A few weeks ago we posted about Costa Rica slowly but surly becoming the new hub for drug trafficking. Mexican authorities in the port of Mexico’s Puerto Progreso last week found frozen sharks stuffed with 894 kilograms of cocaine. The sharks were unloaded from a ship whose voyage originated at the Costa Rican port of Caldera. This is just one of several recent cocaine busts in the last few weeks involving Costa Rica.
The war on drugs is intensifying as the battles continues, experts and officials warn that Costa Rica will not be spared. Mauricio Boraschi, director of the Costa Rica Drug Institute (ICD), said that as Mexico’s efforts force drug traffickers to the south, the Central American countries need to start talking, something they have been notoriously lax in doing.
On June 17, Ambassador Peter Cianchette and Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security Janina del Vecchio together signed a letter of agreement for their 2 countries to implement the campaign. Read more...(323 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)
Protesters Blocked Road between San Jose and Limon early this month in protest Chiquita, Dole, and Del Monte creating and ecological disasters Photo by Nacion
Having recently met with community and labor organizations in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, we want to alert media about an upcoming standoff that has potential for violence on the one hand, and profound political change on the other. Organizations including ASADA and SITRAP are planning a blockade of access to and from the Caribbean ports on Wednesday, July 1.
The pineapple plantations of Chiquita, Dole, and Del Monte are creating and ecological disaster, in particular they are contaminating local water sources with Bromacil and other toxic chemicals. Local residents are suffering from increased cases of cancers and birth defects.
The community has been trying to address these issues for years, without an adequate response from the government. On June 1, 2009 there was an 8 hour blockade of the highway between San Jose and Limon. After agreeing to resolve these issues, the Ministry of Health has taken no action. Due to this lack of action, the communities are prepared to close the roads on July 1, effectively shutting down the country, and keep them closed indefinitely until there is a resolution. Read more...(398 words, 2 images, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio will be traveling to Costa Rica for in next film, a thriller about the underworld of sports/casino gambling
Costa Rica productions companies are no strangers to movies, and have a ton of resumes to prove it – probably the most well-known film, filmed in the country, was author Michael Crichton best seller thriller, “Congo,” which to me was one of the best books I have ever read.
And Costa Rica is no stranger to gambling, a country where it is legal and after the crackdown on online betting in the US, sports bookies and casinos opened up internet betting sites faster then one could pour coins in slots.
And with the Reality Show, “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here,” staring Patti Blogojevich, the wife of ousted governor of Illinois, again Costa Rica continues to find their spot in Hollywood.
Spot in Hollywood? Hummmm - according to Hollywood, a future blockbuster thriller is schedule to be filmed in CR, staring heart-throb actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
Yeah yeah, you guess it, the film is about the reality underworld of what is one of Costa Rica best businesses, poker, casino and offshore sports betting. Read more...(385 words, 2 images, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)
The downtown charm of Limon's Caribbean/New Orleans, style Victorian homes flaunting long balconies and colorful façades are in need of major redevelopment.
Four years ago a few (and only a few) of Limón community leaders sat around a table one evening and talked about the future of their city. They shared dreams of how cool it would be to get their city redeveloped to attract tourist and businesses by restoring buildings, parks and renovated the port.
Last week their dreams seemed to come true when Costa Rican President Oscar Arias signed a bill providing $80 million dollars to the Caribbean port town to initiate a full-scale renovation project in five areas, restoration of cultural buildings, drainage and sanitation improvements, enhancement of municipal functions, small business development and port modernization and to boost the goal of attracting nearly $900 million in additional private investments. Will it happen?
Many Limón businesses have their doubts, knowing, governments has it promises and then does not come through, sorta like a “I’ll Believe it when I see it.”
Historical Railroad Equipment litter Limon, Costa Rica Read more...(512 words, 2 images, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)
While Tehran burns and Neda dies, Obama takes his family for ice cream along with the White House press corps. This is his Katrina … from a Twitter post
Getting ready to Blog and Twit yesterday about Costa Rica, I suddenly found my jaw dropping at the above Twit. Next thing I knew, I tracked the Iran demonstrations for hours where Twits were coming in at the tune of 1-2 PER SECOND!
All one had to do to get real-time coverage, was do a Tehran search on Twitter, and you could not keep up with history in the making. If this would have happened five years ago, the world would have never known about the election protests in Iran.
Social Media Optimization has not only become a successful marketing tool, but a very powerful media tool. The gap between old media and new has gotten smaller and smaller with the majority of the prominent television and print media outlets finally embracing the Internet as their main source of information and news. Social Media sites, like MySpace, youtube, Twitter and Facebook, have exploded. Hundreds if not 1000s of mini videos of Iran were uploaded on youtube via internet devices like Blackberrys and iPhones. Read more...(410 words, 2 images, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)
