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VIII Art Fair
Including art exhibit, live music, dances, mascarades, cimarrona, July 2-4, Casa del Artista, Guadalupe, 2234-1233, escuelacasadelartista@ice.co.cr 

National Symphony Orchestra
Jazz, July 2, 8 p.m.; July 4, 10:30 a.m., National Theater.

Son de Tikizia in Concert
Salsa, July 2, 9 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro.

“Oliver” Auditions
Musical with new Spanish translation, by Far Corners Community Musical Theatre, open auditions for ages 10-18, June 28-July 2 (show set for first week of August), Monteverde. Info: 2645-6114, www.farcornersmusicals.org.

Dyango in Concert
Ballads, July 2, 8 p.m., Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura, Ciudad Cariari, Heredia, 2206-7770, www.specialticket.net.

Mustang 65 in Concert
Rock, July 2, 9 p.m., Tabacón bar, Jacó, Central Pacific; July 3, 4:30 p.m., Backyard Bar, Playa Hermosa, Central Pacific.

Art Workshop
Dictated by artist Ariane Garnier, July 3, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Museums of the Central Bank, underneath Plaza de la Cultura, registration at 2243-4224.

Cheese Fair
Concerts, contests, product sales, cultural shows, July 3-4 and 9-11, San Buenaventura, Santa Cruz, Turrialba, www.expoferiadelqueso.co.cr. 

Los Congos Ecology Group Activities
Designing, Building and Using Sacred Labyrinths, July 3, Quebradilla de Cartago, Finca y Restaurante Armonía Campestre. Info: grupoloscongos@gmail.com. 

Gourmet Lunch and Wine Tasting Fundraiser
To benefit AHPPA animal shelter, July 3, 12:30 p.m., Zamora Estates, Santa Ana. Info: 2267-7158, 2267-6374, leighjohn2003@yahoo.com, spaycostarica@yahoo.com, www.animalescostarica.com.

Irie Fest 2010
With Jah Cure, Richie Spice, Mykal Rose of Black Uhuru, Cultura Profética, Cali P, Pressure, Kingo Lovers, Ojo de Buey, Rising Sound DJs, July 3, 1 p.m., in front of Torre Geko, Real Cariari Mall, Ciudad Cariari. Info: www.costaricaticket.com.

U.S. Independence Day Picnic
Games, hot dogs, picnic food, beer garden, music, open to U.S. citizens and their immediate families, proof of citizenship required, July 4, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; flag raising ceremony, 10 a.m.; parade of flags, 10:30 a.m., Cervecería Costa Rica, Río Segundo, Alajuela, entrance off highway to airport. Info: 2288-4850, www.americancolonycr.com. 

4th of July Outdoor Barbecue
With live music by the Blues Devils, July 4, 4-7 p.m., Old West Grill, Santa Ana, 100 m east of Red Cross. Info: 2282-9210. 

Organic Fair
Including activities for children, talks and tours, July 4, Finca Agrícola San Luis, S.A., 2 km., north-east Escuela San Luis, Grecia, 2494-4523, 8887-6995.

Train Trip to Atenas
Includes meals, live music, round trip, July 4, reservations and further information at 2233-3300.

“Long Distance Race “Running for Our Health”
Including raffles after the race, 11 km., July 4, 8 a.m., start and finish line at Clínica Bíblica, registration at Runners Stores, Deportes Tibás and www.GSxG.net

The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) has given the Supreme Elections Tribunal (TSE) three days to address a challenge relating to a referendum on same-sex civil unions.

The challenge was filed by longtime civil servant Esteban Quirós, who questioned the validity of addressing human rights issues enshrined in international treaties in a referendum. He said Costa Rica is bound by international conventions that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In Costa Rica, the provisions of international treaties supersede all national laws except the Constitution.

“It would be impossible to put a human rights issue to a vote,” Quirós said, explaining that it would violate the rights homosexuals have according to “different international instruments developed by international organizations.”

The petition for holding the referendum was submitted by the Citizen's Observatory, a private organization that claims to have collected the 136,750 signatures necessary to put the issue of gay unions to a popular vote.

Gay-rights activists are lobbying against a referendum they fear will be a setback to their cause. Because Costa Rica is a strongly Catholic country, they are not optimistic that a vote on gay marriage will be in their favor.

This is the second challenge to the referendum, which would likely be held Dec. 5 barring a negative ruling by the TSE or the courts. The first, which was dismissed earlier this week, was filed by the Ombudswoman's Office on the grounds that the right of homosexual couples to form civil unions is “fundamental,” and that such rights are not an appropriate subject for a popular vote (TT, June 25).

Come celebrate the United States' birthday with thousands of other U.S. citizens and an endless supply of hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn and beer.

The American Colony Committee will host its 50th U.S. Independence Day picnic Sunday at the fairgrounds of the Cervecería Costa Rica in Alajuela, northwest of San José. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and costs $5. Anyone with a U.S. passport and his or her immediate family (spouse and children) will be admitted to the festival. Susan Tessem, president of the American Colony Committee, said the organization expects 4,000 guests this year.

Tessem said the 50th anniversary celebration means a lot to the committee.

“I think everybody feels that way: ‘My God, 50 years, that's a long time,'” she said.

She's planning to bring back the brass marching bands that participated in the first picnics. Also, for the first time the event will be held on a Sunday. In the past, the Cervecería would not agree to host the event on weekends, as it was too costly for the company to close down the fairgrounds for the two days required to set up and to hold the event, Tessem said. But the company made an exception this year for the celebration's 50th anniversary, a gift for which Tessem is extremely grateful (TT, June 18).

Other traditions on tap for the Fourth of July include a batting cage, carnival games, face painting for children and horseshoes. The winner of the horseshoes competition wins a bottle of scotch (provided they're of age).

At 10 p.m., everything comes to a pause and the morning's most patriotic event – the flag-raising ceremony – begins. The ceremony is sandwiched between short speeches by guests, music from the University of Costa Rica Symphonic Band and competitions such as three-legged and sack races. Everything is designed to make sure U.S. citizens abroad enjoy a well-rounded Independence Day.

IF YOU GO

What: American Colony Committee's 50th Fourth of July picnic

When: Sunday, July 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Cervecería de Costa Rica picnic grounds in Alajuela. Take the Intel/Cervecería exit from the highway toward the international airport from San José. A shuttle will take guests from the parking area to the fairgrounds entrance.

Cost: $5 (free for children 5 and under)

For further information, call 2228-9167 or 2288-4850.

Do you know how much water and electricity you use each month?

Neither do most Costa Ricans.

In a survey gauging the “environmental commitment” of the Costa Rican population, 83.4 percent said they didn't know how much water their household consumes, and 86.5 percent reported no knowledge of their home's electricity consumption.

Overall, the study concluded that 33 percent of the population has a “high environmental commitment.”

But that's not to say that Ticos never think about Mother Nature.

“Yes, only a third of the people show a high environmental commitment, but the remainder of the people demonstrated a medium commitment,” said Martín Solís, the survey's chief researcher.

The study measured environmental commitment on a zero-to-100 scale. A score of above 75 indicates a high commitment.

On average, the Costa Ricans polled scored 64.4 percent.  

“Most of the people just need a little extra push to reach a high commitment,” Solís said.

The scale considered each respondent's efforts to save water and electricity and separate solid wastes, and their willingness to purchase environmentally friendly products.

But even though most Ticos might only need a gentle shove toward 75 points, the survey revealed that not all that glitters is green.

Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they have seen someone throw trash on the ground or dump wastewater into a river. Others have witnessed illegal deforestation and illicit pollution from agrochemicals.

Of the participants, 83 percent said they have seen water leaks in public places.

Even so, only 44 percent of those who have witnessed such damage said they have reported it.

Nearly half of the respondents said they don't report environmental damage because they are either “indifferent to the situation and believe that it's not their duty” or because they think “someone else will report it.”

“People have the attitude of ‘It's not my problem, and it's not my responsibility,'” Solís said.

See the July 2 print or digital edition of The Tico Times for more on this story.