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April 11, 2008 |
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IF GOD HAD STAINED GLASS WINDOWS |
 Art & Science Come Together in Harmony. The Meteorite Images you see on this newsletter are from outer space and are 4.6 billion years old. They were first discovered on the Moon in 1969-1972, and stored away at NASA’s Lunar Receiving Lab. I decided these meteor images were way too unique to only remain hidden away in the hands of private collectors. As a Artist / Painter living here in Costa Rica, and with permission from photographer and collector Jeffrey Hodges, I am privileged to paint and transform these images into very personal original paintings with some very important messages from outer space. When is the last time you had a message from outer space ? Science & Quantum theory tells us there is a reason why we occupy space and matter on this planet. I invite you to join me on a journey from outer space…….on a microscopic journey of the universe ! Lunar & Martian Meteors entice us with new information and clues to a better understanding of the Universe and possibly how life as we know it began. Possibly evidence that “God" and “The Big Bang Theory “ might both be correct!
Some of these paintings will be displayed on Earthday April 20th in Puerto Jimenez and again on Friday May 9 th. 6 pm. Artist Reception OsaArts( Downtown Puerto Jimenez – across from liquor Store )For more information, prices and availability contact Michael at 8378-3013
(USA) 508-714-0622 or visit Michaels Gallery www.michaelincostarica.com
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LIVING IN PEACE WITH NATURE |
 Celebrate the Osa Peninsula - Earth Day Festival 2008
I would like to personally invite you to be a part of our celebration honoring the Earth.
On Sunday, April 20, 2008 the 4th Annual Osa Peninsula Earth Day Festival is again expected to attract hundreds of participants from communities throughout the Osa Peninsula, providing an opportunity to network and celebrate our wonderful planet. The Festival hosts numerous environmental exhibits. There will be a wide variety of interactive educational opportunities for children and adults, as well as exciting and diverse live entertainment, contests, and speakers all in a family-fun atmosphere. The theme for this year is Living in Peace with Nature. The Osa Earth Day Festival maintains free admission, and when possible free transportation in order to draw the largest cross-section from rural communities so that we can celebrate this internationally recognized event in the most inclusive manner. Join us next Sunday For Earthday in Puerto Jimenez. For more information contact Tao in Puerto Jimenez- taoaqui@racsa.co.cr
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CONSERVATION ON THE OSA |
 The issue of the two illegal developments near Mogos, located at the top of the Osa peninsula, has generated a significant amount of positive energy and actions to slow, halt and possibly stop illegal developments & deforestation in the area. On March 28 a large group of people from the entire county met with the council and the mayor to propose a moratorium on new construction and earth movement until the a zoning plan is finished and approved. Almost every government environmental agency, local neighborhood association, environmental organization, and tourism-based business in the Southern zone of Costa Rica are participating in meetings and plans to try and stop the onslaught of mega-development and bring only sustainable development to the area. ( see article below ) Development will come, but locals are now taking an even bigger role and voice in determining the level of development they'll accept. Enforcing these new plans is always the toughest part as government here is slow to act if at all. You can find other conservation efforts underway on the Osa, such as The Carate River Project. Contact Lana at Luna Lodge for more information: whitehawk@lunalodge.com. Near Canyasa you can find similar projects that protect and enhance both cultural and natural bio-diversity. Much of the rainforest on the Gulf side had been clear cut many years ago, and projects like Rancho Dulce help re-plant important and viable corridors for monkeys, mammals & birds. For more information contact Michael osamike@gmail.com or visit www.ranchodulce.com
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RUN FOREST RUN |
 THE ORANGE CONES HAVE ARRIVED
For most of our newsletter subscribers that live away from the Osa or near Matapalo, Carate, Golfito or Dominical, the rumors about paving the road to paradise are coming true at an alarming rate. Each and every culvert, bridge, and low spot on the main road are being re-engineered for culverts, new bridges, and possibly new pavement. With the up-and-coming rainy season who knows how much work will actually get done this year, but with 6-8 construction crews in 10-15 locations, they are moving forward as fast as they can to pave paradise. Golfito has similar projects near La Gamba. In addition, our local government is laying down new materials (gravel) on most side roads which eventually all lead to Corcovado. Why is the government spending so much $ on roads that go nowhere? For the reasons of Tourism? Safety & Access? Logging? Poaching?Only time will tell! One benefit of pavement will be better breathing quality for the families that walk and ride bicycles; however, SUV’s full of tourists racing by at high speeds will be dangerous for the families and cultures that live near or on the road. The fact of the matter is, there are huge amounts of money being invested into Osa road improvements, along with continued government pressure to allow unsustainable developments & tourism projects. What can be done ? In honor of Edward Abbey ( Author – Monkey Wrench Gang ), I believe if we all ban together in shifts, and each night each one of us steals all the orange cones from various construction sites, I think we can slow down progress and delay the paving of paradise for at least another 3-4 years. Maybe some $ reward for the person who steals the most cones ?
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RANCHO DULCE - An example of sustainable development on the Osa |
 Many of us that live here on the Osa call ourselves conservationists. We own eco-lodges, some of us live in homes built of precious hardwoods that came from the forest, we buy wood from the local mills that may or may not have permits, and we dredge rivers to build our driveways ( myself included ). During the first few years many of us learn what conservation really means, and we begin to change our habits and practices to be more in tune with the needs of the Osa, possibly influencing the next round of Ex-Pats to build with sustainable materials.
Rancho Dulce is the first neighborhood of it’s kind here on the Osa., being a “Sustainable” residential community located just 20 minutes North of Puerto Jimenez high above the town of Canyaza. All of the building sites had been clear-cut 20-50 years ago, making this property an ideal building site for planting and building 6-8 homes. With views of Corcovado National Park and the Golfo Dulce, amenities include title, public water, electricity, year-round access, and only 5 minutes to the Gulf. Through property regulations, each owner is required to re-plant their property boundaries with tropical hardwoods, almond trees, bamboo, and fruit trees. In just 6 months of planting the Titi monkeys and sloths have begun using the new growth/corridors to access the corridor & fruit trees at the bottom of each lot for sale. It is also a requirement of each new owner to make a donation to the local indigenous school in San Miguel. Both the road and new electric line were installed without removing a single tree or changing the natural contour of the land. So far Rancho Dulce has donated over $1000 of school supplies and equipment in exchange for the kids coming to The Ranch to plant almond trees. www.ranchodulce.com/community-project.php Rancho Dulce matches each individual contribution.Each property owner at The Ranch has a responsibility to keep an eye out for illegal poaching and logging. 3-4 new neighbors is all it takes to generate enough $ to cover the annual salaries for caretakers that keep illegal activities from happening in the forest reserve. For more information about sustainability visit Rancho Dulce at www.ranchodulce.com or call (US) 508-714-0622 , (CR) 8378-3013
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HAPPY EARTHDAY |
We'll see you in Puerto Jimenez. From all of us at Southern Costa Rica Travel. Pura Vida !
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