Greetings everyone! Today we are beginning what we hope to be daily, if not several times weekly posts in this blog.
Today I am just going to comment on the topic of medical and dental vacations.
These types of trips are becoming ever more popular as the number of uninsured and under insured people grows in the United States and elsewhere. This is a common question I often get from friends calling me, as well as potential clients.
The truth of the matter is that Costa Rica has first world medical and dental treatments at third world prices!
As an example, a few years back and friend asked me how much it would cost to get a certain amount of dental work done that would cost him about $30,000.00 at home.
Fortunately, I had some of my Tico friends around at the time, and they all agreed that the work he was seeking could be done very well here for only around $5,000.00, which is a considerable savings, I think you would agree!
However, you need to be cautions, as there is at least one well known clinic that not only over charges by local standards, but also does their reconstructive dental work in a very bad way that causes the patient undue discomfort and sometimes even damage. However, they are in business because they take out major advertising on a regular basis in leading English language media.
Unfortunately, making your choice by reading ADVERTISING, can lead you into a lot of trouble. If you are really serious about getting the best treatment for your buck, you need to contact a Costa Rican consultant who can steer you in the right direction.
This is where I can help, as well as providing you guidance in many other fields. I DO NOT receive a commission for this type of referral, and so can assist you in this and other concerns in a fair and honest way. I charge a reasonable retainer for my services, and what you get is unbiased help because I do not have a commission incentive.
If you are interested in consulting with me, go to my online guidebook, "So, Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica?", and fill out a Helpdesk ticket.
Another alternative would be to go to some of the popular online Costa Rica discussion lists for advice. My first comment on that is that "you get what you pay for." And as such, FREE ADVICE MAY NOT TURN OUT TO BE SO "FREE" IN THE END.
The other comment I have on this subject is that you need to remember that these lists are infested with people who have a financial interest in being there. They either earn a commission from their "free advice," are are the business owner themselves shamelessly hawking their wares.
This is why if you are really serious about either your move, or other matters concerning Costa Rica, it is best to HIRE someone to WORK FOR YOU instead of against you. I have an extensive network of reputable contacts here after almost 14 years of living in this country.
It truly makes a difference!
John
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, July 02, 2007
I love you. I'm sorry. I forgive you. Thank you.
For those of you who read your email yesterday to the Real Truth list, you may recall the PEERS message I forwarded, inviting you to listen to an interview with Joe Vitale.
Joe has become pretty famous worldwide, both in his internet marketing work and also his more spiritual work, for which he was featured in the famous "The Secret" film.
But what Joe is working on now is way beyond "The Secret." In fact, it is the next logical step, which is taking personal responsibility for everything that happens around us.
That may seem bizarre, but if you think about it, it will ring true to you. I know it always has for me. We are responsible, ultimately, for what happens in our world around us.
I know this sounds rather bizarre, and if you haven't yet watched or listened to The Secret, you really should before you go on to this next level.
Joe's soon coming book, "Zero Limit" will pick up where his earlier works left off.
In the fascinating interview I listened to yesterday, he tells the story of a Dr. Len, who in the 1960's in Hawaii cured an entire ward of the criminally insane that no one else had been able to cure. He did it by taking the patient's files and saying over and over again over the file the phrases above: "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."
Miraculously all but 2 of the patients were made well, and amazingly, Dr. Len didn't see or treat any of them. These phrases come from ancient practices in the Hawaiian religion, which I am told is the ONLY religion officially banned by the US government. In fact, according to what a native Hawaiian told me years ago, there are certain books which are banned from leaving Hawaii.
This man claimed to be the son of the Big Kohona, and claimed to be his heir. Apparently, his father was the first to travel to Tibet, and compare the ancient knowledge of both places.
His father was able to teleport himself and had other interesting abilities.
If you recall, years ago Texxe Mars wrote a book in which he dealt with the "Warrior Monks" used and trained by the Black Opps boys of the US military to conduct psychic warfare on others. This was way beyond remote viewing, and I have reason to believe that this person of my acquaintance was one of these.
I have had other strange encounters over the years with this strange type of operative, including 2 years where a high level Mason was attempting to recruit me into the upper levels of that order, skipping all of the lower degrees and just stepping off at his high level.
He tempted me with riches, political power, and other perks, but of course my commitment is to God, and he eventually gave up. This is, of course, indirect vindication of who and what I am, but that is not a topic for discussion at this time.
But I digress.
The point is that Joe Vitale has hit upon something quite real, and quite "unthinkable" for most people. It goes beyond what is said in The Secret, and makes it quite clear that, indeed, "we create reality."
In fact, Christ said the same things in the New Testament, except that His listeners were not able to understand it at that time, and it has been covered up by organized religion. But, this same theme is elsewhere in the Bible as well, if you can dare to look.
In the Psalms, it says "Ye are gods."
And Christ said, "The Kingdom of God is within you," but man has mistranslated it to say "among you."
Furthermore, as Herbert Armstrong discovered years ago, it is God's intent and design for us to, in his words, "Become god as God is god."
Yes, it's all over your Bible if you care to look. In fact, this theme is the FOCAL POINT of the Bible because that is the transcendent purpose in all human life.
God has revealed many things to me in addition to this simple truth, but it's a great place to start. I suggest, if you haven't done so already, that you read Mr. Armstrong's landmark book, "The Incredible Human Potential," which is in our Basic Literature section of our website library.
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/library.htm
As I am learning, though, there is more to this story, and we have as yet only begun to scratch the surface. I will be writing and speaking on these important subjects in the near future.
However, one thing that is still absolutely true is that we need to have the CHARACTER to go with the power that will someday soon be ours. And we can learn that character through a study of God's way of life, which is summed up in His law of love.
But one of our first steps along the way, is to transform and cleanse our lives, and we can start with Joe's phrases.
Think carefully about what each of these means:
"I love you." Christ told us to LOVE our enemies and BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU. It might seem crazy to most, but this is the first step upwards, and can have tremendous impact, as Dr. Len learned first hand.
"I'm sorry." It take REAL HUMILITY to say we are sorry and really mean it, even while we may still think we are in the right.
"I forgive you." Christ instructed us to forgive and forgive and forgive. The disciples were perplexed by this. They even asked Him, "If a brother offends me 7 times, shall I still forgive him?" And Christ's answer was, "70 X 7." In other words our ability and power to forgive should be almost INFINITE.
"Thank you." As I have discussed before, many times we have a problem because we lack an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. Today, so many people think they are ENTITLED to this or entitled to that.
And, if you are "entitled" to something, then you often forget to say "thank you."
But saying "thank you" and being truly grateful is one of the first rungs to true success. When we can give honest, sincere, humble THANKS for what we already have, or for what someone else has done for us, then the universe acknowledges that and GIVES US MORE OF THE SAME.
That is one of the fundamental principles of the Bible and of The Secret and other books like "The Science of Getting Rich," etc., etc.
It all has to do with the Law of Attraction, which God set in motion at the begining. And an attitude of gratitude actually attracts MORE of the good into our lives.
We must learn to say "thank you" and be truly grateful for what we have, and then, the universal law of attraction says we can have MORE of it.
And of course, it works the other way around. If we always think about our PROBLEMS, then we will attract more of those problems into our lives.
But of course, the "attitude of gratitude" short circuits this problem, and attracts more abundance into our lives.
I am very thankful that God is opening my eyes on these subjects more and more. As the Apostle Paul so wisely stated, we should think on "whatever things are good, whatever things are pure...." If we do that, then we will attract more of the good into our lives.
Come to think of it, Paul had another word of wisdom that escaped me until just now. He said that whatever state he found himself in, he was "therewith content," and could actually REJOICE in the midst of his adversities.
It seems like Paul knew these truths millenia ago, and only now are we beginning to rediscover them.
Which brings to mind something out of Joe Vitale's story. Joe was not always the wealthy internet marketer and success coach that he is today. At one point in his life, he was flat broke and living out of his car.
Then, he began to discover the Law of Attraction, found things to give thanks for in his dire circumstances, began to think positive instead of negative thoughts, and the rest is history.
As Mr. Armstrong said over and over again, we are to be "teachers in the world tomorrow." He said that teaching is actually the highest calling one can attain to. Especially when we are to teach the right way of life.
But, in order to become teachers THEN, we must be good STUDENTS NOW.
There is no way around it. In order to teach, we must first learn God's way of life ourselves. We can't teach that which we do not know or understand.
So, let's be good students in this life. Let's learn how to be grateful. Let's learn to love. Let's learn to say we are sorry. and let's learn to forgive.
In fact, it might be a good idea to write these phrases down. Memorize them, and inculcate them into your life. And that will be the first step upon the road of learning God's way of GIVE and forsaking this world's evil way of GET.
John
--
--<>-- --<<<+>>>-- --<>--
----> Discover the Secret Mysteries of the Ages!
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/mystery/contents.htm
--<>-- --<<<+>>>-- --<>--
For those of you who read your email yesterday to the Real Truth list, you may recall the PEERS message I forwarded, inviting you to listen to an interview with Joe Vitale.
Joe has become pretty famous worldwide, both in his internet marketing work and also his more spiritual work, for which he was featured in the famous "The Secret" film.
But what Joe is working on now is way beyond "The Secret." In fact, it is the next logical step, which is taking personal responsibility for everything that happens around us.
That may seem bizarre, but if you think about it, it will ring true to you. I know it always has for me. We are responsible, ultimately, for what happens in our world around us.
I know this sounds rather bizarre, and if you haven't yet watched or listened to The Secret, you really should before you go on to this next level.
Joe's soon coming book, "Zero Limit" will pick up where his earlier works left off.
In the fascinating interview I listened to yesterday, he tells the story of a Dr. Len, who in the 1960's in Hawaii cured an entire ward of the criminally insane that no one else had been able to cure. He did it by taking the patient's files and saying over and over again over the file the phrases above: "I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."
Miraculously all but 2 of the patients were made well, and amazingly, Dr. Len didn't see or treat any of them. These phrases come from ancient practices in the Hawaiian religion, which I am told is the ONLY religion officially banned by the US government. In fact, according to what a native Hawaiian told me years ago, there are certain books which are banned from leaving Hawaii.
This man claimed to be the son of the Big Kohona, and claimed to be his heir. Apparently, his father was the first to travel to Tibet, and compare the ancient knowledge of both places.
His father was able to teleport himself and had other interesting abilities.
If you recall, years ago Texxe Mars wrote a book in which he dealt with the "Warrior Monks" used and trained by the Black Opps boys of the US military to conduct psychic warfare on others. This was way beyond remote viewing, and I have reason to believe that this person of my acquaintance was one of these.
I have had other strange encounters over the years with this strange type of operative, including 2 years where a high level Mason was attempting to recruit me into the upper levels of that order, skipping all of the lower degrees and just stepping off at his high level.
He tempted me with riches, political power, and other perks, but of course my commitment is to God, and he eventually gave up. This is, of course, indirect vindication of who and what I am, but that is not a topic for discussion at this time.
But I digress.
The point is that Joe Vitale has hit upon something quite real, and quite "unthinkable" for most people. It goes beyond what is said in The Secret, and makes it quite clear that, indeed, "we create reality."
In fact, Christ said the same things in the New Testament, except that His listeners were not able to understand it at that time, and it has been covered up by organized religion. But, this same theme is elsewhere in the Bible as well, if you can dare to look.
In the Psalms, it says "Ye are gods."
And Christ said, "The Kingdom of God is within you," but man has mistranslated it to say "among you."
Furthermore, as Herbert Armstrong discovered years ago, it is God's intent and design for us to, in his words, "Become god as God is god."
Yes, it's all over your Bible if you care to look. In fact, this theme is the FOCAL POINT of the Bible because that is the transcendent purpose in all human life.
God has revealed many things to me in addition to this simple truth, but it's a great place to start. I suggest, if you haven't done so already, that you read Mr. Armstrong's landmark book, "The Incredible Human Potential," which is in our Basic Literature section of our website library.
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/library.htm
As I am learning, though, there is more to this story, and we have as yet only begun to scratch the surface. I will be writing and speaking on these important subjects in the near future.
However, one thing that is still absolutely true is that we need to have the CHARACTER to go with the power that will someday soon be ours. And we can learn that character through a study of God's way of life, which is summed up in His law of love.
But one of our first steps along the way, is to transform and cleanse our lives, and we can start with Joe's phrases.
Think carefully about what each of these means:
"I love you." Christ told us to LOVE our enemies and BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU. It might seem crazy to most, but this is the first step upwards, and can have tremendous impact, as Dr. Len learned first hand.
"I'm sorry." It take REAL HUMILITY to say we are sorry and really mean it, even while we may still think we are in the right.
"I forgive you." Christ instructed us to forgive and forgive and forgive. The disciples were perplexed by this. They even asked Him, "If a brother offends me 7 times, shall I still forgive him?" And Christ's answer was, "70 X 7." In other words our ability and power to forgive should be almost INFINITE.
"Thank you." As I have discussed before, many times we have a problem because we lack an ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. Today, so many people think they are ENTITLED to this or entitled to that.
And, if you are "entitled" to something, then you often forget to say "thank you."
But saying "thank you" and being truly grateful is one of the first rungs to true success. When we can give honest, sincere, humble THANKS for what we already have, or for what someone else has done for us, then the universe acknowledges that and GIVES US MORE OF THE SAME.
That is one of the fundamental principles of the Bible and of The Secret and other books like "The Science of Getting Rich," etc., etc.
It all has to do with the Law of Attraction, which God set in motion at the begining. And an attitude of gratitude actually attracts MORE of the good into our lives.
We must learn to say "thank you" and be truly grateful for what we have, and then, the universal law of attraction says we can have MORE of it.
And of course, it works the other way around. If we always think about our PROBLEMS, then we will attract more of those problems into our lives.
But of course, the "attitude of gratitude" short circuits this problem, and attracts more abundance into our lives.
I am very thankful that God is opening my eyes on these subjects more and more. As the Apostle Paul so wisely stated, we should think on "whatever things are good, whatever things are pure...." If we do that, then we will attract more of the good into our lives.
Come to think of it, Paul had another word of wisdom that escaped me until just now. He said that whatever state he found himself in, he was "therewith content," and could actually REJOICE in the midst of his adversities.
It seems like Paul knew these truths millenia ago, and only now are we beginning to rediscover them.
Which brings to mind something out of Joe Vitale's story. Joe was not always the wealthy internet marketer and success coach that he is today. At one point in his life, he was flat broke and living out of his car.
Then, he began to discover the Law of Attraction, found things to give thanks for in his dire circumstances, began to think positive instead of negative thoughts, and the rest is history.
As Mr. Armstrong said over and over again, we are to be "teachers in the world tomorrow." He said that teaching is actually the highest calling one can attain to. Especially when we are to teach the right way of life.
But, in order to become teachers THEN, we must be good STUDENTS NOW.
There is no way around it. In order to teach, we must first learn God's way of life ourselves. We can't teach that which we do not know or understand.
So, let's be good students in this life. Let's learn how to be grateful. Let's learn to love. Let's learn to say we are sorry. and let's learn to forgive.
In fact, it might be a good idea to write these phrases down. Memorize them, and inculcate them into your life. And that will be the first step upon the road of learning God's way of GIVE and forsaking this world's evil way of GET.
John
--
--<>-- --<<<+>>>-- --<>--
----> Discover the Secret Mysteries of the Ages!
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/mystery/contents.htm
--<>-- --<<<+>>>-- --<>--
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Just a reminder in case you haven't noticed, that we are offering free classified ads at "So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica?"
Just go to our site and find the appropriate catagory on our classified ads page.
Then, click on the customer service link to submit your ad via email.
We only ask that your ad be no more than about 5 lines.
However, if you mention where you saw this announcement in the email, you can post up to 3 free ads per month while this promotion lasts. Each ad will remain online for a month.
Simply go to: http://www.soyawannamove.com
This free offer is for all text ads only. There will be a small charge to place an image in your ad.
Have fun!
John
Just go to our site and find the appropriate catagory on our classified ads page.
Then, click on the customer service link to submit your ad via email.
We only ask that your ad be no more than about 5 lines.
However, if you mention where you saw this announcement in the email, you can post up to 3 free ads per month while this promotion lasts. Each ad will remain online for a month.
Simply go to: http://www.soyawannamove.com
This free offer is for all text ads only. There will be a small charge to place an image in your ad.
Have fun!
John
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Costa Rica Tip of the Day
Today's tip will cover general information on Costa Rican real estate.
In many areas of Costa Rica right now, there is a real estate boom, and prices are skyrocketing at the Pacific beaches.
If you want to live in a real popular area like Tamarinda or Escazu, you are going to pay top dollar.
However, if you like a more laid back lifestyle, you should pick a less popular area. There are still some Pacific beach towns that aren't nearly so well known, and you can get better prices there.
If you really like a laid back lifestyle, you should try out the beaches on the Caribbean side. There are less tourists and much lower prices.
Likewise, in the Central Valley, you will often find homes at almost half price if you look outside "Gringo Gulch." Sure, you may not be next to TGI Fridays, but the latest I heard their food sucks now anyway.
You can find a TON of information and resources at our free guidebook page, "So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica?"
http://www.soyawannamove.com
Today's tip will cover general information on Costa Rican real estate.
In many areas of Costa Rica right now, there is a real estate boom, and prices are skyrocketing at the Pacific beaches.
If you want to live in a real popular area like Tamarinda or Escazu, you are going to pay top dollar.
However, if you like a more laid back lifestyle, you should pick a less popular area. There are still some Pacific beach towns that aren't nearly so well known, and you can get better prices there.
If you really like a laid back lifestyle, you should try out the beaches on the Caribbean side. There are less tourists and much lower prices.
Likewise, in the Central Valley, you will often find homes at almost half price if you look outside "Gringo Gulch." Sure, you may not be next to TGI Fridays, but the latest I heard their food sucks now anyway.
You can find a TON of information and resources at our free guidebook page, "So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica?"
http://www.soyawannamove.com
Thursday, June 07, 2007
It has been sometime since I wrote an entry, but I promise to be good and enter blog entries on a regular basis from now on, Scout's honor.
If you've been watching the news from here lately, a lot has been happening.
The most onerous thing has been the passage of the new law that discriminates against men, making it a crime to even insult your girlfriend or wife. I personally believe this will be found unconstitutional by the Sala IV, as this discriminates against men and leaves the door open for women to denounce men for insults as a form of revenge. I certainly hope this is the case, because this is a very bad piece of legislation.
At least the rains have been holding steady, replenishing the reservoirs. I have even noticed the water coming out of the tap has been somewhat colder lately, no doubt because of all of the new water added to the reservoirs.
In other news, it was announced yesterday that Costa Rica was, sadly, breaking off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of China. It was a sad day for Taiwan, that's for sure.
It was also announced yesterday that the Banco de Costa Rica [BCR] was delaying the issuance of licenses and passports at its branches until July 1. Then, it will start with 10 branches and eventually expand that to 30 or so by the end of the year.
This should shorten lines at Immigration and the DMV someday. That's sorely needed, because instead of catching up on its workload, immigration is, reportedly now issuing appointments for AUGUST OF 2008 if you can believe it.
When Arias issued the automatic extensions late last year to residency cedulas, the intent was to shorten the waits and lines. Instead, it seems they have gotten further behind. Now, your renewal may be expired before you even get it.
This is an incredible mess, and hopefully the BCR strategy will work, becuase they will ultimately renew residency cedulas there as well. We can contrast this mess with Panama, where, supposedly, it only takes a matter of days to get some of this done instead of years.
But of course, all is not hunky dory in Panama either these days. On May 25 they passed a new law to issue only 30 day instead of 90 day visas to tourists, and it seems they want to start a witch hunt against so called "PT's".
Costa Rica gave up that stupid idea about 2 years ago, but it seems like bureaurats have nothing better to amuse themselves with than interference in people's lives, making them complicated.
Personally, I think people should be free to go wherever they want in the world without hassles, but then that idea isn't so popular with many.
Governments worldwide need to get out of the way ane let people live freely so that we can all enjoy life as much as possible on this planet.
By the way, we are working more on the community project, and we are about to make our debut in YouTube video with a new Costa Rica program. It will be a program filled with news and views and features from Costa Rica. We want this to be a FUN program everyone can enjoy, and it might even contain some entertainment segments.
If you have any program ideas, or would like to showcase your talent or idea, we plan to make this into a regular series. Please go to our So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica page and register your interest by sending us an email to Customer Service.
http://www.soyawannamove.com
We are also gearing up to provide top notch tours of Costa Rica. We will be appealing to some audiences not currently served, such as those on a budget, those who are interested in alternative therapies, organic food, and all of that healthy stuff.
So keep on visiting our page to keep up to date on what's happnin'. We also now have LOTS of classified ads, so give that a look too.
See you next week.
If you've been watching the news from here lately, a lot has been happening.
The most onerous thing has been the passage of the new law that discriminates against men, making it a crime to even insult your girlfriend or wife. I personally believe this will be found unconstitutional by the Sala IV, as this discriminates against men and leaves the door open for women to denounce men for insults as a form of revenge. I certainly hope this is the case, because this is a very bad piece of legislation.
At least the rains have been holding steady, replenishing the reservoirs. I have even noticed the water coming out of the tap has been somewhat colder lately, no doubt because of all of the new water added to the reservoirs.
In other news, it was announced yesterday that Costa Rica was, sadly, breaking off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of China. It was a sad day for Taiwan, that's for sure.
It was also announced yesterday that the Banco de Costa Rica [BCR] was delaying the issuance of licenses and passports at its branches until July 1. Then, it will start with 10 branches and eventually expand that to 30 or so by the end of the year.
This should shorten lines at Immigration and the DMV someday. That's sorely needed, because instead of catching up on its workload, immigration is, reportedly now issuing appointments for AUGUST OF 2008 if you can believe it.
When Arias issued the automatic extensions late last year to residency cedulas, the intent was to shorten the waits and lines. Instead, it seems they have gotten further behind. Now, your renewal may be expired before you even get it.
This is an incredible mess, and hopefully the BCR strategy will work, becuase they will ultimately renew residency cedulas there as well. We can contrast this mess with Panama, where, supposedly, it only takes a matter of days to get some of this done instead of years.
But of course, all is not hunky dory in Panama either these days. On May 25 they passed a new law to issue only 30 day instead of 90 day visas to tourists, and it seems they want to start a witch hunt against so called "PT's".
Costa Rica gave up that stupid idea about 2 years ago, but it seems like bureaurats have nothing better to amuse themselves with than interference in people's lives, making them complicated.
Personally, I think people should be free to go wherever they want in the world without hassles, but then that idea isn't so popular with many.
Governments worldwide need to get out of the way ane let people live freely so that we can all enjoy life as much as possible on this planet.
By the way, we are working more on the community project, and we are about to make our debut in YouTube video with a new Costa Rica program. It will be a program filled with news and views and features from Costa Rica. We want this to be a FUN program everyone can enjoy, and it might even contain some entertainment segments.
If you have any program ideas, or would like to showcase your talent or idea, we plan to make this into a regular series. Please go to our So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica page and register your interest by sending us an email to Customer Service.
http://www.soyawannamove.com
We are also gearing up to provide top notch tours of Costa Rica. We will be appealing to some audiences not currently served, such as those on a budget, those who are interested in alternative therapies, organic food, and all of that healthy stuff.
So keep on visiting our page to keep up to date on what's happnin'. We also now have LOTS of classified ads, so give that a look too.
See you next week.
Friday, May 18, 2007
I was hoping to make more than one entry this week, but it has been quite a week, and not necessarily in a good way.
For those of you who know about current events in Costa Rica, you will know that just a few weeks ago, for about a two week period, we had power rationing with 4 hour + rolling blackouts.
It was the end of the dry season, and some of the reservoirs were at record low levels. Thus, ICE had to conswerve the water in the reservoirs, because they are used both for power generation and for water and they were really low this year, and ICE has been neglected over the past 3 presidential administrations so no new projects were in the works, except the ones that were having environmental issues.
As a side note, Costa Rica really needs to explore geothermal energy. A friend of mine has called CR the "Saudi Arabia of geothermal energy," yet this resource remains mostly untapped.
These projects would cost about the same as the hydroelectric projects and take about as long to build, yet, they would not have the environmental impact of the huydroelectric plants that ICE seems to be fixated on.
In any event, about a week or so it started raining finally, so the rationing was cancelled after about 2 weeks. It certainly felt nice to have things "back to normal."
Well, things went along fine all last week, but then, between the time I went to bed Sunday night at 4 AM and the time I got up on Monday, I discovered that my internet and cable were down -- literally.
I called the cable company first thing Monday, and they promised to send somone out, but no one came. So I called several times on Tuesday, but still no one came, but they promised to come first thing Wed. morning.
When I turned my cel phone on at 7:17 AM or so, I discovered I had a message waiting, and it was from the cable people. When they said they were coming "first thing in the morning," apparantly they had meant it this time.
I called the dispatcher, and she told me they would be out to my house "in 15 minutes."
When they didn't show after half an hour, I began to paic. I then remembered how the cable company originally had my address wrong when I first had it installed, and how the techs barely made it out then.
Now I really was in a panic, thinking maybe my service visit was going to get bumped to the end of the day due to this stupid mistake. So, I called them, and, sure enough, they had given the techs the wrong address AGAIN. They hadn't made the correction from the previous visit.
So I gave them my correct address information again, and they said they would be right over, which they were in about 15-20 mins.
In talking to the techs, I found out that they had, indeed, went on a wild goose chase to the wrong address as I had feared, but, fortunately for me, the company had radioed them the correct address before they moved on to the next customer.
Finally, by 8:30 I had TV and internet again. What a relief. I could now get back to all of my backed up internet work.
The rest of this week has been a game of catch up and errand running. I had to go to the supermarket, the bank, Pricemart, the microbioticas, the post office -- everywhere it seemed. I was out of money, out of food [almost], had to pay the rent and utilities, all in the remaining days of this week.
Today has been the only relatively "normal" day this week, but I still had a ton of email backed up from yesterday since I was out and about most of the day.
Wew, what a week this has been.
And, on top of that came the guilty verdict in the ongoing Villalobos soap opera/trial. That would be too much to go into today, I am not writing a book today, you know.
This has been a very interesting, exciting, and hectic week here in paradise. It certainly helps that I know some Spanish or I would really have been in trouble with the cable company fiasco.
I'm going to try to wind down a little now and enjoy at least some of a weekend.
I will update my blogs again Monday or Tuesday, so until then, Pura Vida.
For those of you who know about current events in Costa Rica, you will know that just a few weeks ago, for about a two week period, we had power rationing with 4 hour + rolling blackouts.
It was the end of the dry season, and some of the reservoirs were at record low levels. Thus, ICE had to conswerve the water in the reservoirs, because they are used both for power generation and for water and they were really low this year, and ICE has been neglected over the past 3 presidential administrations so no new projects were in the works, except the ones that were having environmental issues.
As a side note, Costa Rica really needs to explore geothermal energy. A friend of mine has called CR the "Saudi Arabia of geothermal energy," yet this resource remains mostly untapped.
These projects would cost about the same as the hydroelectric projects and take about as long to build, yet, they would not have the environmental impact of the huydroelectric plants that ICE seems to be fixated on.
In any event, about a week or so it started raining finally, so the rationing was cancelled after about 2 weeks. It certainly felt nice to have things "back to normal."
Well, things went along fine all last week, but then, between the time I went to bed Sunday night at 4 AM and the time I got up on Monday, I discovered that my internet and cable were down -- literally.
I called the cable company first thing Monday, and they promised to send somone out, but no one came. So I called several times on Tuesday, but still no one came, but they promised to come first thing Wed. morning.
When I turned my cel phone on at 7:17 AM or so, I discovered I had a message waiting, and it was from the cable people. When they said they were coming "first thing in the morning," apparantly they had meant it this time.
I called the dispatcher, and she told me they would be out to my house "in 15 minutes."
When they didn't show after half an hour, I began to paic. I then remembered how the cable company originally had my address wrong when I first had it installed, and how the techs barely made it out then.
Now I really was in a panic, thinking maybe my service visit was going to get bumped to the end of the day due to this stupid mistake. So, I called them, and, sure enough, they had given the techs the wrong address AGAIN. They hadn't made the correction from the previous visit.
So I gave them my correct address information again, and they said they would be right over, which they were in about 15-20 mins.
In talking to the techs, I found out that they had, indeed, went on a wild goose chase to the wrong address as I had feared, but, fortunately for me, the company had radioed them the correct address before they moved on to the next customer.
Finally, by 8:30 I had TV and internet again. What a relief. I could now get back to all of my backed up internet work.
The rest of this week has been a game of catch up and errand running. I had to go to the supermarket, the bank, Pricemart, the microbioticas, the post office -- everywhere it seemed. I was out of money, out of food [almost], had to pay the rent and utilities, all in the remaining days of this week.
Today has been the only relatively "normal" day this week, but I still had a ton of email backed up from yesterday since I was out and about most of the day.
Wew, what a week this has been.
And, on top of that came the guilty verdict in the ongoing Villalobos soap opera/trial. That would be too much to go into today, I am not writing a book today, you know.
This has been a very interesting, exciting, and hectic week here in paradise. It certainly helps that I know some Spanish or I would really have been in trouble with the cable company fiasco.
I'm going to try to wind down a little now and enjoy at least some of a weekend.
I will update my blogs again Monday or Tuesday, so until then, Pura Vida.
Friday, May 11, 2007
May 11, 2007
Welcome to my new, revised blog.
From now on, I will be making posts to this blog several times a week, and daily if necessary. I am going to have a new focus for this blog. It will contain news and views as before, but also personal life stories and chronicles.
I have lived here for 12 years, and it recently occurred to me that what I take for granted every day might be news to you. So I am going to try to have a more chatty, personal dialogue, as if I am writing each of you a personal letter, which in a way I am.
Well, the power outage crisis seems to be over for now. The lights have been on now for a full week without interruptions, and the government is at least putting a band aide on the problem. I certainly hope they will look at the best long range solution, which is to harness the abundant geothermal energy this country has, but so far I have heard nothing about that.
Instead, ICE still seems to be stuck on the idea of hydroelectric, which is better than burning fossil fuels, for sure, but it damages the environment by flooding vast tracts of land, and when it is extremely dry, especially at the end of the rainy season as happened this year, the reservoirs can be very low indeed.
Geothermal energy doesn't have these pitfalls, and with all the volcanoes around, it is a natural source of all the energy this country could need, if ICE and the government would only think ahead and move into the future instead of dwelling on the past.
Anyway, enough about that. Other than that, this week has brought with it the same helping of bad news you see everywhere else in the world. It's quite a shame, really, that news doesn't dwell more on the positive instead of on the negative, but "that's showbiz." They have to have those sensational headlines and film clips to get readers and listeners.
Like that story from earlier this week about that drunken couple who rammed two cars in an Escazu plaza, after getting totally plastered in a bar in the plaza. They were having such a good time that they even shared the juice with their dog, and got it drunk.
Then, they stumbled out of the bar and got in their car, where they promptly started to move towards having sex in the car in broad daylight.
When the security guard saw it, he stopped them. The couple decided to leave with the woman driving, and she promptly rammed 2 cars in her drunken attempt to get out of the parking space.
The security guard told her to stop and wait for police, but she didn't comply, so he had to shoot out her tires.
Finally, police arrived to assess the damage and issue tickets.
I guess that's the news story that sticks out most in my mind this week, that and the fact that the TSE has finally decided that it will hold the referendum on CAFTA on Sept. 23.
I guess that's about all the news that stands out in my mind this week. Next week I will be making more entries, so I suppose more will stick out.
By the way, we are at a good point in the revision of our online guidebook, "So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica" right now. All pages have content now, and there is a lot of useful stuff there, but you need to check back often, as there are lots of things that need updating. In fact, unlike a print guidebook, this one will never be finnished and will always be fresh.
We have LOTS of useful resources you won't want to miss, so go on over there if you haven't already.
The url is: http://www.soyawannamove.com
Well, I'm done for today. As Walter Cronkite used to say, "That's the way it is, Friday, May 11, 2007."
See ya next week.
John
Welcome to my new, revised blog.
From now on, I will be making posts to this blog several times a week, and daily if necessary. I am going to have a new focus for this blog. It will contain news and views as before, but also personal life stories and chronicles.
I have lived here for 12 years, and it recently occurred to me that what I take for granted every day might be news to you. So I am going to try to have a more chatty, personal dialogue, as if I am writing each of you a personal letter, which in a way I am.
Well, the power outage crisis seems to be over for now. The lights have been on now for a full week without interruptions, and the government is at least putting a band aide on the problem. I certainly hope they will look at the best long range solution, which is to harness the abundant geothermal energy this country has, but so far I have heard nothing about that.
Instead, ICE still seems to be stuck on the idea of hydroelectric, which is better than burning fossil fuels, for sure, but it damages the environment by flooding vast tracts of land, and when it is extremely dry, especially at the end of the rainy season as happened this year, the reservoirs can be very low indeed.
Geothermal energy doesn't have these pitfalls, and with all the volcanoes around, it is a natural source of all the energy this country could need, if ICE and the government would only think ahead and move into the future instead of dwelling on the past.
Anyway, enough about that. Other than that, this week has brought with it the same helping of bad news you see everywhere else in the world. It's quite a shame, really, that news doesn't dwell more on the positive instead of on the negative, but "that's showbiz." They have to have those sensational headlines and film clips to get readers and listeners.
Like that story from earlier this week about that drunken couple who rammed two cars in an Escazu plaza, after getting totally plastered in a bar in the plaza. They were having such a good time that they even shared the juice with their dog, and got it drunk.
Then, they stumbled out of the bar and got in their car, where they promptly started to move towards having sex in the car in broad daylight.
When the security guard saw it, he stopped them. The couple decided to leave with the woman driving, and she promptly rammed 2 cars in her drunken attempt to get out of the parking space.
The security guard told her to stop and wait for police, but she didn't comply, so he had to shoot out her tires.
Finally, police arrived to assess the damage and issue tickets.
I guess that's the news story that sticks out most in my mind this week, that and the fact that the TSE has finally decided that it will hold the referendum on CAFTA on Sept. 23.
I guess that's about all the news that stands out in my mind this week. Next week I will be making more entries, so I suppose more will stick out.
By the way, we are at a good point in the revision of our online guidebook, "So Ya Wanna Move to Costa Rica" right now. All pages have content now, and there is a lot of useful stuff there, but you need to check back often, as there are lots of things that need updating. In fact, unlike a print guidebook, this one will never be finnished and will always be fresh.
We have LOTS of useful resources you won't want to miss, so go on over there if you haven't already.
The url is: http://www.soyawannamove.com
Well, I'm done for today. As Walter Cronkite used to say, "That's the way it is, Friday, May 11, 2007."
See ya next week.
John
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Costa Rica's Libertarian movement is drawing
international attention! WAY TO GO!
http://www.bestsyndication.com/2005/A-H/DAVIS-Mike/090205-costa-rico-libertarians.htm
Controlling 1Libertarians becoming more Popular in
Costa Rica controlling 10% of Congress
September 2nd 2005
Libertarians becoming much more Popular in Costa Rica
Controlling 10% of Congress
Costa Rica
San Juan, Costa Rica—Imagine a US Congress with 10%
Libertarians. The latest news is how they’ve cut
taxes, stamped out incipient terrorism while squashing
proposals to military action, and are moving to fight
corruption in immigration that no one talked about for
years in the other parties. The country’s prestige is
at a new high. New Hampshire has announced it’s
studying legislation to enable governmentless
Libertarian communities because they’re good for
tourism. And even non-Libertarians say they’re doing a
good job, offering intriguing less-government
alternatives and keeping other parties on their toes.
Why, just like Costa Rica, people say.
Oh, and most of the Libertarian leaders are Black or
belong to other minorities.
Compare this to today, where the Libertarians in North
Carolina struggle to keep their party recognized under
that state’s draconian ballot laws. It’s easy to
speculate why the other parties are attempting to
marginalize them.
The major parties may not want another Costa Rica
Libertarian Movement, or Movimiento Libertario
(http://www.libertario.org/en/index.htm ). In that
country, Libertarians have 10% of the legislature, are
moving to more local positions, and are treated as
business as usual. But it may just be a matter of
time.
Libertarians advocate voluntary solutions and
individual rights, and support more tolerance, more
free enterprise and ever-diminishing government. Costa
Rica certainly has a few less government attitudes
that would seem like hopeless idealism to many people
in the US.. It has no military hence no military coups
or budget to worry about, yet plays a strong role in
international affairs through active diplomacy. People
can get many drugs without a prescription after
consultation with their pharmacist. Immigrants are
welcomed with open arms with a system encouraging
economic self-sufficiency that is a marvel of
simplicity compared to US regulations. It has
proportional voting and few ballot requirements,
making it far more democratic in engaging different
political than the US.
While Libertarians in the US wage what looks like a
complex chess game rolling back election laws often
specifically designed to keep them out, Libertarianism
has taken off in the tolerant “Central American
Switzerland” like El Cid riding to the rescue.
Libertarians there control 10 % of the Congress,
occupy influential positions, and over 70% of the
country thinks they’re doing a good job according to
newspaper surveys. When a Libertarian international
group met there some years back, the country’s
President made the welcome speech.
Any political party could probably learn from the
Costa Rican Libertarians, who admit they started off
by learning from the US Libertarian’s mistakes and
less well known but impressive successes.
CLASSICAL ANARCHISTS WITH GANNT CHARTS
Libertarianism, which says people would benefit with
an array of alternatives ranging from devolution to
local government and classical anarchist communities,
is looked at as something of a tough sell in politics.
It has no ready-made constituency except everyone’s
interest in their own individual rights, and in many
ways is more a political technology. So the growth is
all the more fascinating as until a few years ago,
there was only a small Libertarian study group in the
country. Local Libertarians contacted Libertarian
groups such as the International Society for
Individual Liberty and the Libertarian International
Organization (LIO) to get ideas. “We had just finished
a best practices study and basically gave them two
lists,” said Ralph Swanson, and LIO Board member. “We
said do simple boring cheap stuff on list A and don’t
do the tempting glitzy expensive stuff on list B. We
basically had found that US Libertarian groups that
focused on education on uncompromising application of
Libertarian principle and door-to-door legwork and
coalition activism did well, while those that
attempted to dilute their message and imitate the
campaign styles of the Republicans and Democrats shot
themselves in the foot. Next thing we knew they were
doing great, and when we checked up they said, ‘Well,
we followed list A.’ ”
Otto Guevara Guth, a former Costa Rican Congressman
who leads the Costa Rican group, put it more bluntly.
”When I first heard about Libertarianism, I said what
in the world is this? Are these people nuts? Like most
people I assumed that if government wasn’t making
people do it, then it wasn’t being done, and so you
had to accept a lot of regulation. Then here are
Libertarians saying government is actually the
problem, and we should just handle everything by
private groups with just one rule: respect individual
rights. As I saw the possibilities and saw that this
stuff worked, I realized we had a chance for a
movement able to think long term but have plenty of
immediate projects to get public support.”
List A had some unusual conclusions, reflected in the
Movimiento’s approach. It suggested things such as
dividing adherents into speaker, political and other
personality types; developing a radical no-government
message with detailed transition items; and outreach
through personal networks. Training was emphasized,
and a good part of the Costa Rican site deals in
philosophy. Yet as they crusade to dismantle the
government and replace its programs with voluntary
groups and alternatives, they also put a GANNT style
progress chart and emphasize baby-step approaches, and
trumpet the slightest success. They even set a
standard for news stories, patiently following up so
soon they were news resources, then the news, all
instead of ‘reacting to the news’ said Guevara Guth in
a talk with to US Libertarians.
“We expect a new story per 1 million population daily,
and if we’re not being treated fairly we get on the
phone,” he said.” However, by now we’re constant news.
Journalists say, ‘I wonder what the Libertarians are
doing now?’ Because that’s what their readers are
wondering.”
To judge by GOOGLE search results, the Movimiento is
certainly doing media wonders. Enter US Libertarian
Party and you only get 3340 results—somewhat
misleading, as Democrats get 18,000 and the LP is
basically local in the US so dynamic affiliates, such
as Pinellas, Florida, get about 10,000. Yet the
Movimiento turns in over 11.000—astonishing interest
in comparison to even the major US parties. Indeed
there’s such an array of articles, discussions, policy
papers, and fan sites, one might wonder if it’s a
party or a national tourist attraction.
Yet some of the press is wary. The Economist magazine
attracted derision when it did an article touching on
the Movimiento’s effect while failing to mention it
was Libertarian.
OPPOSITION
All of this reflects the aggressive, and ‘integrative’
Costa Rican attitude and a ‘Libertarian management’
approach. While US Libertarians hand out a ten point
political quiz, Costa Ricans have a 40 point one they
use to qualify people and immediately address issues
of agreement and training. They made branding
decisions in an afternoon, with attractive red polo
shirts for adherents and a seagull motif so as ‘not to
be confused with’ anyone. All projects are self-run
and self-funding, and they rely heavily on ‘bottom-up’
action, with supporters constantly handing out
literature to taxi drivers, waiters, and other casual
contacts.
They also made a decision to treat any defeat as an
opportunity and make lemon of lemonade, encouraged by
pep-talks and lengthy e-mails from their international
mentors. As the government realized they were
expanding under Costa Rica’s proportional
representation system, it imposed requirements that
political parties have 5 adherents in almost every
neighborhood, a burden seemingly well beyond a
struggling new group, and at first they thought the
end had come.
In due course, however, they agreed with their mentors
that they were being forced to do what they should do
anyway: get out and organize non-Libertarians around
local issues. At the same time, they were aided by a
government regulation that threatened to put small
lottery sellers out of business, which they exploited
immediately since in Costa Rica, many people sell a
few lottery tickets.
They didn’t look back, and are known for relentlessly
looking at world events from the point of vew of how
people can benefit from their Libertarian ideas. ‘They
simply refuse to react or have a position on other
people’s issues. They promptly turn it all around so
it’s their issue with a specific action proposal in a
very short period of time,” said a local observer.
When 9-11 came and other US State Libertarian parties
agonized over how to best express Libertarian
solutions on foreign policy, the Costa Ricans turned
it into a tax-cut issue, and successfully demanded
the government take no ‘hysterical actions’ that would
damage tourism or raise spending. They also have come
out in favor of the Central American free trade
treaty, unlike their US counterpart, but with far more
detailed line by line criticism—they feel it has
hidden and unfair regulations—so that they’re
controlling discussion and, observers say, are forcing
other parties to react to them.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
The Costa Ricans have also used local cultural
differences, or sometimes a difference of perspective,
to address issues that tax their US counterparts.
While the US has had a national goal of abolishing its
military for years under a little known law, Costa
Rica simply did it long ago, and so Libertarians
warning against military adventures have a ready
audience there.
There was actually an experiment in the 1800’s in
Libertarian communes in Limon province, so when
Libertarians there proposed eventual creation of a
Libertarian non-governmental community on classical
anarchist lines as one option, people hailed it as
restoring lost roots and a potential revenue-building
attraction.
They also used different terminology. They call
privatizations democratizations to better include the
idea of co-operatives. They decided to call their
party a movement—Movimiento Libertario—to express that
they didn’t see their main mission as merely getting
elected but creating a new ‘cultural group’ dedicated
to freedom and rights.
They’ve also found that, as US Libertarians are
discovering, little details argue philosophy. It’s all
very well to call for limited government and
responsive public services, but when Guevara Guth was
elected to Congress and announced he was carrying a
cell phone and would provide quick answers to
constituent’s questions, he created a sensation,
especially in the laid back Latin culture. Opponents
became apoplectic at the Libertarian reputation for
quick service to constituents, and as donations poured
in hinted darkly that the Movimiento was getting money
from the Mafia in New York, or worse, Sweden.
Perhaps their biggest management difference from most
of the US LP is a structure of welcoming general
supporters as members while having a certification
process to develop ‘militant’ Libertarian leaders.
While the US national party technically has the same
policy, under the influence of former Republicans it
tended in the last ten years to emphasize membership
and short-term politics while having no educational or
training program in place, though it has been moving
to change. However, some states parties, such as
Florida and New Hampshire, have farm team methods that
have served them well, being more like Costa Rica,
with both a more radical Libertarian message and more
Libertarians in government positions or as opinion
leaders.
Yet again and again the cultural differences are
intriguing. In the US Libertarianism polls more
favorably with African-Americans and Hispanics than
other cultural groups, but while they’ve done a good
job engaging Hispanics, and Blacks make a large number
of Libertarian registrations—more proportionally than
Greens or Democrats in many areas—bringing them into
the leadership has been haphazard. The Costa Ricans
have no such problems, pointing to international
economist Dr. Rigoberto Stewart, a Black and one of
their founders.
And in the US, while it’s a plus to emphasize a woman
in gender neutral activities, it’s rarely so with men.
Indeed, in some states a man might be investigated for
domestic abuse for arguing with his wife over domestic
affairs or ‘taking too great an interest’ in his
children by, for example, challenging doctor’s
decisions during childbirth. Sometimes taking their
cue from academics who maintain fathers are
irrelevant, US Courts in custody cases have only
recently begun to challenge professionals and accept
that fathers are more than financial contributors to
their children’s welfare. In much of Latin America,
by contrast, a father is expected to take such intense
interest in his children as might, to many in the US
from a Germanic background, seem at best exotic. When
he ran for election, Guevara Guth made a point of
letting people know he was directly involved in his
children’s daily routine, with the implication of
being the ideal Latin father who would examine
government affairs with equal zeal.
ECONOMY COUNTS
All this is important for a small party that can’t
waste effort—and the US Libertarian party is quietly
recognized as far better organized than its opponents,
getting widening influence despite it’s small formal
numbers--Costa Rica has focused on these issues from
the beginning. This has created two startling
statistics: many Costa Ricans vote Libertarian, and if
the US were doing like the Costa Rican Movimiento,
the US party would have proportionally almost 500,000
members—politically impressive when one realizes these
are not passive registered members but active
supporters. ”Economy counts, “ said Guevara Guth in an
earlier interview.
Nonetheless, Costa Rican Libertarians say they have
plenty to learn still, like good Libertarians, and are
always trolling for new ideas. “You have to be careful
generalizing about the American Libertarians, or for
that matter, Americans. Mnay of our people think they
get too self-critical, and simply don’t blow their own
horn enough,” said Mario Vedova, a Movimiento leader,
while on tour in the US. “Yet it’s really a vast
laboratory of 50 parties, and there’s no doubt from
abroad that US Libertarians are making a difference,
and you learn a lot from them. In fact, our co-founder
was once the chair of the Florida LP.”
What’s next? After some debate the Movimiento is
experimenting with running ‘less than 100% Libertarian
candidates’ as long as they advocate and carry out
Libertarian solutions, hoping to ‘bring them along.’
While some worry this may lead to the Movimiento being
seized by conservatives and ‘do-nothing pragmatists’
given to being overly impressed with political
consultants, they point to a tab on ‘philosophy’ at
their website and the division of labor of having
separate non-partisan think tank and activism-outreach
groups there.
The work of the non-political groups is in some ways
even more impressive. Libertarian think tank INLAP
(http://www.inlap.org/) , which proposed the
think-piece Libertarian province proposal now carried
on by a separate group, CELIDE
(http://www.celide.org/), has several initiatives,
and the new outreach Instituto Libertario
(http://www.institutolibertario.org/index.html ) has
in the last few months done seminars at major colleges
and schools across the country, with students checking
out it’s ‘cool website graphics,’ they say, and
links. There’s even a Libertarian consumer union
(http://www.consumidoreslibres.org ) fighting
government utility monopolies they feel raise prices.
Meanwhile, even as members discuss expanding and
cloning Movimiento Libertario parties up and down
Central America, they caution that effective politics
is a matter of repetition. The website shows they
focus on yeoman work: a radio station is up, an
attractive GIF has yet another attack on tax policies,
and an invitation to join the Libertarian youth group
is prominent. They boast of hard-fought legislation
that has cut campaign financing, and urge viewers to
join a new less taxes initiative.
“The biggest mistake the Costa Rican Libertarians can
make is what many businesses and political groups
do—get cocky and change what’s working, “ said
Swanson. “People are listening because they’ve been
listening as well. Real change takes time, and it’s
very encouraging their getting give- and-take from
young people. It’s a matter of consistent effort, a
matter of time. That’s politics.”
By Mike Davis and S. S. Palacheck
International Researchers and Journalists
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international attention! WAY TO GO!
http://www.bestsyndication.com/2005/A-H/DAVIS-Mike/090205-costa-rico-libertarians.htm
Controlling 1Libertarians becoming more Popular in
Costa Rica controlling 10% of Congress
September 2nd 2005
Libertarians becoming much more Popular in Costa Rica
Controlling 10% of Congress
Costa Rica
San Juan, Costa Rica—Imagine a US Congress with 10%
Libertarians. The latest news is how they’ve cut
taxes, stamped out incipient terrorism while squashing
proposals to military action, and are moving to fight
corruption in immigration that no one talked about for
years in the other parties. The country’s prestige is
at a new high. New Hampshire has announced it’s
studying legislation to enable governmentless
Libertarian communities because they’re good for
tourism. And even non-Libertarians say they’re doing a
good job, offering intriguing less-government
alternatives and keeping other parties on their toes.
Why, just like Costa Rica, people say.
Oh, and most of the Libertarian leaders are Black or
belong to other minorities.
Compare this to today, where the Libertarians in North
Carolina struggle to keep their party recognized under
that state’s draconian ballot laws. It’s easy to
speculate why the other parties are attempting to
marginalize them.
The major parties may not want another Costa Rica
Libertarian Movement, or Movimiento Libertario
(http://www.libertario.org/en/index.htm ). In that
country, Libertarians have 10% of the legislature, are
moving to more local positions, and are treated as
business as usual. But it may just be a matter of
time.
Libertarians advocate voluntary solutions and
individual rights, and support more tolerance, more
free enterprise and ever-diminishing government. Costa
Rica certainly has a few less government attitudes
that would seem like hopeless idealism to many people
in the US.. It has no military hence no military coups
or budget to worry about, yet plays a strong role in
international affairs through active diplomacy. People
can get many drugs without a prescription after
consultation with their pharmacist. Immigrants are
welcomed with open arms with a system encouraging
economic self-sufficiency that is a marvel of
simplicity compared to US regulations. It has
proportional voting and few ballot requirements,
making it far more democratic in engaging different
political than the US.
While Libertarians in the US wage what looks like a
complex chess game rolling back election laws often
specifically designed to keep them out, Libertarianism
has taken off in the tolerant “Central American
Switzerland” like El Cid riding to the rescue.
Libertarians there control 10 % of the Congress,
occupy influential positions, and over 70% of the
country thinks they’re doing a good job according to
newspaper surveys. When a Libertarian international
group met there some years back, the country’s
President made the welcome speech.
Any political party could probably learn from the
Costa Rican Libertarians, who admit they started off
by learning from the US Libertarian’s mistakes and
less well known but impressive successes.
CLASSICAL ANARCHISTS WITH GANNT CHARTS
Libertarianism, which says people would benefit with
an array of alternatives ranging from devolution to
local government and classical anarchist communities,
is looked at as something of a tough sell in politics.
It has no ready-made constituency except everyone’s
interest in their own individual rights, and in many
ways is more a political technology. So the growth is
all the more fascinating as until a few years ago,
there was only a small Libertarian study group in the
country. Local Libertarians contacted Libertarian
groups such as the International Society for
Individual Liberty and the Libertarian International
Organization (LIO) to get ideas. “We had just finished
a best practices study and basically gave them two
lists,” said Ralph Swanson, and LIO Board member. “We
said do simple boring cheap stuff on list A and don’t
do the tempting glitzy expensive stuff on list B. We
basically had found that US Libertarian groups that
focused on education on uncompromising application of
Libertarian principle and door-to-door legwork and
coalition activism did well, while those that
attempted to dilute their message and imitate the
campaign styles of the Republicans and Democrats shot
themselves in the foot. Next thing we knew they were
doing great, and when we checked up they said, ‘Well,
we followed list A.’ ”
Otto Guevara Guth, a former Costa Rican Congressman
who leads the Costa Rican group, put it more bluntly.
”When I first heard about Libertarianism, I said what
in the world is this? Are these people nuts? Like most
people I assumed that if government wasn’t making
people do it, then it wasn’t being done, and so you
had to accept a lot of regulation. Then here are
Libertarians saying government is actually the
problem, and we should just handle everything by
private groups with just one rule: respect individual
rights. As I saw the possibilities and saw that this
stuff worked, I realized we had a chance for a
movement able to think long term but have plenty of
immediate projects to get public support.”
List A had some unusual conclusions, reflected in the
Movimiento’s approach. It suggested things such as
dividing adherents into speaker, political and other
personality types; developing a radical no-government
message with detailed transition items; and outreach
through personal networks. Training was emphasized,
and a good part of the Costa Rican site deals in
philosophy. Yet as they crusade to dismantle the
government and replace its programs with voluntary
groups and alternatives, they also put a GANNT style
progress chart and emphasize baby-step approaches, and
trumpet the slightest success. They even set a
standard for news stories, patiently following up so
soon they were news resources, then the news, all
instead of ‘reacting to the news’ said Guevara Guth in
a talk with to US Libertarians.
“We expect a new story per 1 million population daily,
and if we’re not being treated fairly we get on the
phone,” he said.” However, by now we’re constant news.
Journalists say, ‘I wonder what the Libertarians are
doing now?’ Because that’s what their readers are
wondering.”
To judge by GOOGLE search results, the Movimiento is
certainly doing media wonders. Enter US Libertarian
Party and you only get 3340 results—somewhat
misleading, as Democrats get 18,000 and the LP is
basically local in the US so dynamic affiliates, such
as Pinellas, Florida, get about 10,000. Yet the
Movimiento turns in over 11.000—astonishing interest
in comparison to even the major US parties. Indeed
there’s such an array of articles, discussions, policy
papers, and fan sites, one might wonder if it’s a
party or a national tourist attraction.
Yet some of the press is wary. The Economist magazine
attracted derision when it did an article touching on
the Movimiento’s effect while failing to mention it
was Libertarian.
OPPOSITION
All of this reflects the aggressive, and ‘integrative’
Costa Rican attitude and a ‘Libertarian management’
approach. While US Libertarians hand out a ten point
political quiz, Costa Ricans have a 40 point one they
use to qualify people and immediately address issues
of agreement and training. They made branding
decisions in an afternoon, with attractive red polo
shirts for adherents and a seagull motif so as ‘not to
be confused with’ anyone. All projects are self-run
and self-funding, and they rely heavily on ‘bottom-up’
action, with supporters constantly handing out
literature to taxi drivers, waiters, and other casual
contacts.
They also made a decision to treat any defeat as an
opportunity and make lemon of lemonade, encouraged by
pep-talks and lengthy e-mails from their international
mentors. As the government realized they were
expanding under Costa Rica’s proportional
representation system, it imposed requirements that
political parties have 5 adherents in almost every
neighborhood, a burden seemingly well beyond a
struggling new group, and at first they thought the
end had come.
In due course, however, they agreed with their mentors
that they were being forced to do what they should do
anyway: get out and organize non-Libertarians around
local issues. At the same time, they were aided by a
government regulation that threatened to put small
lottery sellers out of business, which they exploited
immediately since in Costa Rica, many people sell a
few lottery tickets.
They didn’t look back, and are known for relentlessly
looking at world events from the point of vew of how
people can benefit from their Libertarian ideas. ‘They
simply refuse to react or have a position on other
people’s issues. They promptly turn it all around so
it’s their issue with a specific action proposal in a
very short period of time,” said a local observer.
When 9-11 came and other US State Libertarian parties
agonized over how to best express Libertarian
solutions on foreign policy, the Costa Ricans turned
it into a tax-cut issue, and successfully demanded
the government take no ‘hysterical actions’ that would
damage tourism or raise spending. They also have come
out in favor of the Central American free trade
treaty, unlike their US counterpart, but with far more
detailed line by line criticism—they feel it has
hidden and unfair regulations—so that they’re
controlling discussion and, observers say, are forcing
other parties to react to them.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
The Costa Ricans have also used local cultural
differences, or sometimes a difference of perspective,
to address issues that tax their US counterparts.
While the US has had a national goal of abolishing its
military for years under a little known law, Costa
Rica simply did it long ago, and so Libertarians
warning against military adventures have a ready
audience there.
There was actually an experiment in the 1800’s in
Libertarian communes in Limon province, so when
Libertarians there proposed eventual creation of a
Libertarian non-governmental community on classical
anarchist lines as one option, people hailed it as
restoring lost roots and a potential revenue-building
attraction.
They also used different terminology. They call
privatizations democratizations to better include the
idea of co-operatives. They decided to call their
party a movement—Movimiento Libertario—to express that
they didn’t see their main mission as merely getting
elected but creating a new ‘cultural group’ dedicated
to freedom and rights.
They’ve also found that, as US Libertarians are
discovering, little details argue philosophy. It’s all
very well to call for limited government and
responsive public services, but when Guevara Guth was
elected to Congress and announced he was carrying a
cell phone and would provide quick answers to
constituent’s questions, he created a sensation,
especially in the laid back Latin culture. Opponents
became apoplectic at the Libertarian reputation for
quick service to constituents, and as donations poured
in hinted darkly that the Movimiento was getting money
from the Mafia in New York, or worse, Sweden.
Perhaps their biggest management difference from most
of the US LP is a structure of welcoming general
supporters as members while having a certification
process to develop ‘militant’ Libertarian leaders.
While the US national party technically has the same
policy, under the influence of former Republicans it
tended in the last ten years to emphasize membership
and short-term politics while having no educational or
training program in place, though it has been moving
to change. However, some states parties, such as
Florida and New Hampshire, have farm team methods that
have served them well, being more like Costa Rica,
with both a more radical Libertarian message and more
Libertarians in government positions or as opinion
leaders.
Yet again and again the cultural differences are
intriguing. In the US Libertarianism polls more
favorably with African-Americans and Hispanics than
other cultural groups, but while they’ve done a good
job engaging Hispanics, and Blacks make a large number
of Libertarian registrations—more proportionally than
Greens or Democrats in many areas—bringing them into
the leadership has been haphazard. The Costa Ricans
have no such problems, pointing to international
economist Dr. Rigoberto Stewart, a Black and one of
their founders.
And in the US, while it’s a plus to emphasize a woman
in gender neutral activities, it’s rarely so with men.
Indeed, in some states a man might be investigated for
domestic abuse for arguing with his wife over domestic
affairs or ‘taking too great an interest’ in his
children by, for example, challenging doctor’s
decisions during childbirth. Sometimes taking their
cue from academics who maintain fathers are
irrelevant, US Courts in custody cases have only
recently begun to challenge professionals and accept
that fathers are more than financial contributors to
their children’s welfare. In much of Latin America,
by contrast, a father is expected to take such intense
interest in his children as might, to many in the US
from a Germanic background, seem at best exotic. When
he ran for election, Guevara Guth made a point of
letting people know he was directly involved in his
children’s daily routine, with the implication of
being the ideal Latin father who would examine
government affairs with equal zeal.
ECONOMY COUNTS
All this is important for a small party that can’t
waste effort—and the US Libertarian party is quietly
recognized as far better organized than its opponents,
getting widening influence despite it’s small formal
numbers--Costa Rica has focused on these issues from
the beginning. This has created two startling
statistics: many Costa Ricans vote Libertarian, and if
the US were doing like the Costa Rican Movimiento,
the US party would have proportionally almost 500,000
members—politically impressive when one realizes these
are not passive registered members but active
supporters. ”Economy counts, “ said Guevara Guth in an
earlier interview.
Nonetheless, Costa Rican Libertarians say they have
plenty to learn still, like good Libertarians, and are
always trolling for new ideas. “You have to be careful
generalizing about the American Libertarians, or for
that matter, Americans. Mnay of our people think they
get too self-critical, and simply don’t blow their own
horn enough,” said Mario Vedova, a Movimiento leader,
while on tour in the US. “Yet it’s really a vast
laboratory of 50 parties, and there’s no doubt from
abroad that US Libertarians are making a difference,
and you learn a lot from them. In fact, our co-founder
was once the chair of the Florida LP.”
What’s next? After some debate the Movimiento is
experimenting with running ‘less than 100% Libertarian
candidates’ as long as they advocate and carry out
Libertarian solutions, hoping to ‘bring them along.’
While some worry this may lead to the Movimiento being
seized by conservatives and ‘do-nothing pragmatists’
given to being overly impressed with political
consultants, they point to a tab on ‘philosophy’ at
their website and the division of labor of having
separate non-partisan think tank and activism-outreach
groups there.
The work of the non-political groups is in some ways
even more impressive. Libertarian think tank INLAP
(http://www.inlap.org/) , which proposed the
think-piece Libertarian province proposal now carried
on by a separate group, CELIDE
(http://www.celide.org/), has several initiatives,
and the new outreach Instituto Libertario
(http://www.institutolibertario.org/index.html ) has
in the last few months done seminars at major colleges
and schools across the country, with students checking
out it’s ‘cool website graphics,’ they say, and
links. There’s even a Libertarian consumer union
(http://www.consumidoreslibres.org ) fighting
government utility monopolies they feel raise prices.
Meanwhile, even as members discuss expanding and
cloning Movimiento Libertario parties up and down
Central America, they caution that effective politics
is a matter of repetition. The website shows they
focus on yeoman work: a radio station is up, an
attractive GIF has yet another attack on tax policies,
and an invitation to join the Libertarian youth group
is prominent. They boast of hard-fought legislation
that has cut campaign financing, and urge viewers to
join a new less taxes initiative.
“The biggest mistake the Costa Rican Libertarians can
make is what many businesses and political groups
do—get cocky and change what’s working, “ said
Swanson. “People are listening because they’ve been
listening as well. Real change takes time, and it’s
very encouraging their getting give- and-take from
young people. It’s a matter of consistent effort, a
matter of time. That’s politics.”
By Mike Davis and S. S. Palacheck
International Researchers and Journalists
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Monday, August 08, 2005
President Pacheco Urges Congress to Approve Tax Plan
"Hunger will be waiting us. We cannot continue to lose opportunities like the present to resolve for once and for all our problems that have caused, as Monseñor Barrantes pointed out, to exist in Costa Rica several social and economic realities", said president Abel Pacheco on national television, making one more call to Legislative Deputies to approvel the Plan Fiscal (tax reforms).
The president made reference to the homage expressed by the Archbishop of San José on August 2 at the Basilica de los Angeles in Cartago, saying that there are three Costa Ricas - the rich, the poor and the real poor.
"As as a Catholic, I listen and pay attention to the words of my pastor... I will continue to fight against poverty and inequality...", Pacheco said.
President Pacheco urged the legislative deputies to approve the Reforma Fiscal Estructural, which will permit the future administrations to count with financial resources which have been denied his government, all which will be required to combat poverty.
The President added that the words of the Monseñor should move the consciense of the deputies, who have in their hands the responsibility and the constitutional power to make the decisions to close the social gaps in Costa Rica.
President Pacheco reminded his audience that in the year 2000, the Legislative Assembly, approved a contingency plan that would last into 2003, with the promise that in 2004 the new Plan Fiscal would come into effect. However, that has not been the case.
President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, added that the international prices of crude oil and the ensuing high gasoline prices have greatly affected the cost of living in Costa Rica and that the approval of the Tax Plan is imperative.
COMMENT: Like all other socialist idiots, he doesn't understand economic reality at all. When governments RAISE TAXES they LOSE REVENUE! And for such a small country as this, the VAT would be a total disaster! It would send foreign corporations and ex pats fleeing for the exits so fast, they might even leave before Pacheco's term expires! Not only that, but his stupid connection of the global price of oil is a total non sequiter, and has nothing at all to do with his imbecilic tax plans. Furthermore, hidden away in this nefarious piece of excrement is a provision that would repeal Costa Rica's bank secrecy laws, which will mean even more capital flight. Far from doing this country any good, this plan foisted on Costa Rica by the ilk at the IMF would utterly bankrupt this entire country. What this country needs is to cut spending to the bone and live within its means -- something this government has NEVER been able to do!
Pacheco May Water Down Costa Rican Tax Package
It has emerged that President Abel Pacheco is prepared to water down one of the more contentious aspects of the long-delayed fiscal reform package in order move the legislation through Costa Rica's legislature.
Under the tax plan, Costa Rica's taxpayers will be required to pay tax on income earned worldwide, whereas under the current territorial system only income earned within the country's borders is taxed.
However, Pacheco met with legislative leaders last Thursday when it was decided that foreign income would only be taxed if it was remitted back to Costa Rica.
First proposed in 2002, the fiscal reform package intends to raise some $500 million in additional revenues, pay off the country’s growing foreign debt, and reduce the deficit to 2.65% of GDP through a series of tax hikes and improved collection methods. However, it has remained bogged down in the legislative assembly ever since despite attempts by government supporters to force through the reforms.
COMMENT: This piece of trash doesn't need watered down -- it needs to be FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! This "plan" will quickly bankrupt this country.
Notables Report Due Today
The first report of the Comisión de Notables who is studying the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) with the United States is due today.
President Abel Pacheco is set to meet with the leader and voice of the Notables, Franklin Chang Diaz.
The comisión is made up of several key Costa Ricans who will make a full report within 60 days to the government.
Along with Chang, former UCR director Gabriel Macaya, scientist Rodrigo Gámez, Catholic priest Guido Villalta, and lawyer Alvar Antillón will be making the recommendations.
Chang said last Friday that the TLC - approved or not - is sparking debate over the changes necessary in Costa Rica. "I believe that perhaps this will help us develop a little more, to fix our ship that has suffered damage over time".
130.000 Waiting for Cellular Service
Claudio Bermúdez, subdirector of telecommunications at the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, says that the waiting list for cellular telephone service tops 130.000.
Bermúdez said that ICE hopes to satisfy the demand beginning the end of October of this year when the first 200.000 of the 600.000 cellular lines of the new GSM service will be made available.
At present there are no TDMA or GSM cellular lines available.
To get connected to the cellular network - one the lines are available - a subscriber will be required to post a deposit of ¢12.500 colones (us$25.75) and have a receipt for the telephone equipment and copy of a utility bill and a copy of their 'cedula'.
Foreigners and visitors to Costa Rica who do not have a residency cedula cannot subscribe to cellular service.
US Interference in Nicaragua Must Cease, Say Opposition Groups
Nicaraguan opposition deputy Agustin Jarquin demanded the cessation of continuous US interference in Nicaraguan domestic affairs.
Jarquin, a member of the National Convergence, a collection of groups allied with the Sandinista National Liberation Front, told Prensa Latina that US governments and officials "interfere and complicate Nicaraguans´ search for understanding."
He pointed out that intervention by US special envoys and the US Embassy in Managua is "illegal and inappropriate, violates law and sovereignty and creates a lot of complication."
He stated that instead of looking for solutions to the political crisis, they try to weaken the strength of the Front and the National Convergence by provoking confrontation, they create polarization to generate tension, and they complicate matters when Nicaraguan groups sit down to talk things out.
He said that the Nicaraguan government blindly obeys the orders of the White House without looking at the serious problems of the population, which are the product of its own neo-liberal strategy.
Jarquin said in the 19 years of mandate of those "democratic presidents", social differences widened, and most of the country's capital is concentrated in a minority while more than 70 percent live in poverty.
"In spite of the "dirty campaigns of disinformation" against the FSLN, the population feels defrauded because the rulers did not satisfy their needs, instead they intensified them," Jarquin noted.
¿The local elections in November 2004 showed this, as the National Convergence won 87 of 152 mayor offices, including Managua," he added.
"The Nicaraguan people accept our project against poverty, and for equality and social justice, and the Sandinista Front is ready to listen to all suggestions and proposals to improve the quality of life," he stressed.
He concluded that each day brings them closer to victory for the 2006 elections, with social projects to benefit all people, without exclusion.
Venezuela to suspend cooperation with DEA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chaves on Sunday suspended its cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing the agency of using its agents for espionage.
Chavez said at a press conference, "we have been detecting intelligence work against Venezuelan government carried out by the DEA."
"Under these circumstances, we decided to shut down these agreements. ... The US DEA is not essential to the fight in Venezuela against drug-trafficking. We will keep working with international organizations against drugs," he said.
Venezuela is an major hub of smuggling routes for cocaine and heroin from Colombia to Europe and the United States. The US and Venezuela had agreed until recently to work together in the fight against the drug smuggling industry. However, foreign security officials say the two countries' relationship has been strained by mistrust and corruption.
Political relations with the US government have become more and more tense since President Chavez came to power in 1999. He ended joint military operations and exchanges with the United States and rdered US military instructors out of the country on April 22.
The DEA suspension adds further tension to Venezuela's already tenuous relations with the United States.
Atlantis proponent
next forum speaker
The lost island of Atlantis may have been here in Costa Rica according to author and professor Ivar Zapp. Zapp is the next scheduled speaker in the monthly speaker's forum at Big Mike's Place in Escazú. His speech is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
The one-hour talk is called “Traces of an Unknown Civilization." In 1940, workers in southwest Costa Rica were clearing land for the United Fruit Co. when they stumbled upon stone spheres as large as nine feet in diameter buried in the earth. According to Zapp, the spheres were used by the Huetar Indians for navigation. Zapp said that the spheres prove that the skill of the Huetar in finding such out of the way places as Easter Island and the Falkland Islands was on the same level as that of the ancient Polynesians.
His speech will be about the process that lead to his book “Atlantis in America.” Zapp came to Costa Rica 33 years ago as an artist. He was invited by the University of Costa Rica to give a lecture on art. Afterwards, he said, officials invited him to be a professor. He said that he had had an interest in the spheres and often included them in his paintings. So when the University offered him the chance, he decided to find out what purpose the spheres served. His speech will be about that research, he said. He is convinced that not only were the spheres used for directional astronomy but also that the spot in southwest Costa Rica where they were found is Plato's lost island of Atlantis.
Entrance is 1,000 colons, a bit more than $2. Guests are invited to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to sample the snack bar and refreshments. For more information call 289-6333, 821-4708 or Mike at 289-6087.
"Hunger will be waiting us. We cannot continue to lose opportunities like the present to resolve for once and for all our problems that have caused, as Monseñor Barrantes pointed out, to exist in Costa Rica several social and economic realities", said president Abel Pacheco on national television, making one more call to Legislative Deputies to approvel the Plan Fiscal (tax reforms).
The president made reference to the homage expressed by the Archbishop of San José on August 2 at the Basilica de los Angeles in Cartago, saying that there are three Costa Ricas - the rich, the poor and the real poor.
"As as a Catholic, I listen and pay attention to the words of my pastor... I will continue to fight against poverty and inequality...", Pacheco said.
President Pacheco urged the legislative deputies to approve the Reforma Fiscal Estructural, which will permit the future administrations to count with financial resources which have been denied his government, all which will be required to combat poverty.
The President added that the words of the Monseñor should move the consciense of the deputies, who have in their hands the responsibility and the constitutional power to make the decisions to close the social gaps in Costa Rica.
President Pacheco reminded his audience that in the year 2000, the Legislative Assembly, approved a contingency plan that would last into 2003, with the promise that in 2004 the new Plan Fiscal would come into effect. However, that has not been the case.
President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, added that the international prices of crude oil and the ensuing high gasoline prices have greatly affected the cost of living in Costa Rica and that the approval of the Tax Plan is imperative.
COMMENT: Like all other socialist idiots, he doesn't understand economic reality at all. When governments RAISE TAXES they LOSE REVENUE! And for such a small country as this, the VAT would be a total disaster! It would send foreign corporations and ex pats fleeing for the exits so fast, they might even leave before Pacheco's term expires! Not only that, but his stupid connection of the global price of oil is a total non sequiter, and has nothing at all to do with his imbecilic tax plans. Furthermore, hidden away in this nefarious piece of excrement is a provision that would repeal Costa Rica's bank secrecy laws, which will mean even more capital flight. Far from doing this country any good, this plan foisted on Costa Rica by the ilk at the IMF would utterly bankrupt this entire country. What this country needs is to cut spending to the bone and live within its means -- something this government has NEVER been able to do!
Pacheco May Water Down Costa Rican Tax Package
It has emerged that President Abel Pacheco is prepared to water down one of the more contentious aspects of the long-delayed fiscal reform package in order move the legislation through Costa Rica's legislature.
Under the tax plan, Costa Rica's taxpayers will be required to pay tax on income earned worldwide, whereas under the current territorial system only income earned within the country's borders is taxed.
However, Pacheco met with legislative leaders last Thursday when it was decided that foreign income would only be taxed if it was remitted back to Costa Rica.
First proposed in 2002, the fiscal reform package intends to raise some $500 million in additional revenues, pay off the country’s growing foreign debt, and reduce the deficit to 2.65% of GDP through a series of tax hikes and improved collection methods. However, it has remained bogged down in the legislative assembly ever since despite attempts by government supporters to force through the reforms.
COMMENT: This piece of trash doesn't need watered down -- it needs to be FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET! This "plan" will quickly bankrupt this country.
Notables Report Due Today
The first report of the Comisión de Notables who is studying the Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) with the United States is due today.
President Abel Pacheco is set to meet with the leader and voice of the Notables, Franklin Chang Diaz.
The comisión is made up of several key Costa Ricans who will make a full report within 60 days to the government.
Along with Chang, former UCR director Gabriel Macaya, scientist Rodrigo Gámez, Catholic priest Guido Villalta, and lawyer Alvar Antillón will be making the recommendations.
Chang said last Friday that the TLC - approved or not - is sparking debate over the changes necessary in Costa Rica. "I believe that perhaps this will help us develop a little more, to fix our ship that has suffered damage over time".
130.000 Waiting for Cellular Service
Claudio Bermúdez, subdirector of telecommunications at the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, says that the waiting list for cellular telephone service tops 130.000.
Bermúdez said that ICE hopes to satisfy the demand beginning the end of October of this year when the first 200.000 of the 600.000 cellular lines of the new GSM service will be made available.
At present there are no TDMA or GSM cellular lines available.
To get connected to the cellular network - one the lines are available - a subscriber will be required to post a deposit of ¢12.500 colones (us$25.75) and have a receipt for the telephone equipment and copy of a utility bill and a copy of their 'cedula'.
Foreigners and visitors to Costa Rica who do not have a residency cedula cannot subscribe to cellular service.
US Interference in Nicaragua Must Cease, Say Opposition Groups
Nicaraguan opposition deputy Agustin Jarquin demanded the cessation of continuous US interference in Nicaraguan domestic affairs.
Jarquin, a member of the National Convergence, a collection of groups allied with the Sandinista National Liberation Front, told Prensa Latina that US governments and officials "interfere and complicate Nicaraguans´ search for understanding."
He pointed out that intervention by US special envoys and the US Embassy in Managua is "illegal and inappropriate, violates law and sovereignty and creates a lot of complication."
He stated that instead of looking for solutions to the political crisis, they try to weaken the strength of the Front and the National Convergence by provoking confrontation, they create polarization to generate tension, and they complicate matters when Nicaraguan groups sit down to talk things out.
He said that the Nicaraguan government blindly obeys the orders of the White House without looking at the serious problems of the population, which are the product of its own neo-liberal strategy.
Jarquin said in the 19 years of mandate of those "democratic presidents", social differences widened, and most of the country's capital is concentrated in a minority while more than 70 percent live in poverty.
"In spite of the "dirty campaigns of disinformation" against the FSLN, the population feels defrauded because the rulers did not satisfy their needs, instead they intensified them," Jarquin noted.
¿The local elections in November 2004 showed this, as the National Convergence won 87 of 152 mayor offices, including Managua," he added.
"The Nicaraguan people accept our project against poverty, and for equality and social justice, and the Sandinista Front is ready to listen to all suggestions and proposals to improve the quality of life," he stressed.
He concluded that each day brings them closer to victory for the 2006 elections, with social projects to benefit all people, without exclusion.
Venezuela to suspend cooperation with DEA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chaves on Sunday suspended its cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing the agency of using its agents for espionage.
Chavez said at a press conference, "we have been detecting intelligence work against Venezuelan government carried out by the DEA."
"Under these circumstances, we decided to shut down these agreements. ... The US DEA is not essential to the fight in Venezuela against drug-trafficking. We will keep working with international organizations against drugs," he said.
Venezuela is an major hub of smuggling routes for cocaine and heroin from Colombia to Europe and the United States. The US and Venezuela had agreed until recently to work together in the fight against the drug smuggling industry. However, foreign security officials say the two countries' relationship has been strained by mistrust and corruption.
Political relations with the US government have become more and more tense since President Chavez came to power in 1999. He ended joint military operations and exchanges with the United States and rdered US military instructors out of the country on April 22.
The DEA suspension adds further tension to Venezuela's already tenuous relations with the United States.
Atlantis proponent
next forum speaker
The lost island of Atlantis may have been here in Costa Rica according to author and professor Ivar Zapp. Zapp is the next scheduled speaker in the monthly speaker's forum at Big Mike's Place in Escazú. His speech is scheduled for Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
The one-hour talk is called “Traces of an Unknown Civilization." In 1940, workers in southwest Costa Rica were clearing land for the United Fruit Co. when they stumbled upon stone spheres as large as nine feet in diameter buried in the earth. According to Zapp, the spheres were used by the Huetar Indians for navigation. Zapp said that the spheres prove that the skill of the Huetar in finding such out of the way places as Easter Island and the Falkland Islands was on the same level as that of the ancient Polynesians.
His speech will be about the process that lead to his book “Atlantis in America.” Zapp came to Costa Rica 33 years ago as an artist. He was invited by the University of Costa Rica to give a lecture on art. Afterwards, he said, officials invited him to be a professor. He said that he had had an interest in the spheres and often included them in his paintings. So when the University offered him the chance, he decided to find out what purpose the spheres served. His speech will be about that research, he said. He is convinced that not only were the spheres used for directional astronomy but also that the spot in southwest Costa Rica where they were found is Plato's lost island of Atlantis.
Entrance is 1,000 colons, a bit more than $2. Guests are invited to arrive at 6:30 p.m. to sample the snack bar and refreshments. For more information call 289-6333, 821-4708 or Mike at 289-6087.
Monday, June 20, 2005
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>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
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*Thousands of Illegals Live in Fear of New Immigration Law
Many foreigners, especially Nicaraguans who come to Costa Rica looking for a
better opportunity, are living the fear that soon, very soon, the Policía de
Migración - immigration police - will visit their place of work in search of
illegals.
The immigration department estimates some 500.000 foreigners in Costa of
which 1/3 are believed to be in the country illegally.
The fear is real as the new Ley de Migración was approved in the first round
of debate on June 7 and is expected to be pass on the second round.
Legislative Deputies are concerned about the constitutionality of the new law
and thus have asked the Constitutional Court to comment before second debate
begins.
The new law would give the immigration department the authority to visit
places of employment and ask for documentation. The new law would also make
it illegal for anyone to traffick in illegals, including giving employment or
harbouring illegals.
Article 63 of the new immigration law states that anyone entering the country
in an illegal manner cannot apply for legal status or be allowed to remain
illegally, meaning they will be deported if detected.
Marco Badilla, immigration director, admits that it is not clear what will
happen to all the illegals now in the country. Their future will be
determined as the law evolves and is put into practice.
Badilla added that there exists the possibility that the government may make
some exceptions, like the amnesty program for Nicaraguans some years back,
however, his department is not in agreement.
Critics say that the government is not taking into account the economic
contribution this group (illegals) make, providing menial labour that Costa
Ricans don't want to do, like domestic work and in construction.
Nicaraguans mainly provide the coffee industry with a temporary labour force,
such that the Instituto del Café de Costa Rica (Icafé) began last year a
hotline for coffee producers to post their labour requirements which is
mainly filled by foreigners coming to Costa Rica illegally.
In addition, during the last crop season, the government passed a regulation
that makes the movement of foreign labour (Nicaraguans) much easier and
without many restrictions. Nicaraguans who depend on the Costa Rican coffee
crop can now move with much more freedom, providing the coffee industry with
a vital source of labour.
Badilla defends his position assuring that the new law is only to form a base
for immigration policies and not a persecution.
By the numbers
According to immigration data for the year 2004
Number of visitors refused entry: 46.552
Number of persons deported: 1.031
Number of refugees living in Costa Rica: 11.000
Number of foreigners in Costa Rican jails: 903
Number of foreign students: 45.900
Number of persons entering Costa Rica: 1.838.188
Number of persons leaving Costa Rica: 1.801.839
*Immigration In Action!
The Fuerza Pública assisting the Policía Especial de Migración (immigration
police) descended on various beach communities in an operation to detect and
detain illegals in Costa Rica.
In Jacó beach, the operation included visits to bars, cantinas and various
nightspots.
The operation began around 11pm and ran until 5am along with the support of
the Policía de Transito who operates several roadblocks in the area,
including Esparsa (east of Puntarenas) and Orotina.
Transit officials checked cars going in and out of the area, while the Fuerza
Publica assisted immigration officers in the various clubs and discos.
In total, officials say they interviewed 400 people of which 84 were
foreigners visiting the popular beach town. Of those 27 were found to have
irregular migratory status.
Of the 27, 19 were Nicaraguans, 5 Colombians, 2 Argentines and one American.
*Improved Economic Outlook
The international risk assessment agency Standard & Poor's improved its
economic outlook for Costa Rica.
The agency upgraded from "negative" to "stable" the ability of the Government
of Costa Rica to honor its external debts.
This is the outcome of what the agency deems an improvement in the fiscal
management during the last year, the likelihood of improved revenues, and a
lower public deficit, mainly.
However, Standard & Poor's does not omit that Costa Rica remains subject to
risks such as an elevated use of dollar in every day transactions and the
regulation of the banking sector.
The Minister of Finance Federico Carrillo and the president of the Central
Bank Francisco Gutierrez stated satisfaction at the news.
Carrillo pointed out that if the fiscal reform that the Government is
promoting is finally approved by the Legislative Assembly, it will be
possible to continue the capitalization of the Central Bank, therefore
lowering inflation, a step to modify the exchange rate, one of the incentives
for the use of the dollar instead of the local currency.
Gutierrez pointed out that the news is excellent, since it will eventually
enable the country to lower the interest rates, acting upon the perception of
lower external risk.
*Heredia Festival This Week
Music, theatre, dance, closes, puppets, acrobats, artist and artisans are all
on hand for the Festival Nacional de Las Artes in Heredia.
All week, different activities are being planned in different places and
times so that everyone can enjoy the festivities.
The Festival is geared to all ages and background and promises to entertain.
Each night at 9:30 there will be a free live concert at the Parque de
Heredia.
*"Godfather of Costa Rican poker players" competes in the World Series of
Poker
Humberto Brenes, the godfather of Costa Rican poker, member of the "Costa
Rica Connection" and one of professional poker's most beloved players is
taking on the world's best in The World Series of Poker (WSOP), the largest
poker tournament in the world.
es.sportsbook.com, the Spanish edition of the largest sportsbook on the
planet is currently offering odds on Brenes and all of the top professional
and celebrity players in the tournament.
Brenes sits currently at 1250-1 odds, with favorites Daniel Negreanu and Phil
Ivey both at 300-1. Hollywood stars such as Ben Affleck (2500-1) and Ed
Norton (7500-1), both very accomplished players on the celebrity tour, are
considered long shots for the title according to es.sportsbook.com fans.
Brenes learned how to play poker from his father at age 7 and began playing
poker tournaments a decade ago after a successful career playing baccarat and
craps tournaments throughout the Bahamas.
Brenes, who maintains homes in Costa Rica and Miami Lakes, Florida, runs a
number of successful businesses in Costa Rica including a construction
company. Brenes has won two world poker championships.
Poker is now one of North America's largest pastimes - both online and
face-to-face - and continues to grow in popularity as more tournaments are
created. The WSOP Championship Event takes place July 7 to 15 at the Rio All
Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
"We expect that Humberto will be a huge draw for Latin fans, adding to an
already gigantic audience for this event," said Tony Delgado, Marketing
Director es.sportsbook.com.
"Poker lovers who don't have a seat at the table have plenty of opportunity
on es.sportsbook.com to get involved with wagers on their favorite players."
* China, Costa Rica Draw 2-2
China and Costa Rica drew 2-2 in the first of two "friendlies" to be played
in China.
Sunday's game was China's first international match on home turf since the
national team was reorganized this year under new manager Zhu Guanghu.
China scored first through midfielder Zhang Yaokun in the 28th minute.
Costa Rica made it 1-1 12 minutes into the second half with a header from
Mauricio Solis, who had been set up by teammate Brian Ruiz. Costa Rica then
took the lead with a free-kick by Ronald Gomez in the 75th minute.
Chinese defender Sun Xiang made it 2-2 with a shot in the 80th minute.
A second friendly is scheduled to be played in the southern city of Guangzhou
on Wednesday.
China is struggling to recover after its elimination from the World Cup in
qualifying rounds last November.
Zhu was appointed in March and is the first Chinese manager to lead the team
in a decade.
*OAS chief warns of crisis in Nicaragua after failed mission
The newly elected chief of the Organization of American States (OAS) warned
of a crisis in Nicaragua Sunday at the end of his four-day political
mediation mission in the Central American country.
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, who was last month elected to the
post, said he had "genuine reasons for concern, although society continues to
function."
Warning of "a profound political division" which could develop into a crisis,
he appealed to Nicaraguan politicians to make concessions to avoid it.
"It is necessary to make concessions," Insulza stressed, vowing to continue
the mediation.
The former Chilean interior minister has tried unsuccessfully to bridge
differences between Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños and the opposition
parties over constitutional reforms, which Bolaños sees as steps to cripple
his powers.
The OAS chief, who arrived in Managua Wednesday, reportedly proposed that
Bolaños accept a more powerful legislature in exchange for peace with the two
parties -- the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front and the
right-wing Constitutional Liberal Party.
Bolaños, who has repeatedly sought OAS help to ease a crisis, rejected the
offer which he views as against the "basic democratic principles."
The president instead proposed Saturday that a national referendum be held
during the next general election in 2006 on the forms recently approved by
the opposition-led Congress, according to presidential aide Ernesto Leal.
The referendum option has been sent to the two parties, said Leal.
"What I can say is that it is important to listen to the voice of people," he
told reporters after a meeting between Insulza and Bolaños.
The political discord erupted late last year when the National Assembly
revised the constitution, stipulating that Congress has the final say over
the appointment of Cabinet members and ambassadors accredited to foreign
countries. The powers are traditionally held by the president.
Bolaños and his government have rejected the reforms, citing a ruling by the
Central American Court of Justice which deemed Nicaragua's constitutional
reforms inapplicable, saying they limit the power of the executive branch in
appointing ministers and diplomats.
The tension escalated last week when Congress designated new directors in the
public services sector like telecommunications to replace those named by
Bolaños.
In response, the president ordered police to block the designees from taking
office.
*MERCOSUR Summit Opens in Paraguay
The MERCOSUR Summit opens Monday in Asunción, Paraguay, to debate an array of
regional issues, in particular how to strengthen integration and the
inclusion of Venezuela as a full member.
The 28th plenary meeting of the Southern Common Market, top MERCOSUR
political body, finalized on Sunday the agenda for the Summit of Heads of
States.
On Saturday, MERCOSUR foreign ministers looked into the agenda the presidents
will debate, whose main issue is the signing of the Structural Converge Fund
to fight poverty, which had been approved in the Brazilian city of Ouro Preto
in 2004.
They will also sign a letter of rights for MERCOSUR citizens to develop
education and solve infrastructure problems, as well as create a network of
gas and electric pipelines linking South American nations.
With this summit, Paraguay will hand over the pro tempore presidency to
Uruguay, which during the next six months will boost social integration under
the slogan "We are MERCOSUR."
Besides Paraguay´s President Nicanor Duarte and Uruguay´s Tabare Vazquez, the
high level meeting will be attended by Chile´s Head of State Ricardo Lagos,
Ecuador´s Alfredo Palacio, Colombia´s Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela´s Hugo
Chavez.
Venezuela will complete in Asunción all the requirements to join MERCOSUR as
full member by signing the Protocol of Ushuaia, in effect since 1998, and the
Presidential Statement on Democratic Commitment.
*Venezuelan Military Confirms Plot to Assassinate Hugo Chavez
Venezuelan officers confirmed Sunday the existence of a plot to assassinate
President Hugo Chavez, that´s why the site of the parade for the anniversary
of the Battle of Carabobo on June 24 has been changed.
Defense minister, General in Chief Jorge Luis García Carneiro, and Army
Commander, Division General Raul Baduel, told media that the evidence
recommended not to expose Chavez to unnecessary danger.
This time, the annual parade will not be staged in the traditional site of
the decisive battle for national independence, but at the military compound
of Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas, probably with the presence of the head of State.
Div. Gral. Baduel stressed that so far President Chavez has underlined his
desire to preside over the parade.
He told mass media the event on Army´s Day will have the participation of the
Army´s Air Command and a representation of land units.
Venezuelan authorities have ruled the involvement of active military in the
assassination plot, which is attributed to individuals residing abroad,
mainly ex military linked to the failed coup of 2002 and internal opposition
groups.
For his part, Defense Minister García Carneiro said Chavez will attend public
celebration for Independence Day next July 5th, though under strict security
measures.
He added that the president will not ride on a convertible car as it was
scheduled in the parade for the occasion and his presence in the main
platform will be short.
"We´ll step up measures because he risks too much and fears nothing. We have
to hold him up," the high ranking officer pointed out.
García Carneiro explained that "worrying reports" combine with the US
government´s recent failure at the Organization of American States and
augmented accusations against Venezuela to reinforce the likelihood of an
assassination plot.
* South Summit Rejects US Blockade of Cuba
The Group of 77 plus China expressed strong rejection of the US blockade
against Cuba in the meeting´s final declaration approved Thursday, Granma
daily highlights Friday.
The final text also pronounced for respect of the UN Charter´s principles, in
defense of multilateralism and against terrorism.
At the end of the meeting, the leaders of the Group, plus China, agreed
higher efforts must be made to revive and improve collaboration among
developing nations, as those links complement South-North relations.
Meanwhile, meeting participants noted the role of South-South cooperation in
a multilateral context is seen as a continuous, vital process for developing
countries to face emerging challenges.
*Embassy red-lines Centro El Pueblo
The U.S. Embassy has ruled the Centro Comercial El Pueblo to be off -limits
to its employees because of a wild shooting incident that killed a guard.
The embassy passed its decision along to the public via its Web site.
The Centro Comercial El Pueblo is located in Barrio Tournon in the north
central part of San José and is a popular nightspot with a handful of bars
that offer dancing. The center also is where a number of souvenir stores are
located.
The shooting took place about 3:30 a.m. June 10. Two groups of individuals
were ordered out of the center because they had been fighting. One man pulled
a machine pistol from his vehicle and sprayed the buildings. The dead man was
Ricardo Richard Campbell, 44, who worked for a private firm. He was killed as
he hustled customers in the Ebony 56 bar to safety.
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*News Digest
=========================================
SO, YA WANNA MOVE TO COSTA RICA?
=========================================
Announcing Costa Rica's FIRST online, multimedia,
always up to date, and FREE retirement and tourism
guide! See us at:
---->http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm
OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER:
*Real Estate, mortgages [both lenders and borrowers needed,
Buyer's brokerage, Businesses for sale and opportunities,
all at: http://www.cr-realestate.com
*Insurance, Gold & Silver Exchange, e-commerce solutions,
innovative shipping solutions, and much more:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/business.htm
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Please send your discussion topics to our Costa
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answer from us, or another helpful member of
the group, and really important issues will be
included in this digest!
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*Thousands of Illegals Live in Fear of New Immigration Law
Many foreigners, especially Nicaraguans who come to Costa Rica looking for a
better opportunity, are living the fear that soon, very soon, the Policía de
Migración - immigration police - will visit their place of work in search of
illegals.
The immigration department estimates some 500.000 foreigners in Costa of
which 1/3 are believed to be in the country illegally.
The fear is real as the new Ley de Migración was approved in the first round
of debate on June 7 and is expected to be pass on the second round.
Legislative Deputies are concerned about the constitutionality of the new law
and thus have asked the Constitutional Court to comment before second debate
begins.
The new law would give the immigration department the authority to visit
places of employment and ask for documentation. The new law would also make
it illegal for anyone to traffick in illegals, including giving employment or
harbouring illegals.
Article 63 of the new immigration law states that anyone entering the country
in an illegal manner cannot apply for legal status or be allowed to remain
illegally, meaning they will be deported if detected.
Marco Badilla, immigration director, admits that it is not clear what will
happen to all the illegals now in the country. Their future will be
determined as the law evolves and is put into practice.
Badilla added that there exists the possibility that the government may make
some exceptions, like the amnesty program for Nicaraguans some years back,
however, his department is not in agreement.
Critics say that the government is not taking into account the economic
contribution this group (illegals) make, providing menial labour that Costa
Ricans don't want to do, like domestic work and in construction.
Nicaraguans mainly provide the coffee industry with a temporary labour force,
such that the Instituto del Café de Costa Rica (Icafé) began last year a
hotline for coffee producers to post their labour requirements which is
mainly filled by foreigners coming to Costa Rica illegally.
In addition, during the last crop season, the government passed a regulation
that makes the movement of foreign labour (Nicaraguans) much easier and
without many restrictions. Nicaraguans who depend on the Costa Rican coffee
crop can now move with much more freedom, providing the coffee industry with
a vital source of labour.
Badilla defends his position assuring that the new law is only to form a base
for immigration policies and not a persecution.
By the numbers
According to immigration data for the year 2004
Number of visitors refused entry: 46.552
Number of persons deported: 1.031
Number of refugees living in Costa Rica: 11.000
Number of foreigners in Costa Rican jails: 903
Number of foreign students: 45.900
Number of persons entering Costa Rica: 1.838.188
Number of persons leaving Costa Rica: 1.801.839
*Immigration In Action!
The Fuerza Pública assisting the Policía Especial de Migración (immigration
police) descended on various beach communities in an operation to detect and
detain illegals in Costa Rica.
In Jacó beach, the operation included visits to bars, cantinas and various
nightspots.
The operation began around 11pm and ran until 5am along with the support of
the Policía de Transito who operates several roadblocks in the area,
including Esparsa (east of Puntarenas) and Orotina.
Transit officials checked cars going in and out of the area, while the Fuerza
Publica assisted immigration officers in the various clubs and discos.
In total, officials say they interviewed 400 people of which 84 were
foreigners visiting the popular beach town. Of those 27 were found to have
irregular migratory status.
Of the 27, 19 were Nicaraguans, 5 Colombians, 2 Argentines and one American.
*Improved Economic Outlook
The international risk assessment agency Standard & Poor's improved its
economic outlook for Costa Rica.
The agency upgraded from "negative" to "stable" the ability of the Government
of Costa Rica to honor its external debts.
This is the outcome of what the agency deems an improvement in the fiscal
management during the last year, the likelihood of improved revenues, and a
lower public deficit, mainly.
However, Standard & Poor's does not omit that Costa Rica remains subject to
risks such as an elevated use of dollar in every day transactions and the
regulation of the banking sector.
The Minister of Finance Federico Carrillo and the president of the Central
Bank Francisco Gutierrez stated satisfaction at the news.
Carrillo pointed out that if the fiscal reform that the Government is
promoting is finally approved by the Legislative Assembly, it will be
possible to continue the capitalization of the Central Bank, therefore
lowering inflation, a step to modify the exchange rate, one of the incentives
for the use of the dollar instead of the local currency.
Gutierrez pointed out that the news is excellent, since it will eventually
enable the country to lower the interest rates, acting upon the perception of
lower external risk.
*Heredia Festival This Week
Music, theatre, dance, closes, puppets, acrobats, artist and artisans are all
on hand for the Festival Nacional de Las Artes in Heredia.
All week, different activities are being planned in different places and
times so that everyone can enjoy the festivities.
The Festival is geared to all ages and background and promises to entertain.
Each night at 9:30 there will be a free live concert at the Parque de
Heredia.
*"Godfather of Costa Rican poker players" competes in the World Series of
Poker
Humberto Brenes, the godfather of Costa Rican poker, member of the "Costa
Rica Connection" and one of professional poker's most beloved players is
taking on the world's best in The World Series of Poker (WSOP), the largest
poker tournament in the world.
es.sportsbook.com, the Spanish edition of the largest sportsbook on the
planet is currently offering odds on Brenes and all of the top professional
and celebrity players in the tournament.
Brenes sits currently at 1250-1 odds, with favorites Daniel Negreanu and Phil
Ivey both at 300-1. Hollywood stars such as Ben Affleck (2500-1) and Ed
Norton (7500-1), both very accomplished players on the celebrity tour, are
considered long shots for the title according to es.sportsbook.com fans.
Brenes learned how to play poker from his father at age 7 and began playing
poker tournaments a decade ago after a successful career playing baccarat and
craps tournaments throughout the Bahamas.
Brenes, who maintains homes in Costa Rica and Miami Lakes, Florida, runs a
number of successful businesses in Costa Rica including a construction
company. Brenes has won two world poker championships.
Poker is now one of North America's largest pastimes - both online and
face-to-face - and continues to grow in popularity as more tournaments are
created. The WSOP Championship Event takes place July 7 to 15 at the Rio All
Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
"We expect that Humberto will be a huge draw for Latin fans, adding to an
already gigantic audience for this event," said Tony Delgado, Marketing
Director es.sportsbook.com.
"Poker lovers who don't have a seat at the table have plenty of opportunity
on es.sportsbook.com to get involved with wagers on their favorite players."
* China, Costa Rica Draw 2-2
China and Costa Rica drew 2-2 in the first of two "friendlies" to be played
in China.
Sunday's game was China's first international match on home turf since the
national team was reorganized this year under new manager Zhu Guanghu.
China scored first through midfielder Zhang Yaokun in the 28th minute.
Costa Rica made it 1-1 12 minutes into the second half with a header from
Mauricio Solis, who had been set up by teammate Brian Ruiz. Costa Rica then
took the lead with a free-kick by Ronald Gomez in the 75th minute.
Chinese defender Sun Xiang made it 2-2 with a shot in the 80th minute.
A second friendly is scheduled to be played in the southern city of Guangzhou
on Wednesday.
China is struggling to recover after its elimination from the World Cup in
qualifying rounds last November.
Zhu was appointed in March and is the first Chinese manager to lead the team
in a decade.
*OAS chief warns of crisis in Nicaragua after failed mission
The newly elected chief of the Organization of American States (OAS) warned
of a crisis in Nicaragua Sunday at the end of his four-day political
mediation mission in the Central American country.
OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, who was last month elected to the
post, said he had "genuine reasons for concern, although society continues to
function."
Warning of "a profound political division" which could develop into a crisis,
he appealed to Nicaraguan politicians to make concessions to avoid it.
"It is necessary to make concessions," Insulza stressed, vowing to continue
the mediation.
The former Chilean interior minister has tried unsuccessfully to bridge
differences between Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños and the opposition
parties over constitutional reforms, which Bolaños sees as steps to cripple
his powers.
The OAS chief, who arrived in Managua Wednesday, reportedly proposed that
Bolaños accept a more powerful legislature in exchange for peace with the two
parties -- the leftist Sandinista National Liberation Front and the
right-wing Constitutional Liberal Party.
Bolaños, who has repeatedly sought OAS help to ease a crisis, rejected the
offer which he views as against the "basic democratic principles."
The president instead proposed Saturday that a national referendum be held
during the next general election in 2006 on the forms recently approved by
the opposition-led Congress, according to presidential aide Ernesto Leal.
The referendum option has been sent to the two parties, said Leal.
"What I can say is that it is important to listen to the voice of people," he
told reporters after a meeting between Insulza and Bolaños.
The political discord erupted late last year when the National Assembly
revised the constitution, stipulating that Congress has the final say over
the appointment of Cabinet members and ambassadors accredited to foreign
countries. The powers are traditionally held by the president.
Bolaños and his government have rejected the reforms, citing a ruling by the
Central American Court of Justice which deemed Nicaragua's constitutional
reforms inapplicable, saying they limit the power of the executive branch in
appointing ministers and diplomats.
The tension escalated last week when Congress designated new directors in the
public services sector like telecommunications to replace those named by
Bolaños.
In response, the president ordered police to block the designees from taking
office.
*MERCOSUR Summit Opens in Paraguay
The MERCOSUR Summit opens Monday in Asunción, Paraguay, to debate an array of
regional issues, in particular how to strengthen integration and the
inclusion of Venezuela as a full member.
The 28th plenary meeting of the Southern Common Market, top MERCOSUR
political body, finalized on Sunday the agenda for the Summit of Heads of
States.
On Saturday, MERCOSUR foreign ministers looked into the agenda the presidents
will debate, whose main issue is the signing of the Structural Converge Fund
to fight poverty, which had been approved in the Brazilian city of Ouro Preto
in 2004.
They will also sign a letter of rights for MERCOSUR citizens to develop
education and solve infrastructure problems, as well as create a network of
gas and electric pipelines linking South American nations.
With this summit, Paraguay will hand over the pro tempore presidency to
Uruguay, which during the next six months will boost social integration under
the slogan "We are MERCOSUR."
Besides Paraguay´s President Nicanor Duarte and Uruguay´s Tabare Vazquez, the
high level meeting will be attended by Chile´s Head of State Ricardo Lagos,
Ecuador´s Alfredo Palacio, Colombia´s Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela´s Hugo
Chavez.
Venezuela will complete in Asunción all the requirements to join MERCOSUR as
full member by signing the Protocol of Ushuaia, in effect since 1998, and the
Presidential Statement on Democratic Commitment.
*Venezuelan Military Confirms Plot to Assassinate Hugo Chavez
Venezuelan officers confirmed Sunday the existence of a plot to assassinate
President Hugo Chavez, that´s why the site of the parade for the anniversary
of the Battle of Carabobo on June 24 has been changed.
Defense minister, General in Chief Jorge Luis García Carneiro, and Army
Commander, Division General Raul Baduel, told media that the evidence
recommended not to expose Chavez to unnecessary danger.
This time, the annual parade will not be staged in the traditional site of
the decisive battle for national independence, but at the military compound
of Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas, probably with the presence of the head of State.
Div. Gral. Baduel stressed that so far President Chavez has underlined his
desire to preside over the parade.
He told mass media the event on Army´s Day will have the participation of the
Army´s Air Command and a representation of land units.
Venezuelan authorities have ruled the involvement of active military in the
assassination plot, which is attributed to individuals residing abroad,
mainly ex military linked to the failed coup of 2002 and internal opposition
groups.
For his part, Defense Minister García Carneiro said Chavez will attend public
celebration for Independence Day next July 5th, though under strict security
measures.
He added that the president will not ride on a convertible car as it was
scheduled in the parade for the occasion and his presence in the main
platform will be short.
"We´ll step up measures because he risks too much and fears nothing. We have
to hold him up," the high ranking officer pointed out.
García Carneiro explained that "worrying reports" combine with the US
government´s recent failure at the Organization of American States and
augmented accusations against Venezuela to reinforce the likelihood of an
assassination plot.
* South Summit Rejects US Blockade of Cuba
The Group of 77 plus China expressed strong rejection of the US blockade
against Cuba in the meeting´s final declaration approved Thursday, Granma
daily highlights Friday.
The final text also pronounced for respect of the UN Charter´s principles, in
defense of multilateralism and against terrorism.
At the end of the meeting, the leaders of the Group, plus China, agreed
higher efforts must be made to revive and improve collaboration among
developing nations, as those links complement South-North relations.
Meanwhile, meeting participants noted the role of South-South cooperation in
a multilateral context is seen as a continuous, vital process for developing
countries to face emerging challenges.
*Embassy red-lines Centro El Pueblo
The U.S. Embassy has ruled the Centro Comercial El Pueblo to be off -limits
to its employees because of a wild shooting incident that killed a guard.
The embassy passed its decision along to the public via its Web site.
The Centro Comercial El Pueblo is located in Barrio Tournon in the north
central part of San José and is a popular nightspot with a handful of bars
that offer dancing. The center also is where a number of souvenir stores are
located.
The shooting took place about 3:30 a.m. June 10. Two groups of individuals
were ordered out of the center because they had been fighting. One man pulled
a machine pistol from his vehicle and sprayed the buildings. The dead man was
Ricardo Richard Campbell, 44, who worked for a private firm. He was killed as
he hustled customers in the Ebony 56 bar to safety.
=========================================
COSTA RICA DIGEST DISPLAY AD RATES
=========================================
This publication is designed to have one display add
between each article or section. Thus, the more
articles or sections we have per day, the more room we
have for advertisements. Advertisements are filled
on a first come first served basis, and prices vary
depending on placement and frequency. You must order
a minimum of 5 insertions with your order. If there
are no advertising positions available right away,
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at destinads@safe-mail.net for more details.
One final note, if you want to do a solo mailing
to the list, that is available on a limited basis
if we decide that your product or service has merit.
Email us at the above address for more details.
=========================================
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=========================================
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=========================================
We give you hard hitting, timely, common sense articles and
news that the mainstream, or corporate media, either will
not or cannot give you. Several times a week we bring you
an up to date digest on what is going on in the world around
you.
At The Costa Rica Digest, we don't give you hype or BS or
"common knowledge" solutions, but we aim to give you
the cutting edge information you need. If you wish to
become a writer for us, submit your article[s] for
approval to costarica@destiny-worldwide.net. We cannot
pay for articles, but, instead, you may include a resource
box at the end of your article promoting your website
or product. We welcome submissions of all kinds to
make this a great publication for all to read!
=========================================
Find out about our OTHER Exciting E-mail groups on a broad
range of important topics. Subscription boxes for all of
them may be found here:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/boards.htm
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http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/
Destiny Central Success Resources
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The Costa Rica Page --
The Fun, the Sun.... The business opportunity
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Your Safe, Secure, Offshore Payment Processor
http://www.offshorearnings.com
-----------------> Visit our Blogs! <-----------------
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----> Costa Rica News http://costa-rica-news.blogspot.com/
=========================================
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
=========================================
>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
=========================================
A publication of Destiny Worldwide Net
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net
Also Visit the Costa Rica Page:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
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=========================================
TODAY'S CONTENTS
=========================================
*News Digest
=========================================
SO, YA WANNA MOVE TO COSTA RICA?
=========================================
Announcing Costa Rica's FIRST online, multimedia,
always up to date, and FREE retirement and tourism
guide! See us at:
---->http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm
OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER:
*Real Estate, mortgages [both lenders and borrowers needed,
Buyer's brokerage, Businesses for sale and opportunities,
all at: http://www.cr-realestate.com
*Insurance, Gold & Silver Exchange, e-commerce solutions,
innovative shipping solutions, and much more:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/business.htm
DESTINY WORLDWIDE -- THE SERVICES YOU NEED, AT PRICES YOU
CAN AFFORD!
=========================================
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=========================================
=========================================
DISCUSSION
=========================================
Please send your discussion topics to our Costa
Rica discussion group. You will either get an
answer from us, or another helpful member of
the group, and really important issues will be
included in this digest!
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NEWS DIGEST
=========================================
*Average Rating for Pacheco
Support for President Abel Pacheco fell this month in Costa Rica, according
to a poll by Demoscopia published in Al Día. 49% respondents rate the
president’s performance as average, while 22% consider it good.
Pacheco - of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) - was elected in a
run-off in April 2002 with 58%t of the vote. Costa Rican voters will elect
Pacheco’s successor in February 2006.
In May 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
agreed to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United
States. The Dominican Republic followed suit in August. The agreement - which
would reduce or eliminate taxes and tariffs on imports - still has to be
approved by each country’s legislative branch. Pacheco has postponed debate
on CAFTA until the National Congress approves a series of bills related to
the country’s fiscal system.
Last week, the Costa Rican president was hospitalized for three days due to
hypertension.
Pacheco has recently been criticized for allegedly accepting corporate gifts,
which may include a membership in a Dominican Republic club and airline
vouchers.
The president has denied any wrongdoing. Vice-president Lineth Saborío said
the government is "totally willing to help with the judiciary’s investigation
on this matter."
Polling Data
How would you rate Abel Pacheco’s performance as president?
Jun. 2005 Dec. 2004
Good / Very Good 22% 28%
Average 49% 54%
Bad / Very Bad 14% 17%
Source: Demoscopia / Al Día
Methodology: Interviews to 1,200 Costa Rican adults, conducted from May 21 to
Jun. 1, 2005. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.
*Rodriguez May Head Back to Jail
First he in jail. Then he is out. Then back in jail again. And then back out
again. And, now he may be going back, if the Ministerio Público gets it wish,
as former president Miguel Angel Rodriguez' house arrest order expires today
(June 14).
The former president and former head of the Organization of American States
(OAS) left the La Reforma penitentiary for house arrest after spending five
months in preventive detention, accused of corruption and illegal enrichment.
Rodriguez paid ¢250 million colones (us$520.000) in bail to secure his
freedom from the prison and confined to comfort of his luxury home in Escazú.
The Ministerio Público yesterday made a request that the former president be
held in preventive detention for an additional four months while it continues
it's investigation.
Rodriguez was president of Costa Rica between 1998 and 2002, preceding Abel
Pacheco and was installed as Secretarty General of the OAS on September 15,
2004. He returned to Costa Rica voluntarily on October 15, 2004, resigning
his post at OAS only one month in office, to face the charges against him in
Costa Rica.
The former president was taken off the airplane in handcuffs by judicial
officials on arrival. In his time, he has been making charges that his rights
have been violated and has spoken openly to the press on how he has been
treated.
For their part, the Fiscalía has not wavered and is proceeding with the
investigation of how Rodriguez gained from the Alcatel contract that
installed 400.000 GSM cellular lines in Costa Rica and his receiving more
than us$1 million dollars from the Government of Taiwan.
A judge's decision is expected today on the fate of the former president.
*Wide Band Internet Now Active
As of yesterday, all Costa Ricans can now access the internet over a wide
band known as Red de Internet Avanzada.
Using ADSL, customers, especially those in areas outside of San José, at
higher speeds than that offered by dial up.
The services offered by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)
will cost $25 monthly for a connection up to 128kbs and $43 for up to 256kbs.
Higher speeds are available at a higher cost, which according to ICE, will be
competitive with the services offered by cable modem, which charges $70 per
month on speeds up to 512kbs.
ADSL means customers can now connect to the internet permanently by using
their telephone without tying up the line for voice communications. A special
"router" is used to connect the computer to the internet on the same
telephone line. The same telephone line transmits both data and voice
communications at the same time.
However, customers who are signing up to also take advantage of the low cost
for international calling using VOiP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) will be
disappointed. Recent tests show that the services like Vonage, a leader in
the US of VOiP services will not work properly using ADSL but does using
cable modem.
ICE announced earlier this year that it intends to stop the use of VOiP, a
system that is slowly cutting into it's international calls revenue. It is
not clear how ICE plans to cut off VOiP users.
ICE says the first phase of the project will see 74.000 customers connected
and another 100.000 by the first quarter of next year. Currently, ICE has
only 10.000 ADSL customers connected.
COMMENT: ICE needs a reality check, and it and its lazy union members need to
come into the modern world. If ICE somehow shuts down VOIP, then look for
global businesses to locate elsewhere. VOIP is a fact of life, and what use
is high speed internet without it? That's one of the main reasons for having
the service. If they think they can buck the worldwide trend of VOIP and
advanced telecommunications, and still allow Costa Rica to be part of the
modern world, they are sadly mistaken.
*Cash Withdrawls Can Cost
Getting your money from an automated teller machine (ATM) or from a bank
teller at your local branch may actually cost you.
A study by the Ministerio de Economía (Ecomony Ministry) of 21 private and
public banks reveals that financial transactions cost the customer as some
banks, but most customers don't know it.
And that was the scope of the study by the Ministerio de Economía, who says
that customers should be told of the cost of each transaction, be it at an
ATM or at a teller.
The study shows the some banks charge from ¢50 colones to ¢350 colones for an
ATM transaction and up to ¢500 colones at a teller is the balance is below
the minimum at the time of the withdrawl.
In addition, some banks charge their customers an annual for issuing them a
"debit card" that can range from ¢1.000 colones to ¢3.500 colones.
Debit cards are plastic that is used in lieu of cash. The Banco Nacional, a
state bank, charges it's customers for the privilege of having one of their
debit cards, while the other state bank, Banco de Costa Rica and many private
banks like Scotiabank and Interfin do not.
ATM's operted by the ATH network are free to use to most customers of private
banks. However, ATM's operated by the BAC San José, anothe private bank using
the Red Total network can charge up o $3 per transaction.
Foreigners have in the past complained about excessive costs added to their
statement for the use of ATM's in Costa Rica to withdraw cash while on their
visit. Some of those charges are from their banks, but many are from the bank
operating the ATM.
If you have an account a bank in Costa Rica it advised that you check with
your bank on the cost of the use of their ATM's and that of competitors, as
well as the cost associated with their debit card.
Customers can also call the Ministerio de Economía hotline at 800 866 7866 to
get more information or lodge a complaint.
*Looking to Get a Cellular Telephone?
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) - the local telephone
company - announced that it has lines available to those customers who have
made an earlier request.
ICE is asking all those who have made a request for TDMA service and their
number is below 25.000, they can visit any ICE telephone office between June
15 and June 22 and get connected.
Customers will have to present a copy of their residency cedula, an invoice
for the telephone unit and pay the ¢12.500 deposit.
*123 Traffic Deaths To Date, Down From Last Year
According to statistics released by the Dirección de Tránsito, 123 persons
have lost their lives in traffic accidents so far this year. The number
represents a decrease of 32 deaths for the same period last year.
Juan Manuel Delgado, a director at Tránsito, indicates that in May there were
2.930 traffic related injuries, bringing the total for the first five months
of the year to 19.761.
As to traffic violations for this year (tickets issued by Tránsitos), Delgado
says the number is 127.804.
Costa Rican roads have become lately become the scene of many violent deaths.
Tránsito officials attribute this to alcohol and excessive speeding.
The provinces with the highest number of deaths and injuries are Alajuela,
followed by San Josß, Limón, Guanacaste, Cartago, Heredia and Puntarenas.
*Nicaraguan defense minister resigns
Nicaragua's Defense Minister Jose Adan Guerra has presented a letter of
resignation, which will become effective on Wednesday, Nicaraguan President
Enrique Bolaños said Monday.
"The agreement with minister Guerra was that he was to leave after the
presentation of the White Book on Nicaragua's defense needs on June 15,"
Bolaños told a press conference.
The White Book, which will define the country's defense and security policy,
has entered its final stage before release after wrapping up a consultation
process with different social sectors on May 14.
According to Presidency Minister Ernesto Leal, Bolaños has yet to decide who
is going to succeed Guerra.
*Strong earthquake kills 8 in Chile
Eight people were killed in the strong earthquake that jolted Tarapaca of
Chile on Monday morning and no Chinese nor overseas Chinese was reported in
casualty, according to local authorities.
The quake measuring 8.1 on the Richter Scale occurred at 6:44 a.m. Beijing
time on Tuesday (GMT 22:44 on Monday).
According to China's earthquake monitoring network, the epicenter was located
at 19.9 degree south latitude and 69.2 degree west longitude, about 110
kilometers northeast of Tarapaca's capital Iquique and some 1,800 kilometers
north of Santiago, the Chilean capital.
Although the epicenter is in the sparsely-populated mountain areas of the
Andes, some large cities, like Iquique and Arica, suffered from a cut-off of
power and water supply, local government announced.
*Venezuela accuses US of destabilizing world
The United States is "the most destabilizing force in the world" and its
policy toward Caracas "has been a failure," Venezuelan Communication and
Information Minister Andres Izarra said Monday.
His remarks came after General John Craddock, commander-in-chief of the US
Southern Command, said in a recent interview with the US daily The New Herald
that Venezuela is a "destabilizing" factor in the region.
The influence of Venezuela among its neighbors is creating a destabilizing
situation posing a danger to the hemisphere, Craddock said.
Izarra refuted the US general's accusation, saying, "Our opinion is that the
most destabilizing force, not only in the region, but in the whole world, is
the United States, which invades countries and arrests individuals in
violation of their human rights."
Craddock's accusation is a continuation of the same "story being repeated by
the US State Department, in a policy that has led to many failures recently,"
Izarra said.
Venezuela and the United States have been at loggerheads since Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez took office six years ago.
Caracas criticized Washington for supporting an abortive coup aimed at
overthrowing the Chavez government in April 2002. Chavez also said Washington
had plans to invade Venezuela and assassinate him, but the US government
denied the charges.
*Nicaraguan Debt Cancellation by G8 Does Not Solve all Problems
Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños said cancellation of the foreign debt by
the Group of the Eight (G8) is good news, but does not solve the country´s
serious indebtedness and social problems.
Nicaragua was included in the 18 poor African and Latin American nations that
will benefit from the debt cancellation that totals some $16.7 billion.
Bolaños told the press he does not know how much the amount is, because G8
has not yet said on what basis the cancellation will be.
The president said that will be announced in July, when the heads of State
and Government meet in Scotland, although he expects it is in the order of a
billion US dollars.
According to experts, the economic adjustments carried out have the objective
of complying with the regulations of the International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank.
The sources asserted that in a short time or no time at all, they have helped
reduce poverty, hunger, and unemployment rates in the nation that remains the
poorest of the sub region and the second poorest country in Latin America,
after Haiti.
=========================================
COSTA RICA DIGEST DISPLAY AD RATES
=========================================
This publication is designed to have one display add
between each article or section. Thus, the more
articles or sections we have per day, the more room we
have for advertisements. Advertisements are filled
on a first come first served basis, and prices vary
depending on placement and frequency. You must order
a minimum of 5 insertions with your order. If there
are no advertising positions available right away,
you will be placed on a waiting list and notified
when a spot becomes available. Please email us
at destinads@safe-mail.net for more details.
One final note, if you want to do a solo mailing
to the list, that is available on a limited basis
if we decide that your product or service has merit.
Email us at the above address for more details.
=========================================
COSTA RICA CLASSIFIEDS
=========================================
If you have a worthwhile, honest offering, please
email us. New subscribers get a free five line
ad for a month. If you have used up your free
ad, or would like to place another one, the low
price is only $1.00 per line per issue. we have
a min. ad of three lines and you must insert in
at least three issues. to submit your ad, please
email your ad to destinyads@safe-mail.net
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Diners, Discover,
e-checks, e-gold, evocash, netpay, pecunix,
e-bullion, Picpay, Moneybookers, and
Offshorearnings. We make e-commerce EASY!
=========================================
We give you hard hitting, timely, common sense articles and
news that the mainstream, or corporate media, either will
not or cannot give you. Several times a week we bring you
an up to date digest on what is going on in the world around
you.
At The Costa Rica Digest, we don't give you hype or BS or
"common knowledge" solutions, but we aim to give you
the cutting edge information you need. If you wish to
become a writer for us, submit your article[s] for
approval to costarica@destiny-worldwide.net. We cannot
pay for articles, but, instead, you may include a resource
box at the end of your article promoting your website
or product. We welcome submissions of all kinds to
make this a great publication for all to read!
=========================================
Find out about our OTHER Exciting E-mail groups on a broad
range of important topics. Subscription boxes for all of
them may be found here:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/boards.htm
The Restoration Website:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/rcg/
Destiny Central Success Resources
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net
The Costa Rica Page --
The Fun, the Sun.... The business opportunity
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Your Safe, Secure, Offshore Payment Processor
http://www.offshorearnings.com
-----------------> Visit our Blogs! <-----------------
----> SuccessQuest http://successquest.blogspot.com/
----> The Real Truth http://destiny-worldwide.blogspot.com/
----> Costa Rica News http://costa-rica-news.blogspot.com/
=========================================
>>Costa Rica News Digest<<
=========================================
A publication of Destiny Worldwide Net
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net
Also Visit the Costa Rica Page:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/
Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: costa-rica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
=========================================
TODAY'S CONTENTS
=========================================
*News Digest
=========================================
SO, YA WANNA MOVE TO COSTA RICA?
=========================================
Announcing Costa Rica's FIRST online, multimedia,
always up to date, and FREE retirement and tourism
guide! See us at:
---->http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/wanna/forward.htm
OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER:
*Real Estate, mortgages [both lenders and borrowers needed,
Buyer's brokerage, Businesses for sale and opportunities,
all at: http://www.cr-realestate.com
*Insurance, Gold & Silver Exchange, e-commerce solutions,
innovative shipping solutions, and much more:
http://www.destiny-worldwide.net/costa-rica/business.htm
DESTINY WORLDWIDE -- THE SERVICES YOU NEED, AT PRICES YOU
CAN AFFORD!
=========================================
FEATURE ARTICLE
=========================================
=========================================
DISCUSSION
=========================================
Please send your discussion topics to our Costa
Rica discussion group. You will either get an
answer from us, or another helpful member of
the group, and really important issues will be
included in this digest!
Subscribe: costa-rica-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: costa-rica-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
=========================================
NEWS DIGEST
=========================================
*Average Rating for Pacheco
Support for President Abel Pacheco fell this month in Costa Rica, according
to a poll by Demoscopia published in Al Día. 49% respondents rate the
president’s performance as average, while 22% consider it good.
Pacheco - of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC) - was elected in a
run-off in April 2002 with 58%t of the vote. Costa Rican voters will elect
Pacheco’s successor in February 2006.
In May 2004, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
agreed to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United
States. The Dominican Republic followed suit in August. The agreement - which
would reduce or eliminate taxes and tariffs on imports - still has to be
approved by each country’s legislative branch. Pacheco has postponed debate
on CAFTA until the National Congress approves a series of bills related to
the country’s fiscal system.
Last week, the Costa Rican president was hospitalized for three days due to
hypertension.
Pacheco has recently been criticized for allegedly accepting corporate gifts,
which may include a membership in a Dominican Republic club and airline
vouchers.
The president has denied any wrongdoing. Vice-president Lineth Saborío said
the government is "totally willing to help with the judiciary’s investigation
on this matter."
Polling Data
How would you rate Abel Pacheco’s performance as president?
Jun. 2005 Dec. 2004
Good / Very Good 22% 28%
Average 49% 54%
Bad / Very Bad 14% 17%
Source: Demoscopia / Al Día
Methodology: Interviews to 1,200 Costa Rican adults, conducted from May 21 to
Jun. 1, 2005. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.
*Rodriguez May Head Back to Jail
First he in jail. Then he is out. Then back in jail again. And then back out
again. And, now he may be going back, if the Ministerio Público gets it wish,
as former president Miguel Angel Rodriguez' house arrest order expires today
(June 14).
The former president and former head of the Organization of American States
(OAS) left the La Reforma penitentiary for house arrest after spending five
months in preventive detention, accused of corruption and illegal enrichment.
Rodriguez paid ¢250 million colones (us$520.000) in bail to secure his
freedom from the prison and confined to comfort of his luxury home in Escazú.
The Ministerio Público yesterday made a request that the former president be
held in preventive detention for an additional four months while it continues
it's investigation.
Rodriguez was president of Costa Rica between 1998 and 2002, preceding Abel
Pacheco and was installed as Secretarty General of the OAS on September 15,
2004. He returned to Costa Rica voluntarily on October 15, 2004, resigning
his post at OAS only one month in office, to face the charges against him in
Costa Rica.
The former president was taken off the airplane in handcuffs by judicial
officials on arrival. In his time, he has been making charges that his rights
have been violated and has spoken openly to the press on how he has been
treated.
For their part, the Fiscalía has not wavered and is proceeding with the
investigation of how Rodriguez gained from the Alcatel contract that
installed 400.000 GSM cellular lines in Costa Rica and his receiving more
than us$1 million dollars from the Government of Taiwan.
A judge's decision is expected today on the fate of the former president.
*Wide Band Internet Now Active
As of yesterday, all Costa Ricans can now access the internet over a wide
band known as Red de Internet Avanzada.
Using ADSL, customers, especially those in areas outside of San José, at
higher speeds than that offered by dial up.
The services offered by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)
will cost $25 monthly for a connection up to 128kbs and $43 for up to 256kbs.
Higher speeds are available at a higher cost, which according to ICE, will be
competitive with the services offered by cable modem, which charges $70 per
month on speeds up to 512kbs.
ADSL means customers can now connect to the internet permanently by using
their telephone without tying up the line for voice communications. A special
"router" is used to connect the computer to the internet on the same
telephone line. The same telephone line transmits both data and voice
communications at the same time.
However, customers who are signing up to also take advantage of the low cost
for international calling using VOiP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) will be
disappointed. Recent tests show that the services like Vonage, a leader in
the US of VOiP services will not work properly using ADSL but does using
cable modem.
ICE announced earlier this year that it intends to stop the use of VOiP, a
system that is slowly cutting into it's international calls revenue. It is
not clear how ICE plans to cut off VOiP users.
ICE says the first phase of the project will see 74.000 customers connected
and another 100.000 by the first quarter of next year. Currently, ICE has
only 10.000 ADSL customers connected.
COMMENT: ICE needs a reality check, and it and its lazy union members need to
come into the modern world. If ICE somehow shuts down VOIP, then look for
global businesses to locate elsewhere. VOIP is a fact of life, and what use
is high speed internet without it? That's one of the main reasons for having
the service. If they think they can buck the worldwide trend of VOIP and
advanced telecommunications, and still allow Costa Rica to be part of the
modern world, they are sadly mistaken.
*Cash Withdrawls Can Cost
Getting your money from an automated teller machine (ATM) or from a bank
teller at your local branch may actually cost you.
A study by the Ministerio de Economía (Ecomony Ministry) of 21 private and
public banks reveals that financial transactions cost the customer as some
banks, but most customers don't know it.
And that was the scope of the study by the Ministerio de Economía, who says
that customers should be told of the cost of each transaction, be it at an
ATM or at a teller.
The study shows the some banks charge from ¢50 colones to ¢350 colones for an
ATM transaction and up to ¢500 colones at a teller is the balance is below
the minimum at the time of the withdrawl.
In addition, some banks charge their customers an annual for issuing them a
"debit card" that can range from ¢1.000 colones to ¢3.500 colones.
Debit cards are plastic that is used in lieu of cash. The Banco Nacional, a
state bank, charges it's customers for the privilege of having one of their
debit cards, while the other state bank, Banco de Costa Rica and many private
banks like Scotiabank and Interfin do not.
ATM's operted by the ATH network are free to use to most customers of private
banks. However, ATM's operated by the BAC San José, anothe private bank using
the Red Total network can charge up o $3 per transaction.
Foreigners have in the past complained about excessive costs added to their
statement for the use of ATM's in Costa Rica to withdraw cash while on their
visit. Some of those charges are from their banks, but many are from the bank
operating the ATM.
If you have an account a bank in Costa Rica it advised that you check with
your bank on the cost of the use of their ATM's and that of competitors, as
well as the cost associated with their debit card.
Customers can also call the Ministerio de Economía hotline at 800 866 7866 to
get more information or lodge a complaint.
*Looking to Get a Cellular Telephone?
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) - the local telephone
company - announced that it has lines available to those customers who have
made an earlier request.
ICE is asking all those who have made a request for TDMA service and their
number is below 25.000, they can visit any ICE telephone office between June
15 and June 22 and get connected.
Customers will have to present a copy of their residency cedula, an invoice
for the telephone unit and pay the ¢12.500 deposit.
*123 Traffic Deaths To Date, Down From Last Year
According to statistics released by the Dirección de Tránsito, 123 persons
have lost their lives in traffic accidents so far this year. The number
represents a decrease of 32 deaths for the same period last year.
Juan Manuel Delgado, a director at Tránsito, indicates that in May there were
2.930 traffic related injuries, bringing the total for the first five months
of the year to 19.761.
As to traffic violations for this year (tickets issued by Tránsitos), Delgado
says the number is 127.804.
Costa Rican roads have become lately become the scene of many violent deaths.
Tránsito officials attribute this to alcohol and excessive speeding.
The provinces with the highest number of deaths and injuries are Alajuela,
followed by San Josß, Limón, Guanacaste, Cartago, Heredia and Puntarenas.
*Nicaraguan defense minister resigns
Nicaragua's Defense Minister Jose Adan Guerra has presented a letter of
resignation, which will become effective on Wednesday, Nicaraguan President
Enrique Bolaños said Monday.
"The agreement with minister Guerra was that he was to leave after the
presentation of the White Book on Nicaragua's defense needs on June 15,"
Bolaños told a press conference.
The White Book, which will define the country's defense and security policy,
has entered its final stage before release after wrapping up a consultation
process with different social sectors on May 14.
According to Presidency Minister Ernesto Leal, Bolaños has yet to decide who
is going to succeed Guerra.
*Strong earthquake kills 8 in Chile
Eight people were killed in the strong earthquake that jolted Tarapaca of
Chile on Monday morning and no Chinese nor overseas Chinese was reported in
casualty, according to local authorities.
The quake measuring 8.1 on the Richter Scale occurred at 6:44 a.m. Beijing
time on Tuesday (GMT 22:44 on Monday).
According to China's earthquake monitoring network, the epicenter was located
at 19.9 degree south latitude and 69.2 degree west longitude, about 110
kilometers northeast of Tarapaca's capital Iquique and some 1,800 kilometers
north of Santiago, the Chilean capital.
Although the epicenter is in the sparsely-populated mountain areas of the
Andes, some large cities, like Iquique and Arica, suffered from a cut-off of
power and water supply, local government announced.
*Venezuela accuses US of destabilizing world
The United States is "the most destabilizing force in the world" and its
policy toward Caracas "has been a failure," Venezuelan Communication and
Information Minister Andres Izarra said Monday.
His remarks came after General John Craddock, commander-in-chief of the US
Southern Command, said in a recent interview with the US daily The New Herald
that Venezuela is a "destabilizing" factor in the region.
The influence of Venezuela among its neighbors is creating a destabilizing
situation posing a danger to the hemisphere, Craddock said.
Izarra refuted the US general's accusation, saying, "Our opinion is that the
most destabilizing force, not only in the region, but in the whole world, is
the United States, which invades countries and arrests individuals in
violation of their human rights."
Craddock's accusation is a continuation of the same "story being repeated by
the US State Department, in a policy that has led to many failures recently,"
Izarra said.
Venezuela and the United States have been at loggerheads since Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez took office six years ago.
Caracas criticized Washington for supporting an abortive coup aimed at
overthrowing the Chavez government in April 2002. Chavez also said Washington
had plans to invade Venezuela and assassinate him, but the US government
denied the charges.
*Nicaraguan Debt Cancellation by G8 Does Not Solve all Problems
Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños said cancellation of the foreign debt by
the Group of the Eight (G8) is good news, but does not solve the country´s
serious indebtedness and social problems.
Nicaragua was included in the 18 poor African and Latin American nations that
will benefit from the debt cancellation that totals some $16.7 billion.
Bolaños told the press he does not know how much the amount is, because G8
has not yet said on what basis the cancellation will be.
The president said that will be announced in July, when the heads of State
and Government meet in Scotland, although he expects it is in the order of a
billion US dollars.
According to experts, the economic adjustments carried out have the objective
of complying with the regulations of the International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank.
The sources asserted that in a short time or no time at all, they have helped
reduce poverty, hunger, and unemployment rates in the nation that remains the
poorest of the sub region and the second poorest country in Latin America,
after Haiti.
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