Plate restrictions suspended
for el Día de la Madre


Those taking Mom out for lunch Wednesday will not have to worry about the last number on the vehicle license plate.

The Policía de Tránsito said that the license plate restrictions will be suspended because Wednesday,  el Día de la Madre, is a national holiday.

Usually restrictions are in place in the metro area from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays vehicles with the last digit on the plate of 5 or 6 are prohibited during those hours.

Wednesday is a holiday in which employers must pay their employees and give them the day off. Although the law says that the day may not be swapped for another, many employees agree to take the Friday off instead of the Wednesday.

Those who work Wednesday are supposed to be paid double.


Ban creates new U.N. agency
for Law of Sea Treaty


Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched a new initiative to protect the oceans and the people whose livelihoods depend on it, and called on countries to work together to achieve a more sustainable management of this precious resource and address the threats it is currently facing.

"The seas and oceans host some of the most vulnerable and important ecosystems on earth, but the diversity of life they host is under ever-increasing strain," Ban said at an event in the city of Yeosu in the Republic of Korea to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the opening for signature of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Convention, also known as the constitution of the oceans, governs all aspects of ocean space, from delimitation of maritime boundaries, environmental regulations, scientific research, commerce and the settlement of international disputes involving marine issues. It was first opened for signature in 1982 and entered into force in 1994; there are 162 parties to it -- 161 states and the European Union. The United States has not accepted the treaty.

Ban praised the achievements of the convention in helping countries establish a legal framework to guide the management of the oceans, the settlement of disputes, and the administration of the international seabed.

"Among its principles, the Law of the Sea recognizes that all ocean issues are related and that they need to be addressed as a whole," Ban said, adding that this is in line with the development framework put forward at the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development in June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event is known as  Rio+20.

However, Ban also emphasized the need to address multiple issues that threaten the marine environment. To do this, he announced the launch of the Oceans Compact, which will seek to support and strengthen the implementation of the Law of the Sea.

"What we need is to create new momentum for ocean sustainability," Ban said. "The Oceans Compact sets out a strategic vision for the U.N. System to deliver more coherently and effectively on its oceans-related mandates, consistent with the Rio+20 outcome."

The Compact, Ban added, will provide a platform to help countries protect the ocean's natural resources, restore their full food production to help people's whose livelihoods depend on the sea, and increase awareness and knowledge about the management of the oceans.

To achieve the objectives of the Compact, Ban proposed a results-oriented action plan along with the creation of an ocean advisory group made up of high-level policy makers, scientists and experts, as well as representatives of the private sector and civil society.