Final Culture Blog, Nicas and Ticos 9/4/10

Nica immigrants typically deal with the discrimination using defensive mechanisms that depend on experience and physical appearance. They try and blend in more with the Costa Ricans by adopting a tico accent and physical appearance. Some even refuse to interact with other Nicaraguans in an attempt to separate themselves from the “lowly immigrants.”

In order to change this immigration situation between Nicaragua and Costa Rica there would need to be a change in social perceptions and behavior from both ends. With an image of drinking and violence, it is only natural that Costa Ricans resent their entrance into the country and Nicas try to separate themselves from the troublemakers. Talking to my home stay brother, I found that he too shares this view of Nicaraguans – saying that while he knows some good ones, as a whole they are always causing trouble.

I think this change in social perception and behavior would be mediated by a change in immigration and labor laws. If it were easier for Nicas to get visas to come work in Costa Rica, more would be able to do it and to do it legally. This added legitimacy would mostly likely end much of the violence and binge drinking. Also, with better jobs or fairer wages offered to Nicaraguans, they would be able to get out of the slums that they have been crammed into. This would help integrate them into society and perhaps they would no longer feel a need to disguise their nationality.

Econ Log 5: PES and poverty 16/3/10

1. Payment for Environmental Services can help reduce poverty if implemented with that goal in mind. Regulations would need to target poor participants and be carried out in a manner that is accessible and affordable for the poor. A detailed assessment must be done on the land that is subject to the PES program and the family and work force that lives off it. If this were the case, then yes, PES can help reduce poverty, but only in those specific areas that are poverty-stricken but contain viable land. A negative side effect of PES may be the decrease in land for agriculture and therefore an increase in food prices, which would affect those poor who were not viable for participation in the PES program. Therefore, PES could help a select group of poverty stricken people out of poverty but overall it seems more likely that it would have a negative effect on the majority of the poor.

2. Assuming a poverty stricken area is located on land that is eligible for PES, there are still many obstacles faced by the upstream service providers. They must assure that there is a secure tenure and investment needs are met. Many poor don’t have access to credit if investment needs are not readily met. After determining the profitability of the PES practice, the landowners must have the resources available, whether that means more labor or different tools, to alter their land use to that of the PES standards.

3. Socio-economic impacts of the PES program are associated with the implementation stage and land use change. In some cases, like in the prevention of deforestation rather than cultivation of land, less labor is needed from the local community. Thus, though PES may help one family out of poverty, it may do more damage than good on a local community. More obvious impacts include an increased income for the landowners and tenants, and payment by downstream service users who receive the services. The need for institutions to regulate PES implementation and payment may lead to better social organization and community capital potential.

NRM Log 5: Coffee Plantation 16/3/10

Visiting the organic coffee plantation last Thursday was a much-needed educational experience for me. I had only understood organic farming as not using fertilizers, but Thursday I learned there are many more benefits from it. The most important for me was learning how organic farming remove the role of mega companies from agriculture and keep more of the profit local. Since fertilizer is not needed, that money is not paid to huge agrochemical companies, but instead the farm needs more labor to make up for the lack of chemical fertilizers. Therefore, more locals are hired to complete this labor, keeping the profit of the farm localized. Local profit is enough in itself for me to support and buy organic products. The big companies have enough money already! The only potential change that needs follow is the removal of the organic companies that Gerardo’s farm sells 80% of its coffee to. This large company acts as a middleman and takes profit from the local organic farms.

Lastly, I also learned today that coffee DOES taste good. So good! I had no idea. Now I only hope I don’t get addicted to the caffeine!

TE Log 2: Cloud Forests 12/3/10

TE Log 2: Cloud Forests 12/3/10

Cloud forests, like the one in Monteverde, are important for humans for two main reasons. First, cloud forests are dense in flora, which acts as a carbon sink, absorbing 25% of terrestrial carbon. Forests absorb 15% of the carbon that humans emit annually. This is why deforestation is one of the leading contributors to climate change and an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. We need forested land like in Monteverde to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Cloud forests are also important to humans because of their role in the hydrological cycle. Cloud forests are very wet and store water because the input does not equal the output. Puddles, like the one we saw in Monteverde, store water within the forest, which helps regulate the climate when there is a drought. Precipitation and evaporation from these stored puddles can provide atmospheric water to be cycled when otherwise a drought would plague the region. In summary, cloud forests are important because they are carbon sinks and because they help regulate the hydrological cycle.

Culture Log 3: Gender roles and family structure

12/3/10

During my homestay this past weekend I noticed many differences between the family structure and gender roles present as opposed to those I have grown up with. In my house, my mom has always been the bread winner, while my dad, by choice, was home after school to take care of my sister and I. In the Ramirez household, la madre, Ana, estaba en la cocina o en la sala todo el día. Solo salió de la casa para ir al mercado por comida. In the United States, the gender roles have been blurred during the 20th century due to the fight for women's equality. In the US, a women's role in the kitchen is seen as discriminatory, pero en Costa Rica es tradición y es correcta.

In the United States, it is seen as a failure when children still live at home past the age of about 18-20. Children go off to college and once they graduate, they are not expected to live at home, except for maybe a transitional month or two. Pero, en Costa Rica es normal que los hijos viven en sus casas hasta se casan. In America, this would be looked down upon. Lastly, a difference that I wish was rather a similarity, is that aquí en Costa Rica todos los vecinos que pasan por la calle son primos. Durante el sabado, la casa estuvo llena de relativos. I haven't seen much of my mom's side of the family in over 10 years. My dad's side is very close, but physically we live across the country so visits are as frequent as possible, but still only twice a year. This is probably due to the development and size of the US, but it is something I wish we could change. (Though I'm not one to talk, as I attend college 3,000 miles away from my home..)

NRM: Five things for Sustainability

9/3/2010

1. Recycle and compost everything I can.

2. Check the products I buy for sustainability and try to buy more locally grown crops.

3. Continue what I have started being here and don't eat meat, since it is not sustainable.

4. Take public transportation when I can and carpool when I drive in a car.

5. Since I found out how much water flushing uses, a little limerick. When it's yellow, let it mellow. When it's brown, flush it down.

Econ and NRM Globalization Log: 1/3/10

Globalization in Costa Rica would have many positive socioeconomic impacts because the country has excellent national sovereignty and environmental laws already in place. With free trade opening up, more of Costa Rica’s crops would gain access to the global market, increasing the average GDP per capita. However, more globalization and trade would provide better resources and infrastructure, increasing tourism to Costa Rica. While this seems positive, it would bring an increasing amount of foreign investors into the country, which would encroach on the local culture, lifestyle and property.

If this were the case, and Costa Rica’s tourism increased drastically with its heightened integration into the global economy, there would also be a rapid expiration of the country’s natural resources and ecosystems. Without better regulations and protections decided upon quickly for incoming investors and developers, Costa Rica would face potentially irreversible impacts on their environment and resource supply. On a positive note, free trade would allow for a greater spread of information and technology, much of which could be used to increase industrial and agricultural efficiency. This would reduce Costa Rica’s carbon footprint and help mitigate the negative effects of global warming.

NRM Log 3: Tarcoles River Basin Commission 26/2/10

Bottom up natural resource management can have the most positive impact because of complete participation and public involvement, but it is also fragile when officials at the top have too much control.
In the case of the Tarcoles River Basin Commission, we can observe a clear example of the benefits and weaknesses of bottom up natural resource management. The commission had the greatest potential to have a true positive influence on the waste management in the river. This was mostly due to careful research and planning that was put into the process every step of the way. This care was necessary for winning upper level support when starting at the bottom. Therefore, a very careful and successful plan was constructed to deal with the pollution in the Tarcoles River. In addition, much public support was won along the way due to tireless diplomacy and spread of potential models of integrated river management put forth in their struggle to be heard.
However, all this work and potential was cut short due to a common weakness in bottom up natural resource management. When changes at the top have the power to alter the entire commission goals and replace officials, all the efforts can be lost. In the case of the Tarcoles River, a change in government allowed for a change in the commission president, and therefore crippled the commission’s success. Ideally, the best resource management plan would be initiated from the bottom up but would then be supported and led by an official at the top, thus ensuring a carefully planned model with uninterrupted implementation.

Culture Log 2: William Walker 25/2/10

William Walker was born in Tennessee in 1824. His education in medicine and law started early after he graduated at age 14 and traveled around Europe during the time of the revolution. In 1853, Walker’s filibustering dreams took off as he began with an expedition to Mexico.. After Mexico quickly rid him from the country, he evaded US neutrality laws and returned to Central America, this time Nicaragua.
Walker led attempts to take over other Central American countries like Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, but Nicaragua held the most importance because it facilitated the trade route between New York and San Francisco. After being recognized by the US as Governor, Walker’s conquests became more ambitious, and Europe and US support began to subside. Then, the president of Costa Rica, Juan Rafael Mora, declared war on Walker. Going for the surprise attack, Walker sent his men to Santa Rosa but lost the battle there in March of 1856. By cutting off Walker’s resources, Costa Rica and American supporters were able to infiltrate his regime in Nicaragua and defeat him in the Second Battle of Rivas in April of the same year.
Momentarily halting expansion, Walker instead settled for President of Nicaragua through farcical elections. He then implemented slavery, the English language and currency as a means to Americanize Nicaragua. A Central American Coalition and Vanderbilt’s army then defeated Walker’s army and he returned to the US. After 6 months, he returned to Central America to try his luck in Honduras, where he was captured by the British Navy and executed by Honduran authorities in 1860.

Economics Log 2: Strategies for Sustainable Development 23-2-2010

The three step process to achieve sustainable development in Costa Rica:

First, new regulations of waste, water and energy used in tourism development must be implemented. Changing first that which has yet to develop will be the easiest change to make, a great first step, that can then be followed by changing the unsustainable systems already in place in Costa Rica. These adaptations will have an immediate impact on the country’s future and will set an example for further change. Next, these government policy changes need to be supported by public education. The general public has a large roll in the democratic government in Costa Rica and needs to be aware of the benefits of sustainable development in their own lives. With this new knowledge, it is my belief that they will then help enforce the government’s regulations for sustainability on those developing areas and those that have already been established. The last step in this plan will feed off of the rising public interest due to their recently acquired knowledge. With the public sector pressuring government and industry to act sustainably, repairs in outdated infrastructure and laws will be completed. Now, after beginning where the change is most dynamic and most easily implemented, the road towards sustainability can be taken immediately while also building a foundation in education and long term change.

Tropical Ecology Log 1: Tropical Forests and Climate Change 24-2-2010

Two anthropogenic forcings driving climate change are land use change and fossil fuel emissions, of which, land use is of the most uncertain magnitude. With increasing forest dynamics altering the interactions between plants and animals it becomes more and more difficult to measure both the uptake of atmospheric CO2 by the existing forest and the amount of CO2 that would be released from the soil after deforestation. In addition, our uncertainty in the exact use of the deforested land (whether it is used for a plantation, a pasture, etc), the lack of consensus by scientists on a deforestation rate, and the difficulty of estimates of forest biomass all create problems for calculating the effects of land use change. With these fluctuating rates of forest productivity (that are perhaps enhanced by a warming climate), and unknown forest biomass, it is difficult to predict how much atmospheric CO2 is stored in the soil and how much of that will be released depending on the new use for the land. Therefore, scientists still face many challenges in predicting the magnitude and speed of climate change due to this anthropogenic forcing.

NRM Log 2: Water and Waste Management 22-2-2010

With a growing world population and developing tourism in Costa Rica, it is necessary that the country manages its resources and waste efficiently. Currently, a key problem facing Costa Rica’s drinking water supply is the outdated infrastructure. Just under half of all of the drinking water is lost due to uncontrolled use and leaks. One possible solution to this issue would be the privatization of water. If multiple companies competed for business, the infrastructure would be efficient and regulated, and prices would not skyrocket as long as a monopoly is avoided. In addition, wastewater management needs to improve so that natural sources like aquifers are not contaminated by agricultural runoff. This could also be directly improved with better infrastructure to dispose of the agricultural contaminants. Lastly, a key problem facing Costa Rica’s waste management will be the transition to a new system, especially in the areas that currently have different waste management systems in place. A first step for government would be regulations that hold industries, hotels, and other new developments accountable for their own waste management/recycling to encourage the poorer regions to adapt new policies as well.

Econ Post Two: 10/2/10

The transition from an agriculture-based economy to a service based economy has presented many potential socioeconomic challenges for the near future. After reading the Myers article I see three main socioeconomic problems facing Costa Rica by the year 2015. First, with the predicted increase in tourism there must be steps taken towards carbon neutrality otherwise Costa Rica and its national parks will reach their carrying capacity. Second, with the decrease in agriculture and new businesses entering the country, there will be more high paying jobs available, but only to the few. The presence of some excessively rich Costa Ricans may cause inflation, but more certainly, it will greatly increase the growing gap between the rich and the poor. Even though agriculture is on the decline and only 6% of Costa Rica’s foreign exports, it employs many workers. This brings me to my third problem, the presence of foreign immigrants in Costa Rica. Many immigrants from Nicaragua already take jobs from Costa Ricans in the various plantations and this problem may get worse. With more immigrants in Costa Rica there will be more residents to support and more resources needed to do so. These last eight words make it exactly 200.

Econ Post One: CSR 7/2/10

Corporate Social Responsibility refers to the ethical objectives of a company and how the illusion of or the actual fulfillment of these objectives enhances the company’s profit. This is important because now that the economy and industry are growing rapidly internationally, it is unreasonable to expect that governmental policies can control these powerful companies much longer. Self-regulation and morals are necessary, especially because they affect the wide range of consumers and suppliers. CSR has become imperitive for some companies, but those companies which earn profit without adopting social responsibilities, monopolies and high demand resources, are the industries that hold the most concern in our rapidly developing world economy.

Culture Post One 8/2/10

The Presidential Elections: Aggressive or Passionate?

On paper, the presidential elections in Costa Rica and the United States seem quite similar. Both are democratic. All adult citizens can vote. The campaigning is excessive. The polls are busy. But one difference stands out - in this Costa Rican election, over 70% voter turnout is expected. And with one short visit to the local polling station in Los Angeles, the reason for this is obvious. Hay pasión.

When you approach a polling station in the United States, it is usually not too loud. Campaigning is not allowed close to the building. It is not personal or energetic. In fact, the majority of Americans embrace the convenience of mail in ballots. Whatever passion exists seems to be transformed into aggression and negativity towards the opposing party.

The polling station in Costa Rica could not be more juxtaposing. Upon our approach, excited noise filled my ears. Horns honking, flags waving, smiles calling, families voting. Even though children can't vote, they were very involved, dressed in propaganda, it is clear which party their family supports. At a very young age, the children are exposed to the community and the election, it is no wonder that Costa Rica has a far higher voter turn out than in the United States.

After speaking with the local candidate from the PUA party, I can accurately describe the difference. Despite the similar structure, the difference is in the attitude surrounding the election. It is a community working together to better their country, not a nation against one another. They strongly believe in their party choice, but they are not as close minded towards the other parties. According to the candidate, no matter which party wins, they will all support each other.

After the previous election in the United States and the lack of agreement in the House and the Congress, I can't say the same for the United States. Our election seems like a fight between enemies, while their election is a friendly competition - and yet still one with more passion.

NRM: Log One 8/2/10

Palmito Plantation Tour

Immediately upon entering the Palmito Plantation I observe an obvious strength in the sustainable management - the propaganda. Large signs advertise the successful sustainability projects going on and their continuous efforts. If these are not enough to attract workers and visitors, their impressive soccer field and clubhouse also serve as additional incentives. But for true scientists in sustainability, there needs to be more than just the illusion of progress. And for this, Eduardo, the sustainability director, was quick to relay the benefits and debunk all skeptics.

Scientifically speaking, their greatest strength is evident in the data. According to Eduardo, when creating their mm liquid to remove harmful fertilizers from naturally found micro organisms they take less of the micro organism each time. Otherwise, this process would not be sustainable because it would expire all of the available naturally found micro organisms. I believe this attribute, the strength of progress towards an entirely man-made mm liquid, is the strongest aspect of Eduardo's management.

However, this leads me to what I see as the biggest weakness. Eduardo admitted that they don't know exactly what fungus/bacteria they are creating, just that it seems to be effective. Not knowing the exact contents of their mm liquid is problematic. If something was to go wrong, how would they know how to fix it quickly, before more damage is done? Also, can complete separation be made from the use of natural micro organisms if the scientists have yet to discover exactly what it is they are creating? Research needs to be done on this mm liquid to properly identify it so this method will be sustainable for the years to come.