Energy Sovereignty: A Values-Based Conceptual Analysis.

Achieving energy sovereignty is increasingly gaining prominence as a goal in energy politics. The aim of this paper is to provide a conceptual analysis of this principle from an ethics and social justice perspective. We rely on the literature on food sovereignty to identify through a comparative analysis the elements energy sovereignty will most likely demand and thereafter distinguish the unique constituencies of the energy sector. The idea of energy sovereignty embraces a series of values, among which we identified: (i) accessibility, to allow access to everyone, (ii) empowerment and recognition, to develop and sustain capabilities to collaboratively produce solution-oriented energy system knowledge and effectively participate in governance, (iii) stewardship and sustainability, to be able to design and manage decentralised renewable systems in view of protecting the environment, (iv) self-sufficiency, to reduce the negative shocks of exploitative business practises, (v) resilience, to maintain production capacities while withstanding socioeconomic, political, environmental and climatic shocks, (vi) peace, to establish production systems that do not involve hostile relations, (vii) transparency and self-determination, to establish democratic decision-making mechanisms that give a voice to previously underrepresented groups and limit corporate takeover (viii) gender-justice, by acknowledging the contributions of women and eliminate barriers to their empowerment. With a conceptual framework of energy sovereignty, we present a rationale that draws on the key values to be considered when formulating policy solutions for the energy sector.

Manejo quirúrgico del trauma abdominal en los últimos 5 años en el Hospital Vozandes Quito / Surgical management of abdominal trauma in the last 5 years at Hospital Vozandes Quito

En vista del incremento de la incidencia del trauma abdominal en el servicio de cirugía, hemos decidido evaluar nuestro trabajo quirúrgico en los últimos años, determinar la incidencia, tipo de lesión, lesiones asociadas, morbilidad y tipo de tratamiento. Es un estudio, retrospectivo, comparativo y analítico. Se analizaron los expedientes de pacientes con diagnóstico de trauma abdominal quienes ingresaron a la institución entre enero de 1999 a mayo del 2004, se revisaron 103 expedientes de pacientes, de los cuales 77 (75%) fueron del sexo masculino, 26 (25%) fueron del sexo femenino. Se realizaron 17 procedimientos laparoscópicos (16.5%) y 86 laparotomías (83.5%). Se evidenciaron 39 heridas por arma de fuego (38%), 9 heridas por arma blanca (8.5%), 51 traumas abdominales contusos (49.5%) y 4 caídas de altura (5%). La mortalidad es del 6.79%.

In view of the increased incidence of abdominal trauma in the surgery department, we have decided to evaluate our surgical work in recent years, to determine the incidence, type of injury, associated injuries, morbidity and type of treatment. It is a retrospective, comparative and analytical study. The records of patients diagnosed with abdominal trauma who entered the institution between January 1999 to May 2004 were analyzed, 103 patient records were reviewed, of which 77 (75%) were male, 26 (25%) were female. 17 laparoscopic procedures were performed (16.5%) and 86 laparotomies (83.5%). There were 39 firearm injuries (38%), 9 stab wounds (8.5%), 51 blunt abdominal trauma (49.5%) and 4 falls from height (5%). Mortality is 6.79%.

La colecistectomía en los últimos 5 años en el Hospital Vozandes Quito / Cholecystectomy in the last 5 years at Hospital Vozandes Quito

La colecistectomía constituye uno de los procedimientos quirúrgicos más ampliamente aceptados y practicados, con el advenimiento de la laparoscopía el manejo del paciente y la morbimortalidad han variado notablemente. Hacemos una revisión de los procedimientos, convencional y laparoscópico en los últimos 5 años en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Vozandes Quito. Se analizaron 2003 expedientes de pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía en el periodo comprendido entre enero de 1999 a mayo del 2004, obteniéndose datos demográficos, índices de morbimortalidad y complicaciones que fueron similares a estadísticas mundiales y en algunos casos aún menores a los reportes internacionales.

Cholecystectomy constitutes one of the most widely accepted and practiced surgical procedures, with the advent of laparoscopy, patient management and morbidity and mortality have varied markedly. We review the procedures, conventional and laparoscopic in the last 5 years in the Surgery Service of the Hospital Vozandes Quito. 2003 records of patients undergoing cholecystectomy in the period from January 1999 to May 2004 were analyzed, obtaining demographic data, morbidity and mortality rates and complications that were similar to world statistics and in some cases even lower than international reports.