BIRTH CONTROL 

Birth control is the use of any practices, methods, or devices to prevent pregnancy from occurring in a sexually active woman. Also referred to as family planning, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, or contraception; birth control methods are designed either to prevent fertilization of an egg or implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus.

Birth control methods may be reversible or irreversible.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53351

ATTITUDES TOWARD PRODUCT QUALITY 

Product quality is rapidly becoming an important competitive issue. The superior reliability of many Japanese products has sparked considerable soul-searching among American managers. In addition, several surveys have voiced consumers' dissatisfaction with the existing levels of quality and service of the products they buy. In a recent study of the business units of major North American companies, managers ranked “producing to high quality standards” as their chief current concern.

The collection of features and characteristics of a product that contribute to its        ability to meet given requirements. Early workin controlling product quality was on  creating standards for producing acceptable products. By the mid-1950s, mature methods had evolved for controlling quality, including statistical quality control and statistical process control, utilizing  sequential sampling techniques for tracking the mean and variance in process performance. During the 1960s, thesemethods and techniques were extended to the service industry. During 1960–1980, there was a major shift in world markets,with the position of the United States declining while Japan and Europe experienced substantial growth in internationalmarkets. 

Consumers became more conscious of the cost and quality of products and services. Firms began to focus on totalproduction systems for achieving quality at minimum cost. This trend has continued, and today the goals of quality control arelargely driven by consumer concerns and preferences.

Quality control (QC) is the collection of methods and techniques for ensuring that a product or service is produced and delivered according to given requirements.

This includes the development of specifications and standards, performance measures, and tracking procedures, and corrective actions to maintain control. Thedata collection and analysis functions forquality control involve statistical sampling, estimation of parameters, and construction of various control charts for monitoring the processes in making products. 

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Product+quality

http://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/what-does-product-quality-really-mean/

POPULATION CHANGES BY RACE, AGE, SEX AND LEVEL OF AFFLUENCE

BY RACE: The 1912 Population Census identified both Colombian populations as an Indian, using the criterion of race to determine the ethnic population. This census showed 6.8% as a result of indigenous and Afro population 6.4. By 1918, the IX Population Census used the perception of the interviewer to know the indigenous black population and physical traits and thus was able to capture the ethnic groups at that time was estimated to be 6% of the total.

With respect to the 2005 census, it was found that reside in Colombia indigenous 1,392,623 corresponding to 3.43% of the population; the afrocolombianos33 are 4,311,757 people, 10.62% of the total and the Rom or gypsy village is made up of 4,858 people representing 0.01% of the total population, which means that the Colombian population was recognized as belonging to an ethnic group corresponds to 14.06% of the Colombian population, the remaining 85.94% was not considered belonging to none of the above ethnic groups.

The indigenous population is young, 40% of the population is under 15 years. The age group has a higher concentration of population is zero to four years, followed by the group of 5-9 years. Comparing the indigenous population with other populations shows that this ethnic group has a higher proportion of younger population and consequently a lower proportion of older population. High rates of birth and death are evident.

The Afro-Colombian population has a similar structure of the national population; the smallest African population aged 15 represents a third of the population, however, the percentage of population groups 0-4 years, and 5-9 years is a little larger than the respective age groups for nationwide total. The age groups of the population under age 15 are very similar percentage of the population which may mean that infant mortality in this population it is less than that observed in the indigenous or born in this population proportionately fewer children in the indigenous population.

The ROM has a population aging process greater than that presented in the national population and Afro-Colombians. missing population are evident in some age groups, especially in the male population aged 25 to 34, which can be caused by migration processes or non-recognition as ROM in the census population. The high volume of people in the age group 20 to 24 years may be due to poor age reporting. (DIRECCIÓN DE CENSOS Y DEMOGRAFÍA, 2007)

TAKEN FROM:

DIRECCIÓN DE CENSOS Y DEMOGRAFÍA. (Mayo de 2007). DANE. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de DANE: http://www.dane.gov.co/files/censo2005/etnia/sys/colombia_nacion.pdf

BY AGE: Since the late twentieth century in Colombia, the demographic transition has been determined by the decrease in mortality and fertility transition. This transition has historically been characterized by a decrease in mortality in the thirties and a decrease in fertility from the sixties of the twentieth century, which affected the aging population; evidence of this process is the increase in the rate of population growth as age cohorts. In Colombia, it shows how mortality declined before birth, causing other demographic changes. Thus, in the early twentieth century, a crude death rate of 23.5 ‰ in the 50s down to 22 ‰ and the period from 1951 to 1964 it had, the period from 1985 to 1993 increased from 13 ‰ to 7.2 ‰. For 2010-2015, a rate of 5.7 ‰ is calculated. In this context it is important to note the decrease in infant mortality, increased life expectancy at birth and improving social development indicators. Infant mortality fell from 186 ‰ in the early twentieth century to 150 ‰ in 1951; for 2000 was 25.6 ‰, and in 2010 came to 17.1 ‰ (DANE 2012). The aging index defined as the weight of the adult population with regard to children and adolescents has tripled in the last decades. 10 went to 34 (seniors per 100 persons under 15 years) between 1964 and 2010, and in accordance with the observed trend, keep sustained increases in the near future. Increases both the volume and the relative weight of the population have been evident in recent years. This is evident when comparing, for example, the population aged 60 and over from 1985 to 2005, which went from 2.1 to 3.8 million people respectively, which represents an increase of 78% of this population. (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, 2013). Two facts emerge in analyzing the information. The first is that the pyramid is reversing; this means that a small population of working age must meet the demands of a higher number of older adults. The second is that, reviewing these forecasts between 2015 and 2050, the population over 70 years will increase from 4.3% of the total population, 13.8%. (Dinero, 2015)

TAKEN FROM:

Dinero. (2015). Bomba demográfica. Dinero.

Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social. (Abril de 2013). Ministerio de Salud. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Ministerio de Salud: https://www.minsalud.gov.co/sites/rid/Lists/BibliotecaDigital/RIDE/DE/PS/Envejecimiento-demografico-Colombia-1951-2020.pdf

BY SEX: Longevity is higher for women for biological reasons. The difference in life expectancy between men and women is between 3 and 6 years in most countries. In Colombia, the violence is determining a male over the age of mortality in young adults, and this affects a large differential in life expectancy. The violence.

In the immediate future is worrisome social security of women, for the following reasons: a) exclusion of men from the labor market and therefore of social security; b) access for women to the labor market in ever more precarious conditions, flexible and without social security; c) family crisis socioeconomic, cultural and violence reasons that increase the number of women heads of family households split or incomplete; d) the work cycle women hardly allowed to accumulate the required time and contribute enough to retire, even more so when times are not continuous work and age and contribution requirements increase; e) The adverse financial situation of social security public and the gradual privatization of the system. (CEPAL, 2002)

The participation of women in the conformation of Congress has reached its highest representation in 2010 to reach 13.10% in that year, being the year 2006, the lowest percentage of women elected with 10.4%. In 2002 the number of women elected to Congress was 34, equivalent to 12.69% of elected members. In 2006, 28 women came to Congress, meaning that the total percentage of female representation reached 10.4% of Congress, being 11.76% and 9.69% in the Senate in the House of Representatives. By 2010 the figure reached 35 percent in 2006 exceeded going from 10.4% to 13.10% representation. In Senate it reached 15.68% and 11.51% Chamber. At each election the number of women registered as candidates, from 165 in 2002 to 475 in 2006 is increased, reaching 510 in 2010. (Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil)

TAKEN FROM:

CEPAL. (31 de Octubre de 2002). CEPAL. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de CEPAL: http://www.cepal.org/mujer/noticias/noticias/1/11151/tendencias.pdf

Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil. (s.f.). Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil: http://www.registraduria.gov.co/Aumenta-la-participacion-de-la.html

LEVEL OF AFFLUENCE: Capitalism has increased the concentration of wealth by a few. In Colombia the issue is even worse, according to research by Ricardo Rocha Garcia and published by the National Planning Department (DNP) has worsened by drug trafficking. The traditional measure of inequality is the Gini coefficient, in which 0 is perfect equality and 1 is total inequality. This Colombia remains at 0.5, making it the third country in the region, after Haiti and Brazil, with the worst results.

However, there are other calculations that showcase inequality. Palma is the case index, which for Colombia is located at 4%. Roberto Angle, a researcher on the subject, explained that this means that 10% of the richest population earns four times more than the poorest 40%, Compared to the region, only it surpassed by Honduras and Bolivia.

Rocha Garcia explains that drug trafficking was one of the main causes of persistent high levels of inequality, because before the decade of the 70 major reductions they were then in the 80's the figure, which remains soared. The point is that the drug trade has created an economic environment of informality, where the 'capos' focused from the entrance to the property. Precisely informality has been rated as one of the causes of economic growth is not reflected in all corners of the country. That is another of the structural problems of the national economy, as reaches 48.5% of the employed, according to figures to May this year. (María Alejandra Sanchez, 2014)

The international organization Oxfam denounced in a report released Monday that rich elites are divided political power to manipulate the rules of the economic game, undermining democracy and creating a world in which the richest 85 people accumulate as much wealth as half the world's poorest people together. Rule for the elite, published on the eve of the World Economic Forum to be held this week in Davos, details the detrimental impact that growing inequality has both in developed countries and those developing, allowing the richest people undermine democratic processes and develop policies that favor their interests at the expense of the rest of the world. The report said, however, people are increasingly aware of this hoarding of power. Surveys conducted by Oxfam in six countries (Brazil, India, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and United States) show that the majority of respondents think that the laws are biased in favor of the wealthiest. (DINERO, 2014)

TAKEN FROM:

DINERO. (2014). 1% de la población controla el 46% de la riqueza. DINERO.

María Alejandra Sanchez. (2014). 10 cifras económicas que explican por qué Colombia tiene alta desigualdad. DINERO.

ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY

Colombia deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. At 67 Colombia scores high on the scale of the PDI, so it is a society that believes that inequalities amongst people are simply a fact of life. This inequality is accepted in all layers of society, so a union leader will have a lot of concentrated power compared to his union management team, and they in turn will have more power than other union members. A similar phenomenon will be observed among business leaders and among the highest positions in government. (THE HOFSTEDE CENTRE, 2013)

Colombian attitudes toward power and authority are very mixed and run the gamut. Clearly, large numbers of Colombians fragrantly break the law, most notably those involved with the drugs cartel and the armed youths, known as sicarios (assassins), who have qualms gunning down police officer, or anyone else for that matter, on the streets of Medellin. On the other hand, most Colombians are decent, law-abiding citizens who display a healthy respect for authority but particularly if it has to do anything to do with the Catholic Church.

As in many Latin American countries, hierarchy is a defining feature of most aspects of Colombian life. Matriarch and patriarch still rule family units, with the influence of the other members of the family dependent of their age. In the business world, those are the top of the hierarchy are revered, and visiting business people will get along better if they respect the structure of local companies.  (ATMA Gobal and CultureQuest Business, 2013)

TAKEN FROM

ATMA Gobal and CultureQuest Business. (2013). CultureQuest. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de CultureQuest: http://pspl.culture-quest.com/pspl/index.php/latin-america-colombia/latin-america-colombia-local-culture/latin-america-colombia-values-and-beliefs-local-culture

THE HOFSTEDE CENTRE. (2013). THE HOFSTEDE CENTRE. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de THE HOFSTEDE CENTRE: http://geert-hofstede.com/colombia.html

POPULATION CHANGES BY CITY, COUNTY, STATE, REGION AND COUNTRY

BY CITY

TAKEN FROM 

DANE, 2011

BY STATE AND REGION

According to the account the period between 1993 - 2005, the population in the municipalities has grown by 31.2 percent; while in the period from 1985 to 1993 did 25.7 percent, which shows the strong urbanization in the last twelve years before the General Census 2005. However, this process is quite heterogeneous in terms of each of the local authorities, which shows the effects of a series of regional factors generated by changes in sub regional migratory flows, differential dynamics determined. Indeed, the trend in population growth in Colombia and political-administrative division is quite telling of the phenomenon of urbanization, a process that has determined the rapid growth of the major cities, as well as close to them, so defining a special dynamic of population flows determined by factors of labor, forced displacement, study, costs of goods and services, among others, are important factors in the growth of target municipalities; reduction in source and, therefore, they are generators determining effects on the spatial distribution of the population.

These disparities in regional dynamics generate different degrees of development that can be defined as follows:

- High concentration of population in headers: those that contain 80 percent and more of the total departmental population, In the case of Bogotá (99.8 percent), Valle del Cauca (86.6 percent), the Atlantic (95.1 percent) and Quindio (86.6 percent).

- Media concentration - high population in headers: Range from 60 to 80 percent of total departmental population. Most departments are distributed as follows: Risaralda (77.2 percent), Norte de Santander (77.1 percent), Antioquia (76.6 percent), Bolivar (75.6 percent) Santander (73.6 percent), Meta (73.4 percent), San Andres (71.6 percent), Caldas (71.2 percent), Cesar (71.1 percent), Casanare (69.7 percent), Magdalena (69, 1 percent), Arauca (68.4 percent), Tolima (66.5 percent), Cundinamarca (64.7 percent), Sucre (63.8 percent) and Guaviare (62.2 percent).

- Average concentration of population headers: Range from 50 to 60 percent of total provincial population. Huila (59.7 percent), Caqueta (56.4 percent), La Guajira 54.9 percent), Vaupés 52.3 percent), Boyaca (52.2 percent), Cordoba (50 are located, 5 percent) and Choco (50.1 percent).

- Low concentration of population headers: Less than 50 percent of the total departmental population: This category Putumayo (46.4 percent), Nariño (46.0 percent), Amazonas (44.6 percent are located), Cauca (38.9 percent) Vichada (38.1 percent) and Guainía (36.0 percent).

(Edgar Sardi Perea, CANDANE, 2006)

TAKEN FROM

Edgar Sardi Perea, CANDANE. (2006). DANE. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de DANE: http://www.dane.gov.co/revista_ib/html_r4/articulo2_r4.htm

BY COUNTRY

Migration towards Colombia has been more limited and the presence of foreigners within the country has increased only in the last ten years, pursuant to greater investor confidence. Regarding the situation of migrants in Colombia, the data identifies a total of 109,971 persons from other countries such as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Ecuador, the United States and Spain; the number of immigrants in the country corresponds to 0.27 per cent of the total population (DANE, 2005). The share by region of origin is: South America (43.3%), North America (31.2%), Central America and the Caribbean (13.8%) and Europe (11%). The continents/areas with the lowest participation are Asia, Oceania and Africa. The number of recent migrants has declined as compared to the overall population at each census taking, from an immigration rate of 4 per thousand according to the 1993 Census, to 2 per thousand in the 2005 Census (DAS, DANE, IOM, 2007). Per the United Nations report on migrant populations by country, the estimated number of immigrants in Colombia through 2005 was 109,953; the projection for 2010 was calculated at 110,297 (United Nations, 2009). However, according to World Bank data (Ratha and Shaw, 2007), the number of immigrants in Colombia in 2005 was 122,713. Estimates by the Development Research Centre on Migration indicate that there are 115,331 people from other countries living in Colombia (DRC, 2007). According to both sources, the countries with the highest number of nationals in Colombia are the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the United States and Ecuador.

Colombia is considered one of the countries with the most migration in the region. Data on emigration comes from the 2005 Census. The census takers identified the number of persons in each census household who had gone to live abroad permanently, inquiring about destination and period of emigration. The 2009 report prepared by the National Department of Statistics (DANE) states that the total number of Colombians living abroad is 3,378,345. The 2008 statistical yearbook published by DANE, the Intelligence and Security Agency (DAS) and the IOM, evidences a constant increase in emigration and emphasizes the negative migration balance in the case of Colombians who left between 2004 and 2008. The Colombia Nos Une (Colombia Unites Us) Programme keeps consular records of Colombians by country and continent; in North America, there are 533,189 registered Colombians; in South America, there are 409,626; in Asia and Oceania, 15,993; and in Central America and the Caribbean, 24,514 (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, 2009). Mejía, Ortiz, Puerta, Mena and Díaz (2009), based on their consultation of various information sources such as the 2005 Census and the Survey of Remittance Beneficiaries and workers in Foreign Exchange Institutions of Colombia (EBRIC), estimated that the country with the highest concentration of Colombians is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, with 609,196 Colombians per the 2001 Venezuelan census, followed by the United States where there are 604,527 according to the American Communitarian Survey; Spain is in third place, with 330,419 registered Colombians, including those nationalized in Spain.

According to the various information sources, the causes of Colombian migration abroad are mainly economic, followed by family-related causes, and, less frequently, by security considerations. This profile evidences a loss of human capital and shows how a significant number of educationally qualified Colombians have emigrated from the country. Moreover, as seen in the Medina and Posso study (2009), there are minimal opportunities for return of highly qualified personnel. The probability of return increases as the training level and type of employment enters the second tier: a labour force or range of people engaged in different tasks that do not require advanced training. Two projects aimed at ameliorating the effects of this loss bear mention: the Colombia Nos Une Programme and the RedEsColombia Portal, a technological platform that seeks to create an interactive virtual space where Colombian migrants can connect with their families, business partners, civil society, and government, among others, to strengthen national ties. Taking into account these various studies on Colombian migration, it can be concluded that the migration is predominantly economic, comprised of migrants searching for labour opportunities and better income. Some of the factors that characterize this type of migration are the average age of migrants, the amount of remittances sent to Colombia, the economic situation at the time the decision to migrate occurred, the construction and consolidation of social networks, and the educational level of migrants. Regarding refugees, the 2009 report of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) evidences that requests by Colombians for international protection have decreased compared to previous years. Colombia is also a country of origin, transit and destination for trafficking in persons. It has committed to the prevention and combating of this phenomenon, and has strengthened the policy and the legal framework against this crime in compliance with international instruments. One example of this is Law 985 of 2005, which proposes a strategy to develop State policy to combat internal and external trafficking in persons in order to reduce this scourge. The strategy has four tenets: 1) Prevention, 2) Protection and assistance to victims and witnesses, 3) International cooperation to combat trafficking in persons and 4) Investigation and prosecution. In addition, COAT (the Operational Assistance Centre for Human Trafficking) has been created. It is a joint effort between international cooperation agencies and the Colombian Government to assist victims of, prevent, and document the issue of human trafficking. (Clemencia Ramírez, Marcela Zuluaga, Clara Perilla, 2010)

TAKEN FROM

Clemencia Ramírez, Marcela Zuluaga, Clara Perilla. (2010). Perfil Migratorio de Colombia. Bogotá: OMI.

VALUE PLACED ON LEISURE TIME

Still. Or at least not very active are the Colombians when they use their free time. This was revealed by the Survey of Cultural Consumption Dane, released yesterday. Most respondents-a 71 percent-use it with audiovisual media, ie, watching TV, videos, listening to the radio, surfing the net or using the computer and having fun with video games.

Do respondents invest some of theirr free time in cultural or sports activities? Very little. Before reading or some physical activity, 38 percent of respondents said they prefer social life and fun (dances, meetings). Reading ranked fourth in importance, with 31 percent. What is more surprising is that this sample respondents said that less than they do in their free time is travel. The average Colombian, says Dane, has between Monday and Friday 13 free hours and weekends four. Those who do not stay at home and decide to cultural events are more inclined fairs, craft shows and concerts, to the theater, dance and opera. As for children, it is the fury of the game: 41 percent of children between 5 and 11 years they spend glued to their consoles.

The questionnaire was applied in the second half of 2008 to 12,031 homes for a total of 38,237 people. In 2007, the survey was conducted on 2,415 households for a total of 8,275 people. (Redacción EL TIEMPO, 2009)

Passive entertainment that is associated with complete rest as sitting, meditating, sunning or doing nothing. In the preferences to "kill" the free time, the survey Dane placed third in social life and recreation, followed by reading and physical activity. (Caracol Radio, 2009)

TAKEN FROM

Caracol Radio. (17 de Marzo de 2009). CARACOL. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de CARACOL: http://caracol.com.co/radio/2009/03/17/nacional/1237304640_779751.html

Redacción EL TIEMPO. (19 de Marzo de 2009). TV, ocio y vida social, los planes de los colombianos en el tiempo libre. EL TIEMPO.

NUMBER OF WOMEN AND MINORITY WORKERS

OF WOMEN: Female (% of total) in Colombia was last measured at 50.75 in 2014, according to the World Bank. (Trading Economics, 2015)

There is a vibrant civil society giving voice to women’s rights and grievances. The Political Advocacy Roundtable of Rural Women, a loud and boisterous coalition of individuals concerned about women’s livelihoods in the Colombian countryside, is but one example of this social mobilization. On average, women are better educated than men in Colombia and they are not afraid to speak out about their opinions.

Yet in practice, Colombian women still suffer from regular forms of violence, exploitation and social marginalization. The country’s standing on the Social Institutions and Gender Index (which looks at the underlying causes of inequality) is slipping: this year it ranks 26th out of 86 countries, whereas in 2009 it ranked 18th. Oxfam continues to report ongoing violence against women, including the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the country.

It remains difficult to know how women fare in the workforce as compared to men: while most Colombian women have informal jobs, the National Statistics Office and Labor Ministry only monitor the salaries and work conditions of formal employment. Academic research, however, finds that the gender wage gap is slightly higher in Colombia (14%) than on average across Latin America (10%). And while enforcement of labor law is weak generally, there are some disconcerting differences in the treatment of male and female workers in some agricultural sectors, such as the highly profitable cut flower industry, where women are subjected to pregnancy screenings before being hired and fired if ever they should become pregnant. (BARB MACLAREN, JENNIFER ERIN SALAHUB, 2013)

TAKEN FROM

BARB MACLAREN, JENNIFER ERIN SALAHUB. (2013). The North-South Institute. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de The North-South Institute: http://www.nsi-ins.ca/newsroom/gender-policy-is-failing-women-in-colombia/

Trading Economics. (2015). Trading Economics. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Trading Economics: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/colombia/population-female-percent-of-total-wb-data.html

OF MINORITY WORKERS: Colombian business sector should generate greater job diversity and inclusion, for more competitiveness and profitability, warned the first study of the National Consulting Center (CNC) on "Labor Diversity and Inclusion in the Colombian Business Sector".Of surveyed 17,410 workers, 64.9% are mestizos, white 27.3%, 4.5% blacks, Indians 0.7% and 2.6% mulattos. Among the most representative findings on the current share of African descent and indigenous people in the business structure of the country, 60% of respondents felt that black people in Colombia receive worse treatment than white, 37% said that the deal is equal to 1.9% say it is better.

Moreover, at board level, occupation of white dominates with 62%, followed by a 30% mestizos, blacks with 6% and 1% indigenous.

The participation of blacks decreased 3% when discussing the management issue, while whites occupy 50% and 44% mestizos. Finally, participation in the administrative level is maintained at the same rate of 3% black, 24% for whites, 70% for mestizos, mulattos and 2% to 1% indigenous.

The study concludes that in three Indians who work, only one is a woman. At the managerial level in general, in five managers three are men and two women.

Finally, the survey indicates that the total of 9,471 people linked in 2012, 270 are of African descent, and 53 Indians, variable show apparent restrictions when it comes to higher hierarchical levels, says the assessment. (SEMANA, 2014)

Of 9,471 people who were 98 companies employment relationship with 7 capitals last year, 53 270 are of African descent and indigenous.

This emerges from a study conducted by the National Consulting Center (CNC) for Afro-descendants and Indigenous Program of United States Agency for International Development (USAID)."The black people and indigenous exclusion face strong enterprises in the formal sector of the economy, according to the data.

However, this is higher in the case of the indigenous population, which means that the latter population is mostly outside the formal business of the country, "says the study.

Another fact is that the majority share of workers in formal companies from 12 sectors of the economy is the mestizo population, 67 percent.

The second row is occupied by those who recognize themselves as white 24.3 percent, while the figures for minorities, adding blacks, mulattoes and Indians, only reaches 8.07 percent. According to Fernando Urrea, principal investigator of the study entitled 'employment diversity and inclusion in the Colombian business sector', surveys were administered to 17,410 workers in 12 sectors of the economy, in seven cities: Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, Cartagena, Bucaramanga and Riohacha. (Portafolio, 2014)

Only 28 percent of Hispanics were enrolled in plans being offered at their workplace in 2008. Forty-one percent of African-Americans participated, and half of white workers were enrolled in a plan. Twenty-eight percent of workers who identified themselves as being of more than one racial background participated in their employers’ retirement plans. “These numbers have been pretty consistent over the last five years,” says Craig Copeland, senior research associate at the Employee Benefit Research Institute. He adds that participation percentages have remained flat because of the ongoing increase in number of defined-contribution plans versus the decrease in defined-benefit plans. “There has been some movement, but nothing significant,” Copeland says.

While the overall Hispanic participation number is low, Hispanics born in the U.S. participated in plans at a level similar to African-American workers: 39 percent. But only 20 percent of foreign-born Hispanic workers were enrolled in retirement plans, by far the lowest minority participation rate, the institute reported. (Patty Kujawa, 2010)

TAKEN FROM

Patty Kujawa. (24 de Febrero de 2010). Workforce. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Workforce: http://www.workforce.com/articles/minority-employees-trail-in-retirement-plan-participation

Portafolio. (24 de Febrero de 2014). Minorías solo tienen el 8% del empleo formal en el país. Portafolio.

SEMANA. (2014). Minorías en Colombia, lejos de la cima. SEMANA.

NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATES BY GEOGRAPHIC AREA

Acording to the Ministry of Education 49% of academic graduates links sometime in higher education studies; so does 46% of technical graduates. The greatest influence on the performance of high school is the school where he studied, not the form. The type of training for high school and middle does not affect the work behavior or in higher education. Business graduates have greater advantage in achieving employment; However, most people who are linked are women in temporary jobs and in positions with few prospects. In-service training they receive is scarce. A large proportion of high school graduates of technical schools and scholars in Class Performance "low" state exams enter occupations or simple work, and have no mobility towards more specialized and better paid occupations. The high school graduates in schools performance "low" in the examination of State initially made technical courses; then they choose to go to college. In turn, in terms of expectations of employers on graduates, the above mentioned study found the following: The factors that weigh upon linking a bachelor to a company are personal qualities, plus the honesty and trustworthiness. (Ministerio de Educación, 2003)

2charts

TAKEN FROM

Ministerio de Educación. (2003). SITUACIÓN DE LA EDUCACIÓN MEDIA EN COLOMBIA. Bogotá.

RECYCLING

In 2012 in Colombia recovers 62 percent of the paper being produced and the total investment in the paper industry in programs of environmental impact was 13 billion pesos.

According to the last National Recycling Survey conducted by the Business Commitment for Recycling in Colombia -CEMPRE-, each year has 9,000,000 204 488,000 tonnes, ie 25,000 tonnes per day, equivalent to a recovery of 16 54 percent recycled material in the country.

The study conducted in 22 cities across the country found that 59.6 percent are organic food waste and pruning; 4.7 percent, paper products; 3.6 percent, paperboard products; 12.8 percent, plastics; 2.3 percent, glass; 1.10 percent, metal products, and 15.7 percent among various inorganic and hygiene, mainly bone, textiles, soil, stack, electronics, wood and unusable sanitary waste. That is why the Chamber of Industry Pulp, Paper and Board of the National Association of Colombia, ANDI, held this 13 and 14 November the Second Congress of Recycling with the participation of national and international experts in order to provide elements for the design and implementation of a national recycling policy that will enable the country to be at the forefront in Latin America. (Semana Sostenible, 2013)

Colombia produces approximately 9,488,204 tons per year of solid waste, which are being recycled approximately 1,775,191 ton / year between glass, cardboard, scrap paper and most plastics. In addition, given the increase in imports of electrical and electronic equipment, the recovery of these is necessary. The average consumption of water used to produce one ton of paper is 85 m3. This figure is 79% lower for the production of recycled paper, as its production not only requires approximately 18 m3 of water per ton of paper. This means that the 658,238 tons of cardboard and paper that were recovered in 2010 in the country an annual equivalent of 44 million cubic meters of water saving was achieved.

In terms of power consumption, average 8300kwh used to produce one ton of paper. Of the 658,238 tons of cardboard and paper that were recovered in 2010 in the country an equivalent annual savings was achieved three billion kwh. 48% recycled material relative to total production (ANDI, 2012), similarly in 2004 the glass industry used 64% recycled material regarding the production was used in 2011 in the manufacture of paper ( MAVDT - Peldar, 2004). By contrast, only Tetrapak is used by 20% in the development of various new products, having a large untapped potential for exploitation (MAVDT, 2007). (Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, 2015)

TAKEN FROM

Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible. (15 de Mayo de 2015). Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible: https://www.minambiente.gov.co/index.php/component/content/article?id=1793:colombia-celebra-dia-mundial-del-reciclaje

Semana Sostenible. (2013). ¿En qué va el reciclaje en Colombia? SEMANA Sostenible.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Colombia, Robert Van Embden, whose country is the guest of honor Exporesiduos 2014, made available to the country the formula used in the Netherlands, where waste management has focused on three R's: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. "Our country is recognized for its integrated and hierarchical strategy. We started with waste prevention, then continue with reuse, recycling, energy generation based on these, incineration and if there is no alternative, the disposal in landfills. " Thus, he explained the diplomatic, organic waste in their country have varied and interesting uses: They are turning into compost or energy (through its digestion), the waste from construction and demolition have a second life as new building materials, the metals are removed furnaces steel mills, the tire granulate is used in tiles, the asphalt is used as fuel in cement kilns, the used paper and cardboard is processed to new materials, like plastics and glass, among others, as a result, the Netherlands has high recycling rates (around 80%), power plants based on the highly efficient waste and wide application of economic instruments such as Extended Producer Responsibility.  

The Dutch have made only 2% of its waste become deposited in landfills. According to a recent report by the European Union, the Netherlands is one of the leading countries in Europe in waste management. (ICONTEC, 2015)

ADVANTAGES OF RECYCLING

Aluminum 38% recovery

The recycled aluminum, saving up to 90% of the energy needed to produce it using as raw material the mineral bauxite.

Paper recovery 54%

The recovery of one ton of paper avoids cutting about 17 medium trees. Recycling is achieved using waste paper as raw material. waste paper is shredded, water is added, the different treatment systems are applied, bleached, it is passed through rollers separated, dried and cut.

Tyres 12% recovery

During the recycling process, much of the steel wire containing by electromagnets is isolated, while the textile fiber is removed by suction. Among its applications are the creation of bitumen and asphalt for roads. It also can be used in football fields with artificial turf, sports facilities or playgrounds.

Glass 20% recovery

In the recovery of glass for recycling is necessary remove foreign materials such as metal caps. The mixture of molten glass is poured into molds and, by means of compressed air or pressure, takes shape. In some countries, the glass is used as a substitute aggregate asphalt, concrete and other building materials.

Leftovers 42% recovery

An increasingly popular way of dealing with waste from the gardens, such as leaves and grass, and the remains of food is the preparation of compost (humus) which serves as organic fertilizer or soil to form.

Fabrics Low recovery

Its natural decay time is 6 months to 1 year. The fabrics are ground and used to strengthen the recycled paper products. (Secretaria del Medio Amiente y Desarrollo Rural, 2011)

TAKEN FROM

ICONTEC. (2015). ICONTEC. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de ICONTEC: http://icontec.org/index.php/ho/noticias-destacadas/1418-estrategia-de-residuos-solidos-para-colombia

Secretaria del Medio Amiente y Desarrollo Rural. (Julio de 2011). Alcaldia de Envigado. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Alcaldia de Envigado: http://www.envigado.gov.co/Secretarias/SecretariadeMedioAmbienteyDesarrolloRural/documentos/publicaciones/Guia_residuos.pdf

AIR POLLUTION

According to the analysis conducted in 2005 by the CONPES 3344, 2005, air pollution in the country it was caused mainly by the use of fossil fuels. 41% of all emissions generated in eight cities. The increased emissions of particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) were caused by mobile sources, while total suspended particles (TSP) and sulfur oxides (SOx ) they were generated by stationary sources. CONPES 3344 mentioned that in the country, the pollutant monitored interest, given its proven harmful effects on human health was particulate matter (TSP and PM10) and often the concentrations of this pollutant exceeded environmental standards current regulations. However, particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) pollution that significantly affects the health of people, it was not measured nor required by the Colombian EGISLATION. Conpes clear that the current institutional arrangement was adequate for the development of a decentralized management of prevention and control of air pollution, in the light of regulations and policy guidelines set by the Government. However, since there are huge differences between the environmental authorities in their institutional capacity, strengthening the weakest would be needed to successfully implement policies for air quality condition. It was identified that the environmental authorities had developed regulatory and policy instruments. However, these were built in isolation without obeying explicit guidelines and concluded between entities by environmental and sectoral policy. In turn, sector policies and regulations were designed and undertaken actions that did not include environmental considerations.

It was mentioned that the National Environmental Council, made up of diverse and numerous actors, had not been an effective mechanism to ensure intersectoral coordination when implementing policies. Partly because the discussion and recommendation of sectoral policy initiative of other ministries with impact on air quality management, are outside the jurisdiction of the Council. CONPES 3344 of 2005 showed that often the actions undertaken in the control of air pollution were not assessed due to technical weaknesses and institutionalism of some national and regional institutions the National Environmental System, in particular as regards its ability to collect, manage and analyze the environmental, economic and health information required for this type of evaluation. It was shown that environmental regulations for pollution control was not complete and the existing was outdated because it took account of the new, environmental, demographic, economic and technological realities of the country and its regions.

Conpes identified the need to work on optimizing the network design of air quality, considering the location and the required number of stations, the selection of parameters to be monitored and the type of equipment, among others. Similarly, the need to work in the standardizing processes capture, validation and analysis of information to ensure reliability, comparison and aggregation at the national level. On the other hand, it was identified that the environmental control by environmental authorities was not homogeneous and was done with weakness, among other things, low technical capacity and human resources, information gaps, inadequate regulation and over-reliance on voluntary agreements (clean production agreements). Finally, the need to establish an action plan with coordinated actions identified with the objective of building national policy for the prevention and control of air pollution. The main developments related to the diagnosis of the state of air quality, control and monitoring by environmental authorities and tools to standardize the management of air quality in the country. (Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial, 2010)

Alexander Valencia, consultant to the Ministry of Environment on air quality and pollution control Caracol Planet revealed that thousands of deaths a year caused by elevated levels of contamination that has the country. He added that the high cost of pollution facing Colombia not only leaves human but also economic losses, according to the consultant to the Ministry of Environment the country suffers an annual economic loss of 1.5 billion pesos a year on behalf of work absences due to respiratory diseases acute and hospital expenses in such conditions.

A report revealed Ideam the ranking of the most polluted environments in Colombia, leaving a really alarming, particularly for Bogota panorama, the highest degrees of national pollution found in Tunal, Kennedy and Aranda Bridge neighborhoods. These areas are followed by national central Medellin and the metropolitan area of ​​the Valley of Aburrá and guayabal in Antioquia, Cali in the industrial zone between Cali and Yumbo, Bucaramanga, Nemocón Cundinamarca, Boyaca and Ráquira, places the country exceed international standards of pollution. (CARACOL Radio, 2009)

TAKEN FROM

CARACOL Radio. (17 de Julio de 2009). CARACOL Radio. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de CARACOL Radio: http://caracol.com.co/radio/2009/07/17/ecologia/1247848260_846956.html

Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. (2010). Prevención y control de la contaminacion del aire.

WATER POLLUTION

Although Colombia is the sixth country with the largest water supply in the world, the Ministry of Environment estimated that half of water resources have quality problems. It is estimated that the industry, agriculture and domestic sewage generated 9,000 tons of organic matter pollution of aquifers.

Three mountain ranges, two oceans, deserts, rain forests and strategic location allow the country to have a generous water supply which has long ranked him as the sixth most water in the world. Over the years the ranking has gradually been formed, and now issues such as quality and availability that the public has the resource are analyzed. Under the magnifying glass, Colombia has dropped several notches, to the point that last year was ranked in 24th place.

With annual rainfall average of 1,800 milliliters when the rest of nations on the planet are 900 mililitros- near 720,000 watersheds and about 10 rivers with permanent flow, you might think that there is unlimited water for all. However, the situation is worrying. Deputy Minister of Environment, Carlos Castano said that more than 50% of water resources in Colombia can not be used due to quality problems.

"We are facing a situation that must necessarily amend. Added to this is that the supply of water in Colombia is not available on an equitable basis, "said the senior official.

According to the national report on water management in Colombia, developed with support from the Global Water Partnership and the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA), the sources contributing to the deterioration of the water and the constant increase in pollution in the country they are different, being the agricultural, industrial and domestic sectors primarily responsible, and which together generate about 9,000 tons of organic contaminants.

The document, one of the reports presented at the Second World Water Forum held in 2000 in The Hague, said that the natural environment are downloaded nearly 4,500,000 m3 of domestic and industrial wastewater, and most municipalities do not They have plants for treatment. Level cities of Barranquilla just make use of oxidation ponds before discharge of the water, while the capital, Bogota, has a treatment plant that processes only 20% of what they produce the inhabitants.

According to the National Water Study (2010), which takes place every four years, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), most of the Colombian Andean water system has been altered due to transport of sediments and toxic substances, with a marked industrial corridors located in the basin of the Bogotá-Soacha, Medellin, Itagui, Cali-Yumbo, Sogamoso-Duitama-Nobsa, Barranquilla and Cartagena Soledad Mamonal runners-incidence, which seriously affects the quality of the liquid in the rivers Magdalena, Medellin, Bogota and Cauca. (Beleño, 2011)

According to climate change scenarios that the IDEAM has built, it is considered that by 2050 60% of the moors in Colombia have disappeared. It seems incomprehensible that in a country with numerous water, rich resources in annual rainfall and with five major river watersheds, water scarcity is advisory. In the case of Colombia the most susceptible to disappear effects of climate change (variation in precipitation and temperature) are ecosystems of high mountains, deserts and glaciers. In fact, the main sources of water are located in the Colombian Andes, specifically in the eastern and western ranges, from which most water supply consumed by Colombians, according to César Ruiz, socio-economic coordinator originates Conservation International. Not to mention that Bogotá depends on 80% of the water generated by the Chingaza National Park, while the remaining 20% ​​is produced by the Paramo de Guerrero and Sumapaz Natural Park, which if not given attention, will make future generations are in problems.

The factors by which the sources are drying and are contaminated with multiple origins. "On one hand, there is a historical precedent: the deforestation of the Andean forests that are over 2,000 meters above sea level. The transformation of the moors, which had to cede large tracts of land to expand the agricultural frontier culture of different products, especially potatoes, and the displacement of communities in the upper reaches of the mountain, "said Ruiz. The problem now living in the moors, according to the opinion of the biologist at the University Antonio Nariño, due to poor planning of the territory, the absence of a Land Use Plan and improper land management. The second problem is the contamination. Due to the high number of wastes are dumped by tanneries and industries into rivers, watersheds and lakes, fish are dying. (Castillo, 2011)

TAKEN FROM

Beleño, I. (2011). UN Periódico. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de UN Periódico: http://www.unperiodico.unal.edu.co/dper/article/el-50-del-agua-en-colombia-es-de-mala-calidad.html

Castillo, S. D. (21 de Marzo de 2011). El Espectador. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de El Espectador: http://www.elespectador.com/vivir/el-pais-se-esta-quedando-sin-agua-articulo-258295

OZONE DEPLETION

Colombia - Stratospheric Ozone Depletion - Consumption of Ozone-Depleting Substances - Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) it is 284.8 (ODP Metric Tons) in 2012

Ozone-depleting substances are any substance containing chlorine or bromine that destroys the stratospheric ozone layer. The stratospheric ozone absorbs most of the biologically damaging ultraviolet radiation.  (knoema, 2013)

Colombia - Stratospheric Ozone Depletion - Consumption of all ozone-depleting substances (ODP tonnes) it is 414.8  (ODP tonnes) in 2008 (knoema, 2011)

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TAKEN FROM

knoema. (2011). knoema. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de knoema: http://knoema.com/atlas/Colombia/topics/Environment/Stratospheric-Ozone-Depletion/Consumption-of-ozone-depleting-substances

knoema. (2013). knoema. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de knoema: http://knoema.com/atlas/Colombia/topics/Environment/Stratospheric-Ozone-Depletion/Consumption-of-Hydrochlorofluorocarbons

ENDANGERED SPECIES

In Colombia alone there are over seven-million creatures that are being smuggled, captured and sold to other countries and this Colombian species will include species like marmosets, ocelots, margay, as well as golden lion tamarin, toucans and macaw. Due to this massive degradation there are thousands of species who are in danger of being added to Colombian endangered species. The list of Colombia’s endangered species will include mammals and they are rated according to different classifications, some are critically endangered like the Gorga’s Rice Rat which is widespread in Colombia in the past as well as the Handley’s slender mouse opossum. Other classification of Colombia’s endangered species will include the Colombian Weasel which is placed under the category endangered; other animals like Cotton-top Tamarin, Dry land Mouse Oppossum, and Giant Otter, Giant, Mountain Tapir, Variegated Spider monkey and Pacarana are all included in the list.

For the vulnerable type of animal species the Amazonian manatee is included like the American Manatee, the brown hairy dwarf porcupine, the bush dog, the Central American Tapir, the Choco Broad-nosed bat, the Colombian Woolly monkey, the giant anteater, the ghost bat, the handley’s nectar bat including the lemurine night monkey, the long-haired spider monkey and the Red crested tree rat. These animals are hunted down, caged for zoo presentations, sold illegally to other nations or hunted down by the people in the area.

Stricter laws are being implemented to prevent these animals from vanishing completely. Other species that are at risk like the ornate titi monkey, the red uakari, the spectacled bear, the white-footed tamarin and other animals like the sperm whale have never even been seen in other countries. Each of these animals plays a vital role in the eco-system which is why massive information campaigns are being done not only by the government but non-government organizations who are working closely with environmental concerns. (Interactive Jungle, 2012)

although the tiny hummingbird was discovered only in 2005, in a small and remote region of rainforest in south-western Colombia, it is about to take centre stage in the war on drugs as governments around the globe alert the younger generation to the dangers of cocaine.

Experts fear the bird is one of several hundred species that will become extinct within decades if Colombia's rainforests continue to be razed for the purposes of coca cultivation. Other animals under threat – and that appear in information packs distributed to European schoolchildren – include the harpy eagle, titi monkey, golden poison frog, tapir, spectacled bear and gorgona blue lizard. Colombia, one of the largest environmental hubs in the planet, with a territory of more than 1 million square kilometres, has been warning about the dangers of "ecocide" caused by the country's drug cartels for several years. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, it is home to 50,000 plant species and 18% of the world's bird species. But now it is attempting to make children aware that the threats facing its rainforests are a global issue that will have an impact on climatic stability.

 Cocaine production creates other problems for Colombians. The jungle laboratories used to refine the coca leaf into powder require significant amounts of chemicals that end up dumped into local water sources. Among them are the "dirty dozen", which are highly toxic and resist biodegradation. In conjunction with the Colombian government, the UK is backing "Shared Responsibility", a global campaign to highlight what it says is "the environmental catastrophe caused by illicit crop cultivation felt around the globe". The campaign allows children to play interactive games and learn about how cocaine production is putting the world's rainforests at risk. Costa Posada acknowledged focusing on young children represented a new development in its awareness campaign, but one that could prove highly effective in the long run. "Children are now being taught about environmental awareness and their reaction to this is very strong," he said. "You have kids telling off parents for leaving the lights on or not taking out the recycling. When the time comes to act, adults sometimes don't think, but children do." (Jamie Doward, 2009)

TAKEN FROM

Interactive Jungle. (12 de Septiembre de 2012). Interactive Jungle. Recuperado el 12 de Febrero de 2016, de Interactive Jungle: http://interactivejungle.com/colombias-endangered-species/

Jamie Doward. (2009). Colombia's endangered species at the mercy of jungle drug cartels. The Guardian.