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Burn the brutality: A protestor raised a burning torch outside the Legislative Assembly in San José during a small demonstration late Monday against both police brutality and the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA). One banner read “Careful! Police at work,” referring to an incident in which a police officer was caught on security camera hitting an anti-CAFTA protestor three times in the face during a demonstration outside Congress last Tuesday. |
Ronald Reyes | Tico Times |
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| FBI-wanted ‘animal rights extremist' Believed to be in Costa Rica |
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering up to a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of an animal rights activist wanted for the 2003 bombings of two biotechnology companies in California. |
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| Nicaragua rattles saber over Colombian border |
Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos traveled to New York City yesterday to present U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a letter of protest over Colombia's alleged expansionism into waters disputed with Nicaragua. In the letter, the Nicaraguan government also reasserted its right to defend its sovereignty. |
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| Young Central American directors show shorts in Costa Rica |
Small-budget filmmakers are putting their big ideas on the screen in Costa Rica this week in San José, as part of the Central American Youth Video Festival “La240” – referring to the number given to the video format on which the participants' short-films are made. |
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| Costa Rican gov't condemns Gaza rocket attacks |
On the heels of the birth of diplomatic ties between Costa Rica and what this nation's government is calling the “State of Palestine,” President Oscar Arias' administration has put in its 2 cents regarding the present conflict at the Gaza Strip. |
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Plants at a Glance:
Scallions & Chives |
Common name: Scallion / chive
Spanish name: Cebollina / cebollín
Latin name: Allium cepa var. aggregatum / A. schoenoprasum
Family: Liliaceae
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FBI-wanted ‘animal rights extremist'
Believed to be in Costa Rica |
By Nick Wilkinson
Tico Times Staff | nwilkinson@ticotimes.net |
| The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering up to a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of an animal rights activist wanted for the 2003 bombings of two biotechnology companies in California.
Daniel Andreas San Diego, the man in question, allegedly targeted the Chiron company in Emeryville on Aug. 28, 2003, with two pipe bombs. Then, on Sept. 26, he targeted the Shaklee Corporation in Pleasanton with two bombs, one filled with nails. None of the bombs caused any fatalities.
According to “ America's Most Wanted,” a TV program in the U.S. that focuses on helping police catch wanted criminals, the FBI says the alleged terrorist planted the bombs because he believed the companies had ties with labs that use animals for testing medications and other products.
In a press release, authorities say they believe San Diego is in Costa Rica but they don't say why.
“It is probable that San Diego lives and works in Costa Rica, with U.S. citizens or people who speak English,” the release states. “He's known as an animal rights extremist, is linked to animal rights groups in the U.S. and he could be connected to groups of a similar nature in Costa Rica.”
The information numbers listed to call with information is the FBI in Panama, 507-207-7000, and the U.S. Embassy in San José, 519-2000.
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| Nicaragua rattles saber over Colombian border |
By Tim Rogers
Nica Times Staff | trogers@ticotimes.net
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Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos traveled to New York City yesterday to present U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a letter of protest over Colombia's alleged expansionism into waters disputed with Nicaragua. In the letter, the Nicaraguan government also reasserted its right to defend its sovereignty.
The move continues a long-running maritime dispute in which both countries are making claim to an area at the 82nd Meridian, including several keys in Caribbean waters.
Nicaragua elevated the rhetorical war with Colombia this week by accusing the South American country of violating International Law, attempting to expand its maritime borders into Nicaraguan waters, and for being a militarily occupied colony of the United States.
President Daniel Ortega reiterated that Nicaragua will defend its sovereignty and protect its fishermen on the high seas. He called on the Central American nations to unite with Nicaragua against what he called expansionist ambitions.
“In this battle we Central Americans need to unite against the expansionist attitude not of the Colombian people, but of the Colombian oligarchy, which is subject to the interests of the big transnationals and the interests of the empire,” Ortega said during a speech last Friday. “ Colombia is a country that is occupied militarily by the United States.”
Colombia has responded to Ortega's criticisms by denying it is an aggressor nation and expressed concerns over the Nicaraguan president's comments.
Read Friday's print or digital edition of The Nica Times, an eight-page publication of The Tico Times, for more on this story.
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Young Central American
directors show shorts in Costa Rica |
Small-budget filmmakers are putting their big ideas on the screen in Costa Rica this week in San José, as part of the Central American Youth Video Festival “La240” – referring to the number given to the video format on which the participants' short-films are made.
Video fans already viewed 25 works, as of yesterday, Day 2 of the event, according to the festival's Web site http://la240.com.
An international cast of under-35-year-old directors from Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama will show a total of 68 shorts, as the festival's spot suggests, “ sin plata, con ideas ” (without cash, with ideas).
Nationally made shorts include “Suicide Revelations,” an under 7 minute video-clip by José Pablo Porras, and Gustavo Abarca's 9:11-minute work “ La Desnudez de los Santos ” (The Nudity of Saints). Shorter works include Tico video-artist Albán Camacho's “ El Cadenazo ” (“Big Chain”), running only a minute and a half.
In additional to open-air screenings at its headquarters, the National Culture Center (CENAC), La240 is celebrating its fourth edition at San José's Cultural Center of Spain, which is hosting the “Parallel Film Screenings” series and a screenwriters' workshop, as well as at Bar El Observatorio.
The festival runs through Saturday.
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-Tico Times |
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| Costa Rican gov't condemns Gaza rocket attacks |
On the heels of the birth of diplomatic ties between Costa Rica and what this nation's government is calling the “State of Palestine,” President Oscar Arias' administration has put in its 2 cents regarding the present conflict at the Gaza Strip.
The Costa Rican Foreign Ministry issued a statement criticizing the rocket attacks by “Palestinian militias from the Gaza Strip on territory in the south of Israel, which are aggravating the situation in the area.”
The number of rockets launched over the Gaza-Israel border has increased in recent days, causing serious injuries in residents including two Israeli brothers, ages 8 and 19, the BBC reported.
“The (Foreign) Ministry expressed its concern and condemnation of the launch of projectiles over the town of Sderot and neighboring areas, for its impact on innocent civilians and the risk of an increase of violence,” said a Costa Rican Foreign Ministry press release.
The violence, indeed, could escalate as the region's residents brace themselves for a possible Israeli retaliation. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday threatened to wage a large-scale offensive in the region, international media reported.
Amos Oz, leader of Israel's peace movement and Nobel laureate, like President Arias (but for literature), warned against the Israeli army's invasion of the Gaza Strip, saying it could prove catastrophic, according to the newswire Agence France-Presse.
Should it invade, Oz said, “ Israel would expose itself to far more losses.” He continued, “Moreover, such an operation would change nothing, given that rocket fire was happening when we ( Israel ) controlled the Gaza Strip.” Oz called for a ceasefire with Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in June. Israel's government has so far ruled out a ceasefire and in an interview with the Associated Press, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said “There is no hope for peace … without real change on the ground.”
Nobel Peace laureate Arias' government, however, is still hoping. The Foreign Ministry “reiterated its support for the efforts of all those aspiring to build a lasting peace in the region,” its statement said, “as well as the aspiration of guaranteeing the people of Israel and Palestine the peaceful and harmonious coexistence they so deserve.”
Last week U.N. representatives of the Palestinian National Authority and Costa Rica signed an agreement to open diplomatic relations between the two governments (read the latest Tico Times for more on this story).
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-Tico Times |
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| Plants at a Glance: Scallions & Chives |
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Common name: Scallion / chive
Spanish name: Cebollina / cebollín
Latin name: Allium cepa var. aggregatum / A. schoenoprasum
Family: Liliaceae
Geo-distribution: Scallions or green dividing onions originated in the Near East; settlers from the Old World introduced them to the neotropics. They are found growing in home gardens from low to high elevations in Costa Rica. Chives, a close relative to scallions, are also well distributed.
Botanical Description: The scallion is noted for its long (up to 60 centimeters), green, hollow leaves, typical of the onions, which arise from numerous bulbs in the soil. These bulbs continually divide as new offshoots. There are many varieties of scallions, some with a red or white paper-like skin surrounding the bulbs. The flowers range in color from violet to white. Chives also come in many varieties and can be distinguished by their smaller (30 cm) green leaves and bulbs.
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| Green Onion: Scallions grow best in rich, fertile soil and full sun. Eating fresh scallions is a good way to prevent many health problems. |
Ed Bernhardt | Tico Times |
Medicinal Uses: Scallions and onions, like garlic, have been used for centuries as both food and medicine. Eating fresh scallions is a good way to prevent health problems. They have been proven effective in reducing high blood pressure and cholesterol, and are known to be a strong antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agent.
Onion juice has been shown to inhibit numerous harmful microbes and fungi, including Candida albicans. Traditionally, fresh onion juice has been used to treat upper respiratory infections, including pneumonia, coughs, sore throats and bronchitis. Thrush or yeast infections are also treated with onion juice. Recent research demonstrates that onion juice is also beneficial in aiding asthma, arthritis, cancer, circulatory problems, colds, flu, infections, insomnia, liver disease, sinusitis and ulcers.
Preparation: Adding plenty of fresh onion greens to your diet is an excellent way to help prevent health problems. For treating coughs, colds and flu, blend or extract the juice of several scallions, strain, and mix with 15-30 milliliters of honey in a clean glass container. This is an excellent home remedy for treating children, since the honey hides the pungent taste of the onion juice. Dosage: One to six tablespoons per day. You will also find that blending scallions and orange juice together provides a helpful health drink. Fresh onion juice can also be applied orally on the tongue in cases of yeast infection.
Gardening Notes: Scallions and chives are much easier to grow than the bulb onions you buy at the store. Leading agricultural supply stores offer seeds for planting in flats or cups in prepared potting soil. Though the seeds are slow to germinate and grow, once they are well established they can be transplanted to garden beds or containers with rich, fertile soil located in a sunny area. Three months after planting, the onions will begin to produce new offshoots from the mother plant, which can provide a steady supply for replanting.
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