Water Works: The government yesterday announced its plan to improve the quality of Costa Rica's drinking water and install aqueducts in rural communities that lack them. A decree signed by President Oscar Arias, Public Health Minister María Luisa Avila and Environment Minister Roberto Dobles spells out the goal of making 100% of the country's water potable by 2015; 80-90% of the country now has access to potable water.

The Canadian government has announced it is sending money to Caribbean areas recently affected by Hurricane Dean and is inviting Canadian citizens abroad to help out.

The Little Theatre Group Auditions
For “84 Charing Cross Road,” 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Blanche Brown Theatre, Bello Horizonte, Escazú. For info, call Ann at 282-5164 or 355-1623

Costume and Makeup Fashion Show
7 p.m., National Children's Museum, San José.

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

Emulating the country's goal of achieving “carbon neutrality,” the tour operator Horizontes yesterday launched an initiative to encourage its transport providers to make up for the damage caused by carbon dioxide emissions by planting trees that absorb this gas.

Horizontes general manager Wilfrid Aiello explained the idea to The Tico Times yesterday during a seminar the organization gave for its transport providers at a hotel in San José.

“We know that in Costa Rica, 66% of carbon dioxide emitted comes from the transport sector, and we hope that all (transport providers) try to compensate,” he said, explaining that Horizontes is offering these providers two options for achieving carbon neutrality.

Individual providers, such as drivers of vehicles or boats, can purchase a “climate change seal” that pays for enough trees to be planted to combat the global warming effects produced by their vehicle for one year.

For example, a small car emits about five to six metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. For $60, a driver can pay for enough trees to be planted to help curb the harmful effects of this gas, Aiello explained.

These seals are offered through a program run by the Tropical Science Center (TSC) and are also available to the general public. For more information, visit www.friendsoftsc.org.

Larger companies, such as airlines or bus lines, can take advantage of the National Forest Financing Fund's (FONAFIFO) Payment for Environmental Services program by paying to protect forested land.

A representative from the Costa Rican national airline Nature Air, which has participated in this program for one year and says it has become the world's first carbon-neutral airline, was scheduled to address the audience at the end of the seminar yesterday to tell how other businesses how Nature Air has benefited from this initiative by gaining customers and exposure, Aiello explained.

The British company Excalibur Exploration signed an agreement this week that will allow it to use a plasma rocket being developed by Costa Rican astronaut Franklin Chang to transport its lab materials into space.

Chang is building this rocket, called Vasimr, at his Ad Astra lab in the northwestern city of Liberia.

“We're very excited for this historic agreement and very proud to form a team with a company as visionary as Excalibur Exploration,” Chang said in a statement.

Excalibur works on commercial space exploration and hopes to establish a base on the moon to examine asteroids landing there from Mars' orbit to determine their mineral composition and extract precious material.

No financial transaction has been made yet between the two companies. Excalibur plans to do a study to determine how exactly the research will be carried out.

“Vasimr is a technological key for the future of these space flights. We believe this is a great step for both (companies) and we hope it will be the first of many,” said Excalibur Exploration president Art Dula.

-ACAN-EFE

The Canadian government has announced it is sending money to Caribbean areas recently affected by Hurricane Dean and is inviting Canadian citizens abroad to help out.

The country's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier and Minister of International Cooperation Beverley J. Oda announced this week that as much as $2 million in immediate assistance will be made available, according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Media Office.

“This support will help international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations meet the urgent needs of people severely affected. Canada also stands ready to provide additional help where needed to assist with relief and reconstruction,” Oda said.

For more information on how to help, see
http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/cip-pic/library/hurricane_dean-en.aspx.

Hurricane Dean hit St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, Dominica, Martinique, Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and grew to a Category 5 hurricane Tuesday as it tore across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.