Assessment of conditions that make habitable the public space of Colombian cities

This paper presents the assessment that inhabitants of some Colombian cities did on the conditions that contribute to the livability of public space. Seven hundred and forty people, inhabitants of Yopal, Villavicencio, Valledupar, Popayán, Pereira, Pasto, Neiva, Montería, Medellín, Fusagasugá, Cúcuta, Cartagena, Cali and Bogotá participated in the study. The assessment of the conditions that contribute to the livability of public space was carried out using an instrument composed of 48 items that inquired about the level of contribution that can have different conditions on the quality of public space, from a scale five points ranging from: Does not contribute at all (-2) to: Contribute significantly (+2). The results show the conditions that most affect the habitability of public space in Colombia, as well as the differences between cities according to the assessment made by participants about the general state of public space in cities. Multidimensional analysis (SSA) evidence a structure that reflects the function that public space plays in people’s assessment on Colombian cities. It is discussed the implications of the findings for urban planning and management and the designed instrument is proposed as a tool to assess the quality of urban public space.

Caracterización de los patrones de uso y apropiación del espacio público en los parques metropolitanos en Bogotá. Caso de Estudio: parque el Tunal 2008 – 2011

Este trabajo de grado se realizó con el propósito de presentar una caracterización de los patrones de uso y apropiación del espacio público urbano, específicamente del parque metropolitano el Tunal en el periodo comprendido entre 2008 y 2011. El documento recopila la perspectiva de diferentes actores involucrados con el parque sobre el funcionamiento del mismo y tuvo como enfoque principal identificar los alcances y las limitaciones del parque como escenario educador y recreativo para los usuarios y su entorno inmediato. Como aportes adicionales el documento se acompaña de la georreferenciación de los procesos urbanos identificados sobre el territorio y algunas recomendaciones aplicables al proceso de gestión del espacio público recreativo para superar las limitaciones y potenciar los alcances en la proyección del espacio público como escenario para la construcción de valores ciudadanos.

Seguridad humana para las mujeres en las ciudades: reflexiones para políticas públicas urbanas con enfoque de género

La siguiente reflexión sobre el disfrute del derecho a la ciudad de las mujeres y de todos sus derechos humanos en los contextos urbanos se realiza a partir de las dimensiones propuestas por el enfoque de seguridad humana, en las cuales se establecen los mínimos que requieren las mujeres para gozar de una vida urbana renovada y superar las limitaciones existentes en la ciudad como espacio no neutral, que produce y reproduce inequidades entre hombres y mujeres, donde se feminiza la pobreza y se exterioriza la violencia basada en género. En este sentido, este artículo de reflexión, en el cual se presentan los resultados de la investigación “El derecho a la ciudad de las mujeres: una mirada a su goce y reconocimiento en la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias”, retoma algunas ideas propuestas por el movimiento feminista y plasmadas en las Cartas del Derecho a la Ciudad, las cuales son leídas desde la definición hecha sobre derecho a la ciudad de las mujeres y las dimensiones de la seguridad humana, resaltando en ambas su carácter integrador, indivisible y necesario, para dejar a un lado las estructuras androcéntricas y patriarcales sobre la seguridad, la democracia y la ciudadanía.

Predictors of Attitudes toward Cosmetic Surgery among U.S. and Colombian College Women: The Roles of Eating Behaviors and Demographic Variables

Cross-cultural studies on eating behaviors and related constructs can identify cultural and social factors that contribute to eating disorder symptomatology. Eating disorders (EDs) are a major cause for concern in the U.S., and recent studies in Colombia have shown growing rates among their female population. In addition, cosmetic surgery procedures have been increasing rapidly in both the U.S. and Colombia, and preliminary research suggests a positive relation between disordered eating and endorsement of plastic surgery. In samples of college women from Colombia and the U.S., we investigated patterns of association between disordered eating variables and cosmetic surgery acceptance. Our approach utilized separate analyses for various subcomponents of disordered eating (to determine their unique associations with cosmetic surgery acceptance) while adjusting for potentially relevant covariates and examining cross-cultural patterns. Participants were students at an urban, public college in the U.S. (n=163) and an urban, private college in Colombia (n=179). Overall, our findings suggested that participants from Colombia with greater disordered eating were more likely to endorse cosmetic surgery for social reasons, while those from the U.S. were more likely to consider undergoing cosmetic surgery for personal reasons. Differing findings between the two samples may be due to cultural and social factors, which we delineate. These findings also have potential implications for presurgical counseling of cosmetic surgery candidates.

Análisis de las formas de apropiación nocturna del espacio público, en el parque de los hippies, localidad de chapinero, a partir de una muestra poblacional de jóvenes entre 18-­‐28 años, a la luz de los parámetros de Enric Pol y Tomeur Vidal sobre la “apropiación” del espacio

El interés de este estudio de caso es comprender y explicar la apropiación del espacio público urbano no sólo como un vínculo cotidiano entre el territorio y sus ciudadanos, sino, además, como un proceso dialéctico que, genera significado, identidad y apego al lugar. En este sentido se analizan las formas de apropiación nocturnas del Parque de los Hippies a partir de una muestra poblacional de jóvenes entre 18-28 años, a la luz de los parámetros de Enric Pol y Tomeu Vidal. Evidenciando que desde un acercamiento cotidiano a la realidad urbana, que reconozca la significación histórica, social, cultural y económica de los territorios, así como las dinámicas de convivencia y conflictos que se presentan en dichos espacios, se puede, desde el enfoque de gestión y desarrollo urbanos, generar recomendaciones para movilizar acciones que resalten y preserven los valores urbanos multidimensionales del lugar; fortalezcan algunas de sus formas de apropiación y, promuevan la convivencia entre las distintas formas y sus actores.

Análisis de los efectos de intervenciones públicas en la recuperación de centros urbanos : caso de estudio barrio las Cruces, Bogotá 2002-2014

En el presente estudio de caso se hace un análisis de los principales efectos socio-espaciales y económicos que tuvieron intervenciones públicas dirigidas a recuperar el centro de Bogotá, en el territorio específico del Barrio Las Cruces, durante los años 2002-2014. Para lograrlo, en un primer momento se hace un análisis conceptual de las relaciones existentes entre intervenciones urbanas y los efectos que estas producen en lo urbano y lo local; en un segundo se identifican los antecedentes que sirvieron para intervenir el barrio, y las intervenciones públicas que llevadas a cabo en éste durante el 2002 – 2014; y en un el tercero se analizan los efectos y las relaciones que tuvieron dichas intervenciones sobre las variables social, espacial y económica del barrio durante el periodo estudiado. Con el fin de verificar si la política de rehabilitación con la que se viene interviniendo dicha zona es coherente con las realidades locales.

“Superficial Water Concessions In Light Of The General Theory of the Administrative Act” The Incidence of the Public Law’s Dogmatic Tradition of Public Law Within Environmental Law

This paper seeks the determine the ways in which anomalous decisions derived from the particularization and constitutionalization of environmental law can arise given the general theory of administrative action. This is seen through the lens of a study and characterization of administrative decisions issued by the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca –CAR- within the superficial water concessions procedure. It also discusses the conceptual contents of these licenses.

Protection of Urban Lands: Advances in Medellin’s Public Policy

The problem of land ownership protection in this country is an issue that must be faced by those who have as part of their responsibilities the recognition, the restitution and the reparation of victims of forced displacement. One of the points that must be analyzed is the protection of ownership of urban lands, a subject falling under municipal responsibility. The development of a public policy by the City of Medellín for the protection of such lands is a significant advance for the creation of protocols and for the return of rights to those who have adandoned their lands because of violence or who have been divested of their homes in urban areas.

Qualifying urban outskirts and public areas A refl exion from Bogata’s public policies

This article presents the results and conclusions obtained from an investigation into the possibilities of qualifying urban outskirts of Bogota with regard to the construction of public areas. The discussion presents the results obtained in previous investigations which give reason to conclude that the city’s outskirts are currently equipped with insuffi cient basic urban services and equipment. Questions are raised in regards to the proposals of the Plan for Territorial Organization (POT as abbreviated in Spanish) according to now known facts. From analysis both of currently known facts as well as the proposals of the Plan for Territorial Organization advancement is made in the analysis of the existing possibilities in the latter scenario to improve the condition of the admittedly unarticulated and defi cient urban outskirts, especially for the development of low cost housing.

The Bogota – sabana region : the political economy behind the struggle to implement a sustainable urban development model

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Interaction between Public Transportation and Urbanization in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area: an Expansive Model Reaching its Limits

In Metropolitan Area of Mexico City, most of urban displacements happen through semi formal public transportation: small and medium capacity vehicles operated by small private enterprises, through a concession scheme. This kind of public transportation has been playing a major role in the Mexican capital. On one hand, it has been one of the conditions for urbanization to be possible. On the other hand, despite its uncountable deficiencies, public transportation has allowed for a long time the whole population to be able to move within this huge metropolis. However, that important function with regards to integration has now reached its limits in the most recent suburbs of the city, where a new mode of urbanization is taking place, based on massive production of very big social housing gated settlements. Public transportation tends to constitute here a factor of exclusion and households meet with important difficulties for their daily mobility.