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A.M.
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Published Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in Vol. 17, No. 132
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 132
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By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
President Luis Guillermo Solís has signed into law a bill that provides a 28-month moratorium on evictions from public property. The measure is important to dwellers of coastal communities who might be located in the maritime zone. The measure does not halt any legal actions, but it does prevent eviction unless the environment is endangered or there is a threat of danger, according to the text. The bill gives lawmakers time to produce a permanent bill that will protect buildings that have been located for years in what is now considered the maritime zone. The implementation of the new law is under the control of the Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía. Windy weather predicted to continue By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
Today is expected to be windy, thanks to the continued location of a high pressure area over the Caribbean, according to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional. Winds of up to 60 mph were registered Tuesday, and the forecast calls for the same today, particularly in the mountains. The forecast also predicts that humidity will continue to be reduced and the chances of rain are less. Upala damage was to 25 homes By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
The national emergency commission said that 25 families were affected by the series of earthquakes that took place in the canton of Upala in the northern zone late Saturday and Sunday. There were 25 homes in five communities that suffered damage, the commission said after a survey of the area. The communities are El Macho, Altamira in Bijagua, Armenias, Guacalito in Canalete and Cuatro Bocas in Aguas Claras. There also were some landslides, cracks in roadways, collapsed utility poles and damage to the water systems, said the commission. The commission said that as a result of the quakes five persons were treated for nerves and one person suffered injuries when a television set fell. Poás sends up a column of water By the A.M. Costa
Rica staff
Volcán Poás emitted a column of vapor and rock up to 200 meters above the level of the crater lake about 2:27 p.m. Tuesday. That is the second time in a week that the volcano has done that. The Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica said that the cause was overheating of underground water. There did not appear to be magma within the erupted material, the Observatorio said. Our reader’s
opinion
He is weeping for the United
StatesDear A.M. Costa Rica: As a simple retired common person and veteran, here’s my personal reaction to Hillary and Bill’s actions of the past couple of weeks! I honestly feel that the Clintons and Obama believe, and likely are, above the laws of the land, and, of course, us common folks. Bill’s meeting with the attorney general, Hillary’s response to the FBI interview, and now the ride to Florida on Air Force One, tell me that they are actually thumbing their noses at the rest of us, you news folks included! I would love to watch a recording of Barack Obama and Hillary on the trip to Florida. They are likely sitting around drinking liquor that is beyond my budget, snacking on expensive treats, and laughing! Presumed conversation would be “Those actual citizen voters have no clue that they cannot do anything about our agenda.” Remember this, the Democracy in the USA no longer exists, I saw that seven years ago, and moved to Costa Rica! Y’all get exactly what you deserve! Hillary leaves no electronic evidence, much less a paper trail, Obama has none (all sealed), and there is no actual hard copy of voting records for a human recount! No one can prove anything in this century, and the Democrats and Republicans have arranged this for their own personal grips on power. I support Mr. Trump, as he may actually poke a finger in the eye of political correctness, which I believe to be the root of most of your problems. I weep for the U.S.A. that I was raised to believe in! Glenn Klima
Golfito
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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Colorado S.A 2065 and may not be reproduced anywhere
without permission. Abstracts and fair use are permitted. Check HERE for details |
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A.M. Costa Rica Third News Page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 132
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| Government
gears up for yet another international campaign |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The central government is gearing up to formally support a candidate for secretary general of the United Nations. The candidate most likely is Karen Christiana Figueres Olsen. The 59 year old is a long-time Costa Rica politician, the daughter of a legend and the sister of a former president. Since 2010 she has been the executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Casa Presidential plans a Thursday morning session at the Teatro Nacional for what it called the launching of a global candidacy. The Luis Guillermo Solís administration has not said it is backing Ms. Figueres. But the Partido Liberación Nacional already has endorsed her candidacy. She is not yet among the 11 announced U.N. candidates. Typically the secretary general is not from one of the countries that are permanent members of the Security Council, which makes the recommendation to the General Assembly. There is a campaign to make the next secretary general a woman. The current holder of the office, Ban Ki-moon, leaves Dec. 31. Ms. Figueres has an uphill battle. Four woman already have joined the seven men in announcing their candidacies. They are Natalia Snegur-Gherman of Moldova, a former deputy prime minister; Helen Clark, a New Zealand politician; Irina Bokova, head of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and Susana Malcorra of Argentina, a current under secretary general. In addition, there are dozens of persons who may seek the office. |
 Karen Christiana Figueres
Olsen
Just in Latin America there is speculation that
involves Michelle Bachelet of Chile; Alicia Bárcena
Ibarra, head of the U.N. Economic Commission for
Latin America and the Caribbean, and fellow Tica Rebeca
Grynspan Mayufis, formerly of the United Nations
Development Programme.German Chancellor Angela Merkel also might be interested. |
| Los Chiles imposes a moratorium on expansion of pineapple fields | |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Legislative sources reported Tuesday that the Municipalidad de Los Chiles has imposed a five-year moratorium on the expansion of pineapple operations.. The action took place at a meeting of the Concejo Municipal. Specifically the council members said that no more permits would be issued for five years while the implications for hydrology is studied. |
Chemicals
used in pineapple culture are showing up in the water
supplies. Among other supporters of the moratorium are
lawmakers from the Partidoo Frente Amplio. The party
reported the municipal action. Municipal staffers are supposed to work with experts to determine the impact of pineapple production. However, it is possible that the municipal action will be challenged in court. Some cases on exposure to chemicals already are in court. |
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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A.M. Costa Rica's Fourth News page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 132
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| U.S.
coaches will teach American football basics this weekend |
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Special to A.M. Costa Rica
Coaches from the United States will conduct an American football training clinic Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Parque la Sabana. There is also a youth clinic on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for boys and girls from 10 to 15 years, also in la Sabana, and a clinic for American football coaches, also on Saturday, at 2 p.m in San Pedro. The training clinic is under the name of the University of |
American
Football. It is an academy that brings professional
coaches of the United States to train and teach players
and coaches in Costa Rica. Head Coach Chris Adamson and other coaches of Viewpoint School in Los Angeles, California will teach basic football skills. There is a 5,000-colon participation fee that includes a T-shirt, gifts and a chance to win prizes, said the organizers. Costa Rica has both male and female American football leagues. The clinic is a new program. More informaiton is HERE! |
Here's reasonable
medical care
Costa Rica's world class medical specialists are at your command. Get the top care for much less than U.S. prices. It is really a great way to spend a vacation. See our list of recommended professionals HERE!amcr-prom
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
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contents
of
this Web site are copyrighted by Consultantes Río
Colorado S.A. 2016 and may not be reproduced anywhere
without permission. Abstracts and fair use are permitted. Check HERE for details |
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A.M. Costa Rica's Fifth news page |
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San
José, Costa Rica,
Wednesday, July
6, 2016, Vol. 17,
No. 132
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in FBI probe of her emails By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation says it is recommending no criminal charges be brought against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server while she was secretary of State, lifting a major political and legal hurdle for the presumptive 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. FBI Director James Comey sharply condemned Mrs. Clinton, who served as the country's top diplomat from 2009 to 2013, and her colleagues at the State Department for what he said Tuesday was their extremely careless handling of classified material they sent to each other via a private email server she established at her home in New York. But Comey said FBI investigators in an extensive probe of thousands of Clinton's emails could not find evidence that she clearly, willfully sought to violate U.S. laws and that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case against her based on the evidence uncovered in the weeks-long investigation. The FBI's probe of her use of the private email server, instead of a government server with tight security controls, culminated last Saturday with investigators and government prosecutors questioning her for three and a half hours at FBI headquarters in Washington. Comey's statement came a week after a political uproar over an encounter Mrs. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, had with the country's top law enforcement official, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, on an airport tarmac in Phoenix, Arizona. Both Bill Clinton and Ms. Lynch said they chatted for half an hour, although not about the email case, but subsequently regretted doing so while Lynch was overseeing the email investigation. Republicans and Democrats alike criticized Ms. Lynch's airport get-together with Bill Clinton. Following Comey's announcement, Hillary Clinton's spokesman said the campaign is pleased the FBI will recommend no charges. Shortly after learning of Comey's conclusion, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump denounced it on Twitter: “FBI director said Crooked Hillary compromised our national security. No charges. Wow! #RiggedSystem” During a rally in North Carolina, Trump called the FBI's conclusion disgraceful. "I don't know about you, but I've always felt that Hillary Clinton would escape criminal charges for her dangerous and illegal behavior because I always knew, and I always see, and it's so sad, that our system is in fact rigged," Trump said. "It's totally rigged. It's corrupt." Paul Ryan, the speaker of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, said Comey's conclusion "defies explanation. Declining to prosecute Secretary Clinton for recklessly mishandling and transmitting national security information will set a terrible precedent." When she first acknowledged use of the private email server more than a year ago, Mrs. Clinton said she did so for convenience, so that she would not have to carry two phones, one to handle government business and one to use for personal matters. But she quickly acknowledged that mixing official State Department business with personal emails was a mistake. Well after she left office in early 2013, she deleted about 30,000 emails she and her lawyers deemed to be personal and turned another 30,000 official government-related emails over to the State Department, as she was required to do in any event because of government record-keeping regulations. But Comey said many more emails were discovered, as well. Mrs. Clinton said she never sent or received emails that were marked as classified documents. But Comey said FBI investigators found that 110 emails in 52 email chains contained classified information at the time they were sent, with eight of the chains having top secret information. Comey said investigators do not believe that Mrs. Clinton's emails were hacked by hostile, foreign interests. However, he said hostile actors gained access to private commercial interests that Mrs. Clinton corresponded with and that her extensive use of personal email outside the United States and in the territories of extensive adversaries makes it possible they gained access to her personal accounts. One Democratic strategist, Robert Weiner, said, "The Republicans have had a myth for a long time, and it was more wishful thinking than reality, that Secretary Clinton did something wrong. The reality is that she did not send or receive anything marked classified at the time and she had no malicious intent to hide anything from the American people. It was sent as a matter of convenience. "This might have been a wrong decision for judgment, but it was absolutely not an illegal decision. The FBI made precisely the right statement," Weiner said. A Republican strategist, Paris Dennard, said he was disappointed, but not surprised, by Comey's conclusion, but thinks the American public will not accept it. "You can say that she doesn’t get the charges," Dennard said. "But in the court of public opinion and the American people, they know what the truth is. That’s why she continues to suffer when it comes to the American people looking at how they view her as being someone who they can trust and someone who has credibility." National polling shows Mrs. Clinton with about a 5 percentage-point edge over Trump four months before the Nov. 8 election to pick the successor to President Barack Obama, who leaves office in January. Polls typically have a margin of error of about 3 percentage points higher or lower. Ex-Guantanamo inmate picked up in terror sweep By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
A former detainee at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is among 30 people Turkish authorities say they have arrested in connection with last week's terrorist attack at Istanbul's Ataturk airport. A source inside the small North Caucasus Muslim diaspora in Turkey said that Airat Vakhitov, who spent two years in the Guantanamo Bay detention facility after he was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001, was arrested Tuesday. Reporters have no confirmation of his arrest from Turkey's government. Tuesday Western media quoted Turkish government officials as saying the nation's security services had arrested 30 people suspected of involvement in the terrorist attack, which Ankara believes was the work of the Islamic State group. According to Turkish government sources, 11 of those arrested are Russian citizens. Salman Sever, spokesman for the Association of the Russian-Speaking Mujahidin in Turkey, which also goes by the name Union of Honor and to which Vakhitov belongs, confirmed Vakhitov's arrest in an interview. "We hope Airat will be released soon," Sever said. Russia's security services have accused Vakhitov of fighting in Syria and Iraq alongside terrorist groups, as well as recruiting foreign fighters for the Islamic State and other groups, and raising funds for terrorists. Vakhitov, 39, is an ethnic Tatar from the city of Naberezhnye Chelny in the Russian republic of Tatarstan. In late 2001, Vakhitov was detained by U.S. troops in Afghanistan among other Taliban fighters and transferred to Guantanamo Bay, where he spent two years before the U.S. government handed him and six other Russian citizens over to Russia in 2004. Shortly after arriving home, Vakhitov was released by a Russian court, which found no evidence of his alleged terrorist activities. Congressional report blasts medical care for veterans By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
Health care operations at the Department of Veterans Affairs still show profound deficiencies and require urgent reform, according to a report to be released Wednesday by a congressional commission charged with fixing the troubled agency. Congress created the Commission on Care in 2014 as part of a $16 billion reform law meant to overhaul Veterans Affairs, after an audit revealed that some veterans of military service had to wait as long as 90 days to see a doctor. Some veterans were reported to have died while waiting for an appointment. The commission's report says the Veterans Affairs delivers high-quality care, but the care is inconsistent among the health care centers for veterans. Problems with access to care also remain, it says. "America's veterans deserve a better organized, high-performing health care system," the commission wrote. President Barack Obama in a statement released late Tuesday said he would review the report closely. "We will continue to work with veterans, Congress and our partners in the veteran advocacy community to further our ongoing transformation of the veterans' health care system," Obama said. "Our veterans deserve nothing less for their sacrifices and their service." Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald said many of the panel's recommendations are in line with ongoing efforts to transform the VA into what McDonald calls a veteran-centric organization. Three members of the 15-member board declined to endorse the 292-page report, The Arizona Republic reported. Two of those members issued a statement saying the findings and recommendations fall far short of what is needed to fix the health care system, the newspaper said. The congressional commission cites a variety of issues still plaguing the system, including inadequate staffing, inefficient use of staff and antiquated facilities. The scandal was first revealed in an audit of Veterans Affairs health care facilities in 2014. At the time, it was reported that 100,000 veterans had experienced delays of more than 90 days while waiting for appointments at veterans' medical centers. A number of officials were accused of altering paperwork to cover up the long waiting periods and other problems. In fallout from the scandal, four senior executives were fired in October 2014. The 2014 law, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, aimed to make it easier and faster for former U.S. service members to get medical treatment. It also provided funds for veterans to see private doctors if they were unable to be examined at a Veterans Affairs hospital, allowed for the hiring of more doctors and nurses and made it easier to fire incompetent bureaucrats. The Veterans Health Administration treats nearly 9 million veterans at 1,700 facilities around the country. Mega Millions lottery fails to produce a Tuesday winner By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
The Mega Millions lottery jackpot continues to grow, reaching a staggering $508 million for Friday night's drawing, making it potentially the seventh largest in U.S. history. The game's prize has rolled over 35 times since the last winner was picked March 8. There was no winner again Tuesday night when the winning numbers were 29, 64, 46, 53, 73 and 10 as the mega. "This is our longest roll ever, by far,'' said Paula Otto, executive director of the Virginia Lottery and lead director for Mega Millions, which is managed by a consortium of lottery organizations. The previous record was 22 rollovers. The highest jackpot drawn in the country was a $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot won in January by players in three states. If no winner is picked Tuesday for Mega Millions, the jackpot is expected to grow by another $50 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players pick five numbers between 1 and 75, and one Mega number from 1 to 15. The odds of matching all six numbers are 1 in 258,890,850. Pasta gets some high marks from Italian research team By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
Great news for pasta lovers. A study by researchers in Italy suggests it doesn’t make people fat and may even reduce the chances of obesity. Writing in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes, researchers say the Mediterranean diet staple “contributes to a healthy body mass index, lower waist circumference and better waist-hip ratio." The findings from the Department of Epidemiology at the Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care Mediterranean Neurologic Institute in Pozzilli, Italy, were based on an analysis of the diets of more than 23,000 people. "In popular views, pasta is often considered not adequate when you want to lose weight. And some people completely ban it from their meals,” said Licia Iacoviello, head of the Laboratory of Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology at the institute. “In light of this research, we can say that this is not a correct attitude.” Iacoviello, however, added that pasta should be consumed in moderation as part of a diet that includes a variety of Mediterranean staples such as fresh vegetables and fruits, unrefined grains, nuts, olive oil and legumes, among others. Many studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Opinions on new Chinese law appear to be a mixed bag By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
A Hong Kong group advocating for workers' rights in mainland China says the country has taken a step forward by passing a new law to regulate overseas non-governmental organizations. Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin is one of the overseas non-governmental organizations covered by the law, and its positive view of that Chinese law contrasts with strong criticisms from human rights activists and even the U.S. government. Beijing approved the Law on the Management of Overseas NGO Activities Within Mainland China in April. When it takes effect on Jan. 1, the non-governmental organizations will come under supervision of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. The law gives the overseas non-governmental organizations two options. One is to register a representative office in mainland China with the ministry. The second is for the non-governmental organizations to declare that they are operating in the country temporarily with a Chinese partner organization or sponsor. “I think we need to see the NGO law for what it is,” said Shawn Shieh, China Labour Bulletin’s deputy director, while visiting Washington last week. He called the law “an attempt to regulate a sector that has not been regulated before in any comprehensive way." Shieh said overseas non-governmental organizations have been looking to Beijing for guidance on what they can and cannot do since the 1990s, when he said they started coming to China in significant numbers. He also said Beijing is promising to support non-governmental organizations who have questions about the registration process, indicating that it values their presence. “I think the Chinese government’s recognition that overseas NGOs play an important, valuable role in the country is not a bad thing,” Shieh said. Beijing has said the law is intended to clarify the non-governmental organizations’ legal rights and obligations in mainland China. Chinese leaders also have said the measure has a national security element, banning overseas non-governmental organizations from engaging in activities deemed harmful to Chinese national interests. Such language has angered human rights activists. One group, Chinese Human Rights Defenders, has called for the law to be repealed, saying Beijing will use it to suffocate China's already beleaguered independent organizations. The Obama administration also has expressed concern. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said last month the law will create an unwelcome environment for overseas non-governmental organizations in China, while the U.S. National Security Council said in April it will further narrow the space for Chinese civil society. China Labour Bulletin deputy director Shieh offered a different perspective, saying he does not see Beijing’s new non-governmental organization registration system narrowing the space for his group to operate. "Chinese public security probably already knows a lot about what we and other NGOs are doing,” he said. “They talk to our partners and take them ‘out to tea’, which is a euphemism for basically interrogating individuals about their activities. So I do not think the law’s notification requirement is adding anything new to what the authorities already know." U.S. bond yields reported at record lows for the day By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
Yields on long-term U.S. government bonds and notes fell to record low levels Tuesday, as global investors went on a buying spree in the hope of escaping the turbulence that has roiled financial markets following Britain's Brexit vote to leave the European Union. U.S. Treasury 10-year notes closed at 1.37 percent, after touching an intraday low point of 1.357 percent. The previous low rate for the benchmark notes was 1.404 percent in July 2012, during a sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone. In a widespread round of descending yields, rates on 10-year government debt also fell to historic lows in Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Sweden and Britain itself. For many investors, however, U.S. bonds and notes seemed to be the safest alternative. Because interest rates are inversely proportional to bond prices, Tuesday's fluctuations meant bonds were trading at prices high above their face value. The yield on 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds sank to 2.138 percent, another record. Similar price trends prevailed in trading for 5- and 7-year Treasuries. The return to record low yields on U.S. government securities, just six months after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark short-term interest rate for the first time in a decade, stunned investors and policymakers alike, financial reporters said. Most investors had been anticipating a rising trend in T-bill yields this year. But after Tuesday's trading, market experts analyzing federal funds futures data said they now expect the Fed to keep interest rates steady for some time to come, possibly throughout 2017. Robots now parking cars, greeting hospital visitors By the A.M. Costa Rica wire
services
Industrial robots started replacing humans long ago in tedious and dangerous jobs, such as welding thousands of identical parts for vehicles. Today, more sophisticated robots are capable of precisely lifting and moving huge loads, such as railway engines, or sorting merchandise for rapid shipment from massive warehouses. Skeptics say robots’ future as autonomous drivers might be a bit murky, but they can handle parallel parking like a pro. A robot valet named Geta can easily maneuver a car into a tight space that many drivers would bypass as too risky. Marco Wu, head of Yeefung Automation Technology, the Chinese firm that developed Geta, says the robot can safely park a car in about two minutes. "The robot can go everywhere without tracks, which is free and versatile and will reform parking in the future," he said. Geta looks like a platform on wheels. Directed by a laser guidance system, it slides under a car, lifts it up and rolls it into an available parking space before lowering it and rolling away. Wu says that, besides saving maneuvering time, Geta needs up to 40 percent less space when it positions a car, which could be crucial, especially in big cities. Another more human-like robot recently began working as receptionist at a hospital in Ostend, Belgium. Pepper, built by Zora Bots, can speak 19 languages and analyze voice tones and facial expressions. Its job is to greet patients, provide basic information and show them to appropriate rooms. With a full battery, the robot can work for up to 20 hours. Standing just over a meter high, Pepper is not considered intimidating to children, and it rolls along at a slow pace that allows even elderly patients to keep up. Developers say Pepper's main job is to make people feel better in a hospital setting. |
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| What we published this week: | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Earlier |
| The
contents
of
this Web site are copyrighted by Consultantes Río
Colorado S.A. 2016 and may not be reproduced anywhere
without permission. Abstracts and fair use are permitted. Check HERE for details |
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| A.M. Costa Rica sixth news page |
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San José, Costa Rica, Wednesday, July 6, 2016, Vol. 17, No. 132
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 Universitat
Autònoma de Barcelona
photo
The bean is a major
Costa Rican food source
Researchers find
drought-resistant beans
By the Universitat Autònoma de
Barcelona
A combination of characteristics is the key to success for the genetic improvement of beans to make them resistant to droughts, according to a new study. The research can improve crop yield in Central and South America, Africa and Mexico, said a summary from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. The International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia also was involved. The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume in the tropics. It is an inexpensive source of proteins and minerals for almost 400 million people, mainly from Africa and Latin America. It is generally cultivated by small farmers and subject to conditions limiting their productivity. Drought affects 60 percent of bean crops around the world and can cause from 10 percent in productivity losses to a total of 100 percent in some cases. Researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Bean Programme at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia have identified drought-resistant genotypes and the morpho-physiological characteristics related to this resistance. The experiments were conducted in Palmira, Colombia, from June to September in 2012 and 2013, and the results were recently published in Frontiers in Plant Science. For researcher at the university Plant Physiology Laboratory and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture José Arnulfo Polanía, "The experiments demonstrate that there is no dominant morph-physiological characteristic but rather a strategic combination of several characteristics which confers this resistance to drought onto specific varieties of beans," said researcher José Arnulfo Polanía. "We determined which specific characteristics belonged to each area, depending on whether or not the land retained moisture and whether the droughts were intermittent or ongoing." He is with the university plant physiology laboratory and the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture The study has revealed this strategic combination of characteristics, the key to succeeding in the genetic improvement of drought resistance. After evaluating 36 advanced bean lines, obtained by crossing different varieties, and taking into account the results of different parameters related to the use of water, growth and production, the lines of drought-resistant beans were classified into two groups: water savers and spenders. The water saver genotypes were identified for having several characteristics which allow them to save water: less opening of the stomas, small leaves, moderate growth, and efficiency in remobilizing carbon from the leaves and stems to the formation of sheath and grain. These genotypes are suitable for cultivation in semi-arid regions where extreme droughts are common and the land does not retain much moisture, as can be found in areas of Central America, Africa and the south of Mexico. In contrast, the water spender genotypes include a system of deep roots which maximize water extraction, allowing them to grow more, combined with an efficient remobilization of their reserves through the stem and leaves to the formation of sheath and grains, thus producing more grain even under stressful drought conditions. These are appropriate for areas with intermittent droughts, on soils which can retain moisture. These areas correspond to Central America, South America and Africa. |
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| From Page 7: Development firm donates endangered trees Special to A.M. Costa
Rica
Axiom Development Group, a luxury residential, commercial, urban, recreational and resort development firm, has donated of 100 mountain almond trees for reforestation along the southwestern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The donation is particularly significant due to the endangered and protected status of the mountain almond tree, scientifically known as Dipteryx Panmensis, said the Uvita firm in its announcement. The trees form an important part of the natural habitat of Central America’s great green macaw, which is another endangered species that the regeneration process will help to protect, it said. The donation is in keeping with the company’s commitment to taking sustainable development to new levels, the initiative adds new meaning to the concept of giving back to the community, the company said. The 100 trees were delivered to Pedro Porras, director of Parque Nacional Marino Ballena. He is charged with the protection of 270 acres of land and 13,300 acres of ocean along Costa Rica’s southwestern coast, the firm noted. "Our strategic vision from the beginning has been to integrate our development projects into the environments in which we build,” notes Michael Himes, a founding partner of Axiom Development Group, along with Blake Delatte. “Our projects in the Costa Ballena region have taken that concept to new heights, and this initiative takes us one step beyond the definition of rain forest preservation.” The 100 trees come from the company’s own nursery at its Élan at Ballena Beach development. The nursery holds 22,000 native plants and approximately 1,000 trees. |
