Escencia de Mujer: Paintings by Swiss painter and Costa Rican resident Arvid Roström including this one entitled “ Escencia de Mujer ” (“Essence of Woman”) are on display at Calderón Guardia Museum in San José's Barrio Escalante through May 27. For more information, call 222-6392.

The San José area will resound with verse beginning tomorrow when more than 20 poets from Latin America, Europe and the United States converge for the VI International Poetry Festival, according to a statement from the event's organizers.

Contemporary Dance Show
By the Texas State University Dance Troupe and Danza Abend, 7:30 p.m., Eugene O'Neill Theater, San Pedro, east of San José.

Play “Villa Nueva de la Boca del Monte”
8 p.m., Melico Salazar Theater, San José, Ave. 2, Calle Ctrl. Info: 295-6276.

Concert by The Pérez Zeledón Big Band and Pato Barraza
7 p.m., Eugene O'Neil Theater, Barrio Dent, San José. Info: 771-6498.

Concert Celebrating Radio U 11th Anniversary
Various Bands, Fraijanes, Alajuela. Info: www.musicaparallevar.com

Free Calypso ConcertBiodiversity Celebration
Including storytelling show, cimarrona, mascarada, sales and a play, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., InBioparque, Santo Domingo, Heredia, north of San José. Info: 507-8107. 

Discovering Beethoven
Special concert for children and teenagers by the National Symphony Orchestra, 10:30 a.m., National Auditorium, inside National Children's Museum, San José. Info: 222-7647. 

Hansel y Grettel
Puppet Show performed by the Balagan Theatrical Group, today, May 27, and June 3, 11 a.m., Eugene O'Neill Theater, Costa Rica-North American Cultural Center, Barrio Dent, San José. Info: 207-7554, 207-7555.

By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

Yesterday was the International Day against Homophobia, and some groups in Costa Rica seized the occasion to ask President Oscar Arias to help create more equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and trans-gender people.

The Diversity Movement called for Arias to act on the campaign promises he made the group, said Diversity Movement president Abelardo Araya.

Arias “told us that yes, he was committed to ending discrimination against gays here, and now we want to see concrete actions,” Araya said.

During an appointment with Casa Presidencial's Social Aid Office, the group submitted a letter to Arias requesting three things: that he form a commission to target discrimination made up of members of the ministries of Education, Labor, Health and Culture, as well as representatives from civil society; support a bill to legalize civil union for gay couples; and help with an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign the Diversity Movement is carrying out with the Public Health Ministry.

In terms of homophobia, Costa Rica is doing “very badly,” Araya said. “ Costa Rica is a country that has an image before the world as a respecter of human rights, but in reality there is a lot of racism, sexism, machismo and all forms of discrimination.”

Araya's group is also suggesting that the government launch a campaign modeled after Brazil's “Brazil Without Homophobia” campaign to get the word out that discriminating against gays is wrong.

“Homophobia is an attitude full of hostility or exclusion against homosexual people, men and women, that has repercussions on all levels: it makes the objects of discrimination lose their dreams, opportunities, families and loved ones... and in many cases their jobs or even their lives,” said a statement released yesterday by the Diversity Movement.

Costa Rica closed out the first four months of 2007 with a financial surplus of almost $1 million, in part because of a 32.6% increase in income over the same period during 2006, according to Finance Minister Guillermo Zúñiga.

From January to April, the government's total income reached almost $1.2 billion, and its spending was slightly less than this amount, creating a favorable balance.

During the first four months of the year, the government spent 19.4% more than last year, especially in salary payments, pensions and a fund for superior education, Zúñiga said.

Its main sources of income were Customs tariffs and taxes on income and sales.

The minister said the surplus registered at the end of April is “product of a dynamic of growth in income, controlled growth of spending” and the dynamic of the country's debt.

However, he said there is no guarantee this surplus will continue in the coming months, he said.

-ACAN-EFE

The San José area will resound with verse beginning tomorrow when more than 20 poets from Latin America, Europe and the United States converge for the VI International Poetry Festival, according to a statement from the event's organizers.

This year's special guest is Juan Gelman, from Argentina, who has authored books and received numerous awards.

Other well-known poets include Mexico's Juan Bañuelos, Chile's Juan Cameron, Spain's Juan Bonilla, Colombia's Juan Orjuela and Nicaragua's Francisco de Asís Fernández.

Poetry readings, book presentations and activities for students are scheduled tomorrow through May 28 in San José; Heredia, to the north; and Alajuela, to the northwest.

The event will be inaugurated tonight at 6 p.m. at the National Theater in San José.