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A CALL TO THE ARAB WORLD: With international prices fluctuating, Iraqi Oil Minister, standing in front of burning oil fields, calls on Arab oil nations to not increase daily output.
AFP/TT

Oil Prices Climb, Drop Following War Reports
As reports on the war in Iraq change by the hour, international oil prices are rising and falling with each new bit of news leaked onto the airwaves.
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National Emergency Commission
Preparing for Rainy Season
National Emergency Commission (CNE) President Luis Diego Morales yesterday announced a series of measures that will be taken during the oncoming rainy season to reduce the risk and damage of rain-related natural disasters, such as flooding and mudslides.
(Click for more)

Nigerian Woman Spared, for the Moment
The fate of Nigerian mother Amina Lawal will not be decided for at least two more months, following the suspension of her second death sentence appeal yesterday when the chief judge of the State Sharia Court of Appeals failed to show for the hearing, according to AFP wire reports.
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10+1 Costa Rican Film and Video Festival
Don’t miss today’s shows at 7 p.m., "Súmate al Juego," (documentary); "Más Allá del Infierno,"(animation); "Campaña Arroz Imperio," (advertisement); "Canción de Cuna," (video); "30 Años de Música," (documentary); "Zona-pasaje," (video); "El Humo del Hielo," (fiction) at Spanish Cultural Center, Av.13, Ca. 31. Info: 257-2919.

A 'Must See' Concert
The Carnegie Hall Choir is performing tonight, tomorrow and Saturday at 8 p.m., at the National Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 3-5. Info: 233-1272.

Belly Dancers
At Aya Sofya Restaurant at 9 p.m., enjoy a little art from the East. Info: 221-7185.

Oil Prices Climb, Drop Following War Reports
By Tim Rogers
trogers@ticotimes.net

As reports on the war in Iraq change by the hour, international oil prices are rising and falling with each new bit of news leaked onto the airwaves.

Following Monday's reports that Iraqi resistance was putting up an unexpectedly strong fight against U.S.-led coalition invaders, barrel prices shot up almost $2 in the afternoon, closing at $29.70, according to the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (RECOPE). Iraqi Oil Minister Amer Mohammed al-Rashid, meanwhile, called on other Arab oil-producing nations yesterday to allow international prices to soar uncontrollably by not increasing their daily output quotas

The sudden surge in prices caused RECOPE President Litleton Bolton yesterday to issue a communiqué announcing pump prices in Costa Rica will again increase and urging Ticos to cut back on consumption.

Meanwhile, violent ethnic clashes in Nigeria's Niger Delta have forced multinational petroleum companies Chevron Texaco, TotalFinaElf and Royal Dutch Shell to reduce or suspend operations in the largest African oil-producing nation, exacerbating the current oil price crisis.

"All of this shows we are still facing an unstable market that will not stabilize as long as the war in Iraq continues," Bolton said. "Every wartime declaration and event generates a speculative reaction in oil prices."

Yesterday's morning reports by British media of a popular uprising in southern Iraq against the regime of Saddam Hussein again sent ripples through the international oil markets, as analysts began to think that war would not be as long as thought the day before. Although Iraqi Information Minister Mohammad Said al-Sahhaf later dismissed the uprising as an unfounded rumor, the international price of oil had already dropped to $27.97 a barrel, according to wire reports.

Despite the fluctuating prices, Bolton said current barrel prices are still slightly lower than they have been for much of the last six months. He warned, however, that the situation could change in the coming weeks.

The Costa Rican oil chief said that it takes a period of 15 days to increase pump prices in Costa Rica, forcing RECOPE to monitor the situation at all times and speculate in advance about when price adjustments might be required.

Last January, RECOPE announced a National Emergency Plan -- including restrictions on vehicle circulation and rationing of gas. The Plan will be implemented in the event prolonged war drives oil prices over $40 a barrel (TT Jan. 10).

National Emergency Commission
Preparing for Rainy Season
By Fabián Borges
Tico Times Staff

National Emergency Commission (CNE) President Luis Diego Morales yesterday announced a series of measures that will be taken during the oncoming rainy season to reduce the risk and damage of rain-related natural disasters, such as flooding and mudslides.

The main focus of the Plan is disaster prevention, he said.

"The CNE is working closely with the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) to prepare a media campaign with information on how to detect areas vulnerable to flooding, and what steps people should take to reduce the potential of flood damage," Morales explained.

Meteorologists are predicting this year's rainy season will be more intense than ones in previous years, he warned.

"This situation forces us improve coordination between the CNE and municipalities, local organizations and area residents," Morales explained.

The CNE is also working to create realistic mock-emergency scenarios for different types of disasters that affect different regions of the country. Through these scenarios, the institution hopes to better prepare to deal with disasters and provide quick and effective emergency relief, Morales said.

The CNE also will take preventive measures by overseeing the reinforcement of bridges and the construction of dikes along various rivers prone to flooding in the Caribbean province of Limón.

Morales said his organization will be work directly with municipalities to reform their Development Plans to end the practice of building homes in areas at high risk of flooding.