Source: MovistarTeam.com

Riding for the Movistar Team during adverse weather conditions in Italy, Andrey Amador scored the first major win of his career at the Giro d’Italia international cycling competition. According to Eurosport, Mr. Amador took off on sprints against French and Italian riders on the 14^th stage of the race at Cervinia.

The Giro d’Italia is known as a very challenging and mountainous course. Conditions today at Cervinia were chilly and humid, and Mr. Amador joined two competing racers on a final 26 kilometer climb to the finish line. The riders switched off on the lead a few times with speedy bursts uphill, but in the end Mr. Amador prevailed on sprints. The three racers managed to put 8 minutes between them and the main chase group.

This victory is very significant both for Costa Rica and for the 25-year old rider from San Jose, who was an unfortunate victim of violent crime at the end of 2010. On that occasion, Mr. Amador was conducting his final training session of the year when he was suddenly assailed by a group of criminals looking to steal his bicycle. As he was training solo at the time, Mr. Amador was forced to dismount by the individuals who approached him in two cars. He took off on foot, but the criminals caught up to him and knocked him unconscious.

Mr. Amador believes that one of the assailants shocked him with a Taser weapon, and once shocked they proceeded to beat him until he lost consciousness. He was abandoned on top of a rock near the bank of a river in San Rafael de Heredia, and when he woke up hours later he still had his cellphone in his pocket.

The next day Mr. Amador woke up and experienced pain and breathing difficulties. He also coughed up blood. Doctors at the Hospital Mexico near La Uruca determined he had suffered blunt trauma to his kidneys and lungs. Once he recovered from that ordeal, he made his debut at the Tour de France in 2011.

At the post-race press conference, Mr. Amador talked about his ethnicity. As published by Cycling News, he told the press that his blood is:

“25 percent Spanish, 25 percent Costa Rican and 50 percent Russian, but I feel totally Costa Rican. My skin color shows where I’m from.”

The current leader of the Giro d’Italia is Ryder Hesjedal, a Canadian rider from the Garmin-Barracuda team. The teams will be climbing up Piani dei Resinelli tomorrow for the 15^th stage of the circuit.

Source: MICIT

Perseverance and innovation were the keys to success for two bright young Ticos who elevated Costa Rica’s standing in the international stage earlier this week at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh.

As reported in The Costa Rica Star yesterday, Luis Gerardo Leon and Jose Miguel Gonzalez each took second place awards at the international technology and science competition, which attracted more than 1,500 students from 68 countries. For both Ticos, this was their second time competing at ISEF, and their persistence paid off.

In the case of Luis Gerardo Leon’s impressive project, the RIIS-ED: Prototype of Wheelchair for Quadriplegic People Controlled by Neural Impulses was the highest honor earned by a Latin American entry at the ISEF. The Braille printer project from Jose Miguel Gonzalez was recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office Society as a ready-for-production project.

It is important to note that both projects intend to leverage technology to improve the lives of those who live with disabilities.

About Luis Gerardo Leon

This young man from Guanacaste stated in Pittsburgh yesterday that he dedicated his RIIS-ED award not just to Costa Rica, but to Latin America. His RIIS-ED wheelchair is essentially a robot controlled by facial gestures that are translated into neural impulses and further into robotic commands. Luis Gerardo is 17 years old and is a student of the Jose Maria Gutierrez High School in Bagaces.

About Jose Miguel Gonzalez

He is an 18-year old alumnus of the Don Bosco Technical and Professional High School who lives in Escazu. He is currently a student at the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), and like Luis Gerardo Leon, this was his second ISEF. His project consists of a run-of-the-mill desktop printer and keyboard transformed into a Braille printing system that stores data and recycles sheets.

The eleven bright young Ticos who participated in ISEF also had an opportunity to sit down with Dr. Ada Yonath, Chemistry Nobel Laureate. She told the young people assembled at ISEF that:

“Society improves with more science. The more knowledge and scientific advancements, the better the society.”

Vice Minister of Science and Technology Keilor Rojas, who traveled with the young representatives of Costa Rica, underscored that ISEF is not just an academic exercise for the contestants:

“Costa Rica is on the right track as far as her intellectual economy. Here we have people with ideas and the potential to turn them into business. The young people today understand this better than the adults: science and technology projects do not simply end at the blueprint level; they are rather completed and turn to reality when they benefit society, or when they create businesses and enterprises that form part of the economic foundation of the country.”

The proud students will return to Costa Rica on Saturday night.

Source: Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT)

Vice Minister Roverssi listens to Paul Watson supporters. Source: Selvatica

SAN JOSE – The Vice Chancellor of the Republic of Costa Rica Carlos Roverssi met with a handful of protesters assembled outside of his office in San Jose yesterday. About 60 supporters of Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society who is currently in the custody of German authorities, gathered in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vice Chancellor Roverssi found out about the presence of the protesters as he reported to work on Friday morning. He stopped to listen and invited five of them to come into his office. According to digital newspaper Costa Rica Hoy, the demonstrators carried picket signs and sat on the wide steps of the iconic Casa Amarilla (Yellow House). A traffic policeman on the scene reminded them to stay on the sidewalk due to the heavy traffic in the area.

The protest was coordinated by different groups on Facebook. National newspaper La Nacion spoke to members of Selvatica, a group that has more than 3,000 followers. Mr. Arturo Carballo stated his position on the extradition request:

“For us it a shame to punish those who protect our [natural] resources. We want to raise awareness about Watson’s case and tell the world of the corruption and mafia activities surrounding the environmental discourse and imposing themselves on political decisions, and to also issue a call for help due to the corruption present on the ecological realm.”

The Ministry issued an official communique yesterday afternoon, shortly after the Vice Chancellor finished his meeting with the demonstrators he invited to his office. The communication essentially reiterated Costa Rica’s commitment to fight against shark fin poachers and the separation of powers that prevents the government from taking a position on the matter of Mr. Watson’s detention.

Vice Chancellor Roverssi explained to the protesters in his office that they should be meeting with other institutions so that their concerns can be adequately heard and addressed.

One of the members of Selvatica carried a picket sign that read:

Free Paul Watson: Everyone should know. Costa Rica has been taken over by the mafia.

Meanwhile in Frankfurt, Mr. Watson has been granted bail and may post a bond in the amount of 250,000 euros that will allow him to be freed from custody. La Nacion reported that the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is scrambling to come up with the funds. According to Charity Navigator, a site dedicated to analysis of the finances and transparency of non-profit organizations, Mr. Watson received an annual salary of $96,000 in 2010, excluding non-cash benefits.

The fifth season of the popular Whale Wars reality television show, starring Mr. Watson and the crew of the Research Vessel Steve Irwin, comes to an end on Animal Planet this weekend. It is not clear if another season will be produced.

Inspired by the The Costa Rica Star’s recent articles, and frustrated by the poor quality of the bell peppers at my local supermarket (you know the one that starts with “W” and ends in “almart”) my girlfriend and I decided to visit the Farmers’ Market in Heredia. I had heard that I should arrive early for the best products, so when we arrived at a leisurely 9:30 am we expected things to have cleared out. Nope. It was packed. About 600 meters worth of packed. Noises, smells, and bumping elbows everywhere. Good thing I packed my cameras.

Peppers were tops on the list, but of course all the bounty on hand meant we quickly got distracted with the samples of homemade jam, ripe fruit, fresh meat and even a “soda” to grab a late breakfast. The lottery sellers competed with the venders and the cat calls to see who would be heard. I tried my best to keep a low enough profile to get some candid photographs. It didn’t go very well. I blew a number of shots as people looked at me in confusion. I probably gave my girlfriend a similar look when she came back with a pack of garlic: “Honey did you really just buy garlic grown in China at the local farmers’ market?”

As we continued to wander around I got bolder and pulled out my film camera (I’ve posted a larger selection of these film shots on my Facebook page). I also paired it with one of my favorite lenses. The lens that really helped me grow as a photographer. An 85mm f1.8. For those not versed in photo-speak that is a fixed length lens with a large maximum aperture, which allows it to be used in low-light, as well as to allowing for reduced depth of field. This type of lens is known as a “prime” lens and if you use an SLR camera you should have one. These lenses can be a bit frustrating in the beginning since you are “stuck” with one field of view. Your feet become your zoom. You get over this problem quickly because these lenses let you compose in a whole new way. Not only can you compose within the four walls of the frame, now you can choose your depth too, like thinking in 3-D.

Being able to selectively blur things helps you emphasize what is important in your shot, it can also be useful to blur out distracting backgrounds or sometimes even distracting foregrounds. And when the light gets low, prime lenses can let you keep shooting before you have to go to a flash. Sometimes—and especially with candid photography, you don’t have time to move your feet to recompose, so you have to use that selective focus to your advantage. It takes some time and practice and a lot of missed shots to get the hang of it. The first few times I used that lens I got tons of shots that weren’t focused in the right place. Once I got a feel for it though, well… I always have a prime lens with me. These days it’s a 50mm f1.4, which is the lens that cameras all used to come with. Newer zoom lenses are more practical, but a prime lens WILL improve your photography in a hurry.

A prime lens will improve your photography, while a trip to the farmers’ market will improve your supper and your appreciation for proper produce. If you don’t live here, it’s still worth a trip since you get a dose of how locals live, shop and interact. You are also likely to encounter a number of fruits and veggies that you won’t find at the supermarket. Also, do buy the glorious bell peppers, don’t buy the Chinese garlic. Do get yourself a prime lens, don’t hesitate.

As reported on the popular consumer protection blog “Quien Paga, Manda” (an adage similar to “the customer is always right”), those two movie channels on Cabletica recently switched off their original English programming and replaced it with films and series dubbed into Spanish. Subtitles are gone, as well as the Second Audio Program (SAP) feed.

The Cabletica subscriber who reported the change also wondered if he had any legal recourse in the matter, namely breach of contract or non-performance of an agreement. He sees the sudden change as arbitrary and points out the following concerns:

• Many subscribers in Costa Rica signed up for cable TV because they are native English speakers, or they otherwise enjoy programming in the original language.
• Even more subscribers signed up to improve their mastery of English as a Second Language (ESL), something that has become a driving factor of the labor economy in Costa Rica.
• Subscribers with hearing difficulties or impairments enjoyed subtitles on channels that do not broadcast close captioning encoding.
• Eliminating SAP is a harsh measure that leaves viewers without alternatives.

Cinecanal and Cinemax are apparently not the only channels to have suffered the above-described fate. Cable viewers have complained that channels that traditionally make up the basic programming package are being replaced by Latin American versions in which the shows are dubbed, no subtitles are offered, and SAP is absent.

According to Gabriel Zamora, an attorney at the Zamora Baudrit law firm, there is practically zero protection for consumers in this case, particularly since it is unlikely that the cable operators made any guarantees to prevent the vanishing of English language programs.

Blog readers at Quien Paga Manda offered their opinions and knowledge of the matter. Cabletica is not alone in this practice; Amnet, a cable operator that has been around longer, also engages in this practice, which also involves blaming the content providers while at the same time offering the original channels as part of their High Definition (HD) premium packages. Is it simply a matter of squeezing more money from the subscribers who want their channels in their full English glory by forcing them to pay for HD programming?

According to an explanation in newspaper La Nacion from Argentina, the change has a lot to do with demographics and socioeconomic transformation in Latin America.

English Language Programming in Costa Rica Started with Generation X

For those old enough to remember Costa Rica in the mid-to-late 1980s, cable television was only accessible to a select few who were not only able to afford it, but who also lived in ritzy neighborhoods of San Jose served by Cable Color (the precursor to Amnet). Back then English programming ruled cable channel lineups, but those who could not afford to live in Los Yoses and subscribe to Cable Color had a great alternative: Channel 19 on the UHF band.

Channel 19 one day appeared on the free airwaves of Costa Rica; it was essentially a WGN broadcast from Chicago during the daytime, and sometimes HBO or MTV at night. Just like Cable Color, it was 100 percent in English, and the channel introduced young Ticos to a world of programming that included GI Joe, the Transformers, Soul Train, and the Chicago Cubs with Ryan Sandberg on second base.

Tuning to channel 19 was a low-tech process that involved fashioning an antenna from broom sticks, chicken wire, aluminum foil, forks, etc. Channel 19 was probably responsible for boosting the interest of English among Generation X Ticos, although cable television would eventually cast aside channel 19 with virtually the same programming seen in the United States. Channel 19 is rumored to be making a comeback, and it could be timely considering the cold shoulder that some cable channels have given to original English programs.

Here is where socioeconomic and demographic change comes into play: basic cable television can now be afforded by many more subscribers in Costa Rica, not just those in the upper classes. Low-income basic cable subscribers are more interested in watching and listening to programs in Spanish. Viewers older than 50 years of age form part of the fastest-rising population in Costa Rica, and there is a generation gap between them and the Generation X Ticos raised on channel 19: they are not as interested in English language programming.

Should the snub trend of original English programming by cable companies in Costa Rica continue, Ticos and expats will always have options like Netflix and Crackle.

Rain Fest is for the entire family. Sustainable tourism and an affinity for the arts are two intrinsic factors of the Punta Leona lifestyle. All the daytime activities of Rain Fest are free for the public to enjoy. The nighttime events are geared towards young adults and feature a cover price.

The non-profit cultural exchange involves dance, theater, fine art exhibits, a souvenir and handcrafts market, music, sports, and sustainable lifestyle presentations.

The early Saturday activities include a 9.5 km beach race, Krama Yoga at Playa Blanca, lectures on medicinal plants and feng shui, folkloric and belly dance, and performances by the Carpe Diem Theater Troupe.

The Saturday nighttime concerts begin at 7:00 pm with Electric Kif from Miami, Santos & Zurdo, DJ Alejandro Peinador, and others.

On Sunday, visitors will be treated to more Krama Yoga, capoeira, modern dance, live music courtesy of the Falcon School band, and feng shui lectures.

Among Costa Rica’s many tourist destinations, Punta Leona is a pioneer in providing luxury, safety, and recreational activities for the entire family. Rain Fest was conceived with the idea that while many people anxiously await the dry season, the green season holds many charms that should be celebrated with cheer.

For more information on Rain Fest 2012, including lodging options, please visit the official Facebook Timeline of the festival.

The reality points to something different.

When you ask drivers in Costa Rica to realistically describe their ideal car, they will probably tell you that they dream of a black 2006 Mitsubishi Montero with 4-wheel drive and that runs on diesel. Such is the conclusion that can be gleaned from a recent article written by Sergio Morales Chavarria of El Financiero, a leading business publication in Costa Rica. That article was based on a study commissioned by the Financial Intelligence unit of El Financiero, and it was based on a survey conducted by polling research firm Unimer.

The study by Unimer and El Financiero revealed other interesting concepts that point towards a society in Costa Rica that is becoming increasingly dependent on automobiles. A mostly utilitarian car culture has been brewing in our country over the last few years, but it is starting to become pervasive in all sectors of society.

Half of all households in Costa Rica own at least one vehicle, even though many of them do not have a convenient or safe place to park it. Almost 40 percent of all cars circulating in our country left the assembly lines more than 17 years ago.

In terms of socioeconomic status, an automobile is emblematic in Costa Rica. All of the upper class families polled by Unimer stated that they had at least one car. Among middle class families, 61 percent posses a car, while 28 percent of the working-class and low-income families currently have one. Most Ticos who do not have a car are saving up to buy one, and many of the families polled confessed that their cars represent the biggest expense in their households.

According to El Financiero, a 2006 Mitsubishi Montero Sport -the dream car of many Ticos- would set them back about $22,000, although many others would prefer if their dream car was manufactured by Toyota.

A Contradiction on Wheels

An opinion piece that was published along with the report from El Financiero indicates an interesting dichotomy between car culture in Costa Rica and the current state of affairs in relation to transportation. On one hand, Ticos prefer four-wheel drive vehicles because they think such cars perform better in our poorly-maintained roads. On the other hand, they recognize their beloved SUVs are gas guzzlers that leave a considerable carbon footprint.

The number one reason Ticos pay thousands of dollars on overpriced used cars is that they think Costa Rica lacks an adequate mass transportation infrastructure. This is where the paradox emerges, since those same Ticos seek to solve their problems brought on by deficient mass transportation with cars. This results in more cars on the highways, higher congestion, increased pollution, etc.

With so many cars on the road and car culture on the rise, Ticos will have to pay even more on carbon credits in order for Costa Rica to become a carbon-neutral nation. This also means that the cost of living will become even more expensive. Achieving carbon neutrality is certainly realistic, even with a high number of vehicles, but it is bound to cost a lot more than planned.

Source: ICOM

The third annual installment of the Art City Tour, sponsored by Banco Nacional, will kick off at 5:00 pm this evening in San Jose. The Art City Tour this year will be celebrated in tandem with the International Museum Day, which has been observed since 1977. This is a great introduction to a portion of the culture and arts scene in Costa Rica, and it is free for all who wish to participate.

The Art City Tour takes participants on a visit to a number of museums, art galleries, design stores, and cultural venues in Downtown San Jose, Barrio Amon and Barrio Escalante. The route can be explored on foot, although the tour organizers also provide a minibus. Those interested in riding the minibus must make an online reservation between now and 5:00 pm and wait for an e-mail confirmation. The minibus registration form can be found at GAMCultural.

There are three main routes and four meeting points for those interested in celebrating International Museum Day with the Art City Tour. Following are the minibus routes and the venues visited:

Route A – Red

• Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
• National Museum
• Central Bank Museum
• French Alliance
• Jade Museum of the INS

Route B – Blue

• Central Bank Museum
• Jade Museum of the INS
• Simon Bolivar Zoo
• Theoretic Museum and Foundation
• Kiosk SJO Boutique
• Kalu Restaurant
• Casa 927
• Children’s Museum

Route C – Orange

• Museum of Contemporary Art and Design
• National Museum
• Spanish Cultural Center
• American Cultural Center
• De Aqui y de Alla Boutique

The pedestrian routes start at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, National Museum, Central Bank Museum, and the Jade Museum of the INS. You can find all the venues visited on the Art City Tour web site. Camera brand Olympus has set up strategic points along the tour for digital photographers to find the best angles to snap digital memories. Walkers are advised to wear comfortable shoes and a lightweight jacket.

The National Museum and the Central Bank Museum will close their doors tonight at 8:30 pm. For more information on the event, visit the Facebook Timeline of Art City Tours.

• Inbound sales, where customers are responding to an advertisement.
• Outbound sales using client provided call lists.
• Lead generation through qualifying customers calling about a sales promotion.
• Market research by conducting surveys.
• Processing of product orders from customers.
• Customer support through providing help desk functions.
• Technical support for particular products.
• Appointment setting.
• Credit and billing problems, including collections.
• Cellphone activation.
• Fundraising for charities.
• Cause related marketing.
• Direct response to TV / Radio marketing.
• Sports booking.

Call centers essentially perform any business function that involves person-to-person contact over a voice connection. Costa Rica is the home of a number of corporate call centers, including Bank of America, HP, IBM, Proctor & Gamble, and Western Union. Independent call centers range in size for super call centers, such as Sykes Costa Rica with 3200 employees, to operations run from a home with one or two employees. There are no statistics regarding the number of call centers in Costa Rica. Richard Blank (CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center) estimates that there may be as many as 300 call centers operating in Costa Rica. With just over a 100 seats (employees actually making the calls), Costa Rica’s Call Center represents a mid-sized call center.

If the number of call centers is hard to estimate, the number of workers employed by call centers is even more difficult to determine. According to the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), the offshore service sector employs 1.4% of the Costa Rican labor force, with contact centers employing about 50% of this offshore service sector. With a total work force of 2.3 million in Costa Rica, this results in about 16,000 workers being employed by call centers. The CINDE report “Costa Rica Human Capital Cost – Services Sector” (PDF download) estimates the average wages for call center workers, as follows:

The above table reflects the average salaries for September 2011, when the exchange rate was 510 colones equaled one US Dollar. The Mandatory Benefits includes the Christmas Bonus, which is equal to one month of pay.

The A.T. Kearney Global Services Location Index for 2011 ranks Costa Rica as #19 in the world for outsourcing, and #4 in Latin America. The GSLI report points out that cost competitiveness is becoming a major challenge for Costa Rica. Nearshore Americas, in their article “Latin America’s Ranking Reflects, ‘Intensifying’ of IT, BPO Skill,” points out that El Salvador and Honduras are leveraging their lower labor costs to attract nearshore business. While price competition presents a serious challenge, Costa Rica still holds an edge according to CR Technology Insight, which points out that Costa Rica is #1 for innovation in Latin America, #3 for network readiness, #3 for property rights index, and #4 for high technology exporter.

The recent article on smartphone growth statistics illustrates the growing importance of smartphones on purchase decisions by consumers. The smartphone shortens the time between seeing a product of interest and acting on the decision to purchase the product. Once the consumer fills out a request, or contacts an 800 number, the call center comes into play. The call center acts either as an order processing center, or qualifies the lead. The qualified lead is then passed to either the client, or another part of the call center operation. Marketing to a potential customer, who has expressed an interest in a product, generates far more sales than attempts at marketing using “cold call” lists.

Internet forums and discussions on social media services, such as Facebook, created a self-help culture. This phenomenon reflects the frustration of many consumers, whose contact at a help desk does not speak good English. Consumers want an answer, and want one that they can understand. In many cases, the self-help groups may solve the problems. Without the presence of an official company representative, these forums may also give misinformation. In these cases, the work for the help desk representative is more complicated, as they must correct the misinformation, and then provide the correct solution. Help desks will remain as a vital operation for call centers, as they are the official company representative, who can also take corrective actions, such as authorizations for return, or corrections to billings. In both quality of English language speakers and understanding of technology, Costa Rica has an advantage over call centers located in the Philippines and India.

In terms of outsourcing, call centers are part of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). BPO includes many other business process, such as accounting, back office operations, and payroll. BPO, itself, is part of services outsourcing. Other services outsourcing areas are Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), and the new area of Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO). There are Costa Rica businesses involved in all areas of service outsourcing.

I wish to thank Richard Blank of Costa Rica’s Call Centers for sharing his knowledge of call centers in Costa Rica, and for acting as a soundboard for my ideas on this article.

Jose Miguel Gonzalez raises his fist in victory

Jose Miguel Gonzalez Arias, a young high school student at the Don Bosco Technical and Professional Institute, received the second-place award from the United States Patent and Trademark Office Society at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh last night.

According to an official communication in Costa Rica by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MICIT), the young Tico’s project received a special certification for its innovation and economic importance. There are eleven young Ticos still competing at the ISEF through the end of today. They are among 1,500 other students from 68 countries who are gathered at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The project presented by Jose Miguel Gonzalez Arias was described on the pages of The Costa Rica Star earlier this week:

• Braille Keyboard, Printer and Recyclable Sheets
• A run-of-the-mill desktop printer is transformed it into a Braille printing device that boasts a keyboard and stores data. The sheets used can be recycled after printing.

Jose Miguel’s project was completed when he was still in high school. He is now studying Electronic Engineering at the Technology Institute of Costa Rica (TEC).

Costa Rica has been participating in ISEF since 1998. While our students have brought back second, third, and fourth place awards, Costa Rica is still hoping to score the grand prize at ISEF. The projects this year are very interesting, and they stand a good chance to bring home glory. There is also a strong presence by young Ticas this year, who are becoming more involved in science and technology.

The eleven bright young minds from Costa Rica traveled to Pittsburgh with MICIT Vice Minister Keilor Rojas and Karla Rojas, an executive from Intel. Vice Minister Rojas provided the following observation on the competition:

“We are definitely in the major leagues here. The competing projects have already won awards, and more than 1,500 other students with high-caliber and high-quality projects are also here, which means we have to keep improving.”

Vice Minister Rojas also added that the students don’t consider their projects completed unless they become a product that can serve the needs of people and society.

UPDATE – Just moments ago this Friday, the ISEF judges announced that one more project from Costa Rica that earned an award:

Best of Electrical and Mechanical Projects – Second Place Award

• RIIS-ED: Prototype of Wheelchair for Quadriplegic People Controlled by Neural Impulses
• Luis Gerardo Leon-Vega, 17, Colegio Jose Maria Gutierrez, Bagaces, Guanacaste

This is the second time Luis Gerardo competes at the ISEF, and his RIIS-ED project had been a favorite this year. The Costa Rica Star will follow up with the MICIT as the students return home. Congratulations to all.

Sea Shepherd vessel maneuvering dangerously

Ever since news of the controversial arrest of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson by German authorities on an extradition request by Costa Rica, the social media sphere and news outlets have been quite busy commenting on the events. Mr. Watson’s arrest has been nothing short of a cause celebre for the Sea Shepherd Society, and the headline on a recent press release by that marine environmentalist organization seems to illustrate it:

Germany Considers Sending Whale Defender to What Will be a Death Sentence in Costa Rica

“[…] Should Captain Watson be extradited to Costa Rica, he will certainly not receive a fair trial and his safety cannot be guaranteed. The shark finning mafia, which operates illegally in Costa Rica, could try to harm Captain Watson and this reality has him fearing for his life.”

For the record, the laws of Costa Rica prohibit the death sentence, so perhaps Sea Shepherd alluded to it metaphorically. Paul Watson is looking at a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, but there are no indications that his alleged actions would grant a maximum sentence. The press release above concludes with:

“[…] Your generous donation will help keep Captain Watson out of harm’s way, and will allow him to fulfill his mission: to protect marine creatures while there is still hope.”

If the above isn’t agitprop enough, Mr. Watson’s counsel in Germany -Oliver Wallasch- made the following comment on a late motion filed prosecutors in Frankfurt:

“Absolutely unusual – I never had this experience in all my practice in cross border cases – the fact that the public prosecutor stated, that the German Ministry of Justice and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the power to stop the extradition procedure on political reasons.”

Over the last few days, the Sea Shepherd media and public relations arm  has managed to transform Mr. Watson from an environmentalist ship captain with a penchant for ramming vessels in the high seas to a casualty of an unknown political affair, as well as into a man wanted by fearsome criminal groups:

“The Taiwanese Shark Fin Mafia has had a $20,000 bounty on his head for years. We know the arm of the Taiwanese Shark Finning Mafia reaches not just to the illegal fishing industry in Costa Rica, but also to the prison system there. Sea Shepherd fears that not only would Captain Paul Watson not receive a fair trial in Costa Rica, but he would likely not survive jail long enough to see the inside of a court room.”

What is interesting about the statement above is that a Taiwanese captain was recently in court here in Costa Rica and received a monetary penalty for shark finning, but no jail time. That fine was around $124,000, considerably higher than the purported bounty that Sea Shepherd speaks of.

A Death Sentence for Tourism?

The press releases mentioned above are not the only media efforts applied by Sea Shepherd. As reported by France24, Mr. Watson and his organization enjoy the support of the glitterati:

“Despite its radical tactics, Sea Shepherd has garnered the support of Hollywood A-listers such as Sean Penn and French screen siren Brigitte Bardot along the way.

Benefactors include rock legend Mick Jagger, Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis, surfing champion Kelly Slater, and actors Christian Bale and Edward Norton.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who are currently on their “I’m With You” tour, have stepped up their support of Sea Shepherd and Mr. Watson, and to that extent the organization will follow the band with their own recreational vehicle (camper van) -as reported by online media site LAist.

The social media contingent from Sea Shepherd is also contributing with pressure against one of Costa Rica’s most cherished industries: ecotourism. In an article by Cesar Gonzalez of digital newspaper Costa Rica Hoy, a Tico representative of the organization Preserve Planet indicated that he is working along with attorneys and other groups that will defend Mr. Watson should he be extradited. The representative, Luis Diego Marin, also pointed out that the popular Facebook Timeline of the ICT (Costa Rica’s official board of tourism) is being assailed by social media netizens who are voicing their displeasure with the Watson affair.

The comments warn of a boycott on tourism activities in Costa Rica should Mr. Watson be extradited and put on trial. Mr. Marin provided the following opinion on the matter to Costa Rica Hoy:

“European tourists are evidently very demanding, and they are asking our country to practice what we preach.”

The ICT has been responding to the negative sentiments on their Facebook Timeline with a message that explains that Costa Rica is following a sovereign and democratic process, and that ICT is a government agency separate from the other powers that are carrying on the prosecution.

The social media counterattack by Sea Shepherd followers has also been displayed in comments left here on the pages of The Costa Rica Star. Environmentalist organizations often depend strongly on awareness and media attention, and it seems that Sea Shepherd has managed to greatly accomplish both in the wake of Mr. Watson’s arrest.

The sentences that Mr. Watson or the tourism industry of Costa Rica will receive as a result of the ongoing imbroglio are still to be determined, but unlike the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society posits, one can safely assume that no death sentences will be issued.

On May 17, 2012, representatives from the nine municipalities in Costa Rica’s largest county of San Jose, which are included in the Metropolitan Federation of Municipalities of San Jose, FEMETROM, met to define their official position concerning the new POTGAM plan. The executive director of FEMETROM, Juan Antonio Vargas, said that the INVU plans should be observed only by the municipalities that haven’t created their own regulatory plans. Vargas continued to say that:

“When they created the original Land Management Plan for the GAM, in 1982, there were no municipalities with their own master plans, but now; the majority of municipalities have their own regulatory plans, which are not under the jurisdiction of INVU.”

The chief executive of INVU, Eugenia Vargas, said that:

“POTGAM is a regional plan that respects municipal autonomy in making local decisions, but the plan and its guidelines need to be incorporated into the regulatory plans already established by the individual municipalities.”

However, according to the former attorney for the board of INVU, Ricardo Castro, the new POTGAM plan cannot be binding for all municipalities, because that would violate the terms of municipal autonomy established in the Constitution of Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, the Costa Rican Ministry of Housing and Human Settlements, MIVAH, is arguing with the College of Geologists of Costa Rica, CGCR, over the new limits of the urban containment ring detailed in the new POTGAM plan. Dr. Allan Astorga, who is a well known geologist and professor of the School of Geology at the University of Costa Rica, coordinated the original study of the Urban and Regional Planning of the Greater Metropolitan Area, PRUGAM, which was abandoned by INVU. Dr. Astorga says that the increase in the size of the new Greater Metropolitan Area Plan, POTGAM, includes around 15,000 hectares of which 62% consists of high or very high environmentally fragile areas. The Chief Executive and Director of Planning for INVU, Eugenia Vargas, admitted that there is an increase in the size of the limits of the GAM area, but denied there will be any damage to vulnerable areas.

However, according to dozens of scholars and experts in engineering and geology, including, Enid Gamboa Robles, President of College of Geologists of Costa Rica, as well as geologists, Dr. Sergio Mora Castro, Dr. Allan Lopez Saborío and Dr. Allan Astorga, the new map, published by MIVAH, expands the size of the original GAM map and threatens vital aquifers that supply the GAM with potable water. The new map increases the areas for urban development in mountainous areas which are vulnerable to various natural hazards, such as landslides, avalanches, floods, geological faults and volcanic activities. Furthermore, the plan threatens existing ecosystems and forest areas of the mountain regions of the GAM, which due to existing land development, have already been affected to the point of extinction.

These professionals are questioning the decisions of INVU and MIVAH because the new POTGAM was created irresponsibly by the government institutions without transparency and it puts the citizens who live and work within the Greater Metropolitan Area, GAM, at risk. The assertions of the professionals are that INVU, in its new plan, POTGAM, does not resolve the existing potential environmental disasters in the GAM and that INVU is more interested in real estate development and the sale of housing than the new plans negative impact on the environment and natural resources. A look at the new website of INVU, confirms the professional assertions. Additionally, the new plan calls for 250 kilometers of roads, which will create substantially more land development, but at a high price for the citizenry. The professionals are recommending that INVU needs to consider “vertical” urban development rather than urban sprawl created by additional land development and new roads.

Furthermore, the professional scholars and experts point out that the new POTGAM plan contrasts with the existing plans of the Ministry of Transportation, MOPT, which is promoting more sustainable planning for mass transit and public transportation, utilizing renewable energy rather than building new roads filled with more petroleum consuming vehicles.

Costa Rican residents living in the central valley have been waiting for a new sustainable land use plan since 1982. Hopefully with the combined energy of the professional scholars, municipal councils and the Costa Rican government officials, a new plan will be agreed to before it’s too late and more natural disasters take the lives of the residents of Costa Rica.

According to an official release by France Diplomatie,  Jean-Paul Balzamo made the return of six ceramic and pottery objects, some made into human and animal shapes. The Agence France-Presse quoted a spokesman from the Foreign Affairs industry, who explained that the relics were confiscated at the French customs service of the Paris-Roissy Charles de Gaulle International Airport. Technicians investigated the relics’ provenance and determined that they belonged to Costa Rica.

Spokesman Bernard Valero stated that:

“The return of these archeological objects is one more example of France’s commitment and our ongoing cooperation in the international fight against the smuggling of objects of art and cultural heritage.”

In September of 2010, national newspaper La Nacion reported on the recovery of 28 pre-Columbian objects stolen in the 1990s and later confiscated by Italian law enforcement agents in Milan. Those objects were confiscated back in 1998, and they were kept at the embassy in Rome for 12 years due to budgetary constraints. Repatriating archeological objects is generally an expensive affair due to the logistics and insurance requirements involved. In the end, diplomatic corps member Miguel Angel Obregon brought the objects back in suitcases.

Looting of antiquities by real-life tomb raiders (nighthawkers in the United Kingdom) has always been a problem for researchers working in Costa Rica. The late Professor Michael J. Snarskis, an American archeologist considered to be the pioneer of modern archeology in our country, once criticized the collections at our Gold and Jade Museums as originating from grave robberies of cultural heritage sites by opportunists with connections to underground antiquities dealers who operate in the lucrative black market.

At the inaugural event, the President stated that the new social network is a product of the intellect and ingenuity of Tico talent. She added that:

“It’s no accident that Costa Rica currently enjoys the top spot in Latin America with regard to innovation, since it is the top exporter of technology in the region.”

An official announcement provided by Casa Presidencial quoted Minister of Science and Technology (MICIT) Alejandro Cruz, who explained that the unexpected impact of social media in the democratic process has been very fortunate.

The launch of My Babilon took place at the Fogo Brasil restaurant in San Jose. Developer and founder Diego Garro explained that the site is expected to feature a lot of interaction from users who can engage in forums and messaging applications in any language. The built-in machine translation apps on the platform make the interaction possible, and users can also take advantage of tools that allow linking to popular social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Users also have the option to sign in with a number of existing credentials, such as  Google Accounts.

According to an article by Melissa Gonzalez of business daily La Republica, the original idea behind My Babilon three years ago was to create an instant messaging application powered by real-time translation. The project eventually evolved into a social network.

As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star, President Laura Chinchilla is a firm believer in the use of social media by government institutions. To that extent, her favorite network is Twitter, which she personally uses without the assistance of her communications team. At the My Babilon launch last night, however, she opened an account on the new platform.

A genetic research study conducted by Dr. Manuel Soto Quiros of the Children’s Hospital looked at 616 asthmatic children in Costa Rica and determined that 28 percent were lacking appropriate levels of vitamin D. Those children were also the ones exhibiting the worst asthmatic conditions and who also spent more time in acute care clinics and hospitals.

“Vitamin D is naturally produced by our bodies through a liposoluble process that takes place when the skin is directly exposed to the Sun’s rays.”

Dr. Soto explained that the vitamin D deficiency points to a radical cultural and societal change in Costa Rica with regard to child rearing. The vitamin deficiency is directly related to the few options that Tico children these days have in terms of playing outside. This is an unfortunate situation, according to Dr. Soto, since the entire family is affected. Asthmatic children who spend more time indoors are more likely to exhibit vitamin D deficiency, and this in turn obligates parents to take time off from work and stay home looking after their little ones. Asthma is the most common chronic condition in Costa Rica, and it is the most cited reason for school absenteeism.

“Advances in personal technology, television programming and fear of street crime are keeping Tico children indoors longer.” said Dr. Soto.

Other factors in Costa Rica that worsen the lives of asthmatic children include second-hand cigarette smoke and low consumption of foods with naturally high –or otherwise enriched- vitamin D content, like cheese, butter, dairy cream, milk, oysters, salmon, tuna, and others. There is, however, a warning against consumption of too much food rich in vitamin D. High levels of calcium in the bloodstream could deposit in the heart and lungs, thereby causing nausea, disorientation, weight loss, and even kidney stones.

Everest Camp Four in 2009. Source: Purdue University

Warner Rojas is getting closer to his dream of being the first Tico to plant the flag of Costa Rica at the top of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. According to an article by Manuel Herrera in the national news daily La Nacion, improved weather conditions in the mountainous Nepal region are expected in the next few days.

Mr. Rojas sent a message from the slopes of Mount Everest earlier this week indicating that his climbing team is continuing the arduous ascent. Team members set up camp at 5,360 meters, and they were hoping to reach 6,500 meters before setting up camp again. Should the climb continue as planned, the team will have two more stops before reaching the summit: one at 7,470 meters and the last one at 7,900 meters. The elevation of the mountain is 8,848 meters.

Ticos following Mr. Rojas via NavSat GPS on TeleNoticias channel 7 are anxiously awaiting his message from Camp Four. Once that message is broadcast, Mr. Rojas will find himself just hours away from fulfilling his most significant climbing achievement. Although the current climbing season has been one of the busiest in Nepal, the conditions at Everest have not been the most favorable for the many mountaineers.  Two Sherpa guides have died: Karsang Namgyal and Namgyal Tshering. The latter was climbing  his third summit, while the former had was on his tenth summit.

A massive avalanche down the western slope of Mount Everest disrupted the busy climbing season and injured a Sherpa guide at the end of April, as reported by The Costa Rica Star. One of the expeditions by National Geographic Society to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the first summit by an American climber was called off after aerial photography of the west ridge revealed adverse conditions caused by climate change.

According to La Nacion, the Jagged Globe expedition of Mr. Rojas was almost called off weeks ago after the route plan was drastically change by the dislodgement of a massive block of ice caused by unseasonably warm conditions.

Source: WikiMedia Commons

SAN JOSE – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica has issued an official communication to the Embassy of Nicaragua complaining of an invasion by security forces to Isla Calero, a continental isle located in the northeastern border region. Such military incursions were prohibited by a March 2011 resolution of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

The provisions in the ICJ resolution were issued following an invasion by Nicaraguan security forces led by former revolutionary Eden Pastora in October of 2010, a case that became internationally known as the Google Maps Invasion.

The communiqué issued by Minister Enrique Castillo mentions that news outlets in Nicaragua advised of a new contingent sent to Isla Calero.  The Minister added that individuals involved in dragging operations of the San Juan river, which belongs to Nicaragua, are causing environmental damage. The ICJ resolved that Costa Rica has an obligation to protect the ecosystems of the island. According to the Minister, the contingent sent to Isla Calero is formed by Nicaraguan youth who are incited by the Daniel Ortega administration to cross into Costa Rican territory.

According to an article filed by Carlos Salazar Fernandez of digital newspaper El Pais, the latest invasion by Nicaragua involves army recruits. Writing from Isla Calero, Mr. Salazar indicates that legislator Claudio Monge Pereira traveled to the island yesterday and confirmed that the dragging operations were being conducted by young recruits, and that the murky waters are evidence of the active dragging. Mr. Monge claims that the government of Costa Rica has neglected to point out that the Nicaraguan invaders are military personnel, and he questions the reasons why such information has been left out.

Mr. Monge, who represents the Accion Ciudadana (Civil Action) opposition party, recently called on the government to not extradite Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson to Costa Rica. Mr. Watson is currently in German custody, awaiting extradition proceedings for his alleged involvement in a vessel ramming incident in 2002.

Second only to Sao Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina, San Jose, Costa Rica was selected as the third best among the Latin countries. Additionally, in the overall global standings, San Jose is ranked 18 among the top 100 places in the world for outsourcing. The study was conducted with extensive research around the world, including cities that are considered to be leaders in Latin and South America.

Tholons noted in their study, that Latin America is emerging as the leading region for the establishment of outsourced service operations in the world and Costa Rica was highlighted for its future potential. This is because Costa Rica offers outstanding human resources and it has specialized high value-added operations, such as shared services in the areas of finance, accounting and information technology as well as emerging entertainment and media operations. The services sector in Costa Rica has been evolving, increasingly offering more sophisticated and value added services and it is well positioned around the world in the high-tech sector.

The study also indicates that during 2011, about 24 service centers were established in Latin America. These positive results arise from the growth of larger markets in the region and because Latin countries provide adequate conditions and competitive global business operations for multinational companies currently operating in the larger global markets, among them, Fortune 500 companies from India.

Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Trade, COMEX, is anticipating that in the coming years India will become a significant source of foreign direct investment. This positive interest is the result of a trade group visit to India led by Minister of Trade, Anabel González in March, 2012. They met with government officials and private enterprises to promote Costa Rica as a business destination as well as to promote trade between India and Costa Rica. According to Costa Rica’s Foreign Trade Corporation, PROCOMER, Costa Rica exported $25 million to India in 2011 and imported $133 million and in 2010, Costa Rica’s exports to India were $76 million with imports of $52 million. According to PROCOMER, the majority of the products traded between the two countries were; timber, computer parts, scrap iron and steel, oil seeds and fruits.

Fortune 500 company, MOTIF, has been operating in Costa Rica since 2010 and it is one of the 24 largest multinational companies from India. Five more of the largest “service sector” Indian firms are currently considering expansion into the Costa Rica market. The companies are attracted to Costa Rica for its proximity and time zone compatibility to the U.S. as well as the quality of human resources and the positive business climate.

INA maintains its own library, which was built in 1972, to provide specialized vocational and training research materials to support the education of the INA students. In the library, the students have access to computers, technical catalogs, bibliographic databases and indexes.

Additionally, INA maintains its own Children’s Center, CIINA that was opened in December of 1981. CIINA services are offered to all employees and students of INA and include classes in, dance, music, cooking, art and English.  Additionally, CIINA provides physical education, recycling workshops, cultural activities, civic education, early learning and infant massage to the children from age 3 months to 6 years. The Children’s Center allows INA employees and students to continue to advance their careers while having their children cared for in a safe and nurturing environment.

There are many INA educational programs and they are offered in the following areas of study:

Agricultural Training and Technological Services Sector – Agriculture & Horticulture Production, Livestock, Forestry and Environmental Management

Commercial Trades and Services Sector – Educational training in the fields of Business Management, Accounting, Human Resources, Sustainable Development, Health, Cosmetology, Languages, Merchandising

Food Industry Sector – Food Safety, Water Culture Management, Seafood Resources Processing and Conservation, Fruit and Vegetable Processing and Preservation, Meat Processing and Preservation, Dairy Resources and Preservation, Bakery Products Production, Animal and Vegetable Oils and Fats Processing, Sugar Production and Processing, Manufacturing of Beverages, Confections, Coffee, Animal Food Processing and Flour Products Processing and Production.

Graphic Communications Sector – Graphic & Web Page Design, Multimedia Creation, Printing; prepress, offset, screen and flexographic production

Textile Industry Sector – Manufacturing of Apparel & Clothing, Tailoring, Dressmaking, Mechanics & Machinery, Production Software Management.

Vehicle Mechanics and Maintenance – Mechanics of Light Vehicles, Heavy Equipment, Agricultural Equipment, Fuel Processing and Conservation.

Metal Mechanics Sector – Structural Steelwork, Precision Engineering, Molding and Casting of Alloy Steel, Plastic Mold Manufacturing.

Marine and Fisheries Sector – Navigation, Marine Resources and Processing, Fishing, Naval Mechanics, Shipbuilding, Sport Fishing & Diving, Marine Resources Conservation.

Arts and Crafts Production Sector – Pottery, Dress Making, Embroidering, Leather Crafts, Tailoring, Shoemaking, Woodworking, Glass Crafts, Metal Crafts, Painting, Drawing

Electrical Sector – Electronics, Telematics, Telecommunications, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning

Materials Technology Sector – Civil Construction, Furniture Manufacturing, Environmental Management, Wood, Plastic and Polymer Materials Research and Testing

Tourism Sector – Gastronomy, Restaurant, Bar and Hotel Management, Tourist Services Management

In celebration of its 47 year anniversary, INA sponsored a special event at its facility in La Marina, San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela. The CEO of INA, Olman Segura Bonilla, spoke at the event and said he was very pleased with all students who recently graduated.

“This motivates us to move forward, reaching out to all those people who want to excel and achieve all their goals,” said Segura.

During the ceremony, about 100 students graduated in nine different categories. 8 blind students graduated with degrees in; Computer Sciences. 14 students graduated with degrees in; Attention and Care of Older Adults. 15 students graduated with degrees in; Installation and Maintenance of Telecommunications Equipment.

The primary goal of INA is to help fill the demand for trained personnel in specialized fields and generate jobs for Costa Rican nationals.

Evernote achieves its status through the number of mobile devices supported, number of browser extensions, number of hardware devices that integrate to Evernote, and the number of add-on apps, such as Skitch. While Pinterest is now the #3 social network, it has problems with mobile market penetration. The only mobile device supported is the iPhone, leaving the rest of the mobile world to its mobile Web interface. Smart Insights presents an infograph showing that 91% of the mobile phone users access a social network via their phone, where only 79% of the PC users access a social network. A study by Flurry indicates a mobile trend towards using apps to access a social network, versus a mobile Web interface. With no plans for an Android app, Pinterest is snubbing 52% of the mobile device market.

Pinning photos to a pinboard is no different than uploading photos to an album. If most of the photos on Pinterest are shared from Facebook or Tumblr, why bother with Pinterest? When it comes to photo sharing, the big photo sharing sites are Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram, with Google+ now in the game. Do we really need, yet another photo sharing network?

Pinterest is about objects that you like, which includes products that you like. While you can easily pin a product from a companies Web site, such as Amazon.com, to your pinboard, brand tracking on Pinterest is not easy. It is like an eBay, without any seller controls. Personally, I find it easier to track a brand on Twitter, Google+, or Facebook. I put Facebook last, as posts from a particular brand often get lost among all the posts from friends. According to a Google study, a whooping 95% of smartphone users find a local business using their phone, and 44% of those make a purchase.

Released on April 11, Springpad 3.0 is a social network that combines the features of Evernote with those of Pinterest. Like Evernote, Springpad organizes notes into notebooks. With Springpad, the notebook can be public, or private (default). You assign a notebook to one of ten categories, and notebooks have hashtags. Springpad, itself, warns you not to include sensitive information in private notebooks. When you create a Springpad account, you have a default notebook called All My Stuff. Springpad asks if you wish to create other default notebooks, such as Quick Notes and Gadget Wish List.

When creating a note for Springpad, the first step is to select the type of note. Is the note for a book, bookmark, check list, movie, album, note, contact, place, product, recipe, task, TV Show, or Wine. This selection is important, as it determines what you enter as a note. For example, if you select product, you get a search option for products, books gives a search option for books, a checklist creates a checklist, and so on. Notes can include photos, audio recordings, barcodes. The nearby option is useful only if there are notes (Springs) that are near to your location. I was unable to find any Springs, whose location was Costa Rica. When you are ready to post a note, you “Spring” the note to a notebook.

Springpad has both iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android apps, and a mobile version of their Web site. Besides Web access from a PC, there is a Springpad app for Google Chrome, Springpad extensions for Google Chrome and Firefox, and the “Spring It!” button for any Web browser. I was unable to get the Springpad Google extension to work, while the “Spring It!” button does work. The Evernote Clearly extension does a better job than the “Spring It!” button. In my opinion, the Android app is far easier to use than the Web interface.

When compared to Pinterest, Springpad offers more organization and easier searching for movies, books, products, and other things of interest. For example, it was far easier to find products from major stores, such as Amazon. Once you find a product that you like, you just spring it into your current notebook. Should Springpad attract commercial interests in Costa Rica, it would be easy to Spring your favorite stores, restaurants, and other services to your notebooks.

After four weeks of using Springpad 3.0, I don’t see it as a replacement to Evernote. I do see it as bringing the Evernote type of organization to Pinterest. With an Android app, I am more likely to use Springpad as a social network than Pinterest. With only five public notebooks related to Costa Rica, but not located in Costa Rica, Springpad does not yet have the local presence that Pinterest has.