The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, June 6, 2003

FINNED FOR SOUP: High price of shark fins leads to poaching in Costa Rican waters.
photo/PRETOMA

Taiwanese Shark-Fin Poachers Exposed
A Taiwanese fishing vessel last Saturday night unloaded 30 tons of shark fins at the central Pacific port of Puntarenas, violating a February 2001 fishing regulation that makes it illegal to cut a shark's fin off and throw the carcass back into the ocean.
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1st U.S. Casualty in Iraq Killed by 'Friendly Fire'
The first U.S. Marine killed in the Iraqi war March 21 -- José Antonio Gutiérrez, a former Guatemalan orphan who was taken in at a young age by regional child advocacy group Casa Alianza -- was killed by so-called "friendly fire," according to a Casa Alianza press release.
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Festival Celebrates Environmentalism
With a series of activities uniting environmental consciousness and art, the VII Madre Fértil Tierra Nuestra Festival kicked off yesterday with a morning inauguration ceremony and evening concert at San José's Melico Salazar Theater, with singer-songwriters Luis Angel Castro, of Costa Rica, and Manuel Jiménez, from the Dominican Republic.
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June 6

Sele vs. Chile
Costa Rican National Soccer Team (Sele) hosts The Chilean National Soccer Team, Sunday at 11 a.m. at Saprissa Stadium, in TibasNew Ideas to Care About Environment

Montes de Oca Environmental Fair
Environmental Fair will teach you what to do and how with your garbage. At San Pedro park this weekend.

"Gymnastic Stars"
From today to Sunday, take your family to this international tournament where gymnists ages 6-20 will demonstrate the best of their ability at the National Gymnasium, south-east, Sabana Park.

Manuel Antonio Park in San José
Information and special vacation packages to Costa Rica's most-visited national park. The "Manuel Antonio Fair," is held this weekend 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at Multiplaza Shopping Center in Escazú. Check it out! and get ready for mid-year vacations.

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Taiwanese Shark-Fin Poachers Exposed

A Taiwanese fishing vessel last Saturday night unloaded 30 tons of shark fins at the central Pacific port of Puntarenas, violating a February 2001 fishing regulation that makes it illegal to cut a shark's fin off and throw the carcass back into the ocean.

photo/PRETOMA

According to a press release from the Costa Rican Sea Turtle Restoration Project's (PRETOMA's) Shark Campaign, the Taiwanese-registered "GRUIDA U RUEY 1" unloaded its contraband at 9 p.m., when no port inspectors were on duty.

However, the illegal operation was witnessed by Costa Rican Coast Guard personnel, who had no authority to intervene, but reported the incident to environmentalists.

When port inspectors returned to duty the morning of Monday, June 2, the Taiwanese vessel reportedly tried to unload its legal cargo, which was still in the ship's hold. Environmental groups, however, convinced the Costa Rican Fishery Institute (INCOPESCA) to prohibit the vessel from docking and ordered an investigation.

"This massive landing of shark fins is simply irresponsible and unsustainable," said an alarmed Irene Boza, coordinator of PRETOMA's Shark Campaign. "Since shark fins make up only 5% of a shark's body weight, we estimate that over 30,000 sharks were killed and finned by this vessel alone on this single fishing expedition."

"The ease with which foreign vessels violate Costa Rican finning regulations is appalling," said Randall Arauz, President of PRETOMA. "Simply put, to avoid Costa Rican law, vessels know all they must do is unload their illegal contraband on Saturdays or Sundays, or in the evenings when INCOPESCA inspectors are off-duty. Then, when inspectors are on duty, they land the rest of their catch legally and act as if they are playing by the rules."

According to Arauz, the fins were cut off silky, hammerhead, black tip, thresher and bull sharks.

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1st U.S. Casualty in Iraq Killed by 'Friendly Fire'

GUTIERREZ after Casa Alianza took him in.
photo/Casa Alianza

The first U.S. Marine killed in the Iraqi war March 21 -- José Antonio Gutiérrez, a former Guatemalan orphan who was taken in at a young age by regional child advocacy group Casa Alianza -- was killed by so-called "friendly fire," according to a Casa Alianza press release.

After moving off the streets of Guatemala and eventually gaining asylum in the U.S., where he lived with foster parents in California, Gutiérrez joined the Marine Corps in March 2002. His battalion was one of the first ordered into Iraq when orders to invade were issued. He died two days after the war began (TT, March 28).

"He was killed by a hail of bullets paid for by the taxes of the people whose foreign country he wanted to serve as a Guatemalan," said Casa Alianza director Bruce Harris, in an angrily worded press release titled "From Hero to Murder Victim."

According to Casa Alianza, Gutiérrez was killed by another young U.S. Marine, who shot him after the Guatemalan "cleared a building."

Harris blasted Gutiérrez's Unit Commander, U.S. Marine Colonel T.D. Waldhauser, for calling the young Guatemalan "a true warrior for a righteous cause." Harris said the eulogy was a "typical public relations spin."

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Immigration Roundups Resume

After a two-month suspension of immigration sweeps due to a legal challenge to the constitutionality of such actions, the Special Immigration Police were back at work this week inspecting the papers of street vendors operating in the outskirts of San José, according to a Ministry release.

The inspections, conducted in the capital outskirts of Hatillo, San Sebastián, Paso ancho, Y Griega, Zapote, San Pedro, Guadalupe and near Juan Santamaría International Airport, were part of an effort to intensify immigration control after such roundups were called into question last April.

Most of those detained were selling items such as cellular phone accessories, toys, drinks and vegetables to passing motorists, according to the press release.

Six Nicaraguans were reportedly detained for not having any valid identification, two of whom will be deported for not having residency, according to immigration officials.

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Festival Celebrates Environmentalism
By Amanda Schoenberg
aschoenberg@ticotimes.net

With a series of activities uniting environmental consciousness and art, the VII Madre Fértil Tierra Nuestra Festival kicked off yesterday with a morning inauguration ceremony and evening concert at San José's Melico Salazar Theater, with singer-songwriters Luis Angel Castro, of Costa Rica, and Manuel Jiménez, from the Dominican Republic.

In keeping with what the United Nations is calling the International Year of Water, the 2003 festival, "Sweet Water, Sweet Hope," focuses on raising awareness about water conservation efforts within Costa Rica and the world.

"We are using art to transmit our love and concern for the earth," said event organizer Nydia Rodríguez, of the Terra Nostra Association. The Ministries of Culture and Environment, as well as the Costa Rican Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers, also are supporting this year's Madre Fértil festival.

Until June 18, the National Museum is hosting an ecological art exhibit by Cuban painter Lester Campa, and the Eugene O'Neill Theater in the Costa Rican-North American Cultural Center will show a series of environmental films and videos from Monday to Friday next week at, at 7 p.m.

Dr. Michel Motoya, of the Friends of Cocos Island Foundation, will host a conference on "Cocos Island, Island of Water" in the Puntarenas Marine Park on June 14 at 11 a.m., and in the National Museum on June 23.

The festival closes with a focus on children's activities, featuring a beach cleanup, art exhibition and kids' party on Playa Samara, on the Nicoya Peninsula. The First Meeting for Kids for Peace and the Environment will be held June 24 - 26 at the Campo Escuela Iztarú in Ochomogo, Cartago.

For more information about Madre Fértil Tierra Nuestra events, call 228-4317 or e-mail terranostra@amnet.co.cr

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