As Narrativas Biográficas e as metodologias de investigação-acção sobre a memória e o esquecimento

The integration of Biographical Knowledge in research processes is a methodological proposal of critical empiricism that shifts the center of production of knowledge to the referred research objects. We try to show how Biographical Narratives can allow bypassing the locks and the deviations from real observation by the researcher, and focus his work on the actors in process. In the critique of the Eurocentric paradigm and its production of hegemonic scientific papers presentations and speaches, by Bonaventura Sousa Santos (Santos, 2000), proposes the "south epistemologies" as a research process and the inclusion of knowledge of actors as the research field. In the article, we will try to look at the production process of biographical narratives, using the tools of south epistemological proposal. We start with reviewing the methodologies, working on biographical objects, then we will present the preliminary studies and research that has been ongoing in several communities in southern Mozambique, in Djabula Community Centre. These results should be completed with other field works, as we open as a collaborative process discussion on African Studies community. We expect the project to be completed in the coming months, aiming towards the proposal of a "House of memories", in order to develop with the local population through articles, stories, sounds and dances that are selected and will support the chosen narratives by the community. The projects created with local players, from their problems will allow a rapprochement and dialogue between different kinds of knowledge."

As Narrativas Biográficas e as metodologias de investigação-acção sobre a memória e o esquecimento

The integration of Biographical Knowledge in research processes is a methodological proposal of critical empiricism that shifts the center of production of knowledge to the referred research objects. We try to show how Biographical Narratives can allow bypassing the locks and the deviations from real observation by the researcher, and focus his work on the actors in process. In the critique of the Eurocentric paradigm and its production of hegemonic scientific papers presentations and speaches, by Bonaventura Sousa Santos (Santos, 2000), proposes the "south epistemologies" as a research process and the inclusion of knowledge of actors as the research field. In the article, we will try to look at the production process of biographical narratives, using the tools of south epistemological proposal. We start with reviewing the methodologies, working on biographical objects, then we will present the preliminary studies and research that has been ongoing in several communities in southern Mozambique, in Djabula Community Centre. These results should be completed with other field works, as we open as a collaborative process discussion on African Studies community. We expect the project to be completed in the coming months, aiming towards the proposal of a "House of memories", in order to develop with the local population through articles, stories, sounds and dances that are selected and will support the chosen narratives by the community. The projects created with local players, from their problems will allow a rapprochement and dialogue between different kinds of knowledge."

A Documentação da União Europeia : acesso e disponibilização

Desde o aparecimento da Internet, têm surgido inúmeras oportunidades para os autores de artigos científicos disponibilizarem de forma livre e gratuita a sua produção intelectual. Tal produção poderá estar disponível nas mais diversas formas e inserida nos mais variados ambientes institucionais (Repositórios, Bases de Dados, entre outros). Tal constituiu uma verdadeira revolução informativa que, depois, ultrapassou em larga medida os meios limitados do mundo académico, tornando-se num fenómeno global. Consideramos que a disponibilização e o acesso à documentação da União Europeia constitui uma das faces visíveis dessa revolução. A nível da Informação, sempre houve uma necessidade dos dirigentes europeus em adotar uma Política de Informação adequada. Desde a necessidade de transmitir informação ao público e aos jornalistas nos primeiros tempos da Comunidade até à criação do Portal da União Europeia, vai um longo processo de amadurecimento do projeto europeu. A política de transparência que hoje se verifica e que se revela, acima de tudo, nas ligações proporcionadas pelo Portal é o resultado de um longo caminho de integração europeia. Assim, esta investigação consiste na identificação e na análise da documentação em acesso livre produzida pela União Europeia. O seu objetivo prioritário é tentar determinar até que ponto a documentação europeia consegue estar disponível e acessível a todos aqueles que a pretendam utilizar. Para tal, foram analisadas as mais diversas fontes institucionais, assim como as várias Bases de Dados e os vários sítios Web onde se pode aceder gratuitamente à Informação da União Europeia. As conclusões a que chegámos, assim como as considerações finais apresentadas no final deste trabalho de investigação levam-nos a perceber as políticas de acesso à documentação europeia e até que ponto elas servem de suporte à boa governação e à democracia.

A orientação homossexual e as investigações acerca da existência de componentes biológicos e genéticos determinantes; The homosexual orientation and investigations about the existence of components biological and genetics determinants

The male and female homosexual orientation has substantial prevalence in humans and can be explained by determinants of various levels: biological, genetic, psychological, social and cultural. However, the biological and genetic evidence have been the main hypotheses tested in scientific research in the world. This article aims to review research studies about the existence of genetic and biological evidence that determine homosexual orientation. Was conducted a review of the literature, using the database MedLine/PubMed and Google scholar. The papers and books were searched in Portuguese and English, using the following keywords: sexual orientation, sexual behavior, homosexuality, developmental Biology and genetics. Was selected papers of the last 22 years. Were found five main theories about the biological components: (1) fraternal birth order, (2) brain androgenization and 2D:4D ratio; (3) brain activation by pheromones; and (4) epigenetic inheritance; and four theories about the genetic components: (1) genetic polymorphism; (2) pattern of X-linked inheritance; (3) monozygotic twins; and (4) sexual antagonistic selection. Concluded that there were many scientific evidence found over time to explain some of biological and genetic components of homosexuality, especially in males. However, today, there is no definitive explanation about what are the determinants of homosexual orientation components.