de salud-enfermedad. A lo largo de este artículo de reflexión teórica, se presentan una serie de enfoques y categorías propuestas por Jaime Breilh, quien ha sido pionero en la materia, e identifica su potencial para explicar la incidencia de dichos fenómenos en la modificación de los modos de vida y en la situación de salud de la población rural. Desarrollo: algunos componentes sustanciales de la epidemiología crítica, en relación con su pertinencia teórica y metodológica para analizar el despojo de tierras y los procesos de salud, son: la presencia de lo social en la epidemiología; la dimensión procesual y espacio-temporal; lo macro y lo micro: unidad y jerarquía; procesos protectores y destructores de la salud; y el concepto de metabolismo sociedad-naturaleza. Conclusiones: el despojo de tierras en Colombia ha sido de gran magnitud, y su resolución se considera un tema central para la construcción de la paz en el posconflicto. Desde el marco teórico de la epidemiología crítica, se posibilita adelantar investigaciones para abordar la incidencia del despojo, y el acaparamiento de tierras y territorios, en la situación de salud colectiva de la población rural. Este tipo de abordajes ha tenido poco desarrollo en el país y cobra importancia en el contexto actual, bajo el cual el extractivismo creciente amenaza los procesos vitales de las comunidades agrarias.

Abstract Introduction: Critical epidemiology, as an epistemic proposal for understanding health processes, articulates a conceptual and instrumental system that allows explaining how health and disease are socially determined. In the case of the rural population, the impact of geopolitical phenomena such as land grabbing and dispossession of lands and territories is a determinant of their health-disease processes. Throughout this article of theoretical reflection, a series of approaches and categories proposed by Jaime Breilh, who has pioneered the subject, is presented and their potential to explain the incidence of these phenomena in the modification of ways of live and the health situation of the rural population. Development: Some substantial components of critical epidemiology in relation to their theoretical and methodological relevance to analyze land dispossession and health processes are the presence of the social in epidemiology; the procedural and spatial-temporal dimension; the macro and the micro: unity and hierarchy; protective and destructive health processes, and the concept of society-nature metabolism. Conclusions: The dispossession of land in Colombia has been of great magnitude, and its resolution is considered a central issue for the construction of post-conflict peace. From the theoretical framework of critical epidemiology, it is possible to carry out research to address the incidence of dispossession and the grabbing of lands and territories, in the collective health situation of the rural population. This type of approach has had little development in the country and becomes important in the current context, where growing extractivism threatens the vital processes of agrarian communities.

Resumo Introdução: a epidemiologia crítica como proposta epistémica para compreender os processos de saúde, articula um sistema conceitual e instrumental que permite explicar como a saúde e a doença estão determinadas socialmente. Para o caso da população rural, o impacto de fenômenos geopolíticos como a mono-polização e despojamento de terras e territórios, é determinante de seus processos de saúde-doença. Ao longo deste artigo de reflexão teórica se irão a apresentar uma série de enfoques e categorias propostas por Jaime Breilh, quem tem sido pioneiro na matéria, e se irá identificando seu potencial para explicar a incidência de ditos fenômenos na modificação dos modos de vida e na situação de saúde da população rural. Desenvolvimento: alguns componentes substanciais da epidemiologia crítica em relação com a sua pertinência teórica e metodológica para analisar o despojamento de terras e os processos de saúde, são: a presença do social na epidemiologia; a dimensão processual e espaço-temporal; o macro e o micro: unidade e hierarquia; processos protetores e destrutores de saúde; e, o conceito de metabolismo socie-dade-natureza. Conclusões: o despojamento de terras na Colômbia tem sido de grande magnitude e sua resolução considera-se um tema central para a construção da paz no pós-conflito. Desde o marco teórico da epidemiologia crítica possibilita-se adiantar pesquisas para abordar a incidência do despojamento, e a monopolização de terras e territórios, na situação de saúde coletiva da população rural. Este tipo de abordagens tem tido pouco desenvolvimento no país e toma importância no contexto atual onde o extrativismo crescente ameaça os processos vitais das comunidades agrárias.

Metabolismo social en la comunidad Huaorani (Ecuador) en relación a las dimensiones comunitarias de salud / Social metabolism in the Huaorani community (Ecuador) in relation to community health dimensions

INTRODUCCIÓN: El metabolismo social es una relación entre la naturaleza y la sociedad, aparece previamente bajo condiciones pre-sociales o histórico-naturales de los seres humanos, dicho fenómeno implica el conjunto de procesos en donde los seres humanos organizados en sociedad, se apropian, circulan, transforman, consumen y excretan, materiales y/o energías provenientes del mundo natural. OBJETIVOS: analizar el desarrollo del metabolismo social a través del tiempo en dos comunidades Huaoranís y su relación a dimensiones comunitarias de salud. METODOLOGÍA: Investigación cualitativa de tipo fenomenológico, se aplicó la entrevista en profundidad a los líderes de cada comunidad y entrevista semiestructurada al personal de salud, bajo criterios de rigor de Calderón. RESULTADOS: Las comunidades Huaoranís Gareno y Tiwino Huao han sufrido diferentes cambios a través de la historia, debido a factores como; la evangelización, inserción de las petroleras, mestizaje, inserción de extranjeros, el sector salud ha reconocido dificultades a las que se enfrentan por lo agreste de la geografía, así como las barreras culturales. Hay logros que motivan a continuar en el objetivo trazado en beneficio de los pobladores Huaorani, y las diferentes estrategias" de promoción de salud. CONCLUSIONES: La comunidad indígena de los Huaoranís después de sufrir un Metabolismo Social, en las interacciones entre la sociedad y el medio ambiente, se determinó una trasformación real en la; vestimenta, idioma, cosmovisión, nivel económico, político, social, costumbres, medicina ancestral, en este proceso el Estado creó políticas, estrategias y programas acorde a la realidad socioeconómica y geográfica de los pueblos indígenas, Pese aquello hay poca efectividad de los procesos de fortalecimiento de las Dimensiones Comunitarias de Salud, en la población indígena, debido que el personal sanitario, no demuestre el dominio de "competencias culturales" entre estas, la habilidad y capacidad para interactuar y negociar con grupos culturalmente diversos, poca comprensión de los factores sociales y culturales y de salud de los pueblos indígenas.

INTRODUCTION: Social metabolism is a relationship between nature and society, it appears previously under pre-social or historical-natural conditions of human beings, this phenomenon implies the set of processes in which human beings organized in society, appropriate, circulate, they transform, consume and excrete materials and / or energies from the natural world. OBJECTIVES: to analyze the development of social metabolism over time in two Huaoranís communities and their relationship to community health dimensions. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative research of phenomenological type, the in-depth interview was applied to the leaders of each community and semi-structured interview to the health personnel, under Calderón's criteria of rigor. RESULTS: The Huaoranís Gareno and Tiwino Huao communities have undergone different changes throughout history, due to factors such as; Evangelization, insertion of oil companies, miscegenation, insertion of foreigners, the health sector has recognized difficulties faced by the rugged geography, as well as cultural barriers. There are achievements that motivate the continuation of the objective set for the benefit of the Huaorani residents, and the different strategies of health promotion: CONCLUSIONS: the indigenous community of the Huaoranís after suffering a social metabolism, in the interactions between society and society. environment, a real transformation in the; clothing, language, worldview, economic level, political, social, customs, ancestral medicine, in this process the State created policies, strategies and programs according to the socio-economic and geographical reality of indigenous peoples, Despite our little strategy of the processes of Strengths of the community dimensions of health, in the indigenous population, due to health personnel, do not demonstrate the mastery of "cultural competencies" between them, the ability and ability to interact and negotiate with culturally diverse groups, poor understanding of social factors and cultural and health of indigenous peoples.

Eixos de desenvolvimento econômico e geração de conflitos socioambientais no Brasil: desafios para a sustentabilidade e a justiça ambiental / Economic development axis and socioenvironmental conflicts generation in Brazil: challenges to sustainability and environmental justice

A realização da 1ª Conferência Nacional de Saúde Ambiental, a ser realizada em dezembro de 2009, apresenta inúmeros desafios ao campo da Saúde Coletiva. Seus objetivos e eixos adotam conceitos-chave como desenvolvimento, sustentabilidade, processos de produção e consumo, a questão da democracia e das políticas públicas, revelando a abrangência, a novidade e o forte caráter interdisciplinar e intersetorial da Saúde Ambiental. Ao resgatar e articular temas importantes para a Saúde Coletiva, a conferência aponta para a necessidade de refletirmos sobre os determinantes socioambientais da saúde na atualidade, de forma a avançarmos na construção de diretrizes e ações de vigilância e promoção da saúde. Este artigo discute as características do modelo de desenvolvimento brasileiro, seus impactos e conflitos socioambientais e sanitários. Usamos como referenciais teóricos e empíricos os acúmulos provenientes dos campos da economia ecológica e da ecologia política, assim como as experiências de cooperação junto à Rede Brasileira de Justiça Ambiental e diversos movimentos sociais. Dois casos serão aprofundados, o do agronegócio e uso de agrotóxicos, e a expansão da cadeia siderúrgica no país. Ao final, elencamos alguns pontos para compor uma agenda da "crise" socioambiental.

The 1st National Environmental Health Conference, in December 2009, presents countless challenges to the field of Public Health. It debates key concepts as development, sustainability, production and consumption processes, democracy and public policies; advocating for innovative, interdisciplinary and intersectorial aspects of Environmental Health. The Conference recovers and articulates important themes for the Public Health, and also indicates the need of reflecting the socio-environmental determinants of health at the present time, in order to provide progresses in the construction of guidelines and actions to health surveillance and promotion. This article discusses the characteristics of the Brazilian model of development, its impacts and conflicts within social, environmental and health fields. We use theoretical and empirical contributions from the fields of Ecological Economy and Political Ecology, as well as, experiences of cooperation with the Brazilian Network on Environmental Justice and several social movements. Two cases are discussed in more detail: the first related to agribusiness and the use of pesticides, and the other about the expansion of the iron and steel industry in Brazil. We conclude proposing some elements that could be incorporated by a research agenda committed to the debate about the "socioenvironmental crisis".