Eubiosys: a proposal for sustainable development based on education and health that takes into account the environment,

community and water.

Carlos-Augusto Gonzalez-Correa 1*, Luz-Stella Velásquez-Barrero 2 and Liliana Robledo-

Palacio 3.

1* Research Group on Electrical Bio-Impedance, University of Caldas, Calle 65 # 26-15, Laboratory

Building, Office 601, Manizales-Caldas-Colombia-South America; c.gonzalez@ucaldas.edu.co,

Telefax.: +57-6-8781500 Extension 14160.2 Institute of Environment Studies (IDEA), National University, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia,

bioluz@emtelsa.net.co. 3 Unemployed, Calle 54 # 23-39, Manizales-Caldas-Colombia-South America;

liliana.robledopalacio@gmail.com.

Received: / Accepted: / Published:

Abstract: One paragraph only (Maximum 200 words).

Keywords: shared environmental administration; biodiversity; environmental education; territorial

planification; eubiosis; disbiosys; sustainable development; education, health; community; water.

1. Introduction

Bacteria are the most ubiquitous living organisms in Gaia (Margulis and Chapman 2009). We, animal

humans, being mammals, are surrounded by them, both internally and externally. In recent years, the

concepts of microbiota (and its functioning as a metaorgan), microbioma, metagenomics, eubiosis,

disbiosis, pathobiota, eubiota and micro-ecology, have emerged in the scientific literature in relation to

the bacteria that inhabit our body surfaces: skin and the different mucosae (alimentary, respiratory and

reproductive). Microbiota is the pool of bacteria present in a specific environment (Paliy and Agans

2012), microbiome is its study and characterization through its genetic content (Floch 2012, Yuan et

al 2012, Cani and Delzenne 2011), metagenomics are techniques and methodology used for it

(Maccaferri et al 2011, Simon and Daniel 2011); eubiosis (Zawodsky 1966) is the dynamic and

complex equilibrium between what some authors call pathobiota (bacteria that can do harm to us) and

what we would like to call eubiota (bacteria that can be considered as beneficial for us, as, for

instance, what is now known as probióticos, mainly lactobacillus and bifidobacteria). Disbiosis occurs

when the harmonic balance among a bacterial complex community is lost, giving rise to disease

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(Hawrelak and Myers 2004, Zawodsky 1966). Intestinal microbiota, in general, but, more specifically,

that of the colon, is being now considered as a kind of metaorgan, with more extended functions that

those traditionally assigned to it. In fact, an old concept of its key role in health and disease has begun

to be reinforced. Many authors have begun to use more frequently the term micro-ecology (Floch

2012) to refer to the scientific study of the relations between the living microorganisms inhabiting our

body, both among themselves and with our own cells. Micro-ecology could also be referred as endo-

or internal ecology, while macro-ecology could be referred as exo- or external ecology. Some other

authors refer to human beings (and mammals in general), as super-organisms conformed by our own

pool of cells (all of them sharing a common genoma) and the microbiota that inhabit our internal and

external surfaces. There are even some who suggest that “…large mammals including ourselves serve

mainly to provide them [the bacteria] with their anaerobic environment.” (Margulis Lynn, quoted by

Lovelock 2000).

We can, then, extend the scope of the definition of eu- and dys-biosis to any biotic system. Therefore,

we can talk of internal eu-biosis and internal dis-biosis (endo- or micro-eubiosis and endo- or micro-

dis-biosis) as well as external eubiosis and external dis-biosis (exo- or macro-eubiosis and exo- or

macro-dis-biosis). If both systems (macro and micro) present internal equilibrium/disequilibrium

(within themselves) and are in equilibrium/disequilibrium with each other, we could talk of a systemic

eubiosis/disbiosis, two new concepts that we would like to call eubiosys (with “y”), meaning global

eubiosis or systemic eubiosis (or Eu-Biological-System), and disbiosys (also with “y”) meaning

global disbiosis or systemic disbiosis (or Dis-Biological-System). We illustrate the concept of

Eubiosys in figure 1.

In physiological conditions, the intestinal eubiota controls the pathobiota, and we could say, therefore,

that it constitutes the first line of our defensive system. When either the former is debilitated, or the

latter strengthened, or both, the result is disbiosis. When this occurs, the pathobiota crosses the mucous

bilayer that covers our intestines (our second line in defense), and, at this point, our immunological

systems has to intervene. This, in turn, produces a general state of inflammation named meta-

inflammation (Scrivo et al 2011, Hotamisligil 2006), meaning a general, chronic and subclinic

2

Global eubiosis = EUBIOSYS

External eubiosis

(macro-ecology)

Figure 1. Eubiosys as global eubiosis.

Internal eubiosis

(micro-ecology)

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inflammation, a condition that, when advanced, produces different chronic ailments and diseases,

depending on what organs are attacked. Target organs depend on the individual genetics, life history

(via of birth delivery, lactation, medicaments consumed, etc.) and the particular macro environment in

which s/he lives. The scientific evidence of metainflammation as a common way towards chronic

diseases is increasing. We summarize these concepts in Figure 2.

It is now accepted that both environments (micro-, internal- or endo- and macro-, external- or exo-)

interact and influence each other. For instance, the quality of food, water and air that come into our

organisms, influence the composition of the microbiota. In turn, the conditioning of what individuals

consume, in part mediated through their microbiota composition, affects the planet (type of food that

we consume or demand and therefore type of food that we produce and the way we do it).

Some clear consequences of what we are inflicting to our planet are global warming, the destruction of

biodiversity, the uncontrolled growth of humans and the pandemic of chronic diseases (in the case of

hyperadiposity, some authors use the term globesity to refer to it). All these are interconnected and,

3

Figure 2. The Tree of Life and the Tree of Death. What we have now is a NCDs pandemic, caused by risk factors that produce microdisbiosis. Our organism responds with metainflammation and this is expressed as NCDs which imply early disease and death (entire arrows, the Tree of Death). The way to revert this situation (doted arrows) is transforming risk factors into healthy ones to produce eubiosis and fertilize the Tree of Life, which will produce general well being, health and longevity. See text for more details.

Heredity, macroenvironment, lifehistory, lifestyle and habits, personality.

Factors: Healthy Unhealthy (risk factors)

Eubiosis Disbiosis

Meta-inflammation

TREE OF LIFE: Well being, health andlongevity

TREE OF DEATH: Early disease and

death

Human Genoma: (immune system, epithela)

HUMANS ASHUMANS ASSUPERSUPER--ORGANISMSORGANISMS

NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES:degenerative, cardiovascular,

metabolic, psico-affective.

Mucousbilayer

Intestinal Microbiota (10X more cells, 100-150x mores

genetic information, > 5000-35000 diferent spescies

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therefore, a global action ought to take place if we are to reestablish some kind of eubiosys. Politicians

worldwide, based on scientific evidence, are beginning to show some consciousness about it. As an

example, the declaration emanated from the UN General Assembly in September 2011 about non-

communicable diseases (NCDs) is somehow encouraging (UN 2011). Clear key points stated in it are:

• As elements of the problem, NCDs have huge socio-economic impact (low productivity and

huge economic costs needed to deal with them and their consequences), share common risk

factors, mainly hiperadiposity, poor diet and sedentarism, they have collapsed health systems

and threaten to collapse the economies;

• As elements in the solution, global action is needed at all levels (locally, nationally and

internationally), with decided participation of all actors: government, academia, civil society

and, when appropriate, private sector;

• Actions needed involve, among others: health promotion and disease prevention, creation of

more healthy environments and promotion of better life styles, including the consumption of

healthier food, mainly based on local products, more physical activity both in workplaces and

in public sites as parks and sport facilities; research is needed, as well as the supporting of

actions that show beneficial and successful.

A multidisciplinary group of researchers in Manizales, Colombia, South America, has been developing

a long term and broad scope action and research program that aims at integrating all the above

mentioned elements. The concept of Eubiosys was born in the academic discussions that have taken

place in the development of the proposal and it is precisely the name that we gave to it. The program

can be considered as a local sustainable development proposal based on education (as the main

vehicle to implement it, but education in its true meaning as the process of ethically forming humans

and not only instructing them), health as the probably best indicator of well being, community as the

key actor of the whole process, environment (both external and internal, macro and micro) as a

determinant of development and health, and, finally, water as the essence of life and the element that

should be taken as the key factor to define a territory for socio-economic (human) organization.

The Eubiosys group is proposing two levels of action: a) a regional level where we are proposing

actions that involve what is known as the Colombian Coffee Ecoregion, and b) a local level to develop

a model for small communities organized around what we call hydrographic micro basins. At a

regional level, we are proposing the creation of a Coffee Region Centre for the Study, Prevention and

Control of Chronic Diseases and, at the local level, we are concentrating our efforts around a project

called Central Eco Park. In this paper we will present some results related to the latter.

We conceive a city as a complex system where two main orders interact: the ecosystemic order and the

cultural order, where the former is mainly the geographic space and macro biotic system before human

intervention, and the latter the man made artificial structure made of technology, the economic, social

and political relations, and the symbiotic expression of all them (Velásquez-Barrero 2010, p. 18). In its

present form and functioning, cities are not viable. We propose the concept of Biocity as an alternative

model for environmental sustainability, where the following considerations have to be integrated:

4

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Reduction of urban social marginality, improvement of the physical infrastructure, monitoring of

governmental intervention, and investment in the environmental quality of human settlements. A Bio-

city is conceived, thus, as a place: a) for and pro-life, b) with a healthy environment, c) technically

developed, d) economically efficient, e) socially fair, and f) democratically governed, e) where its

inhabitants are healthy and enjoy an state of well being. We also propose six structures that we need to

take into consideration and where some strategies are defined: geological, hydrologic, green (biotic),

built, circulatory and socio-economical, where the first three can be considered as par of the

ecosystemic order (non-human structures), while the last three can be considered as part of the cultural

order (i.e., specifically human structures). In table 1 we show some considerations, principles and

strategies (proposals) to adopt in relation to each of these structures.

2. Methodology

Nowadays, with seemingly increasing activation of massive geophysical liberations of planetary

energy (volcanoes, earthquakes, storms), in conjunction with the global warming phenomena (which is

traduced in an accelerated water cycle causing massive rains and, with these, landslides and floods),

geo- and hydro-logical risks seem to be operating in a synergistic way. This is why we are proposing

to introduce both factors into the planning of sustainable development. We are, in consequence,

proposing that spatial planning should be undertaken under the principle of water circulation, i.e.,

according to the hydrological basins. This applies especially in cities like Manizales, located on the

steep Andean hills (elevation of 2150 m), where an initial proposal of this methodology was made by

Agredo 2008. This proposal diverges from traditionally concepts, where boundaries set to divide the

territory into administrative sub-units usually only take in consideration urbanistic and socio-economic

reasons.

According to our methology, 14 different micro basins have been identified in the municipality of

Manizales, one of them pertaining to the Stream of “San Luis” (Quebrada San Luis). Some interesting

features of the territorial area that it covers are: campuses of two public universities are located in it

(University of Caldas and National University of Colombia-Manizales branch), it covers

approximately one half of the urban area of the city, and it has a protected natural area where we are

proposing the creation of what we call the Central Eco-Park (CEP). In this specific project, we want to

further develop the community integration approach that we have used in other occasions (see, for

instance, Velásquez LS 1999). In this experience, nine phases for the environmental action plan for the

commune Olivares (1997-2000) were designed: a) Induction, b) Dissemination of the plan, c)

Environmental education and training for active participation in the plan, d) Creation of a political

culture, e) Updating of the commune’s environmental profile (“Enviromental quality traffic lights”), f)

Preparing the commune’s environmental agenda, g) Plan Implementation, h) Monitoring and

evaluation, i) Decisions about priority programs and projects.

It can be seen that at least the first four phases of this proposal are educational actions. Thus, at this

point, we have to clarify that we understand for education the deliberated societal transmission of

knowledge, skills, customs and moral values. Regrettably, the Colombian formal education system, as

5

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those of many other countries, has hypertrophied the two first components (knowledge and skills),

neglecting the last two (customs and moral values). In order to educate biocitizens, we ought,

therefore, to begin by initiating a dialogical interaction with the community that we aim to work with.

This implies that we will approach the persons treating them as thinking beings and equal

conversational partners. In this way, we are rescuing the following two main themes: a) ethical

literacy (difference between modernization, modernity, pre-modernity and post-modernity; the

concepts of human dignity, moral, ethics and difference between the last two; moral values; values

inherent to a civic ethics: liberty, equity, solidarity, respect and dialogue; citizenship, and moral

development); and B) civic ethics (role of the citizens against governmental institutions; difference

between private and public spheres; dialogic search of the common good; citizen empowerment

through free vote; implications of civic participation without ethical commitment; the danger of

unethical strategic agreements; the value of mistake recognition; justice as the core value; norm

acceptance as the basis for living in community). Once the ethical foundation has been covered

(customs and moral values), we can proceed to implement the transmission of knowledge and skills,

firstly in the fields of human and environmental health.

In summary, what we have in mind is a policy of shared environmental management, guided by our

experience in territorial environment planning. All this has to be done with the active participation of

the community inhabiting the micro basin area, the only way to incorporate it in the project is through

education, as a liberating and empowering action: not just imposing the transmission of empty

knowledge (the banking concept of education), but making people aware of their role as bio-citizens,

as dignified human beings, who should be the main actors of the everyday life, as well as of all

governmental decision, both at a local and at a global level. We, therefore, aim at educating people

from the perspective of the moral values of a civic ethics, as defined by the Spanish thinker Adela

Cortina (1998).

6

ECOSYSTEMIC ORDER CULTURAL ORDERStructures Geological Hydrologic Green

(macro biotic)Built Circulatory Human (Socio-

cultural)Considerations Geological risks:

geological faults,

steep hillsides,

instable soils,

landslides, seismic

factors, volcanic

activity.

Basins, wetlands,

flooding and

landslide risks,

ground water and

aquifers.

Relationship

between external

(macro) and

internal (micro)

ecosystems.

Urban

infrastructure,

industrial

architecture.

Topography,

geological and

hydrological risks.

Safety as a key

factor for adequate

use.

Different socio-

economic classes

inhabiting the

micro basins.

Energy and raw

materials sources,

waste production

and management.

Principles Geology should be the

starting point of any

consideration about

the use of the soil.

Water is basic for

life but, at the

same time, with the

global warming, is

a threat to life.

A dynamic

planetary (Gaian)

and micro

equilibrium

(EuBiosys) is need

to obtain well

being and health.

Buildings should

be efficient,

aesthetic,

comfortable and

healthy, in

harmony with the

environment.

Need of lowering

fossil energy.

Active transport as

a key contribution

to reduce the

impact on health of

sedentary lifestyle.

Community and

civil society as the

key actor of the

whole project.

Welfare principles

and bioethical

moral values.

Strategies (proposals)

Integration of a

geological perspective

into the soil use.

Aqua parks,

communal

aqueducts. Urban

hydrographic

basins as

administrative and

Ecoparks.

Biological

corridors.

Urban agriculture

and tree planting.

Food security and

Bioarchitecture,

conservation of the

architectural

heritage, urban

revitalization and

restoration.

Alternative public

transport (bicycle

paths, aerial trams,

urban walks,

biotourist paths,

street parks.

University for and

pro life (UniBios),

empowerment of

the civil society,

development and

appropriation of a

Table 1. Considerations, principles and strategies for six different structures of the ecosystemic and cultural orders

Sustainability 2012, 4

integrating units

for sustainability.

sovereignty. civil ethics. Civic

observatory.

8

3. The Central Ecopark (CEP)

Laying on the upper right corner of South America, Colombia is crossed from South to North by the

Andes mountains, considered as the largest mountain range in world. In the south of Colombia, this

range divides in three branches (cordilleras in Spanish): Eastern, Central and Western, being the

central one the highest of all three and harboring part of what is known as Northern Volcanic Zone

(NVZ) of the Andean Volcanic Belt (AVB). The volcano Nevado del Ruiz (Coordinates: 4°53′43″N

75°19′21″W) is the northernmost member of the NVZ, and Manizales (Coordinates: 5°06′N 75°33′W)

is located on the western (left) slope of the Central cordillera, along a watershed between the river

Chinchina on the south, and the stream Olivares on the north, both of them running from east to west.

Total area of the municipality of Manizales is estimated as 508 km2, divided into urban and rural. The

former is, in turn, divided into eleven communities (“Comunas”), each of them comprising several

districts (“Barrios”)1. According to the Colombian National Department of Statistics (DANE)

projections, the population of Manizales should be by 2012 around 400.000 people (391640). The city

shows 8 different micro climates, and its average temperature is around 18°C (64°F). It high rain falls

favor a vegetation of wet tropical forest, and it has a bimodal weather pattern, with two main rain

seasons around the two equinoxes (21st of March and 22nd September) and two wet seasons around

the two solstices (22nd of June and 21st of December). Climate change and global warming have

begun to show their effects in the form of massive landslides and the melting of the glacier covering

the volcano Nevado del Ruiz, which in only a quarter of a century has been reduced from about 20

km2 to about half of that.

The area where the CEP project operates lies in the south east part of the city of Manizales, at the

south of the mentioned watershed, and forming part of the hydrographical micro basin of the San Luis

stream (SLS). This location is schematically represented in figure 3. In figure 4. we locate the project

using maps.

1 By law, each community has the right to elect, through popular vote, a Local Administrative Board (Junta Administradora Local or JAL), while each district can also elect Communal Action Board. The regulation of the latter boards has been established by the national law 743 from 2002. These two kind of entities operate nationwide, as mechanisms to encourage and increase civil participation in administrative tasks. See appendix 1 for more information

SLS

Olivares stream

Manizales

Volcano Nevado del Ruiz

Chinchiná river

Guacaica River

Magdalena river

Eastern Cordillera

Western Cordillera

Central Cordillera

Cauca river

CEP

Figure 3. Location of the Central EcoPark in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia, South America.

COLOMBIA

MANIZALES

CENTRAL ECO PARK

MICRO BASIN SAN LUIS

(The source and initial part of the stream is delimited by the yellow line. Reproduced with

permission from Suarez-Hincapié 2008

Figure 4. Location of the Central EcoPark in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia, South America.

To the present, some research has been carried out on different aspects of the microbasin and we want

to briefly summarize them, before we describe our intended agenda to fully implement and test our

proposed model. Basically, the first three structures mentioned in table 1 have received some partial

attention: geological (Sánchez-Zapata 1997), hydrologic (Suárez-Hincapie 2008) and green (Boada &

Sánchez 2011).

3.1. Geological Structure

From the deepest to the more superficial, the geological profile of the San Luis Stream’s microbasin

presents the following strata, as illustrated in figure 5: Manizales formation (Late Miocene and Early

Pliocene), Casabianca formation (Upper Pliocene and Pleistocene), pyroclastic deposits (from at least

seven pyroclastic eruptions) and anthropic fillings (mainly dating from the second half of the 20th

century). These antrhopic fillings began from the watershed downwards, involving deeper layers of the

pyriclastic deposits and, probably, from the Casabianca formation as they descended.

The author (Sánchez-Zapata) also notes that the riverbeds of the river Chinchiná and its affluents have

very steep slopes, a torrential hydraulic regime and, therefore, a great erosive power. He differentiates

three zones according with their prevalent slopes: a) upper, with very low or low slope, b) middle with

low to moderate slopes, and c) lower, with high slopes. Among the conclusions of his work, we would

like to highlight the following two: a) the slopes of the microbasin show a very precarious stability, b)

although he considers that the antrhopic adaptation of the soil for urban construction is adequate in that

it began from the top to the bottom, it is inadequate because the soil preparation before the fillings was

not.

Alluvial deposit

Anthropic fillings

Piroclastic deposits

Casabianca formation

Manizales formation

Figure 5. Geological profile of the San Luis stream microbasin.

Modified with permission from González-C et al 200.

3.2. Hydrological structure

Some physiografic characteristics of the microbasin are: altitudes oscillate between 1930 and 2170

(average 2095) m above the sea level. The stream is approximately 1244 m long from the source to the

mouth, as estimated for the year 1996, although the estimation for 1949 is of 2235 m. It covers an area

that is estimated as 0,9705 km2 for 1996 and as 0,9489 Km2 for 1949. The width of the basin is

0,7801 km. Average slope of its bed is 17,4%, while average slope of the sides is 24,6%, with a

standard deviation of 21,45 and a predominant slope of 11%. (Data from Loaiza-Romero and

Castañeda-Castro 2003).

Some of the conclusions by González-C et al (2000) in their study of the actual source of the SLS are:

1. the urbanistic grow of the city of Manizales did not take in consideration high threatening

situations due to mass movements, and it has dramatically changed the slopes of the microbasin,

obstructing the drainages, and the distribution of fillings and dumps;

2. There is an increased mainly due to waste waters, thus contributing to the widening of the

riverbed and favoring denudation of the soil and erosive phenomena;

3. Underground waters are very rich in oxides;

4. Environmental aspects of the basin merit to be studied in detail.

Some of their recommendations are:

1. The dumping of debris to the slopes of the basin have to be avoided at any cost;

2. If fillings are to be done, water has to be adequately channeled;

3. The microbasin has to be cleaned,

4. An appropriate draining system should be constructed.

3.3. Green structure

In 2010, Boada and Sánchez (2011) carried out a research in part of the territory included in the

proposal of the EPC, namely the Botanical Garden of the University of Caldas. They applied the

methodology described by Boada y Capdevila (2000), where, basically they establish what they call

three worlds: gray (man constructed structures), green (the biota) and blue (water). In each world, there

is possible to define different biotopes, which, for this specific place, they identify as:

Gray world: buildings, walls, vial infrastructure, underground systems, streets and squares;

Green world: fallows, buildings sites, parks, wooded land, gardens and forest;

Blue world: fountains, springs, artificial lakes and streams.

These authors aimed at identifying the main plant and animal species of the studied area, as an

indicator of the urban system sustainability and quality of life. With their won observations and

information taken from some work carried out by local groups, the identified 637 different taxas, as

shown in table 2.

Table 2. Taxas (species, families, gender) found in the

Botanical Garden of the University of Caldas

FLORAPLANTS FUNGI

Families 55 Families 21 Gender 65 Gender 33 Species 84 Species 36

FAUNA

Presence of Andean forest fragments

Birds Small mammals Amphibia Species 117 Species 17 Species 6

Representing 28,39% of the species registered for Manizales

Quiroptera having the largest number of

species (7)

All pertaining to anuridae. Colombia is the first country with more

amphibia species (669)Arachnidae Other non vertebrae Reptils

Morphoarachnidae 40 Species 149 Ophidiae 10

Scorpia 260 of the are

butterflies Sauria 2

Source: After Boada and Sabchez (2011), with permission.

3.4. The agenda

As the integration and active participation of the community and the civic society is in the core of our

proposal, our first an main task is to integrate the community in the project. We want to first

concentrate our efforts in the territory and community living around the area of the EPC, as to work

with the whole territory of the microbasin would involve approximately a third of the city and its

population. At present, the territorial division of Manizales is made of communities (comunas) that

integrate different districts (barrios). There are 8 districts around the area covered by the EPC (in

parenthesis, total estimated population living in the district, according to information provided on line

by the Manizales local government –Alcaldía de Manizales): Versalles (2372), Arboleda (1970), Belén

(1501), Palogrande (920), Fátima (5614), Betania (1190), Kennedy (2663) and Persia (4397). In the

first four districts, people living there pertain to the middle class, while the people living in the last

four districts are mainly working class. The sum of the population of these eight “Barrios” would be,

then, 20.627 people. Interestingly, only the four working class communities have Community Action

Boards while the middle class communities do not. Therefore, we aim at, firstly, integrate the existing

CABs to the project, and, secondly, promote the organization of the CABs in those districts where they

do not exist.

We are in a position of offering an initial pedagogic and motivational action, mainly through

theoretical and practical workshops, where practical activities will be developed and the following

themes will be dialogically discussed:

a) Education (Ethics): modernity, pre modernity and post modernity (concepts and differences);

moral, ethics, values (specially those of a civic ethics: freedom, equity, solidarity, respect and

dialogue), red codes; citizenship, biocitizenship and physical, human and social capital; welfare

state and synergy between civil society, state, biocitizenship and opinion groups.

b) Environment: What is it?; water as the key element for life, both planetary and individually; our

ecosystemic patrimony; our built patrimony; risk management; Biomanizales and its observatories.

c) Health: atoms, molecules and life; nutrients and food; structure and functioning of the human

body; body composition; microbiota and immune system; nutritional status and physical condition;

life styles: a healthy diet and physical exercise.

Once these two first steps have been initiated, the following step will be the shared constructions of a

new agenda, with the active participation of the community

4. Conclusions

The municipality of Manizales-Caldas in Colombia-Soutn America, has a relatively long regional

history of achievements in the fields of education, environmental activities and health. We aim at

integrating these three key elements needed for a sustainable development into a comprehensive

action-research proposal with the active participation of the civil society through the involvement of

different actors as non-profitable organization, universities, local government and community action

boards (Juntas de Acción Comunal or JACs).

In the last 20-30 years we have gained a lot of experience in different fields, and we are now

integrating it in a model that we expect to develop further and go beyond the theoretical frame

translating it into action. The participation of the community is pivotal for success and we will initially

work with those that live around the CEP in an attempt to validate our vision of a better future basedn

on sustainable development, or, maybe, we ought better say a healthy development, both at planetary

(Gaian) level as well as at a community and individual level. Health is perhaps one of the best

indicators of welfare and wellbeing, and, therefore, we emphasize this aspect. Finally we stress our

conviction that, in order to achieve this integral healthy development, education is the key element, but

education meant as ethical formation of the individuals and communities, and not the mere

transference of empty knowledge and mechanical skills.

Acknowledgments

Main text paragraph

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References and Notes

Ángel Maya, A. Velásquez Barrero, L.S. El medio ambiente urbano. Gestión y Ambiente 2008, 11(1)

7-19

Agredo, L.S. Modelo de Cuencas Urbanas como Unidad de Desarrollo Sostenible. [A Urban Basins

Model as Sustainable Development Unit]. Master degree thesis. Universidad Nacional de

Colombia.-Sede Manizales, 2008.

Alcaldía de Manizales [Manizales Local Government]. http://www.alcaldiamanizales.gov.co/.

Accessed on 21st April 2012.

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Annex 1. Colombian entities elected by popular vote.

President (Country)Parliament

Governor (Department)Departmental Assembly

Mayor (Municipality)City Consejo

Community (JAL)

District(JAC)

National level

Regional level

Local level