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Children's Rights Committees Share Experiences
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff
aroberson@ticotimes.net
Protecting children from violence and guaranteeing them their rights under the law were the topics at hand at a conference yesterday in San José that united members of 285 “guardian committees” all over Costa Rica.
These committees were formed in 2003 to prevent and directly confront cases in which children's rights are violated, such as situations of child labor, physical and sexual abuse, adolescent pregnancy and extreme poverty, said Xinia Miranda, U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) spokeswoman.
They also offer recreational activities for children, such as cultural and sporting events, and work to improve schools and other community buildings by collaborating with nonprofit organizations, small and medium businesses and Peace Corps volunteers.
The project is jointly managed by UNICEF and the National Community Development Office (DINADECO).
Sandra Cuadra, a member of the guardian committee in the San José neighborhood of La Carpio, said a lack of economic resources is the main problem affecting children in that community.
Many children abandon school because they are forced to work, and others, mostly Nicaraguans, are denied access to education because they are foreigners, she said.
“There is a real lack of information in the schools,” Cuadra said. “We visit them to let them know that legally, they (school staff members) must respect the right that all children have to an education.”
Also in attendance at the conference were Child Welfare Office (PANI) president Mario Víquez, Vice-President Laura Chinchilla and Olga DINADECO director Corrales.
Víquez said the committees play an important role in joining community efforts with PANI initiatives.
“The efforts of government institutions will always be insufficient without the work of organized, active community members that can make their communities realize that children are human beings who deserve to have all their rights protected,” Víquez said.
Poll Finds Ticos Believe Costa Rica is Corrupt
The majority of Costa Ricans questioned in a recent poll (81.2%) said their country is “corrupt” or “very corrupt,” according to the results of the poll, carried out by the University of Costa Rica (UCR), in San Pedro, east of San José. The poll results were published yesterday.
Meanwhile, only 15.6% of those polled said the country has a “low” level of corruption.
The poll showed Ticos' outlook for the future as also pessimistic; 48.9% of those polled said that during the next five years corruption will increase, while only 15% said corruption will decrease during that time.
Those polled said the most corrupt institutions and leaders in the country are the Legislative Assembly, political parties, and two ex-Presidents who have been accused of accepting kickbacks, Rafael Angel Calderón (1990-1994) and Miguel Angel Rodríguez (1998-2002).
Institutions mentioned as having the least corruption included public universities, radio stations and the written press.
The poll was carried out from June 3-12 with 1,000 Costa Ricans age 18 and older. It claims a 2.5% margin of error.
-ACAN-EFE
The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) approved a 6% reduction in taxi fares, which will go into effect as soon as it is published in the official government daily La Gaceta next week, according to a statement from ARESEP.
The rates vary based on whether the taxi is a sedan, rural taxi or handicapped-accessible taxi. The price of the first kilometer of a “sedan” taxi ride will decrease from ¢350 ($.0.67) to ¢330 ($0.63), while the price of each additional kilometer will decrease from ¢320 ($0.62) to ¢300 ($0.58).
Rates for rural taxis and handicapped-accessible taxis will be the same as those for sedan taxis for the first kilometer, but each additional kilometer in a rural taxi will cost ¢330 ($0.63), and each additional kilometer in a handicapped-accessible taxi will cost ¢290 ($0.59).
The “wait” rate taxi users must pay if they call a taxi and the driver has to wait with his or her engine turned on has also dropped for all types of taxis, and the “delay” rate a user must pay if the taxi is forced to travel slower than 10 kilometers per hour will also drop.
-Tico Times
Costa Rican and Haitian Judicial Officials Meet
Haitian and Costa Rican judicial authorities yesterday concluded a four-day visit during which they agreed to cooperate more on justice operations and learn from one another, according to Public Security Minister Fernando Berrocal.
Jean Fallieres Bazelais, Haitian Justice Ministry director of legal affairs, said his country is especially interested in learning about legal mechanisms Costa Rica uses to fight drug trafficking.
“Even though our justice systems are different, we hope to try to apply the lessons learned in Costa Rica and keep our doors open to future exchanges,” he said.
The Haitian delegation arrived in Costa Rica Monday and this week met with Supreme Court president Luis Paulino Mora, Chief Prosecutor Francisco Dall'Anese, judges, police authorities and Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) officials.
-ACAN-EFE
A Wildflower for the Home Garden
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Here's another hardy wildflower of Costa Rica that can be grown at home. Lantana (Lantana camara) or soterrey, as it is known in Spanish, is found in pastures and along roadsides in most parts of Costa Rica. Its attractive yellow, orange and red flowers stand out amidst the greenery of the countryside and attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
This plant is found throughout the neotropics, as well as in the West Indies and the southern United States. Its opposite, serrated leaves have a strong but pleasant aromatic odor, and are born on square stems, a characteristic of the Verbenaceae family to which this plant belongs.
Most commonly you will find specimens growing less than one meter tall; however, in abandoned fields they often become tall bushes with prickly stems. The young flowers with four lobed petals are yellow, turning orange and red with age. They bloom most of the year and make a nice addition to any flower arrangement with their bright, cheery colors.
The flowers produce green berries, which turn to blue or black when mature, and for this reason lantana is often called cinco negritos by the Ticos. These seeds can be collected to plant in the home garden, or you can take woody stem cuttings for vegetative propagation.
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Butterfly Magnet: Lantana is a colorful, hardy wildflower that does well in the home garden. Ed Bernhardt | Tico Times |
The cuttings can be started in prepared potting soil, either in pots or flats, kept moist to ensure good rooting. Once the new cuttings are well rooted and have good foliage, they can be transplanted to the garden or kept in pots around the home. They do well in full sun with average soil and watering. Pruning helps to keep the plants compact and blooming.
Nurseries sell several different species of lantana with pink, white or lavender flowers, which can complement your collection of lantanas.
A word of warning: even though locals may tell you that lantana can be used as a medicinal plant for a number of conditions, researchers have found that this plant contains several toxic components that can cause skin irritations when used externally, or nausea, vomiting and weakness when ingested.
Remember, there are plenty of safe, nontoxic medicinal plants to use in Costa Rica instead of lantana. Ginger for colds and flu, aloe for skin problems and mint for digestive conditions are just a few of the safe and proven herbal aids you can use from the home garden.
For more information on tropical medicinal plants, e-mail Ed Bernhardt at thenewdawncenter@yahoo.com.
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