October 1, 2007

Turtle Time: Thousands of olive ridley turtles are making their way to shore to lay their eggs along beaches of the northwestern Guanacaste province.

Show of Force: More than 150,000 people are estimated to have turned out for a massive anti-CAFTA rally in downtown San José yesterday featuring live music, speeches and various other activities.

Ronald Reyes | Tico Times

Audit Confirms Casas Did Not Use Public Funds to Promote CAFTA

Thousands Rally Against CAFTA in Costa Rica

By Gillian Gillers
Tico Times Staff | ggillers@ticotimes.net

More than 150,000 people descended on San José yesterday to rally against the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

Several blocks of Paseo Colón, the main artery leading into the capital, were packed with students, union members, teachers, politicians, toddlers and dogs, dressed in anti-CAFTA T-shirts and hats.

They cheered and chanted as musicians played and campaign leaders spoke on stages set along the streets. Balloons, quilts and banners all promoting the “no” vote waved above the crowd.

“I love Americans, but I don't like the policies that the United States wants to impose on Central America and the world,” said Arsenia Cruz, a clothing-maker who came to the march with her husband and boisterous 18-year-old daughter, Ana.

The three-hour event ended with speeches by two key anti-CAFTA leaders: Eugenio Trejos, rector of the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC) and Ignacio Trejos, emeritus bishop of San Isidro de El General, a crossroads city in the Southern Zone.

“God is with the people and the people must follow God,” said Ignacio Trejos. “We are a small country but we have the moral and spiritual force to resist outside interference.”

Eugenio Trejos asked the crowd for a minute of silence to remember former Costa Rican President Juan Rafael Mora, who fought against efforts by U.S. soldier William Walker to conquer Central America in the 1850s.

“Juanito lives on in the heart of the anti-CAFTA movement,” he said.

About 150 police officers, stationed near Paseo Colón, were barely visible. Delegates from the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) milled through the crowd, keeping an eye out for disturbances.

The event appeared peaceful, although demonstrators did begin chanting curses when a plane circled over with a pro-CAFTA banner.

Julio Quesada, a technical expert at Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) who came to the march with his wife, 4-year-old daughter and French poodle, said he appreciates his freedom of expression.

“ Costa Rica is a marvelous country. We could come (to the rally) without any fear,” he said. “Today is a family activity.”

For others, the event was a business opportunity. Street peddlers sold drinks, snacks, pins, shirts, and compact discs.

Entrepreneur Alexander Fajardo said he expected to make $100-200 selling anti-CAFTA pins at $1 each during the rally. His pin business brings in about four times as much money as his day job remodeling houses.

(This report includes information from ACAN-EFE.)

IRS warns of Internet Scam in Costa Rica

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning U.S. taxpayers of an Internet scam that has been popping up in Costa Rica.

The “phishing” scam involves a fraudulent e-mail that pretends to be an IRS request for personal information in order for the user to access a tax refund.

The scam asks for Social Security numbers and credit card information, and could also infect a victim's computer system, according to a statement from the U.S. State Department.

“The IRS warns that care should always be taken when disclosing personal information,” the statement said.

The IRS has busted several such schemes in recent years, like the case in which an e-mail told taxpayers they were being audited and that they could resolve matters by divulging sensitive financial information on an official-looking Web site.

In Costa Rica, the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) has received an influx of Internet banking fraud complaints in the last year, and is now investigating some 150 cases (TT, Sept. 7).

If U.S. taxpayers have any doubts about the authenticity of an e-mail, they can call 1-800-829-1040.

-Tico Times

International Organic Coffee
Growers to Unite in Costa Rica

The U.S. company Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers will host a conference with coffee producers and growers in Costa Rica this week.

The event – called “Let's Talk about Coffee” -- will be held Wednesday through Saturday in the Pacific port city of Puntarenas for the fifth consecutive year, according to a statement from the event's organizers.

“This private conference will bring together the entire supply chain to discuss commercial needs and share best practices,” said Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers president David Griswold.

The theme of the event is “Quality, Pura Vida,” and it will focus on new models of sustainable production and the development of agreements between toasters and growers, the statement said.

Representatives from several countries will speak on new techniques for shade-grown coffee and new methods for processing high-quality coffees using less water.

Among U.S. companies that plan to attend are Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, from Vermont; Tully's Coffee, from Washington; Allegro Coffee, from Colorado; Dillanos Coffee, from Washington; and Groundwork Coffee, from California.

Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers, based in the city of Portland, is a buyer of green coffee that promotes the best roasters in North America and Europe with specialty organic coffees and fair trade.

It's also one of the few coffee importers in the world that exclusively sells coffees produced by families or cooperatives, representing 100,000 producers in 12 countries.

Audit Confirms Casas Did Not Use
Public Funds to Promote CAFTA

An audit has cleared former Vice-President Kevin Casas of suspicions he may have used public funds to promote the controversial Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), which will be voted on in a nationwide referendum Oct. 7.

Casas, a supporter of CAFTA, quit the vice-presidency after a memorandum – in which he suggested fear tactics should be used to promote the trade agreement – was leaked to the press.

The audit was done by the Planning Ministry, which Casas directed, and commissioned by the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE).

-ACAN-EFE

Grow Your Own Bug Repellent with Citronella

Common Name: Citronella grass

Spanish Name: Citronela

Latin Name: Cymbopogon nardus and C. winterianus

Family: Poaceae

Geo-distribution: Originating in southern Asia, citronella is a fragrant grass that has adapted to most tropical countries around the world. It grows well in the coastal and mid-range elevations of Costa Rica.

Botanical Description: Both citronella and lemon grass are members of the Poaceae family and are similar in appearance. However, citronella has a stronger aromatic scent, which most of us are familiar with as citronella oil. Citronella grows much taller (two meters) than lemon grass, and the stems are red at the base of the plant. These plants produce long, flowering stems, which produce seeds annually.

Uses: Citronella oil is obtained from different Cymbopogon species. It is also present in several other plants, including geraniums and basil. The principal compounds of citronella oil are geraniol and citronellol, which are used in perfumes, household disinfectants and soaps, as well as insect repellents. Taiwan, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka, India, Argentina, Ecuador, Madagascar, Mexico and the West Indies are leading producers of citronella oil.

Preparation:

Household cleaner and disinfectant. Boil several chopped stems of citronella and three lemon rinds in two liters of water. Cool, strain and use for kitchen cleanup and general household cleaning.

Insect repellent. Finely chop one stem of citronella and one small cactus pad (known as tuna in Spanish). Add to one liter of alcohol in a clean glass jar with a tight cap. Shake the ingredients once a day for three days. Strain the liquid into a new container and discard the pulp. Apply generously and frequently to the skin to repel insects.

Citronella candles. Add several finely chopped citronella stems to one liter of melted candle wax. Simmer for several minutes to extract the citronella oil from the stem. Pour the melted wax into your favorite candle molds and discard the chopped citronella stems.

Notes: Citronella plants are sold in many nurseries across the country, or you may come across citronella growing in your neighborhood. In this case, carefully dig away several of the stems and their roots, which grow from the base of the mother plant. Be sure to trim off the leaves, while leaving the main stem intact.

You can plant these stems in plastic nursery bags full of good, fertile soil, leaving them in the shade for several weeks until they begin to form new growth. After several months, they can be transplanted to permanent sites around the house or garden. Citronella does well in full sun and partial shade.

Citronella plants can also be grown in large pots around the home or apartment to help repel mosquitoes. These hardy plants have no significant pest or disease problems and require no special attention.

For more information on tropical gardening, visit www.thenewdawncenter.info or e-mail thenewdawncenter@yahoo.com. We have books and seeds to share with you.