Rafael Sánchez

The role of chilean mountain areas in time of drought and energy crisis: New pressures and challenges for vulnerable ecosystems

In the summer of 2010/2011 Chile suffered the third most severe energy and water supply crisis in only one decade. This may be surprising as the Andes which accompany the country along 4,200 km are a water tower and could provide more electricity and water than needed. On top of that, it has to be mentioned that Chile also counts with sunny and windy climates and with excellent geothermal energy resources and thus has a huge potential as far as renewable energies are concerned. After analyzing the existing natural conditions, the infrastructure and the present challenges of climate change, it has to be asked in which way Chile can make use of this potential in the near future, considering the legal and political situation and the technological opportunities. It seems that the resources are still hidden in the Andes, and only the key is missing to realize the country’s natural potential. This research has been based on the analysis of existing literature, media, quantitative data from government institutions and other antecedents obtained by the authors in field work done in the South of Chile in 2010. The added value of this compilation lies in the comprehensive perspective, linking the knowledge of climatologists, hydrologists, mountain researchers and energy experts in order to support a sustainable energy and water supply for the future in Chile. From this present research, it can be concluded that Chile necessarily has to adopt new energy-related strategies, particularly those aimed at diminishing the strong dependence on traditional sources of energy and establishing new techniques and technologies for generating electricity and utilizing the vast potential that the country is ready to offer, such as that provided by the Andes along 4,200 kilometers.

Leisure-tourism and amenity migration: transformations observed in the semiarid mountain region of Northern Chile

ABSTRACT In the last years, the mountain regions of Chile have started to be perceived as a destination for leisure-tourism activities and the development of amenity migration processes. Through semi-structured interviews and meetings conducted among key actors, locals and migrants, this work examines how the local community perceives the main consequences that current leisure-tourism and/or amenity migration processes have started to create in four local communes in the semi-arid region from the North of Chile. While local inhabitants acknowledge the development opportunities these processes entail, they are also starting to perceive effects on the identity of their communities as well as disparities, both in terms of territory and local governance. Studying the consequences of these processes may promote mitigation or adaptation measures to reduce the number of new conflicts and strengthen solidarity, both socially and territorially.

El desarrollo de la ciencia geográfica en América Latina: La producción científica a través de Revista de Geografía Norte Grande

Just as is the case for other sciences, geography has transitioned in the last few decades. The Revista Geografia Norte Grande (RGNG) has channeled and disse...

Las dinámicas urbanas

En el presente número semitemático se reúnen seis artículos que dan cuenta de las consecuencias del actuar de los agentes. El primero de ellos, de Antonio Daher, acentúa la relación entre las crisis económicas y las inmobiliarias, sosteniendo que la “nueva” geografía económica no es otra que la de la securitización y las innovaciones de la ingeniería fi nanciera que, lejos de la ubicuidad o la desterritorialización, emerge como una auténtica geografía de la financiarización. Ernesto López-Morales, aborda los intensos procesos de reestructuración urbana que ocurren en las zonas pericentrales de las ciudades chilenas, ofreciendo una lectura crítica del fenómeno de la gentrifi cación y evidenciando cómo las inmobiliarias realizan incrementos de renta potencial, que ocurren junto a procesos deliberados de devaluación de renta de suelo socialmente capturada, y cuya consecuencia es el desplazamiento de residentes de bajo ingreso.

Horacio Capel. El Modelo Barcelona: un examen crítico

Revista eure (Vol. XXXI, No 94), pp. 129-131, Santiago de Chile, diciembre 2005 En esta oportunidad, el conocido geógrafo español Horacio Capel analiza el denominado “modelo Barcelona”. El texto, elaborado para una conferencia dictada en el Décimo Coloquio Internacional sobre Arquitectura y Patrimonio celebrada en la Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara de 2004, se encuentra dividido en 17 capítulos, y constituye una fuente de innegable valor para comprender los motivos, acciones y alcances del plan de transformación realizado en la ciudad de Barcelona, así como para conocer las opiniones, discursos y debates surgidos en torno a él.