Archive for November, 2009
Monday, November 30th, 2009
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias visiting Israel, talks to Ynet about his vision for resolving Mideastern conflict; Palestinian state should be demilitarized, core issues need to be addressed early, he says
The recipe for peace between Israel and the Palestinians includes negotiations, honesty, immediate talks on the core issues, and the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state – this is the vision presented by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias in a special interview with Ynet.
Arias, who is currently visiting Israel and the Palestinian Authority, boasts extensive experience in mediating peace agreements; his efforts prompted his Nobel Peace Prize win in 1987.
In an interview with Ynet after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Arias said his attempt to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace stems from Costa Rica’s unique history. In 1948, the year Israel was established, the Latin state approved its new constitution, which abolished the army.
“I think the whole world expects both sides to return to the negotiating table,” Arias said, adding that he shared with Netanyahu his personal peace-making experience. Contacts must be held at the highest levels and the talks must be personal, he said.
“You have to look your opponent in the eye,” he said, noting that late PM Rabin also stressed that peace is made with enemies.
‘Peace requires hard work’
Arias added that his experience as mediator taught him that peace talks need to raise all important issues for discussion early, rather than delaying talks on the core issues to the end of the process.
“If we won’t do it at the beginning of the road, it will only get harder,” he said. “Peace requires hard work, patience, and perseverance.”
The Costa Rican president said he accepted Netanyahu’s call for a demilitarized Palestinian state. He noted that in his talks with the Palestinians he seeks to convince them to do without a military.
“A small, poor state like Palestine doesn’t need an army,” he said, adding that some courage is needed to take such decision and expressing his hope that the Palestinian Authority will have the courage to adopt such step.
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Monday, November 30th, 2009
Many property investors think that the boom in Costa Rica property will not continue but the fact is it will and can provide better rewards with lower risk than other Central American countries.
While other markets such as Nicaragua and Belize are supposed to be the new hot spots, however Costa Rica will maintain its lead for the following reasons:
1. It’s an established market
Costa Rica property is not a market waiting to take off ? it has.
This gives confidence for people to invest and the large expat population gives people confidence to come and live and buy and they are doing so in record numbers.
Costa Rica property prices are booming because of this influx in investment that shows no sigh of slowing down – This means higher prices.
Most new property hot spots in fail to take off, so going with Costa Rica property you get the best of both world’s ? Strong upward growth and a track record of triple digit annual gains in many locations.
2. Costa Rica is stable and safe
Costa Rica is stable, safe and democratic this makes Costa Rica property investors feel safe with their investments.
The government encourages overseas investment and investors get the same rights as residents when they buy.
Consider a country such as Nicaragua where the Sandinistas have very real chance of getting in power and with their record on taking things would you want the risk?
3. Costa Rica is rich
In comparison to its neighbors and that’s what Americans and other foreigners like.
They want to live in a different culture but not one to different from home.
Many Central American countries are poorer with street children; poor infrastructure and serious crime and this makes them less attractive.
Where to buy for big gains and low risk
An area that will continue to do well is the popular Central Pacific Coast around the town of Jaco consider this:
Investors that purchased $30,000 of Costa Rica property in the town of Jaco just 15 years ago are now worth as much as $750,000.
Another example of this boom is the Marriot Corporation which built its crown jewel of Latin America Los Suenos Resort and pre sold 50 condos of 2000 square feet for $250,000. The next year Marriot sold another fifty at $350,000. Now this years upper end units are being sold between $450,000 to $850,000!
This area is booming and continues to do so offering great capital gains potential with low risk
Buy in the right location for triple digit annual gains
Far from being over the Costa Rica property boom looks set to continue as investment soars and it becomes the main focus for Americans looking for overseas second or retirement homes.
Buying Costa Rica property simply offers great gains with low risk and we expect it to continue to maintain its lead over its rivals.
check out Gap Real Estate to find the perfect home for you
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Monday, November 30th, 2009
HERE is something to get you in the mood tonight: a 10-year Welsh study found that those who enjoyed an active sex life were 50 per cent less likely to have died during that time than those who did not.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sexual health benefits, says body+soul’s sex and relationships therapist Dr Gabrielle Morrissey.
“It makes sense that sex is good for you because we need lots of inducements to do it so that we stay on the planet,” she says. “Sex involves our circulatory, nervous and muscular systems and brains, so it’s a tune-up and workout of everything that’s important.”
Sadly, it’s often the first thing to go when our health is on the blink. “We have the attitude that sex is a luxury item instead of a necessity for wellness. We also think of it as something only for the young and strong, but its effects are a bonus as we age.”
Still need convincing? Here are 10 health reasons to ramp up your sex life:
1 Less heart attacks and strokes
Films often depict men having heart attacks in the throes of passion, yet the estimates of this happening are about one in a million. Research actually shows that having sex several times a week may cut your risk of a heart attack or stroke in half.
“Sex releases feel-good hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone and oxytocin,” says Dr Darren Russell, president of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine. “You get more blood moving through the blood vessels.”
2 Lowers blood pressure and stress
A small Scottish study exposed people to stressful situations and found that those who had regular sexual intercourse responded better to stress than those who engaged in other sexual activities or abstained. A partner’s hug can do wonders, too: a US study found it can lower blood pressure and heart rates in premenopausal women.
“Touch releases quantities of oxytocin, so you don’t have to orgasm,” Dr Morrissey says.
3 Reduces depression
Those feel-good hormones also help keep depression at bay, although US psychologist Dr Gordon Gallup found that women whose partners did not wear a condom during sex were less likely to be depressed than those whose did. His theory? Semen contains the hormone prostaglandin, which may be absorbed through the vagina and act like an antidepressant. But this doesn’t mean you should avoid condoms, he warns.
4 prevents osteoporosis
“Men and women who have regular sex have higher testosterone levels, (which) are linked to a lower risk of osteoporosis and bone problems,” says Dr Russell. More studies are needed.
5 Keeps colds and flu at bay
Lots of sex means fewer colds and flu, say researchers from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, USA. They found that having sex once or twice a week increased production of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobulin by a third. A German study found that even masturbation can increase men’s white blood cells.
6 Prevents prostate cancer
Several large studies have shown that men in their 20s who ejaculate frequently (about 21 times a month) can reduce their risk of prostate cancer later in life by a third, compared to those who ejaculate five to seven times a month.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be intercourse,” Dr Russell adds.
7 Relieves headaches
Research shows that sex can alleviate an aching noggin, especially in women. The endorphins and corticosteroids released have an analgesic effect, alleviating the pain of headaches, arthritis, cramps and body aches.
“Endorphins are a natural painkiller,” Dr Russell says. The production of oestrogen in women may also ward off period pain.
8 Improves sleep
Dr Russell prescribes sex for people with sleep problems. “Sex helps people sleep better and is less addictive than things like Valium,” he says. Again, it’s those powerful oxytocins at work. In turn, sleep boosts mental and physical health.
9 Keeps you fit
Some experts say that 30 minutes of vigorous sex is comparable to 15 minutes on a treadmill or walking up two flights of stairs, and burns between 360 and 835 kilojoules. Sex works the pelvis, thighs, buttocks, arms, neck and thorax. Your pulse rate doubles from about 70 beats per minute to 150, the same as an athlete mid-stride.
10 Prevents incontinence
The muscles that stem the flow of urine, reducing leakage and incontinence, are given a workout during sex, says Dr Morrissey. “Orgasm is best because the entire pelvic floor contracts.” Flexing your pelvic muscles during sex maximises the benefits and makes sex more pleasurable.
Use it or lose it
Regular sex keeps your genital organs in good working order, says Dr Darren Russell. Abstaining for long periods may cause the following:
Erectile problems in older men: A Finnish study of men aged 55 to 75 found that those who had intercourse less than once a week had twice the risk of erectile dysfunction than those who had sex more often.
Vaginal atrophy in women: A decline in oestrogen, especially during menopause, can result in the thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls. “Once the oestrogen is gone, the vagina can atrophy and the tissues can wither away,” Dr Russell says.
This can cause pain and irritation if you return to sex after a long break. “Regular sex keeps
the vagina lubricated and in good working order as a woman goes past the menopause.” Vaginal oestrogen
creams can also help.
More great reasons to say “Yes!” tonight:
Regular periods: US researchers found that women who have sex at least once a week have more regular menstrual cycles than those who have sex less often.
Look younger: In Secrets Of The Superyoung (Berkley), Dr David Weeks says his research found that couples who had sex three times a week looked seven years younger than those who had sex less often. Other researchers say sex raises a woman’s oestrogen levels, making her hair shinier and her skin more supple.
Better skin and teeth: Some argue that the minerals in semen (such as zinc and calcium) help stop tooth decay and improve skin, but Dr Morrissey is not convinced.
“The kind of momentary exposure, even over a long, repetitive experience, couldn’t possibly have any kind of impact, let alone the minimal number of minerals you’re talking about.”
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Monday, November 30th, 2009
An increasing crime rate is the feature of any urbanizing country. Costa Rica is no exception. In a previous post about relocating to Costa Rica, our visitors have mentioned some of the areas they think you have to stay away from in order to make your stay safer. They further said that there is more dark elements in Costa Rica than what you usually see in vacation.
In truth, there is only little difference, and that may be the fact that when you are a visitor, you stay in a secured hotel, while by being a retiree, you are assumed to stay somewhere else. That’s only it. Outside of your room, you are just like any other foreigner in the country, vulnerable to the forces that “lurk in the shadows.”
It is a fact that high crime rates especially among tourists is pretty common in the major tourist areas, especially San Jose. Living standards below that of the West pushed certain forces to commit petty crimes. Reporting these crimes to the authorities will only be futile, so unless you lost your passport, there’s no use wasting your time over it. As an added precaution, you could just leave your passport in a safety deposit box at home and bring a certified photocopy with you. It is also suggested that you do not bring much money and jewelries with you. Just to be safe.
It also pays to be vigilant when you’re out in the streets. Never engage in street money exchange. These money changers only typically give you fake currency. It is more advisable to go directly to banks to have your money changed.
One thing to be also worried about are those taxi drivers, who have been occasionally involved in some assault cases. Always make sure that you only ride licensed taxis and that they comply with the normal requirements set by the law.
We can go on and on with the typical tactics used by the dark forces on foreigners, but this will be useless if you are not conscious about your surroundings. I’m not saying that you should be paranoid, but always make it a point to be skeptical about everything. In case of emergencies, there’s the 911 for you to call.
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Monday, November 30th, 2009
The Banco Nacional (BN), in an effort to reduce late payments, is offering a reward to ten customers who promptly pay their loans with the offer of paying down their debt up to ¢3 million colones, which in some cases could be paying off the debt.
The bank has the second highest delinquency rate, 3.4% of its loan portfolio. The Banco Cathay has the highest delinquency rate at 3.7%.
The Director de Relaciones Corporativas of the Banco Naciona, Danny González, says the promotion is part of the bank’s aggressive attack on fighting delinquency and to encourage customers to repay their loans on time.
Details of the promotion can be found at www.bncr.fi.cr.
So far the other banks, both state and private, have not announced any such promotions, but are surely to follow the Banco Nacional lead in reducing their default rate.
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Monday, November 30th, 2009
Come next year supermarkets have to inform in more detail the price of each item on their store shelf. The change will be based on an initiative by the Ministerio de Economía which forces supermarkets to better inform the public.
If and when the initiative is adopted, supermarkets will have to inform the public not only on the final price of the product by also on the unit cost. For instance, the pricing label for a can of tuna should also include the cost per gram or the cost per kilo for a bag of rice, in addition to the final price of the item.
Some retailers like Pricesmart already do that, not out of mandatory regulation, but to inform the public in comparing prices.
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Saturday, November 28th, 2009
The porteadores (informal taxi service) have announced that they will be blocking all major roads and access to San José on Monday. The action is being taken at a peak hours, starting a 6am, when most are heading in to work.
The last time the porteadores took such an action they paralyzed traffic in San José, creating havoc and the dismay of most Costa Ricans.
The group is demonstrating the government’s failure to negotiate a solution to the informal taxi problem that has been ongoing for years.
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Saturday, November 28th, 2009
Costa Rica promised Friday to restore ties with Honduras if its presidential elections are clean, joining other nations in rejecting ousted President Manuel Zelaya’s insistence that recognizing the vote would legitimize a June coup.
The front-runner in Sunday’s elections, Porfirio Lobo, welcomed the decision by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, saying in an interview with The Associated Press that he expected other Latin American countries gradually to follow suit.
“Some who are saying today they won’t recognize the vote have told me they will recognize the elections,” he said.
Lobo also promised that if he wins, he would include Zelaya in a national reconciliation talks and suggested that the ousted leader would be able to leave his refuge inside the Brazilian Embassy without fear of arrest. Zelaya has been holed up there since sneaking back into the country in September.
“They have to get him out. If not, how?” said Lobo, who declined to answer whether he would grant Zelaya a pardon on abuse of power and other charges.
“What I know is that if we want peace for Honduras, we have to bring him into the dialogue,” he said.
Arias’ decision to acknowledge the next administration is a new setback for Zelaya, who is urging the international community not to recognize the vote.
Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was a chief mediator in largely unsuccessful negotiations to restore Zelaya to power. He now says he will urge governments at the Ibero-American summit in Portugal next week not to punish the next Honduran government for the coup.
“If the elections are transparent, there are no accusations of fraud, the observers find there was nothing incorrect, I am going to ask Ibero-American countries to recognize the future Honduran government,” Arias said in statement released during a visit to Israel.
Soldiers flew Zelaya into exile June 28 after he defied Supreme Court orders to cancel a referendum on whether to change the Honduran constitution. Opponents say Zelaya intended extend his time in power by lifting a constitutional ban on presidential-re-election, an accusation the deposed president denies.
Western Hemisphere countries, once united in condemning the June 28 coup, are divided on recognizing the results of the elections, which were scheduled long before Zelaya’s ouster.
Left-led countries, including Brazil and Argentina, argue recognizing the vote is tantamount to whitewashing the coup.
But the United States, the chief source of foreign investment and development aid in Honduras, had indicated it will support the election if they are fair and clean. Panama and Peru have taken the same stance.
“It is important for Honduras, for Central America, for democracy, that more and more countries are recognizing the electoral process,” said Lobo, the National Party candidate who leads opinion polls.
Washington, which has cut off development aid and anti-drug trafficking cooperation with Honduras, has warned that the Central American country must still implement a U.S.-brokered accord, which calls for the formation of a unity government and for Congress to decide on whether to reinstate Zelaya until the next president takes office Jan. 27.
Zelaya declared the accord a failure when interim President Roberto Micheletti tried to install a unity government last month before Congress has voted on the ousted leader’s fate. Zelaya accused Micheletti of maneuvering to stay in power and violate the spirit of the agreement.
U.S. Ambassador Hugo Llorens expressed optimism that accord would be fully implemented after the elections.
“The newly elected government will have a vested interest that the Micheletti government did not have to engage with the international community,” Llorens told foreign reporters.
Congress is scheduled to vote on Zelaya’s fate Dec. 2. On Thursday, the Supreme Court recommended that lawmakers vote against reinstating him.
“Our preference is obviously that Congress restore Zelaya,” Llorens said.
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
The Banco Nacional (BN), in an effort to reduce late payments, is offering a reward to ten customers who promptly pay their loans with the offer of paying down their debt up to ¢3 million colones, which in some cases could be paying off the debt.
The bank has the second highest delinquency rate, 3.4% of its loan portfolio. The Banco Cathay has the highest delinquency rate at 3.7%.
The Director de Relaciones Corporativas of the Banco Naciona, Danny González, says the promotion is part of the bank’s aggressive attack on fighting delinquency and to encourage customers to repay their loans on time.
Details of the promotion can be found at www.bncr.fi.cr.
So far the other banks, both state and private, have not announced any such promotions, but are surely to follow the Banco Nacional lead in reducing their default rate.
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
Honduras is one of the most economically unequal societies in the world. Earlier this year, the president, “Mel” Zelaya, proposed a non-binding opinion poll to determine whether Honduran voters wanted to hold a constituent assembly to write a new, more democratic constitution that would enable a better balance of the nation’s resources.
The country’s wealthy rulers were outraged. The night of June 28, the army dragged President Zelaya out of bed and put him on a plane to Costa Rica in his pajamas. The head of the Congress, Roberto Micheletti, was installed as president.
The Organization of American States unanimously denounced this action and refused to recognize Micheletti’s government. Justification of the coup — that Zelaya planned to use the referendum to have himself re-elected for an unconstitutional second term — was dismissed as an obviously bogus pretext.
Big non-violent protests demanded restoration of Zelaya and a constitutional convention. Micheletti responded with media censorship and murder, prison, torture, and rape for demonstrators. A growing non-violent resistance movement is calling for a boycott of the Nov. 29 elections.
Independent polling indicates that the Honduran people overwhelmingly reject the legitimacy of Michelleti’s government. OAS Secretary General Insulza refuses to send election monitors, since that would legitimize an election marred by censorship and repression.
Nevertheless, based on remarks by U.S. State Department officials, many observers fear that the Obama administration will ultimately accept the election results, thus implicitly supporting the repressive rule of the oligarchs and their generals. This would be a betrayal of democracy.
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
Costa Rica announced an investment of 18 million U.S. dollars on Thursday in an effort to fight the second wave of A/H1N1 flu expected to hit the nation in January 2010.
To combat the flu, the country’s social security system (CCSS) would purchase 30 X-ray machines, 97 fans, and 18,000 Tamiflu (oseltamivir) treatment dosages for patients who need it.
It would also buy 70 refrigerators to store 300,000 vaccines expected to arrive in the country in the next few days.
CCSS President Eduardo Doryan also said that some 227 new jobs would be created as the country was to strengthen patient supervision and improve patient care for the flu pandemic.
So far this year, Costa Rica has reported 40 deaths due to the A/H1N1 influenza.
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli and his Costa Rican counterpart Oscar Arias on Thursday signed a bilateral cooperation agreement to boost ties. The two leaders pledged to deepen and expand political and social dialogue on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, the commercial ties, and cultural exchanges to achieve integration between the two countries. Martinelli said the partnership will bring great benefits to both countries and their peoples. Arias said Costa Rica and Panama are united with this agreement because they share the values of democracy, freedom and political pluralism. “This agreement will expand our cooperation from economy to other areas where there are long ways to go and we are going to do it,” Arias said after signing the document. According to Arias, the ties between the two countries have been transparent and fraternal, because they are based on mutual trust and the pursuit of common welfare for both countries.
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
Costa Rica’s Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes - public works and transport ministry (MOPT) - says it needs to invest us$200 million over the next three years to improve bridge infrastructure, local paper La Nación reported.
These resources would be sufficient to carry out maintenance on the country’s bridges which have been neglected for several decades.
However, MOPT does not have enough budget to complete the works, as the amount represents 82% of road council Conavi’s 2010 budget, which is approximately us$245 million, the report said.
In its 2010 annual budget, Conavi designated us$15 million for bridge repairs which is only enough to repair 10 of the total 1,300 bridges in the national road network.
The structures considered to be a priority by Conavi are those which are vital for tourism, and national and international trade.
The newly appointed MOPT minister Marco Vargas confirmed that bridge repair and construction will be a government priority until May 8 of next year, when President Óscar Arias’ administration comes to an end.
To finance some of the other works, the ministry aims to use a us$17 million loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (Cabei).
Vargas has said he wants to use part of a us$850 million IDB transport and infrastructure loan. However, the disbursal of this loan has been delayed because congress has still not approved the funding.
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Friday, November 27th, 2009
The mandatory vehicular inspection could cost double next year if the Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) approves a request by the Revisión Técnica Vehicular (RITEVE).
The RITEVE proposal asks the government regulator to increase the current fee of ¢9.930 colones for passenger vehicles to ¢19.870, taxis fees from the current ¢10.714 to ¢21.445, motos from ¢6.541 to ¢13.090 and heavy vehicles - trucks and buses - from ¢13.076 to ¢26.180.
The ARESEP confirmed that it received the fee hike request on November 13 and is still in the process of admission. Not all changes submitted to the ARESEP are automatically accepted and sent to a study and public hearing.
RITEVE says it needs the increase to continue to operate and that since beginning operations it has upped its fees only one time, in 2005.
All vehicles must be submitted for inspection on annual basis (taxis and buses twice yearly) under a mandatory inspection program under the guidelines of the ministerio de Obras Públicas y Tránsportes (MOPT).
RITEVE operates a series of inspection stations across the country.
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