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Presidents Update
August 16, 2007
By: Edward Yurica - President Fuentes Verdes
First let me start by saying that if you follow the newspapers here in CR both the Spanish language ones and the English ones, it would appear that many of the issues Fuentes Verdes has been advancing (Clean water, good planning, septic systems, garbage dumps, etc) have been making big news. It has become obvious to all that there are some very serious problems facing the health and welfare of the country. The fact that it is being discussed openly is a big step toward solving the issues. For this I am very happy and I want to once again thank all of you who have supported our intentions and efforts.
The new recycling center is coming together slowly and Edgar is very excited although you can still take you recyclables to the Atra which is the temporary collection site. Edgar is in need of a digital camera so as to document the construction. If there is someone out there that has an old not in use digital camera perhaps they could donate it to him. I gave mine away already after I upgraded.
Pura Vida
Edward Yurica
Who has the right?
I now want to share an encounter I had the other evening with a person who took a very hostile position directed at me pointing out that I had no right to be judging what other people should be doing with their lives and money, and I can only assume as it regarded Fuentes Verdes, environment, and community. I would start by saying I would be the first to admit that I am not the judge of what is right or wrong, I leave that ultimate decision to the courts and to any higher spiritual moral construct one might choose. I am sure as is usually the case there was more to this persons hostility than was apparent, but it gave me a point to mull over and even share with you, and that is, what right do I have or Fuentes Verdes have to tell others how they should operate? Have I taken it upon myself to use my position as president to vanguard some ego driven private agenda as this individual suggested? Regardless of the answer the question is an appropriate one. Who or what group has the right to say don’t to that, do this, you should do this or you shouldn’t do that? I say hey, I am an old guy and I don’t want to fight or argue, I could sit back retreat into the paradise jungle and watch the world carry on. I could take up bird watching practice, the cello, feed the animals and be very content because by the time all the polluted streams reach critical contamination where no life is found in it, all the garbage has overflowed into the neighborhoods, by the time 8 ounces of water cost more than a bottle of premium single malt scotch and much of the world looks like the suburban slums of Mexico city, I will most likely be dead. So why on earth would I want to impose my value system on anyone else, especially if things are going well right now?
Well the world turns differently when no one speaks up to challenge the way things are, and the way things are done. It still turns but (metaphorically) with a different spin, a different vibe. There are historical examples of that from the 20th century. I suppose I could point to the German state in the 40’s. Now I may be a little over dramatic in my choice here but if you think the oil crisis makes for tough times wait for the water crisis. Of course I am probably preaching to the choir as it were.
So I guess I would ask you and that person who attacked me that the next time you drink a glass of water has anyone asked for accountability of those providing it, and if so did those asking have the right to? Oh what a slippery slope at times.
So I will continue to use that Socratic approach of asking questions, trying not to be accusatory or suggesting that I know what is best and hope that the future health of our community is better and not worse.
Pura Vida
Ed Yurica
Report on June 14-15 2007 Taller @ Palos Verdes CR
The divides that exists between Good Science (in this case water quality analysis) Good Intentions, Economics and Politics was made apparent at the 2 day program. The “Functionarios” from MINAE, SENARA, FUNDACA, OET, two Representatives from the municipality of Canas, University CR and others gathered to learn about “ANALISIS DE CALIDAD DEL AQUA”. I knew many of the attendees from past gatherings.
For me noticeably absent was any representation from the Municipality of Tilarán, AYA, and ICE. They were invited.
Fuentes Verdes was not the only non governmental attendee. TOGO which is apparently a large company holding the lands and production of the rice ( soon to be switching over to Sugar Cane) in the low lands of the Cuenca Del Rio Tempisque was there also participating in the program.
There are two ways to start to make judgments about water quality. Physical/Chemical, and Biomonitoring. For me the key phase is “making judgments” about the water quality. Is it good for drinking comes immediately to mind, but then there is agricultural quality, what goes into the crops that are our food? There is industrial quality; some processes need very clean water (ask INTEL).
SENARA who is charged with the responsibility of taking care of this has 140 employees in the whole of Costa Rica.
The physics and chemistry water quality is pretty straight forward. Record pH get a number, test substance A, get a value; like Coliform a bacteria and indicator of fecal contamination. Then the not so easy part, decide what is good and what is bad, what is acceptable what is not. And what of its costs? A pH meter a one time expense can last years, but to test for pesticides like Diurm or DDT, is very expensive especially when one considers you are testing for parts per million in some cases. Dr. Eugenio Gonzalez the Director of the Palo Verde Biological Station presented a list of some 87 substances that one can and probably should test for. What would that cost?
Another method for evaluating the water quality was presented by Monika Springer, UCR. Simply put, check out the insects in the water. There are “indicator insects” that appear in the rivers streams and lakes and a scale (BMWP-CR) of quality. No insects mean no life can exist. This method is far less expensive and personally a lot more fun. During the 2 day workshop we jumped into the irrigation canals, collected and counted specimens from under rocks, from aquatic plants and stirred up the bottom to collect those in hiding.. We monitored two locations; one at the entrance of the water to the farms and one at the exit point the results though personally not surprising was none the less an eye opener.
As is usually the case with such programs one leaves with more questions than answers.
So what did Fuentes Verdes have to offer this program? As stated many of the attendees I have met before. Most all know of the pressures we have been applying and the agendas we have been pushing. I feel that our relationship with them has not been one of an adversarial nature though we do get in their face a lot. I ask how we can help and really got no suggestions but rather their concerns about the unregulated or poorly regulated new development projects and the land being purchased and earth being moved by those with little regard for the ultimate price tag to the community of such actions especially when poorly done. Those short term exploiters (my word because a Costa Rican would never use such a accusatorial word) are a menace, but the political will is just not there to enforce the many very good laws that already exist. I left it at that and they couldn’t say how we as an NGO could help them.
It remains how can Fuentes Verdes help? Education has always been the key to making changes and so what we have decided to do is to search for willing schools and teachers that want to learn how to use Biomonitoring as a way to evaluate local streams. Kind of Adopt a Stream program. If any of you have a desire to take part in this contact Gary Graham vidaloco767@hotmail.com as he will be taking the lead on this endeavor.
Pura Vida
Edward Yurica
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