STREET Art: San José Mayor Johnny Araya yesterday inaugurated a ceramic tile mural called “Submerged in Time” designed by artist Lola Fernández, standing beside the mayor, above. Located on San José's Ave.10, this work is part of a San José municipality initiative to include art in public spaces.

International midwifery experts will be coming together in Costa Rica for the “Birth Without Borders” conference scheduled for May 23-27 at the State University at a Distance (UNED) in Sabanilla, east of San José.

Discussion on Sustainable Development and Gaia Theory
With British ecologist and author Stephan Harding, 1:30 p.m., University of Costa Rica (UCR), San Pedro, east of San José. “Animate Earth” introductory course, Sunday through May 18, Poás Volcano Lodge, Vara Blanca, northwest of San José . Info: 282-8740.

Universidad Nacional (UNA) Orchestra
Performing works by Central American composers, 8 p.m., National Theater, San José. Info: 277-3391.

By Katherine Stanley
Tico Times Staff | kstanley@ticotimes.net

Should public employees – from the President to an electric company worker – be allowed to voice their opinions as the country prepares for a referendum on a trade pact with the United States ?

Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias announced yesterday that he plans to find out, and has sent a letter to the justices of the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) asking for clarification on whether Executive Branch officials can participate in the campaign in favor the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).

The government is not allowed to use public funds to campaign for CAFTA, up for a nationwide referendum tentatively scheduled for September. Arias has repeatedly stated that the government “won't spend a cinco (fraction of a colón) ” on the effort. However, his letter seeks to clarify whether officials can publicize their opinions on the trade agreement.

The Electoral Code states that public employees cannot engage in political or electoral activities during working hours or use their position to benefit a political party.

Arias said he believes this provision was intended for elections in which candidates are seeking posts, not for a referendum, and that because the Executive Branch signed CAFTA in 2004, it has a right to defend the pact. Because September's vote would be modern Costa Rica's first referendum, this issue has never come up, he explained.

Asked whether the prohibition, if upheld by the TSE, could prevent some anti-CAFTA activists such as Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) workers from lobbying against the pact, Arias said that question is one of the reasons the Executive Branch sent its letter.

The British airline First Choice Monday inaugurated its first direct flight between London, England and the northwestern Guanacaste capital city of Liberia.

The airline plans to offer weekly flights with room for 258 passengers, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides said the route will expand travel options for European tourists.

“We are confident that First Choice will allow Costa Rica a better positioning in the English market and will also contribute to a better rate of growth,” Benavides said.

ICT hopes this new flight will bring at least 6,000 tourists to the country during the first year.

During 2006, Costa Rica received 235,000 European tourists, 28,000 of whom came from England, the statement said.

ICT statistics indicate that European tourists here have an average age of 37 years and an average income of $57,000 per person and $100,000 per family.

-ACAN-EFE

International midwifery experts will be coming together in Costa Rica for the “Birth Without Borders” conference scheduled for May 23-27 at the State University at a Distance (UNED) in Sabanilla, east of San José.

The five-day event organized by Midwifery Today offers workshops and classes on an expanse of topics pertaining to midwifery, including holistic birth, postpartum care, massage and water birth. Other topics will include natural and traditional remedies, the birth environment and dealing with difficult labors.

Ina May Gaskin, Robbie Davis-Floyd, Elizabeth Davis, Jan Tritten and Debra Pascali-Bonaro from the United States are among experts who will be leading classes and workshops. Mexican midwife Naoli Vinaver will share her country's traditional birth techniques, and Costa Rican experts will lead a roundtable discussion on how to improve hospital births here. Other midwives from Central America will also be in attendance.

Each of the five days is broken into sessions, some in Spanish, some in English and some translated from English to Spanish. Cost varies depending on how many days one attends; for residents of the Caribbean and Latin America, one day costs $75, and attending all five days is $333.

A complete schedule, price list and information on how to register are available online at www.midwiferytoday.com. Those interested may also contact the Asociación Mamasol at 359-1881 or mamasol@racsa.co.cr.