Yesterday many websites were in a World-Wide Blackout against The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill, and it’s sister bill, Protect IP Act (PIPA), that is currently working their way through the United States Congress and the Senate. These new bills threaten every facet of the internet by letting government regulate what can and can not be seen; a form of censorship - just like China and Iraq does to their Internet users.
Craig's List Blackout in Protest of SOPA and PIPA
Thousands of website owners, webmasters, and SEOs (including Tico Times Directory), joined with the big boys like Google, Craig’s Lists, and Wikipedia and protested for 24/hrs this scary and very unfair bill. The purpose of the blackout was twofold: to raise public awareness, and to encourage people to share their views with their elected representatives.
Fighting online piracy is VERY important and we believe in the copyrights and trademarks protection of others. Unfortunately, SOPA and PIPA bills target the innocent places like American social networks, Blogs and search engines. This alone undermines the existing laws that have enabled the Web to thrive, creating millions of U.S jobs. In otherwords, those in protest, believe the bill violates a few US Amendment Rights, like the 1st Amendment – Freedom of Speech. Read more... (752 words, 3 images, estimated 3:00 mins reading time)
One again, as the New Year gets started, Costa Rican’s will find themselves paying more to the government.
Ticos by nature are non-aggressive, but this time the government may experience what American’s have seen, “country wide protests” and what some of the Bloggers are writing about, “WTF – The don’t understand land!”
Starting today (Jan 1, 2012) Costa Rica will see ( to name the few) higher traffic Fines, increase in tolls, and new tax(es), particularly on corporations, which is caused a bit of confusion.
Traffic Fines and Vehicle Registration
Just about all traffic fines will go up on average ¢44.000 colones. And for the existing high fines that have not been paid, expect a hike of 14%. In other words, a ¢316.000 fine suddenly becomes ¢360.000.
Private cars and Motorcycles will pay on between 30% to 43% more for registration and general taxes.
Traffic fines can be paid at some banks, but then again, find a bank open on Sunday and without a mile long line, and if you can’t pay, one had better keep a sharp eye for a Tránsito official who will be looking for that missing 2012 sticker on your windshield. Read more... (615 words, 3 images, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)
Once again the media hammered the public with the new IRS threat, that they are going after US expats that have failed to pay US income taxes!
Back in February of 2011 the IRS announced a program for U.S. taxpayers who have overseas accounts, income, or other foreign assets that have not been previously reported and/or taxed. This is called the “2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative,” or 2011 OSVDI – a voluntary disclosure of expats foreign accounts.
In other words, are they trying to get an account on those who have not claimed US income, a requirement of the IRS? And to strike fear in those US citizens who have pulled up stakes, move to Costa Rica and have started businesses and/or received some type of income to support their new-found life style?
What may have started this new threat was the 2007 Central America Free Trade Agreement, which enable any Costa Rican company (US or not) to trade with the US markets. This opened any Costa Rica business to one of the biggest markets in the world. With said, it has allowed more income from US dollars than every before and this is what may be what the IRS is going after. Read more... (542 words, 1 image, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)
Costa Rica bans Uranium Weapons
This week Costa Rica got a lot of world-wide attention with three hot news stories.
A Costa Rican court sentenced former president Miguel Angel Rodriguez to five years in prison Wednesday after finding him guilty of taking bribes from French telecoms giant Alcatel. Alcatel is no stranger to kickbacks, in Dec, 2010, US Securities and Exchange Commission nailed them with 137 million U.S. dollars in fines and penalties for bribes.
And Costa Rica continues to be the hub for drug traffickers when another drug sub was nailed off Costa Rica by a US Coast Guard cutter with 6.4 tons of Cocaine.
However, the one we consider the most important; on April 27ths, the government of Costa Rica passed a law prohibiting Uranium Weapons in its borders, which makes Costa Rica the second country to pass a national ban. Belgium was the first.
Uranium weapons, often called ‘depleted’ uranium (DU) weapons, are manufactured from radioactive waste materials produced during the nuclear fuel chain and the production of nuclear weapons. They cause widespread and long lasting contamination of the environment. These weapon systems are radiologically and chemically toxic. Read more... (495 words, 3 images, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)
The controversy between private enterprise and a government control port has set the union and government at odds with each other.
If you love historical redevelopment, it is so easy to see how Limon would be the perfect candidate, and at the same time become a world-class port bringing in billions to Costa Rica. Its shipyards with historical railroad equipment, the downtown look of Caribbean/New Orleans, with its Victorian homes flaunting long balconies and colorful façades add old-world charm . And not counting a gateway for cruise ships with millions of tourist dollars, just ready to be dumped into the community.
Eight – 10 years ago local businesses started talking about redevelopment, and when Costa Rican [then]President Oscar Arias signed a bill (about 18 months ago) 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 most importantly, port modernization. That said, it would boost the goal of attracting nearly $900 million in additional private investments. Limon looked like it was on it way to become Central America’s first New Orleans style city and with a modern port to attract new shipping businesses in the Caribbean area. Read more... (1051 words, 2 images, estimated 4:12 mins reading time)
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