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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, September, 17 2004

TRUE honor: Former UNESCO director Federico Mayor shares his insight on the role of higher education in the world at the National Theater in San José, after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Nacional (UNA).
Photo courtesy of Universidad Nacional (UNA).

International Peacemaker
Receives Honorary Doctorate
Spaniard Federico Mayor has a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the Universidad Complutense in Madrid (1958). He has studied sciences and humanities in France, the United States and the United Kingdom.
(Click for more)

Costa Rican Pineapple Juice
Grows in Popularity Worldwide
Costa Rican pineapple juice is increasing in popularity worldwide, according to the market information service of the National Production Council.
(Click for more)

President Pacheco
Heads to United States
President Abel Pacheco left this morning for a weeklong trip to the United States, where he will attend meetings of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as meet with fellow dignitaries.
(Click for more)

September 17

Construction of the Kalachakra Mandala, Tibetan Photo and Art Exhibits
Three monks from the Namgyal Monastery will make a mandala, a circular, intricate series of depictions of the inner and outer universes, using colored sand. While working, the monks will recite mantras and dedicate their project to the planting of seeds of supreme wisdom and peace in those who look at it, at the Children's Museum in San José, today until Sept. 28, before and during the Dalai Lama's visit (Sept. 26-28). Also, a photo exhibit depicts life in Tibet and an art exhibit displays Tankas , Tibetan paintings over brocades, on display for the first time in Costa Rica. Info: 258-4929.

Tango Show
Beach hotel hosts tango dancing performance, 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Villa Caletas Hotel, 2.5 km beyond the Punta Leona main entrance on the Central Pacific coast. Info: 637-0505.

Journalists' Long-Distance Run
This annual 9-km race is open to all levels of runners, 9 a.m. Sunday. The start and finish line is at the León Cortez Statue, in La Sabana park in western San José. Register at the Journalists' Association, 50 meters south of Soda Tapia facing the park. Info: 233-5850, ext. 11.

“What About Ben” and “Please, Mr. Please”
The Julia and David White Artists' Colony presents two plays in English. “What About Ben” is the story of an aging folksinger's struggle with what to do with her life after her husband's death. “Please, Mister, Please,” is a play about a tormented woman that recounts the self-destructive turn she took in her search for acknowledgment of her existence. The performances will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Julia and David White Artists' Colony, Santa Ana. Info: 249-1414.

By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net

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International Peacemaker
Receives Honorary Doctorate
By Rebecca Kimitch
Tico Times Staff
rkimitch@ticotimes.net

Spaniard Federico Mayor has a Doctorate in Pharmacy from the Universidad Complutense in Madrid (1958). He has studied sciences and humanities in France, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Yesterday, his resume got even more impressive when the former director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) received an honorary doctorate from Universidad Nacional (UNA) in Heredia, north of San José.

Following in the footsteps of internationally celebrated figures such as Guatemala's Rigoberto Menchu, Mayor received the distinction of honorary doctorate for his work promoting peace and higher education in countries around the world.

Mayor was honored “for his exceptional support of the development of a culture founded in the principles of solidarity, mutual understanding and dialogue, and his dedication to public higher education,” UNA rector Sonia Marta Mora said in a statement.

Mayor received the distinction with a speech on how universities can confront the world's challenges in the 21 st century. Mayor believes education is fundamental to citizen action, which he says is the cornerstone of democracy. Through education, students learn to dissent, to challenge, to denounce and to applaud their world, he said.

Furthermore, Mayor is a strong supporter of technology as a means of realizing and understanding information from around the world. He is careful to call for the sharing of technology with all parts of the world so that developing countries can also benefit from its educational value.

Mayor, who was born in Spain in 1934, has a background in biochemistry and molecular biology. He has been Minister of Education and Science in Spain, as well a legislator in the Spanish parliament and the European Parliament.

In 1987 Mayor became head of UNESCO and held the position for 12 years. During that time, he reformed the organization and breathed new life into its mission of servicing peace, tolerance and human rights, according to UNA.

But Mayor's largest contribution to UNESCO's growth is perhaps his involvement in strengthening higher education around the world. In 1998, he helped organize the World Conference on Higher Education to develop goals for universities in the 21 st century.

Mayor now chairs the Madrid-based Foundation for the Culture of Peace, which he founded in 2000.

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Costa Rican Pineapple Juice
Grows in Popularity Worldwide

Costa Rican pineapple juice is increasing in popularity worldwide, according to the market information service of the National Production Council.

A metric ton of Costa Rican pineapple juice sells in Europe for $670-$675. Last year, Costa Rica exported 15,086 metric tons of pineapple juice valued at $11.03 million. By July 31 of this year, the country had nearly matched that amount – exporting 14,649 metric tons of juice valued at $10.62 million, according to CNP.

International supply and demand for pineapple juice are expected to remain stable in the coming months.

Alexis Quesada, manager of the Agriculture Ministry's pineapple program, noted that recent hurricanes, such as Frances and Ivan, may lead to an increase in the price of other types of juices that directly compete with pineapple, such as orange and apple. Increases in the prices of these juices could make pineapple juice even more popular.

Transnational firms Del Oro and Tico Fruit are responsible for the vast majority of pineapple juice exports from Costa Rica. These companies produce juice concentrate using pineapples that don't make the cut to be exported as fresh fruit. Most export pineapples are of a variety known as MD2, according to CNP.

Using a technology known as NFC, the companies ensure the juice concentrate meets hygiene standards and is free of diseases, Quesada said.

Last year, exports of fresh pineapple surpassed coffee to become the country's second-largest agricultural export, after bananas. During the first half of the year, pineapple exports increased $33.2 million, totaling $120.1 million (TT, Aug. 6).

By the end of this year, Quesada expects there to be 26,000 hectares (64,250 acres) of pineapple plantations in Costa Rica – 179% more than last year.

The country boasts 1,200 small and medium pineapple growers – four times as many as five years ago, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

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President Pacheco
Heads to United States

President Abel Pacheco left this morning for a weeklong trip to the United States, where he will attend meetings of the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as meet with fellow dignitaries.

Pacheco's first order of business today is in Miami, where he will receive an award from the Central American Chamber of Commerce for his efforts to strengthen ties between Central American countries.

He will then spend the remainder of the weekend in Miami before heading off to New York Monday for the United Nations Summit on Hunger and Poverty. On Tuesday, he will speak before the United Nations and later meet with various dignitaries, including new Panama President Martin Torrijos.

Wednesday, after a meeting with Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños, Pacheco will head to Washington D.C., where he will witness former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodríguez (1998-2002) assume his new position as secretary general of the OAS.

The President will return to Costa Rica Sept. 24.

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