There is no need to build
airport in southern zone

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

Thank goodness for the Río San Juan to awaken the deep environmentalist nature of Ticos!

Even a "perceived" threat to the environment that may be caused by its northern neighbor in Nicaragua, to an area on the fringe of the country is enough to send religious fervor through the veins of high minded Ticos perched atop the mantle they've fabricated for themselves, as the first "developed" country in Latin America, qualifying them to a level of supremacy in areas that Europeans, and North Americans have pioneered, such as ecology, and environmentalism.

I find it rather interesting when it comes to open pit gold mining, and an ill-planned new airport for the southern zone, for examples, a level of somnolence is the norm.

That there are two proposed new international airports, within 100 miles of each other, on opposite sides of the southern border, reflects a lack of co-operation between the governments of Panamá and Costa Rica, that bodes ill for the future of tourism in both countries, due to the environmental degradation that will ensue.

Suburban sprawl is not what makes for long-range tourist attraction, as is now being proven, and if this region wants to continue to expand its tourist economy, then more co-operation, and better planning is needed between countries, as well as enlightened leadership.

Costa Rica would be better off taking the money it plans on spending for the new airport and up-grading its school system immediately, while letting Panamá with its vastly larger land space, to host the airport and negotiate for concession rights.


Asia is the wrong star
to hitch economic future

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

The report issued by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean as outlined in A.M. Costa Rica, suggesting that Latin America should forge closer ties with Asian Pacific nations because of their economic growth, is a recipe for sociocultural and environmental disaster that Ticos should reject unequivocally.

The documents which were presented by a Ms. Alicia Bárcena, the organization's executive secretary, apparently imply that if Latin American countries embrace/emulate the Asian model(s) of economic growth, the result will be "sustainable, long-term economic growth with equality and competitiveness" in the region.

Have Ms. Barcena and her esteemed colleagues been living on another planet for the last 20 years? One would have to be that far removed from the reality of the Asian economic "phenomenon" to not have seen the truth: most Asian growth has been built on the backs of underpaid and often cruelly abused workers toiling in sweat shop conditions amid horrific environmental degradation to turn out goods that have in far too many instances proved to be of poor quality at best, and at worst to be dangerous to consumers.

Who in their right mind would want to forge closer ties with countries whose values and policies are so morally and ethically bankrupt? Apparently Ms. Barcena would like to overlook the fact that it was Asia that sucked the life out of much of the Latin American manufacturing sector and put millions of Latinos out of work by undercutting labor costs!

Everything I've seen here in Costa Rica over the last 10 years, and everything I've read in A.M. Costa Rica suggests very strongly that the Costa Rican government and people are striving for a socioeconomic reality that totally rejects this sort of inhumane treatment of workers and ignorance of environmental protection. It goes without saying that Costa Rica isn't there yet, but I sincerely believe that Ticos hold those desires and values dear to their hearts.

I think Ms. Barcena's comment that "We need to view relations with Asia Pacific not as a menace, but as a great opportunity and advantage," acknowledges the reality that most who aren't involved in economic policy spin control can see very clearly, that Asian countries are in fact a model of how NOT to grow an economy.

Asia is like an out-of-control locomotive headed full steam ahead for an unsustainable and calamitous future that all of Latin America should repudiate. Latin Americans should be especially vigilant to insure that their own governments don't damage their economic futures by selling off their precious and non-renewable natural resources to feed the furnaces of Asian manufacturing.

Costa Rica's new friend and benefactor, Communist China, is the prime example of the new Asian economic predator nation, stalking the developing world in search of every last ounce of fodder for its insatiable economic engine.

Everything China is saying/doing here has one veiled and ominous purpose; to exploit Costa Rica's rich oil reserves. One has to wonder how long the Costa Rica government can hold out in this respect, given its dire need for capital investment in infrastructure and social programs, and considering China's deep pockets.

SHAME on the United Nations for allowing one of its agencies to put out such a load of ignorant nonsense, when the U.N. itself has on numerous occasions condemned the horrific working conditions and environmental destruction that are emblematic of so many Asian economic strategies.

Find out what the papers said today in Spanish By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Here is the section where you can scan short summaries from the Spanish-language press. If you want to know more, just click on a link and you will see and longer summary and have the opportunity to read the entire news story on the page of the Spanish-language newspaper but translated into English. Translations may be a bit rough, but software is improving every day. When you see the Summary in English of news stories not covered today by A.M. Costa Rica, you will have a chance to comment. This is a new service of A.M. Costa Rica called Costa Rica Report. Editor is Daniel Woodall, and you can contact him HERE!

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