Migration

Illegal immigration is a huge problem for Costa Rica.

To the north of Costa Rica is Nicaragua, which happens to be the 2nd poorest country in Central America, second only to Costa Rica. As a result, many Nicaraguans migrate to Costa Rica to make a better life for themselves. They take jobs nobody really wants, like construction and janitorial work, much like in the US.

Costa Rican citizens are not very happy about the immigrants. Costa Ricans blame Nicaraguans and other foreigners for all manner of ills. This reflects the attitudes that many Americans tend to have about the illegal immigrants that come here.

Nicaraguans are not the only people immigrating to Costa Rica, but they are the main source of immigrants. The second main source appears to be El Salvador.

SOURCES:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-12-30-foreignimmigration30_ST_N.htm?csp=34news
http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/where-we-work/americas/central-and-north-america-and-th/costa-rica.html
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Costa-Rica-MIGRATION.html
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/costa-rica/net-migration-wb-data.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/23/world/fg-costa23
http://geocurrents.info/place/latin-america/migration-and-diplomatic-tensions-in-costa-rica

Drug Trafficking

What country doesn't have problems with drug trafficking?
It's no surprise, Costa Rica has had issues with it lately.

Cocaine trafficking  is the main concern.

Colombian and Mexican drug cartels are now using Costa Rica as a transit point and the country now joins Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

"Costa Rica’s Public Security Ministry says the country’s antidrug police seized 15.5 tons of cocaine in 2012, worth more than $2 billion on the street in the United States. That was more than doubled the amount seized the previous year."

Wow. That's just insane to me.  Drugs contribute to violent crimes. This accompanied by prostitution are big problems.

SOURCES:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/costa-rica-drug-trafficking_n_1778086.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324784404578145042469524504.html
http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/drugs/cartels-turning-costa-rica-into-major-drug-trafficking-transit-point

Carbon Neutrality plans

Costa Rica has plans to become the first carbon-neutral nation in the world. There are plans in motion to achieve this goal by the year 2021.

What does Carbon Neutrality mean?  It refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference.

Currently, Costa Rica has a relatively low carbon footprint, if you saw the Happy Planet Index post, you will see what I mean.

Environment and Energy Minister Roberto Dobles said Costa Rica aims to reach this goal using budgeting, laws, and incentives, including measures to promote biofuels, hybrid vehicles, and clean energy.

Costa Rica's plans have inspired other countries to become carbon neutral as well. Norway and New Zealand are both planning to become carbon neutral by 2050.


SOURCES
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4958
http://www.ticotimes.net/Obama-in-C.R/Top-Story/A-first-step-toward-carbon-neutrality_Friday-October-19-2012
http://environment.harvard.edu/news/huce-headlines/costa-rica-takes-carbon-neutrality-challenge

Health Care in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has universal health care provided through the government through the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), and it is available to all citizens. Foreign residents and visitors can join the CCSS by paying a small monthly fee based on their income.

A wide variety of medicine in Costa Rica is available without prescription. Many health problems can be diagnosed by pharmacists, so hospital visits are not a real necessity unless surgery is required.

As a result of such a good health care program, the life expectancy for Costa Ricans is 79 years old. Costa Rica has the second highest life expectancy, second only to Canada. Many people do choose to retire in Costa Rica though, so I wonder if that is why the life expectancy is so high.

I wonder what it would be like if the United States adopted such a health plan.

SOURCES:
http://internationalliving.com/2010/03/12-rush-limbaugh-costa-rica-health-care/
http://www.coldwellbankerbeachproperties.com/useful_information/living_in_costa_rica/healthcare_in_costa_rica
http://www.therealcostarica.com/living_in_costa_rica/retire_in_costa_rica.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Costa_Rica
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/suzan-haskins-and-dan-prescher/best-places-to-retire-why-costa-rica-remains_b_2583079.html

President Obama's visit to Costa Rica!

 

Above: President of the United States, Barack Obama, and President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla 

May 3, 3013

This was a big event that just happened this weekend. President Obama visited Latin America to discuss economic issues.

The president of the United States stopped by Mexico and Costa Rica to strengthen ties with Latin America.
There was a joint press conference held by the presidents of the US and of Costa Rica where they discussed 6 main topics.
One of the topics discussed was the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Obama praised Costa Rica for being a pioneer in sustainability and green living.

SOURCES:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/04/president-obama-s-visit-costa-rica
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/04/remarks-president-obama-meeting-business-leaders
http://www.ticotimes.net/Obama-in-C.R/News-Briefs/Obama-promises-renewed-ties-with-Central-America-on-first-of-2-day-summit_Saturday-May-04-2013
http://www.ticotimes.net/Obama-in-C.R/News-Briefs/Obama-to-discuss-drug-war-trade-in-Central-America_Friday-May-03-2013

Canopy Tours in Costa Rica

After the grim topic of the last post, I thought this would lighten things up.

There are tours offered in Costa Rica where one can take a zip line through the rain forests!

There are actually many companies that offer this service. 

This picture was taken by somebody on a zipline :)



SOURCE:
http://captainkimo.com/costa-rica-canopy-tour/

and here is a video

I sound like an advertisement, but really I'm just amazed by this and what humans can do :)

Same Sex Marriage in Costa Rica?

Because Uruguay recently legalized same-sex marriage I decided to look into the topic in Costa Rica.
The above video is the president of Costa Rica talking about her opinions about homosexual marriage. She basically says there are other ways than marriage to allow homosexuals to have the same rights as heterosexual people. It does not look like gay marriage will be something that the country will have, at least it won't be called that, but would have the same rights as marriage.

It's really just confusing to me. Why call it something else, when it will essentially be the same thing as marriage? I believe that it is purely to do with the country being Catholic. But it is ironic because prostitution is legal in such a religious place...

SOURCES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Costa_Rica
http://news.co.cr/gay-marriage-bill-in-costa-rica-stifled-again/21322/