China is looking to increase its diplomatic presence in Costa Rica, with the purchase of two hectares for US$18 million dollars, located in the Hill Park Condominium in Montes de Ocar, San Pedro.
Currently, the China’s embassy is scattered in several properties in Rohrmoer, on the west side of San José, starting at the corner across from the home of former president Oscar Arias, who in 2007 established diplomatic relations with China.
On its website, Hill Park promotes itself as “An innovative place in a natural environment… Five beautiful and strong Condominium Towers rise in a natural environment, in total harmony with the environment. Nature is an integral part of this Premium Condominium concept where you and your family will enjoy beautiful gardens and large green areas within secure and exclusive surroundings, rarely seen in the east of San Jose. We are confident that this is truly a unique investment opportunity in which the luxury and comfort, in perfect harmony with nature, will become a part of their daily lives.
An earthquake registering 3.1 on the Richter Scae arouse residents of Cartago this morning.
According to the Observatorio Vulcanológico (OSVICORI) the quake hit at 1:50am with movements centred in the area of Orosi, near the Tapanti National Park.
The depth of the quake was 1 kilometre.
At 11:12pm Friday, a 2.6 quake was registered close by, with a depth of 14km. Both quakes were felt stongest in Paraiso de Cartago, La Guarco and dowtown Cartago.
Analysis: Lawmaker Justo Orozco is unlike nearly all modern politicians. While US politicians making politically incorrect statements (such as two conservative Republicans in the 2012 elections) usually apologize for having their foot in their mouths, Orozco seems unaware that it’s even there.
As if he needed to renew his homophobic credentials, in a Wednesday noon debate on Telenoticias (TV channel 7) with colleague Victor Emilio Granados of the PASE party, Orozco accused Granados of having a “closet mentality.” Knowing well Orozco’s very public homophobia, Granados was offended.
“Among other things, don Justo, in an offensive and even intimidating way, said he was expecting other lawmakers to come out of the closet,” said Granados. Instead of the very lame apology that usually follows such outbursts in the U.S., Orozco ducked a phone call from La Nacion for comment, saying, “I don’t think anything. Excuse me, I’m busy,”
It remained for Granados to explain the usage: “It is a slurring and discriminatory phrase always used against homosexual persons and even heterosexuals who support rights of persons of that orientation,” Granados explained.
Apparently, Granados has launched a campaign on Facebook with the name (in Spanish) “I also am coming out of the closet.” It appears that the offended deputy is using the phrase in an attempt to spread tolerance and understanding.
In late May, Orozco asked the Judical Affairs Committee of the Legislative Assembly to exclude (recuse was the word he used) lawmaker Carmen Muñoz on the grounds of her sexual orientation. This is the committee that will be debating the same sex rights bill.
In May, 2012, Orozco was then chairman of the Human Rights Committee when the bill came up before that body. The Evangelical chairman brought the bill to a lightning vote without discussion and effectively scuttled the measure. It remained for President Laura Chinchilla to revive the issue and send it to another committee this year.
But his latest manoeuvre failed miserably. His arguments for recusal rated high marks for creativity but failing ones in legality. He tried to apply the way that a judge with special interests in a case, is expected to recuse himself. The jump of applying judicial standards to the legislative branch just didn’t fly.
Orozco’s remarks did not gain him any friends in Munoz’s Citizen Action Party (PAC). Party founder Otton Solis termed Orozco’s maneuverings as “raising intolerance to levels of medieval shamefulness.”
“Under that logic, one would have to also exclude Christian deputies like Orozco who consider Lesbianism a sin,” added Solis. There is no doubt of one thing: Orozco’s implacable opposition and at times ridiculous pronouncements have acted as a rallying point for the tolerant.
The bill before the lawmakers is relatively mild, not even mentioning the word marriage. It would grant inheritance rights and the ability to enter the hospital to visit a spouse of the same sex. It is simply granting legal recognition to partners living together as a stable couple.
Gallina Achiotada, chicken soup (sopa de gallina) and chicken soup with rice (gallina con arroz) are all part of the Feria de la Gallina Criolla 2013 on June 14, 15 and 16 in the rural community of Finca el Silencio, Quepos.
The objective of the fair is to promote local tourism and raise funds for an animal rescue centre. The fair is organized by Coopesilencio, a local co-operative.
Activities include a great soccer game by former Costa Rican players, face painting, music, dancers and chicken contests for the entire family.
Finca el Silencio is located southeast of Quepos. By car from San José, take the Ruta 27 to the Costanera (Jacó exit), at Quepos take a left, heading east for some 35 km (heading towards Dominical) just past the Rio Saverge bridge, take a left and follow the road for 6 kilometres.
Here is a task for you, who to believe, Presidenta Laura Chinchilla? or the Brazilian contractor, OAS? One says there is an agreement, the other no for OAS to get US$45.9 million dollars to walk away from the San José – San Ramón road project.
At the of April, Presidenta Laura Chinchilla bowed to public pressure to cancel the controversial road constructions project announced by her government weeks earlier.
Chinchilla did allow that the company should be compensate to the tune of US$30 million dollar for out of pocket expenses.
A letter of cancellation was set to OAS. At the time the public was lead to believe that was the end of the deal. However, the company actually had 30 days to respond. And respond it it.
On Friday, OAS, notified the Chinchilla government what it wants US$33.9 million dollars as indemnification for investments it made to obtain the concession contract AND another US$11 million dollars for Autopistas de Valle, the company that was to have operated the concession.
The kicker here is that OAS says the Chinchilla government had agreed to pay the US$45.9 million to terminate the contract, a deal the OAS says was reached verbally.
The ministro de Planificación and vicepresidente de la Junta Directiva del Consejo Nacional de Concesiones, Roberto Gallardo, assures that the government will be asking OAS all documentation, technical and financial to support the amount requested, before passing judgement and determining whether to pay it.
The request by OAS was made in writing to Casa Presidencal on Thursday, detailing its expenses incurred in the process.
On May 28, the regional carrier TACA Airlines brand ceased to exist, as AVIANCA TACA began flying under one single brand, AVIANCA. The change led to the cancellation of 5 routes with direct flights from Costa Rica and the laying off of 261 employees in San José.
Costa Rica’s Tourism minister, Alan Flores, flew to Avianca’s head office in Bogota, Colombia, to get an explanation from the airline. Joining Flores was the Ministro de la Presidencia (and former minister of Tourism), Ricardo Carlos Benavides and Deputy Transport Minister, Ana Cecilia Jenkins.
Following a meeting with Avianca’s president, Fabio Villegas, Flores got assurances that the airline would not cancel any more flights in Costa Rica, nor lay off any more people.
The destinations eliminated from Costa Rica included flights between San José and Los Angeles, New York, Havaca (Cuba), Lima (Peru) and Guayaquil (Ecuador). All five routes provided direct flights. Passengers to those destinations now have to board flights with connections either in El Salvador or Bogota.
Avianca still has more than 1.000 employees in Costa Rica operations
The weather conditions have led to a great pineapple production in Costa Rica, and consequently to low prices, but just like every year, the price of Costa Rican pineapples, famous for their exceptional quality, will increase in the coming weeks.
“The temperatures at the end of the year cause an uncontrollable acceleration of the flowering,” explained Sonia Alvarado, of Grupo Hispacori. “This flowering advances part May’s pineapple production, leading to low prices for the fruit.”
Grupo Hispacori has 240 hectares devoted to pineapple production and have another 60 hectares on lease. The firm also has a packing plant with refrigeration chambers at the plantation, which is close to Pital, where most of the production agglutinates. But like every other producer in the region, they must contend with the market’s fluctuations imposed by the weather conditions and the changes in the international market, among other variables, such as the financial recession worldwide.
“The natural flowering takes place in June, and by July there will be shortages and prices will increase again,” said Alvarado. Although other producing nations such as Guatemala, Panama and Ecuador also produce during July and August, Alvarado emphasised Costa Rica’s optimal conditions in terms of weather, type of soil and agricultural technology.
“Costa Rica’s pineapples have distinguishing features,” said Alvarado. “The weather, the soil and our high-end technology make all the difference.” The fruit requires a specific combination to match Costa Rica’s quality. For this reason, the shortages during July and August cannot be complemented by production volumes from other countries.
Grupo Hispacori has the GlobalGAP certification and is able to export anywhere in the world. They currently make shipments to Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey and the United States under the brands Bonana and Tica Linda. Although they prefer exporting to Europe, Alvarado said that they seek to expand in new markets.
“We are looking for clients in new markets,” said Alvarado, “because even if no large volumes are shipped, the flow is constant.”
Local promoter RPMTV confirmed Friday that rock mega-legends Black Sabbath and Megadeth will play Costa Rica. The two metal legends are to perform at the National Stadium in San José on October 22.
RPMTV says that tickets will go on sale on June 14 at the website LaBoleteria.co.cr, with ticket prices ranging from ₡18,000-₡70,000 ($36-$140).
For the first time in the history of Latin America, Black Sabbath kicks off its tour on October 4 in Santiago, Chile; moving on to Buenos Aires, Argentina on October 6; Porto Alegre, Brazil on October 9; Sao Paulo, Brazil on October 11; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 13; Bogota, Colombia on October 19; and Mexico City, Mexico on October 26.
Megadeth, that is touring with Black Sabbath, has updated its website to include San José, Costa Rica for October 22.
By Linda Andrade Rodrigues /s-t.com – As pacifists, Quakers are drawn to Costa Rica, the Central American country whose people choose to have no standing army.
Following in their pastor’s footsteps, the Allen’s Neck Friends Youth Group will embark July 9 on a seven-day mission trip to a small barrio outside of San Ramon.
“We have poverty in our own backyard, but by bringing the kids out of the environment they know and into the larger world, they will see how a huge part of the world’s population lives in these conditions,” said Charlie Morse, the pastor of Allen’s Neck. “I think it shakes them up and changes their perspective of the world.”
Morse previously travelled to the region with the Grace Episcopal Church Youth Group.
“It proved to be a wonderful experience,” he said. “We deeply felt God’s call to make a difference in the lives of the people of Bajo Tejares. I have a cousin, a wonderful, generous man, who will loan us his house located in La Paz, a small farming village about 30 miles north of San Ramon.”
The village consists of small farms growing sugar cane, coffee and vegetables. Ox carts are common on the dirt road passing the house.
“The differences between the farming village and the barrio are immense, and neither is like anything the youth will have seen before,” Morse said.
This community is made up primarily of Nicaraguans who fled political persecution and economic instability, seeking a better life for themselves and their children.
“Initially, the Costa Rican government provided for them; then they became ‘outsiders’ and a burden for the people of Costa Rica,” said Morse. “Abandoned and poor, these people subsist under the worst physical conditions and live in wooden shacks with dirt floors. The unemployment rate is around 80 percent, with most surviving on day labor, prostitution or drug trafficking.”
During the last visit the teens built two sets of bunk beds, which they delivered to homes in the barrio.
“We had direct interaction with the youth and families, including being invited into their homes,” he said. “It proved an eye-opening experience.”
Their other project was to help build a fence around a new basketball court, and they played with children at the mission.
On the mountain top, they also were able to spend time with farm families and were given a tour of one of the farms.
“We hired two local teenagers to lead us up into the cloud forest for a long hike and held our Sunday silent worship under the canopy,” Morse said. “It’s a great place to do that on top of mountains with the jungle all around you and the noises.”
The youth groups partner with Faithful Servant Missions (FSM), which identified three major areas of intervention to break the cycle of poverty: physical, educational and spiritual. The board of directors purchased four acres of land at the entrance of the barrio, and they completed construction of Centro Comunidad Cristiana in August 2008, which included a multipurpose church building, a parsonage, recreational facilities and an education building to hold after-school tutoring and mentoring programs.
FSM began to address the physical needs of the community on a case-by-case basis, ranging from hosting vision clinics to home repair for residents of Bajo Tejares.
“We began to meet educational needs through one-on-one academic support programs for over 150 children, as well as recreational time and homework assistance for all students,” explained Morse. “Then the University of Costa Rica began to sponsor night classes for adults, and we began to see parents learning to read and graduating from elementary school and high school.”
The ministries were not left behind, as Centro Comunidad Cristiana began to minister to the spiritual needs of the community through weekly support groups for mothers, fathers, pre-teens and teens, as well as to host Children’s Church and Mission Church services on Sundays.
“The transformation within the community has been amazing, ranging from better housing and roads, to literacy, to vibrant faith for people of all ages,” said Morse. “Worship is taking the place of despair; academic success is displacing failure; and instead of living as outsiders we are finding our homes together in Christ.”
But Morse said there is still so much yet to be done.
“While transformation has begun, it is far from over, and we are blessed to share in this journey of hope in Christ with our brothers and sisters in Bajo Tejares,” said Morse. “We are happy to accept donations, if anyone is inclined to support our mission. A trip of this magnitude is expensive to put together.”
For more information or to make a donation, call Charlie Morse at (774) 365-9700.
Welcome to my personal blog. I have to tell you that I am Costa Rican woman who was born and raised in Liberia, Costa Rica. I lived there 29 years until I met my husband whom I met online.
Throughout my entire life, I have searched high and low for a man that would love me, treat me with respect, enjoy my company. Someone who was not too possessive, over jealous or manipulative. You see, I had a few Costa Rican boyfriends in the past that were a little abusive and very possessive. This mentality is referred to as “machismo.”
Many men in Latin countries have an attitude we call machismo.
Why search international? Perhaps men from Europe and North America have a reputation for treating a women with respect and honor. Not all western men are this way but I think most are. In Costa Rica, I’ve seen many instances of Latinas, many friends of mine, who have been mentally and physically abused by their boyfriends or husbands.
Throughout the world, there are some similar instances of this but not nearly at the level that occurs in Latin America. I was very surprised when I visted the United States to see how many women try to be like a man. In my opinion, many of these women have lost touch with their femininity and have forgotten about the importance of a woman’s role in the family.
Please understand that this is only my personal opinion and is not directed as an attack on women.
Perhaps this is the reason there are so many divorces in the US. I don’t understand what is wrong with the mentality of some of these women? Many women have the attitude that they don’t need a man anymore and lead a more selfish and materialistic lifestyle. Money, possessions, and material things have become more important than the family.
I think most women in Latin America are seeking a good man but it is difficult to find these qualities. Thanks to the internet, many women from Latin countries have an option to seek a loving relationship with men from all over the world.
Many of these men are looking for a women that celebrates her feminine qualities and enjoys being a woman. Many of these men have been married before and experienced terrible divorces from their wives who taken them to the cleaners. They want a woman who is supportive of her man.
Relationships with a Latina have great potential to last a lifetime because marriage is not trivial to a Latin woman. It is a lifelong commitment and she must support her husband. I think men need this in a relationship.
Please know that my post is speaking in general terms and does not apply to all Latin or women from other countries. It is simply an observation I have realized after living in the United States for three years and meeting many men who have been devastated by their wives.
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Ernst and Young (EY.com) / The Costa Rican Tax Authorities issued resolution N° DGT-R-017-2013, published in the Official Gazette on 10 May 2013, which establishes rules on the deductibility of expenses paid in cash for income tax purposes.
The Resolution, which is mandatory for all taxpayers and enters into force on 1 June 2013, states that:
Expenses paid in cash in excess of approximately US$2,250 are no longer deductible.
Expenses paid in cash in excess of approximately US$110 but not exceeding the US$2,250 threshold are deductible only if certain documentation requirements are met.
As an exception to the above, purchases of goods and services paid by offset are deductible subject to satisfying certain requirements.
Expenses paid in cash in excess of approximately US$2,250
Expenses paid in cash in excess of three base salaries, i.e., approximately US$2,250, are no longer deductible.
In accordance with the Resolution, expenses incurred by taxpayers in the purchase of assets or services in excess of this US$2,250 threshold can be deductible only if the payments are made through the banking system enabling the identification of the beneficiary thereof, e.g., by means of
checks, wire transfers, credit or debit cards.
Expenses paid in cash in excess of approximately US$110 and not exceeding approximately US$2,250
Furthermore and in addition to the deductibility requirements set forth in the Income Tax Law, the payer of expenses paid in cash in excess of 15% of one base salary (i.e., approximately US$110) and not exceeding approximately US$2,250 must issue and keep a payment receipt, including the following information:
First name, last name and ID number of the individual receiving the cash;
First name, last name and ID number of the supplier providing the good or the service in the case of an individual;
Corporate name and corporate ID number of the supplier providing the good or the service in the case of a company;
Receipt number of the supplier supporting the sale;
Full amount of the cash handed over;
Signature of the individual receiving the money;
Statement made by the payer attesting that it has confirmed the identity of the person to which the cash is being handed over; and
First name, last name, ID number and signature of the person handing over the cash.
Exception for purchases of goods and services paid by offset
As an exception to the above, the acquisition of goods and services paid by means of an offset against
amounts owed to the buyer by the seller are deductible as long as the offsetting companies have real business operations.
Additionally, the companies must be duly registered as taxpayers before the Tax Authorities and the accounting records must support the registered credit and debit accounts.
This report is from a blog post on Crooksandliarrs.com / This somewhat long but informative report from Rachel Maddow last week went nearly unnoticed at the time, but it got my attention because I somehow doubt those who utilized Liberty Reserve’s unique money laundering capabilities were limited to drug dealers and international criminals. Though all the details have not yet been released, the scandal already reaches up to Barclays’ Bank, one of the UK’s most respected institutions.
Liberty Reserve also had 17 bank accounts in Cyprus, papers filed by the US Department of Justice show.
The BBC understands that the bank is not accused of any wrongdoing by the authorities.US authorities have accused Liberty Reserve of laundering more than $6bn (£4bn) in criminal cash.”Barclays can confirm it is co-operating with the investigation, following the notification it received from the authorities,” a spokesman for the bank said on Sunday.
The Barclays account was in the name of Liberty Reserve founder Arthur Budovsky, the court documents said. Mr Budovsky opened the Spanish personal account in 2009, the BBC has learned.The DOJ has called Liberty Reserve the “largest international money-laundering prosecution in history”, alleging that seven people involved in running the operation set up the digital cash service as a “criminal business venture” designed specifically to “help criminals conduct illegal transactions and launder the proceeds of their crimes”.
Here is a bit of background on Arthur Budovsky, founder of Liberty Reserve:
Seven people, including founder Arthur Budovsky, were charged by the U.S. regulatory body. Budovsky is no stranger to illegal money laundering activities. In 2006, he was convicted of breaching money transmission guidelines associated with E-Gold. In 2011, he surrendered his U.S. citizenship and built a new financial network in Costa Rica.
But Budovsky ran out of luck in that country, as well — when his company was charged for violating money laundering rules in 2011. However, Costa Rican regulators were duped by a false computer portal which provided fake data. Meanwhile, Liberty continued to run its operations through subsidiary companies in Malaysia, Russia, Nigeria, Cyprus, Hong Kong and Australia.
Liberty Reserves clients included:
“They included, for example: traffickers of stolen credit card data and personal identity information; peddlers of various types of online Ponzi and get-rich-quick schemes; computer hackers for hire; unregulated gambling enterprises; and underground drug-dealing Web sites,” according to the indictment.
In many ways, the basic infrastructure wasn’t all that different from PayPal or other online payment providers, with one important exception: To open a Liberty Reserve account, all one needed was an email address and little more. Here’s how it worked:
Liberty Reserve functioned like a bank that only took deposits in its own currency (also called the Liberty Reserve). If you wanted to launder money, you would open an account with Liberty Reserve, providing them with a name, which could be fake, and an e-mail address. The key to the scheme was that you couldn’t then deposit money directly into the account. Instead, you had to work through middlemen, who were called “exchangers.” These were typically unlicensed moneymen in countries like Malaysia, Nigeria, and Vietnam, who bought Liberty Reserves in bulk from Liberty Reserve. You would pay them dollars (or whatever currency) for a certain sum of Liberty Reserves, which they would then deposit into your account. And when you wanted to withdraw money, the process worked in reverse, perhaps with an exchanger in a different country. (Liberty Reserve itself took a one-per-cent fee on transactions, while the exchangers typically charged five per cent or more.) The point of doing it this way was that the Liberty Reserve bank would have no identifying data for you (no record of how or from where you sent the money), since the deposits and withdrawals were all done through the exchangers.
As that article notes, Liberty Reserve did have people using it for legitimate reasons, but a look at their criminal activity shines a bright light on concerns connected with virtual currency like Bitcoin and others, and it certainly piques my imagination with respect to what havoc could be wreaked by billionaires committed to absolute…liberty.
Costa Rica announced on June 4, 2013 that its free trade agreement with Peru came into effect on June 1st, eventually removing tariffs on 80 percent of products.
The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Minister, Anabel Gonzalez, said in a statement that the treaty especially benefits small and medium enterprises, as well as consumers, who will be able to access a wider range of products at competitive prices.
The Peruvian products that will immediately be made duty-free include turkey, sardines, evaporated milk, artichokes, garlic, mangoes, tangerines, lemons, grapes and paprika.
Meanwhile, the Tico products set to benefit from the FTA are chocolates, tea, milk-based drinks and powdered drinks.
Data from the Foreign Trade Ministry indicates that Costa Rica’s exports to Peru were worth USD64m in 2012, while Peru’s exports to Costa Rica totaled USD46.2m.
Gonzalez also said in his press release that the FTA marks a great step forward in Costa Rica’s bid to join the Pacific Alliance.
Costa Rica was recently granted approval to join the Pacific Alliance, a trade bloc formed last year by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, on the condition that it forms free-trade deals with all members.
Maria del Rocio Venegas Chavarria spent two days in the Chirripo National Park, lost and with only a chocolate bar and water from a lagoon to help survive.
The nurse got lost in the area known as Valle de las Morrenas, near the Chirripo summit.
Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, with an elevation of 3,820 metres (12,533 ft).
By: Wilberth Villalobos Castrillo, VozdeGunacaste / The four higher education State universities will receive $ 200 million for the implementation of various educational projects next year.
The announcement came on Tuesday June 4th, after aproval on second debate in the Legislative Assembly of the loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), which is part of the World Bank.
Academic institutions benefited are the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (ITC), the University of Costa Rica (UCR), the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), and the National University (UNA).
According to the draft Law, each university will receive $ 50 million which will be assigned to sub-specific investment projects according to the needs of each institution.
The regional campuses of UNA in Guanacaste, will have $ 4.1 million for the next academic year and will be carried out in the academic campus of Liberia and Nicoya.
This was reported by Ana Lorena Jimenez, an official from the office of Development of UNA, who also indicated that this amount includes the construction of student residences (one for each site), recreational works and a basic science teaching lab, as well as the furniture and equipment required.
Jimenez explained that the regional offices do not manage the funds, but will be directly from UNA’s Head Office in Heredia and it will start the execution of these next year.
Among family, friends and supporters, Johnny Araya announced “officially” his candidacy to the 2014 presidential elections.
In the absece of a convention, Araya is the offical candidate of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN).
In bull ring in Palmares, it was after 6pm Thursday when the party began, with the music of Grupo Expreso.
Araya confirmed that he will step down as mayor of San José the last Friday of this month, to dedicate his full time to the presidential elections in February 2014.
It was just before 2pm Thursday when the skies opened up on Central Valley, most in particular in Heredia, resulting in one woman killed and more than 100 homes damaged.
The death was recorded in the community of Guararí, about 5pm, when a tree fell on a house, causing the collapse of a wall. Juan Arroyo, of the Red Cross, said the woman was crushed.
A number of houses were unroofed, others suffered some type of damage to their roof and broken windows, as the 90 km/h winds accompanied the heavy rain and lightning.
Authorities say that seven homes were destroyed.
According to the Comisión Nacional de Atención de Emergencias (CNE) the areas most affected were barrio Miraflores de San Pablo de Hereida, Los Lagos, Guararí and San Francisco. Reports of damage came also from Santa Rosa de Santo Domingo, Santa Barbara, La Rusia de Flores and Cubujuquí, in Mercedes.
Additional damage was reported in San Rafael de Alajuela and Leon XIII in Tibás, San José. In the area of Pavas and surrounding areas water service was affected for more than 8 hours, with the taps flowing again after 10pm.
Flooding occurred in many areas, most due to plugged storm sewers, a normal condition at the start of the rainy season.
Crews of the Public Service Company of Heredia (ESPH) and Compañía Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL), meanwhile, rushed to repair power lines and traffic lights.
The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), said it was a storm and not a tornado. Juan Carlos Fallas, director of the IMN, said the storm originated in clouds called cumulonimbus, generating a strong downdraft in a storm cloud. Coming down fast, the same cloud brought hailstones.
Fallas said that this a common occurrence during the rainy season and can happen anywhere.
The weather station in Santa Barbara de Heredia reported a waterfall of 61 litres per square metre between 2pm and 3pm Thursday. The normal is 25 litres per square metre.
In addition, between noon and 3pm Thursday, a total of 211 lightning rays were recorded over the San José Metropolitan area.
The violent storm that caused damage in Heredia Thursday afternoon may be a normal occurrence in the coming weeks, according to the national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN).
Meteorologist Gabriela Chinchilla explains that the high temperatures in the morning and the crossing winds, are the cause of the heavy rains and strong winds, winds violent enough to cause damage to property.
Events like Thursday are not unusual, particularly when all the elements converge in a densely populated area.
For the coming days and weeks, the IMN expects typical hot sunny mornings with rainy afternoons. Weather experts warn people to take precautionary measures to avoid injury and damage
Electrical discharges – lightning – usually is part of the heavy thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms & Lightning
All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning. While lightning fatalities have decreased, lightning continues to be one of the top storm-related killers. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms.
Other associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail and flash flooding.
To prepare for a thunderstorm, you should do the following:
Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.
Postpone outdoor activities.
Remember the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
Secure outdoor objects that could blow away or cause damage.
Get inside a home, building, or hard top automobile (not a convertible). Although you may be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
Remember, rubber-soled shoes and rubber tires provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
Shutter windows and secure outside doors. If shutters are not available, close window blinds, shades or curtains.
Unplug any electronic equipment well before the storm arrives.
Facts about Lightning
Lightning’s unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property.
Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
“Heat lightning” is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away from thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction.
Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.
Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000 but could be reduced even further by following safety precautions.
Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.
The number of Dengue fever cases in Costa Rica has quadrupled the number of cases recorded last year for the first five months. Costa Rica’s Health officials say the situation is alarming as the number of cases has now exceeded 12.000. And this is only the beginning of the rainy season.
Health officials fear that the start of the rainy season that runs from May to November, will further aggravate the situation, as the Aedes Aegypti Dengue carrier mosquitoes proliferate during this period.
So far only 20 cases of Hermorrhagic Dengue, which can be lethal, have been reported.
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) reported only 3.000 cases from January to May 2012, reaching 27.000 cases in total for last year – nearly double the number in 2011,confirming that the impact of the rainy season.
Most of the patients this year are from the Central Pacific (Puntarenas, Jacó and Quepos), North Pacific (Guanacaste) and the Caribbean coast (Limón).
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases the disease develops into the life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage, or into dengue shock syndrome, where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.
The Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) has shut down an Alajuelita gas station after discovering it sold fuel with higher octane levels than permitted, which affects vehicles.
The closure was ordered of the gas station located 200 metres south and 100 metres east of the Alajuelita Catholic church.
The Aresep said it has not issued economic sanctions, just ordered a ban on the sale of gasoline until it meets requirements. The station can continue to pump diesel fuel.
Understanding Octane
Octane rating or octane number is a standard measure of the performance of a motor or aviation fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating. In broad terms, fuels with a higher octane rating are used in high-compression engines that generally have higher performance.
To understand the role that octane ratings and ignition pressures play in a motor, it helps to be familiar with the term ‘knock.’ Essentially, when gasoline is sprayed into a cylinder by a fuel injector and mixed with oxygen, engine designers expect it to remain there in vapor form until it is time for the sparkplug to light it up, causing the explosion that drives the piston down to generate horsepower. The timing of this explosion is critical, as gasoline that ignites too early causes ‘knock,’ which reduces engine output and efficiency and which, in worst-case scenarios, can actually physically damage an engine.
In most engines, knock is rarely an issue because the compression ratio – that is, the pressure that the air/fuel mixture is put under in the cylinder – is low enough that Regular gasoline’s octane rating is sufficient. There is absolutely no benefit to running Premium fuel in a standard motor, since it will never be able to take advantage of that gasoline’s higher knock resistance. However, more aggressive engine management schemes, especially those found in turbocharged or supercharged vehicles, can turn up the compression to a high level, requiring much higher octane gasoline to avoid knock.
It was almost 2pm when the skies opened over the Central Valley, resulting in several Heredia communities affected the worst, as the rain and strong winds lifted the roofs of 25 houses.
Hail and floods were also common, most in particular in Lagunilla de Heredia.
According to Hector Chaves, director of the Bomberos (Fire Department), fire trucks attended to the emergencies, where roods of homes were lifted. In addition, the Samuel Sáenz school, the Universidad Latina and the Walmart store were hard it. No injuries were reported.
According to the meteorologist at the National Meteorological Institute (IMN), the phenomenon can not be described as a tornado, because it does not have the cone shape, but there were strong winds.
In conjunction with the Environmental Fair an “esmog” was erected in front of the Antigua Aduana building to meter the conscience of the people.
Sometimes we are so accustomed to the sounds of the city and the smoke of the cars that we do not notice the pollution in which we are immersed every day.
Artist Franceso Bracci created the “urban lung”. “The idea as to make a large-scare filter, a funnel, that would capture the invisible particles”, explained Bracci. The work of art, which functions as a smog meter is to bring out the consciousness of Ticos, added Bracci.
Until Saturday June 8, the MINAE is sponsoring an environment fair that is open to the public, who can take in talks on the environment and browse the exhibits of more than 100 businesses.
Others celebrating Environment Day are volunteers of Walmart and RAE Engineers, who, together with the Municipaliy of Tibás, reforested the protective zone of the Rivera creek, located in San José.
The voluntees planted some 250 trees of native species, in order to attract birds and insects. They also picked up trash along the banks of the creek.
For its part, the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), on Wednesday banned all motor vehicles from entering the campus and, instead, encouraged students to use clean transport such as cycling.
The Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) announced plans are ready for the Centro Nacional de Convenciones (National Convention Centre) aimed at attracting more tourists.
Juan Carlos Borbón, ICT manager, told the press the plans were received on Wednesday from designer Gensler Costa Rica e Internacional and comes with a projected cost of US$280 million dollars.
The ICT says it has already published the bid document in La Gaceta and businesses have until June 27, 2013 to submit their interest, in the pre-qualify stage.
Once this term expires, the ICT will choose participants in 15 days, and will provide them one month to submit their bids. The final choice will be marked by price and construction time, with a delivery date not later than one year from a November 2013 start.
The convention centre will be located in Heredia, in the vacant lot next to Cariari Plaza, minutes from the Juan Santamaria International airport. The building will be 15.000 square metres, sitting on 10 hectares.
The infrastructure will include: exhibition area, conference rooms, VIP meeting rooms, press rooms, hallways, kitchen and restaurant, on the outside: parking, vehicular and pedestrian circulation and outdoor exhibition areas.
Borbón indicated the decision has yet to be made if the Centre will be administered by the ICT, enter into a management contract or will be on concession.
On Wednesday the Feria Ambiental del MINAE (National Environmental Fair) opened in the Antigua Aduana, east of the hospital Calderon Guardia. The fair includes discussions on various topics every day to Saturday, from 9am to 5pm.
Some 130 booths provide information on sustainable construction, alternative energy, environmental friendly products and much more, as government agencies and NGO’s showcase their programs for the environment.
Up to 17 different talks with environmental specialists will allow visitors to learn about initiatives to protect the planet.
The event is sponsored by the Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía (MINAE) – Costa Rica’s Environment and Energy Ministry – and kicks off World Environment Month.
Renewable energy is the focus of the fair, with several companies showcasing solar technology.
On Wednesday the state telecom, ICE, joins competition with cable companies for Digital TV customers.
ICE’s system, under the Kolbi, brand works through IPTV technology, providing 100% digital image and sound.
According to ICE’s director of Business Information, Edison González, KOLBI TV is available in every community in the country, subject to technical analysis to assess its commercial viability.
ICE offers customers two monthly plans: Advanced Plan for US$32.50 and HD Advanced Plan of US$40.
The Avdanced Plan comes with 87 digital channels and 11 pay per view, the HD Advanced adds seven more digital channels and 49 audio channels, including five national radio stations.
To sign up for the service, visit any ICE agency or call 1115 or visit their website at www.kolbi.cr
Two mechanical street sweepers will be keeping downtown San José clean. At a cost of ¢60.0000 per hour, the machines that make their debut today, will be working from 10am to 6pm daily.
San José mayor Johnny Araya said that no worker will be replaced by the new machinery.
The city of San José, from one corner to the other, is kept clean by a crew of street sweepers with stick brooms and
wheelbarrows.
The machinery will be operated by environmental promoter PASA, a Mexican company, which already has a contract for garbage collection with the municipality.
Sunny, low-cost Costa Rica is one of the go-to countries for marketers and agencies to outsource services, but agencies are taking a new look at the Central American country as a regional hub for North and South America.
Omnicom-owned digital agency Critical Mass is announcing today the opening of a Latin American headquarters in Costa Rica’s capital San Jose to work with clients like HP on regional projects.
Costa Rica has long been home to call centers, back office functions like IT and accounting, and basic production. Procter & Gamble, for instance, plans to open a supply-chain planning center for Latin America there.
Critical Mass started a Costa Rican digital production facility in 2009 called Hangar Interactive, where the new Critical Mass office will be based.
“Our clients were putting significant cost pressure on us,” said Dianne Wilkins, CEO of Critical Mass. Opening and sending work to Hangar let the agency “slice the bottom one-third off” of projects, she said. “[Now] we’re adding the top two-thirds to what we’ve already got at Hangar in digital production,” she said. “Critical Mass will add strategy and client service capabilities.”
Basic production costs in Costa Rica are about 30% to 50% of what the same work would cost in North America, she said. For full Critical Mass agency projects in Costa Rica, the cost will be about 40% to 60% of what the agency would spend in North America, largely driven by the higher cost of talent.
In addition to the cost advantage, Costa Rica is on the same time zone as the U.S., and has a good talent pool drawn from a well-educated population.
Another digital agency, WPP’s Possible Worldwide, has already learned that, and has a Costa Rica office with 75 people, about the same size as Possible’s Los Angeles office.
“We don’t think of it as an offshoring capability, we think of it as a standalone office like New York or Cincinnati or Singapore, or in some cases the extension of an office,” said Shane Atchison, Possible’s CEO. “As soon as you say it’s low cost and just production, I think you’re going to get [worse] work.”
To upgrade the work from Costa Rica and integrate its staffers, he said he told each of Possible’s four U.S. offices to add at least five employees based in Costa Rica to their org charts, reporting in to the U.S. office and working with its projects and clients. When Possible’s Seattle office was integrated into the network recently “I said you’ve got 90 days to find five people in the Costa Rica office who’ll work on Seattle clients,” he said.
More than 90% of the Costa Rica office’s revenue comes from U.S. or international work, and less than 10% from local Costa Rican clients, he said.
For Publicis Groupe, Costa Rica is still a basic production hub, but organized at the holding company level. Publicis has 500 people based in Costa Rica and Colombia, working exclusively on digital production at a dedicated production center, according to Jean-Francois Valent, CEO of Publicis Groupe Production Platforms, at Publicis-owned Mundocom Worldwide. He said virtually all the work is done for the U.S. market, and a very small amount for several European countries.
Other holding companies, like Omnicom, are more decentralized, although Hangar is already working with another Omnicom agency, Rapp. “The intention is to set up for Critical Mass, and then be willing to open up to other Omnicom firms that might need services,” Ms. Wilkins said. “If it’s good, they will come.”
