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A.M. Costa Rica/Saray Ramírez Vindas |
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officially today By Saray Ramírez Vindas
Y Griega Bridge connecting west and east San Jósé is finally finished. After eight months and 1.2 billion colons, the bridge is now carrying vehicles between San Pedro and Escazú. The bridge opened informally this week but it will be official today. The 10 a.m. inauguration will be in charge of Javier Chavez, minister of Obras Públicas y Transporte. The inauguration was supposed to take place Monday, but a water main broke. and workman had to make last-minute repairs. Now workmen are finishing up the last details, such as landscaping and sidewalks, according to Ezequiel Cerdas, inspector of highway and bridge construction for the ministry. The decoration of the sprawling green areas was the job of agronomy engineer Steven Piedra Oviedo of the Asociación de Embellecimiento y Seguridad de Carreteras Nacionales. He said the design of the gardens was a collective project of all involved in the job. According to Isabel Guzmán Cruz, a transit officer assigned to the bridge, traffic flow is much better since the informal opening Wednesday. The bridge spans what was the Y Griega rotonda or traffic circle that connected San José center with Desamparados, a heavily populated areas. That meant that north and southbound traffic had to fight for space with four lanes of traffic headed east and west. The circle no longer is necessary since the bridge carries the traffic that previously poured into the circle. Only traffic changing direction enters the circle area now from access roads. Dengue is moving
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The mosquito-born dengue seems to be working its way north and east in the metropolitan area of San José. The lastest count puts about 10 cases of classic dengue in Tibás, which is just north of San José. Presumably, infected mosquitoes are following the northern river valleys from La Uruca and La Carpio where the disease was reported earlier. The direction of travel would seem to suggest that Guadalupe and Moravia would be in line for cases of the disease in the next few weeks. For most, the disease is like the flu, but some victims, especially those who have been infected in the past, can develop hemorrhagic dengue, which can be life-threatening. About 20 cases of the more serious form have been reported in the country this rainy season. About half of the cases were in coastal Puntarenas. About 4,000 to 5,000 persons came down with the disease each year, according to the Ministerio de Salud. The rainy season is when the mosquitoes have the stagnant water available to lay their eggs. Mamon seed kills boy By the A.M. Costa Rica staff A mamon chino is the golf-ball sized fruit, either yellow or red, that sports spikes. They are readily available this time of year and sold all over Costa Rica. Maricio Vásquez Marchena, 3, was eating one about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in his house in Playas del Coco. He choked on the big seed within the fruit and died. |
The conversation began when Anabel read an editorial by Dr. Oscar Arias in the Nación (Costa Rica’s leading Spanish-language newspaper). In it, he says that terrorism is not the only threat to the world. There are the threats of illiteracy, environmental degradation and hunger that should be addressed. From there we talked about the unbelievable suffering that people endure, and Sandy mentioned a movie about the Holocaust and the fact that her husband couldn’t bear to watch it. Then we began talking about the different people of the world who have faced terrible adversity with bravery and courage, even stoicism. As we mentioned different people, Anabel said, rather sadly, that Costa Ricans did not have the stamina, nor the solidarity and strength to withstand disaster, to undergo really hard times. There is a saying in Costa Rica that a disaster or scandal will last only 15 days. After that, it is forgotten. We talked about the German Jews during the reign of Hitler, Russia under Stalin, of the blacks in South Africa during aparthied, of the people of Ethiopia, Uganda and other countries of Africa, of the Chileans when Pinochet was in power, of Iraq with Saddam Hussein and even those before him, the suffering of Argentinians during the time of the Disappeared — the list seemed endless. And I began to realize something. "War is indeed hell," as some general said, but the truly prolonged suffering of different peoples has not been due to wars between countries as much as it is due to the cruel leadership of a people’s own government. In all of the groups we brought up, it was the leaders of their own countries that had caused their misery. We went on to add El Salvador and countries that engaged in civil war, like Nicaragua, Spain and the United States, of despotic regimes like Guatemala. Talking about the other countries of Central America, I found an answer to comfort Anabel. The governments of Costa Rica have not been less corrupt financially than other countries, but this country’s leaders, for the most part, have not combined intitutionalized cruelty with corruption. The people of Costa Rica have not had a history of oppression and suffering. Spain pretty much neglected this mountainous little possession that had no gold. When Spain withrew its despotic rule of Central America, Costa Ricans were simply notified that they were free. This is not to say that there has never been suffering and war here. The poor of all societies have always suffered (and generally speaking so have women). A civil war errupted in 1948 when compromise between the different factions was impossible. This war was as bloody and vicious as any civil war. The difference is its brevity. President Picado had no stomach for this war because among the young rebels were people he knew — former students and sons of friends. It started March 10, 1948, and on April 13, 1948, peace negotiations began. Given its history, it is doubtful that Ticos will ever be called upon to prove their mettle through politically inspired suffering. In fact, a recent survey has shown that the majority of Ticos are quite content with their lot. (It must be said that their lot includes almost perfect weather and gorgeous scenery). Now this realization on my part that there are cruel regimes does not mean that I favor war to end them. War, to my mind is never a solution, and besides, some leaders start wars just to get people to focus on something other than their suffering. (Note: my thanks to the family Biesanz’ "The Costa Ricans" for helping me with history) More Jo: HERE! |
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