Technology is a key link between society and nature that influences the distribucion of benefits from natural resources; and at the same time distributes risks from the abuse of nature. Any moves toward a more sustainable and socially just society will have to manage the transformation of technology. This article introduces a new European perspective about the sustainable transformation of ‘technological regimes’. This new perspective emphasises the role played by novel niches in processes of transformation. A new research project is introduced in the article. The project will investigate the experiences from 30 years of the ‘appropriate technology’ (AT) social movement in the UK. Experiments from the AT movement in the areas of local, organic food, eco-houses, and wind energy will be analysed as if they were novel niches in sustainable development. These experiences will be critical tests for the new theory for transforming technological regimes in more sustainable directions. (Article in Spanish)

Returning to the Middle Age. The world public health in hands of the charity
Guillermo Foladori

The last 20 years have seen a re-emergence of infectious diseases. World public health authorities have called for a new policy to deal with this threat: The Public-Private Partnerships. But several concerns arise on its viability to cope with the problem. In this article we analyze the main concerns. (Article in Spanish)

Science and Technology Policy in transition. The inheritance of the Cardoso’s administration and the challenges of the new Brazilian government
Noela Invernizzi

In this article I analyze the changing approaches in the policy for science and technology of the Brazilian government during the transition between F. H. Cardoso administration and L. I. da Silva’s new government. Some controversies arisen during the first six months of the new government reveal the existence of obstacles —particularly the institutional conditions inherited from the previous government— that make difficult the establishment of a new policy for science and technology. The article highlights some challenges faced by da Silva’s government in order to achieve the proposed goal of reorienting science and technology towards an equality-driven economic and social development. (Article in Spanish)

Frankenfoods and social representation: contemporanean percepction on biotechnology, nature and feeding
Renata Menasche

Through an analysis of contemporary perceptions of biotechnology, nature and food, this work is an endeavour to provide elements and analytical perspectives that contribute to an understanding of the social representations about genetically modified crops and foods. (Article in Portuguese)

Re-building the system of local knowledge about the sustainability of the soil resource. The case of the town of Zavalla (Santa Fe, Argentina)
Rosenstein, Susana; Primolini, Carlos; Pascuale, Adhemar

The object of the present paper describe and analyze the set of categories, values, rules and attributes from wich producer´s groups fron Zavalla, Santa Fe, interpret and assess the process of soil deterioration. This set, included in the frame of producer´s experiential knowledge, determines the behavior of the parts related to the sustainability of the natural resources. The historical formation of the frame of knowledge is also analyzed together with the role played by institutions of technological information.(Article in Spanish)

The globalisation, the economic discours and the cultural differences
Alfredo Rébori

The intent of this essay is to discuss about the phenomenon called “Globalization”, its impact on different culture “values” over which it interacts, and the role that values play on the theoretical development of Economy as a scientific discipline. One trigger for the writing of this paper, if not the first, is the perception coming from divers discourses –politics, other social sciences, journalistic, religious, and from the own economic sciences- about the existence of one “economic” statement surrounding the Globalization phenomenon; in which man changes his role of “subject” of economic activity and non economic one, into a consumption “object” motivated by an increasing materialistic behavior, and where humanistic values have no more place.
Paper mentioned a prosperous ideas stream to better understand the economic problem and its “solutions”, going ahead of the field study, trying to build a shared vision including different dimensions as values, technology, market and institutions. (Article in Spanish)

Hegemony and Bio-prospecting. The case of the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group
Ana Esthér Ceceña

The objective of this paper is to analyze the diferents ways that lead to the private appropiation of the natural resoruces in a context of incessant fight for the world power and hegemony. The article focalise on the research process carried out by the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) (Article in Spanish)

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Theomai: palabra de origen griego que significa ver, mirar, contemplar, observar, pasar revista, comprender, conocer
Theomai is a word of greek origin wich means: to see, to contemplate, to observe, to understand, to know

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