Thursday, September 25th, 2008
Universal literacy, the eradication of many preventable diseases and safe drinking water for everyone could all be achieved if the world spent as much on those causes as it already does on military forces, Costa Rica’s President told the General Assembly tonight in a call for a radical re-think of global spending.
Óscar Arias Sánchez told the Assembly’s high-level debate that many governments were hurting their citizens by indulging in excessive military spending.
“On a planet where one-sixth of the population lives on less than a dollar a day, spending $1.2 trillion on arms and soldiers is an offence and a symbol of irrationality,” Mr. Arias said. (more…)
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008
President Oscar Arias attended a forum on free trade yesterday with U.S. President George Bush, weeks after a Supreme Court decision threatened Costa Rica’s entry into the Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
The White House convened the meeting for leaders from 11 countries in the Western Hemisphere that either have a free-trade agreement with the United States or are in the process of entering one.
In a joint statement, the leaders agreed to promote trade liberalization and open markets in the region and exchange best practices on labor and environmental standards. (more…)
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008
The International Guitar Festival starts tonight at the National Theater, Teatro Nacional, in downtown San Jose. More than 100 musicians from the United States, France, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, and of course, Costa Rica will gather together for the 15th annual “Festival Internacional de Guitarra.”
Among the many renowned international artists, headliners who will take the stage include Mike Stern from the U.S., Carlos Barbosa Lima from Brazil, Berta Rojas from Paraguay and Rafael Andujar from Spain.
On Saturday two concerts will be held; the first will begin at 3 in the afternoon and will feature a special recital from the Guitar Orchestra, a group from the University of Costa Rica who will perform a tribute to its 25 years of existence. Ticket prices will range from 8,000 colones ($15) to 16,000 colones ($30). (more…)
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