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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Vol. 10, No. 106 |
Costa Rica Expertise Ltd http://crexpertise.com E-mail info@crexpertise.com Tel:506-256-8585 Fax:506-256-7575 |
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Hispanic genetic
makeup
attributed to colonialism By the Langone Medical Center news
service
A new study from researchers at the Langone Medical Center found that the imprint of European colonialism and imperialism is evident in the genetic makeup of today's Hispanic/Latino American populations. Scientists discovered that Europeans, Native Americans, as well as West Africans brought to the U.S. and Latin America by the trans-Atlantic slave trade, have influenced the genes of the current Hispanic/Latino populations. However, a large variation in genes among individuals within each population were still found to exist. "It's naïve to think that the Hispanic/Latino populations have the same genetic makeup, even though the populations are described under one general category," says Harry Ostrer, a physician and professor of pediatrics, pathology. "Through sophisticated tests, we have determined that the genetic makeup Hispanic/Latino individuals vary between and within communities." He is a physician and director of the Human Genetics Program at Langone Medical Center, which is affiliated with New York University. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, tested the genetic makeup of 100 individuals of Hispanic/Latino background in the New York tri-state area, including Dominicans, Columbians and Ecuadorians, as well as Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, the two largest Hispanic/Latino ethnic groups in the United States. Currently, Hispanic/Latino Americans comprise 15.4 percent of the total United States population, or 46.9 million people, and account for the largest ethnic minority in the United States. "It is important to quantify the relative contributions of ancestry in relation to disease outcome in the Hispanic/Latino population," said study co-author Christopher Velez, a medical student at the university. "This ethnically appropriate genetic research will be critical to the understanding of disease onset and severity in the United States and in Latin America. It will allow for the development of appropriate genetic tests for this population." Through their analysis of the entire genome, the researchers found evidence of a significant sex bias consistent with the disproportionate contribution of European male and Native American female ancestry to present day populations. The scientists also found that the patterns of genes in the Hispanic/Latino populations were impacted by proximity to the African slave trade. In fact, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans and Columbians from the Caribbean coast had higher proportions of African ancestry, while Mexicans and Ecuadorians showed the lowest level of African ancestry and the highest Native American ancestry. European migrant contributors were mostly from the Iberian Peninsula and Southern Europe. Evidence was also found for Middle Eastern and North African ancestry, reflecting the Moorish and Jewish (as well as European) origins of the Iberian populations at the time of colonization of the New World. The Native Americans that most influenced the Hispanic/Latino populations were primarily from local populations. Health ministry plans survey of nation's sexual condition By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The health ministry is embarking on a three-month sex study that will include face-to-face interviews with 4,800 persons from ages 15 to 80. The Ministerio de Salud said that profound changes have taken place in society, and it hopes to build upon similar surveys that were done in 1999 and 2009. The ministry said that respondent's data would be kept confidential and identification would not be attached to the final study. Interviewers will talk to respondents in private, the ministry said, and those being interviewed will have the opportunity to ask for an interviewer of the same sex. Interviewers will wear blue jackets and carry identification, the ministry said. It warned of impersonators. Interviewers will note responses on a computer instead of the traditional survey form, said the ministry. Among other uses, the survey results will be used to plan government programs. Among other developments, the population is getting older, it said. A litany of government and non-profit agencies are supporting the project. Our reader's opinion
Concern about septic systemsis thoughtful and far-sighted Dear A.M. Costa Rica: Al Almeida’s efforts to forestall pollution of Lake Arenal were described by writer Dennis Rogers in the May 28 issue of A.M. Costa Rica. Almeida’s warnings principally concerned the inferior requirements and construction of septic systems in Costa Rica. He seemed to be saying that those who are having homes built in the area should be diligent in making sure that the contractors provide septic systems which are up to North American standards, including drain fields, which often are missing here. In the May 31 issue, Arenal resident Terry Moran, who identified himself as a real estate agency owner, furiously criticized Almeida, contending that his warnings of pollution by human development were “absolutely ridiculous.” To those who may be torn between the two opinions, I recommend that of thoughtful, far-sighted Al Almeida, who does not see criticism of building standards at Lake Arenal as a threat to his livelihood. As Almeida stated, the lake waters are now in relatively good condition. He is helping to keep them that way. Alex Murray Tronadora
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A.M. Costa Rica third newspage |
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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Vol. 10, No. 106 |
Museo Calderón Guardia photos
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The ceramics range from whimsy to
a social statement. 'Pez Cocinado' look just like that with fishtails
sticking |
out of pots. But the work 'Inmigrantes' shows two persons in a box, sthe true situation of some immigrants. |
CERAMICS: It's not just about pots and dishes anymore |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Some 35 ceramic artists are going far beyond pots and bowls in an exhibition at Museo Calderón Guardia. Although there are some displays of utilitarian value, other works chart new directions. There even are ceramic murals. Iria Salas created "Conjunction de Esencias" to honor her mother and grandmother. It is a series of cylinders and circles that she did as a graduation project at the Facultad de Bellas Artes at the Universidad de Costa Rica. It is four meters square. Mauricio Rodríguez molded seven dogs in different poses |
and called the work "Zaguates,"
perhaps mutts in English. Three artists who call themselves the Colectivo Antipulgas have two untitled works on display. The artists are María Laura Jara, Orlando Guier and Fabrián Monge. Delia Hidalgo depicts coffee pickers, street vendors and flower sellers as free-standing statues. The more utilitarian pieces are by Xochit Lezama, who produces plates, bowls, tea sets and other traditional works with a high-temperature gas kiln, All the works will be on display until June 12 and admission is free. The museum is in Barrio Escalante, east and north of the Santa Teresita church. That is in northeast San José. |
Spammers have turned to text messaging, ICE reports |
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By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Spammers and scammers are not restricting themselves to the Internet. The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad said that some cell telephone customers are getting text messages from a foreign source that promises them a vehicle in conjunction with some kind of contest run with other telecom companies. Not so, said the company known as ICE. Officials there said they traced the calls to prepaid numbers in another country. The company also said that it could not block the number because there is no judicial order. The company |
said it was in contact with police
agencies in Guatemala to file a complaint. The operation is similar to all those so-called Nigerian offers of money that are called advance fee scams. Eventually those who fall for the gimmick are asked to provide fees up front. The number of such scams on the Internet is growing because a poor economy seems to affect scammers, too. So they are sending out many more spam e-mails and have turned to other technology, including text messaging. Before the Internet the same scams used the mails. |
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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Vol. 10, No. 106 |
Banco Central Web site is portal to all
those new agencies |
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By Dennis Rogers
Special to A.M. Costa Rica Government Web sites have in different ways weathered the new administration and accompanying changes at the top as political appointees take control. One important one, at the Banco Central de Costa Rica, stands above the rest. The new director is Rodrigo Bolaños, who also was the central banker from 1995 to 1998. Banking sites are not part of the central government’s gobierno facil but administrator Alicia Avendaño indicated they plan to add them this year. The Banco Central site is the sort only economists and journalists can love, though it has nice information about coins and especially the new bills that will appear one by one this year. Amidst the dense statistics that a central bank gathers, there is one category that is always useful to expats. Daily exchange rates with the dollar are available from 1983 to the present, to refer to if needed for some past financial transaction. These are under “referencia, compra y venta” with the day’s exchange rates, on the right side of the home page. The Central Bank’s exchange rates are not exactly the same as retail banks, and the “sell” rate is the one used for official documents or legal matters. Other central bank entities include the Consejo Nacional de Supervision del Sistema Financiaro, which oversees the usual alphabet soup of SUPEN (pensions), SUGEF (bank oversight), SUVAL (stocks etc.), and SUGESE |
(insurance). Other
than SUGEF, which received much of the
blame for failing to detect the Villalobos brothers’ ponzi scheme, the
only one likely to matter to expats is SUGESE (that’s Superintendencia
General de Seguros). It is in the process of approving new entrants
into the recently opened insurance market and every individual policy
they offer. Unfortunately, the insurance regulator’s site is difficult to use since it demands that one install Silverlight, an obscure web design motor. This is not malware in any case. When asked why visitors should have to install extra software to access a government site, the Seguros press contact said “it’s totally free,” and “others have done it” while also suggesting it is part of the central bank’s security policies. At the central bank's information technology department phone number she offered, staff members refused to discuss the matter. Eventually contacted via e-mail, Luis Zumbado, the bank’s head of technology, indicated that the superentendencias each have their own independent information technology departments. What is useful from the site is the listing of approved insurers, agents, and policies, so one can at least check what is available from the approved companies. To find this information, visitors can scroll down the left column to “Registros de Pólizas y Servicios” and then to the company of interest’s list of policies. Here are .pdf’s with data. Pdf files with lists of approved agents and brokers are also available, but these do not seem to be up-to-date. |
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Arrival of hurricane season brings call for safety plan Special to A.M. Costa Rica
On the eve of what is predicted to be one of the worst Atlantic hurricane seasons in years, the Pan American Development Foundation is urging residents in Central America and the Caribbean to put together emergency plans. "Families need to put together a plan now," says John Sanbrailo, the organization's executive director. "A few simple steps will make a difference, possibly even save lives, when the wind, rain and flooding hits a community." Forecasters anticipate up to 23 named storms this season, with as many as 14 hurricanes, in the Atlantic. Of that, the region could see up to seven major hurricanes, which have winds of at least 111 mph, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Pan American Development Foundation has responded to hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, as well as provided humanitarian assistance, in Latin America and the Caribbean for nearly 50 years. It works with authorities, companies and community groups to reduce the risks of natural disasters. Since a family may have to evacuate their home for an extended period of time, an emergency plan should contain the following, the organization said: * All important legal documents (property documents, passports, birth certificates, etc.) into a water-tight container. * A sealed container and 30-day supply of prescription medications. * A disaster supply kit, which includes non-perishable food, a flashlight with fresh batteries, matches, a first aid kit and a portable radio. The organization also said that a family should have a designated escape route and a final safe place to meet, such as a shelter. Pets and livestock should have identification tags and their own emergency plan, it added. The organization also said that residents should ask local authorities for their natural disaster plan, including evacuation routes, and which areas of the community have the greatest risk for flooding and landslides. On a personal level, families should clean all drainage canals and storm sewers of debris and trim tree branches that may strike the home or utilities "While our region is no stranger to the damages caused by the wind, rain and flooding of a hurricane, we are surprised how few people plan for a disaster," says Sanbrailo. "Many times, the tools they need to make a plan are in their homes and community. Please seek them out." When a natural disaster strikes in Latin America or the Caribbean, the Pan American Development Foundation accepts donations from individuals and companies to help relieve the suffering of the survivors. The Pan American Development Foundation is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, it had more than 5.6 million beneficiaries in 18 countries. The Washington-based foundation is also the natural disaster relief arm of the Organization of American States. It has field offices in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. |
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Latin American news Please reload page if feed does not appear promptly |
of climate change policies Special to A.M. Costa Rica
Representatives from 182 governments have gathered in Bonn, Germany, for a fresh round of United Nations talks on climate change, aiming to pick up on issues left unresolved after December's gathering in Copenhagen. The Copenhagen Accord, which dozens of countries have now signed, was the final document from the conference in the Danish capital, where progress to agree on a binding treaty faltered. "The Copenhagen meeting may have postponed an outcome for at least a year, but it did not postpone the impacts of climate change," said Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. "The deadline to agree an effective international response to climate change at Copenhagen was set because governments, when launching negotiations in Bali in 2007, recognized the scientific warning on climate for what it was: a siren call to act now, or face the worst," he noted. The next gathering of the conference of the parties will be held later this year in the Mexican city of Cancún. "Climate negotiations over the next two weeks will be on track if they keep focused on a common way forward towards a concrete and realistic goal in Cancun," de Boer said. "There is a growing consensus on what that goal for Cancún can be, namely, a full, operational architecture to implement effective, collective climate action." Two working groups will meet during the Bonn gathering, with one focusing on a new negotiating text and the other concentrating on emissions reduction commitments for the 37 industrialized countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol for the period beyond 2012. Amnet suffers outage By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Amnet, the cable television and Internet provider, experienced problems Monday night and early today. Customers lost their television signal about 11 p.m. as well as the Internet connection. Amnet has its own connection to the world wide web. Service was restored about 1:30 a.m., but the outage caused a slight delay in posting A.M. Costa Rica. |
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