The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, September 12, 2003

PUTTING UP A FIGHT: Central America aims to control sportfishing.
TT/ Jerry Ruhlow

In honor of Costa Rica's Independence Day, Sept. 15, The Tico Times will be closed. The next Daily Page will be published Tuesday, Sept. 16

C.R. Awarded Peace Garden
Costa Rica yesterday became the 13th country in the world -- and the first in Latin America -- to be awarded with a Peace Garden from the International Peace Garden Foundation, created in 1992 as an effort to link countries around the world with tulip gardens as a sign of peace.
(Click for more)

Nicaragua Declares
Gallo Pinto War with C.R.
MANAGUA (AFP) -- Miffed by Costa Rica's claims to gallo pinto (a typical national dish prepared with rice and beans), a Nicaraguan casino announced yesterday that it will prepare the largest dish ever of gallo pinto next Monday, in an effort to break Costa Rica's World Record set just two weeks ago.
(Click for more)

C.A. Developing Common

Sportfishing Strategy
In the coming months, Central America will finalize a new Regional Strategy for Sustainable Sportfishing, according to the Central American Fishing Organization, part of the Central American Integration System (SICA).
(Click for more)

September 12

Happy Independence Weekend.

Note: The Tico Times offices are closed on Monday, September 15 because of the holiday. Enjoy the parades!

The U.S. Embassy will be closed Monday

Independence Day Celebrations:

Heredia, Mime, dance, theater, concert, Fri., Sept. 12, 9 a.m.-12, Casa de la Cultura; also, story telling, talks and art exhibits, through Sept. 15, Casa de la Cultura, 261-4485.

All Country, Independence Torch Race, from Guanacaste-Cartago, carried by high school students, Sept. 14; National Anthem Singing and Torches Parade, 6 p.m., Sun., Sept. 14, local schools and high schools; Students parades, Sept. 15, 8 a.m.-noon, main towns of the country.

Puntarenas, Fri., Sept. 12, Mime Show, 5:30 p.m.; Play Juan Varela, 5:45 p.m.; Play La Noche que Salió la Luna Llena, 6:45 p.m.; Play Por Unos Dólares de Más, 7:30 p.m.; Play Farsa y Justicia del Señor Alcalde, 8:15; Play La Cantante Calva, 9 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 13, Play La Terminal del Sueño, 5:30 p.m.; Play, Hoy Nace una Mujer con Nombre de Poesía, 6:30 p.m.; Play Saber que no Sabemos, 7:30 p.m.; Play Dimensiones, 8:15 p.m.; Play La Organización, Un Beso al Demonio, Los Mutantes, 9:15 p.m., 661-3114.

Play La Patria – Primeros Hombres de Fecunda Labor
Monologue of an actor who performs the life of the first eight Chief of State, Fri., Sept. 12, 10 a.m., Costa Rican Art Museum, 222-7155.

National Skateboarding Championship
Beginners and pre-expert, Sat., Sept. 13, 10 a.m.; Experts, Sun., Sept. 14, Chepesent Skatepark, 350 m. east of Moravia intersection. Info: chepesent@hotmail.com

Sub Terra Neo Dance Hip Hop
Fri.-Sat., Sept. 12-13, 8 p.m., Laurence Olivier Theater, Av. 2, Ca. 28. Info: 255-0618.

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C.R. Awarded Peace Garden

Costa Rica yesterday became the 13th country in the world -- and the first in Latin America -- to be awarded with a Peace Garden from the International Peace Garden Foundation, created in 1992 as an effort to link countries around the world with tulip gardens as a sign of peace.

Costa Rica was nominated to win the annual prize by Mozambique, which received last year's Peace Garden in recognition of the remarkable transition to peace and democracy, as well as a substantial commitment to rebuilding their country, according to the International Peace Garden Foundation's Web site.

President Abel Pacheco, Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar, San José Mayer Johnny Araya and Peace Garden Foundation President Paula Savage, from the United States, inaugurated Costa Rica's Peace Garden yesterday with the planting of tulip seeds in front of the Edificio Metálico in San José.

"For many years, Costa Rica has been a model for the world for its contributions to peace processes in the region," Savage said. "Costa Rica is a country without an army and a country that was chosen to host the United Nation's University for Peace."

President Pacheco said he was honored by the selection of Costa Rica for the Peace Garden.

"We have demonstrated for decades that it is possible to live without an army," the President said. "We have demonstrated for decades that dialogue is the tool to resolve conflicts and overcome differences. We have shown that to achieve a lasting peace in our daily lives, we need to have justice, equality and solidarity."

Pacheco, who took heat earlier this year for supporting the U.S. war in Iraq -- a position that many Costa Ricans believed violated the country's traditions he lauded in his speech -- also recognized the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States.

"Today, Sept. 11, humanity remembers with pain the terrorist acts in New York and in other U.S. cities. Costa Ricans pray for the victims and reiterate our position for peace, but, at the same time, our strong stance against terrorism, dictators, wars, torture and violations of human rights."

Ottawa, Canada awarded the first Peace Garden to Washington, D.C., as a show of global friendship and peace, taken from the story of the Dutch Royal Family that was granted safe haven in Ottawa during World War II. After the War, the Royal Family sent tulips to Ottawa as a show of friendship and peace.

Since the Peace Garden concept was started in 1992, the following countries have received the honors: Canada, Austria, Italy, the United States, Poland, Germany, Hungary, France, South Africa, Slovenia, Japan, Holland, Mozambique and now Costa Rica.

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Nicaragua Declares Gallo Pinto War with C.R.

BIGGER AND BETTER: Nicaragua hopes to make a larger serving of gallo pinto. Pictured is Costa Rica's World Record-setting gallo pinto, prepared Aug. 31
TT/Julio Laínez

MANAGUA (AFP) -- Miffed by Costa Rica's claims to gallo pinto (a typical national dish prepared with rice and beans), a Nicaraguan casino announced yesterday that it will prepare the largest dish ever of gallo pinto next Monday, in an effort to break Costa Rica's World Record set just two weeks ago.

Gallo pinto, a typical dish in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica, is claimed as an invention by both countries.

"We are going to prepare the biggest gallo pinto in the world because it is 100% Nica, just like pinol (a Nicaraguan drink made with water and corn)," said Javier López, a spokesman for Parahos Casino in Managua. "We are going to take the Guinness Book Record from Costa Rica."

López said the idea was born as an initiative of the casino's clients, who are upset that Costa Rica stole gallo pinto from Nicaragua, where the dish is prepared with red beans, instead of the black beans used in Costa Rica.

The Costa Ricans used 438 kilograms of rice, beans, sweet chile, garlic, salt and pepper, but Nicaragua will use 545 kilograms (1,200 pounds) of just rice and beans, López said.

The giant Nicaraguan gallo pinto will be prepared by 15 chefs from area hotels and restaurants. They will begin cooking at 3 a.m. Sept. 15 and finish in the afternoon, in time to celebrate Independence Day by feeding 9,000 people free of charge. The giant meal will also include tortillas, corn and cheese, López said.

Guinness Book representatives will be on hand to determine whether or not the Nica pinto is larger than the Tico pinto. Nicaraguan lawyers and notaries also will be on hand to make it official.
--AFP

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C.A. Developing Common Sportfishing Strategy

In the coming months, Central America will finalize a new Regional Strategy for Sustainable Sportfishing, according to the Central American Fishing Organization, part of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

The Fishing Organization developed a Regional Action Plan to regulate sportfishing last month in Guatemala. The Organization is now working to finalize a new strategy aimed at making sportfishing a sustainable tourist attraction, according to a SICA press release.

The regional strategy will establish new fishing norms and off-seasons in an effort to control the population of sailfish and blue, black and striped marlin.

The initiative is being supported by the University of Miami in Florida's Center for Sustainable Fisheries, which is seeking financial aid for the project from the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Sportfishing generates an estimated $500 million annually in Central America, according to extra-official statistics.

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