Reiki Method

This method was developed by Japanese Mikao Usui after a long and successful research work in 1920.

This technique does not have contraindications, and it is open to all beliefs, so everybody can gain access to it.

The hands of those who learn Reiki, become channels through which the natural energy that surrounds us all flows. This energy gives us life, and maintains our own vitality without losing it or absorbing anything from the person we treat.

Reiki is for those who live step by step, one day at a time. It aims at helping us feel fine and in harmony with ourselves and others, to keep ourselves young, to attract the positive and live a life without restrictions.

It is simple, practical, effective and natural – such is the Japanese technique of Reiki.

Welcome to learn about it!

News from the Sky

by Aldo Hugo Olguin 

Prof. of Mathematics, Physics and Cosmography 

aldohugoolguin@yahoo.com.ar 

The light on the surface of our planet changes throughout the year as the Earth revolves around the Sun. This motion produces the different seasons, each one with its own characteristics. March 21st begins a new fall in our hemisphere, and a new spring in the northern hemisphere. On that day, the rays of the sun fall vertically on the Equator, and illuminate both hemispheres equally. There are 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of daylight on Earth.

But, does only light come from the sun? Man has investigated this star and its influence on the interplanetary medium since Galileo’s times, about 400 years ago, when he warned us of the fact that the visible face of the Sun was not as pristine as it was once thought. Galileo explained that the sun presented dark spots that were visible to the naked eye when the Sun was near the horizon. Today we talk about SPACE WEATHER to point to the set of phenomena and interactions that take place in the interplanetary medium. This is mainly regulated by the activity that originates in the Sun, which affects both satellites and planets.

Geomagnetic storms that occur as a result of solar activity also influence the different forms of life. In Figure 1 (total solar eclipse), we see that the moon (the black circle) covers the solar disk, from where the light we receive from the Sun comes (the solar photosphere), and thus the irregular-shaped outer layer becomes visible (the solar corona). It is from this place that high-energy radiation comes from, as well as the huge bursts of hot plasma which is accelerated by the pressure of solar radiation into interplanetary space. These coronal mass ejections (Fig. 2) could, at some point, reach and penetrate the Earth's magnetic field, thus producing high-intensity currents in power lines, and leaving them unused in a few seconds - with the consequences this would bring to a highly technified society.

In 1859 a storm of this type put out of service the recently opened telegraph lines.

The NASA twin STEREO probes  (Fig. 3) are currently photographing the Sun in three dimensions and monitoring the turbulent activity on its surface to predict the weather in space, as well as to record storms heading to different planets.

Our question: Can man take this gigantic energy for the benefit of mankind in the near future? This will certainly be the greatest challenge for those who inhabit the Planet Earth.

Enjoy fall as much as spring!

Cultural Exchanges

by Paola Irastorza

Guía Hueney Editor-in-chief 

guiahueney@hotmail.com

With a few words, and some pictures, I would like to round off what the Cuban artist, Jose Pomelapocha, expressed in relation to San Luis artists’ feelings towards the recognition awarded in one of the best developed countries  in the field of commercial circuits favouring artists.

It is worth mentioning that last February 12^th, we, the participants of Guia Hueney Art Walk (artists, supporters, columnists and friends), met to enjoy art, culture and tourism shows offered by Guia Hueney. Certificates and acknowledgements were handed out to all those who supported the memorable adventure of showing the potential of San Luis abroad.

The Suyai Institute

The Suyai Institute encourages the education of coexistence, where there is no room for violence or lack of respect. Instead, solidarity, tolerance and civic conduct are highly fostered.

Students who attend our school can access to an egalitarian education, where diverse thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, capacities and abilities are catered for. This way, communication between teachers and students is guaranteed, which implies the acknowledgement of each student as a unique person with his/her own evolutionary time and capacities.

The institutional line of teaching is characterized by a permanent stimulus to knowledge acquisition (conceptual content), knowledge of how to do it (procedural content) and knowledge of being (integration of the above- mentioned contents to complete the instruction)

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

To create an environment that will improve the teaching-learning process by fostering the integral development of the student, the teacher and the parents within the framework provided by actions intended for complementing and specifying their knowledge and responsibilities.

To build – together with the educational community – an environment which will allow students to walk the path of learning in an environment of freedom, safety and motivation; thus, contributing to the building of a school identity.

The importance of used oil

by Lorena Avila Cantisani 

Correspondent in Spain 

soydeargentinacom@hotmail.com 

Used cooking oil can have a second life if we recycle it to make new products, such as biodiesel or soap. Used oil is a residue produced daily in most households. A family of four is capable of generating between 18 and 24 liters of used oil annually. A common action to dispose of this waste is throwing it down the drain, but this has a negative impact on the environment. The right thing to do is to collect all used oil in a plastic container and place it in a storing spot for this type of waste.
When you pour used cooking oil down the sink drain, there is a risk of blocking the pipes. Fat cools down and adheres to the walls of the ducts, which acts as a sticker for other residues, forming a plug and preventing water from flowing freely.
Due to the fact that the process of separating fats and oils - performed in water treatment plants - is complicated and expensive, most oil ends up being wasted into the wrong places, such as rivers. There, oil can form a superficial film which prevents water from oxygenating, since gas exchange with the atmosphere is hindered. In addition, it adheres to the skin of fish, which alters their breathing capacity.
Currently, in Spain, the Green Spots (or storing spots) have a reception desk for all types of waste, including domestic oil. And there are several municipalities that have special containers around the city. If you do not have a service like this where you live, the least harmful thing you can do with used oil is to pour it into a plastic bottle and throw it away with other types of waste. As a biodegradable material, it will eventually end up as grass, since microorganisms will decompose it and integrate it into the natural cycle of matter. Another choice to get rid of used oil is to reuse it in the production of soap, a simple recipe affordable for any consumer.

Recipe: Recycling used oil to make homemade soap.

The first step is to filter oil in order to remove impurities and solid waste. Pour 125 ml of cooking oil with 100 ml of water into a large bowl and beat the blend until it turns into a cream. Then add 20 grams of lye and stir gently for half an hour, or the time it takes to form a rubbery, thick mixture. Lye can be purchased at any drugstore, and must be handled carefully. Use protective gloves: lye is a highly corrosive substance.
You can add some essential oil or fabric softener to improve the aroma of the finished soap. The mixture will be hot after adding lye, so let it cool down until the next day. Once cold, the resulting solid mass can be cut into soap bars.
This type of soap is very useful for washing clothes and dishes, rather than as body soap because its pH is not controlled.

In Argentina there are many business and industrial sites that sell and buy used oil. Some restaurant owners and ordinary citizens buy the services offered by these companies to collect used oil into suitable sealed containers that are periodically removed.
Wherever you live, if you will not immediately take used oil to a recycling center, never store it in empty food, beverage or chemical containers. Make sure the container is clean and clearly labeled "Used Oil" ("Used Oil.").

Remember that environmental quality is everybody's business, and we can all help.

Solidifying oil

An option for better handling of oil, either to take it to a collection spot or to throw it away, is to use a solidifying product that is added to the pan when oil is still hot. In about an hour, oil will become a solid stuff which you can easily grab.
On the other hand, domestic oil can be processed for the production of biodiesel. This involves, among other actions, filtering and adding substances that improve combustion in diesel engines, which do not require any alterations to run on this fuel. In addition, biodiesel is not toxic; it is biodegradable and produces fewer pollutants than traditional diesel. It is a clean, renewable fuel.

Blue petals of love

By Dolores Valentino

puntana writer, residing in Juana Koslay

doloresvalentino@hotmail.com

The heart was left naked, alone,

floating in space

when you left.

Palpitating in  the flight of the

passing bird.

Leaving your heart

hollowed out with pain

where a flower had nested.

Sunrise, instead,

invited it to lie down on its bed

of white poppies.

While suspended on tiny

silver tears

it broke in abandonment.

Sick of solitude, the hapless heart left,

Muted,

among the dark entrails of the night

with the blue petals of love.


"Translated by Matilde Machiavello"

Sustainability, education and adventure

by Graciela Lucero Arrúa 

Translator 

info@words-at-work.com.ar 

by Paola Irastorza 

Director Hueney Guide 

guiahueney@hotmail.com 

When visiting Buenos Aires, last November, Guía Hueney interviewed Andy Hadland, a member of the team made up of 11 graduates and students of the Energy Futures Lab, and the Schools of Electronic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, all members of the RGE ( Endurance Racing Green) project, a pioneer plan of the University of the Imperial College London. 

Andy is responsible for controlling the identity and image of the RGE project. 

GH: Where are you going now to promote this prototype? 

A: We have just ended up in Argentina. We have travelled from Alaska to Argentina, about 26 000 km, and we finished a few days in Ushuaia, in the south. So we're here to tell you about what we have done. 

GH: Which are the goals of the project? 

A: The project has three objectives: sustainability, education and adventure. We want to show that environmentally friendly vehicles do not have to be boring or slow, as most people think. We want to show that these cars can be fun, attractive, efficient, and cheap; in short, all these positive aspects. This is the first objective. The second objective focuses on the idea of inspiring young people to study science and engineering because this century presents many challenges! As you know, it is a course that people prefer not to study. They want to do other things, but we want to show that if you work at it, you can get many interesting things. We show young people that there are many universities where they can study science and engineering, and we hope that perhaps, someday, they decide to study science. Finally, the third objective is adventure. We want to encourage people to do things. If you have a good idea, you should follow. There is always a reason not to do something, and there is always a better and stronger reason to do something. So, if you have a good idea, follow your dreams; this is the message. 

GH: What is your role within the team? 

A: I'm in charge of promoting the project through the media and the web site. My role is basically to tell the whole world about our work. We are all engineers in the team. It is important to have engineers in a project like this, but we all do something different. Some are in charge of administration, others logistics, others finding sponsors, and we all work together. 

GH: Which companies are your sponsors? 

A: We have 35 sponsors. The project costs about US$ 750, 000. Among many other companies, KPM is helping us with the promotion in the media. We are doing very well. Other companies are sponsoring the project with the clothing. I could go on, but it’d take an hour and a half to speak only of this issue! (laughter) 

GH: How long have you been working on this project? 

A: We started the idea in January 2009, and then we got the support of companies to carry it out. We finished in March 2010; so, we designed the whole thing in nine months. 

GH: How much is the vehicle? 

A: The vehicle costs about US$ 450, 000, which is cheap for a prototype. The cost of the project is US$ 750 000 due to the money we need to invest in terms of logistics, promotion, etc. It does not appear to need that much, but it happens as with any car: if something breaks, you have to fix it; we must maintain the car and make routine checks. 

GH: Has any automaker expressed interest in the prototype? 

A: You can use the technology of this car in any other vehicle. The engine is quite small, with about 40 cm diameter, and it can be adapted to any car. Some companies have expressed interest, yes, but if we are going to make something commercial of this, it must be a success in this phase. Because if something fails now, it would fail in the future. This is the time to start thinking.

San Luis’ Riches

Las Salinas: Meet the white salt mountains.

Balde and San Geronimo: places of hot springs with healing properties. 

Sierra de Las Quijadas: Follow the footprints of dinosaurs, which tell millions of years of history. 

Juana Koslay: Meet the Monument to the Puntano People of Independence, where San Martín enlisted soldiers to cross the Andes. 

Potrero de los Funes: observe the majesty of the Quebrada de los Cóndores (Gore of Condors) and find The Cacique (a natural stone figure). Enjoy a bath in the Salto de la Moneda, with a cascade of 15 meters and a basin of crystal-clear water. 

La Punta: Visit the replica of the town council building, the movie set, the Juan G. Funes stadium and Astronomical Park. 

El Volcán: a place with lush vegetation and a famous basin that offers deep water for swimming. 

La Florida: a place where you will find a large dam, ideal for swimming and fishing. 

La Carolina and Inti Huasi Cave: a village where you will be able to observe stones, visit old gold mines and a poetry museum. See stalactites, cave paintings, and much more ... going through excellent roads with breathtaking beauty. 

Quality and warmth

by Paola Irastorza

Guía Hueney Editor-in-chief 

guiahueney@hotmail.com

During November and December I had the chance to attend superb encounters and build new relationships, which allowed me to show San Luis artists’ potential with the greatest joy. Introducing the Independent Art Walk (Paseo de Arte Independiente) to Cuba allowed me to bring new experiences and concerns in art, culture and tourism matters, which I will be sharing with you in this edition. You can see more of this event at Hueney web site. Also, we will soon have a meeting with the artists who participated in this event to bring you closer to it, and to the learning gained from such great artists.  We were pleasingly recognized as the only province in Argentina which showed its artists in an organized way. People were surprised by the quantity, quality and variety of art forms in San Luis. There was a special mention by the curator of the show, Yainet Rodríguez Rodríguez, and I was invited to deliver a speech. Though a little bit nervous, I could tell the audience with great joy about the efforts independent artists make to show their work.

Upon returning from this positive trip to Cuba, I participated as a guest in the Meeting of Writers "Tribute to Paulina Movsichoff", in Villa Mercedes, which was organized by the Arcadia Group. At this meeting, I was able to share and show the actions of this magazine, and give a gift catalog of the Independent Art Walk. In a reading round, I read one of my stories. I would like to emphasize the creativity of the mercedino writers and the pleasure one gets by listening to the poems by our author, Jerónimo Castillo. I would also like to thank all those people making the Arcadia Group, as well as the participants invited, and particularly, Dario Oliva, who carries these actions out with much effort and love.

I say goodbye to you all until the next issue, but before that, I am glad to inform you that Guía Hueney is now available in a new digital format (PDF), so that you can see the same print issue. Last, but not least, it is my pleasure to introduce Matilde Machiavello, linguist and professor of English at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), who will be in charge of the translation of literary texts from Spanish into English.

It is always our commitment to offer quality and warmth in every issue of Guía Hueney, which is possible thanks to people of the best kind.

Guía Hueney with Cuban artist Leo D'Lázaro and Curator Yainet Rodríguez Rodríguez

We delivered over 150 gifts promoting Art, Culture and Tourism in San Luis.

Guía Hueney and Susan Kusa give the art sample to Professor Ana María Paredes, Director of the Centro Provincial de Casas de Cultura de Cuba (Provincial Center of Cuba Culture Department).

Echoes from CulTurAr Habana

by Joseph Pomelapocha¹

Cuban artist and writer

pomelapocha1@gmail.com 

"A tango flies in Copa Airlines 

and stays at Habana Libre ... "

I will use the first lines of the poem "Brindis Inolvidable" (Unforgettable Toast) to start my comment, which is no more than the echo of what happened in the Cuban capital last November. I was lucky to join the event just the day Cuenta Habana (Havana Tells a Story) began. A group of storytellers led by Argentine Claudio Ledesma exchanged the experiences of the old art of words with Cuban counterparts. The Casa de la Obra Pía (Pius Charitable Organization), the Casa de África (African House ), and the Casa Simón Bolívar (Simón Bolívar House) are cultural institutions embedded in the historical center of Havana which caught Patakies (Yoruba stories), fables and legends of Cuban literature; South American literature was also very well represented. Through their narratives, each visitor seemed to evoke those classic lines of the stave, that reads "vení, volá, vení, trai, lai, la larará” (come, fly, come, la, la, la larara*), which was reflected in the applause, in the smiles, the sighs and thoughts stolen to the audience, grateful happy children and adults. A special moment came when Cubans and Argentines decided to stand up to give a warm and prolonged applause to the lady of the stories, the Cuban storyteller, Aide Arteaga, who is celebrating her 95 years of age these days, and does so as any minstrel would- telling stories. 

After that, a bus crossing the streets of Havana introduced the participants to the Seafront, from where they could also observe the bay and forts that used to defend the city from pirates attacks, and where an old cannon is still giving its loud greetings at nine every night ... and just at that time, “Tangos and Milongas ruled November”¹ – again, the parody of a verse from the same book expresses what I mean accurately.

The Hall of the Habana Libre Hotel, Las Cañitas, was the venue where the popular dance of Buenos Aires found its place on November 26^th. On that night, it was clear that tango exists as a ballroom dance in Cuba as well. And as long as the cultural exchange exits between the island of the cigar and San Luis artists, tango will attract more people, since Cubans are romantic, erotic and like living “the synopsis of vehemence” (borrowed from another verse). That night there was evidence that many people from the audience became apprentices of these master classes taught to learn the dance of whispers, and where the lips of a young woman, Carolina Cingolani, won the reverence of silence with the charm of the tango itself and the seduction power of a bolero. A still unknown magazine at that moment – Hueney -, gave the audience a burst of laughter and it was caught by them; after reading it that same night, a Cuban poet and storyteller said, "San Luis / lends its rain / to the streets of Havana." 

On Friday morning, the visiting friends knew more than a five-star hotel, much more than Havana Seafront, and more than a beautiful blue beach called Varadero. Together with Elvia Perez and other storytellers, they visited the Arroyo Naranjo town, the birthplace of José Antonio Méndez, author of “Novia mía, si me comprendieras” (Bride of mine, if you understood me) and “La gloria eres tú”. (The glory is you). This time the Argentine participants gave their art in the Municipal Museum La Güinera, and ended up in the Hurón Azul (Blue Huron) Museum, former home of the famous painter Carlos Enríquez. 

Resuming what happened at Habana Libre Hotel, I think the sample of San Luis artists is comparable to the charm of this hotel, real gems of jewellery, sculpture, painting, photography, digital art, crafts and drawing. Mrs. Paola Irastorza proved to be an excellent cultural promoter, and also gave Cuba a literature sample from San Luis which was well-accepted. 

On Saturday, there were presentations from several countries. I would like to highlight again the work of storyteller Claudio Ledesma. The presentation on the defence of Afro-Argentinean culture, by young Dinah Schonhaut - “Quilombo” (“mess” in Buenos Aires slang) -, as well as the speech delivered by the Uruguayan Matilde Machiavelli on neurolinguistic programming techniques are also worth mentioning. Another Argentinean friend educated us with her experiences on visual arts for children in poorer areas. Storytellers again made headlines with their performances at the Gran Teatro de La Habana, where they shared that moment with another icon of storytelling in Cuba, Octavio Pino.

The International Meeting of Culture, Arts and Tourism closed happily with a gala at the House of A.L.B.A between artists from the land of sugar cane and artists from the Rio de la Plata. The spicy story told  by a retired woman, the story told by the master of storytellers, the compelling voice of Carolina, as well as the proof that tango, as a dance, is life, and Paola with her catalogue of the Independent Art Walk in hand , led the Cuban poet say: "Fantasy in San Luis / wears the most real dress." 

I hope there is a fourth edition of CulTurAr Habana in 2011. 

My heart is now looking South. 

¹⁾ The author is a storyteller, musical comedian, entertainer, and speaker. Member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), he also belongs to the Provincial Music Center Adolfo Guzmán. He is a member of the Cuban Chair of Oral Narrative. Director of Project Ozun. He has won awards in provincial and municipal meetings on literary workshops. 

His texts of poetry for children, adults, and his narratives have been published in anthologies, and in the magazine Alma Mater. Member of the literary workshop Ernest Heminway, some of his poems have been set to music. He is a member of the Cuban Agency of Musical Copyright (ACDAM) and The General Society of Authors and Publishers (SGAE) in Spain. He is also the President of the Oral Narration Show "12 hours of stories in the city of Papier Mache." 

²⁾“Reinan Tangos y Milongas en Noviembre” (Tangos and Milongas rule November)  is a book dedicated to the people of San Luis and the Narrator and Cultural Promoter, Paola Irastorza, who showed me how beautiful Argentina, San Luis and Potrero de los Funes are. I owe her the pleasure of knowing about such great creators.

*the sound one makes when humming a song.

Catalogue of San Luis Artists

Catalogue of San Luis Artists who registered at the Third Edition of Guía Hueney’s Independent Art Walk in Cuba.

Gustavo Caneda – Crafts (containers for appetizers, hangers, board for roast meat, wine barrels) – Potrero de los Funes

Ludmila Bedair – Crafts (Kaleidoscopes) – Potrero de los Funes

Ricardo Villanueva – Digital Art (filmmaking) - Potrero de los Funes

Blanca Rosa Sosa – French Art (laminated photography, silicone, varnish) – San Luis

Jorge Raúl Saibene – Sculpture (sculpture in calden wood) – Villa Mercedes

José de Cristófano – Sculpture (sculpture in guatambú, oak and palo blanco wood) – San Luis

Juanjo Becerrra – Sculpture (alpaca, silver, old cutlery, leather, coins, bronze) – Villa Mercedes

Lilian Perroni – Sculpture (wood, plaster cast, acrylic, oil painting, papier-mâché) – San Luis

Alexandra Rubiño – Sculpture and drawing (concrete, canvas, clay, iron, recycled materials) – Juana Koslay

Olemberg family – Sculpture and music (making of musical instruments – spinning and knitting with human hair) – La Toma

Osvaldo Aguilera  - Sculpture and music (carving and engraving with flagstone – guitar player and folk singer) – San Luis

Tita Alonso  - Sculpture  and painting (stone, acrylic, aerosol, paraffin, dried seeds, plaster cast, glass, recycled material) – San Luis

Sandra and Matías Molina – Dancing/ Tango (shows and classes) – San Luis

Franco Siracusa – Photography (film and digital photography – graphics - hand processing of films) – Villa Mercedes

Luis Miranda – Photography and drawing (landscape digital photography without retouching) – Potrero de los Funes

Paola Irastorza – Photography and literature (digital photography, design, art, communication, and education) – Potrero de los Funes

Nélida Olguín F.  – Photography and painting - San Luis

Dolores Valentino – Literature – Juana Koslay

Myriam Olga Mrercau – Literature – Juana Koslay

Rodolfo Otoniel Molina – Potrero de los Funes

Favio Violante – Silversmithing/goldsmithing – Juana Koslay

Adriana Toledo – Painting – Potrero de los Funes

Adriana Giuliani – Painting – Juana Koslay

Cecilia Adriana Gatica – Painting – San Luis

Flora Isabel García – Painting – Villa Mercedes

Gastón López Alcaraz – Painting - San Luis

Graciela Imperinato  -Painting – San Luis

Marita Uvilla  -Painting and sculpture – San Luis

Carina Levin – Painting and photography – Potrero de los Funes

M. Iglesias Dávila – Painting and Photography – San Luis

Dido – Painting and murals – Juana Koslay

Achievements in perspective

by Gabriela Rosell 

BA in Special Education - Early Stimulation Specialist 

grosell@unsl.edu.ar 

“Plan metodológico de integración de niños con TGD en una escuela común” (Methodological Plan for the integration of children with PDD in a common school environment) Award.  Project presented by Professor Verónica Santiago and Ms. Melissa F. Gaibazzi - Stoikheia Institute- San Luis, at the V National Congress on "Learning Disabilities and Language" (“Trastornos del Aprendizaje y del Lenguaje”).

 When it comes to promoting a pluralistic society, there are examples in the province of San Luis, Argentina and the world, unthinkable a few years ago. If we talk about the integration of students with special educational needs – who, in turn, live a condition of temporary or permanent disability - San Luis shows that he path can be made up as one goes along it.

The possibility of living, working, loving, educating and entertaining in diversity is throbbing in our society ; this is equivalent to growing and travelling a road of no return, to functioning as an inclusive society. We may not be able to live enough to see full inclusion, but our children and grandchildren will surely strengthen this movement that began in the second half of last century, with the help of the achievements in human rights. 

Integration processes in all areas - school, sports, and labour, among others - are matrices, basal structures that will hold pro-inclusion steps in the future. In other words, without these integration processes, inclusion would not be possible in the future. 

In this sense, all kinds of events are organized in order to disseminate experiences. In our province, the V National Congress on Learning and Language Disabilities took place on November 19^th and 20^th 2010. Prestigious speakers, such as Dr. Juan Narbona García (Spain), among other leading professionals were present in this event. The objective of the conference was to promote advancements and updates in the field of Learning, Communication and Language Disabilities. The crux of all presentations was the improvement of the life quality and the resources needed to support people with disabilities and their families with a global approach that includes integrity in interactions with the environment in which they grow up. 

San Luis was represented by different professionals.  The lecture given by Professor of Special Education Veronica Santiago, Principal of Stoikheia Institute, and by Melissa Gaibazzi, B.A  in Speech Therapy (who also specializes in Autism and PDD - pervasive developmental disorder- and  who is a member of Children's Medical Center “Pediátrica San Luis” - San Luis Pediatrics) is worth mentioning. Both professionals spoke before an audience made up of people working in provincial, national and international organizations. The main topic of the speech was the integration actions that this institution is carrying out for students with special educational needs, and who also have autism and PDD. This situation was virtually unthinkable a few years ago. Ms Santiago and Ms Gaibazzi also spoke about the apparatus designed to give an appropriate educational response to their students, watching the support needs of students with autism and PDD, as well as the requirements of their pairs (children without disabilities) and their families, faculty and school staff. Among other issues, they highlighted the benefits of teamwork, the importance of external support to enrich the educational intervention, the importance of inviting the family to participate and enhancing their role, the urgent need to work with the environment. A project like this must include the integrated child's peers, as well as all the teachers of the institution, the non-teaching staff (janitors, secretaries, etc) and parents. 

Finally, it is noteworthy that this work has been evaluated by the Scientific Committee and has been awarded a prize to the best presentation, which is a pride for our province, a role model, an incentive to all those who are doing their best in favour of a plural society (from the place that each one occupies in society), in one way or another. It is necessary to highlight the willingness and openness of Professor Gabriela Bodar, Stoikheia Institute's legal representative and that of the management team, who opened the doors of the institution to implement the school integration system, created out of the needs of each group of students. 

The closing ceremony of Stoikheia Institute’s 2010 school year, was an emotional, captivating, and absolutely inclusive event. The viewers could see that children with disabilities and their families could access the same creative, artistic and academic proposals than the rest of their classmates, with the support that each one needs. Parents highlight the successful integration system, and therefore understand that their children, as well as their peers with disabilities, are benefited from these actions in this context. This means that what the professionals presented in the Congress could be seen at work . 

We are witnessing today a large number of institutions in our province, who are going the same way, perhaps with different methodologies for their proposals, but definitely doing their best for the sake of each child and respecting the right of common access to education for persons with disabilities. 

Congratulations to all! 

News from the Sky

by Aldo Hugo Olguin 

Prof. of Mathematics, Physics and Cosmography 

aldohugoolguin@yahoo.com.ar 

January is named after the Roman god Janus, the one with two faces: the face turned towards the past,  and looking toward the future. 

In summer, we can see more familiar constellations, such as Orion’s Belt (The Three Marys), The Three Kings, The Seven Sisters, the Southern Cross, which like the moon, are easy to recognize and locate at this time of year. The first two are part of the beautiful constellation Orion, the third one is an open cluster of about 25 stars of which only 7 are visible at first glance. The Cross’ mainmast shows us the South in the sky when carried 4.5 times. The stars Alpha and Beta Centauri accompany this constellation; Alpha is the brightest star and the one closest to the Earth. Its light takes only 4.2 years to reach us. 

Before leaving I would like to mention other interesting celestial events that you should not miss this summer; they are very easy to visualize: 

- At dawn, on January 4, the New Moon will pass in front of the Sun at sunrise, and we will see the moon cover a portion of the solar disk (Partial Eclipse of the Sun.) It will last until 8 pm. approx. Ask about instructions and precautions to view and photograph this safely. 

- On the evening of January 10^th at 8 pm, the crescent Moon will be near Jupiter (Conjunction of celestial bodies in the sky). The moons of Jupiter will be visible with a binocular! 

- At midnight, on January 15^th, the Moon will be among the constellation of Orion and the seven kids, to the North. 

- At midnight on January 25^th, the Moon will be near planet Saturn's beautiful yellow rings. 

Happy 2011! 

Partial solar eclipse

• Looking directly at the Sun, is dangerous for our eyes. You will need a welding mask or its glasses, which are sold in hardware stores. The most economical and secure way to observe an eclipse –and even to photograph it - is to project the sunlight through a 0.5 cm diameter pinhole made on two thin but stiff pieces of white cardboard. 

Why should we recycle mobile phones?

by Lorena Avila Cantisani 

Correspondent in Spain 

soydeargentinacom@hotmail.com 

Reuse is a key aspect of recycling. It contributes to saving the planet, and it is a way of taking care of it until it get its health back. That is why we do everything we can to promote this concept through my column in Guía Hueney. 

Mobile phones are often used for about 18 months before they are replaced. Most of them are stored in drawers and closets. This pile of used phones could end up in the trash. In any European country this can represent hundreds of millions of mobile phones in landfills. They contain many toxic substances, including brominated compounds that can be released into the air and leach into groundwater when burned in incinerators. Separating toxic materials in these products and discarding them as hazardous waste is very expensive. 

Phones are complex devices that include a printed circuit board (PCB), liquid crystal display (LCD), keypad, antenna, speaker, microphone and drums. The PCB and LCD together account for 98% of the environmental impact during production and recycling. These components contain chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic. PBTs have been associated to cancer and other reproductive and neurological disorders associated to the development process. It is important to note that 90% of the components of a mobile phone are reusable. 58% of the unit is 17% plastic and glass. A fourth part of the components correspond to different metals, all recoverable, such as iron, copper, silver and even gold and coltan, a very valuable metal contained in small amounts in all electronic devices which allows an extended use of batteries. Besides, many batteries contain cadmium or lead; both materials have been classified as the two most dangerous substances by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States.  

Can mobiles phones be reused? 

Many of them can be reused. When you recycle your mobile phone for the first time, you provide a communication tool accessible to families and people in developing countries, improving their local economy, quality of life and personal safety. Phones that cannot be reused are recycled to extract their components. This is an action aimed at saving energy, which in turn, reduces the production of greenhouse gases. 

Where do old mobile phones end up in Spain? 

The vast majority of phones are discarded in Tragamóvil, a nonprofit foundation in charge of waste management and recycling. In 2004, the Red Cross, Entreculturas and Alboan launched a recycling campaign that remains active because of its success. The Red Cross uses the funds for environmental programs and activities, while Entreculturas supports its partners in Latin America and Africa "to ensure quality education" among those who have less in life”. 

Corporate Social Responsibility 

There are some companies with a strong ethical commitment, and a balance among economic, environmental and social aspects towards their customers and partners. There are permits and procedures for the recycling of phones, as well as current legislation governing the cycle of electrical waste in the environment. This legislation includes the WEEE Directive (Directive of the European Parliament and Council on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). There are also ISO 14001, and ISO 9001. Companies or entities must have a permit for waste management. The right thing is being part of the European Union Emissions Trading System. There is a European Union Law on Renewable Energy. 

In Argentina there are 32 million mobile phones - a phone per person over 5 years old. Only a third part of them will be recovered for reuse, which means that a large amount of phones will be set aside unused. In Argentina, there are some environmental acts and regulations, such as National Act No. 24051/94 of Hazardous Waste; there is currently no collection policies aimed at recycling electronic waste, and few companies have the responsibility to comply with environmental standards. Greenpeace Argentina is struggling to make the Congress pass an Electronic Waste Act. 

The truth is that technological advances and trends make phones become obsolete in no time. 

We must begin to question and require companies that make and sell mobile phone to act in order to protect our environment.

San Luis - Argentina

Province located in central Argentina, with over 450,000 inhabitants, and an area of 76,748 km ². It was originally inhabited by various indigenous groups.

Founded on August 25^th, 1594, as "San Luis de Loyola Nueva Medina de Río Seco", its geography is characterized by a mountainous landscape to the North, with varying heights (the Agua Hedionda hill is the highest in the province, with 2,150 meters), and a flat landscape, with many lakes, to the South.

San Luis has all climates, with an average annual temperature of 17 ° C, a winter mean temperature of 8 ° C, and 24 ° C in summer. Rains occur mainly in summer. In winter, precipitations are rare, but it may snow at any height, creating stunning landscapes.
The mountain is where many streams and rivers are born. More than 10 dams that supply water for irrigation and human consumption (San Felipe, Cruz de Piedra, La Florida, La Huertita, Potrero de los Funes, Paso de las Carretas Antonio Esteban Agüero, Nogolí, Luján, Villa General Roca) collect water from these streams and rivers.

San Luis native flora includes carob tree, white carob tree, Tintitaco, Caldén, Molle, Peje, Jarilla, Chana,  Aromo or Espinillo, Brea, Cortadera  and Retama. Several of them are endangered. Native fauna features pampas deer (endangered), Skunk, Herons, Male Red Brocket Deer (Mazama americana), Rhea, Creole Hare, Cougar, Fox, Rabbit, Mulitas, Peccary, Partridge, Biguá, Moorhen,  Condor, Weasel, and colorful songbirds.

San Luis is a wonderful natural tourist center, which offers hot springs, salt marshes, abundant fisheries, minerals such as onyx marble, limestone, and slate. There are also cave paintings in the National Park of Las Quijadas, where there is also clear evidence of dinosaurs’ habitat; San Luis has a very special microclimate characterized by high negative air ionization, with a high content of ozone - among other attractions - whose comfortable highways make it easier to visit.