Malpais and Santa Teresa News

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I hope all is well.

In 2010, during the AVSTN’s 1st year we were able to formally register our non-profit neighborhood group with the original round of membership dues.

We raised over $ 1,300- with a local charity event at Tropico Latin Hotel on Dec., 4 to connect a new (1st ever) computer lab for the Escuela Santa Teresa, and still have funds for future educational projects.

We also made great strides with regards to resolving the water dilemma in NST.

Although there are still no liquid results, for the fist time in the history of the town an official ASADA (community water board) was legally formed, holding the ASADA legally responsible for it’s actions.

Everyone’s monthly water payments now are being entered into an AyA (Acueductos & Alcanterias) approved software system, also holding the ASADA legally accountable for it’s actions…

We also solicited and received support from the AyA’s Regional, Central and Legal offices, as well as the Ministerio de Salud.

We have attended numerous ASADA meeting, which take place every Tues at 4pm at the ASADA office, (located at Playa Carmen.net, and open to the public).

We cooperated with the ASADA to voluntarily pre-pay our monthly bills, 670,000- colones were raised in total, to inject the Jose Alfaro well into the existing system, at Virginia Vargas’ request. We are still awaiting a detailed report from Virginia Vargas, promised for this Wed Feb. 9, ’11, as to the specific results and reasons for it’s apparent lack of results to NST.

As a result of this fiasco, we petitioned the ASADA and were granted their approval to conduct a Diagnostic test of the existing (pipes) system, at our cost, as they were unwilling to do commit any funds to this end other than providing and installing the shut off value to Playa Carmen, after much resistance from Gerardo. The entire test was generously paid for in full by one ASADA member.

Furthermore, we have documented the current state of affairs and conducted numerous field inspections, financed by less than 1/2 dozen group members, with water experts and consultants from San Jose.

We have formal written bids based upon those field studies & reports and have even been offered private financing by a builder, Don Carlos Madrigal, to complete the project. Our proposal was turned down by the ASADA in November, ’10, based on one members position that the backhoe cost was too high and that his uncle could complete the work at a better price. Neither the ASADA or the uncle have provided any formal written offers.

This is just the tip of the Iceberg.

We have learned that the ASADA is the only legal body/instrument available, at this point, to guarantee permanent change and we are at the tipping point of seeing real results.

In short, AVSTN is making a difference and will continue to work towards bettering our community, with water and justice for all.

However, none of this comes for free, except for the time and energy that is invested by a neighbors like myself.

If you would like to be part of the solution, by supporting our neighborhood cause, please consider joining or Associacion Vecinos Santa Teresa Norte (AVSTN) group, or renewing your 2011 membership, and please encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Our 2011 membership dues are currently due and maybe deposited directly to AVSTN account :

Banco Nacional
Account number : 100-011-191-000046-1
Cuenta cliente # 15119110010000460
Cedula juridica 3-002-614449

2011 membership dus are $ 100- per household.

Thank you !

If there is anyone that you know who is not receiving my emails, but would like to please let me know.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by email or directly at 2640-0511.

Sincerely,

Stefan Canas
AVSTN Secretary

Sept 10, 2010



The following information is based on research done by Jeremy from the Montezuma Surf School:

There are many kinds of red tide, most of which are harmless.

Some do have harmful effects which usually affect sea life more than humans

– There is no evidence yet that this red tide is at all harmful to humans
– Swimming, if harmful at all, is not as dangerous as eating infected sea life
– The most harmful effects on humans are due to eating infected shellfish and possibly (but less likely) fish in certain kinds of red tide
– Consumption may cause sickness, paralysis or even death!
– Avoid eating shellfish or fish during this time

If this is a harmful red tide, a small percentage of people may be mildly affected by simply being near or swimming or surfing in the ocean. The only known side effects are mild and include:

– Eye irritation
– Runny nose
– Coughing
– Skin irritation

Usually those prone to plant allergies to begin with may be affected. If you notice any symptoms, simply getting away from the beach or entering an air conditioned room should cause the symptoms to disappear. Asthmatics however may experience:

– Significant respiratory problems
– Decreased lung capacity

If you are asthmatic, we recommend NOT swimming or surfing

Although some locals spread this rumor, there is no evidence that red tide can cause an ear infection (although just swimming in the ocean can often cause an ear infection under any circumstance).

Our friend, nurse and Montezuma resident, Amanda Weir, recommends putting hydrogen peroxide in your ears after getting out of the ocean to avoid ear infections whether or not in the presence of a red tide.

As we are confident that the effects of surfing in a red tide (if seen at all) are indeed mild if any at all, our Surfing courses will continue as planned. We will scour the beaches for the best surfing location each day with the least amount of red tide possible. We hope that it will disappear shortly in any event, as it is known to only last a week or two.

Here is a list of references for the above information:

1. Natalia Corales – Marine biologist in Puntarenas
2. http://praise.manoa.hawaii.edu/news/eh173.html
3. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070108191731.htm
4. http://forums.usms.org/archive/index.php/t-4674.html
5. http://www.rense.com/general63/redtide.htm
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinorrhea

greetings from paradise !!!

please click on ‘show quoted text’ to see the article.
larry, the ngo npo whale conservation org in jaco’s playa hermosa is KETO.
their website is under construction, i couldn’t get any contact info from their current website.
naty or yiokko, do you know any contact info for this org ?

poor doomed whales,
mary at rainsong

AUGUST 24,2010 TUESDAY

A BABY HUMPBACK WHALE AND HIS 2 COMPANIONS, assumably HIS MOTHER AND HIS ‘AUNTIE’, WERE ENTANGLED IN THE LABYRINTHE OF ILLEGAL GILLNETS IN THE ‘PROTECTED’ WATERS OFF THE RESERVA CABO BLANCO in CABUYA.

THE BABY DROWNED QUICKLY,

THE 2 ADULT FEMALES SWAM FOR THEIR LIVES TO ESCAPE THE 500 METER LONG KILLER NETS.

THEY WERE SEEN LEAPING FROM THE WATER REPEATEDLY, DESPERATELY TRYING TO UNTANGLE THEMSELVES AS THEY HEADED OUT TO OPEN OCEAN.

MINAET[GOVT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE IN COSTA RICA] OFFICIALS JUST STOOD ON THE SHORE TAKING VIDEOS AND PICS.

CONSERVATIONISTS CAME FROM AS FAR AWAY AS JACO’S PLAYA HERMOSA [FROM KETO, A WHALE CONSERVATION NGO NPO, www.fundacionketo.org] TO TRY TO CHASE DOWN THE WHALES TO CUT AWAY THE NETS AND SAVE THE ADULT WHALES, BUT THE WHALES OUTRAN THEIR BOATS.

THE WHALES FINALLY SANK TO THE BOTTOM, DRUG DOWN BY THE WEIGHT OF THE NETS.

RAINSONG HAS INITIATED A JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION TO PROSECUTE THE GILLNETTERS GUILTY OF THIS TRAGEDY.

WE WANT JUSTICE FOR THESE 3 DROWNED WHALES !

JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES HAVE ALREADY AGREED TO HELP RAINSONG SEEK JUSTICE FOR THESE WHALES,

SINCE LOCAL MINAET OFFICIALS ARE IGNORING THE INCIDENT AND HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION YET AGAINST THE ILLEGAL GILLNETTERS RESPONSIBLE.

THE BABY WHALE’S BODY WASHED UP NEAR PLAYA CARILLO, NEXT TO SAMARA.

THE 2 ADULTS’ BODIES HAVE YET TO SURFACE.

THERE IS A REPORT IN LA NACION NEWSPAPER, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, ON PAGE 15A.

THIS NEWSPAPER IS ONLINE, YOU CAN GO TO THIS LINK TO SEE THE ARTICLE…

La Nacion Article about Whales

contrary to what the LA NACION states, MINAET officials did not assist in the attempt to rescue the whales.

they just stood on the shore taking videos & pics. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES in CABUYA.

if any of you find any reports online regarding this incident, please send them to rainsong, c/o email : rainsongwildlifesanctuary@gmail.com

RELATED INCIDENT ???… THIS SAME DAY AT 1:52 PM WE EXPERIENCED AN EARTHQUAKE IN CABUYA, just as the whales were sinking to their death.

MOTHER EARTH IS ANGRY ! [ my perspective !]

mary at rainsong

DEATH THREATS – early in 2010 the illegal gillnetters in cabuya began to repeatedly send death threats to me, saying if i try to bring the authorities to the cabuya waters to stop the illegal gillnetting there [as i did in manzanillo], the gillnetters will send their columbian ‘friends’ to kill me.

HA! i look to a higher power for my inspiration and intuition, and yes, protection to continue my efforts to save what’s left of wildlife/sealife in costa rica.

MINAET officials of the RESERVA CABO BLANCO have never made any attempt to protect the sealife inside the ‘protected’ waters of the reserva.

MINAET officials continually ignore the illegal gillnets killing EVERYTHING ALIVE inside the reserva’s ‘protected’ waters.

just as they continually ignore the CONSTANT poaching for the bushmeat trade INSIDE THE PROTECTED FORESTS OF THE RESERVA.

Ok ok……everyone ready for a laugh? the two sinks, which were donated, for the police station bathrooms have been stolen. why? because we ran out of money before we could completely secure the place. so…..now that everyone is smiling…..and YES we are having the fundraiser on the 22 of may…..but honestly, we need help NOW in order to secure this building so we don’t lose anything else. we have been focusing on trying to at least finish one room and one bathroom, so that we do not have to rent a house anymore, however, without making the whole house secure, there is always a risk of theft. (as we all know!!)

so, to secure the place we need (1) verhas on all the windows, (2) a front door plus good door handle, and (3) to close up the back wall with block.

i have one ferreteria who has agreed to extend us credit to buy the block (a total of 215.000 with varilla and cemento), but we do not have such luxury for the steel need to do the verhas. the verhas constructed and installed run around 300.000 colones, unless someone knows or is themselves a welder and can help us.

please, we have come soooo soooo far……but we need a bit more immediate help to protect the work that we’ve done thus far. ANYTHING will be helpful…..10.000, 100.000 or (yes i am dreaming here…) 1.000.000 colones. ANYTHING. please.

the Banco Nacional account is in the name of the Asociacion Probienestar de Mal Pais, Sta. Teresa y Manzanillo, and the account number is 200-01-191-000327-1.

for those of you unaware, the police station is located on the road on the south end of the football field in Santa Teresa.

thank you in advance for any and all help!!!

Kelly

Casa Zen

ok ok …… todos listos para una risa? los dos lavamanos, los cuales fueron donados por la estaci

A water commission was formed and is composed of members of the C

(Spanish translation below)

Hello everyone — Here we present a summary of the meeting yesterday at the pizzeria playa carmen, held with a consultant who is helping the village with the water project.

Illegal gillnetters, shrimp boats, nest robbers, and vehicles threaten endangered sea turtles on Playa Manzanillo, Nicoya Peninsula

February 1, 2010 – Cabuya, Costa Rica

Illegal gillnetters, shrimp boats, nest robbers, and vehicles threaten endangered sea turtles on Playa Manzanillo, Nicoya Peninsula

Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary